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panUgh had to stop reading this biography half way through & then came back to it a year later. Bought this book in Big Sur at the Henry Miller Memorial Library. Although famously known for his literature, he was not a great guy - struggled to finish this one. Incredibly detailed account, so if you‘re into Henry Miller would probably be of interest.
"It's good to be just plain happy; it's a little better to know that you're happy; but to understand that you're happy and to know why and how...and still be happy,
be happy in the being and the knowing, well that is beyond happiness, that is bliss." -Henry Miller
Thanks for the tag, @TiminCalifornia !
Tagging a few who might like this: @wanderinglynn @catiewithac @UwannaPublishme @Megabooks
#thinkpositivebepositive @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
bailedFirst of all, I want to say that I am a big Henry Miller fan. I loved the books that comprised The Rosy Crucifixion and both Tropics, among others. But this one was just a big, long-winded tirade against America. After 50 pages or so, I got the message: America is an ugly-ass country polluted by ugly-ass people. Thanks, Henry. Fun read. I bailed before I hit page 60. Life is too short.
so-soI don't get it. I like Henry Miller. I, too, take issue with America's obsession with empty "progress" and materialism. Many parts of this book resonate today (Americans as a vulgar mob easily led astray by con men? Check.) Then why did it leave me so cold? Perhaps because for every insightful critique there are pages upon pages that are nothing more than an old man venting his spleen, all venom and no wit. A shame for a writer so talented.
Not book related but after waiting all summer because the air conditioners were on back order we finally got one installed today. I couldn't read at all this summer because it was just so hot and uncomfortable - I can finally get back into reading again!
