NEP news update: The Best February Ever - March 2008
Neil has posted a new update on his website, writing about his love for winter in Quebec and posting many pictures from his cross-country skiing and snowshoeing expeditions. This almost seems like a companion piece to his February 2006 essay My Laurentian Soulscape, which appeared in Canadian Geographic.
It's been almost a year since Neil's last recommended reading update, as he's been out on tour with RUSH. In his latest book recommendations, he reviews This is Your Life, by John O'Farrell, The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud, Unfinished Journey (Twenty Years Later) by Yehudi Menuhin, This Is Your Brain on Music by Daniel J. Levitin, and Metal Swarm (The Saga of Seven Suns - Book 6) by Kevin J. Anderson.
I rather enjoyed how he began the last book review:
Consider it duly noted that Kevin Anderson is a good friend of mine, but that would not be enough to earn a glowing review from Bubba's Book Club. Being Bubba's friend doesn't hurt either, of course, though it can be hard for Bubba not to be envious (the first deadly sin -- I know) of a writer like Kevin, who is so prolific, so fulfilled, and so accomplished.
Finally, he adds a homework assignment to read Newfoundland author Wayne Johnston, The Colony of Unrequited Dreams, and The Custodian of Paradise. He writes:
A few years back I was asked to contribute to a year-end newspaper article on "my favorite book of the year." If I had been asked last year, I would have named these two. Enough said. Check them out. (Of the library, or better yet, buy them. Support the poor, deserving author.)
There are lots of great pictures and more stories about the European leg of the Snakes & Arrows tour.
In the story Neil mentions a sign that someone held up at the Clark County (Portland/Southern Washington) show, "NP--THIS IS YOUR LIFE." I was at that show, and I remember seeing that sign and being somewhat confused. It's interesting to read Neil's take on it.
You can listen to a drums-only version of the song "The Main Monkey Business" at NeilPeart.net. I listened to the entire track, and I heard all kinds of things I'd never heard before.
Just got to NeilPeart.net and click on the embedded player (see the arrow below):
If you like this kind of thing, check out the following Book/CD, which includes a few drums-only tracks of Neil, including "Leave That Thing Alone." Unfortunately, it looks like it's not published anymore -- but you might be able to find it used.
Neil's Picks for Quality Reading, Issue #8 - April, 2007
Neil has a new "Quality Reading" book review on his site. This time, he reviews What Is the What by Dave Eggers.
Neil uses this review as a way to discuss some of his favorite books, as well as what makes art great.
"The definition of art as a combination of Truth and Beauty traces back to Plato, and still holds. Truth may also be the province of journalism, history, science, and biography (ideally), and beauty can be created by designers--industrial visionaries, architects, and decorative artists--but the combination of the two is the sublime, transcendent province of genuine art. I remember feeling enlightened when I learned that the term "fine art" comes from the French fin--the end. Art as the end, art for art's sake."
Here are some of the other books discussed in this review:
On Neil's website, he has posted links to "The Republic of Nothing" by Lesley Choyce for which he wrote the afterward, and a recommendation for "Pike's Folly" by Mike Heppner.
From Neil's website:
"Pike's Folly is clever, funny, endearing, and well written, with special praise for how skillfully Heppner takes the reader inside the mind of a character who is gradually losing her grip, discarding her sanity with her clothes as she walks naked into the streets of her Rhode Island town. It takes a Faulknerian tour-de-force of writing skill to pull that off, and he does it.
Highly recommended -- and especially appreciated as a more-or-less 'impulse purchase.'"
Neil sent out a bulletin on MySpace about the upcoming tour rumors:
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Feb 10, 2007 3:43 PM
Subject Myths and Up & Coming Facts
My trusty MySpace Music Soldiers, Tour dates floating around are not confirmed. Check out Rush.com for the confirmed 2007 tour schedule! We can't wait to see you on the road! NEP
In the latest NEP News update, Neil writes about recording the new Rush album, working with new producer Nick Raskulinecz, and more. He also has included a few pictures. Thanks to DKos for the head's up!
First of all, in the previous issue of "Bubba's Book Club," I definitely set the bar too high with that Hemingway review. In the first few installments, I only set out to offer brief recommendations of particular books I had read recently and enjoyed. However, I should know by now that everything I start out doing for fun eventually turns out getting all serious. Though I am by no means an overachiever, I do tend to get overly ambitious.
That same "trap" has led me into ever-growing ambitions in drumming, bicycling, motorcycling, reading, writing, and even posting updates on my Web site. Lately I keep wanting every one of those little "open letters" to be better than the one before, and instead of dashing off a casual report, I end up laboring over those stories as much as I would "serious writing."
