Cat's Cradle/The Broom of the System/Post Office

Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut (1963)

For my second attempt at a Kurt Vonnegut novel, I went with Cat's Cradle on my friend Brian's recommendation. While I still didn't completely love it, I would say its still an improvement over Slaughterhouse-Five (even if it was published earlier). From my knowledge Cat's Cradle seems to be typical Vonnegut fare, with symbolic, flowery language laced with clever puns. The plot pretty much runs the gamut. It begins with a writer who decides to research one of the inventors of the A-Bomb, and then ends up meeting a variety of zany characters, including the inventor's children, in the process. The story quickly unravels into a journey to a foreign island with apocalyptic results. With themes touching extensively on science, technology and religion, Vonnegut's analogies and imagery is varied and often times quite beautiful. There are a lot of characters, which isn't surprising at all, and they are all fun, weird and charming in their own way. I guess my main issue with the book is how difficult it is to keep track of all them. Also, I will admit, sometimes Vonnegut's way with words gets a little on my nerves. But, while my high expectations for Cat's Cradle weren't quite met, it was still a very enjoyable read.

The Broom of the System - David Foster Wallace (1987)

I wouldn't say that The Broom of the System, the debut novel by post-modern fiction's tragic god, David Foster Wallace, is necessarily the best book I've read all year, but, it comes damn close. Not only could I barely put the book down, it was the most fun I've had reading any book since I can remember. Infinite Jest is definitely the better (technically speaking) and more mature work of art, but I think the flaws and perhaps juvenile nature lend a certain charm to The Broom of the System. Wallace, who probably owes quite a bit to Thomas Pynchon here, still has woven an utterly complex and outright zany tale that is brighter and infinitely less dense in plot and emotion than his masterstroke, thankfully. That's not to say that TBotS isn't littered with intermingling story lines that are easy to get lost in, they are just less difficult to follow than I expected. All the characters are lovable, even the most loathe-worthy ones. Wallace's love of language is apparent and perhaps the most enjoyable element of the novel. I want to divulge as much as I can in regards to the story and all the layers within, but then this post would read for a mile, and I'd be up way too late. Trust me that you should definitely read The Broom of the System. I don't think I can recommend another book that I've read in 2011 any higher, with the exception of maybe A Confederacy of Dunces. I absolutely cannot wait to read Wallace's posthumously published third novel, The Pale King, when it is released in paperback form.

Post Office - Charles Bukowski (1971)

A little over a year ago, my friend Leah was telling me I should read some Charles Bukowski, and I hadn't put much thought into it since, until I discovered that my new housemate Ian owns his debut novel, Post Office. It was an incredibly quick read as, for one, Bukowski's style and flow are easy to follow, at least here, and two, it's not even 200 pages long. I easily devoured the novel in one day, but I'll admit that while I don't necessarily wish it was a longer book, I wouldn't have minded spending a little more time on it. The novel's title is a good indication of what the plot is: dude works for the post office for 12+ years, first as a carrier, then after a relatively short break, he returns as a clerk. Slightly deeper down (though Bukowski makes it obvious), Post Office really is about smoking, drinking, screwing, finding ways to not have to work hard, and putting up with overbearing supervisors and ridiculously demanding "customers." It is simple, dark, fun and hilarious most of the time. Read it.

Oil!/Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas/The Neon Bible

Oil! - Upton Sinclair (1927)

Because P.T. Anderson's excellent 2007 film, There Will be Blood (one of my absolute favorites of all time), is loosely based on this 1927 Upton Sinclair novel, I was pretty stoked to tackle Oil!. When I realized early on exactly how loose of an adaptation it was, I lost interest pretty quickly. There Will be Blood is a brilliant, stark, intense satire on American religion and the oil industry in the early 1900s and a character study on a truly evil oil tycoon (superbly played by Daniel Day-Lewis, duh). Oil! unsurprisingly and satirically touches on the scandalous nature of U.S. politics and the oil industry at the time, and blatantly champions the socialist banner. While I appreciate Sinclair's perceptive and insanely descriptive writing style, and tragic endings are usually my jam, but the density of the material turned into a total bore and Sinclair's preachiness is a bit overwhelming. When you get down to it, the novel and the film are really nothing alike, and the plot, pacing, mood and characters in There Will be Blood make it the far more superior experience.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson (1971)

