20) From the Old English 'Cristes Mæsse’
We get Christmas, meaning the “mass of Christ.”
At the time of Jesus’ birth, there were approx. 300 million people on earth and 35,000 people in Jerusalem. Two-thousand years later, 400 million people around the globe celebrate Christmas. Sometimes it just takes a little while for a good thing catch on. A massive population spike doesn’t hurt either.
19) The Great Ashen Faggot
Most of us our familiar with the phrase “throw another yule log on the fire.” Less familiar is the yule log’s traditional Scandanavian name, the Great Ashen Faggot, which has been used in winter solstice celebrations for centuries (often with wassail). Ancient lore also says that any household that does not burn the ashen faggot will receive a year’s worth of bad luck.
Go ahead. I dare you. “Hey mom: quit whining and throw another ashen faggot on the fire.”
18) Back to the Future: Powered by Yule
Speaking of Yule, maybe we should ditch ethanol and start investing in yule as a next generation fuel source. I know a couple of seasonal enthusiasts with enough yule to power a flux capaceter or two (ex: adult visitors to Chicago who demand a visit to the Hancock building to see the Christmas train).
Here’s hoping that your Christmas tank is currently full-o’-yule.
17) Sorkin Christmas
Nobody -- and I mean nobody -- writes Christmas episodes like Aaron Sorkin. From the West Wing he brought us: 1) In Excelsis Deo: Toby orders the honor burial for the Vietnam veteran 2) Noel: Josh’s bout with post-traumatic stress disorder and 3) O Holy Night: Toby’s father pays him a visit and the Whippenpoofs are at the White House. All. Classic. Episodes.
But the best Sorkin Christmas episode, in my humble opinion, is last year’s Studio 60 in which Danny Tripp (Bradley Whitford) threw this 100 mph Rick Vaughn heater at Jordan (Amanda Peet): “If you want to run I understand, but you’d better get a good head start, because I’m coming for you Jordan.” That = tatonka.
The episode also featured an unforgettable performance by displaced jazz musicians from New Orleans.
It's enough to make me thankful all over again.
16) Let There Be (Five Miles of) Lights
Think you’ve got a lot of Christmas lights in your basement? Try the Rockefeller Center’s tree on for size. The Norway Spruce on display is normally 75 feet tall, and every year it adorns over 25,000 feet of Christmas lights.
Now that’s a lot of wattage.
16) Guitar Hero III or Barbie Island Princess?
How’d you like to be this 15 year-old? So close, yet so far away. On a scale of 1 to 10, I’m rating the father’s handling of the situation a “14.” Love the sarcasm (per always).
14) Falalala
Need a little romance with your season? The feel-good Christmas specials are running nightly on Lifetime; look for the “Falalala” insignia in the corner of your TV screen (FYI, there’s about a 99.8% chance Lifetime is a neighbor to Oxygen on your TV dial).
I caught Jennifer Grey having the time of her life san Swayzee in “Road to Christmas.” Two Thumbs up.
13) Straight? No Chaser? Con Ponce?
This is awesome! The video has garnered nearly 4 million clicks on YouTube, at least 10 of which I proudly call my own. Who needs Toto when you’ve got ABC’s finest, Dan Ponce, at the helm. Cheers to you my friend.
Dare I say it: “Fi-ji-Gam-ma-Christ-mas-time!!!”
12) A Christmas Carol
On December 19th, 1843 – exactly 164 years ago -- Charles Dickens published the instantly beloved novel, "A Christmas Carol," which Dickens described as “his little Christmas book.”
Dickens’ contemporaries noted that the story's popularity played a critical role in redefining the importance of Christmas. I note that Dickens tainted the name “Ebeneezer” forever.
11) A Festivus for the Rest of Us
Anti-Christmas crusaders won’t be receiving any coinage from the Chowder. My lone exception is the Kostanzas who celebrate Festivus, featuring the Airing of Grievances, the Festivus Pole, and the Feats of Strength (i.e. wrestling with Frank).
