Balzac

 Winamop has published my short story about French novelist Honored De Balzac. This is the description on the website: read this! 

'Simon King takes a peek into the life of Honore de Balzac, one of France's most prolific novelists (and coffee drinkers). It's called Balzac of course..'

http://www.winamop.com/sk2404.htm

Part seven from a forthcoming book called Fifteen Characters: Volume Two.

Ahoy Facebook #23

 

New acquisitions. 😊

Six books: Goebbels by Peter Longerich, Lenin by Robert Service, Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Champion of Freedom by Conrad Black, Macmillan: 1957-1986 by Alistair Horne, Adenauer: The Father of the New Germany by Charles Williams and Stockhausen: A Biography by Michael Kurtz.

I bought a whole load of biographies (mainly political ones).

The first two are biographies of two tyrants. Goebbels was quite a cultured man (many of the Nazis were) who wrote a couple of unsuccessful novels and completed a doctorate in the humanities. Of course, he later became propaganda minister under the Nazi regime and his most loyal understudy. He was, unsurprisingly, vain and self-obsessed. Lenin, of course, established the Soviet Union, a one-party state, ramped up political repression and killed many of his acolytes. 

Then there are three decent statesmen. FDR brought the USA out of the Great Depression by creating social programs. He was also an effective war-time leader. He is often ranked as one of the best American presidents, alongside Lincoln. Macmillan was prime minister of the UK in the late 50s when the country was becoming more prosperous and claimed that ‘you’ve never had it so good.’ Adenauer was chancellor of Germany after WWII. He was a Christian Democrat and was untainted by Nazi associations during the war. He presided over high economic growth after WWII, which has been called an ‘economic miracle.’

Stockhausen was an eccentric man who wrote eccentric pieces of music which often baffled audiences (hence why I find him appealing).

New acquisitions. 🙂

Six CDs: A Set of Pieces By Charles Ives/Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Up Above my Head by Sister Rosetta Tharpe,The Legend of Blind Joe Death by John Fahey, In the Court of the Crimson King by King Crimson, Aguirre by Popol Vuh and In Praise of Learning by Henry Cow.

New acquisition. 🙂

One book: Julian: Rome's Last Pagan Emperor by Phillip Freeman.

I bought this book about the Roman emperor Julian. His uncle Constantine had made Christianity the official religion. Julian grew up reading the greek and Latin classics and he was an introverted scholar. He thought that the empire had lost its way by embracing Christianity and that it should return to its pagan roots. Once his cousin Constantius II died, Julian seized power. He attempted to revoke Christianity and reinstate paganism, but he failed as Christianity was too entrenched. He ruled for two years and died in the battlefield against Persia.

New acquisitions. 🙂

Six CDs: Wanderer-Fantasie and Fantasie by Franz Schubert/Robert Schumann/Maurizio Pollini, Violin Concerto/Lyric Suite and Three Orchestral Pieces by Alban Berg/Rebecca Hirsch/Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra/Eri Klas, Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima/Cancticum Canticorum Salomonis/De Natura Sonoris Nos. 1 and 2 by Krzysztof Penderecki/Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra/London Symphony Orchestra, Symphony No. 9 'From the New World'/The Firebird Suite by Kazuito Yamashita/Antonin Dvorak/Igor Stravinsky, Larks' Tongues in Aspic by King Crimson and King for a Day, Fool for a Lifetime by Faith No More.

New acquisitions. 🙂

Three CDs: Ballads by Stan Getz, Berkeley 1979 by Tony Williams Lifetime and We Live Here by Pat Metheny.

New acquisitions. 👍

Four coasters: A Hot Rats-themed coaster, A Weasels Ripped my Flesh-themed coaster, a Waka/Jawaka-themed coaster and a Grand Wazoo-themed coaster.

I had a coaster of 'Weasels Ripped my Flesh,' but I spilled that much red wine on it that it ruined it. However, I realised that I could purchase more Frank Zappa-themed coasters, so this is precisely what I did. These are all largely his jazzy albums (Zappa's jazzy albums are generally my favourite albums by him).

Sofia Lindgren has kindly illustrated the cover for my forthcoming novel, 'Digital Papyrus.'

