11 O'Clock Book Group!

[malpractice]

Bret Easton Ellis is another one of my modern favorites. I think reading his stuff in order of release is essential because I believe he makes a natural progression as he continues to push the boundaries of humanity's ego wrapped in a satirical examination of the pop culture morays of the time of writing.

cool. didn't know you liked ellis wood, he's my favorite writer (non-comics). I just re-read "Less Than Zero" last month and it still holds up and resonates (almost disturbingly so). I did a little mini-review of that in the "what are you reading" thread while comparing it to "Young Liars". 

[Wood]

cool. didn't know you liked ellis wood, he's my favorite writer (non-comics). I just re-read "Less Than Zero" last month and it still holds up and resonates (almost disturbingly so). I did a little mini-review of that in the "what are you reading" thread while comparing it to "Young Liars". 

Now that's interesting. I hadn't thought of Young Liars as comparable to Ellis' stuff. Odd b/c I LOVE Ellis' stuff more than Vince loves balls on his jaws. But Young Liars? I disliked it more than David dislikes Kyle Raynor.

[David]

Now that's interesting. I hadn't thought of Young Liars as comparable to Ellis' stuff. Odd b/c I LOVE Ellis' stuff more than Vince loves balls on his jaws. But Young Liars? I disliked it more than David dislikes Kyle Raynor.

Smoooove, yo.

 

[Matt H.O.W.L.]

Speaking of '80s lit, has anyone else read Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney? I think I literally found it in a booth in a restaurant or at a bus stop or something. It was pretty good. The only book I've read in the 2nd person (besides choose-your-own adventures.)

[Matt H.O.W.L.]

I've never read a lot of classic adventure books either: Count of Monte Cristo, Three Musketeers, Man in the Iron Mask, Kidnapped, Ivanhoe, etc.

[Chad (Grilled Cheese Sandwich)]

Another modern book that I'd love to finish is Wallace's INFINITE JEST, but that's another book that may squash this group before it began. 

Losing Wallace as young as he was hurt the literary world in my opinion...I've read Infinite Jest three times...love it...dense, was hard to get through the first time, but now I've started seeing so much more in the text that wasn't there before...do read it...you won't be sorry...but it is absolutely the wrong book for a club like this...


I was starting to think about this a little more in depth and here's a what if...

What if we created an off-shoot discussion podcast...11 o'Clock Books...where a rotating panel of contributors discuss agreed upon books, giving thoughts and theories on works of literature...it would even start the forum discussions, be done over skype, can have multiple discussions on one book, etc...of course, it would need leave from Mom & Dad (Vince & David...you can fight over who plays what role...) I'm up for being a panel member, but someone would need to be willing to do a bit of the tech-y stuff to make it happen...

Just a thought...

[malpractice]

Now that's interesting. I hadn't thought of Young Liars as comparable to Ellis' stuff. Odd b/c I LOVE Ellis' stuff more than Vince loves balls on his jaws. But Young Liars? I disliked it more than David dislikes Kyle Raynor.

oh yea, i forgot that you bashed young liars in like the first episode of 11'oclock comics i listened to lol. i was just saying that the way ellis and lapham present their characters and story to the reader are very similar. both writers continually throw up the proverbial middle finger to the perceived notions of what makes a good character and a good story (sympatheitc characters, emotional center, clear plot and narrative structure, etc.), and play with their form to show us new ways to look at things. they both like to just drop us into the world's they created and let us live in the enviorment a bit, let characters make bad choices, etc. when i get around to it, i'll definetly write up something comparing their styles with more specific examples.

[malpractice]

What if we created an off-shoot discussion podcast...11 o'Clock Books...where a rotating panel of contributors discuss agreed upon books, giving thoughts and theories on works of literature...it would even start the forum discussions, be done over skype, can have multiple discussions on one book, etc...of course, it would need leave from Mom & Dad (Vince & David...you can fight over who plays what role...) I'm up for being a panel member, but someone would need to be willing to do a bit of the tech-y stuff to make it happen...

Just a thought...

sounds like a good idea. might actually give people real incentive to read the damn things with the possibility of actually getting to go on a podcast and discuss it. i know i would be down.

[Farrell]

Fight Club is a lot of fun, but I personally liked the movie better. If you're going to go down that route of modern depravity, I would much rather give one of Irvine Welsh's books a recommendation. Trainspotting is perfectly fine but books like Filth or Acid House or Porno will melt your mind and make you wonder if humanity is capable of saving.

Karma for the Irvine Welsh mention.  Filth was mind blowing, in its way.  I was stunned by the ending, and completely surprised by how I felt about it, and the character, just in the last few pages.

Um, yeah -- GRAVITY'S RAINBOW is neither short nor relatively "easy." It would be like starting this group by reading Joyce's ULYSSES.   

Alright, alright...
Tell you what, let's just read Finnegan's Wake.  That's nice and easy....   

Maybe people should PM their list of titles they'd like to submit for the voting (maybe 5 each?).

Should we do this even if we've already posted some, to make it easier for you?

