Jason's Blog, page 6

Bray Head Loop

 

Some books I've read 65

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

It's a classic, up there next to Brave New World and 1984. But is is any good? Not completely. It's dated, at least. Feminists would most likely want to have a word about the portrayal of women in the book. And was he better as a short story writer? 

Baumgartner by Paul Auster

His last novel. It would have been great if it was a masterpiece. It's not. It's sort of messy, a bit all over the place, an old man looking back at his life while also trying to move forwards. But I already have all his previous books, so what you gonna do, NOT read it?

We'll Always Have Casablanca by Noah Isenberg

Tbe backstory for the film and how it lives on. No big surprises here, anecdotes that already have been told. -Hey Bogey, look over there and nod. -Why? - Just do it for fuck's sake. And Ronald Reagan was never seriously considered for Rick. Some debates from the writers about who wrote what. Understandable, since it's pretty much a perfect script. And as a pure comfort movie, it doesn't get any better. -Such much?

Nick Drake: The Life by Richard Morton Jack

A great biography about Nick Drake, with the writer given full co-operation by Nick's sister, Gabrielle and access to the diaries written by Nick's dad. Which means we get a complete description of a mentally ill Nick spending the two last years of his life mostly at home. It's not a pretty picture. And a final answer to the question, did he kill himself or take an accidental overdose?

Deliver Me from Nowhere by Warren Zanes

A book about Bruce Springsteen and the making of his record Nebraska, still a timeless masterpiece, between The River and Born in The U.S.A. He was never able to top the demo in a studio, alone or with his band, finally realizing, this is it, this is the record. And luckily, he didn't lose the demo cassette. 

Marvel Visionaries: Jack Kirby, volume 1

Kirby is Kirby. What is included and what is missing can maybe be debated. Some of the recolouring is ugly. The reproduction is bad as well. Thin lines are missing. The artwork actually looks better in the cheap black and white Essential books. Which is a shame, you would hope for something better from such an expensive hardcover.

Marvel Visionaries: Stan Lee

Reproduction is even worse than in the Kirby book. I didn't even try to read it. Avoid!

Kirby: King of Comics by Mark Evanier

A coffee table book about Jack Kirby. So who said "Comics will break your heart.", was it Kirby or Charles Schulz? Anyway, Kirby saw some of that from Marvel, the company that would have been nowhere without him. Luckily, towards the end of his life he experienced the accolades he deserved and could move past the bitterness. Stan Lee got a lot of the credit, but also the shame. Where is the truth in who created what? Most likely somewhere in the middle. 

Art for sale

 

https://sundero-gallery.com/shop/?fil...

Krigstein!

 

No particular reason...

 

Next book

 

March 2025, from Atrabile

The White Stripes

 

Just discovered this band. Or duo. I had heard the name before and seen them in Coffee & Cigarettes, even listened to the Jack White interview on WTF with Marc Maron, but until now never heard their music. Then I watched the Fell in Love With a Girl video.

New extended edition

 

Karl Holtz

 

Olaf Gulbransson