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September 09, 2005
Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story
by: Check Klosterman
I'm not much for book reviews (or reviewing books). I don't read them because I don't really trust other people's opinions. Too many people like things because they think they are supposed to or bash on people because that's the hip thing to do.
I don't write them for many reasons:
1) Who am I to judge a book beyond whether or not I liked it. I mean, sure, if there were spelling or grammar errors I could write about that, but I'm not a good fiction writer so I don't know that I should be judging someone that has gone through many editors, rewrites and struggles to get the book published.
2) I'm not good at arguing my point. Yes, verbally I can argue a point to death but on paper, against myself, I lose interest in my position in about 2.5 seconds. I need the verbal combat.
3) I am constantly afraid that I am WRONG. My opinion is wrong. Like in high school AP English when I would never seem to figure out the "Right" interpretation of some damn Shakespeare poem.
With that being said, I like this book. It isn't mind blowing or heart wrenching. What it is is like having a long conversation with close friend.
What I like most are the multiple conversations strategically placed throughout the book that Chuck has with his friend Lucy Chance.
In the end when he is talking to Lucy while waiting for his plane and they make plans for the day he gets back to NY to get a drink at the bar they always go to, I want to be him. I want to be this guy who went on a long journey searching for answers to death, love and relationships and then at the end of it all may not have learned anything except that you have a friend, back home that has been holding your seat at your bar.
Posted by meloknee at September 9, 2005 10:03 AM
Comments
Try this: Instead of reviewing the book*, distill your feelings down to a simple sentence that explains how you will treat the author should you stand face-to-face.
Example: I'm going to punch Harold Pinter in the gut.
*As the example shows, this also works for theater, television, and film. It should also be noted that this approach is very much akin to Sally's "tar and feather" method, but with more room for personal expressions of adulation/retrobution.
Posted by: jlg at September 9, 2005 12:21 PM
So, in this instance I may say: I'm going to give ask Chuck to have a beer with me.
Posted by: melanie at September 9, 2005 12:24 PM
Yes, exactly. Another way to do it would be: I'm going to remind Jason that "retrobution" is not how one spells "retribution."
Posted by: jlg at September 9, 2005 12:55 PM
My "I love writing book reviews so take my opinion with a grain of salt" response:
1) You don't have to have an opinion about something just because you know how to do it. I can't sing, but I know when someone else's singing sucks. Also, there are many, many books that get published that have gone through numerous rewrites, edits, etc, but are bad, bad, bad. Motley Crew wrote a book called The Dirt, and they got it published because they are famous and have a lot of money. But it is awful, and they are terrible writers.
2) Fair enough.
3) Reviewing books should never be about being wrong or right. It's about having an opinion and that is pretty much all. If we never said anything about what we have experienced, we'd be bored most of the time.
Posted by: Shannon at September 10, 2005 05:34 PM
Who cares if you ARE wrong, as long as you SOUND right. With new fiction reviews all you need to do is use the phrase "post modern" a few times and then compare it to something Dave Eggers wrote and summarize by quoting something you read in McSweeney's or The Atlantic Journal. Hope the tips help :)
Posted by: D_Davis at September 10, 2005 07:04 PM
I don't like Jason's spelling of retribution. I want to tar and feather him.
Posted by: Chris aka Not Sally at September 13, 2005 07:09 AM
I hate to nitpick (I'm lying) but Mötley Crüe would be pretty sad to know you misspelled them and left out their umlauts...
Posted by: liz at September 13, 2005 09:16 AM
I think they would probably want to, "Tar and feather," her. Umlauts, that's a funny word.
Posted by: melanie at September 13, 2005 09:44 AM
Posted by: lopolis at September 15, 2005 10:31 PM