hamsters 50, 51, and 52. there are now too many for the keyboard-drawer on my desk, and i am trying to figure out where to put them all to best display their adorable-ness.
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Saturday, February 26, 2005
book meme
hey, it's exactly the same as that music meme, but it's about books.
1) Total number of books in your house:
approximately 1200, not counting the bookshelf (and boxes) of graphic novels
2) The last book you bought was:
i think it was the dancer upstairs, which i bought last weekend at nightlight. most of the other books i've gotten recently have been from the library.
3) What was the last book you read before reading this message?
see below. :)
4) Write down 5 books you often read or that mean a lot to you.
a. mark helprin's winter's tale. i used to read this annually, although i haven't done it in the last couple of years. i always loved the mix of fairy tale and big-city immigrant story and rich people shenanigans. helprin really is a great writer.
b. john irving's the hotel new hampshire. i read this book probably 20-some times through middle and high school and college--it was the first irving i'd read--my dad gave me his old copy, i imagine forgetting the whole incest subplot. i liked it anyway, and proceeded to read every other irving (except the 158 pound marriage, which my dad would not let me read when i was 13ish, and which doesn't really appeal to me anyway). it's not irving's best, but i always liked it for some reason.
c. sharon creech's love that dog. a kids' book, told all in poetry, about a boy's love for his dog. i cry every single time i read it.
d. haruki murakami's hard-boiled wonderland and the end of the world. i first read this in asian lit in college, and i've reread it many times since. it's still my favorite murakami.
e. ann patchett's bel canto. one of the most amazing books i read before i started to keep track of the books i've read. i haven't reread it yet (my mom still has my copy) so maybe it won't hold up, but in my head it's absolutely brilliant and moving.
5) Who are you going to pass the stick to (to three people) and why?
david n. if he wants to. john m., if he does things like this. i don't know who else talks about books, really. :)
1) Total number of books in your house:
approximately 1200, not counting the bookshelf (and boxes) of graphic novels
2) The last book you bought was:
i think it was the dancer upstairs, which i bought last weekend at nightlight. most of the other books i've gotten recently have been from the library.
3) What was the last book you read before reading this message?
see below. :)
4) Write down 5 books you often read or that mean a lot to you.
a. mark helprin's winter's tale. i used to read this annually, although i haven't done it in the last couple of years. i always loved the mix of fairy tale and big-city immigrant story and rich people shenanigans. helprin really is a great writer.
b. john irving's the hotel new hampshire. i read this book probably 20-some times through middle and high school and college--it was the first irving i'd read--my dad gave me his old copy, i imagine forgetting the whole incest subplot. i liked it anyway, and proceeded to read every other irving (except the 158 pound marriage, which my dad would not let me read when i was 13ish, and which doesn't really appeal to me anyway). it's not irving's best, but i always liked it for some reason.
c. sharon creech's love that dog. a kids' book, told all in poetry, about a boy's love for his dog. i cry every single time i read it.
d. haruki murakami's hard-boiled wonderland and the end of the world. i first read this in asian lit in college, and i've reread it many times since. it's still my favorite murakami.
e. ann patchett's bel canto. one of the most amazing books i read before i started to keep track of the books i've read. i haven't reread it yet (my mom still has my copy) so maybe it won't hold up, but in my head it's absolutely brilliant and moving.
5) Who are you going to pass the stick to (to three people) and why?
david n. if he wants to. john m., if he does things like this. i don't know who else talks about books, really. :)
Friday, February 25, 2005
2005 book 19
nicholas shakespeare's the dancer upstairs
wow, this book was pretty freakin' riveting. it starts with a journalist in peru who wants to write the story of the minister of intelligence, famous for capturing a notorious guerilla leader after 12 years of terror. unable to get the interview and despondent, he randomly goes to a cafe, where he meets the police detective who tracked the guerilla down, and whose story is pretty fascinating. if this wasn't a work of literary fiction, but was a more genre-related mystery, it probably would have a line on the back like, "but will his obsession w/ his daughter's dance teacher get in the way of his investigation?" rejas, the detective, is an extraordinarily well-written character, and the story is a compelling one, highlighting the political chaos in latin america while relating the tale of a man falling in love.
wow, this book was pretty freakin' riveting. it starts with a journalist in peru who wants to write the story of the minister of intelligence, famous for capturing a notorious guerilla leader after 12 years of terror. unable to get the interview and despondent, he randomly goes to a cafe, where he meets the police detective who tracked the guerilla down, and whose story is pretty fascinating. if this wasn't a work of literary fiction, but was a more genre-related mystery, it probably would have a line on the back like, "but will his obsession w/ his daughter's dance teacher get in the way of his investigation?" rejas, the detective, is an extraordinarily well-written character, and the story is a compelling one, highlighting the political chaos in latin america while relating the tale of a man falling in love.
