bannedbookreadathon

pan

2.5 stars Have you ever known a twenty-something young man who arrogantly believes he knows everything about everything? This is 319 pages of that guy, mostly while he's drunk or high. It's just a whiny bigoted blog, albeit with moments of brilliance.

Longer review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1777545523

#TOC
#ToCreadalong
#bannedbookchallenge
#bannedbookreadathon
#bannedbookreading
#TOCreadathon

DGRachel, KVanRead, PurpleyPumpkin, Kathrin, katedensen, Chrys, manifestsanity, gibblr

beagle.mama Isn't this the book Jerry owed the library in that Seinfeld episode? The one with the librarian named Mr. Bookman. 8y

PurpleyPumpkin I am still struggling with this one! Ugh, I'll be glad when I'm done. I'm gonna finish it because I don't think l be going back to it. Ever. 😕 8y

DGRachel Kudos to you for sticking it out (I'm so glad I bailed!). 🤓 8y

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LauraBeth I can remember being in my early 20s and having someone in their 40s say, "if you ever meet a man and he tells you he likes Henry Miller, run far, far away..." 8y

BarbaraTheBibliophage @beagle.mama Believe it or not, I didn't watch that show. I've only seen a few episodes. But, I did think of it while reading this book, which is also about a whole lot of nothing. 😎 8y

BarbaraTheBibliophage @PurpleyPumpkin @DGRachel I just decided to power through it this weekend. I hated seeing it waiting all the time. But ugh. 8y

BarbaraTheBibliophage @LauraBeth Wise words! 😎 8y

DGRachel @LauraBeth 😂😂😂😂 8y

Kathrin @LauraBeth And now we know why!! 😂😂😂 8y

Kathrin Okay... so what are we going to tackle next???? 8y

BarbaraTheBibliophage @Kathrin I'm open to suggestions! What do you think? 8y

Kathrin @BarbaraTheBibliophage If we stay with banned books and avoid books that have been banned for obscenity (#toomuchpenis) then how about...

Doctor Zhivago

KVanRead Was planning to finish it last week, but after Tuesday it was pretty much the last thing I wanted to read. It's due back at the library tomorrow but I just can't do it right now. I'm so close to done. Ugh. Maybe tomorrow. 8y

KVanRead When I return TOC I'm picking up my next read which also happens to be a banned book

Persepolis

BarbaraTheBibliophage @kvanread Persepolis is one of the last few books I have on my list for the #ReadHarder challenge! @Kathrin I'd be up for reading about snow and cold in Russia during my winter. It'll make me feel warm! 8y

Kathrin @BarbaraTheBibliophage Persepolis sounds interesting! 8y

KVanRead @BarbaraTheBibliophage I'm reading it for ReadHarder as well! 8y

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BarbaraTheBibliophage

Tropic of Cancer | Henry Miller

I finally don't hate this book. Not that I love it, but I've settled into his odd cadence of non-story telling writing. Still struggling with his incredible bigoted nature though. Almost caught up too.

#TOC
#ToCreadalong
#bannedbookchallenge,
#bannedbookreadathon
#bannedbookreading
#TOCreadathon

@manifestsanity
@KVanRead
@katedfisher
@gibblr
@PurpleyPumpkin
@Kathrin
@Chrys

JanuarieTimewalker13 @BarbaraTheBibliophage I really liked TOCancer...Henry Miller seemed like a fun guy...there's a great video of him on YouTube:"Asleep and Awake", I watched it about 5 years ago...tried to get into TOCap, but put it down...one day I will try again! 8y

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PurpleyPumpkin

Tropic of Cancer | Henry Miller

We are well into week 2 of our slow read for the #ToCreadalong and I'm just getting started! In preparation for reading this banned book, I did a little research into the novel's background. I didn't realize, but this is an autobiographical novel, a story of sorts, about Henry Miller himself. Of the little I've read so far, he certainly led an interesting life! #TOC #bannedbookchallenge #bannedbookreadathon #bannedbookreading #TOCreadathon

DGRachel, BarbaraTheBibliophage, KVanRead, Kathrin, katedensen, Chrys, manifestsanity, gibblr

BarbaraTheBibliophage LOL. Interesting to say the least! His perspective on so many social issues is definitely old school, but sadly still in evidence today. I'm behind now too. I need to read this week's portion! 8y

Kathrin @BarbaraTheBibliophage Old school is a very nice way to put it... archaic was the word on my mind today while reading. 😆 But you are right, these sentiments are still around. 8y

