- “A Life of One’s Own” by Ilana Simon (because I read this review)
- “Gentlemen of the Road” by Michael Chabon (because it’s Chabon)
- “True Evil” by Greg Iles (because I haven’t read a psychological terror thriller in a while and all my Dad talks about lately is horror films and I am feeling the need to be scared! No, really!)
Monthly Archives: October 2007
Short Stories: “Beware of God” by Shalom Auslander
With his new book getting reviewed all over the place and Bookslut wholeheartedly recommending him, thought it was time I checked out Auslander.
Really funny, sarcastic, biting religious humor. Some of the stories were really really hilarious, particularly if you know anything about Judaism. If you don’t, some of the specifics might just go over your head. Some weren’t quite as funny, or perhaps it’s better read not all in a row as it’s a little one-note. If you’re not into mocking religion, then you wouldn’t be interested.
Fiction: “The Myth of You and Me” by Leah Stewart
As I may have mentioned, a somewhat philosophical story about a girlhood friendship gone wrong. Cameron is extremely guarded and close with her secrets; she’s also honest and heartbroken and afraid it will happen again. Sonia is exactly the kind of best friend who drives you nuts and makes you crazy while also making you treasure her. As with so many relationships, things get tangled up in insecurities and secrets and lies.
Really inviting tone, easy to get emotionally involved here. I wouldn’t call it chick lit, and I was surprised to see one reviewer on Amazon say “Teens will appreciate…” Teens? I don’t see Teens being interested in this kind of brutal honesty about how things fall apart (it would have hurt too much to read then and think ‘oh no this might happen to my friendship with x or x’), or understand the little lies going on here that turn out to not matter so much in the end. This is a book for adults, if you ask me.
In Concert: Tom Paxton
When I told my dad I went to hear Tom Paxton, he was surprised to hear Paxton was still alive. (Then he said, “Well I guess he’s probably not that much older than me if I stop and think about it…) Then he immediately starting singing a Paxton song to me, one from around the time of my birth.
Paxton’s not as famous to the rest of the world, but certainly in the folk world, he’s as well known as Joan Baez, Pete Seeger and others of that ilk. Witty and sharp, his personal songs are just as entertaining as his political ones. Lovely voice, great sentiments, and a heart solidly in the right place. A very enjoyable evening.
In Concert: Rogue Wave
One of my favorite bands of recent years, I was glad to finally see them live even though I didn’t stay for the entire thing given it was a Wednesday night, they didn’t go on until 10:30, and I had to arrive at the office by 6 a.m. the following morning.
Lead singer has a very unique voice to me. Not sure if they are sonically enhancing it somehow but sometimes sounds like it’s echoing from the bottom of a well. Very rich. Sounded really good. Solid. They’re maybe not quite as pop-py as the Shins, not quite as quirky as Band of Horses — but along those lines.
Lyrics of the Day.
I didn’t grow these wings to hang around…
– “Silver Dreams” Blackie & The Rodeo Kings
You’re the cocaine in my veins…
– “You’re the Cocaine” Joshua James
À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am…
…currently I am supposed to be working on my French homework. Bygones…
Making: Got back into the swing o’ the Friendship Stars this week (click on ‘blog’ above to check ’em out should you so desire). Hopefully this weekend I will at least be done with all the individual blocks I need so I can start trying out layouts.
Reading: A somewhat philosophical story about a girlhood friendship gone wrong, “The Myth of You and Me” by Leah Stewart. I’m really into it.
Watching: I’ve barely watched TV so far this week, can you believe it? Worked three nights in a row, then a concert, and tonight French. Oh sweet monkey sundae, am I going to be busy with the TIVO on my comp day tomorrow…
Listening: To three somewhat melancholy boys, although not as melancholy as some. Joshua James “The Sun Is Always B…” [my iPod is only telling me that much of the album name, too funny]: I’m really diggin the first few songs; the new Graham Colton “Flying Upside Down”: I enjoy a lot of it, but it gets a bit twangy; and the new Joe Purdy “Take My Blanket and Go”. Is Joe Purdy the new Ryan Adams or what? Dude puts out a new album every other week it seems. They’re all really lovely. Each one has a major tearjerker. Remember that song “Wash Away” that was on Lost a long time ago that I used to talk about constantly? (If you get mixes from me, you have it.) This album’s “one of those” is “Sinkin’ Low.” Soooo pretty. SO! Oh and also really diggin’ some songs from Mr. Hudson & the Library “A Tale of Two Cities”, particularly their “On the Street Where You Live” cover. Brilliant!! Thanks, MG!
DadReaction: 30 Days of Night
Up until the last five minutes: A+.
Awesome. Great vamps, very cool. Subtitling genius.
Last five minutes: F.
Totally blew the premise.
So that averages out to…a C+?
Unless you somehow figure out how to tell when the last five minutes is about to start and — quick! — RUN OUT OF THE THEATER.
Selected Sampler Singles – Paste #34
New (to me) Songs I’m Diggin:
“The Underdog” Spoon (not new today, but this sampler is where I first heard it)
“White Dove” John Vanderslice
“Put a Penny in the Slow” Fionn Regan (folksy, rolling guitar)
“Better People” Xavier Rudd (oh man this is so reminding me of something but I just can’t quite put my finger on it…)
“Parsons White” Phonograph
“Black Skies for the High & Mighty” Wrinkle Neck Mules (straight up country)
“Postcard from Kentucky” Rocky Votolato
“Oh Mary Don’t You Weep” Mike Farris (can I get a witness?)
“I Believe” Peter Searcy (anthemic)
“If You’re Gonna Leave” Emerson Hart (melancholy)
“Run” Renee Stahl (a little like Eliza Carthy)
Old Friends:
“Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe” Okkervil River
from Paste #34.
Mystery/Fiction: “In the Woods” by Tana French
It would be a big surprise to me if this novel isn’t in my Top 10 at the end of the year. LOVED IT. Really good. Sucks you right in, keeps you spellbound, and I stayed up way way way past my bedtime finishing it as I was close enough to the end I just couldn’t go to sleep without finding out what happened!
Two murder detectives, close friends, draw a chilling case with very few reliable leads. And it seems it may be related to a case from years past, of three children disappeared into the wood, two gone forever, one returned with no memory of the events. That returnee being one of the two aforementioned detectives.
Told first person from Rob (Adam)’s point of view, extremely seductive stream of consciousness. As the case becomes more and more personal, his life gets more tipsy turvy…
Everytime I picked this up, I just wanted to sit and read for hours on end. Excellent!
(p.s. When I saw this in the bookstore, I couldn’t remember where I’d heard of it. Then I realized it was in Jessica Jernigan’s “recommended” column. )