Comments on: Intriguing reading from 2005 http://www.vagablogging.net/intriguing-reading-from-2005.html Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:14:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: michael brewster http://www.vagablogging.net/intriguing-reading-from-2005.html/comment-page-1#comment-799 michael brewster Sun, 15 Jan 2006 21:37:57 +0000 http://qs1937.pair.com/users/bootlabs/vagablogging.net/_wp/intriguing-reading-from-2005.html#comment-799 I first read O'Brien back in 1992, I was given that book by a nice girl from Texas while I was living far too briefly in Seattle. The blurring of nonfiction and fiction intrigued me, and interestingly I am a fan of Kundera, who attacks a similar autobiographical narrative in his writings, though he would argue that his life is separate and distinct from his fiction. I certainly respect that idea, but still like to see Kundera and O'Brien along with James Joyce and Hunter S. Thompson on that broad spectrum of autobiography/nonfiction/fiction. Be that as it may, I surfed over here after reading your Andorra article and thinking I had discovered the new Douglas Adams. You have an excellently sardonic wit (and not snarky in the "went-out-in-1997" way) that I enjoy. I ordered a copy of Vagabonding hoping you are true to your article-writing style in the longer form. I also had occasion to read your "The Beach"-storming article in Salon. There are many instances in my life where I conceive of these ideas- grand gestures or small, simple challenges- that mean something, but cannot be explained to others as succinctly as I'd like, or with the effect of rallying them to my side. However, I did drive 5,000 miles from Buffalo to Kenai because my friend Tim asked what I was doing for the summer and not having a better option, allowed him to persuade me to go with a single word ("Alaska"). I think it was my field trip to William Seward's House in Fourth Grade's fault. please continue to travel and write in good grace... I first read O’Brien back in 1992, I was given that book by a nice girl from Texas while I was living far too briefly in Seattle. The blurring of nonfiction and fiction intrigued me, and interestingly I am a fan of Kundera, who attacks a similar autobiographical narrative in his writings, though he would argue that his life is separate and distinct from his fiction. I certainly respect that idea, but still like to see Kundera and O’Brien along with James Joyce and Hunter S. Thompson on that broad spectrum of autobiography/nonfiction/fiction.

Be that as it may, I surfed over here after reading your Andorra article and thinking I had discovered the new Douglas Adams. You have an excellently sardonic wit (and not snarky in the “went-out-in-1997″ way) that I enjoy. I ordered a copy of Vagabonding hoping you are true to your article-writing style in the longer form.

I also had occasion to read your “The Beach”-storming article in Salon. There are many instances in my life where I conceive of these ideas- grand gestures or small, simple challenges- that mean something, but cannot be explained to others as succinctly as I’d like, or with the effect of rallying them to my side. However, I did drive 5,000 miles from Buffalo to Kenai because my friend Tim asked what I was doing for the summer and not having a better option, allowed him to persuade me to go with a single word (“Alaska”). I think it was my field trip to William Seward’s House in Fourth Grade’s fault.

please continue to travel and write in good grace…

]]> By: Steve Hill http://www.vagablogging.net/intriguing-reading-from-2005.html/comment-page-1#comment-798 Steve Hill Tue, 03 Jan 2006 19:18:57 +0000 http://qs1937.pair.com/users/bootlabs/vagablogging.net/_wp/intriguing-reading-from-2005.html#comment-798 One of my favorite books for 2005 is Travel Writing by Don George featuring a three page interview with you. I had to check out your site since your points were the most sagacious. I've been encourged by others to try travel writing as the new career I'm looking for but my wife would prefer something that actually makes a little money. By the way, Catch-22 is one of my favorite books but Heller's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?link_code=ur2&tag=steephilltv-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&path=external-search%3Fsearch-type=ss%26keyword=0684839741%26index=blended" rel="nofollow">"Good as Gold"</a> is right up there as well. It's not as meticulously written but contains even better satire. If you've got some time to kill then check out my <a href="http://www.steephill.tv" rel="nofollow">cycling travelogue. The <a href="http://www.steephill.tv/galleries/2005/high-pyrenees/" rel="nofollow">French Pyrenees</a> series has been the most popular. I break a lot of travel writing "rules", but I don't really care since I started the site for my own amusement.</a> One of my favorite books for 2005 is Travel Writing by Don George featuring a three page interview with you. I had to check out your site since your points were the most sagacious. I’ve been encourged by others to try travel writing as the new career I’m looking for but my wife would prefer something that actually makes a little money.

By the way, Catch-22 is one of my favorite books but Heller’s “Good as Gold” is right up there as well. It’s not as meticulously written but contains even better satire.

If you’ve got some time to kill then check out my cycling travelogue. The French Pyrenees series has been the most popular. I break a lot of travel writing “rules”, but I don’t really care since I started the site for my own amusement.

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