Whoohoo! I was tired of the old one and longed for a two column format that wouldn’t get in the way of Youtube clips. But ya’ll use the RSS feed anyway so it’s not like there was much of a point.

At least i’m happy and that’s what counts the most.

With the rain finally returning to Portland, I figured tonight would be a good night to visit Powells and sit in their coffee shop, sipping tea while reading various books. As always, I went in to Powells know exactly which book I wanted. In this case it was Generation X by Douglas Coupland. While browsing Coupland, I read the back of Mircoserfs and it sounded really good. I grabbed both books and headed to the coffee shop. Unfortunately everyone in Portland had the same idea and it was packed. Grr. So I decided to browse the store. I remembered an author I wanted to check out. Jonathan Amos I think was his name. I went to the As but couldn’t find him. Maybe I got his name wrong, I think to myself. Using one of their computers I searched for the only book title by Jonathan Amos that I knew, The Good Man. No results. Ok, I think. I have the author’s name and book title wrong. Whatever. I get over it and use IndieBound app on my iPhone to check my list of books. I discover that what I really meant was The Extra Man by Jonathan Ames. So close. I go back to the As and look one shelf up.On my list I saw that I had a book called Swish by Joel Derfner which seemed interesting. At one point I had five books in hand when really I just came in to buy one. In the end I walked out with Generation X and Swish.

James Frey.

I’m just saying. I don’t -hate- people that often. But it seems that in between stroking his own ego and being obnoxiously cocky that he got away with lying in a “memoir”, he has managed to secure a four book deal with Harper.

And now, for some links:
daydalus blog – Why I hate James Frey
Flavorwire – James Frey Is Addicted to Controversy
Bookpublishing – Because what’s funnier than deriding James Frey?
words for my enjoyment – Today’s Imaginary Conversation With James Frey
Gawker – James Frey Answers Your Gawker Intern Questions (with sass I might add)

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is still sitting on the NY Times bestseller list (currently at #5). I worry about what the popularity of this book will do to the book industry. In particular, I think that this book will spawn a number or “me too” books similar to what happened after The Da Vinci Code and every book seemed to be about a hidden code.

To beat people to the punch, I have come up with some ideas:

First, Pirates make everything better.

The Old Man and the Sea and Pirates would be the perfect pop culture/classic literature crossover. I haven’t read The Old Man and the Sea but judging from the title it’s about an old man and the sea. I imagine that the the old man could run in to pirates while on the sea and, I dunno, join them while learning valuable life lessons.

Second, Ninjas make an excellient additions to novels.

Again, haven’t read War and Peace. But War and Peace and Ninjas could depic the invasion of Russia by France who hire a ninja army who get fought off by the Russians while learning valuable life lessons.

Yes, this may be a good idea.

Ugh, one more day left then I am done with this term. Again, ugh. So tired.

Today at PSU there was the first meeting of beginning of a writing group for PSU students. There were only five people present and of the five only one was an English major (me). Three were linguistics majors. I’m not sure, is that even a real degree? Anyway, it all seemed kind of awkward as we talked about what we wanted from the group and what our personal goals are. I’ll see how this group develops. I agreed, for our next meeting, to bring in a piece for the group to workshop which means I have two weeks to write something.

Anyway, my pile of books that I need to write about has grown humorously tall. I’ll try and get that knocked down withing the coming weeks.

Yes, I am a bad book blogger. I have this nice little stack of books I have been meaning to get around to talking about. Things just keep getting in my way.. such as other books. Anyway, I’ll catch up soon. That is unless these books get in the way…

May 5th – Jennifer Johnson is Sick of Being Single by Heather McElhatton
The second book from the author of Pretty Little Mistakes. I am a little hesitant because it kinda sounds like Click Lit. So far the only review I have found online is at Genre Go Round and she seemed to like it. I’ll have to wait and see what other bloggers are saying before I pick it up. I loved PLM, so I am keeping a close eye on what she writes.

May 19th – The Pirates! In an Adventures with Napoleon by Gideon Defoe
The fourth book in the Pirates! series. I’ve enjoyed them all so far.

June 23rd – Pop Salvation by Lance Reynold
Based on what I have seen from an earlier draft of the book, it’s going to be fantastic. About a boy who discovers Rocky Horror and Andy Warhol.

Hmm, I thought I had a longer list of books coming out soon. I guess the rest of them already came out and are sitting in my To Read pile.

Clearly I am not one to attempt to climb the social ladder. I am sitting at home listing to a Jane Austin audiobook and knitting.

What are you doing with your Saturday night?

It looks like 23rd Avenue Books in Portland, Ore. has shut its doors after 29 years.

:-(

Eulogy here.

Happy Birthday to me (well, two days ago).

I started this blog one year ago. Well, on the 19th of Janurary was my first post, but I failed to notice it on the 19th.

I’ve been swamped with school the past three weeks which is why there hasn’t been any substantial updates. I made the mistake (mistake?) of taking on three literature classes this term in addition to learning a foreign language. Somehow I have managed to finish three books but have not found the time to post about them just yet. Maybe this weekend.

This term I am taking a Comedy and Satire class which wants me to find time to read 13 books in under ten weeks. Normally not a problem but so far the books have been greek classics like Horace. Those are surprisingly not easy to read. Luckily we have since transition the texts that did not need to be translated. I’m also taking The Bible as Literature which is pretty interesting. Luckily, we are not reading the whole Bible. Lastly, there is the generic sounding English 300 which I am still not quite sure what the topic of the class is other than we are reading Plato.

Anyway, I guess I should get started on my homework. Until next time…

Fellow writers,

do you dream about your characters? I would imagine that this is a pretty common thing. After all, during the writing process they are on the writer’s mind a lot even when there is no writing being done. A few days ago I had a dream where four characters from one of my story ideas were sitting around the table fighting the Reno, Nevada Local Business Bureau. I don’t remember what exactly they were fighting about, but I do know that it was my four characters versus everyone else. What struck me as most odd is that I have not written a single word about these characters. They don’t even have names yet. All they are are an idea that I am not quite sure how it works in to the main story.

Anybody else had dreams related to your own writing?