Thursday, February 24, 2005
that darn pope
so the pope is in the hospital again. i used to really like that guy, b/c when i was living in israel he came to visit, and he very respectfully put a note in the Wall, ostensibly asking forgiveness for the Church's inaction during the Holocaust. i thought that was pretty freakin' classy and thereafter thought the pope was an adorable old man.
well, that dude is just totally addled with old-ness these days. i mean, first there was that whole "dignity of women" debacle, where he talked about women's great sensitivity and i believe implied women should be nicer to their husbands (i can't find the references right now). but when i saw this on bookslut this morning i about screamed. ok, pope, i get that you are against gay marriages b/c you're the pope. whatever. but there is no need ever to compare abortion to the Holocaust. (for one thing, there are plenty of actual genocides to compare to the Holocaust.) this is just as un-classy and insensitive as the anti-abortion protestors who were outside eisenhower auditorium when elie wiesel was speaking back when i was a little college freshman. their signs also compared abortion to the Holocaust--and also features MUCH-larger-than-life photos of fetuses.
my point is this: it's your own business if you think abortion is a huge crisis. maybe you should take a more proactive stance re: abortion if it bothers you that much--you know, give kids condoms and stuff, or adopt all the babies that would otherwise be aborted. but the one thing you shouldn't do is co-opt a completely unrelated tragedy to try and make your own position more sympathetic. abortions are nothing like the Holocaust--there is no band of women out there going, "hey, i hate fetuses! let's all get knocked up and then abort them!" the Holocaust--and all genocides really--is a disgusting piece of history because one group specifically targeted another for extermination. abortion is a personal issue for each woman--it's not a campaign of hatred. it's not deliberate. so SHUT UP, pope!
god, what if his successor is worse?!
well, that dude is just totally addled with old-ness these days. i mean, first there was that whole "dignity of women" debacle, where he talked about women's great sensitivity and i believe implied women should be nicer to their husbands (i can't find the references right now). but when i saw this on bookslut this morning i about screamed. ok, pope, i get that you are against gay marriages b/c you're the pope. whatever. but there is no need ever to compare abortion to the Holocaust. (for one thing, there are plenty of actual genocides to compare to the Holocaust.) this is just as un-classy and insensitive as the anti-abortion protestors who were outside eisenhower auditorium when elie wiesel was speaking back when i was a little college freshman. their signs also compared abortion to the Holocaust--and also features MUCH-larger-than-life photos of fetuses.
my point is this: it's your own business if you think abortion is a huge crisis. maybe you should take a more proactive stance re: abortion if it bothers you that much--you know, give kids condoms and stuff, or adopt all the babies that would otherwise be aborted. but the one thing you shouldn't do is co-opt a completely unrelated tragedy to try and make your own position more sympathetic. abortions are nothing like the Holocaust--there is no band of women out there going, "hey, i hate fetuses! let's all get knocked up and then abort them!" the Holocaust--and all genocides really--is a disgusting piece of history because one group specifically targeted another for extermination. abortion is a personal issue for each woman--it's not a campaign of hatred. it's not deliberate. so SHUT UP, pope!
god, what if his successor is worse?!
des_ark
aww, the duke chronicle cares about local music! check out this article on des_ark.
by the way--the cd release party saturday at 506 is free (more money to spend on booze at the bar! thanks, glenn!) and work clothes is opening. we just got their new cd at wxdu, but i haven't heard too much of it yet. suffice it to say: this show is going to be awesome.
by the way--the cd release party saturday at 506 is free (more money to spend on booze at the bar! thanks, glenn!) and work clothes is opening. we just got their new cd at wxdu, but i haven't heard too much of it yet. suffice it to say: this show is going to be awesome.
