Literary Disco discussion
What would you like Literary Disco to read and why?
For another classic - what about Rebecca ? Important and much beloved book with a strong WTF factor...In new releases - what if you read the new and mixedly-reviewed God Help the Child and then discussed Morrison's work generally?
In Cult Favorites - I feel your discussion of The Secret History is long overdue! Particularly since pretty much every book is hailed as a The Next Secret History!! in an attempt to drum up interest...
Not sure if someone has already suggested this (Who has time to read all these comments?), but I'd enjoy hearing your thoughts on one or two of my favorites: A Prayer for Owen Meany, which is a strange and delightful book. OR The World According to Garp which is even stranger. And PLEASE please please read some Dorothy Parker! Everyone knows her pithy quips, but her short stories are smart, funny, and often heartbreaking. Matter of fact, so is her poetry.
Jellyfish, the new short story collection from award-winning Scottish writer Janice Galloway. I'd love to spread the word about her writing to people in other places. I've been a big fan for many years.
Described as "Razor sharp tales of the most powerful human experiences and a close examination of the everyday."
Excerpts:
A child was dangling over the kerb, the back wheels of his push-chair holding his whole weight, too near the precipice. Water scattered from a passing lorry, sprinkling his jacket-front like glitter. The boy tried to sit up, rocking the buggy, himself within it, over the tarmac abyss. He couldn’t be more than two, Monica thought. Maybe less. The rims of the back wheels, his sole contact with terra firma, were worn; the chair that held him, thin canvas. A juggernaut rounded the corner, changing gear so the pavement groaned, expecting an avalanche. Monica watched the mother blink, draw her face back from the fumes as the words WASH ME slithered past her, close enough to touch. The boy, however, stayed put, the radiator grille as near as dammit tipping his nose, heat haze rippling his face into strips. The rabbit in his hand shook from the tremor rattling down his arms, his skinny little bones. Then the lorry, its lumbering, unimaginable tonnage, was past. Monica coughed. The exhaust at kid’s eye-level. Carbon monoxide. Jesus, she murmured. Holy Mother of God.
One of the short stories is available to read here: http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/reg...
It's about twenty years old now, but I'm halfway through "I Love Dick" by Chris Kraus and am finding it to be a highly unusual, brilliant, and deeply funny read. It would make for a good podcast!
My book. I'll send you a copy :) Julia wrote: "Hi everyone-- what books or type of books would you like us to check out? (No promises, but we're always on the lookout for good new reads. Or horrible ones.)"
How about Jellyfish by Janice Galloway?It's a collection of short stories by one of Scotland's most esteemed literary authors, and her first publication in a few years. Short stories are having a bit of a moment!
A lot of the stories are about parenthood, some are about mental health. One imagines George Orwell's life as he was writing 1984. They're all brief and punchy and brought up unexpected feelings. She has been one of my top 5 authors for many years.
I would highly recommend Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor-an incredible dystopic, magical realism world (set in Africa!) with a powerful female character. Okorafor's writing gave the greatest sense of physical presence and pain, and she just recently came out with a prequel. And I second Ready Player One!
I would highly recommend Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor-an incredible dystopic, magical realism world (set in Africa!) with a powerful female character. Okorafor's writing gave the greatest sense of physical presence and pain, and she just recently came out with a prequel. And I second Ready Player One!
Love your podcast! I am Canadian and would love to recommend some great CanLit (apart from the very well-known The English Patient/Life of Pi/Anne of Green Gables etc):Ru - Kim Thuy
Oryx and Crake - Margaret Atwood
The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz - Mordecai Richler
The Jade Peony - Wayson Choy
Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures - Vincent Lam
I realized after I made this list, that a lot of these novels are not exactly ... happy ... but amazing reads nonetheless and some of the books that have made the biggest impact on me.
I want you guys to read Larry McMurtry's Some Can Whistle. It is one my favorite books ever and I think all 3 of you would enjoy it.
Fahrenheit 451. Every time I read this novel, it gets more frightening in its predictions of the future.
Before the summer's over, read "Barbarian Days".
Also I think you guys should - The Theives of Manhattanread:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...
-the-thieves-of-manhattan?from_search=true&search_version=service
And Julia- Read the lake of Dead Languages!
b/c I think you will like them! why else ;)
I agree with the suggestions of The Outsiders and Ready Player One
I'd love if you guys read Sweet Dream Baby by Sterling Watson, The Memory Keeper's Daughter and Crow Lake and just for kicks Rosie Dunn.
Hi Julia! I'd like for you guys to read Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro because I hated it and so many people raved about it on goodreads including friends of mine. I'm interested to see if it's just me and I'm really picky or if you guys dislike it too.
This suggestion isn't a book but it is literary. I'd love to hear what you have to say about the video game based on "The Secret of the Old Clock" (spoiler: it contains no mention of probate law).
I would love to hear you three discuss 2666 by Roberto Bolaño. It is pretty long, and one of those novels that I think is meant to intimidate and challenge the reader, which could be very good or very bad. It makes for intense discussion on the many topics it covers, and it would be great for us to come along on your ride through the book. Here's a quote from the novel expressing what I'm trying to get at: “He chose The Metamorphosis over The Trial, he chose Bartleby over Moby Dick… What a sad paradox, thought Amalfitano. Now even bookish pharmacists are afraid to take on the great, imperfect, torrential works, books that blaze paths into the unknown. They choose the perfect exercises of the great masters. Or what amounts to the same thing: they want to watch the great masters spar, but they have no interest in real combat, when the great masters struggle against that something, that something that terrifies us all, that something that cows us and spurs us on, amid blood and mortal wounds and stench.”
I'd like them to discuss works that are known to be difficult to finish for their extreme nature, such as American Psycho, 120 Days of Sodom, and Hogg. I don't think they've had an episode on extreme literature yet. I bet the conversation would be hilarious. Don't be scurrred.
