In my continuing effort to read books that Kubrick has made movies from, in conjunction with my effort to read more classic fiction, I just read The Luck of Barry Lyndon. A great book, although horribly depressing and oppressive at times. Kubrick's movies is actually very faithful to the book, only having minor alterations, except for the duel at the end of the movie (perhaps my favorite movie duel), which does not happen in the book. I think Kubrick added that duel to give some sort of climax, and also so that Barry can do something noble right before the end of the movie, instead of just being a complete jerk. Anyway, good book.
I'm a bit fictioned out at the moment, so I'm taking some time out and reading Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898. Should be very interesting. It fascinates me to be in an area with so much history. Every little place has had so many interesting events happen there. In Stranger in a Strange Land, when Michael goes to a city, he cannot believe how much psychic history there was. He almost cannot stand the collective remnants of so many emotions. It's easy to get a similar feeling walking around Manhattan when you stop to think about it. Well, at least that applies to my job is in Manhattan, I don't think where I'm living in Queens has much interesting history at all.
Posted by ahyatt at December 30, 2004 08:32 AM