ejp626 Posted June 9, 2019 Report Posted June 9, 2019 35 minutes ago, Matthew said: I can only take Powers in small doses, one or two stories a week. His stories are very finished, if you know what I mean. Though, I will say, he is, to my mind, with out a doubt, the best writer on the priesthood I've ever read. The character and thoughts of the priests are spot on. I do have this volume of his short stories but haven't cracked it yet. In the next month or so, I plan on rereading Morte d'Urban, which I enjoyed quite a bit 15 or so years ago. I suspect I'll still like it on the next go round. Quote
ghost of miles Posted June 9, 2019 Author Report Posted June 9, 2019 38 minutes ago, Matthew said: I can only take Powers in small doses, one or two stories a week. His stories are very finished, if you know what I mean. Though, I will say, he is, to my mind, with out a doubt, the best writer on the priesthood I've ever read. The character and thoughts of the priests are spot on. Merton read and commented on some of his work, correct? Quote
Brad Posted June 9, 2019 Report Posted June 9, 2019 With all due respect and no insult intended to anyone, but reading stories about priests doesn’t sound overly exciting to me, but, then again, reading stories by Isaac Bashevis Singer might not be exciting to others. Quote
Matthew Posted June 10, 2019 Report Posted June 10, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, ghost of miles said: Merton read and commented on some of his work, correct? Correct, but it wasn't a close relationship, one of the many writers Merton had a passing acquaintanceship with, but nothing deep. In fact, if I remember correctly, they met when Merton when to Minnesota for a psychology workshop on formation, and it was at the workshop that he was ambushed and "diagnosed" by Dr. Gregory Zilboorg. It was Abbot James Fox set up the meeting (with Zilboorg) and never told Merton about it -- Merton never forgave Abbot Fox for that. 1 hour ago, Brad said: With all due respect and no insult intended to anyone, but reading stories about priests doesn’t sound overly exciting to me, but, then again, reading stories by Isaac Bashevis Singer might not be exciting to others. Hey, I get what you're saying! Edited June 10, 2019 by Matthew Quote
Brad Posted June 10, 2019 Report Posted June 10, 2019 An interesting tale: What Happened After P.G. Wodehouse Was Captured During World War II As told through the pages of the New York Times. Quote
Shrdlu Posted June 10, 2019 Report Posted June 10, 2019 That paper is one of those sulky sites that block you if you have an ad blocker. I just leave their page when they do that. Anyway, I know the full story about Wodehouse in WW II. He was a guy who was above the grubby world of politics. He made at least one non-political broadcast from Germany, and some stuffed shirts griped about it. At the war's conclusion, he was arrested by the Brits, but fortunately, he was interviewed by Malcolm Muggeridge, who was an officer at the time. Muggeridge had a brain and soon realized that Wodehouse had done nothing wrong. He was just unlucky to be in Europe at the time. The stupid Brits boycotted him for decades, and it was only just before he died that they finally honored him for the brilliant writer that he was. He was not a N.A.S.D.A.P. member or sympathiser. So, let us enjoy his superb books and forget about that sad business. Quote
medjuck Posted June 10, 2019 Report Posted June 10, 2019 The Times story is worth trying to read, though it never explains (unless I missed it) how he got back to Paris from Berlin. Quote
Brad Posted June 13, 2019 Report Posted June 13, 2019 1 hour ago, jlhoots said: Isabella Hammad: The Parisian I've read favorable reviews about this. Quote
ghost of miles Posted June 15, 2019 Author Report Posted June 15, 2019 New book by Erik Davis, whose 33 1/3 on Led Zeppelin IV I greatly enjoyed: Quote
ejp626 Posted June 16, 2019 Report Posted June 16, 2019 Wrapped up Achebe's Arrow of God, completing my pass through the "African Trilogy." My favorite of the three was No Longer at Ease. Just starting in on Ovid's Metamorpheses. While the Humphries is still my favorite translation, this time around I'm also going to take a look at Melville (Oxford) as well as Golding (Shakespeare worked from this translation). Quote
sgcim Posted June 16, 2019 Report Posted June 16, 2019 "Fifties Jazz Talk" by Gordon Jack. What other book has loads of stories about obscure musicians like Tony Fruscella and Don Joseph? Who knew that Don Joseph was Gerry Mulligan's favorite trumpet player (other than Chet), and that he was supposed to be the trumpet player in the sextet that Mulligan formed in 1955, but he just didn't show up, so he had to get Idrees Sullieman. Or that Getz phoned the A&R man the day after they recorded "The Girl From Ipanema", to make sure that Astrud Gilberto didn't get any kind of deal on the hit record, and that all the money went to Getz. Although I have some records with Frank Isola playing drums on them, I had no idea that he was considered one of the most respected drummers in NY. I'm only up to page 70, but this has got to be one of the best collections of oral history on jazz musicians of the 50s ever compiled into one book. Quote