You've got to hand it to Seinfeld and Larry David; those guys were in the zone for a long while. And when you think about it, Festivus is almost ludicrous enough to be real-life government sanctioned holiday. Seriously: Arbor Day?
10) Egg Nog
Can’t get enough of this stuff. And I’m talking straight out of the carton (sans alcohol). I don’t even drink milk most of the year.
If producers were willing to forgo the seasonal sentimentality, I’d be a year-round buyer. Somebody call market research and see if we can't run some numbers. I don't think I'm alone.
9) Clear Eyes, Full Hearts (You) Can't Lose!
Looking to improve your lot in (my) life? Want to add a gratuity onto your free subscription to Knobs Chowder? It just so happens that I am currently without the 1st season of Friday Night Lights. Hoping to change that. I’m not above begging.
8) Beaujolais Nouveau
This traditional, holiday wine is made from gamay grapes and produced in the Beaujolais region of France. It is fermented for only a few weeks and then released for sale every year on the third Thursday of November – intended to be consumed immediately.
More than other wines, Beaujolais is a hit or miss proposition based on vintage, but it’s a fun holiday option and worth the gamble. If you’re looking for a recommendation, Georges Duboeuf's vineyard is synonymous with Beaujolais.
7) What Are You Looking at Clark?
“Oh, the silent majesty of a winter's morn... the clean, cool chill of the holiday air... an asshole in his bathrobe, emptying a chemical toilet into my sewer.”
6) Christmas Stockings
Please tell me that your family is still using Christmas stockings, hung form the chimney with care (triple your score if grandma threaded yours). Hoping so, because I’m starting to think that stockings are in a bit of a recession.
Beyond the stockings’ utilitarian value, which should be enough to warrant tenure, it's also a good litmus test for parents. Figuring out a cool present that can fit down a stocking is a good prelude to bigger fish (like the teenage years).
Besides, my favorite over-sized, L-sock is still bearing fruit. 30 does not make one too old for Pez dispensers.
5) Nick & Jessica: Meet Ben Stein
Take this holiday commentary seriously. It’s worthy of your time. But amidst your seriousness, give yourself a bonus point if you’re mentally reading the passage in a monotone voice that slowly calls out, “Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?.....Fry? Fry? Fry?”
4) Here’s Johnnnnnnny (i.e. The Quote of the Month)
“The worst gift is a fruitcake. There is only one fruitcake in the entire world, and people keep sending it to each other.”
3) Christmas Eve Congregation
I’m not a regular churchgoer throughout the calendar year; my faith lacks a little snuff. But my time-away from the altar means I've got that much more gusto on Dec. 24th when my family joins a packed congregation at Crescent Hill’s Christmas Eve Service.
Children on Saint Nick-flavored Red Bull scurry between the aisles. Friends you last saw a year ago greet you with a hug. And then, as the service comes to end, an A Cappella, candlelit rendition of Silent Night.
Truly, there’s no place like home for the holidays.
2) Isn’t There Anyone Who Knows.....
What Christmas is all about? Well sure there is Charlie Brown.
1) In the Not-So Bleak Midwinter
I made an impulse purchase for someone this Christmas. Tonight I’m writing out Christmas cards, shopping for gifts on Amazon, and helping to organize a holiday get together or two.
I do these things with other people in mind, but in actuality, I benefit the most. If the holidays were a division equation, the denominator would be good will towards men, and the quotient would always equal infinity. A result I need to remember because life is a state of mind and Christmas is an accessible state -- regardless of the season.
Friends: may the merriment of the season engulf you. May the light of the world shine upon your path. And above all else, may your woodshed be full of big, dry, great ashen faggots.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
The Best Books of 2007
It is often said there are only two types of stories: a man goes on a journey, or a stranger comes to town. Any recent best-seller list might suggest another characterization: a life rises from the ashes or it comes wholly undone.
Personally, I much prefer the former, with its hopeful overtones and undercurrents of inertia. And yes, I also prefer titles which speak to one big piece and not a million little ones.
Accordingly, you’ll find nary a tale of personal deconstruction on this list. Granted, the inverse isn’t true either: I'm not addicted to narratives about puppy dogs and ice cream.
