In the zone -- the reading zone 



(updated 7/21)

I've been on quite a roll lately as far as picking good books to read. Here's a chronological list of recent reads and not a bad egg among them:

Chronicles, Volume 1 by Bob Dylan - Well, you already knew he could write but, man, can he write. I don't have the background in all things Dylan to tell you how accurate this memoir may be but suffice it to say that it gives great insight into the Dylan's life specifically, the creative process more generally and the 60s overall.

The First Crusade: A New History by Thomas Asbridge - Ignore the silly cover blurb claiming that this book is somehow revealing on the current conflict between radical Islam and the west, but dive into to a richly woven narrative of how the powers of Europe forged the crusades from a religion that was ostensibly non-violent.

(update) The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana by Umberto Eco - I somehow egregiously left off this excellent and moving novel of memory and aging when I first wrote this post. Perhaps I am becoming forgetful in my old age? Eco takes you through the pop culture and history of his youth in the story of a 60-year-old Italian rare book merchant who loses his memory.

Ghost Wars: the Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan and Bin Laden by Steve Coll - Again, a winning narrative that brings history to life, in this case history of recent vintage and highly disturbing as well. Coll knows the inside baseball but is largely successful at keeping his prose jargon free. What happened in Afghanistan after the Soviets left could happen again in Iraq, if hasn't already.

Jonathan Strange & Mister Norrell by Susanna Clarke. Pitched as Harry Potter for adults, which is just silly since Rowlings work is fine for grown-ups too. Then again, if J.K. Rowling's success brings us more Susanna Clarke's, I have no complaints. I maybe could have done without the footnotes, though.

Which of course brings us to the most recent read, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Price by the aforementioned Ms. Rowling. A worthwhile read for those who have followed the Potter adventures this far but I'll post a fuller review shortly.

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Posted: Tue - July 19, 2005 at 03:30 PM          

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