Friday, January 20, 2006
Lynx Presents: More Book Recommendations!
It's time to stop castigating yourself for breaking every single one of your New Year's resolutions. In fact, it's time to distract yourself fully with a decent book so you don't have to think about the fact you only made it twenty minutes on the first resolution!
Here's some fun reads to help you feel better:
*Note: I deliberately try to avoid books that are on the NYTimes bestselling list and go for more obscure titles. Let's face it, Stephen King's going to be read no matter what. Heck, I don't even
have to bother to recommend Neil Gaiman anymore, because people have finally heard of him (Anansi Boys, in case you're interested). If you're an author and wish to drop me a line, please do so--just don't mind the electronic drool I give off, as I act towards great authors the way most people act towards TV stars. ) Here's the list:
**Sloth, by Wendy Wasserstein. OK, I realize Wendy Wasserstein is a great author with enough well deserved awards to make the previous paragraph incongrous, but how many people have head of this book? A project was started in which several wonderful authors and thinkers were asked to write a book dealing with a deadly sin.
At the beginning of the new year I can think of no greater title to help us hold our heads up high. Sloth is a book that casts the "sin" in a much more favorable light. In fact, for the past two weeks I actually tried to follow the tenets of the book, but realized I love moving too much to be able to keep it up. I actually like doing things. Sometimes I even enjoy accomplishing feats--especially if nobody's looking or expecting it. (That wondrous look of surprise coupled with the words, "YOU?" just makes me grin to no end). The way of the sloth is not for me, but that doesn't mean you should not give it a whirl. If nothing else, it will make you feel better about the fact you broke your resoloutions.
How to Stop Time: by Anne Marlowe. This is my favorite recovery book ever. Why? Because it assumes that addiction is a responsibility that must be addressed by the user (and yes, I’ve dealt with addictions—remember smoking, thank you very much. ). It’s done in alphabetical order, with verbal pictures punctuating the time in which Marlowe used Heroin until she finally realized a sad truth all addicts (myself included) had to realize: addiction is too boring to keep up until the end of your life.
A Year in Van Nuys: by Sandra Tsing Loh. Sandra, we love you. Where is your new book? Have you abandoned your fan base in Dayton? Yes, we can occasionally hear you on NPR, but a new book would be highly appreciated. Please?
In the meantime, people who don't know of this amazing Los Angeles writer should take notice of her last title. A Year in Van Nuys is the ultimate "Middle-age crisis" book because it will take your lofty ambitions, hold them up to a giant screen and launch a fluffy cream pie at them. Run, don't walk, to the store and order or purchase this puppy.
Liz Langley--I have read that a new book of yours is coming out soon. Would you mind telling me when this will be? I miss your column and I can't wait to fork over cash to read your new title. Come on, Liz--where is your book? How are book addicts such as myself supposed to survive when good writers don't produce? Sheesh.
China Mieville: Looking for Jake. I know he's won the Arthur C. Clark award a couple of times so he's pretty well known, but he's not enough of a household name for my liking, so here the recommendation is. This is his current short story collection, and it's simply wonderful. China is a writer whom I read, hit myself in the head, and say, "why didn't I get myself to work hard enough and write like that?" If you can recover from unescapable envy at his remarkable plotting and verbal poise, pick this one up in a jiffy. It's a treat.
Socrates Cafe: Christopher Phillips--Yeah, it's not his latest, Six Questions for Socrates, which I also own, but it's my favorite of his work so far. If you wish to have a good time, look up when the next Socrates cafe is happening in your town and go--you'll have lots of good conversation, meet fascinating people, and even probably enjoy decent food in the process. I had to go to Columbus to find one (hopefully they've started one in Dayton now--but if not, there's more work for me to do, now, isn't there?). Start with Socrates Cafe and then read his Six Questions, and then find some people to ask questions about and be prepared to really listen and think about their answers.
Alain De Botton: The Consolations of Philosophy. The Surtsey Islander very kindly bought me a copy of this book which I've wanted ever since I spied it in the library. Ever since I've been out of remission, I've been looking at philosophy as a means to search for a way to make my life meaningful no matter what occurs with my illness or life. This book is comforting (as is Philosophy, not prozac--a book I'd also recommend) and sometimes that's all we need at the moment.
