Gore Vidal's "Dreaming War"

[Lauri D]

On my last plane trip home I read Vidal's Dreaming War: Blood for Oil and the Bush-Cheney Junta.

It's a collection of essays in which he discusses the 2000 "election", the "War on Terror", 9/11, and the preparations for war on Iraq (at publication the war had not yet officially begun IIRC).

I found it extremely interesting and thought-provoking and would highly recommend it; next on my list from him is the book that preceded it, Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace.

Has anyone else read either of these? If so, what did you think?

Lauri

[livius drusus]

I haven't read them, but I am a huge Gore Vidal fan and will definitely track them down.

[Adam]

I haven't read either, but Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace is sitting in the ever-growing stack of books on my bedroom floor that I think of as my to-read queue. If people would quit recommending/lending books to me, I'd get to it sometime this decade. Bastards.

[Lauri D]

Just got back from the bookstore and picked up Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace. It's a quite slim volume so I will probably read it tonight and report back manana.

livius - I've just recently started reading Vidal but like him a lot so far. As I've only yet read his non-fiction, which of his novels would you recommend (most) to start with?

[livius drusus]

Oh cool, Lauri! Thank you for asking. :)

I can't help but recommend Julian (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/037572706X/ref=pd_sim_books_5/104-0468532-8150307?v=glance&s=books) first, just because it's my favorite in terms of subject (the last pagan Roman emperor) and in terms of style (it's epistolary and a really well done).

After that, I say dive right into the American Chronicles: Burr (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0375708731/qid=1090733313/sr=lmlf-1/ref=cm_lm_asin/104-0468532-8150307?v=glance), Lincoln (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0375708766/qid=1090733313/sr=lmlf-1/ref=cm_lm_asin/104-0468532-8150307?v=glance), 1876 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0375708723/qid=1090733313/sr=lmlf-1/ref=cm_lm_asin/104-0468532-8150307?v=glance), Empire (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/037570874X/qid=1090733313/sr=lmlf-1/ref=cm_lm_asin/104-0468532-8150307?v=glance), Hollywood (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0375708758/qid=1090733313/sr=lmlf-1/ref=cm_lm_asin/104-0468532-8150307?v=glance), Washington DC (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0375708774/qid=1090733313/sr=lmlf-1/ref=cm_lm_asin/104-0468532-8150307?v=glance), and The Golden Age (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0385500750/qid=1090733313/sr=lmlf-1/ref=cm_lm_asin/104-0468532-8150307?v=glance).

Vidal's perspective on American history is really unique - I like to think of him as a class traitor patrician - and imo, his historical novels are just as good as it gets.

Enjoy! I'd love to hear your impressions, no matter what you end up reading.

[Lauri D]

Thanks liv! :) I will add Julian to the list for my next trip to the bookstore.

As luck would have it, Dan just purchased the whole American Chronicles set and I think just finished Burr so I will get my grubby paws on those when he is done.

Finished Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace late last night (insomnia and me are BFF!!! :doh: ). Great read. I am running late right now but will post some of my favorite quotations from it later on.

Lauri