Dreaming of Babylon
Wed, 2004-01-14 17:25
#1
Dreaming of Babylon
It's New Year and I'm having a serious blue about the absolute rubbishness of the 40+ hours a week I spend working for a tyrant - by way of compensating for this, I am only reading books that I know provide absolute and unadulterated joy.
As such: I am rereading a whole lot of Richard Brautigan.
I embarked on Dreaming of Babylon last night (it's the story of a flakey detective who gets nothing done because he is always dreaming of fictional adventures that take part in Babylon) and - I can't tell you the number of times today (enduring much in the way of crap from my small minded superior) that I have wanted to dream of babylon . . .
But it got me wondering: what do you guys reread when yo just want pure pleasure . . . .?
Tony Cook
Brautigan is high on my list but top of the pops for me is Tom Robbins closely followed by early Vonnegut.
Others I keep re-reading: Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Catch 22.... er that's about it.
It's not that I don't enjoy many other authors or books but these are the ones I constantly return to when I just want a really good read.
marc
Funnily enough, I often return to Trout Fishing In America. No idea how Brauti does what he does, and I've tried to figure him out, and can't, but it's twisting, teasing fiery magic on every page....The seeming ease with which he does what he does, and yet try and do it yourself!!!
Just a born writer.
That he shot himself and was so ignored in the end is an unbelievable tragedy.
[%sig%]
Pete
I couldn't agree more: I think he was one of those writers that was suddenly "fashionable" and "cool" to like, and then fashion moved on (as it has a habit of doing) but he carried on writing, and carried on writing great books I might add, that sold in steadily diminishing amounts - the last book he published in his lifetime - So the wind doesn't blow it all away - is also one of his best. And it sold zip. Go figure.
drew
Go figure.
I figure - have you been to Waterstones and seen what is out there?
Brautigan is a huge influence on me - my favourite as mentioned a 1000 times is 'Confederate General from Big Sur'. Also his short story about the man writing the great American novel - I love that one.
Also Isherwood's Goodbye to Berlin - I love this and can read it over and over.
Also Postman Always Rings Twice
Again as mentioned before.
The only new big thing for me last year, as advertised by d bes, is Arthur Bradford's Dogwalker - already I've read this three times and if you haven't got it yet then get it.