tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4193334913733210326.post2743242839987843934..comments2024-03-24T07:53:37.246-04:00Comments on J.M. DeMatteis's CREATION POINT: STOP ME BEFORE I LIST AGAINUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4193334913733210326.post-72542747847701842052010-02-07T17:34:18.773-05:002010-02-07T17:34:18.773-05:00When you get around to reading it, let me know wha...When you get around to reading it, let me know what you think!J.M. DeMatteishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04293848326241642685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4193334913733210326.post-20449615571142512042010-02-07T15:43:12.325-05:002010-02-07T15:43:12.325-05:00Thanks! The Garnett's actually one of the top ...Thanks! The Garnett's actually one of the top two I've sampled so far, so I'll go ahead and pick it up next time I'm at the bookstore.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4193334913733210326.post-69738136212825573642010-02-07T12:33:03.608-05:002010-02-07T12:33:03.608-05:00I've read (and re-read) the classic Constance ...I've read (and re-read) the classic Constance Garnett translation; but I know that there have been many other translations since that have (allegedly) been truer to Dostoyevsky's language and intent. I haven't read any of those -- I probably should! -- so I can't recommend one over the other.<br /><br />All that said, the Garnett translation still packs an incredible punch.J.M. DeMatteishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04293848326241642685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4193334913733210326.post-72366321205299236182010-02-07T12:01:42.097-05:002010-02-07T12:01:42.097-05:00I've been trying to get into the Brothers K fo...I've been trying to get into the Brothers K for a week now, and have been reading the first few chapters of different translations, and still don't think I found one I'd prefer over the other. Any recommendations?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4193334913733210326.post-91963277790908179132010-01-11T09:59:53.147-05:002010-01-11T09:59:53.147-05:00Will do!
DavidWill do!<br /><br />DavidAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4193334913733210326.post-22810849227196148182010-01-11T09:56:50.452-05:002010-01-11T09:56:50.452-05:00Let me know what you think, David.Let me know what you think, David.J.M. DeMatteishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04293848326241642685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4193334913733210326.post-63890665788963887052010-01-11T09:54:44.796-05:002010-01-11T09:54:44.796-05:00I think you'll love Hawthorne.
I checked my ...I think you'll love Hawthorne. <br /><br />I checked my local library's website today and they have Vonnegut's GOD BLESS YOU, MR. ROSEWATER. With any luck I'll have it in my hands this week. <br /><br />DavidAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4193334913733210326.post-1382077345233454622010-01-11T09:41:02.288-05:002010-01-11T09:41:02.288-05:00Never read any Hawthorne, David -- but I'll go...Never read any Hawthorne, David -- but I'll go in search of the magic. Thanks for the recommendation!J.M. DeMatteishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04293848326241642685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4193334913733210326.post-24710398592089032782010-01-11T09:37:34.515-05:002010-01-11T09:37:34.515-05:00I'd be curious to know if you're also a fa...I'd be curious to know if you're also a fan of Hawthorne. MOBY DICK aside, I prefer him to Melville, not so much because of THE SCARLET LETTER as for his short stories. I think "The Birthmark" and "Young Goodman Brown" are my favorites. <br /><br />For anyone who's interested, most of his short stories are available online at no cost. Just type "Nathaniel Hawthorne" and it's bound to lead you somewhere magical. And if you want to read his works in print, I recommend TWICE TOLD TALES. <br /><br />DavidAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4193334913733210326.post-87904185328105669902010-01-11T09:08:25.787-05:002010-01-11T09:08:25.787-05:00Here's the problem with lists, Sam: there'...Here's the problem with lists, Sam: there's always some favorite (or ten favorites) that are left off. I totally love HAROLD AND MAUDE. I've seen it many, many times; in fact, I've been thinking about it lately because I want to show it to my daughter, who's 15 and just the right age for such a perfectly demented, wise and compassionate movie.<br /><br />Also -- if there was ever a movie made of MOONSHADOW, I'd demand that the director get a time machine (easy enough, right?), travel back to the early 1970's and abduct Bud Cort...because Cort, in the Harold era, was/is absolute pitch-perfect casting for Moon. You can also find a direct link between Harold's banjo and Moon's flute.J.M. DeMatteishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04293848326241642685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4193334913733210326.post-90440490766263994912010-01-10T20:16:16.384-05:002010-01-10T20:16:16.384-05:00Thanks for sharing your favorite entertainment wit...Thanks for sharing your favorite entertainment with us! I now have some reading and watching to do. It'll probably be a while before I read "The Brothers K" though (I'm so used to reading comic books). I was just curious as to whether or not you've seen Harold and Maude? I thought for sure when I was running down your favorite movies list I would find it (don't ask me why). If you have seen it, what are your thoughts on it? Thanks!<br /><br />SamAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4193334913733210326.post-21650603552302449732010-01-08T14:47:21.331-05:002010-01-08T14:47:21.331-05:00With any luck, I'll have seen DISTRICT 9 by th...With any luck, I'll have seen DISTRICT 9 by the time you've read TILL WE HAVE FACES.<br /><br />DavidAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4193334913733210326.post-25256335771179527642010-01-08T14:13:47.970-05:002010-01-08T14:13:47.970-05:00I've put it on my "books to read" li...I've put it on my "books to read" list, David. (Oh, no: not another list!)J.M. DeMatteishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04293848326241642685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4193334913733210326.post-17468674775143451642010-01-08T14:05:46.751-05:002010-01-08T14:05:46.751-05:00You're very welcome.
