If television seems... well, unchallenging, let's say.

Let's take a second to deal with that, a little. I had perhaps vaguely hoped that I could make a post without videos after the massive emission sitting below, but... well, it's what I've been doing.

Firstly, it's impossible as a reader not to be interested in the idea of trailers for books. In perhaps just five years I see this being far more widespread. The first one I observed succeeded in making me read the book (and even stock it in the store that employs me), but under my own foolish false pretenses. I'm speaking of Patrick deWitt's Ablutions, which I originally thought was written by the animator of the trailer, Carson Mell (who I've featured here before), and then, finally after reading, didn't really care for. Oh. (I'm realizing I should sell it back for credit, better to purchase... well, I suppose Anathem is up there. I'll come back to this.)

Pynchon has a new novel out, with the following trailer.


And again, I've found it vaguely working. I've made a few, half-hearted efforts to read something by the man. Someday, clearly, I'll succeed. Whether it will be this one, I cannot say.



It's not on "The List," though. Perhaps The List isn't correct. The List would better suit my attempt to catalogue what I've recently read (for the purpose of the year-end summary, which was one of my favorite things from last year). No, the to-be-reads are better described as The Stacks.

But the trailers. I'm not sure. Much more informative than a trailer is listening to an author talk. Authors should hopefully have something interesting to say.

[sigh]

Unsurprisingly, they do.




Will Self


Cory Doctorow


Neal Stephenson


Zinn


Zizek


Christopher Hitchens