Some of these novels have inexplicably avoided my grasp for years. Others are more recent and familiar additions to paperback row, emblazoned with award-winning seals which scream out, “only a fool wouldn’t purchase me.”
All of these books have brought me immeasurable pleasure.
Ironically, as hinted at above, none of these books were published in 2007. I’m shunning that traditional categorization in favor of the year in which they were read. What’s a born-on-date matter if it hasn’t arrived in my possession until now?
Finally, I know that literary taste is as unique and confounding a proposition as the opposite sex -- not all of these will strike a chord. But as the holidays near and time (theoretically) extends itself, perhaps one or two will add a degree of merriment to your season, whether before or after a long winter’s nap.
"The Lay of the Land" by Richard Ford
How do you know if a book is really, really good? Any next read will pale in comparison to such a degree that, invariably, it gets shoved aside after 20 pages of utter dissatisfaction.
I started four different books after "The Lay of the Land."
In this, the last of Ford’s trilogy detailing the life of real estate agent Frank Bascombe, our principal subject is dealing with the “Permanent Period” and a simultaneous bout with prostate cancer. It’s a meditation on life, America, growing old, and our reliance on others (with every possible connotation implied).
Ford, at his best, reminds me of a prize fighter with a great hook. You’ll be dancing around his literary landscape and then “Wham!” -- he hits you with an observation that is so keen and poignant, you can’t believe such insight is possible in so few words.
Incredibly, his prose here is never superfluous or overreaching; the narrative voice feels effortless. I didn’t love the ending, but don't let that deter you.
Enjoy this bout for all it’s worth.
"A Soldier of the Great War" by Mark Helprin
My first Helprin foray was "Freddy & Fredericka" -- a tale about a bumbling, overeducated prince and his frivolous wife who are sent to the States to repossess the colonies (“Then came ten piercing words that shattered Freddy’s peace of mind like a dagger clinging to a marble floor: “Freddy,” she asked, “you know what I’ve got? I’ve got disco fever.”).
If this entry included the best reads from a year ago, "Freddy & Fredericka" would have been a highlight of the list.
But whereas F&F is a sweeping joyride of unlikely vistas and heart-warming delight, A Soldier is more meaty and builds in a long, arcing crescendo. In it, an aging professor of aesthetics walks from Rome to Monte Prato, telling a young, impressionable companion the story of his life. He recounts his impulsive youth, an immeasurable love, and his efforts to outlast an unending war.
Helprin's prose is an amplified dose of vitality, a shot of adrenaline whenever I'm down. And if you’re looking for a barometer for my literary taste, this is a great point of reference.
If Helprin isn’t up your alley, we’re probably out of luck.
"Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman (24 stories)" by Haruki Marukami
This introspective collection is a great introduction to Japan’s most popular fiction writer. The 24 stories asks big questions without asking them, while opening doors to far away worlds.
You’ll read about “the year of spaghetti” and a cooking pot big enough to hold a German shepherd. You’ll meet Tony Takitani and his wife, whose apartment-sized closet holds only size seven dresses. And you’ll bump into man-eating cats, chance travelers, an ice man, and a memorable birthday encounter (or two).
Marukami already owns a lot of turf on my bookshelf, but I enjoyed these stories as much as anything I’ve read of his, except possibly "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle." If you’re looking to venture outside of your comfort zone and don’t know Marukami as of yet, I would highly recommend giving this collection a go.
"The Gold Bug Variations" by Richard Powers
This book is so darn good it’s making the list even though I haven’t finished it (how about them apples!). But I’d be slighting you if I didn’t also admit the following: this is a BEAST of an undertaking.
The novel should be subtitled: “Much Ado About Molecular Biology (all of it).” Every time I start reading this book sans caffeine (i.e. quad espresso) or not entirely focused, I miss 50% of the page. On my best day numerous passages, ciphers, and molecular references are still way beyond me.
BUT if you’re up for a challenge, proceed without reservation. This is a pulsating, innovative novel -- one of a kind in every sense. It’s the type of book which could spur a person to start out in a new life direction, certain they will never look back.
