WE ALL HAVE TO LIVE TOGETHER

Ezra Klein:

“We are going to have to live here with one another. There will be no fever that breaks, no permanent victory that routs or quiets those who disagree with us. I have watched many on both sides entertain the illusion that there would be, either through the power of social shame and cultural pressure or the force the state could bring to bear on those it seeks to silence. It won’t work. It can’t work. It would not be better if it did. That would not be a free country.

Much of what I would describe as Kirk’s worst moments were standard-fare MAGA Republicanism. And the leader of that movement is the president of the United States. He is now in the White House, having won about half the country’s votes in the last election. We are going to have to live here with one another, believing what we believe, disagreeing in the ways we disagree.”

Book Corner 2025.33

The Rolling Stones: All the Songs

by Philippe Margotin & Jean-Michel Guesdon

The authors are at their strongest when identifying who played on what track, and exactly what instrument they were playing. Did you know Charlie Watts played a “Gretsch kit”? He most certainly did. You’re reminded of that every other page.

They’re at their weakest in understanding lyrics. They were constantly just slightly, or entirely, missing the mark. For example, “Hang Fire” off TATTOO YOU was not exactly an indictment of Thatcherite economics. It was more an indictment of lazy people, a feeling which Mick would explore more explicitly a few years later in “Let’s Work”. But hey I could be wrong.

The best parts were often when I’d go back and put the CD on to a certain minute mark where the authors had pointed out a flub. What incredible ears they must have – usually I could barely even hear what they were talking about. But particularly on the early tracks, it was often amusingly obvious. The book was worth the price of admission for expounding on the way Keith’s fuzz guitar comes in a note late on the second refrain of “Satisfaction.” I had always noticed that, even as a wee tot, and I always really liked the effect. Now I know that he was late turning on the fuzz pedal, which he turned on for the refrains and off for the verses! And for the third refrain, he’s a note or two too soon, though that’s less noticeable.

Book Corner 2025.32

Hello Beautiful

by Ann Napolitano

The story had a very slow, rather dull start. I found myself at first disliking Julia and pitying William; soon I was finding Julia to be a little too much like myself. Too bad she was portrayed as a semi-monster by the end. Noteworthy: A family of six Italians, and nobody cooks?? All the sisterly love was very wearing; reading about extremely close families like this always leaves me feeling smothered. These were definitely storybook people in storybook relationships. By the end, I was just skimming; I didn’t care, and did not enjoy the story. I was glad when I was finally free.