A little update for Mariko

I have some time left to kill in the library, so I thought I’d give you an update, whether or not you’re actually that interested.THE SNOW LEOPARD – MATTHIESSEN

About a guy trekking the Himalayas on a physical and spiritual quest.  He gives a lot of information about Buddhism and contemplates the world in a fairly serious want-to-be zen way.  I didn’t enjoy it, but i’m not big on spiritual quests or eastern poetry turned prose.

EARLY SPRING:WAKING TO WARMING WORLD – SIEDL

Haven’t finished it and don’t really want to.  She combines science writing with occasional parenting scenes.  It’s short and does have some fairly interesting scientific discussions and cutesy Vermont-nostalgia anecdotes though.

INTO THE WILD – KRAKAUER:  i hated the main character and forgave him at the same time, which sounds difficult but it’s true.  It was a great read if you can stand Chris.

HEAVEN’S COAST – DOTY:  Really sad but incredibly beautiful memoir of the time surrounding his partner’s death to AIDS.  I cried like ten times reading it but his language was beautiful and his take on love and life and grief gave me a lot to think about.

TRUCK:LOVE STORY – PERRY: Fixes a truck, meets, dates and falls in love with a nice lady, cooks and eats a lot and is completely lovable if you forgive him for being a charming chauvinist (on accident).

HOW TO READ NEITZSCHE – PEARSON
HOW TO READ LACAN – ZIZEK

I really enjoyed these.  They were idiots guides for not idiots, but not theorists either.  And, Nietzsche is less annoying as you get to know him.

AMERICAN COOL -STEARNS:  This was a dry read, but really interesting, it actually charts our American relationship to “being cool” and why we do or don’t do it and what it means.  A good read for history of an emotion or culture/social status.

I’m ignoring all the others from my first list because I either don’t have anything interesting to say, or haven’t gotten to them yet.
That’s all I have for now, just wanted to let you know that you should definitely pick up Truck, Heaven’s Coast and Into the Wild if you haven’t already.
And, by the way, I never heard how Things Fall Apart went!  How did it go!?!?