I have no idea how to create pages but I'll figure it out eventually godammit

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Choose my book - Take Two

Ok, I screwed up the poll. It was supposed to allow you to vote for more than one, but in my hast (I even misspelled haste in my haste!) to post it, I forgot to click the little check box. So here's what I'm going to do: I'm making a new poll - correctly this time - and adding the reader suggestions from before. I'm also going to add the totals of the first poll to the new poll so if you voted once, you get to double your vote. Here's the totals so far:

Generation X - Douglas Coupland 1 (7%)
Last Words - George Carlin 2 (15%)
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? - Philip K. Dick 0 (0%)
Operation Manual For Spaceship Earth - R. Buckminster Fuller 2 (15%)
Joystick Nation - JC Herz 0 (0%)
We Could've Finished Last Without You - Bob Hope 2 (15%)
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley 4 (30%)
The Crying of Lot 49 - Thomas Pynchon 1 (7%)
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson 0 (0%)
Bluebeard - Kurt Vonnegut 1 (7%)

The poll definitely had to be fixed as the very first comment extolled the virtues of Fear and Loathing, yet the book hasn't a single vote. The Crying Of Lot 49 was mentioned a lot too, and there's only one vote for it. Ok, fixey time. I'm cutting and pasting the books from the last post and adding a few new ones that were suggestions.

Also Also: I freaking FORGOT to link Julia Wertz' website. It's appropriately called Museum of Mistakes.



Ok here's the books - with one change...


Microserfs - Douglas Coupland. 

I also forgot I had this book too, and I'd much rather read this one than Generation X. Big Ups to Thorzul for reminding me that this was written. (how pathetic is it that I can't even remember what books I have?)

George Carlin - Last Words

George is one of my Heroes with a Capital Aich, and I picked up this book in the bargain bin early this year. Autobiographies of Frank Zappa and Lenny Bruce are two of my favorite books, so George could end up joining them on the Good shelf.

Philip K. Dick - Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

I've read a bunch of Dick already (heh) but I haven't gotten around to this one yet. The one drawback: I've got this version, which I think is the first paperback edition. I'm kinda scared to read it.

R. Buckminster Fuller - Operating Manual For Spaceship Earth

I saved this from the discard pile at the bookstore I worked at in College and never got around to reading it. Science! Plus Buckminster Fuller is an awesome name.

Joystick Nation - JC Herz

What can I say? I grew up with Old School video games. I like them.

We Could've Finished Last Without You - Bob Hope

Gotta have one Baseball book on the list. A memoir of the Atlanta Braves by their promotions director back when they were the worst team in baseball.

Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

Kinda embarrassed I haven't read this all the way through yet. I've tried a couple of times and put it down for some reason or another. I have a theory that you don't come across a work of art or writing or music until you're ready for it and if you try to force it, it won't work. Maybe I'm ready now?

The Crying of Lot 49 - Thomas Pynchon

Another book that's been following me around since college. Me likey crazy conspiracy. I also need to read the Illuminatus! Trilogy one of these days...

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson

I've read a bunch of his essays and watched the films, but I've never read one of his books. This is the only book on the list I don't actually have in my possession, so if you have a better suggestion for one of his books to read let me know.

Bluebeard - Kurt Vonnegut

One of the few books of Kurt's I haven't read. Kurt is my favorite author so it will get read eventually.

READER SUGGESTIONS:

Still Life With Woodpecker - Tom Robbins

I did a Google search for Tom Robbins and in related searches were "Kurt Vonnegut" and "Christopher Moore". Sold! This one has the cover that I most recognize, so I'm taking that as a sign that it's the one I should read.

Pastoralia - George Saunders

I practically live in CivilWarLand as it is, so I went with the book about Capitalism run amok for the list. Oh, wait! I live in that too!

The Devil In The White City - Erik Larson

I have an unhealthy fascination with serial killers, so this true? (oh God let this be a novel) tale of murder during the Worlds Fair intrigues me.

Empire of the Summer Moon - SC Gwynne

I'm actually part Cherokee so Native American History is a subject I'm familiar with. Gotta mix in a few non-fictions in here!

All righty, please vote for ALL the books you think I should read, and feel free to add some more suggestions if you wish! I'm already a third of the way through Drinking at the Movies so there's a good chance I'll be picking up your choice by this weekend. Vote early and often!

(And I swear there will be a baseball card post tomorrow - sorry about the goof up)

6 comments:

Dhoff said...

I could recommend books all day, since my job and life is pretty much reading literature. But I'll just say again that I think you'd really enjoy Pastoralia.

My votes are in, with three of my favorite authors on the ballot. I don't see that often.

Chris Harris said...

Suggestions:

1) FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS.

2) FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS.

3) FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS.

4) "Parliament of Whores" by P.J. O'Rourke. If HST was a libertarian and wrote about the U.S. Gubmint, it would be this book. Even though it's 20 years old, still relevant.

5) "Yes I Can" by Sammy Davis, Jr.

6) "Create Your Own Economy" by Tyler Cowen. Because Ty Cowen is the fucking man.

7) "Mint Condition" by Dave Jamieson. Gotta have something about cards.

Greg Zakwin said...

The Devil In The White City is indeed a true story.

cynicalbuddha said...

Man some good choices here. You have a couple of my favorite authors up there. I loved Blue Beard and if you have never read Tom Robbins Still Life with Woodpecker is a good intro, not his best work but still pretty darn good. Also if you ever read the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy do yourself a favor and find Addams nonfiction work Last Chance to See it pretty good. And of course East of Eden by Stienbeck is one of my all time favorites, the movie is terrible compared to the book.

Mark Aubrey said...

dayf, I didn't vote for Fear and Loathing the first time around because I'm afraid of ponies. I couldn't stay on the site long enough to click to vote.

I've since voted and would encourage you to read it even if it doesn't win this round.

dayf said...

Aaaaaargh! I forgot to put Travels With Charley on the poll!

You see why I can't be trusted to choose my own book?