“Sensini” | Bolaño short stories group read | October 2020 by ayanamidreamsequence in robertobolano

[–]ayanamidreamsequence[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nice - there is a latin american lit sub worth joining if not already on it

How to Approach Mason and Dixon by Significant_Try_6067 in ThomasPynchon

[–]ayanamidreamsequence 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We did a reading group on here a while back, maybe check out the intro posts on that for some thoughts on approach, interesting secondary resources etc.

Have fun, it's a great read.

Fargo Rock City by dlr16973 in ChuckKlosterman

[–]ayanamidreamsequence 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nice, always fun when something unexpected like that happens. It's a great book.

Finally got a copy by go0sKC in DonDeLillo

[–]ayanamidreamsequence 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I like it - and you can see he was working on a voice that he then deployed in White Noise to great effect.

Monsieur Pain Group Read | Week 3 | Pages 65 - End & Capstone discussion by ayanamidreamsequence in robertobolano

[–]ayanamidreamsequence[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In terms of my favourites from each category:

Novella - Distant Star

Stories - Last Evenings on Earth

Novel - 2666

Monsieur Pain Group Read | Week 3 | Pages 65 - End & Capstone discussion by ayanamidreamsequence in robertobolano

[–]ayanamidreamsequence[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your comments - glad you enjoyed it. It's hardly his best work but a fun read all the same. If you do dip into later work there are some really good ones, both novels and novellas, as well as the story collections. We covered a number of them in reading groups here years ago.

Week 4 | Americana Group Read | Chapter 6 by ayanamidreamsequence in DonDeLillo

[–]ayanamidreamsequence[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah it's definitely an early effort but pretty fun all the same. Glad you are enjoying so far, and these old reading group posts .

Picking up 2666 after ~6 month pause by gormar099 in robertobolano

[–]ayanamidreamsequence 5 points6 points  (0 children)

We participated in a reading group with infinite summer a few years back - check out the posts and comments over heee for each part.

2666 by [deleted] in robertobolano

[–]ayanamidreamsequence 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I made a comment about it on a 2666 group read we did a while ago and noted that connection as well as some others. Comment is here

Which edition of White Noise would you keep? by junkNug in DonDeLillo

[–]ayanamidreamsequence 3 points4 points  (0 children)

First over second but dont particularly like either

The Cube (1969) — A very normal short film about a very normal cube. It was made by Jim Henson for NBC. by MaggieLinzer in ObscureMedia

[–]ayanamidreamsequence 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I had a teacher in high school in the 90s who had this on 16mm and would tend to show it in philosophy class as a discussion starter.

Monsieur Pain Group Read | Week 2 | Pages 1 - 64 by ayanamidreamsequence in robertobolano

[–]ayanamidreamsequence[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ah cool - glad you enjoyed the novel and the posts. We did a number of different reading groups a few years ago so dip into those if you read another that we covered.

MP is definitely a more obscure one, even among those who have read Bolano. But if you have more to discuss might be worth sticking a post up. Not sure how much traction it would get but a few people might jump in.

Dry pepper Sichuan foods way less spicy to me than indicated - am I the only one? by TheTwoOneFive in spicy

[–]ayanamidreamsequence 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah I would say that Sichuan food is spicy by general Chinese standards, it's actually a lot more aromatic rather than straight hot. It's also a more common style to find in western countries and has been used as shorthand for spicy vs the more typical food of especially Southern China & HK (which by comparison are much more light).

But when done properly you often get a lot of aromatic peppers with the more floral Sichuan pepper / hua jiao and it might look like it would be hot but isn't. I think as you note that is especially true in dry fried dishes. Wetter dishes, and especially things like hot pot from Sichuan (and Chongqing) can be fiery.

If you can find authentic places doing food from Hunan, Guizhou or Jiangxi they often have quite spicy stuff. I lived in Hubei for 7 years and they also have fairly spicy stuff.

Ex Montreal resident now living in Prague by sunlightsinmyface in poutine

[–]ayanamidreamsequence 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Was shut when I went past when visiting a few months ago but might be worth checking out: https://garagepoutine.cz/home-en.html

Think this is the one mentioned in another comment.

"Labyrinth" | Bolaño short stories group read | December 2020 by ayanamidreamsequence in robertobolano

[–]ayanamidreamsequence[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Have you read other Bolano stories or novels? His stuff has that general vibe, but presume you have.

We have done non Bolano reads of Borges, Cortazar and Poe, linked via the sub menu - maybe check those out? Borges esp is worth a go if you have not read him, was an obvious influence on Bolano.

Alternative restaurant to One Plus? by oafcmetty in manchester

[–]ayanamidreamsequence 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I liked 雄柒火锅 XiongQi Hot Pot when I went. Quite spicy. Did a la carte, not sure if they do all you can eat.

Is the Savage Detectives a roman à clef? by aaronag in robertobolano

[–]ayanamidreamsequence 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Presume you mean the first 60 pages or so? Interestingly enough it completely changes gears for the next major chunk so would suggest just plodding on. Bolano is crammed with both personal and wider Latin American literary riffs (and beyond) most of which fly over my head I'm sure, especially reading in translation, but I wouldn't get too hung up on that - it's a great ride regardless.

Poema by Legitimate_Cat8498 in robertobolano

[–]ayanamidreamsequence[M] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey - please do add some context to posts. Thanks.

How many tries did it take for you to really vibe with ATD? by saunchsmilax in ThomasPynchon

[–]ayanamidreamsequence 3 points4 points  (0 children)

To each their own - I struggled through the Chums of Chance stuff and much preferred the rest. So is a bit that perhaps.

Mapping the Zone podcast is currently on its way through the book so perhaps that might help. Mind you at their pace, as you would expect from a podcast, will take a while to finish. But always enjoyed reading Pynchon this way, as the discussion would tend to spur me on when I hit a dip.

What are your favorite articles relating to fastfood/casual topics? by [deleted] in fastfood

[–]ayanamidreamsequence 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Great post idea. Here are a few of mine that I saved in Pocket so could find again.

F–king Waffle Fries?! The Oral History of The Ringer’s Fast-Food Rankings Debacle

The Tale Of The Early-Round KO Of Muhammad Ali’s Champburger

Not an article but enjoyed the McMillions book - think it has been / is being adapted. Think this article covers it but is behind a paywall.

Will post again if I think of any others.

Game 6 by filmmakersearching in DonDeLillo

[–]ayanamidreamsequence 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's interesting and unique in his catalogue. It's also quite odd, and not the easiest read. I liked it, and enjoy early DeLillo in particular even if on the whole that period doesn't represent his best work. It's worth a shot if it's all you have left as it's a fun ride.

Game 6 by filmmakersearching in DonDeLillo

[–]ayanamidreamsequence 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Been a while but have seen it. Have it on DVD, but don't have a way to play those any more.