Participating in the Monday, July 13 Coal Black Horse meeting was definitely worth my fourteen hour drive each way on a number of levels. Seven Apes, our host Phil, Doc, Timmy, John, Glenn, Mike, and I, gathered in rural Wellington to shoot, eat, socialize and discuss Olmstead's Civil War novel. (Sidenote: Brother Mozer called in from India where he was just getting ready for the workday to wish us well and let us know he was thinking of us all.)
In a light drizzle, we each squeezed off a few rounds from an 1863 Springfield musket and an 1851 Colt Navy (replica) pistol and decided had we been under enemy attack we'd be in trouble! Phil efficiently kept the vintage weapons loaded, tamped, and greased, but possibly John's prowess with his childhood lever-action .22 stole the show! Once our thirst for firearms was quenched, we headed back to the hacienda to quench another thirst with O'Dell's Five Barrel or New Belgium's Mighty Arrow, or a glass of wine.
In addition to the grilled flesh of our choice, Chef Teeter deftly augmented the feast with a potato and green bean salad, a squash and onion saute, and a "rustic" blueberry/raspberry tart. Coffee and a wee dram of single malt capped off the meal.
I am not in the Apes' minority when I say that Olmstead's Civil War allegorical novel pulls together and reminds me of classics like The Odyssey, Huckleberry Finn, Red Badge of Courage, and Hemingway's war stories and novels, but all didn't agree it deserved to be mentioned with such revered works. I just really liked everything about the book: tight beautiful prose, the nature/setting as character aspect, the insights into the worst of war and humanity, the bildungsroman aspect, the thought-provoking passages on life, death ("in war even the dead can kill you"), the unforgettable secondary (symbolic??)characters (the title horse, lice-man, the scavengers, upside-down boy, the major), and how the novel shows us how far we've NOT progressed as a society.
Other dinner table discussion points centered on Olmstead successfully capturing the nameless faceless enemy that soldiers face, his ability to once again show how thin the veneer of what we call "civilization" truly is, a man's learning to act or his unwillingness to act when crises hit, and his pointed insights into basic human nature. Of course, comparisons to Cormac McCarthy are inevitable, but I still think both authors reach their similar conclusions about humanity and the world in their own ways even though their prose can be seen as similar.
With Olmstead's newest Far Bright Star released in June, I am already anticipating the final installment in the trilogy and wondering if it will historically cover the era between the Civil War to WWI or jump ahead to WWII or even to Viet Nam . . .stay tuned!
Lastly, Glenn announced that his pick for October is Norwegian Per Petterson's Out Stealing Horses.
Disclaimer: Like the shrewdness has for one hundred forty-nine books and sixteen years, feel free to disagree with, scold, castigate, make fun of, or agree with me for any or all of the above!
See you in September for The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn!
Apr 18, 2009
Hal reveals his June pick
I recently read three good books, all of which I highly recommend -- Rabbit at Rest (Updike), The Women (Boyle), and The White Tiger (Aravind Adiga). They are all great, but ... . Rabbit at Rest is fabulous, but Updike may be accused by some as a navel gazer. Boyle's book about Frank Lloyd Wright is also quite good. But, given that Boyle is an Ape favorite, we might reserve that book for a special event.
The White Tiger (Man Booker, 2008) is short and fresh. It is likely to stimulate a lot of discussion. I missed a few meetings, and trust that these books are still on the "to read" list. So, given that this is the May pick and April's meeting has slid to early May I opt for The White Tiger (a couple hundred pages, and in paper back). It won't disappoint. It won the Man award and we only read men; it is savage (apelike); its protagonist is an entrepreneur ( appealing to the group); and it offers a glimpse into the culture of India (potentially helpful to the entrepreneurs in the group that do or would like to do business there).
So, The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga it is!
