Vox Hunt: Latest Read

Book: Show us the latest book you bought, borrowed or received.

The Shape of Things to Come

I think everyone (save Monteiro) has had enough of the bleakness machine that is The Road, which is literally the last book I bought, borrowed or received.  So instead I'll share the one that's currently occupying my mind on BART, which is Greil Marcus' latest, The Shape of Things to Come.

I just finished the chapter titled "Bill Pullman's Face" which is an extended riff on David Lynch films, esp. Pullman in Lost Highway.  Marcus fans tend to be rabid, because (a) you have to self-select into the crew of people who enjoy cult crit with a lit bent, and (b) then further down into the group who actually enjoy the way he jumps decades and makes connection that no one else in the world would actually imagine.  (Pick up his books on Elvis, Dylan or the Sex Pistols if you haven't read him before.)

Here's a quick excerpt.

Bill Pulman in Lost Highway

The key to Lost Highway is not to look beneath its surface for any kind of secret, but to find its surface, which is almost impossible to do.  It is almost impossible even if it is looking you in the face -- that is, even if the purpose of the movie is to lead you to accept that Bill Pullman's face is looking into yours, or that he is looking out of your own eyes, asking you if you too have not betrayed all the promises you have made to yourself and everyone around you, if you, too, do not deserve the worst you can imagine.

OK, then!  Back to bleakness it is, isn't it.