The Vulgar Eclectic
Vulgar: of the usual, typical, or ordinary kind
definitions courtesy of Merriam-Webster
Eclectic: composed of elements drawn from various sources
recent blog posts
- My Life As an Indian by J. W. Schultz
I just finished reading My Life As an Indian (1907), a memoir written by J. W. Schultz. This was a fantastic and moving read. The story begins in the late 1870s, as a teenage Schultz leaves his family home in St. Louis on a steamship, bound for present-day Montana. He befriends a trader named Berry and is soon initiated in the ways of the western territories.
What follows is the story of Schultz’s life with the Blackfeet Nation. His account is full of interesting anthropological observations, although he was never trained in any academic field. Instead, he became friends and lived with the Piegan band, participating in many memorable experiences that are recounted in the memoir. It is also a touching love story.
While the cultural insight and historical value of the book alone make it a compelling read, the pathos and humanity of Schultz’s narrative make it truly wonderful. It is a beautiful combination of vitality, excitement, friendship, and love, with an underlying note of sadness that leaves one with a bittersweet taste.
Ah, me! Roll them back, you ruthless harvester of the years. Give back to me Nat-ah-ki and my youth. Return to us our lodge and the wide, brown, buffalo plains.
- The Collected Works of Billy the Kid: Left Handed Poems by Michael Ondaatje
I just finished reading The Collected Works of Billy the Kid: Left Handed Poems (1970) by Michael Ondaatje. It is a combination of poetry and prose poetry; it’s often referred to as a novel in verse.
Most of it is written from the fictional perspective of Billy the Kid. Some sections are written from the perspective of other people in his life (historical figures like the Chisums, Paulita Maxwell, and others).
This was a very interesting and refreshing read. The writing varied in form, and I found all of it compelling and sometimes sublime. I’ve long been interested in Old West outlaws, including Billy the Kid, and found this very satisfying…both as an insight into Billy’s life (albeit as imagined fictionally) and as well-crafted poetry.
His legend a jungle sleep
- Stormbringer by Michael Moorcock
I just finished reading Stormbringer (1977) by Michael Moorcock, the sixth and concluding novel of the Elric Saga.
This novel early on develops an epic tone and does not disappoint. In addition to Elric and his runesword Stormbringer, the reader is treated to some of Elric’s best companions—his fast and closest friend Moonglum, his cousin and bearer of Stormbringer’s sister-sword, Mournblade, Dyvim Slorm, and Rackhir the Red Archer of Tanelorn.
This book truly feels like a culmination of all that has gone before. The prose reads like myth. The story seems to flow without effort or encumbrance. And the conclusion is awesome and fitting.Then Elric and his companions were off, riding towards the massed hordes of Chaos—three men against the unleashed forces of darkness.
- Cattail
- Comics
I’m pretty much always in the process of slowing trying to complete a number of comic book runs and titles (the list of titles I’d like to collect seems to be in a state of constant expansion!), and I recently picked up a number of issues. I love the process of organizing new comics…bagging and boarding them, putting them in their appropriate place, and of course reading them.
Here are a few of my favorite covers from the recent batch of new purchases:
