Timothy Leary was an idiot. Yeah, whatever, say what you want about the criminalization of drugs and the injustice of drug laws, he didn’t really careTimothy Leary was an idiot. Yeah, whatever, say what you want about the criminalization of drugs and the injustice of drug laws, he didn’t really care about any of that. He was a well-fed white boy who thought he was a genius. I’m so glad this book resists the urge to hero-worship him. ...more
The author mentions U2’s “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and dismisses it as “not good”. Okay, buddy. Them’s fightin words, but ok.
Little tOkay. I’m annoyed.
The author mentions U2’s “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and dismisses it as “not good”. Okay, buddy. Them’s fightin words, but ok.
Little things like that in this book got under my skin. He relies too much on certain phrases, like a crutch, when he can’t be arsed to find new ways to express ideas. Despite being my age, he comes across as a snobby old guy.
Still, very informative and well-told. I guess. Grrr. ...more
I felt...meh about this one. For some reason, the purple prose annoyed me this time and the descriptions of Greta going about her day felt rote and tiI felt...meh about this one. For some reason, the purple prose annoyed me this time and the descriptions of Greta going about her day felt rote and tired. I waited for this book to come out because I loved the first two so much and I hate that I didn’t love it as much as I expected I would. ...more
Wishy-washy. The author is like, “well, Imperial England was bad, but you know, not like SUPER bad, not like France and stuff” and even though he delvWishy-washy. The author is like, “well, Imperial England was bad, but you know, not like SUPER bad, not like France and stuff” and even though he delves pretty far into British history and gives a lot of specific examples of things, I feel like he wasn’t working from a point of view. This book is long, and I didn’t feel like there wasn’t that much said. ...more
This book was a great start. I think the seventies were the golden age of cinema and was hoping for a thorough examination of the grindhouse b-movie gThis book was a great start. I think the seventies were the golden age of cinema and was hoping for a thorough examination of the grindhouse b-movie genre. It had good information, but was sorely incomplete. There were scattered, brief discussions about a handful of movies. I just wanted more. ...more
I like the idea behind this book. I’m fascinated by what is known as the Lost Generation. Reading about the lives of artists and musicians is interestI like the idea behind this book. I’m fascinated by what is known as the Lost Generation. Reading about the lives of artists and musicians is interesting to me.
So I’m not sure why I didn’t like this more. The end felt rushed, like the author realized he had to be somewhere and had to wrap up the story fast. Also, his stories got confusing. ...more
I must have officially become an Old Fart™️, because I listen to new music and I just can’t get into it. I haven’t listened to pop radio in forever. MI must have officially become an Old Fart™️, because I listen to new music and I just can’t get into it. I haven’t listened to pop radio in forever. Musically, I’m stuck in 1995. Why?
Simon Reynolds posits that there’s really nothing new under the sun. Maybe we’ve just run out of ideas. I appreciate this book mainly as a guide to find new old things. I always enjoy reading Simon; I think he has a great voice. ...more