Book Tidbits

It's been a week full of analysis.  A brutal literary attack was unleashed on the larger part of the general public; three literary giants jousted for my attention; and a shocking impact will be made on my top-20-books-of-all-time list. 

Game of Devastation

The first piece of analysis comes on the heels of our massive Song of Ice and Fire chat transcript.  I felt joy in the brutality of the Red Wedding being unleashed on the TV-only Game of Thrones fans.  Finally, the rest of the public can share in the pain of George R.R. Martin's brilliant mind.  Here, enjoy this bit:



I am ashamed to admit just how much I drank this in and frantically searched for reaction.  Twitter was a real-time parade of fantastic reactions and I could not look away.  It was like trying to walk past a "truck vs. clown car" head-on collision without rubbernecking. 

It was like there were clown shoes, red noses and make-up-stained tires everywhere.  I think I saw a trick-flower dramatically rinsing some blood (or paint) from a small part of asphalt. 

Clash of Titans

I am currently reading books by Alexandre Dumas, William Summerset Maugham and David Foster Wallace.  All three of those writers are considered fantastic and the only one who will get an argument is the one who is lapping the field in my view. 

I am bracing for the inevitable arguments based on the tradition-bias that follows most book arguments, but I will not back down on this: David Foster Wallace blows even Dumas and Maugham away.  This is my opinion and everyone else can have theirs, but, for me, DFW is on his own level.  He makes even the best writers in the literary world seem quaint and bland. 

At one point, I even thought about how he makes even the masters I am currently reading seem like toddlers by comparison.  I realize style matters and that plenty of people are probably extremely put off by the assertion, but here we are.  I love Dumas and Maugham, and I am loving both of the books I am reading, but the scoreboard in my mind is a blowout.  I cannot really explain it too well without basketball.

DFW wins for the same reason Michael Jordan will always be the very best basketball player to me.  Others may work their tails off and others may have talent, but no one will ever work as hard AND have the same talent.  This does not mean I will always rate DFW books above all others, but it does mean no other author's work impresses me as much.

I'm not sure why this has become important for me to determine, but it seemed critical to mention when I transitioned from Maugham to DFW and found myself savoring the latter's words in a way that minimized what I thought I had enjoyed from Maugham. 

Top 20

For the past year, I have been reading some fantastic books and, now, almost half-way through the "Year of the Big Books," I have added many to my "list of books I cannot believe are not on my top 20."  I will be revisiting my top 20 list with revision in mind. 

I expect drastic changes and beloved titles will likely be slaughtered like I'm George R.R. Martin and my list is a group of non-readers awaiting a fuzzy ending.  It may not be pretty.  Even my most beloved authors may not be safe.  Well, I guess it would hurt no one but me.  All I know is that if I kill Ben Franklin, I'm DONE with me and will never follow my lists again.