At the core of our story is an unlikely trio: 1) a once promising genetics researcher on the brink of decoding the double helix which Watson and Crick have modeled 2) a drifting art historian ABD (all-but-dissertation) and 3) a librarian with a penchant for “this day in history.” It’s a double love story which also explores the connections between biology, music, and computation. Ultimately, each character must discover the life molecule -- deliberating on its endless, mutating variations on a four-note theme -- in order to come to grips with their own existence.
This book is a climber's Everest. Only a handful of readers will find pleasure in the commitment required to make the summit.
I hope it never ends.
"The Time of Our Singing" by Richard Powers
Noticing a pattern here? The man can write! Powers’ most recent novel, "The Echo Maker," won the National Book Award for crying out loud. Granted, the subject matter in Echo -- a near-fatal accident leads to a reluctant reunion between a brother and sister -– doesn’t interest me as much (too many little pieces). But Powers has me lock, stock, and barrel with "The Time of Our Singing."
This novel centers on two musically gifted brothers, inseparable throughout most of the novel. Their father is a Jewish emigre physicist who is studying the space-time continuum and lends a hand on the atomic bomb (i.e. another scientist on the cusp). Their mother is African-American, trained as a classical singer.
Husband and wife meet at Marian Anderson’s historic concert on the Washington Mall. They being a secretive romance and fall quickly in love -- alienating her family in the process. The couple then moves to New York where they are determined to raise their sons in a home which is beyond judgment, racism, and time – steeped only in song and a love for one another.
But the 1950s are not an easy decade for two mixed-race boys to come of age. Music and family will be their only constants.
The novel's intricate harmonies are undeniable, and Powers' sense of pace could steady a metronome. Its multi-layered, rich voices will lay out a melody which pierces your heart and your ears.
You will hear its singing long after the final page.
"AT SWIM, Two Boys" by Jamie O’Neill
The setting is Ireland during World War I, leading up to the Easter Rising, when local radicals will revolt against British rule. The storyline is two boys coming of age and falling in love. A third mate (of sorts) who talks to an imaginary, Socratic companion will affect both their lives in ways neither could have expected.
Ireland’s lush countryside and downtrodden history can romanticize any novel, but it’s the author's skillful molding which drives the reader into the heart of the Emerald Isle. The characters are raw, believable, and accessible to a degree which has me struggling to find a worthy comparison.
Reading about the sexual impulses of two loving boys took a little getting used to; it was unfamiliar terrain. But don’t be dissuaded.
The most lyrical, haunting -- perhaps affecting -- book of the year.
"The World to Come" by Dora Horn
My safest recommendation on the list. Readers of all shapes and sizes should gravitate towards Horn’s subject and prose.
The narrative centers on a man who sees a Chagall and then becomes (obsessively) convinced it used to belong to his family. He is spurred to action, finding love and his scattered self along the way. Mystery, romance, historical flashbacks: this effort has them all. Don’t be surprised if this novel is making the rounds in book clubs or on the train next year.
Entertainment Weekly’s review is right on the money: “nothing short of amazing.”
"Tres Tristes Tigres" (Three Trapped Tigers) by G. Cabrera Infante
Hailed as the “Cuban Ulysses.” I get the comparison. This is a dense, difficult novel (of a different variety than Gold Bug). Improbable characters cascade from every direction and the stream-of-consciousness dialog is nearly impenetrable at times. If you think the first few chapters are running amuck, just wait.
At one point you’ll flip the book upside down.
Still, the passages which didn’t fly (10,000 ft) over my head were by turns musical, absurd, and absurdly funny. It's an admiring portrait of pre-Castro Cuba, and a quixotic joyride the likes of which you've never experienced.
To be sure, this tiger can not be tamed in one sitting or frame of mind; it’s a labyrinth without end (amen). But there's nourishment to be had as you meander through Infante's maze. And ultimately, perhaps, a great deal of appreciation.
"Special Topics in Calamity Physics" by Marisha Pessl
Not the apex of my literary year but Pessl’s narrative voice, in this very original work, is so distinct and refreshing -- in the end I decided to add Calamity Physics to my list.
