Michael > Status Update

Congratulations! And great job!

Jennifer wrote: "Congratulations! And great job!"

Thank you so much, Jennifer! I was a little nervous, but then I thought: we're talking books, and I love talking books!

I'm doing the Infinite Summer project this summer, reading Infinite Jest. Which I suppose is not exactly the thing for "lazy afternoon lounging". If you want to be transported, as you say, I recommend "The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared" if you want to laugh, and "Let the Right One In" if you want the gloom Scandinavian social realism and horror fusion.

Summer is also a great time to re-read the entire Earthsea saga. (I say re-read because you have read it, right?) But so is winter.

Oh, and if you really want cold there's always "The Terror" by Dan Simmons.

Leni wrote: "I'm doing the Infinite Summer project this summer, reading Infinite Jest. Which I suppose is not exactly the thing for "lazy afternoon lounging". If you want to be transported, as you say, I recomm..."

Thank you so much, Leni! Infinite Jest is a perfect summer read. I love getting lost in a book like that when the days are long and languid. Last summer I spent with War and Peace, and it was glorious. I will certainly check out the titles you recommend. I'm embarrassed to say that I have not read any of the Earthsea saga--yet another gaping hole in my reading. (My reading feels like a leaky boat full of holes I'm constantly trying to patch). I do need to rectify that, and soon.

Leni wrote: "Oh, and if you really want cold there's always "The Terror" by Dan Simmons."

Ah yes, The Terror! I read it this past winter, when it was cold but I wanted to feel, by contrast, warm.

Michael wrote: "Leni wrote: "Oh, and if you really want cold there's always "The Terror" by Dan Simmons."

Ah yes, The Terror! I read it this past winter, when it was cold but I wanted to feel, by contrast, warm."

That makes it a curious choice then. LOL
Next winter maybe consider "A Brief History of Seven Killings"?

Leni wrote: "Michael wrote: "Leni wrote: "Oh, and if you really want cold there's always "The Terror" by Dan Simmons."

Ah yes, The Terror! I read it this past winter, when it was cold but I wanted to feel, by ..."

Ah, thank you for mentioning that book. Another friend has mentioned it to me too, so it's definitely going on the list!

I seem to have added greatly to your TBR. :D
I hope you like them!

(And we all have that "leaky boat" feeling. I'm trying to patch up some of the many massive holes in the American Lit section of my boat.)

Leni wrote: "I seem to have added greatly to your TBR. :D
I hope you like them!

(And we all have that "leaky boat" feeling. I'm trying to patch up some of the many massive holes in the American Lit section of ..."

These are all wonderful suggestions and I'm very grateful for them. I too have some massive holes in my American Lit section. I'm looking at them right now, thinking: Cather, Welty, Wharton, Singer, Dos Passos, James Fenimore Cooper, William T. Vollman, Philip K. Dick, Dawn Powell...oh my, the water is really gushing in!

A couple of years ago I read my way through every Canadian state and territory (hence The Terror, because there really aren’t that many books set in Nunavut!) Now I’m slowly making my way through every US state. (Also every British county, and every country in the world. Because I’m an Anglo-centric overachiever. Oh, and a book published every year since I was born.) Gotta patch those holes!

Good job!

It looks as if my "summer reading," at least for awhile, is going to be Infinite Jest (second time). I laughed through the entire first segment of the book today. Hal tries to smile, but it looks like a grimace to all present. Hal calculates that he has 62.5% of the attention of the admissions committee at some point. His Uncle asks of Hal's questionable test scores would be an issue for a highly recruited quarterback who might substantially raise revenues for the sports program. Brilliant.

Leni wrote: "A couple of years ago I read my way through every Canadian state and territory (hence The Terror, because there really aren’t that many books set in Nunavut!) Now I’m slowly making my way through e..."

