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March 24, 2006
Books
These are the books I have bought, and the reasons why:
* The Odyssey, Homer, translated by Stanley Lombardo -- I read a review of a work of new poems in the New York Times Book Review this weekend. It sounded intriguing at the time, but now I couldn't remember what it was called. So I went to the poetry aisle, hoping it would jump out at me. There, I noticed a translation of the Odyssey that wasn't by Robert Fitzgerald. I was so surprised that I had to pick it up. The verse was muscular, sparese, modern. I couldn't resist.
* Pattern Recognition, William Gibson -- I've been embroiled in thoughts about postmodernism, hipsterism and the power of symbols. And then I learn that William Gibson has written an adventure book on the subject, and it's gotten favorable reviews in the Economist and the Washington Post. This is the man who invented the word "cyberspace" and wrote some dense futuristic computer novels. Now he's being compared to Pyncheon.
* Getting Things Done, David Allen -- I'm not normally one who goes in for self-help books, but this one has been praised many times by people I respect, including strangers on the internet and a journalism superstar.
* Drop City, T. C. Boyle -- A former colleague raved about this book and offered to lend it to me. I declined because she keeps her books pristine and I was afraid I'd damage it. Later, I read another book she'd recommended and realized she had really good insights into literature.
* Three by Three Illustration Annual, number two -- I wanted something visually interesting and the cover on this on this one, a man sculpted of playing cards, drew me in immediately. Still, I spent 20 or more minutes comparing the drawings and graphics in several books of illustration before I decided that this one spoke to me more.
I hope that I enjoy them.
Posted by Courtney_Sherwood at March 24, 2006 08:47 PM