More Books to Watch Out For

This is still a catch-up column. It beats current events, though.

(However, a current events footnote: I just saw a post in a discussion group listing justifications for our invasion of Iraq. The first part of the list was all the talking point that Bush/NYT/WaPo and whoever advanced during the lead-up, all of which have been debunked. ("No, there really is evidence that Saddam was trying to acquire yellowcake. Honest!" The point being, of course, that he wasn't successful.) Her spin on some of them was interesting. The second part of the list boiled down to "Saddam is a bad guy." Under international law, that's not enough reason to invade a sovereign nation. Enough of that.)

Jane Lindskold's Child of a Rainless Year was amazing. I've read a couple of her books of the athanor (which I love -- Changer and Legends Walking have honored places on the "reread frequently" list) and her collaborations with Zelazny on his last two novels, but wasn't as impressed with Through Wolf's Eyes as everyone else was. Nevertheless, this latest one is choice -- "magical realism" at its best. Find it, read it.

Ernest Hemingway left several manuscripts in his safe deposit box in Cuba -- he called them his "life insurance policy." Under Kilimanjaro came out in a complete, scholarly edition this past year. Absolutely delightful -- poignant, funny, acerbic, at times almost giddily nonsensical. I am reminded of why Hemingway is considered one of the greats.

One of the best, albeit most problematic, books I've read recently was Charles de Lint's Widdershins. Best because all the elements that make de Lint de Lint have come together seamlessly. It's a Newford story (another case of having to go back and catch up, dammit), and misses being a masterpiece only because de Lint lost control of his preachiness. (I'm told it's even worse in The Onion Girl, which I haven't read yet.) Be that as it may, I do recommend it. Other recent de Lint, two chapbooks: The Hour Before Dawn (three stories, illustrated by him) and Triskell Tales 2, more Newford and delightful.

The late Octavia E. Butler was one of the most challenging voices in science fiction. I recently read (and reviewd at GMR) The Parable of the Sower and The Parable of the Talents and have the omnibus Lilith's Brood sitting here. Disturbing, captivating, a little scary. No -- a lot scary. Must reads.

A little musical digression: Nikolaus Harnoncourt did a new recording of Handel's Messiah last year working from autograph scores, and, as always, using period instruments. A radically new (or old) take on a standard. Much more subtle than we're used to, intimate, but still powerful.

Felmay Records has, over the past several years, issued a seven-volume set of Central Javanese gamelan. I reviewed the last three volumes recently, and am about to dig into the first four. (Don't ask.) If you're feeling adventurous, by all means sample them -- the music is gorgeous.


Parting thought:

Somehow, we've adopted a mode of discourse in which every opinion, no matter how ignorant or vicious, reasoned or generous, has equal weight. I begin to think we've lost our collective mind.

Later. . . .