I've been planning on reading Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Hunter S. Thompson's most famous work, for several years, and I definitely wouldn't say it was a disappointment. It is a novel with autobiographical tendencies (I get the feeling that only the names used are false, the drug-induced fantasies are exagerated, and that's it). It is sometimes difficult to sort through what is real vs. what is surreal. Despite the lack of anly real narrative, the plot is pretty fun: Raul Duke (Thompson) and Dr. Gonzo (his attorney) take two trips to Las Vegas on journalist duty, but instead get lost in a haze of substance enhanced insanity. The drug imagery is pretty interesting and usually funny, and a hefty portion of the dialogue and Thompson's style and way with words were entertaining and gave me a good chuckle. But, that's pretty much all I got out of Fear and Loathing (which is fine), even though I know that there's supposed to be some grand statement on the American Dream hidden underneath all of the druggy talk. Perhaps my capability to relate with anything in this book is hindered by the fact that it's the first and only thing I've ever read of Thompson's. C'est la vie.

The Neon Bible - John Kennedy Toole (1989)

John Kennedy Toole, most notable for his authorship of A Confederacy of Dunces, died far too young and tragically. It also is unfortunate that there are only two novels posthumously published by this talented writer. I read A Confederacy of Dunces earlier in the year and my mind was completely blown. It it is one of the best works of fiction I've read in my entire life. The Neon Bible was published nine years later, though it was written at a considerably earlier time in Toole's life: AT THE AGE OF 16. That fact definitely has a little to due with how impressed I am with this short novel. However, The Neon Bible is not just good for a 16 year-old. It is a southern gothic tale of growivg up in the American south in the 1940s, facing such adversities as poverty, ultra conservative Christianity, an uncaring father, the second World War and insanity, to name a few. While A Confederacy of Dunces was painstakingly detailed and utterly hilarious, The Neon Bible is dark and subtle. Toole's language and imagery is simple in the most charming and appropriate ways, and the meandering pace and tone of the story is pulled off exceedingly well. And, unlike most books I read, this one's ending was slightly unexpected and absolutely fantastic. I wish there could be more published works by John Kennedy Toole, but the two novels we have of his will most definitely suffice.

Shed/In Blank

Shed - Title Fight (Side One Dummy, 2011)

Thanks be to Bravender for introducing me to these Kingston, Pennsylvania purveyors of nostalgic emo and hardcore infused pop punk. Remember the late 1990s and early 2000s, when emo, punk and hardcore were united by record labels like Equal Vision, Initial, Jade Tree, Revelation and even Fueled by Ramen and Vagrant? Well, that's what Title Fight sound like on Shed, and it rules. It's not even close to may favorite record of 2011 or anything, it's just really nice to hear bands doing this kind of music again. I feel like I'm in high school again when I listen to this, and I love it.

In Blank - Title Tracks (Ernest Jenning, 2011)

In Blank is the sophomore full length from Title Tracks, the latest project from musician extraordinaire John Davis, who is most relevant to me as the drummer for defunct DC melodic art-punk band Q and Not U. I will admit, it is nothing special, but man, is it fun! All 11 tracks consist of the same jangly guitars, bouncy rhythms and excellent melodies, which can totally get old and/or forgettable, but is permissible due to how well Davis pulls everything off (assuming he played every instrument on the record like on Title Tracks' debut). The power pop of In Blank is an obvious nod to Elvis Costello and even The New Pornographers in places, and that is a-ok to me.

God Bless America

"God Bless America" by Joan of Arc, from How Memory Works (1998)

More 90s emo nostalgia. The first half of this jam is especially great.

In the Same Room/What Would I Say to You Now

"In the Same Room" by Jimmy Eat World, from Static Prevails (1996)

Revisited Jimmy Eat World's major label debut, Static Prevails, the other day for the first time in a good while. This is is still the record's best song, let alone one of the band's best ever.

"What Would I Say to You Now" by Jimmy Eat World, from Jimmy Eat World/Jejune 7" (1997)

And then the following day I continued on this trip down memory lane with the band's collection of 7" and rare tracks, Singles, and was reminded of the greatness of this jam as well.