(Is it inappropriate to say Under the Jag Sun? Listen, I have feelings to get out, I can't have proper names holding me back.)
I think what struck me about Jag Sun (see, getting shorter) is that the stories felt a bit disjointed, making for an loosely unified, unfinished sort of collection. Of course, poor Italo actually died in the middle of writing it, so that's something to be taken into account.
I liked the first story the best, like everyone else, because it did strike me as the most sensual -- or the one story that expressed actual sensual fulfillment. (Maybe I share your taste/sex associations, Garen.) The two lately celibate lovers masticate their way through Oaxaca and rediscover their sexuality and ... innate cannibalism. That's a theme I can get behind. Really! There's something convincingly primordial and natural about the idea. Think (though I know you don't want to) about all the animals/beings that kill their mates after copulation in nature -- you know, praying mantises and black widow spiders and other insects and vermin. Maybe Italo could have taken a page from Kafka and Jeff Goldblum and had his lovers turn into giant bugs. (That probably would have been a bad idea for the story, but how often do I get the chance to link Jeff Goldblum and Kafka and Italo Calvino?)
I'm not sure I know exactly what Italo was saying, ultimately, with his titular story. First, our narrator has the uncomfortable, then scintillating feeling that his lover Olivia is consuming him as she eats. Then he realizes she finds him bland, tasteless. Then.. he realizes that he has to eat her while she eats him, somehow? What are your thoughts about this? You are what you eat because what you're eating is eating you?
The other stories were comparatively weak up against the intrinsic sex and violence of the first; but, I don't totally share Garen's view on this because I don't think that these last two pieces tried that hard to connect sexual energy with the senses. In fact, I find very little to connect them with Jag Sun in the first place. With these, the point seemed to be that each sense in question was subverted by circumstance, portraying the limited range and utility every sense has when it must work on its own. The immobile, paranoid King (who I couldn't help but imagine as Jabba the Hutt) could not identify the sounds he heard, making their existence essentially a moot point, and the drunk/incapacitated/thwarted musician could not locate the particular scent he smelled until it was too late to matter. But that may be just me, always finding the futility. Who's a Debbie Downer with me?
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
I agree with everything that Kelly said actually. I definitely stayed engaged in the first story more than any of the others. For some reason I find it easier to connect taste with sexual energy than sound or smell. Whoops, was that an overshare? That seemed like the point of the three stories, to connect romantic / sexual feelings with the various senses, and the first story just seemed the most convincing to me. Food is delicious.
What did everyone think of the second story being written in the second person. That's what seemed the most striking to me, and I agree with Kelly that that story stuck with me the most. That one also seemed the most cinematic in a way. I can totally see a short film using all sorts of interesting images, and of course lots of striking sounds / beautiful music.
What did everyone think of the second story being written in the second person. That's what seemed the most striking to me, and I agree with Kelly that that story stuck with me the most. That one also seemed the most cinematic in a way. I can totally see a short film using all sorts of interesting images, and of course lots of striking sounds / beautiful music.
Kids, I had the flu last week, and let me tell you, I read a helluva lotta books.
My selections included Atonement, Valley of the Dolls, about three back issues of Time magazine, and of course, Under the Jaguar Sun. Hey, when your temperature hits 103, you start getting pretty eclectic with your choices.
That said, I was much too sheepish to kick off the discussion, so many thanks to Greg for taking one for the team. But perhaps more importantly, kudos on your reference to synesthesia. After learning about this intriguing ailment on a particularly wacky episode of "House," I based one of my essays for French class on the notion that Proust was probably afflicted with it. Lord, I hate Proust ...
Okay, so about this book: I'm very into short stories at the moment, probably because my senioritis has reached the point where reading anything more than 30 pages has become a task of Herculean proportions. The first one I thought was pretty brilliant, and oh holy hell, how much did you want Mexican food after that? Just thinking about it is making me salivate -- Oh, speaking of which, learned this little trick in one of my thousands of trips to the doctor last week: Close your eyes and picture sucking on a lemon drop. Don't move a muscle, just picture it ... Is your mouth filling up with spit? How freaky is that?!
But I digress ... Upon finishing, my initial reaction was that the book debuted with the best story, but then each subsequent one got progressively worse. However, I find that, more than the others, the second one about the king confined to his throne stuck with me days later. I dunno, maybe it's because every time I hear a floorboard creak I fear that it's the mouse that recently made an appearance in our apartment. Or maybe it's 'cause with all the political coverage in the news of late, I'm finding myself wondering if Barack and Hillary could really handle the pressure of running a country. McCain probably could -- he is one tough old bird.
And that, my friends, is my very first legit blog entry. I'm pretty proud!
My selections included Atonement, Valley of the Dolls, about three back issues of Time magazine, and of course, Under the Jaguar Sun. Hey, when your temperature hits 103, you start getting pretty eclectic with your choices.
That said, I was much too sheepish to kick off the discussion, so many thanks to Greg for taking one for the team. But perhaps more importantly, kudos on your reference to synesthesia. After learning about this intriguing ailment on a particularly wacky episode of "House," I based one of my essays for French class on the notion that Proust was probably afflicted with it. Lord, I hate Proust ...