[Dave A]

Now that's interesting. I hadn't thought of Young Liars as comparable to Ellis' stuff. Odd b/c I LOVE Ellis' stuff more than Vince loves balls on his jaws. But Young Liars? I disliked it more than David dislikes Kyle Raynor.

Yeeeeaaaahhhh.....

.... but your favorite character is Deadpool.







(It never gets old!!)

[Doug!]

Doug, can I ask what you didn't like about it? I think it's important to determine whether you would like any of Easton Ellis' stuff. Was it the over the top gore and violence? Or was it the 80s vibe? Was it the characterizations in general?

Ellis starts playing with themes about ego, self interest, the lack of real emotional fulfillment in our relationships, etc...in his early work and then just keeps taking those themes to new extremes in his later stuff.

Glamourama is probably his most debated work, and I loved it but totally understand how others might actually DETEST it.

To be honest, it was the extreme violence.  I actually loved the movie because it explored all of those themes with being so gratuitous.  It's pretty much the only book I've ever put down for that reason.  I have read Less Than Zero and it's one of the best things I've ever read.

[Papercut]

Matt -- I was perusing the "1001 Books" link that you posted and found these 5 that I haven't read yet and I think would fit the "1st Book" parameters that you've talked about.  So I'm throwing these onto the nomination pile:


1700s:
Robinson Crusoe – Daniel Defoe

1800s:
Ivanhoe – Sir Walter Scott
The Picture of Dorian Gray – Oscar Wilde

1900s:
The Stranger (The Outsider) – Albert Camus
Rabbit, Run – John Updike



And this list just reminds me of the Mark Twain quote that a classic is something that everyone wants to have read, but no one wants to read.  Karma for launching this initiative! 

[Dave A]

1700s:
Robinson Crusoe – Daniel Defoe

1800s:
Ivanhoe – Sir Walter Scott
The Picture of Dorian Gray – Oscar Wilde

1900s:
The Stranger (The Outsider) – Albert Camus
Rabbit, Run – John Updike

I second these nominations!

(Well, someone might have to talk me into Ivanhoe....)

[Blazefire33]

Bram Stoker's Dracula
William Shakespeare's Hamlet
And of course...

Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way

[Wood]

To be honest, it was the extreme violence.  I actually loved the movie because it explored all of those themes with being so gratuitous.  It's pretty much the only book I've ever put down for that reason.  I have read Less Than Zero and it's one of the best things I've ever read.

OK, then I would definitely steer clear of Glamorama

[malpractice]

To be honest, it was the extreme violence.  I actually loved the movie because it explored all of those themes with being so gratuitous.  It's pretty much the only book I've ever put down for that reason.  I have read Less Than Zero and it's one of the best things I've ever read.

i guess that's understandable. read the book again recently, and some of it is a little hard to get through (ellis has said as much himself when he recently re-read it), and the movie does do a good job exploring all the themes without getting too extreme and bringing the humor a bit more to the surface than it was in the book. i kind of go back and forth on which i like better.

[Doug!]

OK, then I would definitely steer clear of Glamorama

I think I will then.  It's odd though, I'm normally not so squeamish when it comes to violence.  I have the same feelings when it comes to movies like Saw and Hostel as well.

[clever_username]

(Well, someone might have to talk me into Ivanhoe....)

We read that in 10th grade English. I remember it being pretty good. I wouldn't mind doing it again.

[Sean M.]

Firstly, just to say that I preferred Glamorama over American Psycho- maybe it was all the Britpop references- but I just thought the plot was more intricate.   

I'm all up for Gravity's Rainbow (Pynchon), it is easily my favourite book of all time, but holding it all in your mind is like trying to juggle water. Or "On The Road"- I'd like an excuse to get the "original scroll edition, which replaces all of Kerouac's pseudonyms with their real names- in fact any Kerouac is good. Or any Palahniuk- I agree Survivors is also my favourite.

Or if you want really modern then Roberto Bolano- 2666 came out in January- have been reading it and is eye-bleedingly good and for selfish reasons, I;d like somebody else to read it so that I can talk about it 

To be honest though, the idea of reading something together and then posting about it just appeals, so count me in whatever we choose- we could run a poll perhaps- i.e. all nominate then do the poll to decide.

[Matt H.O.W.L.]

OK,
Someone, I think Dave A., asked if you should PM me with your FIVE nominations, even if you've mentioned some books. Yes, please. Just makes it easier for me than wading through ongoing conversations (which I'm enjoying) after the fact and picking out which ones were references/allusions, selections, analogies, etc. That way I'll know you were done choosing.
I started pasting them into a spreadsheet. I'll probably post it Sunday morning for voting. I currently have Chad's, Andrew clever_username's, and Dan Papercut's.

Dave A., did you really want to second Dan's titles? That's cool, if you do, otherwise shoot me yours, please.

Blazefire33, did you only want to nominate Dracula and Hamlet? That's cool with me, just let me know.

P.S. If you haven't read A Confederacy of Dunces, you should. Mental illness took a major talent way too soon.