Better Than Friday - 104 (Patreon)

Gooood afternoon everyone, hope you're all doing well. 

Finishing up Josep Pla's 'Saltwater'. 

Hope you're reading something great this weekend, thanks as always for your support. 

1. Book I'd Like to Read - The Salamander and Other Gothic Tales by Vladimir Odoevsky 

I mean, c'mon, is that not the RADdest title for a Russian collection of Gothic stories?

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The Salamander and Other Gothic Tales contains eight stories by Vladimir Odoevsky (1804-69). These include The Salamander, The Cosmorama, and The Sylph, Odoevsky's three main metaphysical tales. The collection as a whole represents some of the best of Russian Romantic fiction from the first half of the nineteenth century. This is the first English edition of Odoevsky's work to be published since 1965 and six of the tales are here translated for the first time.

- Amazon

2. Ali Farka Touré with Ry Cooder 

I've been a fan of Ry Cooder but Ali Farka Touré is a great new listen for me. 

3. Upon recommendation from patron and friend Josh - Classics of American Literature

*Just to note - There are some weird audio skips in the file.

I'm currently working my way through this on my walks (All 43 Hours) and enjoying it.  

Arnold Weinstein is great, I first discovered him while researching Faulkner's 'As I Lay Dying'. 

Don't be fooled by the stuffy intro music - This guy is great. 

Hell of a mental library. He knows his stuff. 

Currently on an Emerson chapter. Got the following quote from Weinstein. 

"Shakespeare will never be made by the study of Shakespeare" - Emerson

Isn't that fantastic? 

4. My favorite coffee mug.  

These always feel overpriced but My God does it keep my coffee hot much longer than all my ceramic mugs. I use it every day. 

5. Fantastic interview with Roberto Bolaño - With English Subs 

Can't remember how I came across this but if it was someone who sent it to me Thank You very much. Excellent interview. Terrific writer. 

When the sky looks like a painting