The Sound and the Fury (05/11)

Look at the rate of book consumption for 2009-10. Compare it to 2011. What does this say about the working life? Something execrably boring for whoever is not living it.

Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow (12/10)

pg. 10, maybe 11: doctorow demonstrates the power of strong, simple sentences (abrupt shifts in startling imagery or intimate statements of fact, presented in basic, repeated structures) building a rhythmic crescendo of slightly ironic, limpid, and engrossing prose. for some reason, i have the impression of a perfectly transparent frozen thing, but i think this is meant to be warm.

apparently, doctorow is frequently lumped with roth, more by geographic and ethnic proximity than any resonance in their work--from what i've seen so far.

Towers of Midnight by Brandon Sanderson (11/10)

Don't say a word.

The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius (10/10)

Remember when you read books? When your mind wasn't a scattered mash of quotidian responsibilities, crusting like spilled soup in the fridge?

Don't ever expect either 1) thoughts or 2) culture from me again.

The Story of O by "Pauline Réage" (08/10)

Underworld by Don DeLillo (08/10)

DeLillo is a cold writer.

Story of the Eye by Georges Bataille (07/10)