To proceed to read the Oxfordian Hamlet or not, that is the question. I've been seriously disappointed in the previous two Oxfordian versions of Shake-speareplays which I've read. Neither of them were evidence-based, relying rather on assumption and supposition, much like Stratfordians do when they seek to "prove" their case. And I have so many other books that I would like to read. Should I risk wasting a week here? Of course the play still remains, and that would be enjoyable no matter what the editor had to say. But I bought these texts in order to gain an expert's perspective on how they relate to Edward de Vere. And I haven't gotten nearly enough of that.
About, my brains.
Addendum: Nope. I'm not ready to spend another week with Whalen (Oxfordian Hamlet editor). I do happen to have this
from the library, though, and I'm thinking, "That would be a nice break." So....
Day 1 (DDRD 2,886), September 25, 2025
Read to page 51.
April 26, 1974, and Bruce is still playing small clubs and colleges, sometimes to mostly empty seats, he's got no money, and Columbia has him on their list to be dropped from the label after two albums which only sold about 20, 000 copies, apiece. What a difference a hit song makes, eh?
238 pages, btw.
Day 2 (DDRD 2,887), September 26, 2025
Read to page 109. So Bruce's manager, Mike Appel, drained his kids' college funds to keep the band going. And when, after torturous (and tortuous) months of working on the single "Born to Run," Columbia showed zero interest in it, Appel sent copies of it to radio stations--perhaps the first time a recording artist had bootlegged himself.
I've got to say, this book is (1) fascinating and (2) just what I needed after my two Oxfordian disappointments.
"...by early 1975 Bruce's account at Columbia was in the red to the tune of something like $300000...." (113) No wonder he was sweating it out on the streets.
And, as is so often the case, this book got me interested in another book:
I found it for less than $6 at Thrift Books, and as I had a Reward waoting thete (for buying previous books) for a book costing $6 or less, I got it for free. Nice.
ADDENDUM: Read to page 160. So...109 pages today. That seems a bit obcessive, doesn't it?
Day 3 (DDRD 2,888), September 27, 2025
Read to page 238. The End. And quite a satisfying read it was. So much so that I'm really inclined to follow up with more Springsteen books--the one above and another I found which goes through all of his songs up to 2019's Western Stars. But I met up with a friend today who is halfway through Dan Brown's new book, The Secret of Secrets, and he really wanted me to read it and talk about it with him, so I'm thinking about DDRing that next. Problem is that I am 70-something on the hold list and don't want to buy it, but I think I can work around that with the Amazon preview and a long sit at Barnes & Noble. (Shhh.) Time will tell...and so will I tomorrow.
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