New acquisitions. 👍

Three CDs: 1935-1939 by Django Reinhardt, Fiesta Caliente: Live 76 by Gato Barbieri and Live at the Rainbow Gallery 79 by Anthony Braxton.

New acquisition. 👍

A Prussian helmet.

I like to have artefacts which represent some of my interests. I read some books on European history, so I bought this Prussian helmet.

New acquisitions.

Three CDs: Mirror Man by Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band, At Home by Screaming Jay Hawkins and Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys.

New acquisitions. 🙂

Ten DVDs: Election by Alexander Payne, The Holdovers by Alexander Payne, Scanners by David Cronenberg, The Dead Zone by David Cronenberg, Dead Ringers by David Cronenberg, Crash by David Cronenberg, eXistenZ by David Cronenberg, Spider by David Cronenberg, A History of Violence by David Cronenberg and Cosmopolis by David Cronenberg.

New acquisitions. 🙂

Three books: La historia oculta del régimen militar: Memoria de una época, 1973-1988 by Ascanio Cavallo, Manuel Salazar and Oscar Sepúlveda, La historia oculta de la transición: Memoria de una epoca, 1990-1998 by Ascanio Cavallo and Momentos estelares de la humanidad by Stefan Zweig.

This is a history book about the military dictatorship in Chile. There were terrible human rights abuses during this period and thousands of people were killed and tortured.

The second book is about the return to democracy in the 90s. This was a great decade for Chile, as the economy grew on average by 7% a year, wages rose, poverty was significantly reduced and civil liberties were restored following the demise of the dictatorship. I was there at the time but, being an infant, I wasn't really aware of these things.

My uncle was reading this book when my dad was in Chile. He told him that it was quite similar to the short stories that I write about historical figures, so my uncle let me have it. Plus, I've been aware of Zweig for a long time, but I've never read him, so that's also good.

New acquisitions. 👍

One t-shirt: A Melvins-themed t-shirt.

One CD: Seances by Trevor Dunn's Trio-Convulsant avec Folie a Quatre.

I went to a concert by Melvins' guitarist Buzz Osbourne and Mr. Bungle's bassist Trevor Dunn in Leeds yesterday. It was a great gig. Osbourne played acoustic guitar and sang whilst Dunn played upright bass. Anyway, whilst I was there I bought some of the merchandise. I bought this Melvins-themed t-shirt, which I'll be able to show off next summer. I also bought a CD by Trevor Dunn's group, which mixes free jazz with heavy metal.

New acquisitions. 🙂

Three DVDs: Miller's Crossing by Coen Brothers, O Brother, Where Art Thou by Coen Brothers and A Serious Man by Coen Brothers.

New acquisitions. 🙂

Six books: Decline and Fall by Evelyn Waugh, Scoop by Evelyn Waugh, Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh, Alexander the Great by Philip Freeman, Julius Caesar by Philip Freeman and Hannibal: Rome's Greatest Enemy by Philip Freeman.

Waugh always struck me as a bit stodgy when I was younger, but I want to read him now. He was a non-conformist (I like non-conformists), he wrote classics (classics are often venerated for a reason) and he wrote scathing satires (satire is good).

I like reading about antiquity, so I bought biographies about three of the most iconic figures from antiquity - Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar and Hannibal.

Dostoyevsky

 Winamop has published my short story about the Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky. This is the description on the website: 'Simon King looks at the lives of famous people from the past and this time it's Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Here we find him at a pivotal moment in his life.'

www.winamop.com/sk2403.htm

Part six from a forthcoming book called Fifteen Characters: Volume Two.

Sibelius

 Winamop has published my short story about Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. This is the description on the website: 'Simon King's subject this time is the famed Finnish composer Sibelius. We meet him in his later years with a long and successful career to look back upon.'

http://www.winamop.com/sk2402.htm

Part five from a forthcoming book called Fifteen Characters: Volume Two.

Bartok

 Winamop has published my short story about Hungarian composer Bela Bartok. This is the description on the website: 'Simon King takes a new foray into the life of a notable figure from the past. This time it's the composer Bela Bartok. Who, it turns out, was an early adopter of some cutting-edge technology.'

