Blues reading

mtravellerh · 11-08-2008, 07:38 PM

Say, I got an incredibly huge blues feeling tonight.
Time to cuddle in bed with some nice tea with a shot of rum, listening to Robert Johnson and pity myself. Now I need a good book to feel even worse. Any recommendations?

yvanleterrible · 11-08-2008, 08:18 PM

How can you read while listening to Robert Johnson, he needs ALL your attention.

How about a newspaper, that is depressing enough.

Sparrow · 11-09-2008, 03:27 AM

Depressing (yet wonderful) reads??

Orwell's "1984" is pretty bleak.
John Steinbeck
William Trevor
Ian McEwan

montsnmags · 11-09-2008, 03:41 AM

If you want to feel really bad, I suggest Primo Levi's If This Is A Man, but that might be taking it to a particularly extreme despair beyond that desired. For more of a melancholy tone, perhaps some Annie Proulx. I recommend Accordion Crimes, which I reckon could shake a stick at a "great American novel" title, though The Shipping News might have a less grand aim but greater confluence with your state of mind.

Cheers,
Marc

mtravellerh · 11-09-2008, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

If you want to feel really bad, I suggest Primo Levi's If This Is A Man, but that might be taking it to a particularly extreme despair beyond that desired. For more of a melancholy tone, perhaps some Annie Proulx. I recommend Accordion Crimes, which I reckon could shake a stick at a "great American novel" title, though The Shipping News might have a less grand aim but greater confluence with your state of mind.

Cheers,
Marc

Hey thanks, Marc. Sounds blue. Gotta try that one

yvanleterrible · 11-09-2008, 01:47 PM

If you feel that way for the whole duration of a book reading, man your bouts of blues are long!

That borders on depression... unless you like the feeling.

My blues is work.

mtravellerh · 11-09-2008, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

If you feel that way for the whole duration of a book reading, man your bouts of blues are long!

That borders on depression... unless you like the feeling.

My blues is work.

The bouts are long, yes. Depression? Na, I guess I just like the melancholy, especially on lazy, wet weekends like this.

montsnmags · 11-10-2008, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

If you feel that way for the whole duration of a book reading, man your bouts of blues are long!

That borders on depression... unless you like the feeling.

My blues is work.

I can't talk for anyone else, but sometimes for me a melancholy book (as opposed to Levi's downright "depressing", not to mention "horrifying") is an unexpected and counter-intuitive way of roping that black dog and riding the evil mongrel out of the drowned woods of depression.

Cheers,
Marc

mtravellerh · 11-10-2008, 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

I can't talk for anyone else, but sometimes for me a melancholy book (as opposed to Levi's downright "depressing", not to mention "horrifying") is an unexpected and counter-intuitive way of roping that black dog and riding the evil mongrel out of the drowned woods of depression.

Cheers,
Marc

Well put

mgrunk · 11-15-2008, 06:54 PM

I know it's been a few days - but to file away:

The Secret Life of Bees - not terribly aching, but it runs throughout

Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro (gleaned from MR)

The Sparrow - Maria Doria Russell

Duma Key - Stephen King -creepy, but angsty too

The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

The Road by Cormac Mccarthy (postapocalyptic)

Light on Snow - Anita Shreve - heart achy throughout

A Map of the World - Jane Hamilton

I wouldn't call any of them great, classic literature - but I've re-read many of them when in the mood.

DixieGal · 11-15-2008, 07:53 PM

I second The Sparrow. It'll have you ripping your wrists in no time!

Elsi · 11-15-2008, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

I second The Sparrow. It'll have you ripping your wrists in no time!

Do NOT start reading The Sparrow unless you can put your hands on the sequel (Children of God). I was extremely agitated when I read the end of The Sparrow at 10:30 am so I ran out on my lunch hour to pick up the sequel. I cannot imagine how I would have felt if I had read The Sparrow before Russell had finished Children of God.

mtravellerh · 11-16-2008, 05:56 AM

"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father."

That the one?

I already read that and enjoyed it, too

mtravellerh · 11-16-2008, 06:01 AM

Know what?

I read "Ghost" some days ago. That one really brought me down, Never read such a gory, racist, nonsensical sh*t before. And to say that I had some respect for Ringo before.

Couldn't finish it, by the way. Just couldn't stomach it. Geez!

FizzyWater · 11-16-2008, 04:42 PM

Would Thomas E. Sniegoski's "A Kiss Before the Apocalypse" meet your definition of "bluesy" book?

11-08-2008, 07:38 PM	#1
mtravellerh book creator Posts: 9,635 Karma: 3856660 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Luxembourg Device: PB360°	Blues reading Say, I got an incredibly huge blues feeling tonight. Time to cuddle in bed with some nice tea with a shot of rum, listening to Robert Johnson and pity myself. Now I need a good book to feel even worse. Any recommendations?

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11-08-2008, 08:18 PM	#2
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	How can you read while listening to Robert Johnson, he needs ALL your attention. How about a newspaper, that is depressing enough.

11-09-2008, 03:27 AM	#3
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	Depressing (yet wonderful) reads?? Orwell's "1984" is pretty bleak. John Steinbeck William Trevor Ian McEwan

11-09-2008, 03:41 AM	#4
montsnmags Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,155 Karma: 4632658 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: none	If you want to feel really bad, I suggest Primo Levi's If This Is A Man, but that might be taking it to a particularly extreme despair beyond that desired. For more of a melancholy tone, perhaps some Annie Proulx. I recommend Accordion Crimes, which I reckon could shake a stick at a "great American novel" title, though The Shipping News might have a less grand aim but greater confluence with your state of mind. Cheers, Marc

11-09-2008, 01:47 PM	#6
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	If you feel that way for the whole duration of a book reading, man your bouts of blues are long! That borders on depression... unless you like the feeling. My blues is work.

11-15-2008, 06:54 PM	#10
mgrunk Zealot Posts: 130 Karma: 96 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: metro Atlanta, GA Device: Sony Reader PRS-505	I know it's been a few days - but to file away: The Secret Life of Bees - not terribly aching, but it runs throughout Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro (gleaned from MR) The Sparrow - Maria Doria Russell Duma Key - Stephen King -creepy, but angsty too The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini The Road by Cormac Mccarthy (postapocalyptic) Light on Snow - Anita Shreve - heart achy throughout A Map of the World - Jane Hamilton I wouldn't call any of them great, classic literature - but I've re-read many of them when in the mood.

11-15-2008, 07:53 PM	#11
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	I second The Sparrow. It'll have you ripping your wrists in no time!

11-16-2008, 05:56 AM	#13
mtravellerh book creator Posts: 9,635 Karma: 3856660 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Luxembourg Device: PB360°	"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father." That the one? I already read that and enjoyed it, too

11-16-2008, 06:01 AM	#14
mtravellerh book creator Posts: 9,635 Karma: 3856660 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Luxembourg Device: PB360°	Know what? I read "Ghost" some days ago. That one really brought me down, Never read such a gory, racist, nonsensical sh*t before. And to say that I had some respect for Ringo before. Couldn't finish it, by the way. Just couldn't stomach it. Geez!

11-16-2008, 04:42 PM	#15
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	Would Thomas E. Sniegoski's "A Kiss Before the Apocalypse" meet your definition of "bluesy" book?

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