The Bowie Book Club discussion

One of the inspirations for this group was the David Bowie's top 100 must-read books.

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013...

Nonetheless, this is the space for you to post any other mentions to books done by Bowie (in interviews, his own work, etc). Please, post the source of your information and also check the group's bookshelf in order to avoid suggesting a book already there.

A Very impressive list.

Anne (Booklady) wrote: "A Very impressive list."

Yes, it is... There is a little of everything in there.

This article has his 100 favorite books, plus the mentions of some other authors he liked very much without naming any particular books.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what...

The complete list can be found on https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4... or on https://www.facebook.com/davidbowie/p...

Because those of The Guardian and The Telegraph contain only 75 titles.

Cynthia wrote: "The complete list can be found on https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4... or on https://www.facebook.com/davidbowie/p......"

Thank you so much, Cynthia... I'll add the others to the group bookshelf.

Thanks Lidiana :-)

Aside from the 100 must-read books list, I also added to our group bookshelf the category "Bowie references" which are books that are used in his work. So far I added The Buddha of Suburbia, Absolute Beginners, The Man Who Fell to Earth, and Look Back in Anger.

Any other suggestions? 1984 is in both lists...

A little over a week ago (it was David Bowie's birthday), I was listening online to BBC Radio London and on the program, there was an interview with Mary Finnigan, who had had a close relationship with David Bowie between 1969 and 1973. She has a new book about that relationship, which is

Psychedelic Suburbia: David Bowie and the Beckenham Arts Lab by Mary Finnigan

KOMET wrote: "A little over a week ago (it was David Bowie's birthday), I was listening online to BBC Radio London and on the program, there was an interview with Mary Finnigan, who had had a close relationship ..."

Looks interesting

KOMET wrote: "A little over a week ago (it was David Bowie's birthday), I was listening online to BBC Radio London and on the program, there was an interview with Mary Finnigan, who had had a close relationship ..."

Added to the bookshelf :)

Inspired by the post Joey made on the topic Bowie and 1984, I went to search for Bowie's connection with William S. Burroughs and found this:

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013...

Very interesting...

In the VH1 Storytellers concert Bowie says that the song 'Thursday's Child' gets its title from the Eartha Kitt biography of the same name. He read it at 14 and it stayed with him (though it might have been mainly the title and the cover image of Eartha Kitt).

Awesome reference...

Lidiana wrote: "Inspired by the post Joey made on the topic Bowie and 1984, I went to search for Bowie's connection with William S. Burroughs and found this:

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013......"

Interesting. Wonder what Burroughs was after... ;-)

I cannot stop admiring David for the person he was. This is definitely not the case for Burroughs. This shows that being a genius does not necessarily mean being a total human waste, from a humane perspective.
Bowie, was a humanist, I think. Burroughs, on the other hand, hum...
(ok, this will not deter me from reading one of his books).

Lidiana wrote: "Inspired by the post Joey made on the topic Bowie and 1984, I went to search for Bowie's connection with William S. Burroughs and found this:

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013......"

Very intersting indeed, Lidiana! This interview it's awesome! Like two mega-planets was clashing....

Cynthia wrote: "Lidiana wrote: "Inspired by the post Joey made on the topic Bowie and 1984, I went to search for Bowie's connection with William S. Burroughs and found this:

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013..."

I am not a big Burroughs admirer. In fact, the whole Beat Generation was something that never captured my heart. I have read Burroughs, Ginsberg, Kerouac... None seems to speak to me. When I was in San Francisco, in 2014, I visited the Beat Museum, and I think the legacy these authors left is important not as much for their own work, but for how future generations of writers and musicians were inspired by them.

Lidiana wrote: "Cynthia wrote: "Lidiana wrote: "Inspired by the post Joey made on the topic Bowie and 1984, I went to search for Bowie's connection with William S. Burroughs and found this:

http://www.theguardia..."

I totally agree.

Currently reading a special issue of the Inrocks magazine dedicated to Bowie in which it is stated - in an interview with David back in 1993 - that "Junky" by Burroughs was his bedside book in the Sixties.
He also explains that Wild Boys (by the same Burroughs) was the chief inspirational material to creating Ziggy's character.

Wild Boys is in the Top 100 I believe. Could you add "Junky"? Thanks!

Cynthia wrote: "Currently reading a special issue of the Inrocks magazine dedicated to Bowie in which it is stated - in an interview with David back in 1993 - that "Junky" by Burroughs was his bedside book in the ..."

I will, Cynthia :)

Another reference to add to the book list on Bowie: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Cynthia wrote: "Another reference to add to the book list on Bowie: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1..."

Thanks, Cynthia... I will add it as soon as my internet connection starts cooperating. I'm traveling on vacation, so I am depending on my cell phone :(

No problem, Lidiana. Enjoy your vacation :-)

Other book on Bowie to be added on the Books about Bowie bookshelf :

Bowie by Simon Critchley: it is a personal view of how Bowie's music impacted the philosopher's life. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

And, of course, the graphic novel Haddon Hall. Quand David inventa Bowie by Néjib https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Otherwise I can add them if you give me access to updating the bookshelf :-)

Cynthia wrote: "Other book on Bowie to be added on the Books about Bowie bookshelf :

Bowie by Simon Critchley: it is a personal view of how Bowie's music impacted the philosopher's life. https://www.goodreads.com..."

