Whoever it was in 1969 who named the very first Bob Dylan bootleg album “Great White Wonder” may have had a mischievous streak. There are any number of ways you can interpret the title — most boringly, the cover was blank, like the Beatles’ “White Album” — but I like to see a sly allusion to “Moby-Dick.” In the seven years since the release of his first commercial record, Dylan had become the white whale of 20th-century popular song, a wild, unconquerable and often baffling force of musical nature who drove fans and critics Ahab-mad in their efforts to spear him, lash him to the hull and render him merely comprehensible. --- Bruce Handy, NYTimes ____________________________________________ I figured we can start fresh with Bob Dylan. Couldn't resist this photo of him striking a Woody Guthrie pose. Looks like only yesterday. Here is a link to the comments building up to this reading group.
At the moment I am reading Fraser's ''Flashman's Lady'' and am about half way through it. I found the parts about cricket to be more attention grabbing than the rest of the tale but it is somewhat entertaining.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason in my old age I've become a cricket fanatic. Too bad there isn't all that much cricket fiction available in the USA. There is much in the UK but our libraries don't have the books I want to read. Argh!
I have never read any Flashman books, although I know they are hugely popular with all of the NY Times book people.
ReplyDeleteWhen Gintaras posted this one, I looked for a copy at my local bookstore, but they don't have a single copy in stock. I'm surprised given how popular the series is.
I think it's best to read the Flashman titles in time sequence not as the titles were released as he jumped around a bit early on.There are references to earlier events in some which is why they read better in sequence.I only bemoan the fact there won't be anymore with his passing and he never got around to the Civil War novel as Flashman skirts the events in a few novels.
ReplyDeleteI can't recall which book but in one of the earlier Patrick O'Brian Aubrey/Maturin series there are pages on a cricket match played at Aubrey's house while home from the sea.Cricket Fiction would be an interesting subheading at online sites.
ReplyDeleteJust an aside but a high school friend from Rochester NY who comes from old blue blood money had a mother named Cricket.I saw last year that a sister of his named her daughter Cricket.It's an odd name to be sure but they named her brother Ryder because he was born the year the Ryder Cup was in Rochester.
ReplyDeleteThe site I know of that has a cricket fiction section can be found at Guardian. Indeed, there is much crciekt fiction but usually only in the UK.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was kind of funny the way Fraser tied Flash in with Cassy from Uncle Tom's Cabin.
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