TSS - Subjective Reality

Good morning Saloners! I'm up with my cup of coffee and ready to roll. OK. Who am I kidding? I'm ready to sit here on the couch with my coffee and devour my RSS Feed. Eventually I'll be ready to roll. :P

Teresa over at Shelf Life got me thinking. In her SS she shared her love of plays and it reminded me that my all time favorite piece of literature is Six Characters in Search of an Author by Luigi Pirandello. I read this play in college and could not get enough of it. Have you read it? If not a quick synopsis:

There are six fictional characters who show up in a theatre vehemently demanding their story be told. The actors on the stage are shocked as the characters bend their perception of reality. What ensues is conflict between the characters and actors as they search for an joint understanding.

SCiSoaA is filled with wonderful thought-provoking quotes.

"We have this illusion of being one person for all, of having a personality that is unique in all our acts. But it isn't true. We perceive this when, tragically perhaps, in something we do, we are as it were, suspended, caught up in the air on a kind of hook. We perceive that all of us was not in that act, and that it would be an atrocious injustice to judge us by that action alone, as if all our existence were summed up in that one deed." ~ The Father

It was after reading this play that I had one of my Ah-Ha moments. (C'mon, I was an undergrad, they were fairly significant!) I've always been fascinated with reality bending. It's my favorite philosophical debate: what is real, how do we define reality, to what extent is it perception, etc.

As a child my favorite movie was Nightmare on Elm Street (I had very lenient parents, I was reading Stephen King in the 3rd grade). What fascinated me wasn't the gore or the horror, it was this character - Freddy - being able to leave our nightmares and enter the "real" world. Or, people entering the dreamworld and having real experiences. How wonderful! How, well, surreal.

After I finished my undergrad in literature and took of a few years, I pursued a double master's in therapy. During these two years I grew fascinated with schizophrenia. Humans completely embodying reality bending. My favorite theorist was Carl Rogers. As a phenomenologist, he felt that in order to work with these individuals we need to enter their world rather than force them into ours.

Moving back to literature, though, I love books that force this reality bend. Being Written, which I read last year, is the last book that truly captures that feel. In the novella, the main character believes that he is a minor character in a story. Hoping to become the main character he pursues interactions and situations to put him in the forefront of the story. As the reader, we question the reality of the situation.

I'd like to read more reality-bending books (for lack of better term, and I'm sure there's one out there!) but just don't know how to find them. Do you have any suggestions?

The Girl with Glass Feet

Title: The Girl with Glass Feet
Author: Ali Shaw
Pub Date: January 2010
Pages: 304
Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Magical Realism
* I received this book via LT's Early Reviewers.

Ida is a vivacious young lady determined to experience everything in life. Or at least she used to be. Her lively spirit has turned more defiant as she comes to terms with her ailment. Ida has returned to the wintery island of St. Hauda’s where she believes her transformation began. She must seek the only man that she knows who might help this unrelenting disease which is slowly turning her into glass.

When she first met Henry Fuwa, he was rather distraught. One of his winged bulls (miniatures, of course) had died and Ida offered to comfort him over a gin. In this brief conversation, Fuwa alluded to the mysterious mythos of the island. It is Henry who she believes might hold the answer to her ailment.

Shortly after returning to St. Hauda, Ida meets Midas. Midas is a miserable and fearful man who hides behind his camera in the hopes of avoiding human contact. In many ways, Midas is Ida’s foil. They soon form a unique relationship as he agrees to help find Henry.

The Girl with Glass Feet is a mesmerizing and aching tale. I wanted to lap up its imagery and envelop myself in Shaw’s emotion. It’s both a fairy tale and a stark reality on how desperate we can be as humans. It mirrors hopes, dreams, fears, and delusions that form the foundation and structure of humanity.

