gogo Posted September 22, 2008 Author Share Posted September 22, 2008 Just finished this one. The author wrote that "you can't bomb Afghanistan back to the stone age, it's too late for that" e-mail that circulated widely after September 11. He was raised in Afghanistan in the 1950s and 60s by his Afghan father and white American mother, then moved back to the U.S. with his mother for high school, and never again lived there. An exploration of what it means to understand Islam without practicing it, and what Americans understand and don't understand about Afghanistan's history and culture, specifically how they relate to the rise of the Taliban. If you're interested in that one, I'd also recommend which I mentioned here a few months back. This one is written by a young (high school/college age) Afghan-American, raised in the Bay Area, who goes back to Afghanistan with his father when his father is tapped to participate in the Karzai government. He is often used to translate not just language, but cultural differences, for American troops and other personnel in Afghanistan. These two authors were raised in different circumstances, in two different generations, pre- and post-Soviet and Taliban influence. The two books together give a good basis for understanding some of Afghanistan's recent history, and current status. Link to post Share on other sites
la* Posted September 22, 2008 Share Posted September 22, 2008 Speaking of Afghanistan, I just finished this one. I loved it, but the information it imparted was totally infuriating. I also read this book last week. I love Miriam Toews' fiction-- very wry and unique, with wonderful characters. Link to post Share on other sites
quarter23cd Posted September 22, 2008 Share Posted September 22, 2008 Its that time of year that I start carrying around my Edgar Allen Poe anthology. Link to post Share on other sites
Spawn's dad Posted September 22, 2008 Share Posted September 22, 2008 Link to post Share on other sites
Oil Can Boyd Posted September 22, 2008 Share Posted September 22, 2008 Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted September 23, 2008 Author Share Posted September 23, 2008 I haven't picked this up yet, but it looks pretty cool, with a bunch of writers that I really enjoy: Inspired by the example of the legendary WPA American Guide series of the 1930s and '40s, now 50 of our foremost writers have produced original pieces of reportage and memoir that capture the 50 states in our time, creating a fresh portrait of America as it lives and breathes today. At turns poignant and funny, and always insightful, these 50 writers tell us something lasting and revealing about each state through personal memory or contemporary reporting that captures the essential qualities that make each state its own. With an array of revealing facts and figures comparing the 50 states in a range of surprising measures (toothlessness, military enlistment, suicide), State by State is more than an anthology: It is a classic American road movie in book form. Featuring original writing on all fifty states Alabama by George Packer Alaska by Paul Greenberg Arizona by Lydia Millet Arkansas by Kevin Brockmeier California by William T. Vollmann Colorado by Benjamin Kunkel Connecticut by Rick Moody Delaware by Craig Taylor Florida by Joshua Ferris Georgia by Ha Jin Hawaii by Tara Bray Smith Idaho by Anthony Doerr Illinois by Dave Eggers Indiana by Susan Choi Iowa by Dagoberto Gilb Kansas by Jim Lewis Kentucky by John Jeremiah Sullivan Louisiana by Joshua ClarkMaine by Heidi Julavits Maryland by MylaGoldberg Massachusetts by John Hodgman Michigan by Mohammed Naseehu Ali Minnesota by Philip Connors Mississippi by Barry Hannah Missouri by Jacki Lyden Montana by Sarah Vowell Nebraska by Alexander Payne Nevada by Charles Bock New Hampshire by Will Blythe New Jersey by Anthony Bourdain New Mexico by Ellery Washington New York by Jonathan Franzen North Carolina by Randall Kenan North Dakota by Louise Erdrich Ohio by Susan Orlean Oklahoma by S.E. Hinton Oregon by Joe Sacco Pennsylvania by Andrea Lee Rhode Island by Jhumpa Lahiri South Carolina by Jack Hitt South Dakota by Sa Link to post Share on other sites
Preferred B Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 Oooh. I just requested it from the library. Thanks, Maudie! Link to post Share on other sites
Three dollars and 63 cents Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 That does sound great. I'll have to keep an eye out for it. I'm currently reading: His debut novel comes out soon. I'm curious about it, but from the description, it sounds a bit predictably autobiographical. I'll probably still check it out, though. I've been on a big Klosterman kick recently. I gave the students in my Writing About Music class a passage from Killing Yourself to Live without its punctuation the other day and had them work in pairs to put it all back. It was much more of a hit than my grammar and editing exercises usually are. Link to post Share on other sites
skyflynn Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 Set during the War of the Roses. I'm a sucker for historical fiction. It's crap but it's well written crap. Link to post Share on other sites
