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!

4 comments:

JR's Thumbprints said...

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.

Danny Tagalog said...

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.

Charles Gramlich said...

I love literary lists. As long as you don't take them as gospel they are a lot of fun.

Johnny Yen said...

An old friend of mine is a librarian-- she loves the fact that she gets to choose the books.