Farrell

[Farrell]

Dave, Matt and Jason are back this week with Part 1 of Ragtime, by E.L. Doctorow, a book so good we had to talk about it twice. A sweeping exploration of the vast changes brewing in early 20th Century America, Ragtime is a book you can dance to.

Goodreads is a book-centric website. We have a book-centric podcast. It's a match made in Heaven's library. Join the discussion or start your own. Find our group at: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/46928.The_Bookhouse_Boys

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Tell us what you thought of any of the books we talk about, how we're doing, or anything else you need to get off your chest at and we'll (probably) read it on the show!

[Farrell]

Is anybody reading this one? 

[Jim B.]

Is anybody reading this one? 

I just got the book today, so I'll be a bit behind but trying diligently to catch up.  The edition I got is so obscure, I could only find one teeny-tiny pic of it:



Sorry I've been gone a while, but Infinite Jest kicked my ass so hard, it's taken me months to recover.   

[Dave A]

I just got the book today, so I'll be a bit behind but trying diligently to catch up.  The edition I got is so obscure, I could only find one teeny-tiny pic of it:



Sorry I've been gone a while, but Infinite Jest kicked my ass so hard, it's taken me months to recover.   

Long as you're here now, that's all that matters! 

Ragtime's a quick read, you should be able to catch up in no time. Make sure'n let us know what you think of the book.

[Matt H.O.W.L.]

I just got the book today, so I'll be a bit behind but trying diligently to catch up. 

It's a quick and fun read.

Sorry I've been gone a while, but Infinite Jest kicked my ass so hard, it's taken me months to recover.   

Brother, I completely understand.

[Farrell]

Great to have you back, Jim.

Sorry I've been gone a while, but Infinite Jest kicked my ass so hard, it's taken me months to recover.   

I'm going to finish that bastard one of these days.

[Jeppe]

Sorry guys, finals are currently beating me down. I've bought the book, though, and will join you once the end-of-semester madness is over 

PS: I also just got Infinite Jest for my iPad, but I promise to read Ragtime first 

[Farrell]

PS: I also just got Infinite Jest for my iPad, but I promise to read Ragtime first 

Well, it is only about 1/10th its size. 

[Dave A]

Squarely in Part II now... not a spoiler, but the chapter in which Pierpont Morgan meets Henry Ford is like a scene out of a Coen Bros. flick. Effin' hilarious genius, man. 

[Dave A]

So, Matt mentions fate in the podcast, in relation to the little boy's "Warn the Duke" line being an attempt to alter the course of history (the assassination of the Duke leading to WWI). We didn't talk much about it in 2.0, but in the first recording of the podcast I gave a lengthy  dissertation on the Naturalist movement in literature, that being the predominant literary movement of the era in which the book takes place. I bring it up now because fate is a major theme of Naturalism, and supports my earlier theory that Doctorow is creating a modern piece of Naturalist fiction.

Anyone else familiar with Naturalism? I could go on and on, but I'd rather hear from others.... 

[Vernson]

I may have to read this book some day.

Sorry, guys, I hate making excuses, but I am listening to the podcast regardless.    

[Dave A]

I may have to read this book some day.

Sorry, guys, I hate making excuses, but I am listening to the podcast regardless.    

It's cool... one of the reasons we'd love to grow the podcast's audience (other than the usual narcissism and desire for world domination ) is because we know not everyone is going to want to read every book, or even have time for it in their lives.

On the one hand, the podcasts are recorded, so they'll be there down the road if you ever read Ragtime. On the other hand... tell your friends about us! 

[Matt H.O.W.L.]

So, I juts put on the soundtrack to the '81 film version of Ragtime. I didn't realize Randy Newman did it. Damn, it's pretty good. When this book's done, I'm definitely checking the movie out. On the other hand...I went to Amazon and listened to a couple clips from the '90 musical... 
There's some fundamental elemental about musicals that just repulses and repels me, especially modern ones.

[Jim B.]

Slowly catching up.  I'm with Houdini and his aeroplane, and Evelyn losing interest in Mother's Younger Brother because he doesn't treat her badly.  If she asked, I'm sure he could spring from a closet and ejaculate on her more often.

*Houdini and Evelyn are far and away the most compelling characters thus far.  The description of Houdini's abs, and the knowledge of how he is supposed to have died, made me wince a bit while admiring his drive. 

*Thaw's appearance in the cell opposite Houdini's creeped me the hell out.  Liked your comparison of Thaw's cell to Hannibal Lecter's, to which I'd add this:  It was like Lecter's cell, but with Miggs inside it.

*It may not come up again, but Stuyvesant is pronounced STY-veh-sent.  As in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn.  No Do the Right Thing fans here?  "Bed-Stuy, do or die!"

*I know nothing about naturalism, but am willing to learn.  Maybe Dave A revisits the topic in Ragtime podcast Part Deux?

On the other hand...I went to Amazon and listened to a couple clips from the '90 musical... 

Oddly enough, the musical premieres here in Wilmington, NC, in just two weeks.

There's some fundamental elemental about musicals that just repulses and repels me, especially modern ones.

Dude.... 
You've never seen Les Miz?  Urinetown?  Sweeney Todd?  I...... I don't know what to say.   

[Matt H.O.W.L.]

*Thaw's appearance in the cell opposite Houdini's creeped me the hell out.  Liked your comparison of Thaw's cell to Hannibal Lecter's, to which I'd add this:  It was like Lecter's cell, but with Miggs inside it.

Nice! 

*It may not come up again, but Stuyvesant is pronounced STY-veh-sent.  As in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn.  No Do the Right Thing fans here?  "Bed-Stuy, do or die!"

I had a feeling we were saying that wrong. 

*I know nothing about naturalism, but am willing to learn.  Maybe Dave A revisits the topic in Ragtime podcast Part Deux?

Dave did typed about it at our shiny new Goodreads group! http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/46928.The_Bookhouse_Boys

Dude.... 
You've never seen Les Miz?  Urinetown?  Sweeney Todd?  I...... I don't know what to say.   

Urinetown? No. I thought that was the place where the train went under the Burnside Bridge. 
Musicals never really floated my boat. I've sat through several of them.

Thanks for your comments, man. Karma to you. 

[Dave A]

*It may not come up again, but Stuyvesant is pronounced STY-veh-sent.  As in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn.  No Do the Right Thing fans here?  "Bed-Stuy, do or die!"

I realized that late, on the re-listen... I made a "d'oh!" noise. 

*I know nothing about naturalism, but am willing to learn.  Maybe Dave A revisits the topic in Ragtime podcast Part Deux?

I'll try to get into it a little tonight. I haven't covered it like I wanted to on the podcast. I'll at least spit out a few names and titles for further reading if anyone's innerested.

Thanks for the comments, bruther! 

[Matt H.O.W.L.]

In a neat bit of synchronicity, I was catching up on one of my favorite podcasts, Radiolab. today. In the episode called "Cities" (which is fascinating, in its own right) there is a segment about NYC and the "sandhogs" who tunneled under the rivers. Definitely worth checking out. 
http://www.radiolab.org/2010/oct/08/