Although my last call for reading suggestions appeared to fall on deaf ears¹, but in the real (non-blog) world L. suggested Amsterdam: A Novel by Ian McEwan as a quick, humorous read. It did not disappoint. It’s a short book that revolves around the relationship between two old friends well past mid-life and the way in which the death of a mutual past lover ends up changing their lives forever. The characters are well-drawn, complex, but above all, self-absorbed, and therein lies humor in the book. The characters are so wrapped up in their own lives that they fail to see their place in a larger context, which, gain, produces disaster in the end.

The book was written in 1996² and it’s set in England, but its questions about an individual’s responsibilities to society and friends or loved ones are certainly as relevant to a contemporary American reader as they would have been to a mid-’90s British reader. For example, one of the major conflicts in the book is whether a newspaper editor should publish photos of a prominent politician in which the politician is cross-dressing. Is it ethical or responsible for this newspaper to publish such photos that are going to suggest that this male politician is either gay or at least enjoys dressing as a woman? Is such information relevant to the public? Is it something voters really deserve to know, or is it just something for political opponents to use to assassinate this man’s character? If you’ve followed the Larry Craig “scandal” at all, you know that such questions play a major role in contemporary political and social discussions.Amsterdam’s examination of them ends up being somewhat conservative, but before reaching the book’s conclusions on the matter McEwan sketches it thoroughly and opens it up for the reader to consider for him/herself. That sort of provocation is an important ingredient for any book, as far as I’m concerned.

Bottom line: If you’re looking for a short, engaging read that raises provocative political, social, and moral questions while at the same time maintaining a sort of humorous tone with regard to its characters and subject, Amsterdam: A Novel could be very satisfying for you. [tags]politics, sexuality[/tags]

1. Thanks Mackenzie! I do realize that if I don’t post w/any regularity or w/any real substance I can’t really expect readers to stick around, but thanks to those who have.↩
2. Amazon gives a 1999 publication date but I believe that’s for the paperback. I could be wrong, though. I often am.↩

“What do we want? Troops out. When do we want it? Now.”ââ�¡â��

Bike activists face an uphill climb against Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, who claims bike paths are not transportation and are stealing tax money from bridges and roads.�

I didn’t actually hear the speech, but from the news reports and soundbites it sounds like he basically said this:

My fellow Americans: We have beaten you. We have broken you up. You have seen what your country is like. Your mind is in the same state. I do not think there can be much pride left in you. You have been kicked and flogged and insulted, you have screamed with pain, you have rolled on the floor in your own blood and vomit. You have whimpered for mercy, you have betrayed everybody and everything. Can you think of a single degradation that has not happened to you? My fellow Americans, you are a difficult case. But don’t give up hope. Everyone is cured sooner or later. In the end we shall shoot you.

The Ninth Annual Montana Marathon begins at 7 a.m. Sunday in Molt and runs 26.2 miles to Daylis Stadium. �

“I guess we just don’t know (what the animals are), and that’s a legitimate source of frustration for the folks out there and a source of frustration for us as well,” ââ�¡â��

Some of the traits associated with right-wingers in that review were decidedly unflattering, including fear, aggression, tolerance of inequality, and lack of complexity in their thinking. �

Bush dismissed as worthless this information from the Iraqi foreign minister, a member of Saddam’s inner circle, although it turned out to be accurate in every detail. Tenet never brought it up again. ââ�¡â��

� Will someone please warn Stephen Colbert!?

Gee, haven’t we heard all of this before?

Happy Patriot Day. As a government employee, it only seems right that I should get the day off to “pray and remember” victims. It’s important. The p-resident said so!

My knee hurts. Can I get a day off for a sore knee? I’m not kidding. My knee really hurts. Plus, I have praying and remembering to do. And NPR is spending the entire day covering hearings about the Iraq debacle fightagainstterror and/or fightthemthere sowedon’thavetofightthemhere. As a patriot, shouldn’t I stay home today and listen closely to this important coverage? Shouldn’t I attempt to drown myself in prayer and remembrance for the victims of 9/11 and forget that Iraq had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with that tragedy? I really think the p-resident would approve. Don’t you?