Cheers, Hal
The White Tiger (Man Booker, 2008) is short and fresh. It is likely to stimulate a lot of discussion. I missed a few meetings, and trust that these books are still on the "to read" list. So, given that this is the May pick and April's meeting has slid to early May I opt for The White Tiger (a couple hundred pages, and in paper back). It won't disappoint. It won the Man award and we only read men; it is savage (apelike); its protagonist is an entrepreneur ( appealing to the group); and it offers a glimpse into the culture of India (potentially helpful to the entrepreneurs in the group that do or would like to do business there).
So, The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga it is!
Cheers, Hal
Mar 29, 2009
My Take on Sons and Lovers
Well, I'd guess this will not be one of our more popular books. Rather than just dump my bucket, I thougth I'd try to come up with a little more thoughtful criticism, at least from the dumb old engineer perspective.
First off, I can appreciate what an edgy book this must have been when it was published. The topics - inappropriate mother/son relationship, use 'em and lose 'em approach to courting, graphic sex (for the period) must have all been fairly shocking to write about, not necessarily in practice. I'm sure that kind of behavior has always been part of humanity. My take away from this is that one should beware of these "Best Books of the last N years" lists, since this may have been a hum dinger in ~1915, it's not much to write home about now.
Next, a book written in a linear fashion, where the story basically progresses from point A to point B, must have an interesting story or compelling characters, or something else that grips you about the story. Contrast this style with anything by TC Boyle, or East of Eden, and the comparison shows that the style of the writing is over flowery (tho good if you like baroque style writing), and the characters are mostly pathetic. I much prefer a book like Cloud Atlas, where I wasn't crazy about the characters, but the way the book was written was just fascinating. Russo's characters are hugely fascinating by contrast.
Finally, once again, I weary of people sorting out their mental health problems in their books. This book is reputed to be very autobiographical. If that's indeed the case, DHL was a bit of a mess. I'm just not fascinated by people who a) are a mess, or b) have to sort it out for 500 pages.
On the other hand, I'm probably a better man for it. Kind of like working out till you puke.
First off, I can appreciate what an edgy book this must have been when it was published. The topics - inappropriate mother/son relationship, use 'em and lose 'em approach to courting, graphic sex (for the period) must have all been fairly shocking to write about, not necessarily in practice. I'm sure that kind of behavior has always been part of humanity. My take away from this is that one should beware of these "Best Books of the last N years" lists, since this may have been a hum dinger in ~1915, it's not much to write home about now.
Next, a book written in a linear fashion, where the story basically progresses from point A to point B, must have an interesting story or compelling characters, or something else that grips you about the story. Contrast this style with anything by TC Boyle, or East of Eden, and the comparison shows that the style of the writing is over flowery (tho good if you like baroque style writing), and the characters are mostly pathetic. I much prefer a book like Cloud Atlas, where I wasn't crazy about the characters, but the way the book was written was just fascinating. Russo's characters are hugely fascinating by contrast.
Finally, once again, I weary of people sorting out their mental health problems in their books. This book is reputed to be very autobiographical. If that's indeed the case, DHL was a bit of a mess. I'm just not fascinated by people who a) are a mess, or b) have to sort it out for 500 pages.
On the other hand, I'm probably a better man for it. Kind of like working out till you puke.
Mar 20, 2009
A Biography to Consider
Grant by Jean Edward Smith(yes,he is a male author!)is excellent. I am 350 pages in which is about half way and I have not become bored or disinterested in the least. It reads like Undaunted Courage. There are sweeping battle scenes yet intimate personal triumphs and tragedies. Along the way we meet interesting personalities and hear not so disconnected anecdotes. All of which, create a broader fabric and historical backdrop for Grant's stoic personality to move about freely.
The only thing that is a bit difficult are all of the different names of Generals and Captains etc... There are so many from both side and most of them sucked as leaders. I am learning a lot about leadership--good and bad. Within this one book, I see the differences between Shackelton leadership versus the Into Thin Air-type leadership...all taking place on the battlefield.
Grant was a great leader because he displayed two characteristics and had one important personal experience which he used throughout his time. He always displayed an unrelenting decisiveness and an unswerving ability to see things in a positive light and communicate that to all around him while trusting his inferiors. Grant also understood how to supply his army because he was a quartermaster for a few years...His army was always well supplied, fed and encouraged.
