It's been a while since the last book club blog entry. I was about to apologise until I was remembered I was the only one willing to do it, so to hell with all of you.
So yikes! June hits and it's the first entry for the year. I suppose there have only been two other meetings this year and I missed one of them and dropped the ball on the other one, so hopefully this sees us back on track.
So this month was hosted by Chris Rogers at his new apartment, much my chagrin (it was previously across the street from me and I had big plans to get loaded and stumble home) In the end I was driven by Lisa so the option for heavy drinking was still available, but it turns out I might not quite be the drunkard I though I was.
In attendance was Chris (of course), Lisa, Mike, Lien, myself and first timer Andrea. Hats off to her for making it despite her deep felt shame over not reading the book. As it turned out only Chris and I had read the book, so our new, disgraced recruit was in good company with the others.
Chris opened the discussion by giving an overview of the Black Postcards by singer/songwriter Dean Wareham on his life and times with the bands Galaxie 500 and Luna. He read from the first page which everyone found quite titillating. Wareham quotes an interview with his former band mate who expresses shock and horror over an incident where it seems that Dean has arranged with the sound and lighting people to have a spotlight on him at an opportune moment during an LA show with bigwigs in the audience. When I read this, I thought I was up for a rollicking good time of famous rock n' roll cuntism, but alas, he was never that conniving as the story went on.
Nonetheless, without that little teaser ever coming into fruition, both Chris and I reported great enjoyment of the book despite me never having heard of Dean Wareham, Galaxie 500 or Luna and Chris believing them to be a boring band. It's a good rock n' roll also ran story detailing some of the trials and misadventures of an almost successful band. Since we all in the club tend to be music fans, it prompted a lot of discussion and questions and general understanding of the plight of the protagonist.
Chris recalled the hilarious story of after a show one night in Majorca, Spain, Dean hooked up with a hottie he'd been eyeing from the stage. She was hanging around after the show, so he went home with her, and rolled around with her for a while. The following morning, she asked him if he would like her to sing him her favourite song. He said "sure", only to have her whisper in his ear the lyrics to "More Than Words" by Extreme. Gah!
The book conversation wrapped up soon after and we went on to tell Andrea more about book club and the frequency of reading. Funnily enough, further discussion (somewhat) ensued on the topic of Music, The Brain and Ecstasy from our December meeting and previous blog entry. Lien talked at length about an HBO documentary she saw about a deaf couple who excelled in life, raised a family but then went for cochlear implants in their 60s. I was really impressed that we got through the whole conversation without anyone mocking deaf talk. I must admit, I came close. I also checked in on Lien's ear attack which she had experienced before that other meeting and was delighted to hear that it was much better, though she still can hear some ringing in certain circumstances.
We also discussed learning French, broken English, boxing and cunts, pussies and bitches. I think that, not despite all that, but because of it, Andrea is willing to come back.
Next month will be hosted by Mike Hensel and the book will be...Nicholas and the Gang by Rene Goscinny which should be available at Skylight soon!
Until next time...
