I have a confession: I despise loathe abhor the word quotidian. Keep that in mind.
I selected this book as part of the 50 Books for Our Times Reading Project organized by Amy. According to Newsweek, these 50 books “open a window on the times we live in, whether they deal directly with the issues of today or simply help us see ourselves in new and surprising ways.” Our goal, as part of the reading project, was to see if the books really live up to that claim.
Air Guitar is a collection of essays by Dave Hickey, an art critic and professor of Art Criticism and Theory.
First there was the introduction, or “Unbreak My Heart, An Overture.” Here’s a little sample:
“It couldn’t work, in this place, because all the things that I wanted to talk about – all those tokens of quotidian sociability that had opened so many doors and hearts for me – all those occasions for chat, from Tristram Shandy to Roseanne, from Barnett Newman to baby Face – belonged to someone.” (p. 13)
Then came the first essay, “A Home in the Neon,” which was about living in Las Vegas. An excerpt:
“America, in other words, is a very poor lens through which to view Las Vegas, while Las Vegas is a wonderful lens through which to view America. What is hidden elsewhere exists here in quotidian visibility.” (p. 23)
The second essay discussed Flaubert. I was lost. I skimmed.
Finally, the third essay, “Shining Hours/Forgiving Rhyme,” discussed the author’s father, who was a jazz musician, Norman Rockwell and the idea of normality. Here’s another excerpt:
“To put it simply: Norman Rockwell’s painting, like Johnny Mercer’s music, has no special venue. It lives in the quotidian world with us amidst a million other things, so it must define itself as we experience it, embody itself and be remembered to survive.” (p. 37-38)
OMG…shoot me now. I’m afraid that was all I could handle. I couldn’t bear to read another essay for fear that word would show up. So I can’t truly analyze whether or not this is a book for our times. But I can honestly say it’s not a book for me.
I can’t believe you made it that far. How did this book make the list?
Colette´s last blog ..What are you Reading Monday?
I wondered that myself!
You are kidding me! He must have learned that new word just before he wrote these. It sounds like the message for our times is that they are very quotidian.
rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..Review of Dystopic YA Fiction “Bad Faith” by Gillian Philip
Part of me wonders if it shows up again…but I couldn’t bear to read any more to find out.
This was a hilarious review. It doesn’t even sound like the word is used naturally- he just wanted smart points!
Aarti´s last blog ..Granta: The Chicago Edition
I was thinking the same thing!
How on earth did this book make the list? Very funny review though.
JoAnn´s last blog ..TSS: Holiday Weekend Wrap-Up and A Look Ahead
Thanks! And that’s the last time I trust a list like that!
I don’t think I even know what that word means– yet! It’ll be my new word of the day….but I promise never to use it
. It’s not a word that would come up naturally in conversation.
The title and cover sounds intriguing; too bad the content didn’t live up to it.
Valerie´s last blog ..About “Poetry for Dummies”
I’m still wondering what an essay on Flaubert was doing in a book titled Air Guitar.
Geeze, do you think the author just learned quotidian or something? Talk about overkill.
Kathy´s last blog ..Review: The Wife’s Tale
Once is okay, twice is marginal, three is just showing off…and not in a good way.
Wow, that’s a lot of “quotidian.” No thanks! lol
Andi´s last blog ..Itching!
You’re smarter than I was!
Thesaurus anyone?
Chrisbookarama´s last blog ..Basil by Wilkie Collins: Review
Hah! Good one!
That is too funny. I didn’t know people actually enjoyed that word so much.
Trisha´s last blog ..New Book by Burroughs
“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”
This sounds like something a prof would assign us to read in grad school just to torture us. You should burn it to make yourself feel better.
heidenkind´s last blog ..Soulless
LOL! now I’ll think of you every time I read the word. We can then organize a list of books to avoid.
Care´s last blog ..Multi Book Thoughts to Cross Off List
Gawd — take that man’s thesaurus away! Gag…..
Beth F´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday (December 2)
And I don’t think it is a book for me either … I zoned out while just reading the short excerpts!!!
Jenners´s last blog ..FreeVerse: Poems For My Dad
Sounds like something I would want to throw against the wall…
Ladytink_534´s last blog ..This’ll Be the Day That Someone Dies
Tis true! Just read the word ‘quotidian’ in my current book and ZING! thoughts of this post popped into my consciousness. So far tho, it’s been the only instance so I will carry on.
Care´s last blog ..Juckets by Joyce Keller Walsh