Jason Furman > Recent Status Updates

Read "An Unexpected Man"--a psychologically intense one act play with basically parallel monologues of a man and a woman in a train, he's a famous writer losing faith in himself and she's a huge fan of his deciding whether to reveal that by taking out his book and reading it.

Re-read Oedipus the King. I love how human it is but not sure how to square that with how relentless and unavoidable fate is. (Will eventually re-read the other two.)

Astounding and immersive, some of the most amazing character's ever created. I can't stop thinking about it.

Read the first in the trilogy (The Barber of Seville). And learned that Rossini barely changed it for his opera. And it is still delightful, charming and a bit superficial in writing without a performance or music to go along with it.

Still so good.

So far so thrilling (my second time around--but don't remember much from 30 years ago beyond the broad outlines and the general feelings I had).

Finished the first part on how animal brains originally developed to help bilateral organisms steer. And it was fascinating--shaping up to be among the best books I've read in a long time.

I've read two parts: The first a geological and paleontological history of Hawaii that spans hundreds of millions of years and ends before people arrive. The second the journey of the first humans to Hawaii spanning thousands of miles. I plan to stick with this is. A bit trite to say but is certainly quite an epic.

Read the first play, The Bungler. The verse and comedy are light and delightful.