This month's book, to be discussed over lunch at the lovely Meg's house, is Dirt Music by Tim Winton. I really enjoyed it. I have this strange thing about Tim Winton - even though I've enjoyed everything I've read of his (which is not a lot - a collection of short stories, and Dirt Music), I classify him in my head as a difficult writer. Which is pretty silly of me, given that I love the way he writes. Dirt Music was wonderfully lyrical.
Speaking of which, Tim Winton released a companion CD to the novel. From the description on the cover, "A loose term, ‘dirt music’ is described by Tim Winton through the character of Luther Fox who says in the novel, 'Anythin you could play on a verandah. You know, without electricity. Dirt music.'" It's actually a very cool collection of what I'd call country/folk/bluegrass, and I've been listening to it at work all week. I'm not sure what my colleagues think about the faint strains of steel guitars drifting out of my office door, but no-one's complained. So far.
Of course, in my wonderfully organised fashion, I have left the CD itself at work. Thankfully, I had already ripped it to the computer, so now I am forced to burn a copy to take to the Book Group tomorrow. I don't think it's illegal if you're forced to do it, is it? Surely not.
I look forward to discussing Winton's atmospheric prose over lunch with the rest of the Book Group-ees, while the Sensitive New Age Cowpersons play their super-fast version of I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (with banjos!) in the background. Atmospheric indeed.
Celia
2 comments:
Yay!
I have to agree, Celia, that Tim Winton is a lyrical author. I'm curious as to why you classify him as difficult? But perhaps you do that no longer...
What wonderful music the ccompanying CD had.
A note to the other book-groupers: Post, dammit. Just 'cause Celia & I are the only ones addicted to blogging, doesn't mean you all shouldn't become addicted to. Post. Please post.
I protest! I'm not addicted to blogging. It's a hobby, which is completely different.
The difficult thing is because I think of his books as very intense, very much about internal journeys, and therefore requiring a great deal of involvement and thought from the reader. And at least about half the time I prefer my books (the ones read on the train, anyway) to require a little less intense emotional involvement (because crying on the train over your book is really embarassing). Um. But I'm not sure I think this about him anyway. I'd still avoid him for public place reading though.
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