Hey Mindy, write this

Hey Whipple, Squeeze This by Luke Sullivan motivates me to write more than Salinger, Poe and Bukowski combined.

I don’t know why, but writing copy is more exciting to me than creative writing in other forms – like short stories, poems etc. Probably because i’m a nerd.

I Even Liked “Hard Times” by Dickens.

I went out for dinner last night (Temple Grill in Downtown New Haven. Nice place, sit outside if you can) and was talking to the girl I was with about books. 

(That’s sort of a go-to conversation for me by the way.)

When she asked what I’ve been reading this summer I rattled off a bunch of books, and ended each description with, “It was really good.” 

Since then, I’ve realized it’s not that I enjoy every book I read, I just enjoy reading.  Sure, I have my favorite books of all time, but I’ll also suggest whatever I’m reading at the time to anyone else.   You’d think, given that I’m a writer myself and read an awful lot, I’d be more picky.  But this is not the case.  

My new favorite book is generally whatever I just finished reading. 

(Bright Lights, Big City currently)

Maybe I’m just easy to please.  Maybe I just don’t put enough thought into it.  Even in high school I liked most of my assigned reading, and in college even more so.  Basically what I’m saying is don’t expect a stellar book recommendation from me, because I like everything.  I’ll gladly accept your book recommendations, I’m almost guaranteed to enjoy it, and I need something to read.

(And I really enjoyed dinner last night, too.)

What I Miss about Michael Jackson, and Reading.

On the new Paste Magazine (which I haven’t gotten yet), the cover article is, “What I Miss About Michael Jackson.”   Now, most people who know me personally know that I really do enjoy Michael Jackson’s music.  ‘Rock With You’ is one of my favorite songs.  It seems strange that I would, given my taste in music in general, but I honestly do.  Despite his behavior with the Beatles catalog, which really, really grinds my gears. steams my broccoli.  sinks my battleship…I appreciate his music.

Anyway, I’ve been thinking about Michael alot lately, and I’ve come to sad conclusions:

• The man was a genius.  Say what you will about him and his behavior, he was a  musical genius.  It’s really sad to me that I highly doubt he’ll be remembered that way, on account of his tainted public image.
• I feel that we’ll never see a musical artist of that…spectacle ever again.  I remember when I was younger, we stayed up at my Nana’s house to watch the one hour premiere of “Remember The Time.”  When I think of things after that, MTV video premieres etc; yes, some people did stay up or stay home to watch them but they were usually bubble-gum-pop-little-girls or just had too much time on their hands.  Everyone cared when Michael did something new.  Now, music is too… compartmentalized I guess, to have so many people care so much about one, single artist, ever again.

On a completely unrelated note, which should probably be a seperate post – I sent out an S.O.S to the Internet a few weeks ago asking for reading suggestions.  “Something that changed your life” were the only parameters, and I got alot of responses.  I went with The Best American Short Stories 2007, which is exactly what it sounds like.  I’ve only been reading them for a few days now, but I think I made a good choice.  Unfortunately, I’m sporadically very busy, then I’ll suddenly have a much lighter work load.  So, I felt like I couldn’t dedicate myself fully to a novel per-se.  I’m not the type of reader who can just pick up a book and read a chapter every few days or so.  I really have to pour myself into it – this, combined with the fact that I can’t imagine notreading recreationally makes finding time to read “properly” difficult.  Short stories are the answer.  What are you reading, and how do you read?  Can you do the “read a chapter whenever I get the chance” sort of thing, or do you need to plow through it like I do?  And if you feel like suggesting a “Something that changed your life,” feel free.  I might not have time to read your life changer right now, but i’ll at least look into it, and keep it in mind for when I do have time.