State Street

Books: a chronicle of the feeling of what happens

statestreet — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:05:40 +0000

I wish I had a chronicle documenting every book I have read during my life–nothing fancy, just a sentence or paragraph or two with my reactions to the book–a sort of “the feeling of what happens” kind of thing. I expect one should jot down that feeling shortly after one has read a book so the feeling sticks before fading from memory.

I finished Stephen King’s 11/22/63 very early this morning. I admit I would not have read it if it had not been listed as one of the NY Times best books of the year. It’s a book I could have lived without which does not mean I did not like it in many parts. King does raise interesting questions about the nature of time and necessity. Let that be the feeling.

Now, the next book awaits: William Boyd’s Restless or George R. R. Martin’s Fire and Iceseries. It seems a coin flip.

A chronicle has begun.

V

statestreet — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:13:21 +0000

When I first met her. Real easy to remember.

Proust: I can’t believe I read the whole thing

statestreet — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:38:51 +0000

At 9:20 AM Tue, 15 Nov 2011 I finished reading the whole of Proust’s In Search of Lost Time. What began as a project born of vanity ended with gratitude that I had lived long enough to finish it, and of course, enjoyment and admiration.

The desire/belief causality direction

statestreet — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 14:34:36 +0000

It is desire that engenders belief, and if we are not as a rule aware of this, it is because most belief-creating desires–unlike the desire which had persuaded me that Albertine was innocent–end only with our own life.

Marcel Proust, In Search of Lost Time

Oddly relaxed

statestreet — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 02:44:53 +0000

For some odd reason that I don’t know, I feel insanely quietly relaxed–as though a fever broke. The night beckons me to sit in the easy chair and read Proust. I’m toward the end of The Fugitive then I only have one more volume to go.

Ah, relaxed.

Spectacularly attractive

statestreet — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:45:11 +0000

She’s a young bartender at one of the local restaurants. Yes, her boobs are spectacularly big. But she’s pretty and nice too. You are so smitten. It makes you wish you were young and not so shy.

Flipping back and forth

statestreet — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 02:44:45 +0000

I finished the latest Mirakami novel this afternoon. (Two thumbs up.). Now, I’m reading In Search of Lost Time and For Whom the Bell Tolls, flipping back and forth between them. And I want to tell you it is a strange experience–like reading and writing on this iPhone right now.

Maybe I’m doing it because I’m bored, and a little melancholy too. It don’t matter.

AM

statestreet — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 06:32:36 +0000

Close to 1:30 in the AM. All the lights are off in the buildings around me. I’m ready to start reading again. Who knows what hour in the AM I will cease reading?

Insomnia.

You are being followed

statestreet — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 15:59:42 +0000

Since Bloglines was taken over, I have not had a new spot to collect my blog feeds. But those days are over. I am slowly getting my favorite blogs transfered to a new rig that will work on the phone and the laptop.

Don’t look behind you because I’ll be following you. And you know who you are.

One more volume to go

statestreet — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 15:03:45 +0000

OK, I’ve decided. After finishing the latest Murakami novel, I’ll finish In Search of Lost Time. After all, I only have one more volume to go.