Now reading...

[BillF]

I've been reading some of Eugene O'Neill's later plays -- Iceman Cometh, Touch of the Poet, Moon for the Misbegotten. (I'm actually going to see a production of Long Day's Journey into Night next month, so I'm holding off on that.) I can't help but notice how many are set in bars or are about drunken wastrels. While he is still a terrific dramatist, his range, particularly in his last few plays, is pretty narrow, particularly when compared to Tennessee Williams who went in some really crazy directions in his last plays.

Yes, I read a few O'Neills, but never found them memorable, unlike Williams. Perhaps some of the difference is because O'Neill belongs to an era pretty distant from our own - so much of his stuff was written in the 20s and the 30s, whereas Williams' key period is at least 20 years later. But, where American drama is concerned, Arthur Miller is my favorite, both for intensity and social message.

[ejp626]

I've been reading some of Eugene O'Neill's later plays...

Yes, I read a few O'Neills, but never found them memorable, unlike Williams. Perhaps some of the difference is because O'Neill belongs to an era pretty distant from our own - so much of his stuff was written in the 20s and the 30s, whereas Williams' key period is at least 20 years later. But, where American drama is concerned, Arthur Miller is my favorite, both for intensity and social message.

I've been very fortunate that a company here in Chicago has been doing some of Arthur Miller's real rarities, including Resurrection Blues & After the Fall. I should be able to watch A View from the Bridge later this season, and with that, I'll have seen nearly everything (at least the ones I wanted to see) with the exception of Incident at Vichy (which was done while I was out of Chicago).

[BillF]

Very much enjoyed this. Le Carré in humorous mode - the location recalled Graham Greene, the satire Evelyn Waugh.

[BruceH]

Freedom. I like it so far.

Nice phrase, that.

[jlhoots]

Freedom. I like it so far.

Nice phrase, that.

Now 50% through Freedom. Still like it.

[jazzbo]

[paul secor]

More Reginald Hill: Child's Play

[BillF]

Another very readable Le Carré:

[A Lark Ascending]

Very much enjoyed this contemporary satire - skewers everything you'd hope for - high finance, hoorays, religious fundamentalism, critics who get off on despising others, reality TV etc. I can't say I understood the financial shenanigans but I got the gist.

[ejp626]

Midaq Alley - Mahfouz

The English Teacher - Narayan

[ghost of miles]

[BillF]

Found these in very good condition for £1 each in a used book store. Excellent vintage science fiction. Read 'em, Bruce?

[BruceH]

I think I may have read Planet of No Return. I've read a cartload of his books over the years (decades.) And it seems that like you, every once in a while I find a pile of cheap Poul Anderson novels and/or collections and buy a bunch of them.

[Van Basten II]

[Jazzmoose]

I think I may have read Planet of No Return. I've read a cartload of his books over the years (decades.) And it seems that like you, every once in a while I find a pile of cheap Poul Anderson novels and/or collections and buy a bunch of them.

I don't know why, but the only Anderson book I've read is Tau Zero. I enjoyed it, but never bothered to read another.

[jazzbo]

Anderson wasn't the best writer of prose, but he had some great story ideas and created some great recurring central characters. I really like his stories about the intergalactic diplomatic/secret agent, and that trio of merchants, and the Time Patrol stories.

[porcy62]

Lately I read lots of Murakami Haruki.

[BruceH]

I'd have to say I've tended to like Poul Anderson's stories more than his novels.

[medjuck]

Nat Hentoff's "At the Jazz Band Ball". Haphazard collection of writings for periodicals. Not very well edited-- some anecdotes are told several times-- but it probably shouldn't be read straight through which is the way I read it. Nevertheless very worthwhile and full of his love for the music and even more so the musicians.

[Brad]

Laurie Lee: Moment of War.

[BruceH]

Iain M. Banks---Surface Detail (so far a whole lot better than the last Culture novel.)

[A Lark Ascending]

Well, everyone's been killed off in Oxford so the murderers with intellectual tastes have moved.

Very enoyable murder mystery - specially if you know Cambridge.

Now on:

Part of a great 30s/40s series (they overlap but are not a series or chronological). This one is based in Poland in 1937.

[ejp626]

Americana Don DeLillo Apparently his first novel. Really hits it out of the park. I try not to get jealous of first novels, but damn.

Now this one intrigues me (also a first novel sort of in the David Foster Wallace vein), but I'll wait until it goes on deep, deep discount in about 6 months.

[BillF]

[jazzbo]

I know that people rag on the Gateway sequels, but I think they're quite good.

Edited November 10, 2010 by jazzbo