Mast Books East Village

Right around the corner from where I'm staying until mid-January is Mast Books. I recently stopped in and was impressed by the selection. Dare I use the "c" word and say it's well-curated?

I guess I just did.

Anyway, the books have to be thoughtfully chosen because of the limited space. You can get everything form cheap used titles to fancy collectibles. (I went for the former.) They also had some cool, old-school flyers for Black Flag and other similar shows in a display case. Which seemed prescient considering the last book I read.

Another plus for Mast Books? Open until 10pm. So you can stop in and grab a book when en route to your local. Stick your nose in a book instead of glazing over a smart phone glow.

I picked up two used books:

Martin Amis: The Moronic Inferno and Other Visits to America

Joan Didion: The White Album (Essays)

Both are somewhat united by taking a look at the state of America in the 1970s and 80s. I've read a couple of Amis' books but this will be my first exposure to Didion.

(Martin's father, Kingsley Amis, wrote the best description of a hangover ever, in Lucky Jim.)

Read more about Mast Books.

Our Band Could Be Your Life by Michael Azerrad

Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground, 1981-1991 by Michael Azerrad
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, this is like ten-plus books in one. Each chapter profiles a seminal indie band (The Replacements, Black Flag, Mudhoney, etc.) in exhaustive detail. Lots of funny/crazy/scary stories about a truly meager life on (and off) the road. And, of course, the ever-present issue of major labels, co-opting a scene, and "selling out" arise and are dealt with via hostility, ambivalence, and/or open arms. A must-read for anyone who lived through or is curious about the pre-Nirvana/The Year Punk Broke indie music scene. And for bands I was not familiar with, definitely piqued my curiosity to explore their catalogs.

Cover Distraction Rating: Hmm. Maybe some indie rock girl/boy will find you crushworthy? Or dub a copy of their Beat Happening cassette for you?

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Authority by Jeff VanderMeer

Authority by Jeff VanderMeer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I didn't even think I'd read this book. Book #1 in The Southern Reach Trilogy, Annihilation, started out compelling but became meandering and ponderous. I decided to give Book #2, Authority, a chance and boy am I glad I did. Much more character and dialog-driven. (The main character, Control, is well-fleshed out and complex. He drives the plot admirably.) Very revealing about what really happened to the people who went to Area X and those who came back. It ends on a note of great suspense that makes you very eager to read the final installment.

Cover Distraction Rating: Neon Orange background with a psychotic bunny next to a iPhone with a cracked screen? Yeah, you'll get some looks.

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Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by Caitlin Doughty

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fascinating insights on cremation, death, and dying. Doughty also delves into our American (Western?) aversion to the dead body and how we used to watch over it as part of the mourning process. Now it's whisked away and embalmed or cremated as soon as death arrives.

Cover Distraction Rating: "Lessons from the Crematory" will guarantee that no one will speak to you. Uninterrupted reading.

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Fat City by Leonard Gardner

Fat City by Leonard Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gritty, bleak, and unflinching character study of a town and two boxers. One way down and wallowing in it and the other a bit naive. Seedy Salinas provides the setting. Terse and tense prose that's well-crafted in an distinctly individual style. I'd be interested to see how it turned out as a movie.

Cover Distraction Rating: Nil.

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Metro North: Time to Read

Started a very long commute from Grand Central Station to Mount Kisco. So I'm going to be reading. A lot. Five days a week, there and back. I figure, why not start a blog reviewing each one? I'll also comment on how the cover may or may not invite glances in your direction.