I have to apologize to myself and to the blogging community because I am a horrible blogger. I read that blogs should be updated every other day, if not everyday, and yet I find myself not posting for weeks at a time. This might be because I feel I have nothing exciting or new to talk about since my life, right now, is pretty mundane. Wake up. Shower. Walk dogs. Come home. Make dinner. Watch TV. Go back to bed. Repeat. Then I waitress some nights, but besides that dog walking is my life. But, I'm trying not to trap myself in since I still haven't reached my ultimate goal of working in publishing. I did have a breakthrough today where I talked to a woman who heads Chicago's Printer's Row Lit Fest which is an amazing event that promotes literacy, booksellers, and authors from Chicago and around the country. And this woman gave me hope on two aspects. The first being that Chicago is an amazing literary hub, but it just isn't recognized because it has to compete with New York City. Second, that people in the literacy and publishing community are so willing, helpful, and welcoming to those trying to enter into the community. Everyone has the base of the love of books and reading to get together and then grow upon that. It's one of the biggest things I miss about working at my old bookstore because I made so many connections with people just being able to talk about a similar love over a book. But, I digress...
So, all in all I don't feel as disheartened and more hopeful about moving to Chicago and finding a job that I can really enjoy and feel proud about. Speaking of reading I have read some interesting books recently. (Side note: From working in a bookstore for the past year I have an immense amount of books that are just sitting in a corner of my room so my goal is to read them all over the next year. What's even more messed up though is that I currently have a list of books I want to read that aren't included in my massive pile of books, it's seriously a disease) Also this books aren't essentially new they're just books that have caught my interest (and were also free).
Stardust by Neil Gaiman - An interesting fantasy read that resembles a twisted fairy tale but on the raunchy side. The characters are strong enough where you'll be cheering for them (or their demise). Neil Gaiman always has an intriguing way of looking at situations that don't follow the typical assumptions (Coraline, for example). Overall, a really nice read for traveling, vacationing, or a story before bed that gives you enough intrigue but doesn't rattle your brain.
This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper - The first thing I'm going to say about this book is that it is definitely written by a guy. The first couple chapters go into gritty sexual details that are taken from a male perspective, all the way. But, if you can get past the boob/ass/sex talk Tropper has actually done a decent job of looking at the modern family when tragedy hits. People who have unresolved feelings, resentment, and bitterness forced to live with each other for 7 days in a cramped house, one can assume that the sh*t is going to hit the fan and probably more than once. Yet Tropper doesn't leave the reader with only pain and anger, he gives way to the underlying love and connections people have after growing up with each other and trying to figure out where they stand with each other after the acne, braces, and training bras have disappeared.
At Home by Bill Bryson - Bill Bryson does it again with his newest release taking his reader through a room by room history of his Victorian parsonage in England. What the reader discovers is the history of how the "home" came to be. From the kitchen to the stairs readers get interesting facts and eye opening revelations of the things they bypass everyday without a second thought. Such as, for most of history a person's bed was one of the most valuable things they owned where some people displayed their beds in the living room so it could be shown off to visitors. Readers will come away with a wealth of knowledge and perhaps will give that broom closet a little more affection that it has previously experienced.
Paris Under Water by Jeffrey H. Jackson - The subtitle of this book is "How the City of Light Survived the Great Flood of 1910" and that's exactly what this book is. Jackson is writing from a more fact basis, historical perspective where he has all his names and dates down, but speculates a little bit when it comes to the actual feelings and emotions of his characters. It can be argued though that it is tricky to put a more emotional aspect on the topic since Jackson only has diary entries and newspaper articles to work off of. For someone who is interested in history and/or Paris I would suggest it, but for the typical reader I would say it's a little dry.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - I really don't know what to say besides...Read. This. Book. Now. It is amazing. OK, I will expand upon this. Collins has created a world that is eerily similar to ours, except she takes everything wrong with the system and expands on it. Her characters are so rich, deep, and emotional that you will feel for them within the first few pages. Then, if possible, Collins takes you even deeper into this world and it's rituals that you will feel like you are in the Hunger Games. I take it as a sign that a book affects you when you have a dream about it, I've had about twenty over the Hunger Games. Then, as if it couldn't get better, Collins made this book into a trilogy so pick up Catching Fire and Mockingjay as soon as you can.
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert - Yes, let your groan out now. This book, made into a movie starring Julia Roberts getting "fat" over pounds of pasta and falling in love with beautiful men, is already a cliche in the reading world. But, as much as I hate to admit it, I really, really liked this book. Gilbert has a way of writing that draws you into her characters (who are actually herself and real life people) making you wonder how you would react in the same situation. Reading this book will make you not only envious, but also to want to book a trip like this yourself in hopes that you can find yourself while traveling across the world. So go ahead, give into the masses and read it (you don't have to tell anyone though).
So there ya go. Also remember...Read global, buy local!