Kathrin I might have to make a fast read out of this one... my library loan is due in 3 days! 😱 8y

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BarbaraTheBibliophage @Kathrin No renewals?? 8y

Kathrin @BarbaraTheBibliophage I'll try, I just hope nobody put a hold on it in the meantime! 8y

PurpleyPumpkin @BarbaraTheBibliophage @Kathrin It definitely seems to be a book of it's time. It's jarring at times, but I'm finding it intriguing. Well, so far anyway. We'll see! 8y

KVanRead @PurpleyPumpkin @BarbaraTheBibliophage @Kathrin I'm just starting this week's portion. So far my reactions are all over the place. Sometimes I find the writing just bombastic, other times beautiful. So far he is either blowing me away with his writing or blowing me away with his anti-semitism and sexism. Is anyone else finding this particularly hard to take given our current political news? 8y

BarbaraTheBibliophage @KVanRead I feel the same way. Miller's racism and sexism are horrible. I'd definitely be less disturbed if the news wasn't full of the election coverage. 8y

Kathrin @KVanRead I agree. I find the reason for banning the book in the first place ridiculous and the half pornographic content is nothing compared to the sexism. But back in the day, writing porn was worse than objectifying women... well sometimes it feels like nothing has changed. 🤔 8y

KVanRead @kathrin @BarbaraTheBibliophage well I guess that's progress 😊 Although judging from recent reactions in the news It see some are still more bothered by 'lewdness' than misogyny😞 8y

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Kathrin

Tropic of Cancer | Henry Miller

#TOC #ToCreadalong #bannedbookchallenge #bannedbookreadathon #bannedbookreading #TOCreadathon

Finally caught up on the reading for this week. So far I have moments of admiration and the moments of desperation for the writing.

How is everyone else doing??

BarbaraTheBibliophage, KVanRead, PurpleyPumpkin, katedensen, Chrys, manifestsanity, gibblr

BarbaraTheBibliophage I'm just getting some more time to read. Been so beyond busy (plus sick) this week. I will be caught up just in time to be behind again! So far, I'm just about as mixed about his writing as you are. 😜 8y

gibblr I'm going by chapters since I have the kindle version. I finished the first three last weekend and have not had a chance to move past that. Some of it is slow going, and I hope I don't have trouble jumping back in. I have too many books going right now! 8y

PurpleyPumpkin I FINALLY got my hands on the book today! I'll get to work on it tomorrow and try to catch up. I've been enjoying all the posts, but I must say, it's made me a tad nervous about starting. 😳 8y

katedensen Similar reaction over here! 8y

KVanRead Just caught up to that exact quote and having a similar reaction. This quote is a great example. I love the writing here, but totally disagree with the sentiment. Other times the writing has driven me nuts but I find the ideas interesting. I'm really all over the place with it so far but feel it's worth sticking with. 8y

16 likes5 comments

katedensen

Tropic of Cancer | Henry Miller

It's been a long day (a long week, really), and I'm finally in bed with my book. Very much enjoying the #ToCreadalong. I've been taking some notes about various allusions and non-English words. Would anyone be interested in looking at them if I put them in some sort of Google doc or on my website? #TOC #bannedbookchallenge #bannedbookreadathon #bannedbookreading #ToCreadathon

BarbaraTheBibliophage, KVanRead, PurpleyPumpkin, Kathrin, Chrys, manifestsanity, gibblr

BarbaraTheBibliophage Yes I'd love to see them! 📚📚👏🏻👏🏻 8y

PurpleyPumpkin That's a great idea! I'd love to see them too. 👍🏼 8y

katedensen @BarbaraTheBibliophage @PurpleyPumpkin On it! 😉 8y

30 likes3 comments

Kathrin

Tropic of Cancer | Henry Miller

The story is extremely confusing right now, but there are some real 💎 gems here. To be really honest, I find the crude statements almost hilarious which is probably witness to what we are exposed to these days.

