American Perversity
Published August 18, 2004
In truth, it is difficult to accurately (or completely) describe what American Perversity is "about," at least without stealing too much of Borden's thunder; his eccentric, cockeyed examination of the world must be experienced first-hand to capture some semblance of understanding about where he's going, or what he's trying to suggest. There are occasions when I must remember that with writing, as with all artistic expression, sometimes we see in it what we bring to it. As I read this book, I couldn't help but visualize an aging hippie, hunched possessively over a table at a local Starbucks, his journal cradled in his arms like Gollum hugging his blasted Precious, hastily blending snatches of overheard conversation with his impressions about the world. And yet that picture is incomplete, leaving out as it does the notion of Borden as a former Marine and teacher, a man capable of sharing the grief of parents of a young girl who will get no older.
There is an ancient curse that says, "May you live in interesting times." It is difficult to say that American Perversity is a "great" book, but I hope not to curse it by saying that it is an "interesting" one. Borden's book is at once about everything and nothing; as he flits from sex to politics to religion and back again to each in turn, it is like ride on a train of thought. And if nothing else, he demonstrates how truly perverse it is to attempt to put concepts in boxes, to think that life, the universe, and everything can be dissected into discrete portions and that each has its proper place. It isn't just that sex, politics, and religion are three of the most interesting topics to discuss, but rather that in the end everything spills across our neat little dividing lines; thought is not so careful as that, and to paraphrase Borden, "it's all relative - because all such thoughts are relatives."
- American Perversity
- Published: August 18, 2004
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- Section: Books
- Writer: W.E. Wallo
- W.E. Wallo's BC Writer page
- W.E. Wallo's personal site
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dang, there is just TOO much good stuff coming out.
i might have to get rid of some of my other stuff to make room.
accumulator
hey, i'm not the one with 25,000 cd's (or some such crazy number)
okay kettle
look, tom johnson called it the "Rack of Doom"...not ME!
;-)
Thanks so much for reviewing this book Blogcritics...It is such a great thing you do by covering all types of books, cd's etc...and letting us know they exist...
thank YOU Lauren, thanks for finding us
This is a great book... like Michael
Moore, we need more people out there voicing in opinion - Sex, politics and religion seem to be hard topics for American's to discuss... WHY? What are we afraid of? Perhaps it's because we're afraid that what we have been told is not true!!!
It is nice to know that poeple still get to voice their opinions. Whether you agree or not on Mr Borden's views, he has a right to express them and I am glad that he did them in this book.
Book sounds most interesting. I will go
out to get it. I like freedom of speech and of ideas. No matter what people should be able to express themselves.
you need to buy this book
That man is far from being a hippy. Judging from the excerpts posted on this review, his book sounds just like his classroom lectures: a never-ending chain of thoughts which leave the audience perplexed. At least that is that way I see it. The man, I must admit, is very, very intriguing and congenial, but I wish his thoughts were more organised.
I'm still to read all of his book, which I have shamefully neglected to purchase for more than two years, since it is forbidden for us to read according to him.
And the original cover of this book was the Borden himself in an athletic uniform being kissed on the cheeks by two women which he embraced in each arm, if that is of any interest.
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great review Bill, thanks! Sometimes the stream of consciousness is worth swimming