currently

In the throes of reading Ishmael Reed’s Mumbo Jumbo again.
I’m fascinated by his concept of the trickster (his Neo-Hoodooism) and
his controversial treatment of women.
I think I dig the fact that his writing says – hey – black men get a bad wrap on every front – and I’m going to use satirical methods so that maybe you’ll break out of your daze and see it. But I suppose that tradition doesn’t prove the messenger always takes home the prize. Swift might be a testament to that.

rambling without segues

also reading Cavedweller by Dorothy Allison. Enjoying it less than Bastard Out of Carolina, which still ranks on my personal best ever list.

saw Signs the other night. I was convinced after seeing Unbreakable (not so much the other one with the ghosts) that Shyamalan is genius and after watching his latest release – I’m even more aware of his importance to film tradition. he’s changing the way stories are told on the big screen. foregoing the gratuitous and expected pay offs and money shots to instead tell the build-up. the climax and resolution aren’t what’s important in these films. and I won’t way Signs is perfect. but it’s probably the best thing I’ve seen so far this year.

I promised myself that I’d work on a paper about John Edgar Wideman’s Philadelphia Fire today, but I’ve barely gotten around to reading the thing over. It’s poorly written and needs much attention before I can send it out. Makes me want to pull out the text and read it again. A powerful novel that I’ve enjoyed many times and on many levels.

off to read. you should too.