tob semifinals
roth vs. ozick.
i read and enjoyed both of these books, so figured i'd throw this link up, even though i got bored w/ linking to the tob every day (i mean, it's not like i'm bookslut). but i really agreed w/ the assessments here and was pleased with the outcome.
i fully predict that cloud atlas will kick that dumb wolfe novel in the rear, and then triumph over roth for the title of BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR! if i had to pick just one, that's how it'd come out for me, anyway. i mean, the roth scared me so badly i was shaking--but the ending was a little bit weak. david mitchell just amazed me through and through.
i read and enjoyed both of these books, so figured i'd throw this link up, even though i got bored w/ linking to the tob every day (i mean, it's not like i'm bookslut). but i really agreed w/ the assessments here and was pleased with the outcome.
i fully predict that cloud atlas will kick that dumb wolfe novel in the rear, and then triumph over roth for the title of BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR! if i had to pick just one, that's how it'd come out for me, anyway. i mean, the roth scared me so badly i was shaking--but the ending was a little bit weak. david mitchell just amazed me through and through.
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
2005 book 18
sarah vowell's take the cannoli
well, yay to the unc library for having this book that i've been wanting to read. though actually, i didn't like it quite as much as partly cloudy patriot. for one thing, there was wayyy too much frank sinatra in this book. but it did have some high point for me--i really liked the first couple of essays, about her dad and her experiences in band, and the one about the chelsea, as well as the last couple of essays, especially the one about learning to be goth. that was pretty hilarious. the one about making mix tapes rang pretty true--and of course i loved when she said her boyfriend would call her "the second he'd finished reading a novel and just had to tell me about it, and i know it sounds hokey and librarian-ish to say so, but i just swooned when he did that." hee. well anyway, she also has some essays in here about american history and traveling and whatnot--the one on the trail of tears starts off strong and veers a little too much into self-indulgence for my tastes, but really, the goth story made up for everything.
well, yay to the unc library for having this book that i've been wanting to read. though actually, i didn't like it quite as much as partly cloudy patriot. for one thing, there was wayyy too much frank sinatra in this book. but it did have some high point for me--i really liked the first couple of essays, about her dad and her experiences in band, and the one about the chelsea, as well as the last couple of essays, especially the one about learning to be goth. that was pretty hilarious. the one about making mix tapes rang pretty true--and of course i loved when she said her boyfriend would call her "the second he'd finished reading a novel and just had to tell me about it, and i know it sounds hokey and librarian-ish to say so, but i just swooned when he did that." hee. well anyway, she also has some essays in here about american history and traveling and whatnot--the one on the trail of tears starts off strong and veers a little too much into self-indulgence for my tastes, but really, the goth story made up for everything.
more 80s (and 70s) nostalgia
ha! look what just came across my desk at the music library! the photos are amazing.
chapter five is called "drag."
I LOVE MY JOB.
chapter five is called "drag."
I LOVE MY JOB.
good music this weekend
friday night at the cradle: various local acts doing an elliot smith tribute. ash bowie is performing, and erie choir i think (the audubon park blog will have more details, i'm sure).
saturday night at local 506: des_ark and bellafea are both releasing their long-awaited cds! this is girls' night out for sure, so forgive me if you see me and i'm extra-loud and giggly--my ladies and i will be going out for drinks beforehand. and probably will get drinks during, as well. :)
saturday night at local 506: des_ark and bellafea are both releasing their long-awaited cds! this is girls' night out for sure, so forgive me if you see me and i'm extra-loud and giggly--my ladies and i will be going out for drinks beforehand. and probably will get drinks during, as well. :)
Monday, February 21, 2005
seriously, watch veronica mars
this week's episode (featuring guest star alyson hannigan, from buffy) looks to be totally amazing. there will be an 80s dance. logan will be dressed as tom cruise in risky business. veronica will be in a madonna-esque ensemble. and i imagine the writing quality will be as consistently smart, funny, and riveting as every other episode has been.
so why aren't you watching yet?
so why aren't you watching yet?
