…pick a spot and read…
Marilyn Monroe reads…
Been highly distracted and disorganized this week lost somewhere in the nether world that develops from chronic lack of sleep. After two weeks of trying to tough it out on my own and then two weeks of antibiotic and decongestants for a sinus infection, the doc hit me up with a week long course of steroids to help me bring my head back down to a normal hat size. Infections of this (un)kind never run their normal course for me. The remnants of cancer treatment do leave their mark like initials carved in an old tree’s bark.
Stayed up late last night finishing Christopher Hitchen’s Mortality, his final insights into his body and response to both disease and treatment. I’m sorry that I turned away from him after his inexplicable support of the Iraq invasion and didn’t rediscover him until after he had passed away.
Will be heading to the library today and picking up my reserved copy of Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell. I had tuned into a review of the book on NPR during drive time the other morning and listened to a few excerpts. Looking forward to her prose and storytelling.
Onward we go into the weekend!
[h/t to Awesome People Reading for the photo...can't find the original source...Eve Arnold? Alfred Eisenstaedt?..]
8 comments
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March 1, 2013 at 7:15 am
Ray V
I feel your pain…not for the same reasons, but this has been the week from hell for me.
March 1, 2013 at 7:38 am
lazarusdodge
…gives you something to compare to when you have the really good days…
- J.
March 1, 2013 at 7:43 am
Liliana Holtzman
Hope you feel better soon! I have been suffering from the same ailments (insomnia, sinus issues, etc.) Like you say, cancer treatments can leave all kinds of interesting gifts behind. Still, where would we be without them?
I laughed about your comment on Christopher Hitchens, I dismissed him for the same reason, then found him again after his brave response to his illness. I plan on reading Mortality soon.
Right now I am reading Gulag by Ann Applebaum, a history of the Soviet concentration camp system. Very depressing, but excellent. My friends keep asking why I am doing this to myself, but I always answer that someone has to bear witness.
Sending you best wishes for a speedy recovery, dear friend!
March 1, 2013 at 8:44 am
lazarusdodge
Yep – as the veterans we are, we’re stuck in this (C)ontext. Then again, being “different” does give way to unusual insights and details…
I’d actually rediscovered Hitchens after stumbling onto his articles in Vanity Fair (see Andrew’s comment below). It wasn’t just his bravery and his intellectual approach – but the way he seemed to nail the overall culture of cancer that truly impressed me. I think the frustration we had with his political U-turn was just as confusing to some of his closest friends as well as his readers.
I agree with the comment about bearing witness. We’re one generation removed already and our children even more so. One day it will just be a textbook entry – a shame since these events should never be forgotten.
Onward we go Liliana – got a warmer weekend coming up to enjoy!
- J.
March 1, 2013 at 7:51 am
G.R.
I also, loved Hitchens, from his wonderful takes, on Public television & columns, He surprised & disappointed me with his hawkish turn, but I read “Mortality” and it was valid.
I plan to look into (& make my own reservation)Karen Russell’s book.
This weekend I continue with “The Flame Alphabet” by Ben Marcus (& equally odd) short stories by Mary Gaitskill. Enjoy yr read
March 1, 2013 at 8:50 am
lazarusdodge
He’s still a bit of a mystery to me – which is probably why I’ll dig a bit more into this writing now. Shame how politics poisons everything – including our attachment to writers like Hitchens.
Seems like you and I are both digging into short stories these days. Seems to fit my lifestyle these days – just enough time to read a story thru before I toddle off to the bedroom.
Enjoy your books as well – it’s a gift to be able to read!
- J.
March 1, 2013 at 8:05 am
Andrew
If you like Hitchens, his collection of essays in Arguably is well worth going through. Mortality was less tight than the original Vanity Fair article.
March 1, 2013 at 8:53 am
lazarusdodge
My wife had actually bought me a copy of Arguably some time ago – but I was terribly intimidated by its bulk! I have it at the top of my to-read pile now.
I agree with you about the Vanity Fair articles – I liked his descriptions of the two worlds that exist for a cancer patient and how frustratingly they try to connect with each other.
I guess that’s left up to us now…
- J.