OK--that's my current list of titles. Any other Dandelions wish to join the book recommendation discussion?
Here's some fun reads to help you feel better:
*Note: I deliberately try to avoid books that are on the NYTimes bestselling list and go for more obscure titles. Let's face it, Stephen King's going to be read no matter what. Heck, I don't even
have to bother to recommend Neil Gaiman anymore, because people have finally heard of him (Anansi Boys, in case you're interested). If you're an author and wish to drop me a line, please do so--just don't mind the electronic drool I give off, as I act towards great authors the way most people act towards TV stars. ) Here's the list:**Sloth, by Wendy Wasserstein. OK, I realize Wendy Wasserstein is a great author with enough well deserved awards to make the previous paragraph incongrous, but how many people have head of this book? A project was started in which several wonderful authors and thinkers were asked to write a book dealing with a deadly sin.
At the beginning of the new year I can think of no greater title to help us hold our heads up high. Sloth is a book that casts the "sin" in a much more favorable light. In fact, for the past two weeks I actually tried to follow the tenets of the book, but realized I love moving too much to be able to keep it up. I actually like doing things. Sometimes I even enjoy accomplishing feats--especially if nobody's looking or expecting it. (That wondrous look of surprise coupled with the words, "YOU?" just makes me grin to no end). The way of the sloth is not for me, but that doesn't mean you should not give it a whirl. If nothing else, it will make you feel better about the fact you broke your resoloutions.
How to Stop Time: by Anne Marlowe. This is my favorite recovery book ever. Why? Because it assumes that addiction is a responsibility that must be addressed by the user (and yes, I’ve dealt with addictions—remember smoking, thank you very much. ). It’s done in alphabetical order, with verbal pictures punctuating the time in which Marlowe used Heroin until she finally realized a sad truth all addicts (myself included) had to realize: addiction is too boring to keep up until the end of your life.
A Year in Van Nuys: by Sandra Tsing Loh. Sandra, we love you. Where is your new book? Have you abandoned your fan base in Dayton? Yes, we can occasionally hear you on NPR, but a new book would be highly appreciated. Please?
In the meantime, people who don't know of this amazing Los Angeles writer should take notice of her last title. A Year in Van Nuys is the ultimate "Middle-age crisis" book because it will take your lofty ambitions, hold them up to a giant screen and launch a fluffy cream pie at them. Run, don't walk, to the store and order or purchase this puppy.
Liz Langley--I have read that a new book of yours is coming out soon. Would you mind telling me when this will be? I miss your column and I can't wait to fork over cash to read your new title. Come on, Liz--where is your book? How are book addicts such as myself supposed to survive when good writers don't produce? Sheesh.
China Mieville: Looking for Jake. I know he's won the Arthur C. Clark award a couple of times so he's pretty well known, but he's not enough of a household name for my liking, so here the recommendation is. This is his current short story collection, and it's simply wonderful. China is a writer whom I read, hit myself in the head, and say, "why didn't I get myself to work hard enough and write like that?" If you can recover from unescapable envy at his remarkable plotting and verbal poise, pick this one up in a jiffy. It's a treat.
Socrates Cafe: Christopher Phillips--Yeah, it's not his latest, Six Questions for Socrates, which I also own, but it's my favorite of his work so far. If you wish to have a good time, look up when the next Socrates cafe is happening in your town and go--you'll have lots of good conversation, meet fascinating people, and even probably enjoy decent food in the process. I had to go to Columbus to find one (hopefully they've started one in Dayton now--but if not, there's more work for me to do, now, isn't there?). Start with Socrates Cafe and then read his Six Questions, and then find some people to ask questions about and be prepared to really listen and think about their answers.
Alain De Botton: The Consolations of Philosophy. The Surtsey Islander very kindly bought me a copy of this book which I've wanted ever since I spied it in the library. Ever since I've been out of remission, I've been looking at philosophy as a means to search for a way to make my life meaningful no matter what occurs with my illness or life. This book is comforting (as is Philosophy, not prozac--a book I'd also recommend) and sometimes that's all we need at the moment.
OK--that's my current list of titles. Any other Dandelions wish to join the book recommendation discussion?
