Comments on: Book Selection of the Month: “Rules for Saying Goodbye” by Katherine Taylor (Plus: New-Zipcode Bombshell) http://toddseavey.com/2007/06/05/book-selection-of-the-month-rules-for-saying-goodbye-by-katherine-taylor-plus-new-zipcode-bombshell/ Conservatism for punks. Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:41:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.9 by: Todd Seavey http://toddseavey.com/2007/06/05/book-selection-of-the-month-rules-for-saying-goodbye-by-katherine-taylor-plus-new-zipcode-bombshell/#comment-725 Wed, 06 Jun 2007 18:08:52 +0000 http://toddseavey.com/2007/06/05/book-selection-of-the-month-rules-for-saying-goodbye-by-katherine-taylor-plus-new-zipcode-bombshell/#comment-725 And, vice versa, there is certainly something very Roman about the very premise of _Sweet Valley High_: two beautiful twin teenage girls, like Romulus and Remus, but one good and one naughty, like Janus (or is that Bizarro?) -- witness this clip: http://youtube.com/watch?v=kUaabKttAIw . And a disturbing 80s homage to Roman decadence, from the band Soft Cell, is among the links in my next blog entry: http://toddseavey.com/2007/06/05/debate-at-lolita-bar-is-it-more-painful-to-get-dumped-or-to-do-the-dumping/ And, vice versa, there is certainly something very Roman about the very premise of _Sweet Valley High_: two beautiful twin teenage girls, like Romulus and Remus, but one good and one naughty, like Janus (or is that Bizarro?) — witness this clip: http://youtube.com/watch?v=kUaabKttAIw . And a disturbing 80s homage to Roman decadence, from the band Soft Cell, is among the links in my next blog entry:
http://toddseavey.com/2007/06/05/debate-at-lolita-bar-is-it-more-painful-to-get-dumped-or-to-do-the-dumping/

]]> by: Brain http://toddseavey.com/2007/06/05/book-selection-of-the-month-rules-for-saying-goodbye-by-katherine-taylor-plus-new-zipcode-bombshell/#comment-724 Wed, 06 Jun 2007 17:06:04 +0000 http://toddseavey.com/2007/06/05/book-selection-of-the-month-rules-for-saying-goodbye-by-katherine-taylor-plus-new-zipcode-bombshell/#comment-724 I'm reading Robert Graves' "I, Claudius" right now, which I suppose is a sort of "Sweet Valley High" for antiquarians. Happily, it does chastise degeneracy. One advantage is that it is about a matter of consequence, being removed from me by two millenia and thereby more important than the goings-on of putative movers and shakers of present day Gotham, where I live. Now I've got myself confused. Sky-writing, huh? I’m reading Robert Graves’ “I, Claudius” right now, which I suppose is a sort of “Sweet Valley High” for antiquarians. Happily, it does chastise degeneracy. One advantage is that it is about a matter of consequence, being removed from me by two millenia and thereby more important than the goings-on of putative movers and shakers of present day Gotham, where I live.

Now I’ve got myself confused. Sky-writing, huh?

]]> by: Todd Seavey http://toddseavey.com/2007/06/05/book-selection-of-the-month-rules-for-saying-goodbye-by-katherine-taylor-plus-new-zipcode-bombshell/#comment-721 Wed, 06 Jun 2007 15:23:54 +0000 http://toddseavey.com/2007/06/05/book-selection-of-the-month-rules-for-saying-goodbye-by-katherine-taylor-plus-new-zipcode-bombshell/#comment-721 Oh, and while I think of it: read the Taylor novel somewhat slowly. The individual sentences are often set-up/punchline irony-gems unto themselves, rather than plot-drivers, like Henny Youngman for NPR-listening female grad students. Oh, make that: "Like Henny Youngman for NPR-listening female grad students! -- ToddSeavey.com" Oh, and while I think of it: read the Taylor novel somewhat slowly. The individual sentences are often set-up/punchline irony-gems unto themselves, rather than plot-drivers, like Henny Youngman for NPR-listening female grad students. Oh, make that: “Like Henny Youngman for NPR-listening female grad students! — ToddSeavey.com”

