(no subject)
At the beginning of the year I decided to start keeping track of the books I read. Since we're pretty much halfway through the year, here's part one of said list.
January
01. Creature Features: the Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Movie Guide by John Stanley
Not a cover to cover read. I started at the beginning and went through reading reviews of movies I'd seen, heard of, or titles that simply piqued my interest.
02. Last Exit to Brooklyn by Hubert Selby Jr.
I heart this book. I saw the movie first, and still like it after reading the book, but they are fairly different in parts. I liked how the book didn't have so much about the strike as the movie did. I found it odd that Selby's cameo in the movie is during an event that doesn't appear, or is even hinted at, in the book. I definitely need to read more by Selby.
03. Kubrik by Michel Ciment
This is a book I started, stopped, restarted, stopped, read specific sections, etc. etc. I finally read it cover to cover. The biographical information at the beginning is interesting as are the interviews at the end. The middle of the book I will never read again. Most of the middle section I was on autopilot; frequently just reading the words without actually absorbing any of the information. When an outside party puts art (of any kind) under a microscope and proceeds to pull it apart and analyze every aspect of it they're doing the art a disservice. If you need to pull it apart (or have it pulled apart for you) you simply weren't meant to enjoy it. If you can't look at a painting and appreciate it for what it is, if you need to know the motivations and mood and mindset of the painter, you're looking at the wrong kind of painting.
That's what the middle section of this book is: the author dissecting and analyzing, sometimes practically frame by frame, all of Kubrik's films up to 'The Shining'.
February
04. the Happy Hooker: My Own Story by Xaviera Hollander
I had wanted to read this book for awhile. It was an interesting read, but fell short of what I was expecting. I'll give her credit for being honest about the sexual taboos she engaged in prior to being a hooker, even if it did make me say "ick."
05. Xaviera's Supersex by Xaviera Hollander
Riiiiiight. This book has two major faults: One, it was written in the 70's, and Two, it was written by someone attempting (and failing miserably) to be far wittier than she really is. What a waste of paper.
06. I Never Promised You a Rose Garden by Joanne Greenberg
Not bad. I heard about this book shortly after reading Sybil (I think). It didn't quite live up to what I'd heard, but still worth reading.
07. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
As to be expected, there are some major differences between the book and the movie. That said... I don't know which one I like better. Shed some light on the scene near the end of the movie where Sefelt pulls his lower lip down and shows Nurse Ratched his teeth.
March
08. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
I'd read this back in high school. I don't know whether I like it more now, or if I like it in a different way because I'm different now.
09. 1984 by George Orwell
Another one that I'd read in high school. Made for a nice follow-up to Brave New World.
April
10. We Who Are Not As Others by Phillip D. Mannix
Ooooh, FREAKS! Rather dated, but the multitude of quotes and anecdotes from Anton La Vey more than make up for it.
May
11. Corpse: Nature, Forensics, and the Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death by Jessica Snyder Sachs
If you have even the slightest interest in forensics I wholeheartedly recommend this book. One of the most interesting nonfiction books I've read.
12. Delta of Venus by Anais Nin
Meh.
13. Little Birds by Anais Nin
Gave up on it a little more than halfway through, and had to really force myself to get that far. Nin was a great writer, but erotica bores me to tears.
June
14. the Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
Very little was changed when it became a movie. Great read.
15. Butterbox Babies by Bette Cahill
16. The Garbageman by Juan Butler
Ahhh.
17. Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
The precursor to Silence of the Lambs. Both books stand very well on their own.
18. the Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
I regret not reading this book before now. So well written. I bought the movie last week but I highly doubt it's going to live up to the book.
January
01. Creature Features: the Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Movie Guide by John Stanley
Not a cover to cover read. I started at the beginning and went through reading reviews of movies I'd seen, heard of, or titles that simply piqued my interest.
02. Last Exit to Brooklyn by Hubert Selby Jr.
I heart this book. I saw the movie first, and still like it after reading the book, but they are fairly different in parts. I liked how the book didn't have so much about the strike as the movie did. I found it odd that Selby's cameo in the movie is during an event that doesn't appear, or is even hinted at, in the book. I definitely need to read more by Selby.
03. Kubrik by Michel Ciment
This is a book I started, stopped, restarted, stopped, read specific sections, etc. etc. I finally read it cover to cover. The biographical information at the beginning is interesting as are the interviews at the end. The middle of the book I will never read again. Most of the middle section I was on autopilot; frequently just reading the words without actually absorbing any of the information. When an outside party puts art (of any kind) under a microscope and proceeds to pull it apart and analyze every aspect of it they're doing the art a disservice. If you need to pull it apart (or have it pulled apart for you) you simply weren't meant to enjoy it. If you can't look at a painting and appreciate it for what it is, if you need to know the motivations and mood and mindset of the painter, you're looking at the wrong kind of painting.
That's what the middle section of this book is: the author dissecting and analyzing, sometimes practically frame by frame, all of Kubrik's films up to 'The Shining'.
February
04. the Happy Hooker: My Own Story by Xaviera Hollander
I had wanted to read this book for awhile. It was an interesting read, but fell short of what I was expecting. I'll give her credit for being honest about the sexual taboos she engaged in prior to being a hooker, even if it did make me say "ick."
05. Xaviera's Supersex by Xaviera Hollander
Riiiiiight. This book has two major faults: One, it was written in the 70's, and Two, it was written by someone attempting (and failing miserably) to be far wittier than she really is. What a waste of paper.
06. I Never Promised You a Rose Garden by Joanne Greenberg
Not bad. I heard about this book shortly after reading Sybil (I think). It didn't quite live up to what I'd heard, but still worth reading.
07. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
As to be expected, there are some major differences between the book and the movie. That said... I don't know which one I like better. Shed some light on the scene near the end of the movie where Sefelt pulls his lower lip down and shows Nurse Ratched his teeth.
March
08. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
I'd read this back in high school. I don't know whether I like it more now, or if I like it in a different way because I'm different now.
09. 1984 by George Orwell
Another one that I'd read in high school. Made for a nice follow-up to Brave New World.
April
10. We Who Are Not As Others by Phillip D. Mannix
Ooooh, FREAKS! Rather dated, but the multitude of quotes and anecdotes from Anton La Vey more than make up for it.
May
11. Corpse: Nature, Forensics, and the Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death by Jessica Snyder Sachs
If you have even the slightest interest in forensics I wholeheartedly recommend this book. One of the most interesting nonfiction books I've read.
12. Delta of Venus by Anais Nin
Meh.
13. Little Birds by Anais Nin
Gave up on it a little more than halfway through, and had to really force myself to get that far. Nin was a great writer, but erotica bores me to tears.
June
14. the Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
Very little was changed when it became a movie. Great read.
15. Butterbox Babies by Bette Cahill
16. The Garbageman by Juan Butler
Ahhh.
17. Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
The precursor to Silence of the Lambs. Both books stand very well on their own.
18. the Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
I regret not reading this book before now. So well written. I bought the movie last week but I highly doubt it's going to live up to the book.