In this whimsical debut, a daughter is told that “a person should have a magnificent reason for writing out her Life Story and expecting anyone to read it...unless your name is Mozart or Bond – James Bond – you best spend your free time finger painting or playing shuffleboard, for no one, with the exception of your flabby-armed mother with stiff hair and a mashed-potato way of looking at you, will want to hear the particulars of your pitiable existence, which doubtlessly will end as it began – with a wheeze.”
And yet the daughter, Blue van Meer, is convinced that her life story is worthy of the telling -- and at a formative age no less. And so our story begins.
If you enjoyed Pessl’s witty (verbose?) intro above, you’d do well to settle in for the duration. Her playful prose seeps through every crack of every sidewalk which Blue strolls down.
An escapist read that is likely to delight.
"Champagne: How the World’s Most Glamorous Wine Triumphed Over War and Hard Times" by Don & Petite Kladstrup
Last but certainly not least: a recipient from non-fiction row.
The subject material here should come as no surprise, as many readers are familiar with my love for wine. But as the title suggests, this is more a historical overview than a lesson in blending techniques.
In 250 pages you’ll learn how pinot meunier, chardonnay, and pinot noir became the three primary grapes for champagne. You’ll learn about the Monk at the Abbey of Hautvilliers, Dom Perignon, and how his name got attached to the world’s most renowned champagne 200 years after he died. You’ll come to appreciate the Sun King, as his reign changed the fate of champagne forever.
And you’ll visit the bloodied battlefields near Epernay and Reims, where millions of men lost their lives fighting for the soil on which the vines grow. Thankfully, those hallowed grounds in the northeast of France are more fertile than ever today, producing every drop of champagne the world consumes.
The Kladstrups cover all this and more in a linear, fresh tonality that reads more like a dedication than a history text. High marks.
Personally, I much prefer the former, with its hopeful overtones and undercurrents of inertia. And yes, I also prefer titles which speak to one big piece and not a million little ones.
Accordingly, you’ll find nary a tale of personal deconstruction on this list. Granted, the inverse isn’t true either: I'm not addicted to narratives about puppy dogs and ice cream.
Some of these novels have inexplicably avoided my grasp for years. Others are more recent and familiar additions to paperback row, emblazoned with award-winning seals which scream out, “only a fool wouldn’t purchase me.”
All of these books have brought me immeasurable pleasure.
Ironically, as hinted at above, none of these books were published in 2007. I’m shunning that traditional categorization in favor of the year in which they were read. What’s a born-on-date matter if it hasn’t arrived in my possession until now?
Finally, I know that literary taste is as unique and confounding a proposition as the opposite sex -- not all of these will strike a chord. But as the holidays near and time (theoretically) extends itself, perhaps one or two will add a degree of merriment to your season, whether before or after a long winter’s nap.
"The Lay of the Land" by Richard Ford
How do you know if a book is really, really good? Any next read will pale in comparison to such a degree that, invariably, it gets shoved aside after 20 pages of utter dissatisfaction.
I started four different books after "The Lay of the Land."
In this, the last of Ford’s trilogy detailing the life of real estate agent Frank Bascombe, our principal subject is dealing with the “Permanent Period” and a simultaneous bout with prostate cancer. It’s a meditation on life, America, growing old, and our reliance on others (with every possible connotation implied).
Ford, at his best, reminds me of a prize fighter with a great hook. You’ll be dancing around his literary landscape and then “Wham!” -- he hits you with an observation that is so keen and poignant, you can’t believe such insight is possible in so few words.
Incredibly, his prose here is never superfluous or overreaching; the narrative voice feels effortless. I didn’t love the ending, but don't let that deter you.
Enjoy this bout for all it’s worth.
"A Soldier of the Great War" by Mark Helprin
My first Helprin foray was "Freddy & Fredericka" -- a tale about a bumbling, overeducated prince and his frivolous wife who are sent to the States to repossess the colonies (“Then came ten piercing words that shattered Freddy’s peace of mind like a dagger clinging to a marble floor: “Freddy,” she asked, “you know what I’ve got? I’ve got disco fever.”).
