what i'm reading

[snappydresser]

Recently read:

Blood Meridian; by Cormac McCarthy
Thanks to the P-List for pointing me towards this unmitigated masterpiece.

American Dynasty: Aristocracy, Fortune, and the Politics of Deceit in the 
House of Bush; by Kevin Phillips
Essential background information for understanding the origins of the 
current crisis.

The Morning of the Magicians; by Louis Pauwels
First published in 1959, this book is alleged to have single-handedly 
launched the New Age revival of the 1960s. Fascinating as psycho-cultural 
archeology, and immensely entertaining. Intriguing lines of thought. Strict 
Positivists should avoid.

The Illuminatus! Trilogy; by Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea
I know some people on the list despise it, but Oh! What fun! Had me laughing 
out loud.

Charlie White: Photographs; by Charlie White
Yikes. Google this one. Freaky-deaky.

***

Currently on the go:

Sex and Rockets: The Occult World of Jack Parsons; by John Carter (a 
pseudonym) with an (excellent) introduction by Robert Anton Wilson
Seeing as this is a biography of the founder of Jet Propulsion Labs, there's 
lots and lots of stuff about rocketry. And the OTO. And L. Ron Hubbard. 
Fascinating, entertaining, serious and thorough.

Revolt Against Modernity: Leo Strauss, Eric Voegelin, and the Search for a 
Postliberal Order; by Ted V. McAllister
A sympathetic and scholarly portrayal of intelectual conservatism's most 
philosophical philosophers. Surprisingly readable and, although the author 
is, himself, a conservative, pretty "fair and balanced".

The Closing of the American Mind; by Allan Bloom
Yes, I'm on a "know thine enemy" kick. A Straussian rants about the dangers 
of bare midriffs and jungle music. Unintentionally hilarious.

America, the Book; by the Daily Show writing staff
Lovely format, good for a few chuckles, but not as funny as its 
reputation... or The Closing of the American Mind.

***

On deck:

The Mass Psychology of Fascism; by Wilhelm Reich

Beelzebub's Tales to his Grandson; by G.I. Gurdjieff

Blowback: The First Full Account of America's Recruitment of Nazis, and its 
Disastrous Effect on our Domestic and Foreign Policy; by Christopher Simpson

***

Never-miss magazines:

Harper's

Viz (lowbrow British comedy/comic mag)

Fortean Times

***

Recently purchased CDs:

The Mollusk; by Ween

The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway; by Genesis

Lizard; by King Crimson

Animals; by Pink Floyd

(I think there's a patern here)

***

Recently loved movies:

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Alejandro Jodorowsky's Holy Mountain (as a fan of Santa Sangre, can't 
believe I waited so long to see this)




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kris Williams" <kriswill462 at earthlink.net>
To: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2005 11:40 PM
Subject: Re: what i'm reading


> I'm in Wiess' The Fascist Tradition, Dick's A Scanner Darkly (want to read 
> it one more time before the movie comes out) and Auster's The New York 
> Trilogy.  Cryptonomicon is on deck and The Glass Bead Game is in the hole. 



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