What are you reading? - 2022

Now reading "It's Superman!". Not your comic book Superman. It's a 30s noir treatment. I'm only on the 3rd chapter so far. Lois isn't a good girl, Clark doesn't know what's going on with his body and Jimmy Olson is missing but in his place is a Jewish kid with very bad judgment.

There is a rumor of a movie being made based on that event with Martin Scorcese directing, starring Leonardo DiCarpio, hopefully that will get made soon.

Crime And Punishment - Fyodor Dostoevsky

Just reading through Mark Irwin’s book on the history of Peterson pipes.
As early as 1906 they advertised Bogwood (Morta) pipes in their catalogue.

I thought Morta was a relative newcomer to the pipe world.

Finished with Cadfael and plunged right into THE ROAD, Cormac McCarthy. Had it for a while but didn’t start it because I knew it would be a hard slog. Read it in a single sitting. It was dark unto darkness. Redemption at the end? Maybe. If there IS a redemption in the world he describes. I think this would have been a easy book for McCarthy to have written. Episodic, day-by-day, with a consistency of character and circumstance that posed no complexity whatsoever. The cataclysm is never described, just its aftermath. Is this the world we are headed for, with crazy people all over the planet having nuclear weapons at their hands? I wish I had more faith in the “final intelligence” of homo sapiens.

The Earth Abides, One Second After, The Postman, The Chronicles of Liebowitz, and more predict the end of the current civilization. I don't have nuch hope, but what I do have isn't in people.

The True Story of the Texas Slave Ranch - How a Degenerate Ranching Family Got Away With Murder
- Richard Ellison

Kelly Weill, Off the Edge, 2022, nonfiction. Psychology of Flat Earthers and other conspiracy folks.  I can't give it the attention it needs, but it's quite interesting and compassionate. 

More human nature rolling back imposed culture. When will we learn.

I read his Alexandra Quartet way back in the mid 1970ds. Not heard of this one. Will check it out. 

There is nothing in conflict with the movie. They knew, at least Mr. Dryden knew, that Lawrence was eminently qualified to "appreciate" the Arab situation in Arabia. General Murry had some vague understanding, as befitted his command, that Lawrence was qualified for the assignment. Reading Lawrence's book helps develop an under4standing of the man. 

I have an illustrated First Edition which was my Great Aunt's, purchased by her in the 1930s.

BTWA, Ayuda Abu Dhai and Anthony Quinn share the same face to the extent the movie extras thought it was really him who has returned from the dead. There was so much hollering, cheering, hooting, shooting when Quinn first emerged fully dressed and made up for the role of Auda. The Director, Mr. Lean, commanded, "Bring me THAT man..... and fire Anthony Quinn". This is a story which Quinn loved to tell any interviewer who would listen. I think he grew to believe it and draw attention away from his role in the movie.

I have your book on my list. 

I think Lawrence's Arabian expertise comes through in the movie. He's clearly well acquainted with the region, its cultures, tribes, geography, and religion. The archeology, no, but the rest seems apparent in O'Toole's portrayal.

I've had the Anderson book in my wishlist for quite a while.

Finished the Anderson book just now. A remarkable book. A very good way to get an understanding of the modern Middle East, as the subtitle suggests. Also a fascinating rundown on the major figures of that period of history. If what you know of Lawrence comes from the Lean film, or even from his own writings, you may be shocked and disconcerted by this book. But fear not: you will be the wiser for it in many ways.