]]> by: Todd Seavey http://toddseavey.com/2007/06/05/book-selection-of-the-month-rules-for-saying-goodbye-by-katherine-taylor-plus-new-zipcode-bombshell/#comment-720 Wed, 06 Jun 2007 15:15:56 +0000 http://toddseavey.com/2007/06/05/book-selection-of-the-month-rules-for-saying-goodbye-by-katherine-taylor-plus-new-zipcode-bombshell/#comment-720 You say "Sweet Valley High for degenerates" like it's a bad thing, but I think Janice Erlbaum should use that as a cover blurb for the next edition (reminds me of the cover blurb excerpted from one of my _People_ magazine book reviews years ago -- "combines the tension of _Apollo 13_ and _ER_" -- used on the paperback edition of Tess Gerritsen's thriller _Gravity_, as I later noticed while walking through the supermarket checkout aisle, and I stand by those overheated words). I promise you the Taylor novel is artfully-crafted literary fiction...for degenerates. The intersection of self-help, New Age, and sexuality sounds like exactly the right place for Dawn's book (which really is in the Religion section, I think you'll find). But maybe Dawn's book isn't something you can find in a store, with material things. Maybe it's something you have to look to a higher power to find. (Hey, coincidentally a sky-writing message just started appearing above Central Park as I typed that -- but coincidences happen all the time, and there's still no God. Pretty anemic-looking message, too -- appears to say "C i." Maybe the plane's malfunctioning.) You say “Sweet Valley High for degenerates” like it’s a bad thing, but I think Janice Erlbaum should use that as a cover blurb for the next edition (reminds me of the cover blurb excerpted from one of my _People_ magazine book reviews years ago — “combines the tension of _Apollo 13_ and _ER_” — used on the paperback edition of Tess Gerritsen’s thriller _Gravity_, as I later noticed while walking through the supermarket checkout aisle, and I stand by those overheated words).

I promise you the Taylor novel is artfully-crafted literary fiction…for degenerates.

The intersection of self-help, New Age, and sexuality sounds like exactly the right place for Dawn’s book (which really is in the Religion section, I think you’ll find). But maybe Dawn’s book isn’t something you can find in a store, with material things. Maybe it’s something you have to look to a higher power to find. (Hey, coincidentally a sky-writing message just started appearing above Central Park as I typed that — but coincidences happen all the time, and there’s still no God. Pretty anemic-looking message, too — appears to say “C i.” Maybe the plane’s malfunctioning.)

]]> by: Brain http://toddseavey.com/2007/06/05/book-selection-of-the-month-rules-for-saying-goodbye-by-katherine-taylor-plus-new-zipcode-bombshell/#comment-719 Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:48:32 +0000 http://toddseavey.com/2007/06/05/book-selection-of-the-month-rules-for-saying-goodbye-by-katherine-taylor-plus-new-zipcode-bombshell/#comment-719 The reason I asked, was because I read "Girlbomb" on your recommendation. My short but pithy review on it: "Sweet Valley High" for degenerates. That is not to say that I did not enjoy it a bit, at least at the start. And it was probably less excruciating than any book of social commentary. I also liked that Miss Erlbaum's prim press photos were by Richard Kern. ... And I still can't find Miss Eden's book in my local Barnes and Noble, and at this point I've lost interest. I feel kinda weird going to look for it in the Religion section, which is sensibly right next to the "New Age", Self-Help, and Sexuality sections. The reason I asked, was because I read “Girlbomb” on your recommendation. My short but pithy review on it:

“Sweet Valley High” for degenerates.

That is not to say that I did not enjoy it a bit, at least at the start. And it was probably less excruciating than any book of social commentary. I also liked that Miss Erlbaum’s prim press photos were by Richard Kern.

…

And I still can’t find Miss Eden’s book in my local Barnes and Noble, and at this point I’ve lost interest. I feel kinda weird going to look for it in the Religion section, which is sensibly right next to the “New Age”, Self-Help, and Sexuality sections.

