Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Time Regained
Yet another take on books I agree with . . .
Let's not mince words: literary lists are basically an obscenity. Literature is the realm of the ineffable and the unquantifiable; lists are the realm of menus and laundry and rotisserie baseball. There's something unseemly and promiscuous about all those letters and numbers jumbled together. Take it from me, a critic who has committed this particular sin many times over. Lev Grossman, “The 10 Greatest Books of All Time,” Time, 1/15/2007.
As a librarian, I have to choose what to place on the shelves. It's a fun task, ongoing work and a great pleasure; one need not worry too much if books are "the greatest of all time." Lists are helpful as prods.
Learning about people is also a great pleasure. Here's Lucia Micarelli, sure to spark interest in "classical music." Lately she's worked with Jethro Tull and re-introduced Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" to newer audiences.
Reading Marcel Proust is as worthwhile as eating at an elegant French restaraunt, but only if you have the stomach for richness -- and a lot of time. List or no list, it's true.
Here's Sofía Vergara, Colombian actress (HBO's Entourage, etc.). Add her to the list.
Today's Rune: Fertility.
Birthdays: John Calvin (Jean Chauvin), Emma Hale Smith Bidamon, Camille Pissarro, James McNeill Whistler, Adolphus Busch, Nikola Tesla, Valentin Louis Georges Eugène Marcel Proust, Carl Orff, David Brinkley (UNC-Chapel Hill), Jake LaMotta (Raging Bull), Fred Gwynne, Alice Ann Munro (Laidlaw), Arthur Ashe, Arlo Guthrie, Ljudmila Ivanovna Tourischeva, Sofía Vergara, Jessica Simpson.
Bon appetite!
Labels:
Arcs and Artists,
Marcel Proust,
Novels,
St. Louis,
Zeppelins
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4 comments:
Lucia Micarelli may spark the interest of a few rockers her way, but I'm willing to bet Jethro Tull, doesn't have the same cross-over appeal. The classical musicians, especially the flutists, would surely point out every thing he's doing wrong.
Lucia and Sophia. Well, you do have an incredible list. You are a real connoiseur of female beauty aren't you?
I didn't know Jethro Tull still existed, but with her influence they must be re-energised.
Tabloid Speaking Tagalog.
P.S Keep up this assortment of the intelligent angelic.
I love literary lists. As long as you don't take them as gospel they are a lot of fun.
An old friend of mine is a librarian-- she loves the fact that she gets to choose the books.
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