(the) david press.com

They’re publishing his Kenyon University commencement speech. Which is something everyone should read.  Buy it on Amazon.

I’m reading Pattern Recognition for my Literature and Society class, and I have to say its blowing me away. To the point that I’ve bought up his first novel, Neuromancer and his most recent: Spook Country.

The largest, though not the tallest, a black man with a shaven head, is zipped like a sausage into something shiny, black, and only approximately leatherlike. Beside him is a taller, gray-faced man, hunched within the greasy folds of an ancient Barbour waterproof, its waxed cotton gone the sheen and shade of day-old horse dung. The third, younger, is close-cropped and blond, in baggy black skater shorts and a frayed jean jacket. He wears something like a mailman’s pouch, slung across his chest. Shorts, she thinks, drawing abreast of this trio, are somehow always wrong in London.

She can’t resist glancing into the trunk.

Grenades. 

Are you mesmerized? I am. Highly recommended reading.

You should get it. Have an excerpt, courtesy of ESPN.com’s Page Two:

October 29, 1983 (Mitch)
People often recall their childhood school bus smelling like vomit, but this is a misremembered cliché. In reality, the smell people recall is vomit cleanser. This misremembrance is the second-most interesting fact about school buses. The first-most interesting fact is that school buses vibrate. Anytime a yellow busload of children exceeds forty miles per hour, the seats and windows vibrate in place like an air hockey table; it always feels like the vehicle is on the cusp of molecular disintegration. Mitch imagined this happening as he looked out his window at the darkening horizon and the prewinter sky. Bodies would fly everywhere, peppering the highway with blood and bone and fragments of clothing. It would be violent, but he would survive.

You should get it. Have an excerpt, courtesy of ESPN.com’s Page Two:

October 29, 1983 (Mitch)
People often recall their childhood school bus smelling like vomit, but this is a misremembered cliché. In reality, the smell people recall is vomit cleanser. This misremembrance is the second-most interesting fact about school buses. The first-most interesting fact is that school buses vibrate. Anytime a yellow busload of children exceeds forty miles per hour, the seats and windows vibrate in place like an air hockey table; it always feels like the vehicle is on the cusp of molecular disintegration. Mitch imagined this happening as he looked out his window at the darkening horizon and the prewinter sky. Bodies would fly everywhere, peppering the highway with blood and bone and fragments of clothing. It would be violent, but he would survive.

You should get it. Have an excerpt, courtesy of ESPN.com’s Page Two:

October 29, 1983 (Mitch)
People often recall their childhood school bus smelling like vomit, but this is a misremembered cliché. In reality, the smell people recall is vomit cleanser. This misremembrance is the second-most interesting fact about school buses. The first-most interesting fact is that school buses vibrate. Anytime a yellow busload of children exceeds forty miles per hour, the seats and windows vibrate in place like an air hockey table; it always feels like the vehicle is on the cusp of molecular disintegration. Mitch imagined this happening as he looked out his window at the darkening horizon and the prewinter sky. Bodies would fly everywhere, peppering the highway with blood and bone and fragments of clothing. It would be violent, but he would survive.

I recently finished David Benioff’s City of Thieves. I was introduced to Benioff’s work when I liked the Edward Norton 25th Hour, which was adapted by Benioff, from his first novel. Since then he’s moved on to write scripts for Troy, Stay and the recent Kite Runner. He also wrote the screenplay for the X-Men spinoff flick Wolverine. Regardless, this is his second novel (not counting a collection of his short stories called When the Nines Roll Over), and I have to say that this was far superior to The 25th Hour.

This one revolves around two Russian kids during the Siege of Leningrad in World War II. Written like it’s the true story of his grandfather, Lev Beniov the knife fighter, Benioff puts his main characters Kolya (a deserter with aspirations of being a novelist) and his “grandfather,” the looter, on the path to find a dozen eggs for a colonel’s daughter’s wedding, which was given as their assignment in lieu of standard-operating procedure (death by firing squad) for those crimes in Leningrad. I know, sounds like an episode of the East Side Kids, doesn’t it? What could possibly be the motivating factor to get these two to do such a thing? Considering their crimes: death; which is what Benioff deftly maneuvers throughout his book. People would do anything to stay alive in the barren wasteland that was Leningrad in World War II.