Okay, so about this book: I'm very into short stories at the moment, probably because my senioritis has reached the point where reading anything more than 30 pages has become a task of Herculean proportions. The first one I thought was pretty brilliant, and oh holy hell, how much did you want Mexican food after that? Just thinking about it is making me salivate -- Oh, speaking of which, learned this little trick in one of my thousands of trips to the doctor last week: Close your eyes and picture sucking on a lemon drop. Don't move a muscle, just picture it ... Is your mouth filling up with spit? How freaky is that?!
But I digress ... Upon finishing, my initial reaction was that the book debuted with the best story, but then each subsequent one got progressively worse. However, I find that, more than the others, the second one about the king confined to his throne stuck with me days later. I dunno, maybe it's because every time I hear a floorboard creak I fear that it's the mouse that recently made an appearance in our apartment. Or maybe it's 'cause with all the political coverage in the news of late, I'm finding myself wondering if Barack and Hillary could really handle the pressure of running a country. McCain probably could -- he is one tough old bird.
And that, my friends, is my very first legit blog entry. I'm pretty proud!
Monday, March 3, 2008
I don't have much time to write anything meaningful about the book right now, but I have finished it. Initial reaction was that it was, by default (I think), the best modern Italian book I have ever read and the second best representation of a synesthesia-like reaction to food (first being the fireworks the rats imagine when they eat in "Ratatouille"). I'll try to post something of substance later on this week.
I've read only one of the books on the Tournament of Books site - the Junot Diaz one. It was really good, so I guess I'm rooting for it.
I've read only one of the books on the Tournament of Books site - the Junot Diaz one. It was really good, so I guess I'm rooting for it.
Friday, February 29, 2008
It's true, and I'm sorry, but February IS a short month you know.
Blair's done me a great service in outing me; I was still working up the courage to give you all my humblest apologies. No, I didn't read the book, not because I didn't want to, but because I was going to borrow a copy. Obviously that didn't work out, so I should have probably bought the book sooner than, oh, yesterday. But I am reading speedily! And I remain forever committed to FTC! And you guys can be mean to me?
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Fear not!
Blair, I read it too. I think we can be best friends now.
I've been thinking about what I want my post to look like. I'll definitely write something soon. Especially if you write something first and give me something to respond to!
I've been thinking about what I want my post to look like. I'll definitely write something soon. Especially if you write something first and give me something to respond to!
Book v. Book, or March Madness for Nerds
This isn't related to the Finest Things Club per se, but it is awesome nonetheless: Tournament of Books. As you will see, this website, the Morning News (also recommended), has created a NCAA-ish bracket situation, except with books! They have guest judges who read two books, pick a winner, and send a book on to the next round. Arbitrary book competitions are the best. I have heard of only 7 of these books and read none, but I'm still excited for the battle.
Speaking of not reading books, am I the only one who has finished Under the Jaguar Sun? I'll be posting about it soon, but I have a sinking feeling that no one else has read it (including the FTC's own creator! You are outed, Stephanie!). February is going to be over soon! Good thing it's a Leap Year; you have one more day!
Speaking of not reading books, am I the only one who has finished Under the Jaguar Sun? I'll be posting about it soon, but I have a sinking feeling that no one else has read it (including the FTC's own creator! You are outed, Stephanie!). February is going to be over soon! Good thing it's a Leap Year; you have one more day!
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Friday, February 1, 2008
FIRST SIX PICKS!-- WITH UPDATE (2)
Ladies and gentlemen,
The first six fateful books have been chosen for our first six fateful months -- by a higher power. (My computer, if you were wondering, running this randomizer program I got off the Internet: http://random-name-picker.qarchive.org/)
They are as follows:
1. Under the Jaguar Sun
2. The Satanic Verses
3. Slaughterhouse-Five
4. In Cold BloodVETO (T): NOW:Persepolis
5. Wuthering HeightsVETO (K): NOW: Jitterbug Perfume
6. Decline and Fall
If you would like to use your veto on any one of these works, please do so now in the comments. If you veto a book, it is off the list (so you better mean it), and another will be randomly selected to fill its spot -- and that selection,too, can be vetoed. We veto/pick until everyone has used their vetoes or doesn't want to. You have 24 hours to speak up.
The first six fateful books have been chosen for our first six fateful months -- by a higher power. (My computer, if you were wondering, running this randomizer program I got off the Internet: http://random-name-picker.qarchive.org/)
They are as follows:
1. Under the Jaguar Sun
2. The Satanic Verses
3. Slaughterhouse-Five
4. In Cold BloodVETO (T): NOW:Persepolis
5. Wuthering HeightsVETO (K): NOW: Jitterbug Perfume
6. Decline and Fall
If you would like to use your veto on any one of these works, please do so now in the comments. If you veto a book, it is off the list (so you better mean it), and another will be randomly selected to fill its spot -- and that selection,too, can be vetoed. We veto/pick until everyone has used their vetoes or doesn't want to. You have 24 hours to speak up.
My Book Choices--finally!
My sincerest apology for delaying our exciting book choosing shindig. I have never blogged before so everything associated with club is new and exciting!
A Clockwork Orange By Anthony Burgess
A Passage to India By E.M. Forster
One Hundred Years of Solitude By Gabriel Garcia Marquez
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