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Y’ALL SHOULD COME TO THIS. IT’S A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYONE!

January 25 131 notes Comments

" Does character develop over time? In novels, of course it does; otherwise there wouldn’t be much of a story. But in life? I wonder. Our attitudes and opinions change, we develop new habits and eccentricities; but that’s something different, more like decoration. Perhaps character resembles intelligence, except that character peaks a little later: between twenty and thirty, say. And after that, we’re just stuck with what we’ve got. We’re on our own. If so, that would explain a lot of lives, wouldn’t it? And also - if this isn’t too grand a word - our tragedy.

— The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

January 24 64 notes Comments

So I have this thing.

It’s where I check out 95% of the stuff I read from the library but if I love a book then I want to buy it for myself. Because of this, I go to a bookstore and have no interest in books I haven’t read then someone has to tell me what to buy. This seemed somewhat counterintuitive until I realized that if I kept up this behavior, I would have a personal library of only the best editions of all my favorite books. Maybe you do this, too.

The added extra is that if I buy one book buy a male author then I must also buy a book by a female author.

I just noticed this yesterday.

January 23 32 notes Comments

Kevin told me I’d been hating on a lot of books lately. But that’s not totally true! (Though it is sometimes.) You shall see! Today I found a great new cover on a book I often think about AND bought two highly recommended novels from reading friends that I trust. So there.

January 22 32 notes Comments

" Dear Lord. It’s more unrelenting and out-of-control than any flesh eater it’s describing.

—

Michael Hingston regarding Colson Whitehead’s Zone One in Georgia Straight.

Michael put it a lot more delicately than I could because I often muttered much more colorful language as I tried to get through the book. It was just that painful.

January 19 10 notes Comments

The Joy of Books - by Type Books

I assume this is what happens in every bookstore after the doors close.

January 13 60 notes Comments

Of all the books I read this year, these were the top two. Sorry, everything else.

December 30 37 notes Comments

Now That Books Mean Nothing -->

by Nell Boeschenstein:

It’s not easy or appropriate to tell people who love you and who are trying to help you that what they are doing is not helping, that books are not what you want or need, that what you want and need right now are flowers, letters—notes, even—stupid movies, something that might help you feel pretty, emails that contain funny anecdotes from the outside world. That what you want is quiet company, conversation, to talk about you or him or her or whatever, who cares, that the last thing you want is to be left alone either with your thoughts or with a book chock full of someone else’s thoughts and into which your own encroach all too easily. Minds can become Frankensteins, and you’ve gotten gun-shy of yours and the noises it makes in the night. Of course, I don’t say any of this to those who hand me a book they say is lovely and that they hope I’ll enjoy. Instead, I say, “Thank you. I can’t wait to read it,” because that’s closer to what I hope I’ll mean in the end.

This is truly one of the best personal essays I’ve read in a while. Books are more like a relationship that most of us care to admit. There are times when it is better to say to the library, “No, I can’t right now. Give me some space and I’ll be back when I’m ready.” Then one day, you return.

December 29 75 notes Comments

I’ve got some time here in a long car ride and I need to get some thoughts out about this book. Most people will probably disagree with me, including my Dad who is driving said car, but that’s ok! I’ll try to be quick. This will probably make more sense if you’ve read it.

First: In what world does this take place? I was in a small liberal arts college with a decent athletics program not so long ago and none of these characters seemed real. No one spoke like these kids spoke. None of them were called “freshpersons”. And no student was given admission to the school by a sophomore baseball player. Sorry, that stuff just doesn’t happen.

Second: Plot holes galore. A couple of stories start out ok and then totally drop off. We even have to skip the protagonists real school beginning. I want to know what The Art of Fielding meant to Henry in the end. I want to know where Pella’s husband went. I want to know why Owen even played baseball at all.

Third: To me this book read as if Harbach was trying SO hard to be risky, but couldn’t quite get there. You have a gay subplot between a staff member and a student? Ooooohhh brave! Now actually follow through with it and let these characters be real instead of just a cliche! And a baseball captain/football captain/Greek learner/LSAT studier/painkiller addict all in one 22 year old guy? No. Make him something, but there isn’t enough time in the day to be all that. Pick something and run with it.

I’d actually love to talk about it more if anyone wants to email me. I feel bad calling a book “atrocious”, but that’s the only way I’ve been able to describe it. Just remember that this is my initial reaction and that I’m almost always willing to concede when good points are made!

December 23 27 notes Comments

Joy of all joys! The Waverly is back open!

(And you can again see some variation of this picture every weekend here on 52books. I know you’re pumped.)

December 19 37 notes Comments