Brett I need your help!

[mccutcheon]

There was a time when I was in my late teens when I thought I had read every good book and listened to every good record and kissed every cute girl. I was very stupid. I was just bored. But even now, though still being stupid, I realize bored is a state of mind and if I'm bored than I am not working hard enough. There is no excuse. But you can only work so many hours in a day, and sometimes I need a break. That's when I like to read books and listen to records. Well the music of today is fine. I saw this film, Kill Your Idols, where it compared Williamsburg bands of the moment to New York bands of the 70's. And even though the kids of today are inarticulate compared to those bands, I gotta say their tunes rock. Karen O from Yeah Yeah Yeah's might be as dumb as a sororiety girl but songs like Our Time and Maps rock my word.

So music is in a fine place at present. But man, I can't find a good book to save my life. Brett I need your help. You always seem to be reading a good contemary fiction book. Lately I am at a loss. I know there are books out there but I just can't find them.

One of the last two books I read, or tried to read was- Some of the Parts by T Cooper, published by Johnny Temple. I wanted to like it and I was going to read it and was suffering through when he informed me that he wouldn't publish Burnt, so I gave it up. Not having to finish Parts was the only good thing to come of that. I wanted to like it, I wanted to support and become apart of the Small Press world. T Cooper got a MFA in fiction writing from Columbia University. I don't think her book was very well written. And honestly I'm not being bitter. Over all Johnny Temple was nothing if not professional with me.

The other book, I'm almost in the middle of it and am starting to not like it very much is Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre. This thing won the ‘fucken' Man Booker Prize!
It's not that it is so poorly written as much as the style grates on me. First off, I'd never think that swearing in literature would ever bother me. I have been criticized for having a potty mouth in my own prose, but the way he keeps writing ‘fucken' is getting on my fucken tits. And what in fucken hell is up with paragraphs like this- —

‘That's Gurie stuck through like a bug. The crumpled-looking stranger with the camcorder catches my eye from under the Lechugas' willow, then looks at Vaine. He still has a smile without promise, a chalk smile that strikes me edge-ways, don't ask me why. Gurie pays no mind. She just fixes him in the corner of her eye. The guy wears tan overalls with a white dinner jacket, like ole Richardo Moltenbomb, or whoever mom's favorite was who had the dwarf on Fantasy Island. He eventually penguin walks over the road, fixing his camcorder onto a tripod. It tells you he is either a tourist, or a reporter. Only way to tell reporters these days is by their names- ever notice how fucken bent your local reporters' names are? Like, Zirkie Hartin, Aldo Manaldo, and shit.'

Yeah, that is the voice of a teenager from central Texas. Shit this pisses me off. My novel is now better than that fucken piece of shit. Fucken sad man.

But wait, it got a good endorsement from Joyce Caol Oates- so it's genius then.

So Brett, what have you been reading lately. Anyone else into a current good read please give me a suggestion as well. Thanks.

[Brett]

All Hat by Brad Smith. He's a Canadian, so I don't know if you can find it in New York, but you should be able to. It's a pretty sweet read. I read Vernon God Litle as well, the wife didn't like it but I thought it was alright.
Okay, here's a list:

Lost Souls, Resurrectionists and Emerald Underground. All by Michael Collins and all fucken great.

Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem, one of the best fucken' books I've ever read. He also wrote Gun, with occasional music which rather wierd and tends to beat you over the head with metaphors.

Thank you for Smoking by Christopher Buckley. I fucken enjoyed this fucken book on a Dominican beach. Fun read.

The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint by Barry Udall. Very sweet and touching. I've always wanted to write those words in a sentence.

Colin Bateman has written three books that I really thought were good; Turbulent Priests, Divorcing Jack and Murphy's Law.

ONe of the FUNNIEST books I've ever read is Lamb by Christopher Moore. It is fucken hilarious.

Patrick Robertson by Brain Hennigan is his first book and it's pretty cool. Another first timer is London Irish by Zane Radcliffe.

Last but probably one of the best is A Star Called Henry by Roddy Doyle. Read this and you won't be disappointed.

When I think of more I'll let you know. Gotta jump, the NDX is bouncing off resistance.

[mccutcheon]

Thanks Brett. I'll add them to my list.

[mccutcheon]

Brett-- Fat White Vampire Blues by Alexander Fox is a great read. One of the best 'new' books I've read in a long time.

[Brett]

I'll try to pick it up today.

[borgy]

Alexander Fox? I thought it was Andrew Fox.

[Sloth]

I thought it was Michael J Fox. He's Canadian, right? Okay, time for bed.

[mccutcheon]

It's Andrew J. Fox.

[Sloth]

I knew there was a J in there somewhere.