A comment is made in the tale about how intertwined everyone’s lives are on the island. And bit by bit, the mysteries and connections unfold. It’s a reminder how secrets can cause misunderstandings, fear traps us, and decisions in our past unavoidable will control parts of our future. Shaw forces us to question our own life and what makes us human.

This is a soft story that shouts emotions. I know that I used the adjective “aching” and I cannot stress how vivid that emotion is still felt, even though it has been nearly a month since I’ve finished this book. As soon as I turned over the last page, I wanted to take a sharp breath inward in the hopes that the cold air would fill that huge hole in my gut that the novel left behind.

I know that it is early on in the year, but I strongly feel it is safe to say that The Girl with Glass Feet will be one of my (if not the) favorite novel of 2010. I did a bit of internet search on Shaw and am most impressed at his young age – sitting at five years younger than me, he truly has an intelligent and emotional picture of life that I wish I fully grasped during my early to mid-twenties.

One of my favorite passages:

"Light didn't conduct truth as once he'd thought. there was nothing you could do to preserve truth. Light was only of use as a metaphor for the ungraspable moment. Until there was a kind of camera invented that could return you entirely to a moment from your past, pictures such as those were no use. At first he'd felt a thrill upon deleting them. Without them he had only her flesh, hair, glass. Only now, surrounded by the familiar, pollinated air, dealing with the humdrum demands of customers, he was beginning to doubt his wisdom. he had defined himself through photography for too long." (274)

The Big Skinny

Title: The Big Skinny - How I Changed My Fattitude
Author: Carol Lay
Pub Date: 2008
Pages: 195
Genre: Graphic Novel, Memoir, Health & Diet
Challenge: Graphic Novel

The Big Skinny might initially look like a memoir. I mean, it *does* say memoir on the cover, people. But it's a lie. A small lie. But a lie nonetheless. The Big Skinny's only memoir-ish contribution is maybe the first twenty or so pages where Lay briefly talks about her weight issue (and I say briefly because she's fifty and how can you not be brief if you're writing about your overweigh existence for fifty years in twenty pages or so).

TBS is more like an up beat diet book that tells you the oldest truth in the book when it comes to weight loss - eat less calories and you'll lose weight. But Lay does it all colorful-like with cutsey little funnies like, "George Clooney at the door with Girl Scout Cookies? Pshaw! Who needs that!?!"

Lay also does an amazing job at pointing out hidden calories. (There's this funny little excerpt where her friend is spray that no-calorie buttery cooking spray on bread because she wants a inexpensive caloric snack, when in fact, it adds up to 400 or so calories because nothing's really "no calorie").

There are even recipes in the back and a long list of foods and their calories.

So as far as a memoir goes, I'd give it an "eh". But as a diet book, a total two thumbs up.

Oh and check out a chapter here online.

Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft

Title:Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft
Author: Joe Hill Illustrator: Gabriel Rodriguez
Pub Date: 2008
Pages: 158
Genre: Graphic Novel, Horror
Challenge: Graphic Novel

Vacation time should be relaxing and carefree. Instead Tyler, Kinsey, and Bode walk into the horrific nightmare of their father being slain. Not knowing what else to do, their mom hauls the Locke family clear across the country to live with their uncle in Keyhouse, the mansion their father grew up in.

Keyhouse, like most mansions in a horror book, has a history (and mind) of its own. Doors lead to different worlds, keys transport spirits, and Echos live in abandoned wells. All characters involved handle the grief differently: the mother drinks; Tyler feels as though his father's death is his fault and contemplates suicide; Kinsey who once was the rebel, tries to become a wallflower; and Bode, well, Bode finds a hidden door that causes him to die momentarily and become a ghost whenever he wants.

And then, as if that all wasn't creepy enough, the killer escapes and is on his way to Keyhouse to get what he was after in the first place.

Okay, so this was my first horror comic and I absolutely loved it. Also, am I the only person in the world who didn't recognize the author? You see, I picked up this book because of the Lovecraft reference. I thought it was an adaptation of a Lovecraft story. (Chtulla anyone?) When I realized it wasn't, I figured what the hell, might as well. I'm glad I did, because it didn't disappoint.

