NB to my fellow anthropologists

[lapsedmodernist]

The middle, un-broken (if you have read it you know what I mean) story of "The Cloud Atlas" is a pretty awesome take on fieldwork and the balancing act between the emic and the etic. If it wasn't in ersatz vernacular (even if a very clever and sophisticated one--I was apprehensive about it after theophile told me about it, but I enjoyed it so much, the delight of the words pruned and twirled inside out)--I would totally assign it to my students.

other things that are awesome about the book--the Fahrenheit 451 shout-out in the dystopian ubercapitalist society story.

how I don't want this book to end.

the birthmark shaped like a comet.

Comments

[angeliska.livejournal.com]

Yes! I found that book in the gift shop of the hotel I was staying in Greece when I was horribly ill- I was dubious of the pink and teal cover, but soon became entirely enmeshed. That David Mitchell, he's damn good. All his others so far are good also- esp. Ghostwritten.
BlackSwanGreen also surprisingly wonderful.

[twotoedsloth.livejournal.com]

I LOVED Ghostwritten! A friend loaned my an advance copy... er, whaddya call those, with the typos still there? I got two hours of sleep last night, so the temporary aphasia is in full swing. Anyway... I read it, loved it, and never heard of it or the author again. Up til now...

[orchid-and-wasp.livejournal.com]

Wow, this sounds amazing, must get.