The Logic of Porcology

fck sht whr.

It has been much too long since my last post. One week, I really should be slapped for that gap! I have plenty of excuses though, hopefully each will find one that is acceptable to them. I've been sick, still not fully recovered, from that same head-cold that I got last week. I have been busy, working Saturday and doing lots of stuff on Sunday. But most importantly, I've been reading. American Pastoral, by Philip Roth, and I only just finished 2 minutes ago. I'm not yet ready to post about the book, I need some time to absorb it before I regurgitate my feelings.

The ending was strange, and I just need time to assimilate that strangeness into my impression of the book. What a very incomplete ending. Like Mr. Roth forgot to finish it and submitted it to the editors anyway, and the editors just went ahead and published it. Then, the Pulitzer prize was awarded to him based on the inconclusiveness of the ending. All very strange. I will expand more tomorrow, I promise.

I finished reading Tales of the South Pacific last night, and it is a good one. James Michener really does know how to lay out a story. I was captivated, right up to the last pages I couldn't put it down. It left me wanting more of his novels. I know that I can get them cheap at used bookstores so I will now ask for recommendations. I've already heard that The Source and Hawaii are two good ones. Any other suggestions? And which should I read first?

Anywho... I took the day off work because I feel absolutely horrible. I have a bad head cold that makes me feel like someone is pumping liquid into my head at a furious rate. The rate is so fast that it leaks out at times. And nothing I do has stemmed the flow. I am hoping that continued easy living will make me feel better.

What the hell day is it today? This week is all screwed up in my mind. I can't get anything straight. I think that "up" is just a concept, and not a reality at all. I keep asking people which way is up? and they keep pointing in the same direction. They might be wrong though, if Einstein could be wrong so could Newton...

Stupid blog would not let me publish it last night. Today I get it to work though! I have beat the system once again. Muwahaha...

I have decided tto leave Rabbit at Rest for another time. I am instead starting on Tales of the South Pacific by Mr. Michener. His first novel, I think it may also be his best, but we will find out.

I have returned from Kelowna, on time and already put in one day of work as well. Kelowna was so relaxing. I felt like the cares were washed from me while I sat in my Aunt's house. It was a holistically fabulous experience. And now I'm back, ready to face the cruel world again.

In addition, I've finished another novel. Rabbit is Rich by John Updike was a very good novel, succinctly real and understandable. If anyone coming from an upper-middle class upbringing and wants to read some literature about it then this is it. I'm not one to synopsize the plot and this is no exception. It was a good read, and now I plan to read Rabbit at Rest, also by Updike, the last of the "Rabbit" series, and another award winner as well. I will endeavor to discuss that one as well once it has been read.

I hope that all my blog readers understand that any questions are welcome on these novels. I am a learner and teacher at heart and I delight in other people's knowledge.

I'm leaving right now for a long weekend in Kelowna. I'll bring my cell along just in case but I really want no contact with Calgary while I'm away. I think my work is suffering because of my extreme tiredness, so even though I'm skipping two days work I think it's worth it. In the long run I'll do better work after the vacation, and I'll be better able to tolerate the little nuisances that I've been blowing up about lately. See y'all in a few days (or months, years, etc.)

I just finished reading Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer, by Steven Millhauser. Overall, I would say it's a good book, well put together and easy to read. I managed to read it in about 3 or 4 hours, which is somewhat short for a book that covers as much as this does. You may have already sensed that I'm holding back, and that is true. The book just wasn't up to my high standards. I have to compare all the books I read with a select few, that is, East of Eden, Dr. Zhivago, Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, and Lord of the Rings. Compared to these, it was just a short story about an American who had lofty dreams. Dreams that were profitable but that eventually lead to his ruin. He made some stupid choices along the way, some really excellent choices too. Whatever, he lived the life of an entrepreneur; otherwise he was just like each of us. Flawed, human, ambitious.