#TOC #ToCreadalon #bannedbookchallenge #bannedbookreadathon #bannedbookreading #TOCreadathon

BarbaraTheBibliophage, KVanRead, PurpleyPumpkin, katedensen, Chrys, manifestsanity, gibblr

brendanmleonard This looks like a fun project - good luck, guys! 8y

BarbaraTheBibliophage Good quote! I've been using Google translate a fair amount while reading. 8y

Kathrin @BarbaraTheBibliophage My middle school French is not holding up well! 🤓 8y

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Chrys I will admit to finding a fair bit of humor in those statements as well 8y

katedensen I think this book could use an annotated version. I've been looking a bunch of stuff up -- would anyone be interested if I put it in a google doc or something? 8y

Kathrin @katedfisher That would be very helpgul.... most of the time I am too lazy to look things up... 8y

gibblr I'm with @Kathrin - I haven't looked anything up I don't think. I'm not that invested and can usually get around it! 8y

KVanRead @katedfisher That would be cool. I had the exact same thought about an annotated version. I haven't wanted to interrupt the stream of consciousness flow by looking stuff up while reading, but would love to do so afterwards. 8y

26 likes8 comments

Kathrin

Tropic of Cancer | Henry Miller

#TOC #ToCreadalong #bannedbookchallenge #bannedbookreadathon #bannedbookreadin #TOCreadathon

I am a couple of pages beyond the preface now... it's not the book right now, it's my work schedule and the other books that I am reading right now... I'll catch up later in the week - hopefully.

BarbaraTheBibliophage, KVanRead, PurpleyPumpkin, katedensen, Chrys, manifestsanity, gibblr

BarbaraTheBibliophage I thought the Preface was interesting, as Miller and Nin were romantically involved. 🤔 8y

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BarbaraTheBibliophage

Tropic of Cancer | Henry Miller

There's a lot of yuck and crazy about this book. But just when I get disgusted, Miller throws in something like this. Paris as pain.

#TOC
#ToCreadalong
#bannedbookchallenge,
#bannedbookreadathon
#bannedbookreading
#TOCreadathon

KVanRead, PurpleyPumpkin, Kathrin, katedensen, Chrys, manifestsanity, gibblr

teainthelibrary I wrote my senior thesis on this book. Such an amazing and frustrating book! 8y

BarbaraTheBibliophage @teainthelibrary Wow - what a thesis topic. I can't imagine and I'm only 20 pages in so far. Hope you follow our hashtags and join in the discussion. 8y

katedensen Yes! I'm on p. 23 and the juxtaposition of the shocking perversity with beautiful writing is remarkable. 8y

BarbaraTheBibliophage @katedfisher If it wasn't for the beautiful writing, I'd be a whole lot more likely to bail. Must press on! 8y

katedensen @BarbaraTheBibliophage Agreed! 8y

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katedensen

Tropic of Cancer | Henry Miller

This quote reminds me of one of the last lines of "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot: "I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each. I do not think that they will sing to me." #TOC #ToCReadathon #ToCReadalong #bannedbookchallenge #bannedbookreadathon #bannedbookreading

DGRachel, BarbaraTheBibliophage, KVanRead, PurpleyPumpkin, Kathrin, Chrys, manifestsanity, gibblr

gibblr Agreed! Nice connection! 8y

Kathrin I think I am so far behind!!! 8y

katedensen @gibblr Thanks! @Kathrin You're not! This was in the first few pages of the actual text after the introduction and preface. 8y

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BarbaraTheBibliophage @Kathrin I'm only on about pg 25-30. It's all good! 😎 8y

DGRachel I made it to page 5 and had to stop. I don't think of myself as prudish, but it was a bit much for me. 😳 I'm going to have to psych myself up to keep going. 8y

katedensen @DGRachel I get what you're saying--and it's almost instantly clear why it was once banned! If you can get past the shock value, I think there are some interesting thoughts about writing/literature as a whole. 8y

PurpleyPumpkin You're all making this sound so interesting! I haven't started yet, but will soon. At least I now feel prepared to be shocked!😳😉 8y

BarbaraTheBibliophage I'm finding it interesting (to say the least) to hear the narrator's attitudes about women. A month ago, I would have said we've come so far. But not based on recent current events. All kinds of disturbing. 8y

katedensen @PurpleyPumpkin You've been warned! @BarbaraTheBibliophage Well said...although I wonder if those attitudes are at all parody or satire...I plan to read more about Miller once I finish the book. 8y

37 likes9 comments

katedensen

Tropic of Cancer | Henry Miller

And now for something completely different (i.e., after tonight's debate and the subsequent perusal of commentary). Embarking on the first week of the #ToCreadalong! We start today, so it's not too late to join us! #TOC #ToCreadathon #bannedbookchallenge #bannedbookreadathon #bannedbookreading

DGRachel, BarbaraTheBibliophage, KVanRead, PurpleyPumpkin, Kathrin, Chrys, manifestsanity, gibblr

DGRachel Looking forward to it! 8y

Kathrin 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 8y

katedensen @DGRachel @Kathrin ☺️☺️☺️ 8y

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