What I dug the most in regards to this book, was the very humane story being told throughout the thing including putting two kids, that I could see reflections of myself at 17 years old, in a situation that I’ve never seen first hand. That’s what makes this book a win for me, when the author effectively puts you in the place with people you can relate to as your main characters. A quick read, City of Thieves is only 254 pages, and solidifies me as a Benioff reader for life.

Also just finished, after having the book for almost a year was G. Willow Wilson’s “Cairo,” drawn by The Wall Street Journal’s own M.K. Perker. Literally everything attracted me to this book, but especially the fact that it was done by journalists. Wilson, a Boston University alumnus (and two years younger than me effectively making me feel like a slacker), moved to Cairo, Egypt after graduating college where she converted to Islam and married an Egyptian. She wrote about her experiences for Atlantic Monthly and The New York Times Magazine, as well as the Egyptian opposition weekly Cairo Magazine. Which I vaguely remember reading during my time in Cairo during the first week of June 2003. (Something my little brother is enjoying right at this moment).

What does it for me in regards to this book is a fascination of my own memories while in Cairo, and how someone with a similar background (and with infinitely more talent, and years spent there) reflects her experiences in the City of Victory through the lens of a graphic novel. What came out of the experience was a story from many different angles built around a political base with five completely different character perspectives. I’m not going to get into the plot details of the book, but what did it for me was reflecting back on my college graduation present five years ago, and how my brother, as my friend BT said earlier this week: “is enjoying his Press family Rite of Passage.”

I picked a helluva time to crack open Timothy Callahan’s examination of Grant Morrison’s Early Years, considering what came out two weeks ago. What I enjoyed about Doug Wolk’s Reading Comics, is exactly what I like about this book. A literary examination of comics, which makes me think about the comics I’m reading rather than looking at the surface. It makes me appreciate the macro; rather than the microcosm, but specifically I really enjoy a literary examination of a comic writer who I think is probably the best ever.

I just finished the examination of Morrison’s series that literally put him on the map, “Zenith.” Discussing the foes and discussions of themes in this book makes me look back on them as a reader and appreciate them. Especially considering the levels of fun I’m about to have dissecting “Final Crisis,” with the thoughts coming from this book. Even though, Zenith is exceptionally hard to find in America and is not reprinted anywhere. The book, I have no doubt will get more interesting because the next chapter is an examination of “Arkham Asylum,” which was what initially introduced me to Morrison, and I have the 15th anniversary book that includes Morrison’s script in it. The script detailed the various ideas of the Zodiac in reference to Batman and the crazies in Arkham. Totally fascinating to read what went into the script for that amazing story, so it will be fascinating to read Callahan’s analysis of it.

I met Tim Callahan at the NY Comic Con and came away with the Grant Morrison book and his new soon-to-be published Teenagers from the Future. Which is a book of articles by creators like Matt Fraction on why they appreciate the Legion of Super-Heroes. I think it’ll be something that will bring me some newfound appreciation as well.

Coming up, I’ve got so much on my shelf to read. I’m going to echo Duane Swierczynski’s post on his blog discussing something Charlie Huston wrote about in regards to Charles Bukowski. Duane’s post did the same exact thing for me, and convinced to me to go out and get Bukowski’s work. So, going from someone’s recommendation I got Factotum, even though I hated the movie. Mimi and I have been discussing screen writing quite a bit ever since the Writer’s Strike, and I find myself quite excited to read her memoir that comes out next week, (I’m also the one who saw the person reading her biography on the subway last weekend). Also, considering the Hunter S. Thompson documentary coming out in the near future, I have to get this book before I see the movie.

I think that should pretty much wrap up my summer reading list.

This is the first novel by Michael Farrell, fellow St. Bonaventure Journalism grad, and older brother to the girlfriend of one of my best friends from college, Brendan.

Mike graduated from Bonas when Brendan and I were wee-freshmen climbing up the social ladder and trying to figure out where we were in life. (Some things don’t change, for me at least). Mike’s sister, Mary, asked me if I knew her brother whose name seemed vaguely familiar but I don’t see how we could have run into each other very much my freshman year of college. I wasn’t involved in any Journalism school activities until my second semester when I was working for the student newspaper, The Bona Venture, while covering student government for the radio station, but he did seem familiar to me.

