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Books- January 2012 edition
Jan. 17th, 2012 06:21 pmWhat's the Matter with Kansas: How Conservatives Won the Heart of America by Thomas Frank- Frank was the founder of The Baffler - a magazine I remember vaguely from the 90s as being liberal and (though it had its moments) pretentious as hell. Still, Kansas is a book that I have read a lot of good things about, and stands as one of the great political books written in the last decade.
I expected that I might like it, but there was a lot more to it than I would have guessed. You could probably guess the main plotline of how the GOP has garnered blue collar support - even to the point that low-income Conservatives actively vote against their own interests.
There is a lot more analysis and history than just what you might expect from a James Carville or Jim Webb. With apologies to at least one reader of this journal who resides there, Frank starts by recounting all the great nutcases Kansas has given us through the years- John Brown, Carry Nation, Operation Rescue, and Fred Phelps to name a few. Frank describes a history of populism and how Kansas has had an unique take it on throughout the years (though, to be fair, it seems applicable to most of the midwest I know). Frank describes the shift of the Kansas Republican meme (moderates like Bob Dole, Alf Landon, and Ike) to the current incarnation (Sam Brownback, Jim Ryun).
This book is a fascinating read filled with a lot of history and local characters that will be new to most. He's certainly liberal and often funny, but Frank is well-researched and avoids any Michael Mooreisms. (To be fair, Frank in his afterword does place much blame on the Clinton-era Democrat party that has abandoned working-class liberalism). The book is fascinating to show how the Religious Right took over the GOP, but eight years later, it makes one think of how the Tea Party is doing much the same and kicking out some established Republicans.
I just touched on the basics, but there is so much more- such as how corporations took advantage of people (Wal-Martization) and the effect that we don't see until it's too late. It's absolutely fascinating. and a book that you will carry around and go back to for many conversations to come.
Fun and Games- by Duane Swierczynski - The first thing that caught my eye about this book was that it had to be an action thriller in the vein of Elmore Leonard or Carl Hiaasen. The second thing was all the quotes from comics guys recommending this book like Ed Brubaker and Brian Azzaarello. Apparently, Swierczynski's day job is at Marvel comics. i didn't know this. (Since then, I have picked up DC's Bird of Prey relaunch written by Swierczynski- it's solid).
This book is a lot of fun. It is like Elmore Leonard but cranked up to 11. It is hip-as-hell, edgy, and adrenaline fuelled. If it reminds me of anyone, it's Quentin Taratino. Still, Swierczynski is amazingly original. For all he may remind you of Leonard, Hiaasen, Ellroy, Tarantino or Garth Ennis, he has a style that is all his own. It's all based in reality (insomuch as the movie Crank is grounded in reality.
The problem with a book like this is whether it runs out of steam after 50 pages. Games doesn't. It generally works from beginning to end, and any problems I had with it were very minor. It feels like a movie, and I can't imagine it not being optioned. Swierczynski is quite a talent and someone I will be checking out again.
I expected that I might like it, but there was a lot more to it than I would have guessed. You could probably guess the main plotline of how the GOP has garnered blue collar support - even to the point that low-income Conservatives actively vote against their own interests.
There is a lot more analysis and history than just what you might expect from a James Carville or Jim Webb. With apologies to at least one reader of this journal who resides there, Frank starts by recounting all the great nutcases Kansas has given us through the years- John Brown, Carry Nation, Operation Rescue, and Fred Phelps to name a few. Frank describes a history of populism and how Kansas has had an unique take it on throughout the years (though, to be fair, it seems applicable to most of the midwest I know). Frank describes the shift of the Kansas Republican meme (moderates like Bob Dole, Alf Landon, and Ike) to the current incarnation (Sam Brownback, Jim Ryun).
This book is a fascinating read filled with a lot of history and local characters that will be new to most. He's certainly liberal and often funny, but Frank is well-researched and avoids any Michael Mooreisms. (To be fair, Frank in his afterword does place much blame on the Clinton-era Democrat party that has abandoned working-class liberalism). The book is fascinating to show how the Religious Right took over the GOP, but eight years later, it makes one think of how the Tea Party is doing much the same and kicking out some established Republicans.
I just touched on the basics, but there is so much more- such as how corporations took advantage of people (Wal-Martization) and the effect that we don't see until it's too late. It's absolutely fascinating. and a book that you will carry around and go back to for many conversations to come.
Fun and Games- by Duane Swierczynski - The first thing that caught my eye about this book was that it had to be an action thriller in the vein of Elmore Leonard or Carl Hiaasen. The second thing was all the quotes from comics guys recommending this book like Ed Brubaker and Brian Azzaarello. Apparently, Swierczynski's day job is at Marvel comics. i didn't know this. (Since then, I have picked up DC's Bird of Prey relaunch written by Swierczynski- it's solid).
This book is a lot of fun. It is like Elmore Leonard but cranked up to 11. It is hip-as-hell, edgy, and adrenaline fuelled. If it reminds me of anyone, it's Quentin Taratino. Still, Swierczynski is amazingly original. For all he may remind you of Leonard, Hiaasen, Ellroy, Tarantino or Garth Ennis, he has a style that is all his own. It's all based in reality (insomuch as the movie Crank is grounded in reality.
The problem with a book like this is whether it runs out of steam after 50 pages. Games doesn't. It generally works from beginning to end, and any problems I had with it were very minor. It feels like a movie, and I can't imagine it not being optioned. Swierczynski is quite a talent and someone I will be checking out again.
