9 Comments
founding

Anti-Zionism is the idea that Jews are less fit to have their own country than Germans.

Expand full comment
Aug 8, 2023·edited Aug 9, 2023

A train that carries bigotry and conspiracy for freight is never truly on track. Importance and amazement likewise don’t always make up for holes where inspiration could be filled. Some holes are but others stay holes.

Expand full comment

Refusing to read a few book titles everyone says you have to read in college I totally get. And, anyway, the vetting of time will likely dispose of a couple of them without notice before you get back to them anyway. So, prudent. But you never reading Bound for Glory half a century later is weird. Not quite as bad as Kael refusing to see a film more than once. But in that direction. Critical malpractice by an exemplary critic.

Expand full comment

I myself wonder what Mr. Marcus's take on Bound For Glory would be if he chose to read it today independent of the former Berkeley curriculum. When I read the book last month,I found it murky and dense with little in the way of penetration past his observations of his mother's declining health. In short I was underwhelmed if not outright disappointed.

Expand full comment

I don't remember it knocking me out either but if you're interested in Woody Guthrie you have to read it, no?

Expand full comment

With a grain of pepper let alone dust.

Expand full comment

"This [Hendrix's 'Star Bangled Banner']—all the versions together as one unreleased meta-single—seems like a necessity." And no one could do it more justice than Greil Marcus!

Expand full comment

Oh, hi, Greil. How've you been?

Expand full comment

I disagree with your thoughts on Roger Waters and Yoko Ono. But that's OK. I'm not a fan of Waters' music, but I think his thoughts on the country Israel is on track. And Yoko, is such an amazing and important presence. Still, I enjoy reading your posts/books, etc.

Expand full comment