Good Old Neon Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 Oooh. I just requested it from the library. Thanks, Maudie! I'll second that - that looks great. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention I'm exceedingly jealous of California.....sigh. Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Morlock Night - Jeter, K W Sherlock Holmes's War of the Worlds - Wellman, Manly Wade The Nomad of Time - Moorcock, Michael AA Transatlantic Tunnel, Hurrah! - Harrison, Harry Peter Green: The Authorised Biography - Celmins, Martin Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted September 26, 2008 Author Share Posted September 26, 2008 So far, just very depressing, and a bit rant-y. Not that I don't love Barbara Ehrenreich, and it's not that she's not backing up the rants with specific examples and stats, but it feels more like just a litany of wrongs, than a coherent argument. I'm only a few chapters in, though, I may change my mind before I'm through. Also, recently finished: (I hate when the picture doesn't match the edition that I read) and I had not read any Tobias Wolff previous to these, and I enjoyed them very much. I've got a few more of his books on reserve at the library now. Link to post Share on other sites
NightOfJoy Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Morlock Night - Jeter, K W Sherlock Holmes's War of the Worlds - Wellman, Manly Wade The Nomad of Time - Moorcock, Michael AA Transatlantic Tunnel, Hurrah! - Harrison, Harry Peter Green: The Authorised Biography - Celmins, Martin Moorcock......didnt he write the Rockhir the Red Archer series? Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Moorcock......didnt he write the Rockhir the Red Archer series?He may have - I have never really read any of his books. I think I read one of them when I was a kid - but i don't recall the title. Link to post Share on other sites
markosis Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Bought this last week, haven't dug into it yet but I know I'm gonna love it. Link to post Share on other sites
NightOfJoy Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 He may have - I have never really read any of his books. I think I read one of them when I was a kid - but i don't recall the title. I looked it up....he wrote the Elric of Melnibone series, which included Rackhir. Pretty good fantasy fiction but I was 13 when reading it.....so who knows. Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 I looked it up....he wrote the Elric of Melnibone series, which included Rackhir. Pretty good fantasy fiction but I was 13 when reading it.....so who knows. I usually read most all of the time travel books that are out there - so that is why I snagged it. Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 I haven't picked this up yet, but it looks pretty cool, with a bunch of writers that I really enjoy: West Virginia by Jayne Anne Phillips You may want to check out her books - I met her several years ago. She went to school here - where I live that is. Fast LanesMachine DreamsShelterMotherKind: A Novel Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted September 26, 2008 Author Share Posted September 26, 2008 I looked it up....he wrote the Elric of Melnibone series, which included Rackhir. Pretty good fantasy fiction but I was 13 when reading it.....so who knows.I usually read most all of the time travel books that are out there - so that is why I snagged it.My 11 year old niece is always on the look-out for good fantasy stories, and anything with "Book ___ of the _________ Trilogy" in the title is usually a hit with her. So I'll check these out. And any other suggestions for her would be very welcome! You may want to check out her books - I met her several years ago. She went to school here - where I live that is. Fast LanesMachine DreamsShelterMotherKind: A NovelNice, thanks. I'll add those to the ever-expanding list. Link to post Share on other sites
kimcatch22 Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 gogo, I'd love to hear more about that State By State collection if/when you get around to it. Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 My 11 year old niece is always on the look-out for good fantasy stories, and anything with "Book ___ of the _________ Trilogy" in the title is usually a hit with her. So I'll check these out. And any other suggestions for her would be very welcome! Nice, thanks. I'll add those to the ever-expanding list. That is, if you like to read southern fiction, coming of age, Appalachian region stories. Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted September 26, 2008 Author Share Posted September 26, 2008 gogo, I'd love to hear more about that State By State collection if/when you get around to it. I'll definitely keep you all posted! I'm currently #11 on the reserve list... That is, if you like to read southern fiction, coming of age, Appalachian region stories.Yep, all of those work. Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 Tony Earley - you should check him out - maybe we have had this conversation before? Another Lennon book? Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted September 28, 2008 Author Share Posted September 28, 2008 Tony Earley - you should check him out - maybe we have had this conversation before?No, that name doesn't ring a bell. Checked out some on-line reviews though, definitely looks like those would be up my alley. My to-read list is growing at an alaming rate. Link to post Share on other sites
bobbob1313 Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 Really interesting stuff. Link to post Share on other sites
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