What are you reading now - and then

[Stavros]

David Baddiel, Jews Don't Count (TLS, 2021).

Baddiel is well known in the UK as a comedian, journaist, co-host of a now defunct football fan show on TV, and co-author of the lyrics of a popular song about English football 'Three Lions'.

In this extended essay he launches a critique of the 'hierarchy of racisms' in which Jews are either invisible, or make sudden appearances with the peculiar status of being in some way 'less important' than other victims of hate. The book takes in the depiction of Jews in film and tv by non-Jews comparing it to the futore that has more recently emerged when, say a non-trans or non-gay actor takes on a trans or gay role. The importance of social media becomes evident owing to posts on Twitter, for example, having the ablity to transmit 'messages' instantly across the world -and get a response, and later in the book takes on the issues raised by the Labour Party's investigation into allegations of anti-Semitism in the party.

What emerges is the hurt that he argues is what many Jews feel at the way in which they are treated, regardless as to whether or not they are religious or secular Jews, love or hate Israel (Baddiel is in the 'Fuck Israel' camp), and whether they are on the 'left' or 'right' or identify as he does as 'Progressives', whatever that means. As a clear exampe of how 'Jews Don't Count', he cites the term BAME and notes that when Sajid Javid was described as the first BAME Chancellor of th Exchqeuer it ignored, and made irrelevant the fact that Nigel Lawson held the role before him, the unstated assumption being that Jews are not an ethnic or any other kind of minority -even though at key moments they are treated -mocked, ridiculed- as being 'other' than 'us'.

It is an eloquent broadside that asks a lot of uncomfortable questions and can be read in one sitting. Recommended.

[decastro]

Some people expect others to share the same level of interest in obscure things. I've never heard of the manic street preachers and think your guess was amusing. I like some Bob Dylan songs but I never understood the obsession with him that some of his fans have. These two writers aren't the only ones. There are people who know every lyric, every quote, and every detail of his life. I'm not saying Dylan isn't a great musician and lyricist, just that I can't understand the level of obsession.

I agree with the Dylan part. An old roommate of mine was obsessed with him. His music is worthy of admiration but I honestly think the obsession part for fans has to do with the way he looked. I say that because as I started to learn more about dylan, i could see the influence he had on my friend. Hair, fashion sense, ray bans etc. Dylan was kind of an amoeba when it came to that kind of thing but most of his fans have a time they prefer him in based off some combination of photos and the music. I've always found that fascinating how much taking a good picture can affect longevity. I think of all the che guevera posters I've seen in college dorms, generation after generation, most of them having no idea who the man was but being drawn in by a picture.

Speaking of being drawn in by a picture, a book I finished recently was 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. It had been sitting around for months, maybe even years and finally I locked eyes with the picture on the front of the book. Its a hard one to talk about because its one of those books you have to experience but I enjoyed it immensely.

[southern81]

Caliban's War by James S. A. Corey
The Grass Crown by Colleen McCullough
Executive Orders by Tom Clancy

[broncofan]

Speaking of being drawn in by a picture, a book I finished recently was 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. It had been sitting around for months, maybe even years and finally I locked eyes with the picture on the front of the book. Its a hard one to talk about because its one of those books you have to experience but I enjoyed it immensely.

I have read two books by Murakami. One was a memoir about running called What I Talk About When I Talk About Running and the other was a novel called A Wild Sheep Chase. A Wild Sheep Chase is more typical of his other works in that in involves fantasy elements and moves in and out of the real world. I enjoyed it because there are so many amusing sections where Murakami is able to express odd personal philosophies through the characters. In one scene the main character was arguing with a limo driver about why people name non-human things like airports and parks and boats. People may have a simple answer but the main character was able to find an exception to every single explanation. Beyond good character development and fun discourse there was also an overarching message to the story that made it read a bit like an allegory. I won't say what I took from it because I could be way off base but I will read his books from time to time. I find them challenging in that the fantasy elements are not there merely to provide an escape but usually are connected to some purpose.

[sukumvit boy]

I agree . So far I have only read his "Windup Bird" some 5 or 6 years ago but very much enjoyed it.

