(no subject)

[jfb]

Two books I've recently enjoyed:

Caucasia by Danzy Senna. In the 1970s, a young biracial girl flees from the FBI with her white radical mother, passing for Jewish in rural New Hampshire and wondering when her father will come back to her. "A long time ago I disappeared. One day I was here, the next I was gone. It happened as quickly as all that." From these opening sentences I was expecting a more... poetic book than it is. Instead, it's mostly just a story, but it's a very good one. (Times review.)

The Autograph Man by Zadie Smith. A trader in autographs tries to juggle, among other things, a collapsing relationship, an impending ceremony for his long-dead father, and a search for the movie star he's idolized since childhood. Much thematic material on fame, loss, Jewishness, and moviegoing. Some of which sounds pretty heavy, but mostly the book made me laugh, which is rare and appreciated. (Downish Times review.)

Comments

[bnewmark.livejournal.com]

i heard that white teeth by zadie smith is -very- good - it's on my to-read list. have you read that one?

[jfb.livejournal.com]

No I have not. I kept hearing how great it was, and I've read about it with some interest, but when I pick it up, it doesn't grab me, so I put it down again.

I might give it another try now that I've enjoyed The Autograph Man. What I hear from people is that the latter is a "lighter" book than her first, which often seems to be an insult but might be exactly what I liked about it.

[copperqueen.livejournal.com]

I've had Caucasia on my bookshelf around for a time. Thanks for the review; I'll move it to the top of my list.

I like the music in your songs, by the way.

[jfb.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I see you live in Portland--I'm hoping to play there later this year, maybe you can drop by if it works out.

And re camping alone--I was using what's called a "two-person tent", and I guess it'd be big enough for two people if one of them was a chihuahua. To actually camp with two people I guess I'd need to buy a family-size tent. Oh yeah, and meet someone to go camping with.

[copperqueen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I shared a four person tent with a friend and it was just big enough for two, so I dunno what the deal is with that. She said she'd had 7 people in it once, which didn't seem humanly possible. I guess they were lying side by side. Damn - why not just sleep outside!?

Let me know when you'll be in town; I don't see much live, local/regional music because I'm clueless about it. I only go if invited.

[jfb.livejournal.com]

Seven people in a "four-person" tent sounds INSANE. You'd have to stack them.

I will let you know. Live, local music is good! I don't know your tastes, but Portland seems to house a lot of musicians I like. And Music Fest NW (http://www.musicfestnw.com/mfest.html) is coming up in a couple of weeks. I've never heard of most of the bands there, but some of them must be good. Probably. I don't know.

[artname.livejournal.com]

It is, in fact, big enough for one person and two Labradors.

[shoebox-bird.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed Caucasia. It was a random library find that ended up being quite the win.

Thanks for posting the title; I had been mentally searching for it for months.

[jfb.livejournal.com]

It was pretty random for me too--I saw it at Borders, it had an interesting cover, I read the blurbs and the opening paragraph, it sounded good, so I picked it up on my next library outing.

[artname.livejournal.com]

Based on Erik's recomendation, I took The Autograph Man to Ashland with me to read. Yes indeed, it was fun and funny. Distracted me from all those boring whiney plays, like Richard II.