Leni, I love your ambition! Wow. That's quite a reading program you've set for yourself. I also love how it forces you to broaden your reading horizons, looking beyond the few recognizable authors we all know, to ask yourself questions like: Rhode Island? Delaware? Where's the literature there? At some point you should publish your list!

Michael wrote: "Good job!

It looks as if my "summer reading," at least for awhile, is going to be Infinite Jest (second time). I laughed through the entire first segment of the book today. Hal tries to smile, but..."

Yeah, I love the biting brilliant humor of that book, which is really another way of saying its social satire. I still think of "Year of the Depend Adult Undergarment" every time I need a laugh!

Great job, Michael! Excellent pics. Had to add one, but hoping to have YOUR book in my hands very soon--can't wait.

Kathleen wrote: "Great job, Michael! Excellent pics. Had to add one, but hoping to have YOUR book in my hands very soon--can't wait."

Thank you so much, Kathleen! I truly appreciate your kind words, and I hope you enjoy these picks, and my book too! I look forward to your thoughts!

Professor Barsa, how fun to hear you discuss great summer reads! "Music is what language once aspired to be" - beautiful quote. That was a lovely recommendation of Love Begins In Winter. I'm adding two of your recommendations onto my Amazon wish list. So good to see you! Fabulous job, Michael! Wow.

It feels so, so special to be able to hear your voice, Michael! Sending a massive hug and always, always wishing you the best xx

(Ps. Sadly, your book has never arrived but I am definitely ordering another copy the moment I sort out my tense relations with Amazon!)

Laysee wrote: "Professor Barsa, how fun to hear you discuss great summer reads! "Music is what language once aspired to be" - beautiful quote. That was a lovely recommendation of Love Begins In Winter. I'm adding..."

Thank you so much, Laysee! I truly appreciate your kind words, and I hope you enjoy those recommendations. Love Begins In Winter just astonished me with lines like those, and with its gentleness and heart.

T for Tongue-tied wrote: "It feels so, so special to be able to hear your voice, Michael! Sending a massive hug and always, always wishing you the best xx

(Ps. Sadly, your book has never arrived but I am definitely orderin..."

Oh, thank you so much, T! I'm so glad you enjoyed the show. I'm sending you a massive hug in return (hope your ribs are better!). And do let me know if you keep having trouble with the book, and maybe I can help figure something out. Amazon is an odd beast sometimes.

Michael, you come across so well on TV, congratulations. It was great to "see" you, and hear your book recommendations. By the way, I hope your book has gathered much momentum. I'm looking forward to reading it this year!

Thank you for your recommendations. Summer is when I have time reading and get through my pile of books that I have accumulated during the year. I will add some of your recommendations.

Robin wrote: "Michael, you come across so well on TV, congratulations. It was great to "see" you, and hear your book recommendations. By the way, I hope your book has gathered much momentum. I'm looking forward ..."

Thank you so much, Robin! It was my first time doing something like this, and while I was a little nervous beforehand, it turned out to be great fun. Thanks too for your kind words about my book. I do hope you enjoy it!

Marie-vicky wrote: "Thank you for your recommendations. Summer is when I have time reading and get through my pile of books that I have accumulated during the year. I will add some of your recommendations."

Thank you, Marie-vicky! Summer is when I have the most time for reading too, and I hope you enjoy some of the books I recommended. I'd look forward to your thoughts!

Michael wrote: "T for Tongue-tied wrote: "It feels so, so special to be able to hear your voice, Michael! Sending a massive hug and always, always wishing you the best xx

(Ps. Sadly, your book has never arrived b..."

I have just ordered it again, together with Love begins in winter :)

T for Tongue-tied wrote: "Michael wrote: "T for Tongue-tied wrote: "It feels so, so special to be able to hear your voice, Michael! Sending a massive hug and always, always wishing you the best xx

(Ps. Sadly, your book has..."

Wonderful! I do hope you enjoy them both! They're quite different, but that's why I love to read, to experience multitudes.