What I'm Reading This Week -- Sept.6
Quote de jour
"There should be a little voice in your head like the storyteller is saying it. And if there's not, you're just lookin' at the words."
~LaKeisha ( a 9th grader in San Francisco)
I couldn't have said it better myself. It really is all about the story and so few books compel me to stay up reading until my eyes fall out. Two books are responsible for my sleepless nights this week. But first, a partial selection of magazines. The buzzwords are: cost cutting, value, optimism, saving, more for less. I'll sum it up with one word: panacea.
Book # 1 is the brilliantly titled novel : How I Became A Famous Novelist. The faux New York Times best seller list included is worth the price of the book. This spot on satire about the publishing industry and one hack's quest for the best seller list is so good it currently sits on the real NY Times best seller list. How's that for life imitating art? I dying to know what this former Letterman Show comedy writer has up his sleeve.
Book #2 which made me bleary-eyed is Everything Matters the recent novel about gleeful cosmic doom by Ron Currie Jr. He writes in such an original, elliptical style making it possible to skim large chunks and not miss too much. You know a book is good when it's way past your bedtime and you make bargains with the book gods. "Okay, I'll just read until the end of the chapter." You get to the end of the chapter and glance at the first line of the next chapter. You skim the pages to see how many pages are in that chapter. "Oh, it's a short chapter. Only one more, then lights out, I promise." Four chapters later, you make another fruitless promise. Hey, Ron you owe me a coffee. Visit him at his website http://www.roncurriejr.net/
What startled me about both these novels were their original, rule-breaking style. They dispense with normal narrative conventions, but easier said than done. You can't break rules until you've mastered them.
I'm anticipating another late night. I've just begun Lucinda Rosenfeld's snarky and aptly titled novel: I'm So Happy For You about two thirty-something best friends whose friendship unravels. This fiendishly fun cover is a prime example why I photograph what I'm reading to display both sides. I like the cover so much I've decided to start a monthly prize " Book Cover of the Month" . This is a shoe -in to win for September. The book has it's own equally clever website http://www.imsohappyforyou.com/ And who said chick lit is dead? I think not.
"There should be a little voice in your head like the storyteller is saying it. And if there's not, you're just lookin' at the words."
~LaKeisha ( a 9th grader in San Francisco)
I couldn't have said it better myself. It really is all about the story and so few books compel me to stay up reading until my eyes fall out. Two books are responsible for my sleepless nights this week. But first, a partial selection of magazines. The buzzwords are: cost cutting, value, optimism, saving, more for less. I'll sum it up with one word: panacea.
Book # 1 is the brilliantly titled novel : How I Became A Famous Novelist. The faux New York Times best seller list included is worth the price of the book. This spot on satire about the publishing industry and one hack's quest for the best seller list is so good it currently sits on the real NY Times best seller list. How's that for life imitating art? I dying to know what this former Letterman Show comedy writer has up his sleeve.
Book #2 which made me bleary-eyed is Everything Matters the recent novel about gleeful cosmic doom by Ron Currie Jr. He writes in such an original, elliptical style making it possible to skim large chunks and not miss too much. You know a book is good when it's way past your bedtime and you make bargains with the book gods. "Okay, I'll just read until the end of the chapter." You get to the end of the chapter and glance at the first line of the next chapter. You skim the pages to see how many pages are in that chapter. "Oh, it's a short chapter. Only one more, then lights out, I promise." Four chapters later, you make another fruitless promise. Hey, Ron you owe me a coffee. Visit him at his website http://www.roncurriejr.net/
What startled me about both these novels were their original, rule-breaking style. They dispense with normal narrative conventions, but easier said than done. You can't break rules until you've mastered them.
I'm anticipating another late night. I've just begun Lucinda Rosenfeld's snarky and aptly titled novel: I'm So Happy For You about two thirty-something best friends whose friendship unravels. This fiendishly fun cover is a prime example why I photograph what I'm reading to display both sides. I like the cover so much I've decided to start a monthly prize " Book Cover of the Month" . This is a shoe -in to win for September. The book has it's own equally clever website http://www.imsohappyforyou.com/ And who said chick lit is dead? I think not.
Posted by Layla Morgan Wilde at 9/6/2009 1:07 PM 
Categories: What I'm Reading This Week
Tags: Steve Hely Lucinda Rosenfeld Ron Currie Jr.
Categories: What I'm Reading This Week
Tags: Steve Hely Lucinda Rosenfeld Ron Currie Jr.
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