Quasimado Posted June 16, 2019 Report Posted June 16, 2019 1 hour ago, sgcim said: "Fifties Jazz Talk" by Gordon Jack. What other book has loads of stories about obscure musicians like Tony Fruscella and Don Joseph? Who knew that Don Joseph was Gerry Mulligan's favorite trumpet player (other than Chet), and that he was supposed to be the trumpet player in the sextet that Mulligan formed in 1955, but he just didn't show up, so he had to get Idrees Sullieman. Or that Getz phoned the A&R man the day after they recorded "The Girl From Ipanema", to make sure that Astrud Gilberto didn't get any kind of deal on the hit record, and that all the money went to Getz. Although I have some records with Frank Isola playing drums on them, I had no idea that he was considered one of the most respected drummers in NY. I'm only up to page 70, but this has got to be one of the best collections of oral history on jazz musicians of the 50s ever compiled into one book. Good book! There's a thread somewhere ... Quote
Larry Kart Posted June 16, 2019 Report Posted June 16, 2019 2 hours ago, sgcim said: "Fifties Jazz Talk" by Gordon Jack. What other book has loads of stories about obscure musicians like Tony Fruscella and Don Joseph? Who knew that Don Joseph was Gerry Mulligan's favorite trumpet player (other than Chet), and that he was supposed to be the trumpet player in the sextet that Mulligan formed in 1955, but he just didn't show up, so he had to get Idrees Sullieman. Or that Getz phoned the A&R man the day after they recorded "The Girl From Ipanema", to make sure that Astrud Gilberto didn't get any kind of deal on the hit record, and that all the money went to Getz. Although I have some records with Frank Isola playing drums on them, I had no idea that he was considered one of the most respected drummers in NY. I'm only up to page 70, but this has got to be one of the best collections of oral history on jazz musicians of the 50s ever compiled into one book. Excellent book. Quote
sgcim Posted June 16, 2019 Report Posted June 16, 2019 17 hours ago, Larry Kart said: Excellent book. Best line in the book so far: Don Joseph on being kicked out of most big bands in NYC for general carousing, and exiled from Charlie's for bumming one too many drinks, yells out to Charlie from outside the bar, "Hey, Charlie, it's me, Don Joseph. I'm banned from bars, and barred from bands!" Quote
ghost of miles Posted June 17, 2019 Author Report Posted June 17, 2019 25 minutes ago, medjuck said: Happy Bloomsday! Quote
BillF Posted June 21, 2019 Report Posted June 21, 2019 The most memorable part for me - and I suppose it's true - is how the youthful Benny went into the Messengers and reformed them, first getting Art to fire the existing members (not named, but I'm guessing Hardman, Dockery and DeBrest) and replacing them with fellow Philadelphians Morgan, Timmons and Merritt, Art allegedly at first saying, "What's this Philadelphia shit?" Benny then re-writes the book, telling Art he needs tunes like "Moanin'" and "Blues March". He then plans the famous Blue Note album and tells Art a European trip is essential, so they go to Paris... Quote
David Ayers Posted June 22, 2019 Report Posted June 22, 2019 13 hours ago, BillF said: The most memorable part for me - and I suppose it's true - is how the youthful Benny went into the Messengers and reformed them, first getting Art to fire the existing members (not named, but I'm guessing Hardman, Dockery and DeBrest) and replacing them with fellow Philadelphians Morgan, Timmons and Merritt, Art allegedly at first saying, "What's this Philadelphia shit?" Benny then re-writes the book, telling Art he needs tunes like "Moanin'" and "Blues March". He then plans the famous Blue Note album and tells Art a European trip is essential, so they go to Paris... And the rest, as they say...😄 Quote
mjazzg Posted June 22, 2019 Report Posted June 22, 2019 On 19/06/2019 at 1:01 AM, Brad said: That looks intriguing I'm just finishing this. Enjoyable enough read but strikes as quite superficial and betrays the it's culled from so many sources. Taught me things I didn't know about the period that just predates me. I've grown up with its influence. A good primer, perhaps. Quote
Matthew Posted June 24, 2019 Report Posted June 24, 2019 One Man's Dark by Maurice Manning. Nice book of poems. Quote
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