It is all a good lesson to me.
Maybe a book to consider for 150? Grant enjoyed his cigars, drink and the outdoors as well as any of us. I have access to a beautiful home in Galena, IL where Grant lived in retirement.
The only thing that is a bit difficult are all of the different names of Generals and Captains etc... There are so many from both side and most of them sucked as leaders. I am learning a lot about leadership--good and bad. Within this one book, I see the differences between Shackelton leadership versus the Into Thin Air-type leadership...all taking place on the battlefield.
Grant was a great leader because he displayed two characteristics and had one important personal experience which he used throughout his time. He always displayed an unrelenting decisiveness and an unswerving ability to see things in a positive light and communicate that to all around him while trusting his inferiors. Grant also understood how to supply his army because he was a quartermaster for a few years...His army was always well supplied, fed and encouraged.
It is all a good lesson to me.
Maybe a book to consider for 150? Grant enjoyed his cigars, drink and the outdoors as well as any of us. I have access to a beautiful home in Galena, IL where Grant lived in retirement.
Mar 10, 2009
Mar 8, 2009
Chad says . . .
Hey Apes,
I have just completed The Brothers by Yu Hua. Doc brought the novel for me when he came to Chicago for my Mardi Gras. An expansive 641 page novel that is probably more complex and artful in the original Chinese. It follows two brothers through the movement of a rural Chinese po-dunk town to its globalization. It could have been a middle American town boy of the '40s goes to L.A. in the 90's. The novel spans from pre-Mao Cultural Revolution to sex change operations of the new century. An expasive and sarcastic look at what we have lost as a global culture and what the Chinese culture has lost especially due to the last Olympics. Could provide us some interesting discussion, but it is a lot of pages to read.
March 8, 2009 8:51 AM
I have just completed The Brothers by Yu Hua. Doc brought the novel for me when he came to Chicago for my Mardi Gras. An expansive 641 page novel that is probably more complex and artful in the original Chinese. It follows two brothers through the movement of a rural Chinese po-dunk town to its globalization. It could have been a middle American town boy of the '40s goes to L.A. in the 90's. The novel spans from pre-Mao Cultural Revolution to sex change operations of the new century. An expasive and sarcastic look at what we have lost as a global culture and what the Chinese culture has lost especially due to the last Olympics. Could provide us some interesting discussion, but it is a lot of pages to read.
March 8, 2009 8:51 AM
Mar 2, 2009
Updates
As you can see, I've spent a little time learning how to edit and better maintain our blogsite. I was flying pretty blind and there was a lot of trial and error. We still have pictures from Trout Village to post, so I think that will spruce it up even more. I'm most proud of getting our reading list reversed, so it goes from most recent back to #1, Blood Ties. As soon as meeting dates, times, and places are set I can add them to the appropriate spot. Now I need to add the correct bookcover in the "Up Next" spot. Let me know what you like or don't like, what you want to see/read and what I should take down. I'll do my best. Enjoy . . .and it's time we all got going on Sons and Lovers!
Mar 9, 2008
March 2008
We will welcome Jeff and possibly Chad to our next meeting in March where we will feast on fine food, drink heartily, smoke fine cigars and discuss Denis Johnson's Tree of Smoke. Some in our group will attend an uplifting chorale performance and attend the Lyric Cinema Cafe's latest independent film offering.
Johnson's hefty tome on Vietnam is meandering and reminiscent of characters from Apocalypse Now. If you aren't at least 300 pages in, you'll be pressed to be finished.
I'll be off to Cabo San Lucas for some much needed R & R next week with Beth. Our son, Taylor, is headed to Europe for a school trip while we are gone.
Doc
Johnson's hefty tome on Vietnam is meandering and reminiscent of characters from Apocalypse Now. If you aren't at least 300 pages in, you'll be pressed to be finished.
I'll be off to Cabo San Lucas for some much needed R & R next week with Beth. Our son, Taylor, is headed to Europe for a school trip while we are gone.
Doc
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