Locke & Key first came out in comics. I believe that this bound book has the first six sessions and there are two more books out there. After doing some perusing I finally recognized Joe Hill - duh, I have wanted to read 20th Century Ghosts for a while. And then, an even bigger DUH...this is the Stephen King's son. Dude. Don't I feel like a goof.

I love the spookiness of the illustrations too. I would warn those who normally don't like gore might not like some of the scenes. I mean, it's not over the top Saw-gory. But there's definitely some blood filled pages.

Plus, I love that Hill incorporates both a crazy killer (you see the dad was a guidance counselor and it was a previous student who went on the killing rampage) with a haunted-spirited filled mansion. It's like the best of both worlds for the spooky.

TSS - Happy Valentine's Day

Good morning Sunday Saloners! I hope that everyone enjoyed their week. Mine was exceptionally busy. Every year I organize the Starlight Dance for the students. It's a "dress to impress" evening dance and they totally get psyched. (Think a mini prom for 6th - 8th graders!) But, between ticket sales, coordination, staying up wide awake making mental lists because I'm anal and get stressed, and all the other regular work day requirements I read very little. This week should be more reading productive (especially because I'm in the middle of an awesome book, The Girl with Glass Feet).

In my state of being totally unoriginal, I thought my Sunday Salon post today would focus in on novels with romance.

I don't normally read romance novels as a genre, but do love novels that incorporate and explore romantic relationships. There is a difference! I'm a character-driven gal and adore watching characters grow, but a book whose sole purpose is hooking two people up rarely interest me. There are, of course, exceptions as with everything.

I wanted to create a post that explored my top ten romantic books, but can't seem to do it. Not that many come to mind, so here's five instead:

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens - I read this book my freshman year in high school and was awe-struck with Sydney Carton's life sacrifice. (side note: the cool thing is I have my copy for HS with all notations still!)

Love Story by Erich Segal - OK. So you know how I said that there's exceptions to everything, like two seconds ago? Well, Love Story is the exception to the "I don't read books whose sole purpose is a relationship". But dude, really, that's because Love Story is just that incredible and awesome. And with it being under 150 pages, it's a nice novella to read on a cold morning with a cup of hot coffee and a snoring cat on your lap!

Blankets by Craig Thompson - I believe this is my favorite graphic novel. Thompson truly captures the experience of falling in love for the first time.

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan - Really?! I mean, really?! This one gives me the warm fuzzies every time I think back to it. Two young boys meeting and falling in love, dealing with high school life, ex boyfriends, and wonderful friends. If you're in Amanda's GLBT challenge and haven't read this one, I highly recommend picking it up.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - There is a reason why Darcy is one of the most desired male characters in literature.

I would love to read more books that make my heart patter so if you have any recommendations please comment.

Chiggers

Title: Chiggers
Author: Hope Larson
Pub Date: 2008
Pages: 170
Genre: Graphic Novel, Young Adult
Challenge: Graphic Novel

I never went to camps when I was a kid. At least not the type of camps where you were dropped off for a solid week, two, or even a month and stayed in a cabin with a bunch of girls and did campy things like wilderness hikes, swims in the lakes, and arts & crafts. We had camps, like Vacation Bible School, where we went daily. Or YMCA camps, also a daily-drop-off-in-the-morning-pick-up-afternoon.

This book was kind of neat because it really did capture the feel of camp life. The friendships were slightly a bit superficial and deep all at the same time (which I believe can only happen when you spend two straight weeks with someone even though you're not going to see them ever again, or if you do, it'll be a year later). Plus, I liked the hint of a romance going on between two of the characters.