If you do read it, I...You're very welcome. <br /><br />If you do read it, I'd love to know what you think! <br /><br />DavidAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4193334913733210326.post-11406170855689270712010-01-08T13:26:36.158-05:002010-01-08T13:26:36.158-05:00Thanks for the info about Lewis, David. Fascinati...Thanks for the info about Lewis, David. Fascinating stuff. I'll go take a look at TIL WE HAVE FACES on Amazon right now.J.M. DeMatteishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04293848326241642685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4193334913733210326.post-11588454814140538862010-01-08T13:12:57.813-05:002010-01-08T13:12:57.813-05:00I'm honored, humbled and truly glad to offer y...I'm honored, humbled and truly glad to offer you any insight I can into KLH. <br /><br />As for Lewis, I can't deny there are strains of sexism and racism running through his early stories (I seem to recall the villains in Narnia were dark-skinned), but I know from reading most of his fiction and apologetic work that he was very much opposed to imperialism. If fact, one of the things he said he was most proud of is that his PERELENDRA trilogy might be the first sci-fi novels to examine the corrupting influence of humans on alien culture.<br /><br />Lewis also took great delight in THE VEDAS and THE UPANISHADS, as well as many other Eastern influences, though his philosophical outlook was primarily influenced by the ultimate Westerner Plato. <br /><br />If you ever get the opportunity, I'd recommend TIL WE HAVE FACES--his final and best work. It's a stunning retelling of the Cupid and Psyche myth. I'll never give away the ending, but I think you'd very much appreciate the themes of duality running throughout. (It's also fairly short!) I'd argue it's like the BROOKLYN DREAMS' to his Narnian MOONSHADOW. <br /><br />It would definitely be on my top ten!<br /><br />And working with Romita would be the highest honor. I tend to think he's primarily responsible for the kind of Spider-Man most people think of today, much like Curt Swan's deeply felt influence on Superman. <br /><br />DavidAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4193334913733210326.post-55691865008921434952010-01-08T12:38:37.623-05:002010-01-08T12:38:37.623-05:00Your insight regarding KRAVEN and MOBY DICK is pre...Your insight regarding KRAVEN and MOBY DICK is pretty amazing, David...and true. Not that I'm IN ANY WAY comparing a Spider-Man story with one of the masterpieces of Western literature; just that what you say about making unknown forces tangible is so on the money. And, honestly, I'd never really thought about it before; so thanks for enlightening me about my own work!<br /><br />When I re-read the Narnia books a few years back, I was put off by some hints of racism and an unhealthy dose of Western arrogance that I'd never really noticed before; but, even with that, the series remains one of my all-time favorites. The magic and mystery of Narnia itself transcends its authors shortcomings.<br /><br />Back in the 90's, I had a chance to collaborate with John Romita, Sr. on a 10 page Spider-Man story for a short-lived book called WEB- SPINNERS. It was an honor, and an incredible pleasure, working with one of my comic book heroes. And, of course, he knocked it out of the park.J.M. DeMatteishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04293848326241642685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4193334913733210326.post-80334776361484131822010-01-08T12:25:22.826-05:002010-01-08T12:25:22.826-05:00JMD,
Wow--a lot of great ground to cover!
