The book nobody read
Sep. 13th, 2008 10:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
maypirateAs usual, I am running late on my agendas.
Have this book that I read a month ago on the way to Nebraska that no one else has ever heard of probably maybe:
It is called "Jamestown."
Admittedly, I was drawn to it by that alone, having lived near Jamestown quite recently. But lo, it is not any Jamestown.
It is post apocalyptic and I don't even like post apocalyptic things but when something starts like this: "To whoever is out there, if anyone is out there: Today has been an awful day in a run of awful days as long as life so far," and shortly follows with "Some great, quaint pre-annihilation philosopher described the movement of history as thesis, antithesis, synthesis, whereas I've seen a lot more thesis, antithesis, steak knife, bread knife," I cannot look away and I didn't. I read it for hours straight.
It has, at times, some of the most crude descriptions I've ever read, but it pulls it off being in turns bizarre, sad, crass, and heartbreakingly fucking beautiful. It gives me hope for someone who writes like I do that maybe I could manage a book like he did, with words and thoughts that say so much and so little and are several things at once.
It was grotesque and gorgeous and I loved it. It joins "In the Woods" and "Testament of Gideon Mack" as one of the best things I've read this summer. And will go on to live quietly unknown upon my shelf.
Have this book that I read a month ago on the way to Nebraska that no one else has ever heard of probably maybe:
It is called "Jamestown."
Admittedly, I was drawn to it by that alone, having lived near Jamestown quite recently. But lo, it is not any Jamestown.
It is post apocalyptic and I don't even like post apocalyptic things but when something starts like this: "To whoever is out there, if anyone is out there: Today has been an awful day in a run of awful days as long as life so far," and shortly follows with "Some great, quaint pre-annihilation philosopher described the movement of history as thesis, antithesis, synthesis, whereas I've seen a lot more thesis, antithesis, steak knife, bread knife," I cannot look away and I didn't. I read it for hours straight.
It has, at times, some of the most crude descriptions I've ever read, but it pulls it off being in turns bizarre, sad, crass, and heartbreakingly fucking beautiful. It gives me hope for someone who writes like I do that maybe I could manage a book like he did, with words and thoughts that say so much and so little and are several things at once.
It was grotesque and gorgeous and I loved it. It joins "In the Woods" and "Testament of Gideon Mack" as one of the best things I've read this summer. And will go on to live quietly unknown upon my shelf.
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Date: 2008-09-13 10:21 pm (UTC)