Brain Pain discussion
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Poll Question #2 – Reading Projects for 2013
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Absolutely! 2012 was all about getting that list of tough reads moved from our 'tbr' to 'read' shelf, and we've done that. For 2013, the focus is on themes instead of formal complexity. Much of what we read will be fairly straightforward narratives. The 'brain pain' aspect will be more aerobic than muscle-building, if that metaphor makes sense. 2013 is about ideas rather than heavy lifting...
I've been relaxing with Faulkner, an Iris Murdoch, and even a Dan Brown. You're right. It's nice to have these easier mental palate cleansers available. I'll take these ideas into account this November as I plot our scheduling for the year.
Iselin wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Your intervention didn't work yet, Jim. I'll have to enroll into a Brain Pain Twelve Step Program.Just two more "interim" / "Pain Killer" suggestions --
Waiting for Godot and No ..." Your suggestions are all very interesting (I've read Waiting for Godot and watched Hedda Gabler at our local theatre). It would do the group good to have some short texts from time to time. Maybe then more members would the discussions.
Hi Iselin!! Thank you!! I'm glad you like my "Pain Killer" idea!!
How was the production of Hedda Gabler at your local theatre?? That has to be such a difficult role to play.
I like reading plays, and I do think reading a play every now and again is a nice way to take a break after a few long and heavy novels.
Did you like Waiting for Godot?? I've read all of the plays I suggested, and I would LOVE to discuss these in a group of interesting, intelligent people (such as this group.)
I saw a production of No Exit and there are so many different ways of interpreting Sartre's work.
Jim, thank you for saying that you might consider some of these. Based on your comments on the books we've read here, I would think you would have some VERY interesting comments on each of these plays. And you have a fantastic sense of humor, and I'd love to see you find the humor in Hedda Gabler and A Doll's House. (I think we could all find plenty of humor in No Exit and Waiting for Godot, and the serious/existential side would make for a good discussion too.)
BUT, this is your group, so I will not be a "pushy New Yorker" anymore. I love your ideas for 2013 -- I especially love the idea of both Faust and Magical Realism, so I plan on being more active in this group in 2013, even if you do not pick any of my suggestions!!! LOL!!!
Meanwhile, I've fallen very behind on Infinite Jest, so I certainly have no right to be suggesting 2013 reads when I fell behind on so much this year (but 2012 turned out to be a lot more hectic than I had expected.) I am working on catching up on Infinite Jest. I'll be happy if I'm halfway done with it by the time the group finishes!!!
Mod
That sounds like a challenge!! I read Ibsen too long ago to remember anything humorous, but maybe if we all smoked a really big joint first we could get a chuckle or two out of it!
I've been thinking about the short texts idea and have come up with a way to incorporate some shorter works into the schedule.
BTW, I grew up in New Jersey and spent a lot of time in NYC at the School of Visual Arts, the museums, clubs, theaters, etc. When I moved to California at age 24, I wore a button on my jacket that read "We Don't Care How They Do It In New York" to remind me not to be too pushy - and it worked!
Jim wrote: I've been relaxing with Faulkner, an Iris Murdoch, and even a Dan Brown. You're right. It's nice to have these easier mental palate cleansers available.Somehow, I would never have thought of Faulkner as an "easier mental palate cleanser." Which Faulkner were you reading?
Mod
Compared to Gravity's Rainbow and Infinite Jest, Faulkner is a breeze, LOL!
In this case, I read Sanctuary, which is one of his most straightforward novels in terms of form.
Mod
Another candidate for the Faust theme is Faust."
I looked at this one earlier, but the description sounds like Faust isn't really its focus. Rather Faust is a talking point for Turgenev's ideas. BTW, I like Turgenev, but I don't think this one is as good a fit for the project as some of the others.
Jim wrote: "Barbara wrote: And you have a fantastic sense of humor, and I'd love to see you find the humor in Hedda Gabler and A Doll's House..."That sounds like a challenge!! I read Ibsen too long ago to r..."
Jim, for some reason I thought you lived in NYC now!!! But I'm not surprised that you live in California. I lived in San Francisco from late 1999 through 2003 and I was in college in Miami from 1976-1980, but other than the four years in Miami and three and a half in San Fran, I'm a die-hard New Yorker (Manhattan), but I won't be pushy here anymore.)
You know a lot about music. (You use lyrics from rock songs in some of your posts.) I've been in the music magazine business since 1984. I moved to San Francisco because I was Publisher of Guitar Player magazine during that time period. I have a funny feeling you know the magazine. (I'm with another guitar publication now.)
