From the Lists: Manly Men Doing Manly Things Badly

Ernest Hemingway (1928)

After the European obtuseness of Joseph Conrad, Ernest Hemingway's terse masculine prose comes as a welcome relief for reading in the sun. Billed as the "quintessential novel of the lost generation," The Sun Also Rises (1926) is a debauched romp through Paris and Spain by American and English expats and tourists following the first world war.

In Hemingway's world, drunken evenings of bar hopping stretch into brisk mornings spent in cafes over coffee. Every meal is heartily satisfying. People do things. They love and break up. They fight and make up. Grudges are soon forgotten. Large sums of money are spent pursuing pleasures. The weather is sunny, cloudy, or rainy. Sentences are short and declarative. And perhaps in spite of the clipped writing style, Hemingway's world seems more rich and tactile than those of other writers who spend so much of their time setting a mood before anything actually happens. 

The novel is probably most well known for its depiction of the bull fights held during the festival of St. Fermin - including the practice of young men running with the bulls through the streets of Pamplona.  However, the pageantry of the bullfight and festival is simply the backdrop for broken relationships, bankruptcies, betrayals, and apathetic acceptance that occurs among a group of friends as they plan, prepare, and travel from Paris to Pamplona for the festival.

Since this novel is mostly told through either gossipy or drunk dialog, there is very little character exposition that is not tinged by jealousy or colored by feelings of unrealized love. And, much like an extended episode of Seinfeld, none of the characters learn or grow during their exploits. Everyone is pretty much in the same place developmentally as they were at the beginning of the novel. Perhaps that is why I enjoyed it so much. It is reminiscent of my younger days when things happened and people did things, but the copious amounts of alcohol lubricated our conversations and relationships.

On a side note, I do have a few connections with this novel including a visit to Hemingway's home in Key West, Florida. If you find yourself there with a few hours to spare, you should take the tour. It is well worth the money. Also, toward the end of the novel when Jake meets Brett in Madrid, they have a dinner of suckling pig accompanied by several bottles of rioja wine at Botin. I too have eaten this dinner. Yum! Ricisima!

Recommendation: Two thumbs up if you are looking for a fun book with no moral lesson - just guys doing guy stuff.

From the Lists: Joseph Conrad Tag Team

Joseph Conrad

Like the D. H. Lawrence grouping in my last literary blog installment, the next two novels are by Joseph Conrad. Most readers will recognize him as the author of Heart of Darkness (#67), but he also has three other novels on the list: #85 Lord Jim, #47 Nostromo, and #46 The Secret Agent. One can only marvel that someone whose first language was Polish, was so proficient in languages that he landed 4 novels in the 100 best English novels of the 20th century.

Heart of Darkness (1902) is probably the most widely-read of Conrad's works in that it is pretty much required reading in American high schools and colleges. The movie Apocalypse Now (1979) was also loosely based on this novella, thus insuring its longevity. However, Conrad considered Nostromo (1904) to be his masterpiece. The author, a notorious complainer, often wrote while working on the serialized release of the book that this work would lead to his death by exhaustion. As a reader, I too was nearly brought to death by the lack of action within the novel.

Nostromo

As someone who appreciates the art of writing, I feel a little guilty about the above pronunciation, but boiled down to its essence - this novel is a bit like a Central American War and Peace - complete with a long list of characters with complicated histories, but without the war and with very little peace. Imagine your country is in a civil war and you are chasing the action, but you always arrive just a few hours late or you are stranded just a few streets away from the action. In this way, the narrative is quite inventive in that all the action is related through the experiences of people who are recalling events the reader just missed experiencing. Since the events in the novel are all filtered through unreliable narrators motivated by greed, nationalism, jealousy, and love - the reader is left to draw their own conclusions about the action, the characters, and their motivations.

What I did find quite interesting, and somewhat contemporary in the novel is the continued debate about the importance of business in civil society. Conrad proposes through his characters that without commerce, there can be no civilization. That a successful business venture results in roads, railroads, harbors, hospitals, churches, and commerce that would not otherwise exist. Without these arteries of commerce, European style society could not flourish. 100 years later, this idea seems to still be hotly debated. The flip side to this argument is that prosperity also fuels the less noble tendencies of man leading to war, suffering, and needless death and destruction.

The Secret Agent

The second book in this tag team, The Secret Agent (1907), had a bit of resurgence in popularity following the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. However, instead of religious radicals planning and executing an effective attack, this work is loosely based on a bungled attempt by anarchists to initiate a social revolution by bombing the Greenwich observatory in England.

While the author's intent in Nostromo is literary, The Secret Agent is blatant satire. Its characters are caricatures of notable anarchists of the period. The characters personify all the stereotypes of the shiftless anarchist - they are over-weight, under-educated, frequently jailed, or making their livings off of wealthy women or by selling French pornography. Based on the phrenological sentiments of the day, their craniums are all described as lumpy due to the criminal quality of their thoughts and their skin is sallow and oily. Apparently bad intentions make for bad health and unsightly appearance. Let this be a lesson!