Sunday, February 20, 2005
2005 book 17
connie mason's the pirate prince
in case you couldn;t tell from the title, this is the romance novel i read for class. and first, let me commend david nahm on his recommendation of pta thriftshop as a romance-buying locale--their selection of books was pretty remarkable, and i only paid 50 cents for this one (a quarter more than the herman wouk book i picked up!). also, props to jodi, who is letting me use her computer to blog this from skylight, since i did not bring mine with me.
and onto the plot! it is a historical romance, taking place in turkey in 1564, and revolves around a prince who takes to piracy after his evil brother kills all their other brothers to maintain hold on the empire. as revenge, prince dariq hijacks (or whatever pirates call it) a ship carrying "a great treasure" destined for his brother--an virginal englishwoman with lush pink lips, destined to be his brother's concubine! gasp! dariq decides to trade the enticing englishwoman for his mother, still trapped in his evil brother's castle, but finds himself unable to resist her womanly charms. the typical plot twists ensue, along with an extremely large number of sex scenes (kate a. once told me that one of her college classes read romance novels and one thing they all had in common was no sex before page 100--that held true here, although there was a LOT of sex after page 100). i spent most of this book snickering and sharing the especially lusty passages with my homework-doing cohorts, so i guess you could say i enjoyed it. :)
for those interested in other exotic and racy romance novels, this author apparently has one about gypsies due out in may.
in case you couldn;t tell from the title, this is the romance novel i read for class. and first, let me commend david nahm on his recommendation of pta thriftshop as a romance-buying locale--their selection of books was pretty remarkable, and i only paid 50 cents for this one (a quarter more than the herman wouk book i picked up!). also, props to jodi, who is letting me use her computer to blog this from skylight, since i did not bring mine with me.
and onto the plot! it is a historical romance, taking place in turkey in 1564, and revolves around a prince who takes to piracy after his evil brother kills all their other brothers to maintain hold on the empire. as revenge, prince dariq hijacks (or whatever pirates call it) a ship carrying "a great treasure" destined for his brother--an virginal englishwoman with lush pink lips, destined to be his brother's concubine! gasp! dariq decides to trade the enticing englishwoman for his mother, still trapped in his evil brother's castle, but finds himself unable to resist her womanly charms. the typical plot twists ensue, along with an extremely large number of sex scenes (kate a. once told me that one of her college classes read romance novels and one thing they all had in common was no sex before page 100--that held true here, although there was a LOT of sex after page 100). i spent most of this book snickering and sharing the especially lusty passages with my homework-doing cohorts, so i guess you could say i enjoyed it. :)
for those interested in other exotic and racy romance novels, this author apparently has one about gypsies due out in may.
Saturday, February 19, 2005
2005 book 16
a.l. kennedy's paradise
one of the nice things about being a little bit sick is that between all the naps and sniffling and coughing, there is some time to do some just-for-fun reading. although kennedy's latest novel is fairly dark--it's the story of an alcoholic who gets involved with another alcoholic--it certainly qualifies as reading enjoyment. it's somewhat circular and confused--which makes sense, as the narrator begins the story having just emerged from a blackout, and has to piece together her recent activities and her life in general. never having been an alcoholic, i can't really say whether or not the characterizations are accurate, but they're certainly very powerful and gripping. this is probably kennedy's best novel to date, although it is slightly more distressing than her other works. still, i'd highly recommend it.
one of the nice things about being a little bit sick is that between all the naps and sniffling and coughing, there is some time to do some just-for-fun reading. although kennedy's latest novel is fairly dark--it's the story of an alcoholic who gets involved with another alcoholic--it certainly qualifies as reading enjoyment. it's somewhat circular and confused--which makes sense, as the narrator begins the story having just emerged from a blackout, and has to piece together her recent activities and her life in general. never having been an alcoholic, i can't really say whether or not the characterizations are accurate, but they're certainly very powerful and gripping. this is probably kennedy's best novel to date, although it is slightly more distressing than her other works. still, i'd highly recommend it.
