An account of the 1974 World Heavyweight boxing championships, in Kinshasa, Zaire, between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. It is beautiful, I absolutely loved it. I realize that many of you may not be convinced. I know, I have never been a fan of boxing. Even with my martial arts background (truth: childhood karate classes) I generally don't feel drawn to any sport that involves punching, kicking, flipping, spitting, sweating (in shiny shorts)...but seriously. It's worth seeking out even if you've never followed the sport or read anything by Norman Mailer. And once you are done reading it, consider reading more Norman Mailer!
"The scene at the Ping-Pong table and the pool, the scene under every umbrella and before every sunbather, the mood in the lobby and on the elevator was the rich even luxuriant power of Foreman's fist. He did not just hit hard, he hit in such a way that the nucleus of his opponent's will was reached. Fission began. Consciousness exploded. The head smote the spin with a lighting bolt and the legs came apart like falling walls."
LOVE IN INFANT MONKEYS by Lydia Millet
I loved so much of this book. It was bizarre and funny and sad. I haven't been so interested in an author since Rivka Galchen's ATMOSPHERIC DISTURBANCES. I kept flipping to the book jacket to stare at the Authors photo and wonder about her fascinating brain. Its really a wild and curious collection. Highly recommended.
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO by Stieg Larrson
I read much of this on 11 take offs and landings during our Australian Tour in May. Traveling/Touring can be a bit of a brain drain and especially so when you are faced with an abundance of recycled airplane oxygen and jet lag. I was out of the loop but Tegan filled me in on the folklore building around the now deceased Author and his massively popular trilogy. I loved it. Tegan, don't be mad, I've got some bad news, I think I left it in a hotel room somewhere in Western Australia...
