Balls and Walnuts
more than you ever wanted to know
Darla’s Nonfiction Meme
Darla tagged me. Here ya go, babe.
a) What issues/topic interests you most–non-fiction, i.e, cooking, knitting, stitching, there are infinite topics that has nothing to do with novels?
All over the map. Here are some of my recent non-fiction reads:
Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud: I started this last night and is it ever cool. I love the way McCloud deconstructs his art so clearly, so meticulously. I feel like I’m back in Anatomy Lab, watching a prosector do his thing. (Prosector — that’s what we called the folks who did nothing but teach us how to cut up cadavers and not make an unbloody mess of things.)
Crashing the Gate by Jerome Armstrong and Markos Moulitsas Zuniga: Edifying but dull dissection of everything that’s wrong with the Democratic old guard. Hillary’s crash-and-burn vindicates a lot of what the authors say in this book.
Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt: The more I think about this series of memoirs, the more they piss me off. Oh, woe is me, I’m an alcoholic shit but none of it’s my fault. You know what? Watch the Four Yorkshiremen skit, imagine they’re all Irish, and you’ll have much the same experience as you would have reading this book and its sequels.
Other nonfiction books I’ve read in the last 10 years include books about Buddhism, Spinoza, Maimonides, Burroughs (William S.), Robert Graves, Peter Cook, and undeciphered languages.
One great little book I really enjoyed: Foreign Devils on the Silk Road, a history of the race by several nations to explore and exploit Silk Road archaeological sites. Highly recommended.
b) Would you like to review books concerning those?
Um, no thanks.
c) Would you like to be paid or do it as interest or hobby? Tell reasons for what ever you choose.
I already review fiction for The Fix, and I’m damned lazy about that. You think I want more reviewing responsibilities?
d) Would you recommend those to your friends and how?
Would I recommend those what? Those books, perhaps? Clarify, please. But, yes, if you’re talking about BOOKS, sure, I’ll recommend a good book whether it’s fiction or nonfiction.
e) If you have already done something like this, link it to your post.
Mmmm sorry no.
f) Please don’t forget to link back here or whoever tags you.
And to get this meme moving, you have to tag 10 people. I tag:
Yeah, fat chance.
D.
LOL! And now I’m glad I tagged you, because I’ve got one book to look for (Foreign Devils on the Silk Road), one maybe (Lost Languages), and further justification for continuing to avoid Angela’s Ashes.
Lost Languages is a bit academic, but by no means pitched to the professional. It’s a fascinating peak at a question which always puzzled me (how DO they decipher chicken scratches?) Foreign Devils was a surprisingly fun read for non-fiction. Our local library had it. Are you near a university library with a decent collection of English language books? That would be a good place to start, unless you decide to buy the book outright.
Someday when I stop fighting with the school district I’d love to read a novel again.
My most recent reads are by James Randi — I’m reading his backlist of non-fiction which focuses on debunking psychics, et alia. I was enjoying a book a few days ago, Meljean Brooks’s Demon Night, but I haven’t had a chance to pick it up again in recent days.
I’d do the meme, but instead I’m whining again on my blog. Sigh.
Well, Lost Languages was only $9 on B&N, but Foreign Devils would require more shopping.
Any used copies through Amazon?