I've heard Suttree is great, but haven't read it yet. I do love Blood Meridian, though. Very much.

I really got bogged down in Silmarillion, but I'd just re-read the LOTR series. It seemed too much like a reference guide when I wanted more of Tolkien's narrative drive. Should I try it again?

I love a lot of these books you're mentioning, and I just decided to read Pnin based on your comments. My most read fiction is Hemingway's Nick Adams Stories or Tale of Two Cities. Non-fiction would be Hugh Kenner's The Pound Era. Criticism would be Daniel Mendelsohn's How Beautiful It Is and How Easily It Can Be…

The Gil Scott Heron news caught me off guard. I was just playing "Lady Day and John Coltrane" yesterday for a young person I work with; heard the news from the BBC about 1:00 am.
In case of curse, I'm not listening to any living artists today…

I wonder about that jackalope from Hollywood week who "auditioned" Scotty for his group, listened to one (stupid) line, and said a variation of "Aw, hell no!" Do you think he'll be approaching the next Idol for a job singing backup or parking cars?

Well ranted. I will not be watching the finale either. I will, however, read Claire's write up — she's made the season fun for me.

Never read Earthly Powers, but it sounds interesting. I really enjoyed Nothing Like the Sun and Napoleon Symphony as far as his other fiction. I also appreciated Joysprick and Shorter Finnegans Wake. He has an interesting list of the 99 best English language novels of the 20th century that is fun to read and argue…

A.E. Housman
Loveliest of trees, the cherry now / Is hung with bloom along the bough,
And stands about the woodland ride / Wearing white for Eastertide.

Throw Shake Some Action and The Modern Lovers on that list and you've just told my story. Maybe this reaction coincides with Michaelangelo Matos' Slow Listening idea.

Forget the family, I'm going to Claire's house. Chilled borscht!

Easter Plans
I'm probably staying home, painting a picture of the risen Lord and his dog on my stand up bass. How about you, Claire?

I wonder if Casey slapping James in the face in their little staged "package" might turn off some voters. I know it was done in fun, but it jumped out at me. Then again, I don't like Casey.
James left me cold with his Muse rendition. He went really flat on the high notes and held 'em long enough to ruin his…

Glad someone mentioned Dumbo and the Baby Mine sequence. That kicks me in the heart more than Bambi's mother's death.
Been in a Theater Lately: I didn't know Disney even had 6 movies between Bambi and Cinderella! After reading the list I understand why I never heard of them.

V for Vacation is right. Can't believe I forgot Maggie Cassidy.

Oh, and I haven't seen it in a long time but I remember enjoying the Sissy Spacek/ Nick Nolte/ John Heard film, Heartbeat. It's Carolyn Cassady's story about her complicated romantic relationship(s) with Neal and Jack.

Loved On the Road, so I read all the rest as a 17-21 yr old. Favorites include Dharma Bums and Dr. Sax, but probably my go-to Kerouac is Lonesome Traveler. It includes Slobs of the Kitchen Sea about his Merchant Marine service, and October in the Railroad Earth about, well, you know. One of those short pieces may…

Scotty
I don't hate Scotty, and he's guaranteed a shot at a career when he's done with the season. Not my cup of tea. But every time he sings now I crack up remembering Claire's line from a couple weeks ago — he holds the microphone like he lacks opposable thumbs. The gift that keeps giving, Ms. Zulkey!
Now I'm…

And they were filming in Kill City, where the debris meets the sea, so who knows what the popster was capable of doing!
I loved the surreal combo of Iggy and the Idol world, coming together for one night, in a world they never made…

Iggy
Mr. Osterberg seemed to get bleeped a few times tonight! But my favorite Iggy moment was when he stared down the judges, then lunged toward a shocked Jenny from the block!

Thanks for that! I did, indeed, laugh out loud.