My only biggest gripe? There are some graphic books that work fine as black and white, and in some cases, work better. This one, however, would have been more enjoyable if it was in color. Quite honestly, the first half of the book the characters bled together. I mean, they really did kinda look the same to me. It wasn't until the "new girl" who got struck by lightning brought a bit of change to the scenery. Her dark long hair, maybe?

I really wanted to enjoy this book more than what I did. And it wasn't that I hated it. I didn't. It just so happened that I was more on the "eh" fence of things. It was a quick read, though, so I'd still give it a shot. I took a bubble bath and finished it before the water got cold! If you do read it (or have) drop me a line and let me know. I'd love to hear your impressions.

Locker Room Diaries

Title: Locker Room Diaries - The Naked Truth about Women, Body Image, and Re-Imagining the "Perfect" Body
Author: Leslie Goldman
Pub Date: 2006
Pages: 236
Genre: Non Fiction, Health & Diet
Challenges: None

Argh!

Let me reiterate.

ARGH!!

This book was sooooo frustrating. Like, worse than having a hang nail and not be able to clip it, frustrating. And even worse than having someone stand right next to you pointing and saying, "I'm not touching you, I'm not touching you".

I picked it up because I was perusing through the library finding books that I normally wouldn't check out, when viola, it caught my attention. It presented itself as a "real look"at women and their body images. This sort of thing fascinates me. I mean, come on, we live in Dr. 90210 times and Biggest Loser marathons. I want to hear what real women have to say about their bodies. A no hold back sorta book, ya know?

And at first, that's what I thought I was getting. Goldman opens with her role in observing locker room conversations. How self conscious women are, how they self deprecate, judge, etc. But then, a few odd pages in, the woman seemed a bit, eh, flat? (For lack of better words). They didn't strike me as the type of friends I would surround myself with. Reading a bit more, I began to piece everything together.

These women were not normal women. At least, not in my universe normal women. These women were rich women. Skinny women. Women who spent $150 a month on a gym membership that would also give you a Brazilian wax after a workout for an extra $100. Ummm, my total gym membership for the year doesn't exceed $200. Are these women really speaking for the general public?

Plus, when she interviews the women about body images and weight, she never speaks to overweight women (two - I think - are interviewed in a later chapter specifically for that). More time was spent on: hey I've had an eating disorder and I understand the struggle. Not necessarily what I was looking for.

Nope. This book came across as superficial, over the top, and I was unable to relate. I kept reading it hoping for some redeeming qualities. My loss. I would not be surprised if this does not end up on my least liked list of 2010.

TSS - Loved but Forgotton

Hey there Saloners! I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend. And, for all of those football fans out there, enjoy the Superbowl this evening. I'm not a huge football fan, but do love the camaraderie that sports brings forth. I invariably always root for the underdogs, in this case, the Saints perhaps?

Moving onto bookish thoughts though, there has been a "thing" that has been lurking in the back of my brain lately. Like all of you other book bloggers, I consider myself an avid reader. The plus of this is I get introduced to so many neat smurfy thoughts, worlds, and characters. The downside is, sometimes they (at best) blur together and (at worse) are long forgotten.

For example, there have been several occasions recently where I've read a review that someone has written and red lights start flashing in my head - Hey, I read that! I read that! So, um, of course I want to leave a comment, right? But then I wrack my brain and there's this dark deep black hole where the memory of that book has fallen into. The title is still there and this very light shade of familiarity. I can usually decide if I liked it, loved it, or hated it. But. That's. It.

So what to do in situations such as these? I could claim that I read it. Because I did. But can I truly own that reading when it's forgotten? I fear this dilemma will unfortunately only grow in size the more that I read. I vaguely remember this quote from somewhere. The main character, person, whom or whatever snickers and says: I have forgotten more than what you can hope to know. (Did I dream that? Does anyone know what I'm talking about??) So, I'm not so egotistically to shout that from the rooftops, but am a bit annoyed that I have misplaced my memories of the classics.

