Never heard of him until just now - a bit of research shows he wrote The Sot-Weed Factor - that looks like an interesting book, perhaps I should read it.
Due to the geography of Maryland the state, as small as it is, is essentially three different, damn-near separate regions. Going to the Eastern Shore was an adventure, a trip to an exotic world, where Cambridge and the Wye oak were, where H. Rap Brown lived. Ocean City, the flat trackless traces of endless farm land, in two words, the Delmarva peninsula.
I grew up and lived in the central part of the state, with monadnocks, the front range of the Appalachians, no natural lakes and the clustered spires green walled by the hills of Maryland.
Further to the west the state narrows down to just 3 miles wide, between PA and the Potomac river. West of there - strange things go on. It is indistinguishable from West-By-God save by the addresses.
I was talking to a friend yesterday about the flag of Maryland. I said I always liked the design of it, but didn't mention the heraldry or Lord Calvert's cross being involved. And today I learn of a book with that very fellow in it. Coincidence?
What were we talking about? Oh yeah, Bildungsroman and Künstlerroman - and Barth is still alive, pushing 90. Well done, Barthy!
I better hie myself to the liberry and gits me muh book.
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Looks Like Gianforte(R) won the election in Montana. Will the UK Guardian learn from their mistakes to keep out of US elections?
"Gianforte" is Italian for "strong John." Trump's middle name.
Pfizer,makers of Preparation H, stock up. Has election Roid Rage boosted sales?
Made it 14 seconds into that one before I remembered just how much I dislike Frank Zappa.
Did I ever mention I saw him play at Johns Hopkins back in '67? Yep, even went up on stage when he invited members of the audience to do so.
Fifty years on I find him annoying but cloying.
"Annoying and cloying" is supposed to be my role here.
Sixty, with all your Maryland lore, are you a fan of John Barth?
Never heard of him until just now - a bit of research shows he wrote The Sot-Weed Factor - that looks like an interesting book, perhaps I should read it.
Due to the geography of Maryland the state, as small as it is, is essentially three different, damn-near separate regions. Going to the Eastern Shore was an adventure, a trip to an exotic world, where Cambridge and the Wye oak were, where H. Rap Brown lived. Ocean City, the flat trackless traces of endless farm land, in two words, the Delmarva peninsula.
I grew up and lived in the central part of the state, with monadnocks, the front range of the Appalachians, no natural lakes and the clustered spires green walled by the hills of Maryland.
Further to the west the state narrows down to just 3 miles wide, between PA and the Potomac river. West of there - strange things go on. It is indistinguishable from West-By-God save by the addresses.
I was talking to a friend yesterday about the flag of Maryland. I said I always liked the design of it, but didn't mention the heraldry or Lord Calvert's cross being involved. And today I learn of a book with that very fellow in it. Coincidence?
What were we talking about? Oh yeah, Bildungsroman and Künstlerroman - and Barth is still alive, pushing 90. Well done, Barthy!
I better hie myself to the liberry and gits me muh book.
"The Sot-Weed Factor" is good but a very long read. I recommend "A Floating Opera"
"The Floating Opera" was Barth's first novel, I think. It has all the freshness of a new voice (1956) that you'd expect.
Just reading the summary of The Sot-Weed Factor reminded me of Candide, yet another long book I have not read.
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