What are you reading now - and then

[Stavros]

Heart of Darkness is Conrad's most misunderstood novel, but lends itself to various interpretations because of the elliptical narratives that operate on so many levels -with the implication that the heart of darkness is in London, the hub of the Empire, rather than -or as well as being in (?) -Africa. I never understood the connection between Conrad's study of personal ambition, and that second rate film by Coppola, Apocalypse Now. And in the meantime, Michael Herr, the author of Despatches (who also worked on the screenplay for Apocalypse Now) has died. I was impressed by Despatches which (like Heart of Darkness) is a short but visceral account of the Vietnam War, however accurate it is. And am I right in thinking that in some places he refers to Thai ladyboys when describing 'grunts' on R&R in Thailand?

Lionel Trilling once said he realised how deep the impact of film and tv coverage of the Vietnam (and other wars) had been when his students read Heart of Darkness but the hair did not stand up on the back of their necks, whereas these days I guess the lecturer would have to issue a 'trigger warning' to his or her students asked to read the book...and grandiloquent though it sounds, I would rank Conrad's Nostromo as one of the best novels ever written in English, but these days modernism is too complex for many readers.

[Fitzcarraldo]

I just finished reading Peter Viertel's White Hunter, Black Heart. It's a fictionalized account of his experiences in Africa when working with director John Huston on the script for The African Queen. Clint Eastwood made a decent movie of the book, wherein he played "John Wilson." It's a bit odd seeing him imitate Huston, and the movie is very different from typical Eastwood fare.

Anyway, the book is excellent! It provides great insight into Huston (whose own autobiography An Open Book is also a great read), human nature, racism among European colonial powers, and how someone magnificently talented can also be a magnificent bastard.

[hamdasl]

The Great Arabic Conquests by Hugh Kennedy.

[sukumvit boy]

I just finished reading Peter Viertel's White Hunter, Black Heart. It's a fictionalized account of his experiences in Africa when working with director John Huston on the script for The African Queen. Clint Eastwood made a decent movie of the book, wherein he played "John Wilson." It's a bit odd seeing him imitate Huston, and the movie is very different from typical Eastwood fare.

Anyway, the book is excellent! It provides great insight into Huston (whose own autobiography An Open Book is also a great read), human nature, racism among European colonial powers, and how someone magnificently talented can also be a magnificent bastard.

Yes , some interesting stories surrounding that whole project . The apocryphal story of the local tribes that provided the crew with fresh meat "long pig" which were feared to be the butchered bodies of tribal enemies.

[sukumvit boy]

http://www.amazon.com/Pirate-Exquisi.../dp/042520037X
The amazing life of late 17th century British explorer , naturalist and buccaneer William Dampier .
The Map That Changed the World:
http://www.amazon.com/Map-That-Chang...nged+the+world

William Smith and the birth of modern geology.

[qwerty81]

just finished stefan zweig's the world of yesterday... his memoir of his life living through the fall of the austro-hungarian empire and anschluss... some of it kind of reminded me of today. which made me depressed.

[runningdownthatdream]

Nice analogy... I was trying to articulate an appropriate response but yours is so much better!

(This in response to Broncofan's response)

[runningdownthatdream]

http://www.amazon.com/Pirate-Exquisi.../dp/042520037X
The amazing life of late 17th century British explorer , naturalist and buccaneer William Dampier .
The Map That Changed the World:
http://www.amazon.com/Map-That-Chang...nged+the+world

William Smith and the birth of modern geology.

That Dampier biography is a great read. Amazing how the man's life intersected with so many other well known events and persons from English history. I think I read somewhere he inspired R.L. Stevenson's writings as well.

Just read through this entire thread. It's been a few years since I contributed and it was nice to read all the great comments and reviews by Prospero, Stavros, RobertLouis, Trish and others. Sad that we lost Prospero but at least we still have his thoughts.

Haven't read much since 2012 for various reasons. Started 'A Distant Mirror' by Barbara Tuchman around then and got about half-way through. Entertaining and insightful read about the 14th century in Europe with a major focus on French and English affairs. Bought The Travels of Ibn Batutta a few months back but haven't even cracked the spine yet.

[sukumvit boy]

Nice to see you back ,RDTD .
That "The Adventures of Ibn Battuta ..." looks like a really good read, thanks.
http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Ibn.../dp/0520243854

[runningdownthatdream]

Nice to see you back ,RDTD .
That "The Adventures of Ibn Battuta ..." looks like a really good read, thanks.
http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Ibn.../dp/0520243854

It should be although I stupidly picked up the abridged version!

https://www.amazon.com/Travels-Ibn-B.../dp/033049113X