Welcome to this month's reading group selection. David Von Drehle mentions The Melting Pot , a play by Israel Zangwill, that premiered on Broadway in 1908. At that time theater was accessible to a broad section of the public, not the exclusive domain it has become over the decades. Zangwill carried a hopeful message that America was a place where old hatreds and prejudices were pointless, and that in this new country immigrants would find a more open society. I suppose the reference was more an ironic one for Von Drehle, as he notes the racial and ethnic hatreds were on display everywhere, and at best Zangwill's play helped persons forget for a moment how deep these divides ran. Nevertheless, "the melting pot" made its way into the American lexicon, even if New York could best be describing as a boiling cauldron in the early twentieth century. Triangle: The Fire That Changed America takes a broad view of events that led up the notorious fire, noting the gro
I'd read about Crumb's Bible. I'm assuming it is as mad as he is (and I mean that in a positive way). Did you see the documentary on him in France? He's out there for sure.
ReplyDeleteBut whatever it takes to weather the storm, Gintaras. In the meantime, though, I wouldn't get too drawn into political arguments at the Escape. I miss Donot and Barton, and keep hoping we can lure them over here -- maybe if you asked them? Maybe we can get a different strand going on something of interest to them?
At some point I'll see if we can't get Strether to show up here, too. She has her hands full at the moment -- she's just had a healthy baby boy! -- but maybe we can discuss some Henry James which I think I'm finally ready for (although I did just order the newest non-American Byatt novel which sounds fantastic).
Fortunately all the others I enjoyed talking with at Elba are here at least on occasion. There are some really weird and crazy people over there..... Sort of like bad performance art.
"..... Sort of like bad performance art."
ReplyDeleteThat's a good way of describing it, av. I guess it is the American History thing that keeps some persons from responding, which is why I'm opening it up a bit with these lead topics.
Apparently, Crumb is quite reverent on the subject, from what I've read, not as daring as one would imagine, but I so loved his similarly packaged "Illustrated Crumb" and book on early Blues, Country and Jazz muscians that I felt compelled to add his "Book of Genesis" to my shelf.
You'll have to report back on how you like it -- I just saw illustrations of Adam and Eve who looked quite familiar..... In a profile in the New Yorker maybe? But then he's serious in his way about those characters of his.
ReplyDeleteAs for opening up the conversation, seems like there's a broad field here to consider -- literature, biography, history, public policy, and "current events" for lack of a better term. I still have an entire shelf of "Robert Whelan books" to tackle as well.
With people as widely read as this group, I'm confident we'll come up with a common interest and some books to read together.
Interesting to read about if not read:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/16/books/16garner.html
Graphically, the Wolverton Bible is much more interesting than Crumb's Book of Genesis. I haven't had a chance to read either yet, but it seems Crumb played his latest graphic novel pretty close to the bone, which is a little disappointing.
ReplyDelete