July 24, 2008

Is it just me or a meetup?

Who: Me, Lee, You!

Where: The Old 97’s concert at Webster Hall

When: Next Friday August 1st

Come on! Come on! Everyone loves good music so come to the show to see a sweaty man sing and me awkwardly dance!

Oh, and Lee has a ticket if you want to email him for it.

July 23, 2008
#36: 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff I am absolutely in love with books about people who love books. This story is a collection of letters sent between Helene Hanff, an author/reader living in New York, and the staff of a small bookstore in England. They correspond for twenty years as Helene asks them to find books and sends them packages of food when they are under government rations. Reading this made me remember a couple of things: 1) I need to write more letters and 2) I need to find a bookshop that will personally find anything I want. 84 Charing Cross Road was also adapted into a movie in 1987 starring Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins. I’m going to Netflix it… now!

#36: 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

I am absolutely in love with books about people who love books. This story is a collection of letters sent between Helene Hanff, an author/reader living in New York, and the staff of a small bookstore in England. They correspond for twenty years as Helene asks them to find books and sends them packages of food when they are under government rations. Reading this made me remember a couple of things: 1) I need to write more letters and 2) I need to find a bookshop that will personally find anything I want. 84 Charing Cross Road was also adapted into a movie in 1987 starring Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins. I’m going to Netflix it… now!

July 22, 2008
“ Great bookshops are the heart of every literary culture, the chambers where life-giving material is exchanged and where writers and readers deposit and find their secrets… . The greatest bookshops set up a trade in books and passions, in the interplay of inquiring minds and the search for values. And so, the best bookshops in the world become centres of a way of life … because there is so little else around now that is like them. Independence is their creed but also their character: they seek to know what they are selling and to sell it with feeling.
Andrew O’Hagan describing “the perfect bookshop” in the Guardian
July 21, 2008
#35: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey I had a tough time with this one. It didn’t quite grab my attention the way I had wanted. The book takes place in a hospital psych ward and follows patients as they live their lives in this setting. However, the story is a metaphor for society and how it continues to follow unwritten and seemingly useless rules regardless of their worth or relevance. I write about this often, but what I found most striking in the story was how all of the hospital patients were men and the imposing force that they hated and tried to break down was a female nurse. The book was written in an earlier era, and I understand that, it was just hard to overlook what seems to be blatant gender bias. Ultimately, the book did give some insight into what it is like to feel used by authority, not have opportunity, and ultimately want to rise against opposing forces. 

#35: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey

I had a tough time with this one. It didn’t quite grab my attention the way I had wanted. The book takes place in a hospital psych ward and follows patients as they live their lives in this setting. However, the story is a metaphor for society and how it continues to follow unwritten and seemingly useless rules regardless of their worth or relevance. I write about this often, but what I found most striking in the story was how all of the hospital patients were men and the imposing force that they hated and tried to break down was a female nurse. The book was written in an earlier era, and I understand that, it was just hard to overlook what seems to be blatant gender bias. Ultimately, the book did give some insight into what it is like to feel used by authority, not have opportunity, and ultimately want to rise against opposing forces. 

#34: The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank Well Mom, you were right about this one. It isn’t profound or life changing, but it is a pretty decent beach read. I bought it at the Strand for $1 and read it while cooking myself to a crisp in the Massachusetts sun. Because of said circumstances I don’t have anything insightful to say about the book. It’s just good for when you don’t really want to think about anything. 

#34: The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank

Well Mom, you were right about this one. It isn’t profound or life changing, but it is a pretty decent beach read. I bought it at the Strand for $1 and read it while cooking myself to a crisp in the Massachusetts sun. Because of said circumstances I don’t have anything insightful to say about the book. It’s just good for when you don’t really want to think about anything. 

Last night as I was posting an add to Cragislist (anyone need a queen size mattress?) I found something fun on the security check. It says “Stop Spam. Read Books.”  Also, I have always thought that the word combinations would make really great band names. 

Last night as I was posting an add to Cragislist (anyone need a queen size mattress?) I found something fun on the security check. It says “Stop Spam. Read Books.” 

Also, I have always thought that the word combinations would make really great band names. 

July 20, 2008
Breakfast for dinner is my favorite of all favorites.
Breakfast for dinner is my favorite of all favorites.
July 16, 2008
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Lovin’ Spoonful - Do You Believe in Magic

This is the start of my summer vacation soundtrack. Doesn’t it make you want to dance on a dock or at least eat dinner outside under those multi-colored christmas lights?