As with all good satire, such as The Daily Show, one must be informed on the issue being discussed to understand the humor - hence the prodigious number of footnotes included in this edition. An early 20th century Londoner would no doubt understand the satiric intent of this novel and get the joke, but the ironic skewering of figures who have been largely lost in the sweep of history, tends to lose its humor when read by a contemporary audience.

Recommendation: Of these two novels, it is difficult to choose one over the other as I am unenthusiastic about both. I suffered great frustration in the first and found the second somewhat difficult to read - a bit like being the new guy in a group of friends who communicate using only inside jokes.

Cliches, Metaphors, and Thrills

There are several cliches, metaphors, and similes that come to mind when I think back over the last few weeks.

• Life is not a sprint, but a marathon
• It's not the destination that's important, but the journey
• On your deathbed you will not wish you had spent more time at work
• Money can't buy happiness
• Time flies when you are having a great time
• Everyday above ground is a good day
• Life is like a box of chocolates

You get the idea. But, it seems that I have been on the up side of the roller coaster for the last several months. And, that is not a bad thing. The up side is where the anticipation builds to the point where you can't hold in the excitement any longer. Your heart pounds, your breathing quickens, giggles slip out, and your whole body clenches in anticipation of what is just over the horizon.

At the moment, I am poised in that moment just at the top of the first big rise, at the apogee, where the thrill of what is to come battles with the desire to go back to the safety that lies behind me. However, I bought the ticket and strapped myself in, I have no choice now but to take a deep breath, lift my arms above my head, enjoy the plunge,  and scream in exhilaration - regardless of what lies ahead.

On the up side of this ride, I am finishing up my "double duty." My consultancy gig with my former employer is winding down so I will soon have my evenings free again. I have wrapped my head around the demands of my new job and embraced the challenges it poses. Everyday, I am eager to arrive in the office and do my best to assist people in fulfilling their dreams of publication. While, it will be some time before I have even a yeoman's understanding of the publishing business, I am starting to feel a bit more confident.

As I head over the top of this first hill, I have several huge projects to complete as we continue to rewrite and improve our publication applications. Tucked in among all this work, I have also been asked to join the team heading to New York City for Book Expo America (BEA) in early June. This is the largest publishing event in North America. I will there with our marketing and executive teams rubbing elbows with the players in the industry.

I love the city.
I love creative people.
I love my life.
I love the roller coaster!

Seen and Heard: REP's 8

Readers know that I am a bit of a booster for Raleigh Ensemble Players (REP) and their "provocative, powerful, and penetrating" theatrical productions. Perhaps my love of their work (fan-boy) is due to my penchant for Modernist (difficult) literature, my brief history on the stage (high school), or my firm belief that every life is a musical (I hear your music). No matter, last night's dramatic reading of Dustin Lance Black's 8 moved me to tears, spontaneous applause, and a new insight into a difficult and often divisive subject. The script was tight, the characters human, the direction spot on, and the talent - simply unbelievable. The cream of our rich, diverse theater community was on display delivering a one-night-only performance that was close to perfection. 

On its most basic level, the play was taken from the transcripts of the federal court challenge to the constitutionality of California's Proposition 8, which revoked the rights of same-sex couples from marrying. Think Law and Order, without the murder, but with all the human drama, the courtroom arguments, the complainants' back stories, and the media - all honestly and artfully portrayed as recorded in the official record.

This work should be required viewing for all North Carolinians before entering the ballot box to vote on this very same issue - ironically on May 8th. I can only hope that the first amendment to our constitution will not be one intended to single out a group of people in order to deny them civil rights and basic dignities surrounding the most personal, private, and joyous aspect of their lives. Most people are unaware that one of the rights slaves gained upon emancipation was the right to marry. Several freedmen wrote that this right was among the most cherished, proving that they were indeed free.

And, as hard as it is to believe today, it was only 40 years ago that it was illegal in some states for inter-racial couples to marry. It is obvious that the institution of marriage continues to evolve from arranged marriages to business relationships to romantic love matches benefiting those who choose to participate. As stated in last night's closing argument: "We will all be more American the day after same-sex marriage is recognized as a legal and basic right than we were the day before."

The polls are now open for early voting.
Vote early - vote often.

Long Time, No See

Wheel of Life

Wow, I can't believe how long it has been since my last posting. Time flies when you are living your dreams....

Who am I kidding? I have been swamped with work and just haven't had time to organize my thoughts into a coherent, entertaining essay. However, following dinner with my friends Clodagh and Jerry last night, I realized that I am in a rare place of happiness. I have found a blissful moment where the hectic swirl of the world seems far away.