Thursday, February 17, 2005
2005 book 15
andy duncan's beluthahatchie and other stories
the mysterious john m., fellow avid reader, left this for me to read. and i have to say, i enjoyed it pretty thoroughly. duncan, who has local ties, only missteps in the two stories where he writes in dialect--although the title story, about a blues guitarist who takes a train to the suburbs of hell and runs into the devil, is engaging enough to get past this. his stories are a mix of fantasy and dark humor and romance and history and good ol'-fashioned mountain music--highlights for me were "the executioner's guild," about a traveling electric-chair operator, "the premature burials," about a wife who makes her husband promise to be buried with her when she dies, "the map to the homes of the stars," about cars and lost childhood and things of that nature, and "liza and the crazy water man," about a girl from the carolina mountains with an amazing singing voice. if those descriptions don't give you the hint, i'll point out that duncan's stories really have a surprising range, meaning that most readers could find something enjoyable in here somewhere. thanks for the recommendation, john; i'll return the book tomorrow. :)
the mysterious john m., fellow avid reader, left this for me to read. and i have to say, i enjoyed it pretty thoroughly. duncan, who has local ties, only missteps in the two stories where he writes in dialect--although the title story, about a blues guitarist who takes a train to the suburbs of hell and runs into the devil, is engaging enough to get past this. his stories are a mix of fantasy and dark humor and romance and history and good ol'-fashioned mountain music--highlights for me were "the executioner's guild," about a traveling electric-chair operator, "the premature burials," about a wife who makes her husband promise to be buried with her when she dies, "the map to the homes of the stars," about cars and lost childhood and things of that nature, and "liza and the crazy water man," about a girl from the carolina mountains with an amazing singing voice. if those descriptions don't give you the hint, i'll point out that duncan's stories really have a surprising range, meaning that most readers could find something enjoyable in here somewhere. thanks for the recommendation, john; i'll return the book tomorrow. :)
tob/philip roth
round two of the tournment of books has begun. i actually got a little bored w/ posting links to the tournament, especially since i hadn't read some of the books, but i think maud newton really nails just why roth's novel was so frightening and effective. again, i did read it jsut before the election and was terrified out of my wits, but even a reviewer reading it in february should have picked up on the allusions to the present administration. kudos to maud newton!
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
romance novels
i have to read a romance novel for my popular materials class next week. does anyone know of one that might entertain me, as opposed to making me want to claw my eyeballs out? i mean, i'm not totally a terrible book snob (i did think that mystery book i read was fun), but romance novels always seem extra silly and formulaic. i am pretty sure chick-lit doesn;t count, which is fine, b/c i don't really like chick-lit (it is jsut as formulaic and silly as regular romance books, but everyone is so much more fashionable and adorably neurotic!). i mean, if i'm going to read some torrid love story, i'd rather there at least be some bodice-ripping and maybe some horses for scenery.
as a side note, does anyone know where i can obtain a romance novel? the kids at nightlight made fun of me for buying that mystery book, until i defensively explained that it was for homework.
as a side note, does anyone know where i can obtain a romance novel? the kids at nightlight made fun of me for buying that mystery book, until i defensively explained that it was for homework.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
2005 book 14
michael ondaatje's in the skin of a lion
this novel left me with only the vaguest impression of plot--but i certainly don't mean that in a bad way, as it's beautifully written. characters sort of float in and out, but everything comes full circle by its memorable end. apparently two of the characters here appear in another ondaatje novel (the english patient? i can't remember, it's been years since i've read it), which sort of intrigues me. anyway, the highlight here is definitely the language--it's a dreamy story with romance, languor, actresses, and jailtime. pretty awesome.
this novel left me with only the vaguest impression of plot--but i certainly don't mean that in a bad way, as it's beautifully written. characters sort of float in and out, but everything comes full circle by its memorable end. apparently two of the characters here appear in another ondaatje novel (the english patient? i can't remember, it's been years since i've read it), which sort of intrigues me. anyway, the highlight here is definitely the language--it's a dreamy story with romance, languor, actresses, and jailtime. pretty awesome.
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Saturday, February 12, 2005
bizarro world
finally picked up my copy of the bizarro world anthology today (along with the latest issue of fables) and was pretty pleased with it. like the last one, it was sort of hit and miss, but there were some great bits. the highlights for me were the dylan horrocks/faryl dalrymple one (and i also loved the supergirl one that dylan horrocks did the art for), the leela corman one, the justice league take your kids to work day one, and the last two stories as well. it was also nice to see contributions from evan dorkin, craig thompson, beto hernandez, and andi watson, and the jaime hernandez cover was cute, but i really could have done w/o the dave cooper, whose art just gets more and more grotesque as time goes by. bleah.
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