tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post6065160840726135338..comments2024-02-12T17:59:33.534-06:00Comments on RAZORED ZEN: Books that have Stayed with Me, Part 2Charles Gramlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-28005927029968052182013-12-23T13:38:37.375-06:002013-12-23T13:38:37.375-06:00I'm not sure I can understand comparing/contra...I'm not sure I can understand comparing/contrasting Bradbury with Steinbeck. Wha?Rick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07978136287154214297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-56396354765250215652013-12-23T13:31:09.694-06:002013-12-23T13:31:09.694-06:00I've read the first two and have the others on...I've read the first two and have the others on the shelf, the last in the collection NORTHWEST OF EARTH. I'm really enjoying this series of posts.Rick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07978136287154214297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-88104696293669736492013-12-23T11:20:29.924-06:002013-12-23T11:20:29.924-06:00You're right that nowhere is sad so wonderful ...You're right that nowhere is sad so wonderful as in Bradbury. I try to read DANDELION WINE each summer, and each summer it rips me up. Hey! LOVE that line about high school English. Me too but that we had a wise teacher who let me read Asimov and Clarke.Richard Proschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08314680709014254183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-80685661365540181572013-12-21T00:19:23.541-06:002013-12-21T00:19:23.541-06:00Sage, Nevada Jack? I'll have to have a look se...Sage, Nevada Jack? I'll have to have a look see.<br /><br />Jodi, have you read John D. MacDonald's stuff? Generally set in Florida.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-82462926028965845632013-12-20T20:26:00.694-06:002013-12-20T20:26:00.694-06:00Charles-You are such a 'man writers man'! ...Charles-You are such a 'man writers man'! I did read some of the classics in high school and am trying to re read some of them. As much as I love my Key West adventures-I cannot love Ernest's writing style-so manly!!<br />jodihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01798858210138821711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-37862795753231097172013-12-20T16:46:50.816-06:002013-12-20T16:46:50.816-06:00I agree with you about the Old Man and the Sea... ...I agree with you about the Old Man and the Sea... As for the Martians, Nevada Jack has been writing about them lately on my blog :)sagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17499891950639742366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-37078962314224073192013-12-20T15:08:39.497-06:002013-12-20T15:08:39.497-06:00Heff, For you, man, a song is book enough. It has ...Heff, For you, man, a song is book enough. It has words in it. :)Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-86749368409424538632013-12-20T11:13:01.133-06:002013-12-20T11:13:01.133-06:00The only book that has "stayed" with me ...The only book that has "stayed" with me is The Dictionary Of Cultural Literacy, because that's the way I fucking roll.Heffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13396114362826135207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-67673333609575263622013-12-20T08:27:41.328-06:002013-12-20T08:27:41.328-06:00Mark, Although I grew up on the farm, I'm cert...Mark, Although I grew up on the farm, I'm certainly not like my father either, who was a dyed in the wool farmer who simply loved the life. I prefer my nature more wild these days and less groomed. <br />Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-19499430139330119622013-12-20T06:29:34.400-06:002013-12-20T06:29:34.400-06:00That may have been a part of it Charles, my father...That may have been a part of it Charles, my father was a Phd. Chemical engineer who specialized in new polymers, pretty cutting edge stuff for the early 60's. He'd bring samples of magnetized plastics home from the lab (think refrigerator magnets) and other stuff that was pretty amazing. <br /><br />On the other hand he never would talk about his days in the country, or hunting or his family living as well as they were able. <br /><br />It did drive him though--after WWII he went to U of M and went from a HS diploma to a PhD. In 5 years with a Masters in between. *shrug* needless to say I am not my fathers child.the walking manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10058913927297370740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-78285302224324116352013-12-20T00:13:43.618-06:002013-12-20T00:13:43.618-06:00Patti, amen. I love it.
Riot Kitty, Some of the c...Patti, amen. I love it.<br /><br />Riot Kitty, Some of the classics might have been more relevant to past generations but for the modern one many simply are not. They reflect a life that is completely alien to anyone alive todayCharles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-76908348270942517372013-12-19T18:54:25.946-06:002013-12-19T18:54:25.946-06:00That is a really good point. The classics are gene...That is a really good point. The classics are generally wasted on people of an age where they can't appreciate them.<br /><br />I haven't read Silas Marner, but I read Middlemarch and was bored to tears. Some classics have earned that title, IMHO, but some - well, fuck me if I know who determined these peoples' writing didn't need to die with them.Riot Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02725825736285347870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-69535256607073521352013-12-19T11:59:50.887-06:002013-12-19T11:59:50.887-06:00Although no one John D. stays with me. Travis McGe...Although no one John D. stays with me. Travis McGee and the Busted Flish sure do. pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-9513323905236866622013-12-19T09:11:54.779-06:002013-12-19T09:11:54.779-06:00Cloudia, why thank you!