Regardless, when Brendan sent the first email around commenting on Mike’s first novel being self-published through Lulu.com, I knew I was in for a treat. Brendan especially called me out to read it because Mike and I had both been Journalism grads, and knew that I would find a special connection to this book that others would not.

His main character, Joseph Cahan, struggles with life post-college and his want to be a writer. In this book, Farrell paints a loving tribute to his and Cahan’s hometown of Buffalo that anyone from St. Bonaventure could appreciate. It’s a book that I found myself relating to in a lot of ways. After college, toiling away in my hometown for a year and now here in New York City, I still find myself asking the same questions that Farrell’s Cahan was asking in this book, and I’m five years older than the character. Causing more issues, but the lesson learned from this book that alleviated my fears was, “You work to live, and don’t live to work.” That’s something that I continue to battle, I work so that I can afford to stay here and keep doing what I’m doing. Keeping me just afloat financially that the only thing I can do is come home and write. So, I am working to work, but the way I rationalize it is: it’s the pursuit of happiness and I know the only way that I can ever be happy as I want to be is if I’m doing this for a living. What you’re reading right now, not so much blogging but writing in general.

When I bought the book I emailed Mike introducing myself. At the time, he read this entry and wrote back to me, saying that I should never think there is no room for my opinion in the writing world of people like Wil Wheaton and Mimi in NY.

“Art is subjective,” he wrote, “and each individual’s digestion of your thoughts and material is absolutely subjective. You can’t write with the intention of being different just to distance yourself from similar writers; you have to write what you write.

“The best word to describe our society now isn’t ‘diverse,’ it’s derivative. Everything comes from something else, so don’t expect to become Dylan overnight. Just build off what you know, make it yours, and if people can relate, you’ll bring them in. If not, you have to tirelessly keep plugging away. As a journalism major, you’ve already gotten used to the fact that, if you want to make something out of your interest in writing, you’re going to have to make it on your own. It’s a pain in the ass, you’ll have to work two or three shit jobs while you find your way, but you’ll eventually find an answer to the following question: Is this world for you or not? If it is, you’ll embrace the uncertainty, frustration, and confusion in hopes of bedding the ultimate prom queen/concert chick, which is moderate success. If it isn’t, you’ll take a piss on your interests and degree, flush both down the toilet, and take a job in finance, teaching, or hospitality. Sooner rather than later, you’ll settle with one of those answers.”

I have a quote board above my desk with various gems of advice from the mouths of writers I respect. Every time that I’m feeling unmotivated or my self-esteem slips like it had in reference to the post that Mike was responding to, I look at that board and now his quote is part of it.

To say the least, at the time of the email, I already knew what he was saying to be absolutely true but I think I had to hear it from someone else. I was just going through another one of my weekly breakdowns where I question if I’m getting anywhere in the life that I had chosen for myself. In the end, this book was exactly what I needed: it just reinforced that the path that I am on as the only one that is for me and now those fears are gone for good now.

So, besides his advice that Brendan knew I would get from this book, it is still a work that anyone from our college should purchase and support a Bona Grad. There’s something for all of us in this.

Especially, you guys: Lisa and Stephon, go order it right now.

“Are you a ‘20-something girl’ who’s interested in finding out what ‘really lurks’ in the heart of your boyfriend? If so, allow me to explain and save you having to read this comic book: your boyfriend is bored of looking at the back of your head when you have sex, and prays every night that you were someone, anyone else, not because you’re not pretty but just to relieve the overwhelming, all-consuming boredom. You’re welcome.” –Abhay Khosla, on Jeremy Tinder’s Cry Yourself to Sleep.  I will say one thing though: considering everyone’s a critic seems to be a central theme in the comic booky sphere of bloginess this week; Abhay is the only critic that makes me laugh out loud.

In the mean time have a couple of short bursts of reviews that I normally do on Goodreads, (because, honestly, my attention span can only do a little review before I get bored, and I’m a shitty critic anyway because I find something I like in mostly everything I read).