[sukumvit boy]

After reading George Orwell's "Burmese Days" and Emma Larkin's excellent "Finding George Orwell in Burma" i decided to read Orwells "Down and Out in Paris and London " as well as some of his collected essays and journalism including "Why I Write" . Such lively and enjoyable writing still fresh after 80 years! I am struck by how much of a Political animal he was ,especially in the cause of democratic Socialism .
I wouldn't be surprised if Bernie Sanders is an Orwell fan.

[broncofan]

I agree . So far I have only read his "Windup Bird" some 5 or 6 years ago but very much enjoyed it.

It's funny that's the book you bring up because I've decided when I read another Murakami I want to read WindUp Bird Chronicle. Kafka by the Shore has been described as challenging and even more surreal and fantasy elements than usual so I will push it further down the road.

I enjoy Murakami and definitely liked reading his book about running because I tried to get into running and he has basically jogged an hour a day for nearly 40 years.

I have just started an Elmore Leonard book called Labrava. I've really liked some Elmore Leonard books over the years but didn't like Get Shorty as much as other people...I think I found it juvenile or maybe just didn't get it. But when I've liked his books I 've really enjoyed them and there are plenty I haven't read so that's where I am now.

I read Kiss Me Deadly by Mickey Spillane a few weeks ago. The story wasn't terrible but even I have standards. Really cheap, sensationalized misogyny. I've enjoyed books where the main character was amoral or worse a psychopath, but none as lame as Mike Hammer.

[sukumvit boy]

It's funny that's the book you bring up because I've decided when I read another Murakami I want to read WindUp Bird Chronicle. Kafka by the Shore has been described as challenging and even more surreal and fantasy elements than usual so I will push it further down the road.

I enjoy Murakami and definitely liked reading his book about running because I tried to get into running and he has basically jogged an hour a day for nearly 40 years.

I have just started an Elmore Leonard book called Labrava. I've really liked some Elmore Leonard books over the years but didn't like Get Shorty as much as other people...I think I found it juvenile or maybe just didn't get it. But when I've liked his books I 've really enjoyed them and there are plenty I haven't read so that's where I am now.

I read Kiss Me Deadly by Mickey Spillane a few weeks ago. The story wasn't terrible but even I have standards. Really cheap, sensationalized misogyny. I've enjoyed books where the main character was amoral or worse a psychopath, but none as lame as Mike Hammer.

As you Probably know Elmore Leonard was already famous for his "westerns" in the 1950's before he started writing his crime and suspense novels like "LaBrava" an excellent "spy" novel. I have not read any of his old westerns or "LaBrava" but I love all his more recent work. His characters are so interesting,real and unpredictably human. Also many of his novels are set in the Miami Beach area which I know well because I grew up in the Miami area.
I've only read a few of the Mickey Spillane books and found them,as you did,unmemorable.
Happy reading!

[killingmrwatson]

I read Kiss Me Deadly by Mickey Spillane a few weeks ago. The story wasn't terrible but even I have standards. Really cheap, sensationalized misogyny. I've enjoyed books where the main character was amoral or worse a psychopath, but none as lame as Mike Hammer.

Evidently Raymond Chandler wasn't a fan of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer books. Philip Marlow says, "I picked a paperback off the table and made a pretense of reading it. It was about some private eye whose idea of a hot scene was a dead naked woman hanging from the shower rail with the marks of torture on her... I threw the paperback into the wastebasket, not having a garbage can handy ready at the moment"

[broncofan]

Evidently Raymond Chandler wasn't a fan of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer books. Philip Marlow says, "I picked a paperback off the table and made a pretense of reading it. It was about some private eye whose idea of a hot scene was a dead naked woman hanging from the shower rail with the marks of torture on her... I threw the paperback into the wastebasket, not having a garbage can handy ready at the moment"

Thanks for that. When Chandler has Marlowe say that it is almost from his own mouth given some of his literary criticism. I like Chandler's books a lot but found some of his criticism of other authors, notably James M. Cain and Ross Macdonald to be over the top and even mean-spirited. At the same time these critiques were often filled with very good observations so they were worthwhile too. Chandler seemed to love Dashiell Hammett, who I like also.

I don't mind writing that makes for easy reading or appeals to interest in sex or violence but Spillane had nothing else to offer. Bad prose, un-insightful about human nature, lacking cleverness or guile, and obsessed with revenge.