[image by Brian]

Goal for June: Read a book a day. Follow my reading list here.

Serendipitously, my friends Traci and Greg just started a Green Grub Book Club. First on the list: Voluntary Simplicity by Duane Elgin. I won’t be reading that for a while since the meeting isn’t until mid-July, but I’m psyched –

Green reading tip: Start a green reading club.

Since I just joined one, I won’t be starting one of my own for now. No reason you shouldn’t though –

Perhaps as expected, I’m more than a bit behind in posting ’bout the books I read so far. Thus, I’m writing ’bout 5 different books I’ve read in the last week in one long post:

Philip Roth, Portnoy’s Complaint: If you’re a Jewish boy who grew up with a lot of sexual guilt and masturbated tons and still masturbate a lot, this book’ll show you you’re not alone. The dude really does whacks off a great deal — which I find difficult to relate to in the sense that I’ve never pursued anything — sexual or otherwise — with such single-minded, dilligent focus. I just haven’t the energy or razor-edged intent, though I s’pose self-pleasure is a better monomaniacal pursuit than most.

Andre Gide, The Immoralist. Honestly, I thought this book would be a lil more immoral — somewhat closer to Story of the Eye or Delta of Venus — than I found it to be. After all, the guy didn’t do anything particularly immoral, in my view. Still, I did enjoy the strange juxtaposition of desire with class, race, lifestyle differences — even if the interstices aren’t directly explored.

Jennifer Calkins, A Story of Witchery. A long narrative poem about one Emily that flirts with all manner of fairy tales, from Alice in Wonderland to Snow White to Wizard of Oz, re-interpreted in a bloody, macabre tone. I’m supposed to write a review on this book for Slope, so more later.

Nuala M. Archer, Inch Aeons. A book of mostly haikus:

Most analysis
of Death remains This-worldly –
Is Death Ever Now?

Bow-
Wow –

Jorge Luis Borges, Dreamtigers. A sort of collection of Borges’ dross, put into a book that begins with a short-prose section, ends with a poetry section. I found the prose much more evocative and pleasurable than the poetry, which seems more weepy and unnecessarily formal than the prose.

Books read:
Philip Roth, Portnoy’s Complaint
Andre Gide, The Immoralist
Jennifer Calkins, A Story of Witchery
Nuala M. Archer, Inch Aeons
Jorge Luis Borges, Dreamtigers

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