If this entry included the best reads from a year ago, "Freddy & Fredericka" would have been a highlight of the list.
But whereas F&F is a sweeping joyride of unlikely vistas and heart-warming delight, A Soldier is more meaty and builds in a long, arcing crescendo. In it, an aging professor of aesthetics walks from Rome to Monte Prato, telling a young, impressionable companion the story of his life. He recounts his impulsive youth, an immeasurable love, and his efforts to outlast an unending war.
Helprin's prose is an amplified dose of vitality, a shot of adrenaline whenever I'm down. And if you’re looking for a barometer for my literary taste, this is a great point of reference.
If Helprin isn’t up your alley, we’re probably out of luck.
"Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman (24 stories)" by Haruki Marukami
This introspective collection is a great introduction to Japan’s most popular fiction writer. The 24 stories asks big questions without asking them, while opening doors to far away worlds.
You’ll read about “the year of spaghetti” and a cooking pot big enough to hold a German shepherd. You’ll meet Tony Takitani and his wife, whose apartment-sized closet holds only size seven dresses. And you’ll bump into man-eating cats, chance travelers, an ice man, and a memorable birthday encounter (or two).
Marukami already owns a lot of turf on my bookshelf, but I enjoyed these stories as much as anything I’ve read of his, except possibly "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle." If you’re looking to venture outside of your comfort zone and don’t know Marukami as of yet, I would highly recommend giving this collection a go.
"The Gold Bug Variations" by Richard Powers
This book is so darn good it’s making the list even though I haven’t finished it (how about them apples!). But I’d be slighting you if I didn’t also admit the following: this is a BEAST of an undertaking.
The novel should be subtitled: “Much Ado About Molecular Biology (all of it).” Every time I start reading this book sans caffeine (i.e. quad espresso) or not entirely focused, I miss 50% of the page. On my best day numerous passages, ciphers, and molecular references are still way beyond me.
BUT if you’re up for a challenge, proceed without reservation. This is a pulsating, innovative novel -- one of a kind in every sense. It’s the type of book which could spur a person to start out in a new life direction, certain they will never look back.
At the core of our story is an unlikely trio: 1) a once promising genetics researcher on the brink of decoding the double helix which Watson and Crick have modeled 2) a drifting art historian ABD (all-but-dissertation) and 3) a librarian with a penchant for “this day in history.” It’s a double love story which also explores the connections between biology, music, and computation. Ultimately, each character must discover the life molecule -- deliberating on its endless, mutating variations on a four-note theme -- in order to come to grips with their own existence.
This book is a climber's Everest. Only a handful of readers will find pleasure in the commitment required to make the summit.
I hope it never ends.
"The Time of Our Singing" by Richard Powers
Noticing a pattern here? The man can write! Powers’ most recent novel, "The Echo Maker," won the National Book Award for crying out loud. Granted, the subject matter in Echo -- a near-fatal accident leads to a reluctant reunion between a brother and sister -– doesn’t interest me as much (too many little pieces). But Powers has me lock, stock, and barrel with "The Time of Our Singing."
This novel centers on two musically gifted brothers, inseparable throughout most of the novel. Their father is a Jewish emigre physicist who is studying the space-time continuum and lends a hand on the atomic bomb (i.e. another scientist on the cusp). Their mother is African-American, trained as a classical singer.
Husband and wife meet at Marian Anderson’s historic concert on the Washington Mall. They being a secretive romance and fall quickly in love -- alienating her family in the process. The couple then moves to New York where they are determined to raise their sons in a home which is beyond judgment, racism, and time – steeped only in song and a love for one another.
But the 1950s are not an easy decade for two mixed-race boys to come of age. Music and family will be their only constants.
The novel's intricate harmonies are undeniable, and Powers' sense of pace could steady a metronome. Its multi-layered, rich voices will lay out a melody which pierces your heart and your ears.
You will hear its singing long after the final page.