]]> by: Todd Seavey http://toddseavey.com/2007/06/05/book-selection-of-the-month-rules-for-saying-goodbye-by-katherine-taylor-plus-new-zipcode-bombshell/#comment-717 Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:24:18 +0000 http://toddseavey.com/2007/06/05/book-selection-of-the-month-rules-for-saying-goodbye-by-katherine-taylor-plus-new-zipcode-bombshell/#comment-717 I am a Renaissance person. I've also recommended Leo Strauss, Philip Howard, Alasdair MacIntyre, and Brian Doherty, after all. Next month is shaping up to be pretty manly (and science-oriented, not that I'm saying that makes it less girly -- we don't want to start that debate again just yet).  Above all: quality. I am a Renaissance person. I’ve also recommended Leo Strauss, Philip Howard, Alasdair MacIntyre, and Brian Doherty, after all. Next month is shaping up to be pretty manly (and science-oriented, not that I’m saying that makes it less girly — we don’t want to start that debate again just yet).  Above all: quality.

]]> by: Brain http://toddseavey.com/2007/06/05/book-selection-of-the-month-rules-for-saying-goodbye-by-katherine-taylor-plus-new-zipcode-bombshell/#comment-716 Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:19:41 +0000 http://toddseavey.com/2007/06/05/book-selection-of-the-month-rules-for-saying-goodbye-by-katherine-taylor-plus-new-zipcode-bombshell/#comment-716 Todd, Based on your book review choices... Are you a girl? Or are you just like Clint Eastwood in "Heartbreak Ridge", distastefully reading Cosmopolitan and Redbook so that you can try to understand them? Cheers, Brain Todd,

Based on your book review choices…

Are you a girl? Or are you just like Clint Eastwood in “Heartbreak Ridge”, distastefully reading Cosmopolitan and Redbook so that you can try to understand them?

Cheers,

Brain

]]> by: toddseavey http://toddseavey.com/2007/06/05/book-selection-of-the-month-rules-for-saying-goodbye-by-katherine-taylor-plus-new-zipcode-bombshell/#comment-714 Wed, 06 Jun 2007 13:13:50 +0000 http://toddseavey.com/2007/06/05/book-selection-of-the-month-rules-for-saying-goodbye-by-katherine-taylor-plus-new-zipcode-bombshell/#comment-714 It's a novel, I mean -- a novel! And David Byrne did do this -- http://youtube.com/watch?v=erPcEfS8o_s -- so he will always have my admiration. It’s a novel, I mean — a novel! And David Byrne did do this — http://youtube.com/watch?v=erPcEfS8o_s — so he will always have my admiration.

]]> by: Katherine http://toddseavey.com/2007/06/05/book-selection-of-the-month-rules-for-saying-goodbye-by-katherine-taylor-plus-new-zipcode-bombshell/#comment-706 Tue, 05 Jun 2007 21:16:02 +0000 http://toddseavey.com/2007/06/05/book-selection-of-the-month-rules-for-saying-goodbye-by-katherine-taylor-plus-new-zipcode-bombshell/#comment-706 Every word is not true! Todd Seavey, you are a sensationalist, and if you're not careful, you are going to start rumors. Is that what you want -- rumors? The part about David Byrne is true, though. Every word is not true! Todd Seavey, you are a sensationalist, and if you’re not careful, you are going to start rumors. Is that what you want — rumors?

The part about David Byrne is true, though.

]]> by: Todd Seavey http://toddseavey.com/2007/06/05/book-selection-of-the-month-rules-for-saying-goodbye-by-katherine-taylor-plus-new-zipcode-bombshell/#comment-705 Tue, 05 Jun 2007 20:32:19 +0000 http://toddseavey.com/2007/06/05/book-selection-of-the-month-rules-for-saying-goodbye-by-katherine-taylor-plus-new-zipcode-bombshell/#comment-705 Yes, my staunchly-Catholic ex, Dawn Eden, is moving to DC to run a Love and Responsibility Program for a major Catholic organization, which seems like a logical happy ending of sorts -- except that a troubling ancient prophecy predicts that all zipcodes where Dawn does _not_ dwell will soon be changed to 10666, starting with the warring fragments of old 10021... Yes, my staunchly-Catholic ex, Dawn Eden, is moving to DC to run a Love and Responsibility Program for a major Catholic organization, which seems like a logical happy ending of sorts — except that a troubling ancient prophecy predicts that all zipcodes where Dawn does _not_ dwell will soon be changed to 10666, starting with the warring fragments of old 10021…

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