Sure, let me try to add you as moderator

Lidiana wrote: "Cynthia wrote: "Other book on Bowie to be added on the Books about Bowie bookshelf :

Bowie by Simon Critchley: it is a personal view of how Bowie's music impacted the philosopher's life. https://w..."

Done... I was already about to ask you to be a moderator since you are a very active member. Welcome, mod

Lidiana wrote: "Lidiana wrote: "Cynthia wrote: "Other book on Bowie to be added on the Books about Bowie bookshelf :

Bowie by Simon Critchley: it is a personal view of how Bowie's music impacted the philosopher's..."

Thanks colleague :-) I am very happy to help you with this great group!

Cynthia wrote: "Lidiana wrote: "Lidiana wrote: "Cynthia wrote: "Other book on Bowie to be added on the Books about Bowie bookshelf :

Bowie by Simon Critchley: it is a personal view of how Bowie's music impacted t..."

You are awesome

I have added on the bookshelf "books about Bowie" this new reference: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Christiane F would be a good one to add.
The Third Mind by William Burroughs and Brian Gysin explains the cut-up technique really well.

Rachel wrote: "Christiane F would be a good one to add.
The Third Mind by William Burroughs and Brian Gysin explains the cut-up technique really well."

I'll add them to the list... Thanks!

Hi, new to the group and a reader with not much time. I have started reading The Street, good so far :-)

'Tis Pity She's a Whore

I haven't found this book on any of the bookshelves, but I think t's worthy to be added. The name of the song "Tis a pity she was a whore" was derived from this book. Some of lyrics of the song might also have links to the book.

iz wrote: "'Tis Pity She's a Whore

I haven't found this book on any of the bookshelves, but I think t's worthy to be added. The name of the song "Tis a pity she was a whore" was derived from t..."

Thanks Iz for this suggestion. I will add this book to the club's bookshelf!

I have just published my first ebook on Bowie.

David's music has always been a big inspiration on my own work, both music and art.

Since his passing at the start of the year, I've been thinking through my memories of discovering his music and being inspired by it, and the result is my first ebook – SOUND, VISION, INSPIRATION – and it's out now on Amazon Kindle.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01N0AMOUF

This is a personal account- a fan's perspective - but something other fans will relate to. It is also a journey of musical discovery, with Bowie's 1995 album 1.Outside and the tour that followed being at the centre...

Alex wrote: "I have just published my first ebook on Bowie.

David's music has always been a big inspiration on my own work, both music and art.

Since his passing at the start of the year, I've been thinking..."

This is interesting Alex. Thanks for sharing with us. Is it possible to get your book in a epub format (plain ebook not kindle)?

Hello, a couple more suggestions:
- William Boyd's book about Nat Tate - the big art hoax that Bowie was in on! http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/nat-tate...
- Also, Walk on the Wild Side by Nelson Algren - it inspired Lou Reed's song.
:)

Rachel wrote: "Hello, a couple more suggestions:
- William Boyd's book about Nat Tate - the big art hoax that Bowie was in on! http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/nat-tate...

Thanks, this is great. I've got to look up this book. I didn't even know about the Nat Tate spoof!

Rachel wrote: "Hello, a couple more suggestions:
- William Boyd's book about Nat Tate - the big art hoax that Bowie was in on! http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/nat-tate...
- Also, Walk on the Wild Side by..."

Thank you Rachel! Nat Tate is on our bookshelf already. I'll add the one by Nelson Algren :-)

Alex wrote: "I have just published my first ebook on Bowie.

Congratulations Alex! I've just added it to my kindle and look forward to reading it. Has some great reviews!

Hello everyone,

What do you think about also dedicating the month of January to reading The Iliad? It is a challenging book and extra time wouldn't be too much.

The Reading Bibliophile wrote: "Hello everyone,

What do you think about also dedicating the month of January to reading The Iliad? It is a challenging book and extra time wouldn't be too much."

When I get back from spending Christmas with the family (which will be shortly before New Year's Eve), I would be open to reading "The Iliad".

It's a book I've had on the bookshelf for more years than I care to admit. Should be fun. :)

I tried to get into it two times so far, with no success. I'm not sure if I should even start again.

I'm still so far behind that I can totally go with this suggestion!
I've read this book before, and loved it so much that I'm really looking forward to rereading it. I will not attempt the English translation though - maybe just check out some paragraphs to see how it sounds!

Thanks for replying, KOMET, Samanta and Peter! :-) Yes, it would be a good idea to have an extra month to catch up with some readings or to go for The Iliad.

In the meantime, I'm going to launch the nominations thread for our February reading so that we can vote before the end of 2017 :-)

Samanta wrote: "I tried to get into it two times so far, with no success. I'm not sure if I should even start again."

Oh, what a shame :-( Have you tried to find a so-called modern translation?

I have English translations and they are extremely hard. Maybe I should try in Croatian...don't know.

Samanta wrote: "I have English translations and they are extremely hard. Maybe I should try in Croatian...don't know."

Yes, maybe you should give it a go. The Hungarian translation is great, maybe the Croatian one is just as good:)

Samanta wrote: "I have English translations and they are extremely hard. Maybe I should try in Croatian...don't know."

I've checked the French and English versions and I would definitely go for the French one :-)

I have the Wordsworth Classics editions of both Iliad and Odyssey and the language is very archaic. I might go with Croatian.