p.Haney
Horn.com reviews Jennifer Egan’s Pulitzer prize-winning novel A Visit From the Goon Squad. HBO is adapting it for television with Egan serving as a consultant. This should be good.
Cover illustration by Peter Palombi / photographed by Jim Miller.
“This book is my fiftieth birthday present to myself. I feel as though I am crossing the spine of a pitched roof—having ascended one slope. I am programmed at fifty to perform childishly—to insult “The Star-Spangled Banner,” to scrawl pictures of a Nazi flag and an asshole and a lot of other things with a felt-tipped pen…” – Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
Anyone case to join us for a big bowl of Vonnegut?
Winston stopped reading, chiefly in order to appreciate the fact that he was reading, in comfort and safety. He was alone: no telescreen, no ear at the keyhole, no nervous impulse to glance over his shoulder or cover the page with his hand. The sweet summer air played against his cheek. From somewhere far away there floated the faint shouts of children; in the room itself there was no sound except the insect voice of the clock. He settled deeper into the armchair and put up his feet on the fender. It was bliss, it was eternity. Suddenly, as one sometimes does with a book of which one knows that one will ultimately read and reread every word, he opened it at a different place and found himself at the third chapter. He went on reading:
(Source: youmightfindyourself)
Ereaders also sound like people - a certain kind of reader, the voracious reader-traveler Amazon and Apple seem to believe in - always moving, always genially looking for plots that move. Reading itself doesn’t seem fraught for ereaders, as it usually is when iread (and seems to be for most readers iknow)). The ereader - the device, the person - fears only a lack of books.
“Under the spreading chestnut tree, I sold you and you sold me”
If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face— forever.
Just reread Orwell’s 1984 for the first time since freshmen year of college (pre-9/11). Terrifying, prescient and very well written - remembering now why it is one of my favorites. I need to pickup an updated copy with the forward by Pynchon.
Finished Kavelier & Clay on my way in this morning and instantly would put it among my favorite novels of all time.
High praise from a Tumblr tastemaker. Going to have to put this near the top of the “next book to read” queue.