I decided to put together a list. Here I present to you:

The top ten books I loved but forgot why

1. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas by Frederick Douglas - I know that this is a book about Douglas's life and the lives of slaves. Outside of the vividness that I remember of this novel, the strongest association I have is Douglas wrote this to validate/own his existence.

2. Cadide by Voltaire - This book, read nearly twenty years ago, left an impression but I have no clue on the specifics. I do remember a flogging scene that left me shuddering.

3. As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner - This book made me want to read more Faulkner (although I never did). It was also my first introduction to characters narrating different chapters. The thought of a family of kids carrying their dead mother (? was it the mother?) around in a coffin is still very creepy and dark.

4. The Plague by Albert Camus - OK so I went through this thing where I was fascinated by the Black Death. I couldn't get my hands on enough BD literature. In my naivete I didn't even recognize the philosophical aspects of this book until years later. And still, even now, I would love to re-read this. I recall people being at a fancy vacation place of sorts only to be faced with death.

5. Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin - I could not even tell you why I picked up this book when I did, freshman year in college. Maybe it was on a suggested reading list? In any case, I did not know how powerful of a book it was while reading it (this seems to be a trend). I remember the struggles made me pretty sad. Which really, is a rather shallow thing to say because the novella is so much more.

6. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck - A family traveling across the country. Depression. Disease. Death. And in between all of the beefy chapters where we intact with the family are mini vignettes that tell of a larger story. Details outside of that escape me. Except for the symbolic ending of life continuing..

7. Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse - I read this during my existential crisis stage (right there with The Plague, see above). Yet Steppenwolf, well, embarrassingly enough I cannot even tell you what happens in this book. Nope. But it was powerful enough for me to read Siddartha and Demian also during that time period. Unfortunately I vaguely remember those books either. I have recently acquired The Glass Bead Game and hopefully after I read that, I will like it and remember it.

8. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath- I wanted to be in New York and friends with Plath while reading this book. Of course, I read this book around the time I wanted to be a writer and I hung out at bars spouting out "I drink. I write. That's what I do."

9. Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser - I read this begrudgingly for a class in college. It was thick and the cover was outdated. Another one that I couldn't really tell you much about except I finished it and raved about it the rest of the semester. I know it was character driven and the woman became her own person.

10. Beloved by Tori Morrison - Which came first, Beloved? Song of Solomon? The Bluest Eyes? Paradise? I can't really recall because I devoured Morrison in a matter of months. In hindsight, perhaps if I took my time with her, I'd have a better recollection of her works.

So there you have it. For the most part, I'm embarrassed at how little I remember of these great pieces of literature. Plus, I've only narrowed it down to ten. While perusing through my old reading lists and required high school reading I found myself giving a nod to more than a handful that could have fallen into this category. I trust that I will keep blogging, if only because it helps me remember where I've been!

What about you? Do you have books that you loved but forgot why?

Tales from Outer Suburbia

Title: Tales from Outer Suburbia
Author: Shaun Tan
Pub Date: 2008
Pages: 93
Genre: Graphic Short Stories, Picture Book
Challenges: GN

*le sigh*

Seriously. That was exactly what I was doing after each couple of pages. Have you ever read a book that you just wanted to crawl up inside of because it doesn't just transport you mentally, but emotionally? I don't really consider myself a visual person, when I read I don't get full images, rather what draws me in is the essence of the story. Tales of Outer Suburbia, however, drew in all of my senses.

I cannot even tell you which story was my favorite! Was it the Water Buffalo? In this tale, a wise water buffalo lives in the vacant lot in a neighborhood. He's a somewhat lazy buffalo who ignores all of the passerbys unless they need him. Because, as I said, *this* water buffalo is a wise one. If you have a question, ask the buffalo and he'll always point you in the right direction. I mean, really? I buddha-esque buffalo? Why can't he live down my street? Oh, and here he is, just in case you wanna ask him something!

