What better way to procrastinate than to read a book? Especially with that infernal Tour de France off the tube, we say leave the set off and pick up a good slab of words. Before recommending a few, we note that in the wake of le grande debacle, Chicken's got his spin on, that verdict on Floyd is still null and void, some who may have soured the soup have left the kitchen, others who decidedly cheated have remained, some reformed and reformed and attempting to bring changes. It's been a banner f'kn summer. On to the poolside pulp. Ryszard Kapuscinski was among the greats of journalism because he transcended the craft. His final book, Travels With Herodotus, is an amazing place to introduce his writing or to pick him up again if he's familiar to you. As a kid he was imported to Bombay from Warsaw by his editors and learned English in India by reading Hemingway - it goes on from there. As a reflection on language, reporting, history; this is writing from someone who deeply lived all of it. Bill Buford, another recommended read with Heat, interviews Kapuscinski here. If rock and roll is your thing, Chris Salewicz has written the book on most of it. From reggae to The Stones, he has turned some fine words. With Redemption Song, his portrait of long time subject and friend Joe Strummer, he has written one of the best music biographies of our time. The Clash were seminal, Joe another transcendent being. This book goes deep. For the richest, sharpest American writing Vonnegut stands alone. Even his quotes are worth long laughter and contemplation. Pick a book, any book by him and you won't be let down. Always ahead of the curve in fiction, William Gibson brings home our round up of summer reading with Spook Country. Using some character types familiar from previous work, he cooks a delicious meal of cutting edge technology and driving suspense, far and away better than the typical spy-world fare on the shelves. Hip, thinking people's fiction. Crack a brew and a page, don't forget to ride. Viva summer!
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Bicycle Film Festival In Chicago
Had a great time at the Bicycle Film Festival's Chicago stop, where Gary Fischer preached the gospel of the bike. Overhead the military might strafed the city in a spectacle of recruitment power. A heady combination, bicycles and killing machines, both handled by expert pilots. Random gatherings from surfing the web on our travels brings us an assortment of links. NASCAR drivers on dope? Why legalizing it won't work. Have the athletes lost out in the fight against doping? The doctor says it's dangerous. David Walsh interviewed. Bad Brains on their space. A skull, daily. On the racing beat. One speed cross. Brought to you by Red Bull, the co-opted homogenized alley cat. Another stupidly over-priced cycling novelty item. Slovakia bans bikes? Or do they belong? Transport is always appropriate. Conscious creativity, centered. Voices of Africa, Africycle and some relief.
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