nps_marina
05-01-2007, 11:26 AM
Okay, the thing is kind of absurd, but here's how it goes-
I was listening to the Counting Crows some time back, and really enjoying The Rain King. The meaning of the chorus really struck me.
Netsurfing casually, I found out that it's actually based on a book by Saul Bellow (and then when you read the lyrics the line that goes 'Henderson is waiting...' makes more sense): 'Henderson, the Rain King'.
So whatever. I went to my town's bookstore and ordered the book but, it being a modest bookstore and all, they didn't have it 'by the week' or anything. It's more of a 'perhaps someday we'll have it' sorta thing- no strings attached on either side.
SO (how carried off can I get?), the thing is I bought Ravelstein instead, as in 'okay, I've never read any Bellow, let's see what we can see, perhaps it's just the song that you love'.
And Ravelstein just proved way hard for my tastes. Good writing and all, but I felt it was all just too far above me.
The question is, has anybody read Henderson, and is it similar to Ravelstein in that it will make me feel really stupid? Should I forget about the book, or still be on the lookout for it?
Thanks!
I was listening to the Counting Crows some time back, and really enjoying The Rain King. The meaning of the chorus really struck me.
Netsurfing casually, I found out that it's actually based on a book by Saul Bellow (and then when you read the lyrics the line that goes 'Henderson is waiting...' makes more sense): 'Henderson, the Rain King'.
So whatever. I went to my town's bookstore and ordered the book but, it being a modest bookstore and all, they didn't have it 'by the week' or anything. It's more of a 'perhaps someday we'll have it' sorta thing- no strings attached on either side.
SO (how carried off can I get?), the thing is I bought Ravelstein instead, as in 'okay, I've never read any Bellow, let's see what we can see, perhaps it's just the song that you love'.
And Ravelstein just proved way hard for my tastes. Good writing and all, but I felt it was all just too far above me.
The question is, has anybody read Henderson, and is it similar to Ravelstein in that it will make me feel really stupid? Should I forget about the book, or still be on the lookout for it?
Thanks!