Mario wrote: "I would love to hear you three discuss 2666 by Roberto Bolaño. It is pretty long, and one of those novels that I think is meant to intimidate and challenge the reader, which could be very good or v..."I second 2666! It is a fucking fantastic book, and I think you guys would have a lot of really interesting stuff to say about the book. Or, if the book is a bit daunting to read, I would also suggest another of Bolano's books, Last Evenings on Earth. It's a collection of short stories, which I think is pretty perfect. It's a very good encapsulation of everything Bolano does as a writer, what he's good at, and what I think is most interesting about his novels.
Or The Savage Detectives. Basically, please read and discuss anything Bolano!
I'd love to see a discussion on Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy. That could inspire multiple interpretations, thoughts on language (does he go too far with the metaphors?) stuff like that.
Sharp Teeth because it's a novel written in verse. I wouldn't call it poetry but it's an interesting book.
I would love to hear you guys read The Power and the Glory by Greene because I find it interesting to see esteemed readers take on it given our very identity politics era thing happening in 2015 yearning 2016.
Two possibilities I would love to hear you all discuss McGlue or The Dig. Both great short and compelling reads BTW Happy New Year!
I'd love to hear your thoughts on "The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet" by Daivd Mitchell Love the podcast!!
Taylor wrote: "Mario wrote: "I would love to hear you three discuss 2666 by Roberto Bolaño. It is pretty long, and one of those novels that I think is meant to intimidate and challenge the reader, which could be ..."On second thought, perhaps this is a bad idea... I just heard an episode from a while back in which Rider states that he hated The Savage Detectives quite passionately lol. He hated it so much, in fact, that he couldn't even finish it. I'm not sure 2666 would change his mind about Bolano...
I'd love to hear another discussion on a classic novel! I love hearing the things you all have to say about the classics and your different perspectives on it.
I would like Literary Disco to read/review Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilmore. Or, more interestingly (maybe?) - each of you read one of the three installments of the trilogy. Reportedly quite a groundbreaking work of science fiction and feminism, there is quite a bit of historical background that could be added to the discussion. While I do think you guys would enjoy discussing them, if not reading, really I just like for others to share my pain. Enticing endorsement, no?
Would it be pushing it to ask to read a HARRY POTTER?At least one? :D
Would like to hear Literary Disco review John Grisham - The Street Lawyer or any of his books. It would interesting to hear what you guys think of the books verses the movies.
I'm really interested in everyone's opinions on these books:1. The New York Trilogy by Auster
2. Perfume by Suskind
3. Just Kids+M Train by Smith
4. Voices from Chernobyl by Alexievich
5. Nimona by Stevenson
6. Complicit by Kuehn
And as for why:1. Really intertextual stuff mixed with a hardboiled mystery that I'm not sure if it worked.
2. Postmodernist historical fiction revolving around creating the perfect scent!!!
3. Really interesting to read late at night/just great books.
4. Grueling stuff from last year's Nobel laureate.
5. Since Julia really liked Lumberjanes!
6. YA book that has been getting buzzed lately.
Voice of the Fire by Alan Moore.
Why?
1. So you can answer the question, how does Moore, better known as a comic book writer, come off as a prose novelist?
2. Can you see his influence on David Mitchell?
3. How about that opening chapter?
Why?
1. So you can answer the question, how does Moore, better known as a comic book writer, come off as a prose novelist?
2. Can you see his influence on David Mitchell?
3. How about that opening chapter?
I cannot remember if you all talked about the Saga graphic novel series. I would love your feedback! I'm getting ready to begin Volume 4 now, which has received rave reviews as the best one yet from friends.
I recommend a book called The Price of Salt/Carol by Patricia Highsmith. It was an excellent read and was also adapted into a pretty good film. I would love to hear the Disco discuss!!
A Mathematician's Lament by Paul Lockhart. It shows how math is an art form and how the U.S. Education screws us up. It shows how math is the most creative thing one can do with their mind. It is even entertaining for non-math lovers. I could not put it down.
"The Family Fang" by Kevin Wilson because Ann Patchett called it brilliant and I wholeheartedly agree.
The Goosebumps book, The Haunted Mask! It's one of the best in the series and, in my opinion, an actually entertaining kids book.
Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan! It's phenomenal!!! Technically a YA book but has so much rich content that adults will love it too!! When is episode 100 going to air???
The Girl on the Train. Everyone seems to have loved it and I can hardly get past the first chapter. I'd love to see what you guys think!
I second the Saga series (graphic novel) recommendation
Stephanie wrote: "I second the Saga series (graphic novel) recommendation"Good idea!!!
And for something completely different: Cheese by Willem Elsschot, a Belgian writer or The evenings by Gerard van het Reve, a Dutch writer.
The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton. because its a great short novel.
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew DesmondThe Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Horror -
The Troop is amazing and gave me gruesome nightmares. I remember in an old episode that Julia said she liked the infectious aspect of zombie novels, this book has that X10. This is my all time favorite horror novel.Books I hated and want to see what you think of them -
Outlander, and
The DinnerKids books - Goosebumps!
I tore through those as a kid.Just a really good book that has stuck with me for years -
Snow Falling on CedarsSomething else I thought that might be interesting would be to do a Joe Hill novel and then compare it to Steven King. Since you guys did Dr. Sleep a good Joe Hill one would be NOS4A2 which mentions the True Knot (group of villains from Dr. Sleep). Just a thought. Love the show, you guys are great!!
Literary Disco
Books mentioned in this topic
The Troop (other topics)Outlander (other topics)
The Dinner (other topics)
Snow Falling on Cedars (other topics)
The Haunted Mask (other topics)
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Agreed, Julianne!