Tuesday, June 5

Beaten back against the waves...or something.

Hello.

I want to come back. I want to read more. Don't get me wrong, Pokemon is still high on my list of media consumption. I'm getting more records in the mail as we speak. And I still have my Netflix subscription and a big TV. And the Wii, of course. My point is that I have a lot on my plate to watch, listen to, and read.

But I need to re-balance my diet, and it needs to happen now. Books are going to move up that list, and magazines of high quality will tag along for the ride. Part of my inspiration is that a very literary friend of mine is now encouraging me to read a particular book, and I am obliging. This work is a sequel of sorts to one of the best things I've ever read, The Power of One, by Bryce Courtenay. Tandia is apparently his thick follow-up to that wonderful novel, and I can't wait to dig in. And this time I will share.

I am on a bit of a spending spree, and I am wrapping it up with a splurge on Believer and McSweeney's subscriptions. Huzzah! So I look forward to those in the mailbox.

I'm curious about something. Well, first let me thank Ben, one of my dearest friends for soldiering on in my absence. Can we get a roll call of Book-Loop readers? Bryan, you're still here, right? Ben, how do you feel about a renewed effort to recruit?

Crazily, we are approaching the one year anniversary of Book-Loop. How shall we celebrate, friends?

8 comments:

Ben said...

I can't tell you how nice it is to see something posted by someone other then that jerkoff Ben.

A roll call of readers would be interesting, but I fear this comment may very well round out the roll.

I have never stopped recruiting. And nor should you. It's tough though. Hard enough to find time to read, let alone take the time to discuss it on a blog. I would absolutely love more folks to be involved. I know it would inspire me to post more and before long we could have things humming pretty nicely. We had it going for a minute there with Louis and Bryan but then for whatever reason the boulder seemed to roll back down the hillside and and squash their passion for Book-Loop. Sad. Truthfully, I felt like an ass carrying on, unsure if anyone anywhere was still visiting. But you have inspired me anew.

I would like to add that any anonymous readers out there (because surely even the most modest of blogs have those, right?), you are welcome to join and start posting. Just ask. More voices! More recruiting! More Book-Looping!

MJA said...

Double Huzzah!

I'm pretty sure Cat will join in. Her literacy is impressive.

Ben said...

Honestly, Mike, your talking up this woman's literary prowess to such an extent that if she's not reciting Beowulf and carrying a rolled up copy of the Paris Review in her back pocket when I meet her then I am going to be most disappointed. Just sayin'.

MJA said...

I'm really not concerned. Consider that she keeps at least two books in her purse at nearly all times and travels with worn copies of her most treasured written works. She always exceeds my expectations.

Ben said...

Is one of those two books Beowulf? Because that's really my only criterion.

MJA said...

What's a Beowulf?

Ben said...

I don't know.

Bryan said...

Don't call it a comeback. You been here for years.