What, longaville! and reading! listen, ear.

I've finally put my podcasts from the radio up on a page aptly titled, 'The Podcasts.'  It just seemed fitting.  They contains the book discussions I have done the past three weeks, and will do the rest of the summer, on The Eyeopener on CBC Radio in Calgary.  You can click on the menu to the right, or right here.

To date, I have discussed Gone With the Wind, Rabbit, Run, and Blood Meridian.

Tune in each Wednesday at around 7:40 on AM1010 or FM 99.1, to hear what I have to say.  You can also listen on-line by clicking here.

Writes not so tedious a style as this.

I've been having a little trouble getting into my latest read, Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy.  I was able to get a good dent into it, but I have to admit, I'm not that excited to continue reading.  The story seems interesting enough, but I think I'm finding McCarthy's style a little tedious; I hope that changes.

Generally, I prefer a more, for lack of a better word, direct prose, which simply describes the people or the situations, instead of a more 'flowery' showcase of the English language.  This is why I like Hemingway and not Virginia Woolf.  Blood Meridian uses a similar writing style to the Bible, both old-fashioned and monotonous.  In addition to the language, McCarthy has also decided not to use any quotation marks for dialogue.  I don't know why, but I find this very annoying.  That's what they're there for, why not use them?

I'm also reading some non-fiction right now; Travels by Michael Crichton.  Yes, the same Michael Crichton of Jurassic Park.  It was written in 1988, and chronicles his journey from medical school in the 1960's to his life as a successful author, and his frequent travels around the world.  This book has been working in the way I had originally intended non-fiction books to; I must read a chapter from Blood Meridian before I can read a chapter from Travels.  It's a motivational tool.


I will be reviewing Rabbit, Run on the radio this week.  You can here me Wednesday morning at 7:40AM (MDT) on CBC Calgary.  I'll also post the podcast here later in the week.

If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me;

Starting tomorrow morning, I'll be hitting the airwaves for CBC Radio one in Calgary.  Each week, I'll be on the morning Eyeopener, to discuss books.  I had done an interview about my reading Time's list in April, and they've asked me to return and talk about a few more!

I'm looking forward to the opportunity to talk about books that while still highly regarded, aren't nearly as often read.  Instead of talking about the 'new and hot' titles that bombard you at the bookstore when you walk in, we'll be talking about more classic titles.  I've also promised a new book each week, which means that I have a lot of reading to do this summer.

My first interview tomorrow morning will be about Gone with the Wind.  Sure, everybody's heard of it and everybody's seen the movie, but not nearly as many have read the book.  And they should, it's great.