Oh my gosh, and then there's this story about poems that people have written and have forgotten all about. Tan takes you on a journey: "the truth is that unread poetry will almost always be just that doomed to join a vast, invisible river of waste that flows out of suburbia".

The images are perfect, scraps of paper being tossed aside, only to slowly grow into this huge ball of unwantedness. Finally, when the mass has grown to darken the world, it bursts, leaving whispers of words to fall to the ground.

*le sigh*

Or what about the story of house number seventeen where a dugong magically appears in their front lawn? (Undertow) I so want to go and sit with a group of people and read these stories out loud and have a group sigh and share in the beauty.

Emiko Superstar

Title: Emiko Superstar
Author: Mariko Tamaki & Steve Rolston
Pub Date: 2008
Pages: 150
Genre: Young Adult, Graphic Novel
Challenge: Graphic Novel

I absolutely love how this book opens.

First, rather than chapters, there are "scenes", as if you were reading this script, this visual script. There are notations like, "If you want, you can kick on the rock and roll soundtrack here." as the young Emi, in her rockin' clothes, comes sneaking home passed curfew. Immediately I am drawn in.

From the opening scene we are introduced to Emi as the Emi of the beginning of the summer. She's a bit of a wallflower working as a babysitter. Life seems pretty repetitive and unexciting. And then, while blowing her first paycheck at the mall, this super cool hipster hippie chick begins twirling around in the center pavillion tossing flyers up in the air. Like fate, a flyer falls miraculousy into Emi's hands. It reads: "Freak Show at the Factory" on Friday night.

Of course Emi is interested and excited and nervous. Should she go?? It takes a couple of attempts, but she finally submerses herself into the Freak Show. There, she meets Henry, a photographer who gives her the ins and outs of Factory life. He encourages Emi to find the artistic voice within herself and audition at the Gong. Performers who make the Gong join the acts in Friday Night's Freak Show.

Soon, the quiet Emi has a new group of friends, including Poppy (the cool chick from the mall) and begins to undergo a physical and personal transformation.

Emotional Response

From this point on, I am going to try to make this spoiler free, but just in case I don't you might not want to read further than: Read this book. You'll love it (!)(!)(!). OKAY. So, I really dig Minx publishing. Some of you might remember they are the same publications as The Plain Janes, Good as Lily, and Re-Gifters. I like them for various reasons, but in particular because the stories include POC, artistic merit, and quirky characters that I would have liked to have hung out with in high school for sure. Emi initially began as one of those characters. I loved her enterance and her ability to find herself *and* use her heritage to do just that. Even when she snubbed Henry, I got it. Of course I was totally bummed and thought, "man, don't do that. Here's this cool guy and you're going to ruin it because you wanna be popular and accepted." But I GOT IT. What I had a hard time accepting, however, was the material that she used to perform her pieces. I won't say exactly what it is because that would DEFINITELY be a spoiler...but when I saw where the story was going I lost TOTAL and COMPLETE respect for Emi. Especially because it seemed like she just didn't get what she was doing. Even in the end, I think that she felt guilty but still didn't fully understand it. Henry made a comment about writing her story and owning her words, and maybe we can assume that she was going to use this summer's lesson to realize that the best art comes from our own lives? Who knows?

I did really like Poppy. She made me sad and even though she was a minor character, everytime she took the page, she really took the page. Think of that saying: There are no small parts, only small actors...well, Poppy was surely not an insignificant character even though she was a small one. I could see myself falling for Poppy in the same way that Emi did. She radiated creativity and arts, life, love and blood. And I sort of saw her as embracing the total definition of "Superstar". I expect to hear Elton John's Candle in the Wind playing in the background. So many people would want to surround themselves around Poppy, but no one really got to know her? I mean, all of this was implied. Or those who she wanted to know her only used her.

There's another side story with the family that Emi babysits. It was a good story; I just wasn't terribly emotionally involved. No comment there. Suffice to say, this is hands down one of my favorites. It's a quick fun read, for sure!