Part four from a forthcoming book called Fifteen Characters: Volume Two.

http://www.winamop.com/sk2401.htm

Ahoy Facebook #22

 

New acquisitions. 🙂

Seven CDs: Winterrese by Franz Schubert/Alfred Brendel/Matthias Goerne, The Stooges by The Stooges, Starless and Bible Black by King Crimson, Meet the Residents by The Residents, Merciless by Godflesh, Musick to Play in the Dark vol. 1 by Coil and Musick to Play in the Dark vol. 2 by Coil.

New acquisitions. 👍

Three CDs: Take the A Train by Duke Ellington, Head Hunters by Herbie Hancock and Selfless by Godflesh.

New acquisitions. 🙂

Three toy soldiers: A French Napoleonic era soldier, a Prussian soldier and a Napoleonic era Prussian soldier.

I've been reading some books about European history recently, so I thought that it'd be good to have some artefacts/decorations representing this interest. They are two Prussian soldiers and one French soldier. They are either made out of lead or metal.

New acquisitions. 👍

Two records: Blues in my Bottle by Lightnin' Hopkins and Just Blues by Memphis Slim.

New acquisition. 🙂

One book: Justinian: Emperor, Soldier, Saint by Peter Sarris.

Buying this book was a terrible idea because 1) it cost a lot of money and I hardly earn anything and 2) Christmas shopping is coming up. 

However, I own a book about the Byzantine empire which is only about three hundred pages and covers thousands of years. This book is about five hundred pages and covers a shorter period. It is about the emperor Justinian, who built the Hagia Sophia.

New acquisitions. 🙂

Six DVDs: Sunset Boulevard by Billy Wilder, Laurence of Arabia by David Lean, The Graduate by Mike Nichols, The Conformist by Bernardo Bertolucci, Tabu by Miguel Gomes and Embrace of the Serpent by Ciro Guerra.

New acquisitions.

A DVD box set: Alfred Hitchcock DVD box set.

Four glasses.

I received this Alfred Hitchcock box set as a present from my dad. It is comprised of six films (North by Northwest, The Wrong Man, Dial M for Murder, I Confess, Strangers on a Train and Stage Fright).

My sister came over for Christmas with her partner. She brought me these four nice glasses, which have a Chilean city/region printed on them (Atacama, Valparaíso, Santiago and Chiloe).

https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2023/5993530?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2dyWah3trLXx99yDkcMI6fNJHgyAq13NF86bRu1mYrStT5JUTGSG9cRBA_aem_Ae6F6Q-Go9q661y8hbCU5M9j6aOrbbuwmn2ceVBtC1CMksd-sfNOaoiysvTVY5XqW2NSMB10irkxGTQkcOsvYEDz

These are all the books that I read last year (most of them, at least - one of them is missing on here for some reason). 👍

New acquisitions

Six books: a Logico-Philosophicus by Ludwig Wittgenstein, Political Liberalism by John Rawls, Anarchy, State and Utopia by Robert Nozick, Equality by R. H. Tawney, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism and The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes.

In this book, Wittgenstein argues that language and thought represent the world as it is. He argues that the point of philosophy is to clarify problems and that it should not speak on things without sufficient evidence. It was a big influence on the Viennese logical positivists. The book is written as a series of aphorisms. This book is quite obscure and hard to read (I often get lost just reading summaries about it), but I think that it’d be a worthy endeavour to read it even if most of it goes over my head.

Rawls here defends a liberal conception of the good life, in which he argues that government should be neutral about competing conceptions of the good life. He writes as to how people with different political and religious values can peacefully co-exist in a society.

Nozick defends a ‘minimal state’ in this book, in which ‘it is limited to the narrow functions of protection against force, theft, fraud, enforcement of contracts.’ Each time the state does more than this, it violates rights. Any expansion of state power beyond these functions is unjustified for Nozick. He wrote it as a counterargument to Rawls’ ‘A Theory of Justice.’ He is a ‘libertarian’ in the American sense, but he is a lot more respected in academic circles than someone like Ayn Rand (he was a university professor, for one thing).

In this book, Tawney argues against excessive inequalities in class and wealth. He makes the case for public health and education and for the redistribution of wealth. Reading British socialists feels like being lectured by a moralising priest at times (the movement had a lot of links with methodism), but it’s still good to read a classic defence of egalitarianism.

In this classic book, Weber argued that capitalism in northern Europe arose alongside Protestantism. The Protestant work ethic, argues Weber, created the wealth and prosperity in Europe. 

