book in hand
Today was my last final, and Seth and I are leaving for Colorado on Thursday. Still have a little sewing to do to finish presents, but aside from that, we are so ready for Colorado! I have my reading all ready to go: “When you are Engulfed in Flames” by David Sedaris (I was in a queue for over 3 months to receive this); and “O Pioneers!” by Willa Cather. I recently read “My Antonia” by Cather and liked it so I thought I’d give O Pioneers a try. Boli thinks I’m sexist in my reading, but the reverse seems to be true also, as his books are mainly written by male authors. I do mainly read literature written by female authors… or gay men (Sedaris, Wilde). Why? I have no idea, except that I apparently find it more agreeable. Even Fitzgerald who seems like he sort of wrote for women was not especially to my liking…I tried twice! Next I think I will try Joyce. I think the last books I read by a male author and liked were the “Ender’s Game” series by Orson Scott Card– not really literature.
Now that I am done with botany I am full of all kinds of what I think are interesting facts about plants which I love to tell Boli, but which he is not too excited about hearing all the time. Some fairly un-scientific ones I’ve sprung on him are: Did you know that an asparagus fern is not really a fern, and what the differences are? Did you know that a potato skin is cork and only has nutritive value as fiber? Did you know that Magnolias and Ginkgos are very old and primitive, and how you can tell? Did you know that redwoods are not the oldest conifers, but rather Bristlecone Pine? Did you know that Ginkgos and Cycads are dioecious (have separate male and female plants)? Yes, I know you are excited.
Chase
Since you’re apparently gender-sensitive in your reading, maybe you didn’t like Fitzgerald because he’s a misogynist. But then again, Orson Scott Card is homophobic and you didn’t mention having a problem with him. However, some of Card’s writing is highly homoerotic, so maybe he fits still fits into your “women and gay men” category. But maybe it’s just gay authors in general you like, since Willa Cather was a lesbian.
Have you read Flannery O’Connor? She seems like she’d be your style, although she was not gay as far as I know. Oscar Wilde would be worth a shot, though he was just bisexual.
jessie
I want to hear all of your botany facts! ALL OF THEM!
xie
chase: i included wilde in my male picks. i didn’t know cather was a lesbian! i also like simone de beauvoir who was a renoun bi-sexual. and yes, i love flannery o’connor; i think she and harper lee rank as my top 2.
and yes, i found that Card’s writing was actually almost pedophilic… lots of parts where little boys happen to be naked. mostly noticeable in the first book. very creepy.
Chase
Oh yeah, you said Wilde. Whoops.
You’re right about the awkward pedo elements in Card. The homoeroticism and pederasty really come together in Songmaster — which one must never, ever read.
(Just to clarify: I have nothing wrong with intentional homoerotic elements in a book, movie, or whatever. I do have a problem with homophobes like Card using homoeroticism — intentionally or subconsciously.)
Mike W.
Sexist :/
Craig
While we’re on the subject of sexism and botany, did you know that female ginkgo trees smell horrible? It’s true. LA City has a no femalke gingo trees rule for street trees.
xie
craig: it’s actually the ginkgo fruit that literally smells like shit- they accidentally planted female ones down Mission in South Pas. according to my botany teacher. Good job guys!