On Wil Wheaton’s Just A Geek: Meh, is how I would descibe this book. Having read his blog, and enjoy that immensely, I wanted to read some of his published work. What started off as interesting ended up becoming pretty annoying because it became more and more about Star Trek. Which is something I’ve always struggled to like.

In the end, I would probably read more of Wil’s stuff that has absolutely nothing to do with Star Trek. But otherwise, if you’re not into Star Trek, I wouldn’t read this.

Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev’s run on DAREDEVIL:  Probably the best singular superhero work Bendis has ever done and probably will ever do. None of the usual hated on Bendis expository dialogue, he reels himself in with this and causes real change in the character. Tightly written and drawn by the amazing Alex Maleev who draws New York City the way it was meant to be drawn.

Seriously, do yourself a favor and buy the hard covers which also include some really great David Mack back stories, and just makes the perfect art shine off the page.

I love Michael Chabon.  Next to John Irving and Russell Banks, he’s my favorite living novelist.  I got introduced to him via the movie, Wonder Boys my freshman year of college. My then girlfriend and I went and loved it. I still find it’s a great movie to have on in the background when I’m working, just to make sure that what ails the protagonist never happens to me.  I’ve been reading Chabon ever since.  The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, is probably my most highly recommended book to anyone.

I liked this book quite a bit,  it was a bit of a change for him with the detective novel. Without ruining much of the story other than to wet your appetite.It’s a great big what if book.  Basically asking, what if after the Holocaust the Jewish state of Israel fell to the Palestinians and all of the deposed Jews moved to the Alaskan panhandle.  Basically it involves a murder mystery around someone who could be the Jewish Messiah.

That’s where I don’t exactly like the book. It was full of Jewish phrases that for any lay-man you’d get lost in. And my Dad’s Jewish, but this book was so full of it that it almost took away from the entire book as a whole. It was written as if Chabon meant it specifically just for a Jewish audience. Though he did curb it enough that it didn’t really take away from the story, but if you didn’t understand something you were definitely missing out on the novel as a whole.  Sure, you could take the effort and look it up while reading it (and the appendix provides a website so you can do that) but about 50 pages in I got sick of doing that and just read the rest.

In the end, I liked the alternative nature of the story.  And it’s definitely worth a read, especially you JeffX.

***

Going home for the weekend.  Hopefully it’ll be under better circumstances. It was insane just trying to get a ticket home, the earliest I could get was 7:10 tonight.  I went through about four different times and that was the best one I could get. I’m not looking forward to this especially since I’ve been up since 6am.

I love Michael Chabon.  Next to John Irving and Russell Banks, he’s my favorite living novelist.  I got introduced to him via the movie, Wonder Boys my freshman year of college. My then girlfriend and I went and loved it. I still find it’s a great movie to have on in the background when I’m working, just to make sure that what ails the protagonist never happens to me.  I’ve been reading Chabon ever since.  The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, is probably my most highly recommended book to anyone.

I liked this book quite a bit,  it was a bit of a change for him with the detective novel. Without ruining much of the story other than to wet your appetite.It’s a great big what if book.  Basically asking, what if after the Holocaust the Jewish state of Israel fell to the Palestinians and all of the deposed Jews moved to the Alaskan panhandle.  Basically it involves a murder mystery around someone who could be the Jewish Messiah.

That’s where I don’t exactly like the book. It was full of Jewish phrases that for any lay-man you’d get lost in. And my Dad’s Jewish, but this book was so full of it that it almost took away from the entire book as a whole. It was written as if Chabon meant it specifically just for a Jewish audience. Though he did curb it enough that it didn’t really take away from the story, but if you didn’t understand something you were definitely missing out on the novel as a whole.  Sure, you could take the effort and look it up while reading it (and the appendix provides a website so you can do that) but about 50 pages in I got sick of doing that and just read the rest.

In the end, I liked the alternative nature of the story.  And it’s definitely worth a read, especially you JeffX.

***

Going home for the weekend.  Hopefully it’ll be under better circumstances. It was insane just trying to get a ticket home, the earliest I could get was 7:10 tonight.  I went through about four different times and that was the best one I could get. I’m not looking forward to this especially since I’ve been up since 6am.