Since I am five weeks into the new job, the radio silence can be lifted. As you may remember, I accepted a new position at Lulu Press in March. Although I am no longer working in my beloved downtown Raleigh and I have to actually drive to the office now, I am thrilled with my work and excited by the team of highly dedicated and creative people with whom I get to spend my days. I am still drinking from the fire hose, so to speak, but I am getting my head around the job and I am eager to get to the office every morning.

Of course that is not how it started. Sometime around 2:00 PM on my first day, I started wondering if I had made a horrible mistake. So many new faces, names, personalities to learn - not to mention that I barely understood a third of what people were talking about in meetings. And, boy, you better believe these people do have some meetings. I have learned that being the oldest person in the room sometimes has its advantages in that I can use my experience and distill it into a varnish of artificial self-confidence. After all, these people didn't know that I was really a walking meat bag composed of jitters and self-doubt. Simply raising my hand and reminding people that I am the new guy, seems to jolt everyone back into English - for a few minutes anyway. Fortunately, I am picking up the jargon pretty quickly, thanks to Google.

Since those tentative days and sleepless nights, I feel that I have begun making a contribution to the success of the company. Perhaps only a small contribution at this point, but I do see a bright future for myself there and hope to stay as long as they will have me.

As to my former position, well, I am still moonlighting for them in the evenings. I just couldn't leave them in the lurch. Somehow I think this generosity has contributed to my recent karmic happiness, but it could also be the consultant-level hourly wage they are paying me that has smoothed the way for paying off the credit card, insurance, and future vacation debt yet to be incurred during my upcoming visit to the Greek Isles in August.

Life is good!

Thoughts from the Muscle Making Machines: Part 2

Although it did sound like the perfect way to start the day, being ridden and pumped before work this morning only left me feeling tired, spent, unfocused, sore, angry, and pitifully unmotivated.

The sales pitch yesterday went something like this: "You like to lift. You like to spin. You should try our new class called Pump and Ride. It is 15 minutes of spin class, 15 minutes of lifting, 15 more minutes of spin, followed by 15 minutes of lifting. It will be perfect for you."

7:00 AM the Exercise Log

It did sound perfect, so this morning I got up, ate a good breakfast and headed to the gym to attend this experimental hybrid class. First of all today's pump was replaced by interval training consisting of some sort of plastic log with handles that we had to carry while we curtsied, threaded the needle, cross lifted with forward lunges, shuffled with side lunges, and totem poled. Sounds like a delightful way to begin your day, doesn't it?  The set consisted of two rotations through the five stations. You spent 60 seconds at each station and had 15 seconds in between to rest.

I thought, "What's a minute? I can do this" Well, a minute is plenty of time to realize that you have made a terrible mistake. 15 minutes is enough time to be concerned that your breakfast may be reappearing at any moment. I kept staring at the clock, eagerly awaiting the spin portion of the class. Spin is my specialty, I do it four times a week. But, no....

7:15 AM Pushups on the Trapeze (TRX)

We went from log toting right into some sort of S&M inspired circuit of trapezes hanging from the ceiling - also know as TRX. Things like kettle bell lifts while pulling yourself off the ground with one hand. Push up / crunches while your feet were suspended above ground. The list goes on, but the tortures slowly became more imaginative, more heinous, and more painful - each worse than the one before.

I only made one circuit through this new level of Hell. Then I bolted. I just could not do another round. I had to keep telling myself that there are no heroes in Hell. And while I felt like a big old puss for not making it through another circuit, I knew in my (pounding) heart that I would excel in the spin portion. So, while my fellow prisoners were swinging in their straps while being berated by their keepers, I slipped out to get a head start on my spin bike.

8:35 AM....

Much to my surprise, my legs were like overcooked noodles. My arms barely supported my upper body as we jogged and did push ups on the spin cycle - forward and back, forward and back, foward and back for 20 minutes.

I thought that 8:00 would never arrive. But, like Christmas, it did - and so did the sales pitch. For a measly $500, I could submit myself to this special brand of torture (bootcamp) three mornings a week for the next 12 weeks. I fully understand that this type of workout will be of great benefit to my 49 year old body - but I am unsure if this body can withstand so much torture, so early in the morning, for so many weeks in a row.

Even though the class has officially been renamed "Riding and Resistance," I think I am going to pass on this opportunity. However, I will gladly cheer for the inmates / recruits / suckers each morning as I shuffle between the muscle making machines.

Thoughts from the Muscle Making Machines

In some ways we never leave high school. At 49, I still have the sense of humor of a high school boy. Particularly when it comes to double entendres.

Yesterday morning, one of the trainers at my gym came over during my workout to tell me that they had created a new class that was perfect for me. It is called "Pump and Ride."

I could not help myself. I burst out laughing and told her that I was impressed at how well she knew me. I think I will get up especially early tomorrow to attend the class before work. If experience can be trusted, a good pump and ride can be a great way to start the day.