"AT SWIM, Two Boys" by Jamie O’Neill
The setting is Ireland during World War I, leading up to the Easter Rising, when local radicals will revolt against British rule. The storyline is two boys coming of age and falling in love. A third mate (of sorts) who talks to an imaginary, Socratic companion will affect both their lives in ways neither could have expected.
Ireland’s lush countryside and downtrodden history can romanticize any novel, but it’s the author's skillful molding which drives the reader into the heart of the Emerald Isle. The characters are raw, believable, and accessible to a degree which has me struggling to find a worthy comparison.
Reading about the sexual impulses of two loving boys took a little getting used to; it was unfamiliar terrain. But don’t be dissuaded.
The most lyrical, haunting -- perhaps affecting -- book of the year.
"The World to Come" by Dora Horn
My safest recommendation on the list. Readers of all shapes and sizes should gravitate towards Horn’s subject and prose.
The narrative centers on a man who sees a Chagall and then becomes (obsessively) convinced it used to belong to his family. He is spurred to action, finding love and his scattered self along the way. Mystery, romance, historical flashbacks: this effort has them all. Don’t be surprised if this novel is making the rounds in book clubs or on the train next year.
Entertainment Weekly’s review is right on the money: “nothing short of amazing.”
"Tres Tristes Tigres" (Three Trapped Tigers) by G. Cabrera Infante
Hailed as the “Cuban Ulysses.” I get the comparison. This is a dense, difficult novel (of a different variety than Gold Bug). Improbable characters cascade from every direction and the stream-of-consciousness dialog is nearly impenetrable at times. If you think the first few chapters are running amuck, just wait.
At one point you’ll flip the book upside down.
Still, the passages which didn’t fly (10,000 ft) over my head were by turns musical, absurd, and absurdly funny. It's an admiring portrait of pre-Castro Cuba, and a quixotic joyride the likes of which you've never experienced.
To be sure, this tiger can not be tamed in one sitting or frame of mind; it’s a labyrinth without end (amen). But there's nourishment to be had as you meander through Infante's maze. And ultimately, perhaps, a great deal of appreciation.
"Special Topics in Calamity Physics" by Marisha Pessl
Not the apex of my literary year but Pessl’s narrative voice, in this very original work, is so distinct and refreshing -- in the end I decided to add Calamity Physics to my list.
In this whimsical debut, a daughter is told that “a person should have a magnificent reason for writing out her Life Story and expecting anyone to read it...unless your name is Mozart or Bond – James Bond – you best spend your free time finger painting or playing shuffleboard, for no one, with the exception of your flabby-armed mother with stiff hair and a mashed-potato way of looking at you, will want to hear the particulars of your pitiable existence, which doubtlessly will end as it began – with a wheeze.”
And yet the daughter, Blue van Meer, is convinced that her life story is worthy of the telling -- and at a formative age no less. And so our story begins.
If you enjoyed Pessl’s witty (verbose?) intro above, you’d do well to settle in for the duration. Her playful prose seeps through every crack of every sidewalk which Blue strolls down.
An escapist read that is likely to delight.
"Champagne: How the World’s Most Glamorous Wine Triumphed Over War and Hard Times" by Don & Petite Kladstrup
Last but certainly not least: a recipient from non-fiction row.
The subject material here should come as no surprise, as many readers are familiar with my love for wine. But as the title suggests, this is more a historical overview than a lesson in blending techniques.
In 250 pages you’ll learn how pinot meunier, chardonnay, and pinot noir became the three primary grapes for champagne. You’ll learn about the Monk at the Abbey of Hautvilliers, Dom Perignon, and how his name got attached to the world’s most renowned champagne 200 years after he died. You’ll come to appreciate the Sun King, as his reign changed the fate of champagne forever.
And you’ll visit the bloodied battlefields near Epernay and Reims, where millions of men lost their lives fighting for the soil on which the vines grow. Thankfully, those hallowed grounds in the northeast of France are more fertile than ever today, producing every drop of champagne the world consumes.
The Kladstrups cover all this and more in a linear, fresh tonality that reads more like a dedication than a history text. High marks.
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