February 2012
1 post
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January 2012
7 posts
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“Does character develop over time? In novels, of course it does; otherwise there...”
– The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
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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...
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“Dear Lord. It’s more unrelenting and out-of-control than any flesh eater it’s...”
– 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.
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December 2011
11 posts
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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...
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The Books They Gave Me: Capote. →
I’m always a sucker for stories like this. And for Truman Capote.
thebookstheygaveme:
Nessa and I bonded during our junior year of high school over books (we couldn’t keep our noses out of them) and shared dislike of our boring rest-stop of a town (a dozen gas stations and fast food joints split in two by a rushing freeway). Every day on the bus we’d talk about the books we…
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Ryan Adams - Dirty Rain
Last time I was here you...
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Just now at the library,
I decided not to pick up my held copy of Murakami’s 1Q84 (because I just can’t handle it at the moment) and instead checked out a cookbook called Southern Biscuits. It was the right thing to do.
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Today is World AIDS Day →
Listen up, folks! It’s the time of year when people are all “want! want! want!” but it’s also the time of year when we should all be decent human beings. If you can’t make it to the Housing Works Bookstore today, find a time to read a book and have a cup of coffee there. It’s still one of my favorite places. Get more info on World AIDS Day here.
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November 2011
7 posts
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letsbeglad:
Rouge Wave - Jingle Bell Rock
...
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I can always count on HTMLGIANT to ask the tough... →
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Three thoughts for the three Tana French novels:
1. The Likeness ≥ In The Woods > Faithful Place
2. Is it just me or do these books get progressively more Irish? Like the accents? The Guinness? I don’t get it.
3. They all have gaping plot holes but are perfectly pleasant mystery reads when you don’t want to have to think. And I’m always a sucker for that.
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The Books They Gave Me →
To whoever began this particular project, it is absolutely wonderful.
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“The books somehow made him smaller, not larger, as if they were whispering,...”
– James Wood in Shelf Life: Packing up my father-in-law’s library
Y’all, if (when) I die, please don’t let James Wood write about my personal history and library for The New Yorker.
October 2011
4 posts
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“Because I knew what I loved. I loved to read; I loved to listen to music; and I...”
– Haruki Murakami, interviewed in The Guardian. (via thebronzemedal)
September 2011
4 posts
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Confession laced with confusion:
I have had Terms of Endearment on hold at the New York Public Library since 6/26/11. Since then, it has said I am #1 on the list of two copies. Who are these two people and what have they been doing for the last three months and why can’t I just read a sentimental novel?
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* turn your volume up *
I complain to everyone...
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August 2011
3 posts
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Unpopular Opinion:
I did not like A Gate at the Stairs and returned it to the library unfinished.
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July 2011
10 posts
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Spotify Playlists for Writers: Haruki Murakami →
The mix that finally made me request a Spotify invite.
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“Hermione is not Chosen. That’s the best thing about her. Hermione is a hero...”
– In praise of Joanne Rowling’s Hermione Granger series by Sady Doyle (via Kottke.org)
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The Flaming Lips - Do You Realize? (Postal Service...
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A rant:
I believe I’ve mentioned this before (I don’t really feel like looking), but I am completely over the trend of books being titled The _____’s wife, The ______’s daughter, or The girl who ______.
THESE WOMEN ARE THE ENTIRE BOOK!
If you write a novel about one woman, name the damn thing after her. She is more than the ______’s whatever. Let’s have more books...
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Observation:
The Minneapolis airport sells an inordinate amount of romance novels.
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June 2011
7 posts
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'Wet Hot American Summer' Director David Wain Says... →
Have you ever been so excited about something that you go off topic of your one topic blog? Well now I have because check out this Q&A:
Wain: Yes, we have been talking about a sequel, prequel, something or other.
Goldsmith: The idea I’ve heard tossed around is that it would be a prequel but when you shoot it they would be 20 years older.
Wain: Well, no that would be absurd. The prequel...