SHAY-bahn

Michael Chabon is doing a Sunday serial in the Times Magazine called "Gentlemen of the Road". The first chapter is online as an .mp3 with Chabon narrating. I'm of two minds about authors reading their works aloud. (On tape, at least, rather than in a live reading.) Clearly, they're the authorities on what exactly it's supposted to sound like, but at the same time, sometimes voice actors and the like just read better. I adore Chabon's writing, but honestly, I'm sort of disappointed in his voice. Next time they put up an audio, I'm going to try listening before I read the passage to myself; maybe that way I won't have such a strong idea of what I think it sounds like.

At least I now know how officially to pronounce his name, though...

Because they have quality.

Someone posed the question to me the other day of if I were in Fahrenheit 451, what book would I want to be?

Aside from now wanting to read Fahrenheit 451 over again, I’m torn. My flat-out favorite, Grapes of Wrath (which has the bonus of also being a flat-out classic)? Something newer, like The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay? Something controversial like The Satanic Verses? What about a kid’s book like The Phantom Tollbooth or Tom Sawyer, since you couldn’t pass something like Ulysses on to the next generation of book-people-in-the-forest until they’re older and, in theory, you’d want them to develop a love of books, too? Should someone remember all the Golden Books so that there’s something to read (say?) aloud to the kiddies before bed?

And speaking of Ulysses, what if no one in the forest liked it? Does someone have to be responsible for remembering a classic for classic’s sake? Because I don’t know what I would do with myself if I had that book knocking around in my head the rest of my life.

Could I remember a few shorter books (The War of the Worlds, Of Mice and Men, Candide) instead of one long one? Is that allowed? Perhaps I'm overthinking this.

Steinbeck: Travels with Charley in Search of America

I love Steinbeck. I love traveling. And I particularly love dogs. Thus, Travels with Charley is perhaps my new favorite book. Honestly, though, it’s a great read and a quick one. I’ve always wanted to travel around the country, and what better way to do it than through the eyes of a really incredible author? (Although I’ll cop to initially being a little disappointed that he took his trip in an RV. I had an image of Steinbeck traveling Kerouac-style, but to be fair, he was 58 at the time, so I suppose I don’t blame him.)

Steinbeck sets out on his 3-month trip because he feels he’s lost touch with America, “lost the flavor and taste and sound of it,” and he hopes to reacquaint himself with his country. He takes along Charley, his blue poodle, for company. Overall, he paints a beautiful and respectful picture of the country and its inhabitants, but Steinbeck doesn’t shirk from the kind of insightful social commentary that characterizes his other works, and that’s what makes this more than just a fluffy travel book. His trip took place in the 1960’s, and his recounting of his experiences in the South vividly characterize the racial tension of the time; he makes no bones about showing the rough edges of the people and places he encounters.

Travels with Charley is a really worthwhile read, especially if you’re already familiar with and enjoy Steinbeck’s writing. It’s beautifully written, tells a great story, and if that weren’t enough, it has a dog who says “Ftt.”