Wish we could be there to celebrate it with you. I hope the day there is nicer than the meteorological mess we've got going on here. If so, I REALLY wish we could be there.In case you happen some time in the near future to come into the possession of a potential, but thoughtlessly unspecified, piece of literature or music, and are wondering how this potential should best be actualized in a birthday-appropriate (i.e. enjoyable, entertaining, fun) manner, here's a couple of suggestions:
Infinite Jest, by David Foster Wallace, is a hilarious, insightful, LOOOONG novel (with many, many footnotes) about entertainment and addiction and the problems of post-modern living in North America. I'm finally past the halfway point myself, and still enjoying it and ripping it off as much as when I picked it up a year and a half ago.
100 Days, 100 Nights, by Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, is a contemporary album of soul that is not an album of contemporary soul, meaning that it actually sounds like soul music and not some pyrotechnical diva belting out vocal gymnastic routines that display her lack of soul. This woman's been around since the 70s, but only recently started making a name for herself, and she's GOOD! Think Aretha Franklin or Tina Turner.
Breaking the Spell is Daniel Dennett's most recent book about materialism, consciousness, evolution, and meaning, both linguistic and life-related. This one addresses religion — how could it have evolved and what good does it still do us, if any — and makes a nice, clear-headed, slightly less reactionary though no more apologetic companion-piece to his friend Richard Dawkins's The God Delusion.
Finally, I hear the latest Bruce Springsteen album is quite good. I'm not usually a fan, don't know about you, but Alison just heard it and claims to be converted. I know you like some of those intense, gravelly-voiced singer-songwriters with something important to say.
Of course, should you be granted the opportunity of choosing a new book or CD, I realize that the choosing-to-fun ratio in such cases can easily be at least .50. These suggestions, therefore, should be taken only as such, and represent no greater legal or moral liability than, for instance, an enthusiastically bellowed "Happy birthday!"
Happy birthday.
- Andrew
1 comment:
Very cute. The potential, non-specific, buying opportunity arrived this am. Thanks! I will, indeed, have a fine time choosing a target. So many possibilities. Excellent choosing-to-fun ratio.
What about the "God Is Not Great" book (Hitchins?)? I have been afraid to pick it up; fear of total disappointment. And I gobbled up a couple of decent who-dunnits recently. There is room in life for a mindless read from time to time.
Other reading includes Greek mythology and articles by Tom Robbins, mostly from the '70's (Robbins, that is).
I will let you know how this gift thing is exploited.
DoD
Oh, yeah. Weather here is in the 20's. Plan tomorrow is for a ride on bikes thru the Durham forest after lunch. Golf booked for Monday. Eat your heart out.
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