2010: The Year in Review

June - Married

November -  we're pregnant.

December - legal US residency. Finally.

Follow that, 2011.

Nothing Left To Lose: Freedom Part 2

The literary world is saturated with opinions on Franzen's big novel - it's one reason that I read it, the feeling that if you believe in the importance of literature, then there's an obligation to be on familiar terms with the discourse. And so, a few thoughts... 

It's clear that Franzen has lived up to his own philosophy, as expressed in his famous Harper's essay (he's against unnecessarily 'difficult' literary works). Freedom makes for remarkably smooth reading - I don't recall the last time I read a 560 page book so quickly. It's an enjoyable read, to be sure - but for me, its not a surpassing work of art. The comparisons with War and Peace (see: NY Times Book Review) are more than a tad overstated. 

To some extent, critics have created the strong reaction to Franzen (though he doesn't go out of his way to cultivate a passive response himself). Rid of all the baggage it comes with though, the weight of expectation, the burden of being held up as the definitive chronicle of our age, Freedom is a solid book. It's ambitious, for sure, and sharply observant of our culture. In many ways its more refined (and more enjoyable) than The Corrections, though it suffers from many of the same problems - deeply unconvincing plot elements, for instance. Take note - whenever a key character leaves the US, Franzen is headed for trouble. 

For me though, what's most lacking is any great sense of style. It doesn't read as an artful book, and though you can argue that transparency represents it's own stylistic accomplishment, it's one better suited to acting than it is to literature. In this regard, and by most measures of cumulative weight, Franzen lies beyond John Irving, in line with Michael Chabon, but still some distance short of the likes of Roth, DeLillo and McCarthy, et al. 

Lone Star

A different look at a previous pic.   Austin, Tx.

What I'm Reading: Freedom (Part 1)

I'll have more to report on this in a few days. I've almost finished it. In the meantime, there's irony in the book's title for those familiar with my own situation. Fingers crossed...

Music for Harps - LCD Soundsystem

'Look, this is America, if you keep doing the same thing as a band over and over again, people will come see you. In England if you keep doing the same thing they throw sticks at you - you have to change constantly, make a harp record or something to stay current.'

                                        

The very brilliant, very smart James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem, with a concise definition of the difference between music listeners in England and the US.

I Trip Through Your Wires, Pt 2

Liberty

On this week, of all weeks, it's my own liberty I seek in the American flag.

Broken Spoke

Dining and Dancing since 1964.  

The Texas Top Hands Western Swing Band

I Trip Through Your Wires, Pt 1

Manchaca and Lamar, Austin.

Breci

Five year old Breciana Wubker - Austin Children's Museum