THE B...JMD, <br /><br />Wow--a lot of great ground to cover!<br /><br />THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV is indeed a masterpiece on every level. A detective story, a love story, a character study, and to paraphrase a line from BROOKLYN DREAMS, it's a story about God. <br /><br />MOBY DICK is incredible. I love the philosophical musings, though I get bogged down in the overlong descriptions of whaling. I much prefer allegory and irony to actual whaling. And the concept of a man so obsessed he's willing to forsake all duty to his crew and his masters is a well that's been tapped often over the years but never exhausted. <br /><br />In fact, I think there's a comparison to be made with KRAVEN'S LAST HUNT. Both appear, on the surface at least, to be tales of revenge. Dig a little deeper and it turns out to be less about the object being pursued than the attempt to make unknown forces tangible. <br /><br />I devoured THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA when I was seven. I re-read THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE a year ago and it still holds up. I got a kick out of something I missed the first time around--a book sitting on Tumus' shelf titled IS MAN A MYTH?<br /><br />THE TWILIGHT ZONE is the greatest anthology series ever. This show blew my young mind and opened new worlds in the afternoon re-runs. "IT'S A COOKBOOK!!!"<br /><br />WRATH OF KHAN might be the first movie I saw in theaters. I watched this again a few weeks ago and found it's still every bit as good as it was then--and in fact, the experience has deepened for me as I've grown. <br /><br />I've always preferred Romita's Spider-Man to Ditko's--but then my experience was shaped by Stern, DeFalco, Mantlo, Conway (his WOS and SSM runs), and some guy who goes by his initials!<br /><br />Best,<br /><br />DavidAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4193334913733210326.post-20293242404638042232010-01-08T11:54:20.651-05:002010-01-08T11:54:20.651-05:00About ten years ago, Rob, I was away at a spiritua...About ten years ago, Rob, I was away at a spiritual retreat and discovered a 1940's edition of LOST HORIZON in the library there. Every night I'd get into bed and read, completely transported to Shangri-La. I'm also inordinately fond of Frank Capra's movie version.<br /><br />CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT, like other Welles works, is caught up in some kind of legal nightmare. I was able to buy a VHS copy some years back and I suspect there are DVDs to be found out there. It's a shame that this movie hasn't been widely seen: it really is his masterpiece.<br /><br />Re: BLOOD ON THE TRACKS. There's a line from the album that I quote all the time and it gets truer every year: "Time is a jet plane, it moves too fast."J.M. DeMatteishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04293848326241642685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4193334913733210326.post-83445795875663886592010-01-08T00:04:52.813-05:002010-01-08T00:04:52.813-05:00Cool-o bunch of lists!
Books: Lost Horizon is my ...Cool-o bunch of lists!<br /><br />Books: <i>Lost Horizon</i> is my 2nd favorite book of all time, glad to see it on your list!<br /><br />TV: <i>I, Claudius</i> totally rules.<br /><br />Movies: <i>Chimes at Midnight</i> is top-flight Welles. How is this not on DVD?<br /><br />Music: While I think I love Bob Dylan more than you, I agree <i>Blood on the Tracks</i> is tops. The best romance/love/breakup album, full stop.<br /><br />Laughs: I, too, love Abbott & Costello! I watch <i>Buck Privates</i> every so often and I laugh every time.<br /><br />For what its worth, I'm digging these lists of yours.rob!https://www.blogger.com/profile/17556471244882205031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4193334913733210326.post-73875949045284961852010-01-07T20:20:41.676-05:002010-01-07T20:20:41.676-05:00Hey, Jeff, welcome back. Glad to hear life's i...Hey, Jeff, welcome back. Glad to hear life's in a good place for you.<br /><br />Re: Ben Reilly. The story I did was a short one, but it was interesting opening that door. He's one character I really love; there are so many more Ben stories that can be told -- and I'd love to tell a few. Something a little longer and deeper than a 10 pager would be nice, too.<br /><br />Keep checking in. All the best -- JMDJ.M. DeMatteishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04293848326241642685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4193334913733210326.post-64224634487848867752010-01-07T20:00:17.638-05:002010-01-07T20:00:17.638-05:00Happy 2010, JM! I was a regular on yer Amazon boa...Happy 2010, JM! I was a regular on yer Amazon board but haven't posted on this one til now (and you thought you'd escaped!). Hope this year/decade brings you Amazement and Wonder - none of that "shock and awe" junk in the post W era. It wows me that you're doing semi-regular Spider-Man writing again- and some Ben Reilly stuff at that! The spins and twirls of life often bring us back to some things again and again...<br />Hope to find you often at this little corner of the 'net. My mid-life career crisis resolved itself nicely (Craigslist is magic!) and I'm celebrating my 5th year in New Hampshire after 2 decades in DC! Be well and keep the sweet words afloat!<br />JeffJeff Zoslawnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4193334913733210326.post-87914283954514048482010-01-07T18:12:27.930-05:002010-01-07T18:12:27.930-05:00Glad we're on the same page about many of thes...Glad we're on the same page about many of these things, Daniel. Nice to know there are like-minded souls out there reading this.J.M. DeMatteishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04293848326241642685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4193334913733210326.post-17995221689523141222010-01-07T15:57:12.743-05:002010-01-07T15:57:12.743-05:00Ray Bradbury is one of the one greatest science fi...Ray Bradbury is one of the one greatest science fiction/fantasy writers, nay one of the best writers period, out there. I like his Martain Chronicles the best.<br /><br />Thats a great children's book list. I especially like the first Wrinkle and the Golden Compass books.<br /><br />Love 'This Man, This Monster'. When I read a reprint of that (the first time I'd read it), thats when I started liking Kirby. Also really like his New Gods.<br /><br />I like a lot the movies on your two lists there. <br /><br />Love the Rod Serling Twilight Zone. Its hard to beat that!<br /><br />Also, the Beatles are my favorite too. Like a lot of those other artists you name also.<br /><br />Good lists. :)Daniel Fugatehttp://roland19.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.com