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(…of which more later…)

Fascinating look at the daily grind of many artists and intellectuals. I learned that Scotch and or barbiturates are a requirements.

An imaginative collection of vignettes describing different possible afterlives.

Everything about Archer makes me laugh, including this book.

I choose Sirens of Titan as my first Vonnegut book and was unexpectedly disappointed. I found it occasionally funny, but otherwise empty of things to keep me interested. The only character I cared about was Salo. "He" showed up late, and then it was over.

Reading Christopher Hitchens thrills me. I am thrilled by his range and depth and ability to make me shake my head or my fist. Stimulating.

I have never read any of Vonneguts books, but after reading "Letters" that will have to change. I had no idea that the guy was funny; very funny. His letters made me laugh, but also moved and inspired me.

It would be easy to dismiss If on a Winter's Night a Traveler as overly clever by half, but that would be a shame because it's a terrifically fun read. It's like reading an Escher print.

Nick Hornby writes about reading in More Baths Less Talking: Notes from the Reading Life of a Celebrated Author Locked in Battle with Football, Family, and Time Itself. It's funny and insightful and great fun.

Finally got around to reading The Handmaid's Tale. I found it riveting from beginning to end. This is the first thing I've read by Margaret Atwood. Terrific writing and much to think about. The book ended in a way that was both disappointing and perfect.

A series of short stories by George Saunders. I found it amazing, funny, weird, and moving. Saunders’ ability to take us inside the minds of damaged contemporary-seeming characters while placing them in an unclear future makes the whole thing very unsettling.

Comics haven't been my thing, yet so many people I respect and admire seem to love them. It's for that reason that I keep trying. Daytripper was recommended to me by several friends and I read it straight through. What I think I was supposed to feel was that it's important to live every moment to its fullest. What I felt instead was the dreadful thought that I could die at any moment. I enjoyed the read, but it was a bit of a downer for me. I'll return to it some day and my hunch is that I'll like it more.