Robert Hughes was chiefly an art critic, but this is a history book. It is about the colonisation of Australia by Britain. It explores how convicts were transported from Britain to Australia. 

I like to look at ideas from across the political spectrum and find value in all of them. If anything, I’m quite indecisive about politics and a I’m bit of an ambiguity. I prefer to be like that than to be rigidly doctrinaire.

New acquisitions. 😊

Four mugs: A mug of The Fall, a John Coltrane-themed mug, a mug Juan Rulfo-themed mug and a James Joyce-themed mug.

Two postcards: Two James Joyce-themed postcards.

I bought a lot of mugs. I bought a mug of The Fall, one of my favourite ‘rock’ groups. It has lyrics from the song ‘Totally Wired’ – ‘I drank a jar of coffee and then I took some of these…’ I bought a John Coltrane-themed mug, which has the album cover ‘Giant Steps’ on it, a marvellous album. I was surprised to find this Juan Rulfo mug online, a great Mexican writer, so I thought that I’d buy it. His novel ‘Pedro Páramo’ is one of my favourite books ever.

I went to Dublin for New Year’s Eve, so I went to two James Joyce museums. One of them was in the centre of Dublin, but the other one was in a town in the outskirts. It is located in a tower which was constructed during the Napoleonic era and used as a defence base. Joyce spent six days living there and the first chapter of ‘Ulysses’ is set there.

New acquisitions. 😊

Six books: The Destruction of the European Jews by Raul Hilberg, Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell, Road to Wigan Pier by George Orwell, Eichmann in Jerusalem by Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt and Taking Rights Seriously by Ronald Dworkin.

This book, written in 1961, is considered to be the first scholarly account of the Holocaust. The original book is 1,388 pages long, but this is an abridged version. Hilberg considers the holocaust a unique event in history with no comparable precedent.

Orwell went to fight in Spanish civil war on the side of the republican army and this book is an account of that experience. This book helped him to define his politics, which were in favour of ‘democratic socialism’ and against ‘totalitarianism.’

Orwell here provides an account of the squalid conditions in which many ‘working class’ people lived in the north of England during the early 20th century.

Eichmann was involved in shipping Jews to concentration camps during WWII. He later fled and hid in Argentina. The Mossad, the Israeli secret police, tracked him down, took him to Jerusalem, trialled him and executed him. Arendt witnessed the trial and wrote a series of articles for The New York Times. She argued that Eichmann was not a monstruous or evil man, that he was an unremarkable bureaucrat who followed orders. She called this ‘the banality of evil,’ which was controversial at the time.

In this classic book, Arendt examines Nazism and Stalinism. She examines how these ideologies took hold in Germany and Russia and how they differed from previous forms of tyranny. 

In this book, Dworkin offers a defence of the rights of the individual and how they can be protected from being crushed by a tyrannical majority.

New acquisitions. 🙂

Six CDs: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4 by Charles Ives/The Ambrosian Singers/New Philharmonia Orchestra/Harold Faberman, This is the Blues by Charley Patton, Duke Ellington & John Coltrane by Duke Ellington & John Coltrane, Takin' Off by Herbie Hancock, Red by King Crimson and Diamond Dogs by David Bowie.

New acquisitions. 🙂

Three CDs: Adventures in Jazz by Stan Kenton, Trio Live: Copenhagen 1965 by Ornette Coleman and Japan 86 by Ornette Coleman.

New acquisitions. 🙂

Six CDs: Portrait in Jazz by Bill Evans, After the Gold Rush by Neil Young, Soundtrack of The Double Life of Veronique by Zbigniew Preisner, Soundtrack of Three Colours Trilogy by Zbigniew Preisner, Grand Guignol by John Zorn/Naked City and Radio by John Zorn/Naked City.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/may/01/paul-auster-dies-aged-77-death-american-author-new-york-trilogy

Oh no!!!! ☹️

Einstein

 Winamop has published my short story about Albert Einstein. This is the description on the website: 'Simon King writes about the daily lives of famous people from history. It's the year 1919 and we find Albert Einstein in the library with his assistant Walther Mayer.'

Part three from Fifteen Characters: Volume Two.

www.winamop.com/sk2400.htm