It's My Birthday!
Where did the last 53 years go? (The Bus 3.49)
Welcome aboard The Bus!
The Stop
Today is my birthday, so instead of investigating another topic I’m pulling The Bus over on the shoulder for a moment so I can say thanks. For the next 30 days, all Bus Riders will receive complimentary access to the entire archive. There are almost 100 past issues behind the paywall, and if you’ve stepped aboard since I enabled paid subscriptions you won’t be aware of many Stops along the route since The Bus left the station in April 2022. I’ve also chosen to recommend five books and four albums that have been major influences in my life. A few have had their own Stop, and still others have been Recommendations or have had tracks featured on various playlists, but regardless if you read or listen to any of them, know that I want to say a sincere ‘Thank You!’ for riding along!1
FIVE BOOKS
Vineland, Thomas Pynchon (1990)
Still my favourite novel of all time since I first read it in 1997, Vineland returned for the first time in about eight years to this summer’s reading list - and it was as enjoyable as ever. I just covered it as a Bus Stop on 7 August, so for more information please check out Issue 3.38.
The Denial of Death, Ernest Becker (1973)
I was assigned this book in one of my favourite university classes – Trent Foley’s ‘Religious Types in Christianity.’ Becker’s thesis is that humans have developed numerous complex strategies (including, most importantly, religion) to deny awareness of our morality and vulnerability so we can believe that – despite the inescapability of death - we are nevertheless immortal. At the very least, it puts things into perspective.
The Human Condition, Hannah Arendt (1958)2
Arendt’s book is a philosophical examination of what she calls the vita activa (active life). Though it focusses on the three distinct functions of the vita activa - labour, work and action – it’s fundamentally about the nature of thinking - and the importance of preserving a public realm which allows this most important human activity to thrive. An incredible book, it’s deeply informed my thinking since I first read it in Karl Plank’s ‘Hannah Arendt’ seminar in 1991. It’s an essential read in the current political environment.
It, Stephen King (1986)
I bought It in hardback when it came out and spent many happy hours with it. At the time, I was a big fan (I still read him on occasion) and this is King at the peak of his powers. The book is very dark, very disturbing and very scary, but really fun in that nostalgic/adolescent adventure way that’s unique to King. The film adaptations are good (especially the most recent one), but - as usual - the book is so much better.
The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis (1950-56)
Though this is actually a collection of seven short novels,3 each time I’ve read them I’ve made sure to read all seven uninterrupted as if they were a single book. It’s also important to read them in the original published order as in recent years they’ve been renumbered according to their internal chronology.4 This is a mistake, for part of their magic is the gentle - but effective - jarring from the present to the past and then the future. They’re a work of genius and, despite the heavy allegory, as a kid they were just great fantasy.
FOUR ALBUMS5
Live Seeds (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, 1993)6
Paul’s Boutique (The Beastie Boys, 1989)7
The Pod (Ween, 1991)
The White Album (The Beatles, 1968)
The Detour
Today’s Detour is to an episode (15:04) of NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert - a performance by Trina (AKA ‘Da Baddest Bitch’).8 It is one of the best of the series I’ve seen - the musicianship, vocals and presence of Trina and her backing band and singers are nothing short of outstanding. It’s hip-hop, rap, gospel, pop, jazz, rock and funk … all rolled together. A warning: after the first song - which is brilliantly heartfelt - it gets explicit.
The Recommendation
Today’s Recommendation(s) are the five books and four albums in the Stop. The books are all available through independent new or used bookstores and libraries and the albums stream on Spotify (my choice for The Bus), Apple Music, etc. - or, hopefully, you might find one or two in your collection.
The Sounds
Today’s playlist is a selection of five tracks linked only by the fact that they rock:9 ‘Ride On’ (AC/DC, 1976), ‘Godzilla’ (Blue Öyster Cult, 1977), ‘Hey Joe’ (Jimi Hendrix, 1967), ‘Little Dreamer’ (Van Halen, 1978) and ‘Badge’ (Cream, 1969). Turn this music up loud. Enjoy!
The Thought
Today’s Thought - from the lyrics of Blue Öyster Cult’s ‘Godzilla’ - is a sentiment that has worryingly been ignored - and continues to be:
‘History shows again and again/How nature points out the folly of men.’
If you have a thought on this Thought - or any part of today’s issue - please leave a comment below:
And that’s the end of this Stop - I hope you enjoyed the diversion!
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Until the next Stop …
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For more about Arendt, see Issue 1.46 (12 September 2022).
But if I had to pick one, it would be The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. When I was twelve, it took me to another world from which in some ways I don’t think I’ve returned. The others are outstanding, but this one ….
The proper - original order - is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950), Prince Caspian (1951), The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952), The Silver Chair (1953), The Horse and His Boy (1954), The Magician’s Nephew (1955) and The Last Battle (1956).
No notes for these - a couple are scheduled as a Stop, so there’s more to come …
For more about Nick Cave, see The Bus Issue 3.39 (10 August 2023).
For more about Paul’s Boutique, see The Bus Issue 1.28 (11 August 2022).
Until two days ago, Trina existed as a vague memory of a promotional postcard I stuck on a friend’s refrigerator in early 2000: the over-the-top photo of her as a sexy nurse trying to shock a guy back to life just seemed to fit back then. And then I saw this performance and I’m amazed. It’s brilliant.
I was surprised I hadn’t already included these on a playlist, especially ‘Godzilla’ - there is so much going on in that song ….
By this point, this is very belated, but Happy Birthday, Bryan!
Happy birthday, Bryan! And thank you for the gift of your archive! 🚌