Travis Timmons > Recent Status Updates

Tentative thesis: Saunders' writing more compellingly captures contemporary identity than either, say, DFW or Zadie Smith, but there's this level of possible irony that's always lurking in Saunders. In some ways, his prose is less "literary," but more interesting. Yet he doesn't seem to do redemption as skillfully as DFW or Zadie.

My first taste of Saunders. Really incredible stuff so far. The terrifying ontology of teenagers ("Victory Lap"). The 3rd-person-becomes-sorta-1st-person narrative, then switches between characters ("Puppy"), or digs deep ("Al Roosten"). The contemporary conscious and idiom defamiliarized ("Escape from Spiderhead"). All gripping stuff.

Just started, but I really love it so far. The perfect blend of sport, reflection, art, life, and living.

Still amazed by this book. Definitely one of my favorite sport-related works of all time already.

Already very compelling! In just the opening chapter, perhaps the best description/explanation of the burden of winning and the reality of complacency that I've read. Remarkably reflective writing so far.

Cowen's book reading heuristics -- much to ponder! But I have to say that we need more book reading (and culture experiencing) heuristics attempts like this.

Let "rough draft" out a couple ideas from my own reading:
--when reading non-fiction, start with the "Index" to get a more granular sense of the book's contents, context, and influences.
--Skim, but don't skip introductions.

On to the final chapter! Whew, historicity was a beast.

Whew! Chapter 5 of Division I was a rich trove of concepts.