eric1313, after reading &...Cloudia, why thank you!<br /><br />eric1313, after reading "old Man, I went and read everything by Hemingway and liked it all except for "torrents of Spring," which is godawful. For Whom the Bell tolls is certainly excellent. I don't thin it's a good introduction to Hemingway, though.<br /><br />Prashant, Hemingway is the only one of among the 'classic' writers who I would say has influenced my own work.<br /><br />Mark, I first read the Grapes of Wrath and found it incredibly boring because it was about farming and farmers, which is what I grew up as. The Martian Chronicles, in contrast, was full of mystery and exoticism. Too this day, I consider Chronicles far superior to The Grapes of Wrath. I do like Grapes for various reasons, and it has lovely writing, but, for me, it broke no new ground.<br /><br />Bernard, oh yes, Something wicked is wonderful. That movie was also very good, I thought. Same for me with Travis McGeeCharles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-40472886326033232382013-12-19T08:27:08.925-06:002013-12-19T08:27:08.925-06:00Great additions, my friend. 'Something Evil Th...Great additions, my friend. 'Something Evil This Way Comes' is another Ray Bradbury great. The Travis McGee series by McDonald is my favorite (non fantasy) character series of all time.BernardLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09722619048888613647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-4187368771575976062013-12-19T06:11:03.401-06:002013-12-19T06:11:03.401-06:00I've got about 6 of the books you named The Ma...I've got about 6 of the books you named The Martian Chronicles was my introduction to Bradbury, my father loved his work...*meh* I liked The Grapes of Wrath better.the walking manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10058913927297370740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-5634408785710429432013-12-18T23:46:06.751-06:002013-12-18T23:46:06.751-06:00Good selection, Charles. I agree about "The O...Good selection, Charles. I agree about "The Old Man and the Sea." It is one book I want to read again. I also concur with Eric on "For Whom the Bell Tolls" which I liked in spite of the length and the use of words (that sound like expletives) translated directly from the Spanish. The ending was unexpected.Prashant C. Trikannadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16079354501998741758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-13541443275803715632013-12-18T18:14:49.141-06:002013-12-18T18:14:49.141-06:00Regarding Hemingway, I have to give a big shout ou...Regarding Hemingway, I have to give a big shout out for For Whom the Bell Tolls. It's kind of lengthy at 500 + pages, but was well worth the read. When you get to the point where Pillar tells Robert Jordan all of the details of the rebellion against fascism that erupted in her village, it's impossible to put down.eric1313https://www.blogger.com/profile/13807078704660045859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-59510160539933462532013-12-18T17:51:18.532-06:002013-12-18T17:51:18.532-06:00You are SUCH a writer's writer, Charles.
ALOH...You are SUCH a writer's writer, Charles.<br /><br />ALOHA to you and to Lovely Lana<br />from Honolulu<br /><a href="http://comfortspiral.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Comfort Spiral</a><br /> =^..^= <3<br /> Cloudiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05853753108637831069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-78499869945293166302013-12-18T16:41:21.931-06:002013-12-18T16:41:21.931-06:00Alex, I liked elements of that show but overall it...Alex, I liked elements of that show but overall it didn't come close to capturing Bradbury's actual work. they could probably do better with the special effects today.<br /><br />Brian, yeah, the Travis McGee books are wonderful<br /><br />Paul, The Northwest Smith tales were the last ones in this group to be read as well but I sure did take to them.<br /><br />Anonymous-9, hey, good to see you around!Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-43203851691702330862013-12-18T15:36:22.392-06:002013-12-18T15:36:22.392-06:00An inspired list, Charles. Thanks for sharing it w...An inspired list, Charles. Thanks for sharing it with us. Anonymous-9Anonymous-9https://www.blogger.com/profile/09018422038963109199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-51610958110632087282013-12-18T14:31:27.017-06:002013-12-18T14:31:27.017-06:00ONly my my recent personal history did I get to No...ONly my my recent personal history did I get to Northwest Smith and The Martian Chronicles. Both are wonderful.Paul R. McNameehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13498380385001618758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-22741310418072167982013-12-18T13:09:59.326-06:002013-12-18T13:09:59.326-06:00see i knew there would be one i had not read....ha...see i knew there would be one i had not read....have not read the last one...i love john Mcd....his series is great...read it through a year i lived outdoors just after college...Brian Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00722940075884718007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-71976843805496938282013-12-18T12:59:36.499-06:002013-12-18T12:59:36.499-06:00Martian Chronicles was one of my favorite Bradbury...Martian Chronicles was one of my favorite Bradbury books. The movie, not so much...Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.com