I am completely in favor of you smoking a big fat joint prior to reading Hedda Gabler and A Doll's House. (Those are the only two Ibsen plays I've read, but I do feel there is a comic/tragic or tragic/comic theme through both of them.) I don't think you'll need the joint if you decide to read No Exit and/or Waiting for Godot. Well, even if you don't want to add these plays to the group, if you ever do decide to read any of these (you can read each of them in less than an hour, I think), please let me know and maybe we can have our own discussion about them. I've never discussed any of these plays with anyone, except No Exit, and you're the type of person to discuss these plays with. Even JUST Waiting for Godot would be great. (By the way, I studied theatre and performed a bit in small theatres here in NYC, but only super-contemporary plays -- I never got to perform in any of the four I've been talking about here.)
BUT, I'm not going to be a pushy New Yorker anymore. You've put together a pretty awesome list for 2013, and my work schedule has been making it difficult for me to keep up with Infinite Jest, so I'm going to act like a Californian and just "go with the flow" here.
P.S. Sorry about putting a small part of my "bio" in this post. I only slept for around 45 minutes last night and I'm exhausted. Sometime tomorrow I might regret that I shared so much personal info, but I didn't mention anything about my eight marriages (and I'm only 53), so at least I didn't get TOO personal. hahahahaha!!!!!!!
2nd PS -- I am REALLY looking forward to Goethe's AND Marlowe's Faust with this group in 2013, and a handful of Magical Realism too.
Mod
Actually, I now live in the Perigord Noir in the Southwest of France. San Francisco was just too overtaken by digital pod people...
Well, I guess Guitar Player magazine explains your wrist troubles - too many 15-minute power solos! I used to read it in H.S. in the 70's.
8 marriages? Geez, did you have some sort of frequent shopper card you were trying to fill - LOL!
The Faust read has Four plays - Marlowe, two by Goethe and one by Mamet. If people enjoy reading/discussing these plays, we could always add some more after the Faust series ends. Maybe we could look at Ibsen when winter approaches so we can get into an appropriately dark and suicidal Scandinavian mood!
LOL -- I was completely joking about the eight marriages!!! (But that's the ONLY thing that was untrue in my post -- I just threw it in there at the end, just to see if anyone was paying attention.) I've only been married once, which lasted for twelve years and we're still very close.Perigord Noir!!!! I'm JEALOUS!!! I've considered moving to Paris, but my French is pretty lousy. But one day I may take a "hard core" French language class so that I can move there. I've also thought of Copenhagen. And Vienna. But for now, NYC is where I'll be for a while.
I KNEW you must have read Guitar Player at some point!!! Do you still play guitar???
Ooooh!!! I forgot about Mamet's Faust!!! I love Mamet!!! 2013 will be fun!!! Isn't The Master and Margarita included in the Faust theme too???
No pressure on Ibsen or any of my suggestions. If I can finally keep up with the pace of this group in 2013, maybe I'll suggest it again for 2014!!! (Or maybe I could convince you to start a "play reading" group!!!) I don't think they have any here on Goodreads!!! "Theatre through the Ages" -- starting with Sophocles, Euripides, Aeschylus, all the way through Shakespeare & Marlowe, and think of all the great 19th and 20th Century plays!!!
OK, I am officially QUITTING making suggestions!!! I PROMISE!!! From now on, I will only post messages in the "book discussion" sections!!! LOL!!!
Mod
An unfortunate encounter with a meat slicer in the summer of '79 damaged my left index finger making it difficult to play. Instead, I pursued a more stable life, and have probably lived longer as a result!
A play reading group is certainly an interesting idea. I'm instantly intrigued by the possibilities!
In the interim, we'll be reading Marlowe's play, Doctor Faustus in early February, then on to Goethe's Faust I and II, so that will give us three stage plays in a row, then a movie week with F.W. Murnau's silent film, Faust. Then on to Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita, Thomas Mann's Doctor Faustus, another movie, Mephisto, and finally, Mamet's play, Faustus. So plenty of drama this winter and spring!
Now, off I go to plan a theater group...
Brain Pain
Books mentioned in this topic
Faustus: A Play (other topics)Doctor Faustus (other topics)
The Master and Margarita (other topics)
Doctor Faustus (other topics)
Faust (other topics)
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Then all is fine ;-)
As Barbara said, the shorter intervals are "pain killers". After Ulysses, House of Leaves and any other real heavy read I do feel the pain, don't you? As a breather I usually read a children's book or some fantasy to relax.