Let Me Tell You About... Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon

A fresh-faced high school graduate, that's what I was when I first came across Michael Chabon's Wonder Boys for the first time. I heard about through the grapevine that we call Hollywood. I obtain a VHS copy of the film the book inspired. It hooked me. I can't say if it was Michael Douglas's portrayal of Tripp, Robert Downey , Jr.'s Crabtree that inspired me to read. Maybe it was Tobey Maguire's rendition of James Leer that hit close to home. Or maybe it was because, at the time, I was madly in love with Katie Holmes and wanted to know more about her character. Either way, I set off to read the novel.

Because I was a fresh-faced high school graduate, the summer of 2001 - hell, summer, fall, winter of 2001 and all of 2002 - was spent with little ambition to attend college. What could college teach me that I couldn't learn on my own? Besides, after spending three years as a slacker smart ass, I fell into a deep anxiety bout my senior year - there was no way I was going to spend another year in that school - attempting to graduate. Couple with my lack of ambition to work, I spent a lot of time at the local library - then modestly called Edinburg Public Library.

I read through several books then. Some by well known authors and some by not-so-well-known. Wonder Boys was the first book I read by Michael Chabon, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh being the second and last book I read. While I love The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, it didn't draw me as quickly as Wonder Boys did. Why? Because I was Wonder Boys, at least that's what I thought at the time (and sometimes, whenever I pick up the novel, I still feel that I am). I connected with the trifecta that was Grady Tripp, Terry Crabtree, and James Leer. I loved them as I have loved no other characters - not even my own.

Wonder Boys became my bible, my calling. If not for that week I spent reading and rereading Chabon's words, I may not have walked to the local college and filled out an application. I might not have enrolled in whatever creative writing course I could. I would not have met the fabulous mentors who are probably shaking their heads with disgust at my poorly structured book blog. (Come on, guys, not all things have to be written properly.)

Eleven years later, I find myself sitting with my dog-eared copy of Wonder Boys - which I bought with my financial aid money back in 2003 or 2004 - scratching out the outline that would become this post. It's a book I pick up every year or every other year, depending on my mood. Whenever I find myself stuck, confused with what to read next, I turned to it like religion. I sit back and read, discovering new things and fondly remembering words like my own memories. I now work for the local library - now called Dustin Michael Sekula Memorial Library - but the copy I fell in love with is no longer a part of our catalog. 

As I sat down for lunch today, a co-worker asked me what I was reading. When I responded, he asked the usual question, "Is it any good?" "It's actually one of my favorites," I said. 

"You're rereading it?" Almost in disbelief. 

Yeah. I'm rereading it. Again and again and again.

Update

I've put of reading Tipping the Velvet until I can give it the proper attention - studying for the GRE pretty much eats up all my reading time - so I picked up The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I've opted to watch the original adaptation and the US adaptation, instead. Despite all the hype that circles the novel - the series, actually - the book is unreadable. To me, anyway. 

I'm going to attempt to read Breathers, something I've been wanting to do for quite some time and, thanks to Amazon's holiday sale, I got it for $.99 for Kindle. Besides, my Kindle is much more work friendly than the cover for Tipping the Velvet.

And if you didn't catch the implications in that last statement, I got the job at the library! That's right, the book hunter extraordinaire snagged a job within a building that houses books, books and more books with carts of new books wheeled in every day (or at least for the first three days I've been there).

Well, now you're caught up. Until next time, keep on huntin'.

Call Back and a Book

Norman Mailer for a dollar

Right in the midst of pondering what should go into my thank you letter - e-mail, actually, since we live in the digital age - about yesterday's interview, my phone rings. Lo and behold, it's the library with some semi good news. Joygasm, right? Yes. Sorta. I never allow myself to get overly excited until I have the job in the bag. There have been some instances with people I've known (not me, never me) who celebrated before an actual job was had. This was the usual paper work allowing the people to dig through my personal history. We're good. My life is bland to an extent - bland in the sense that it would never cost me a job.

After everything was signed and photocopied, I brisked away, stopping by the book sale table where I found a copy of Harlot's Ghost by Norman Mailer! For a dollar! What gives?! Is this a dream? First Edition, as well. Sweet. Paid my dollar and now I'm the proud owner of this not-so-little sucker. Hope it makes for a great read. Top of the list for 2012!

Until next time, keep on huntin'.

Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach

Purchase [[Amazon]] [[Kindle]] [[B&N]] [[Nook]]
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As part of their Cyber Monday sale, Amazon priced the Kindle edition of Go the F**k to Sleep around a buck or so. Of course, I bought it. And, of course, I regretted. 

While the book itself is downright hilarious - no, wait.   There is no real term for how funny this book really is - the Kindle version is a miss. I can only imagine that the format works better on a Kindle Fire rather than the plain ol' black and white Kindle.

It's a fun read for adults. Because I'm a soon-to-be parent, I thought it was a nice preparation for what is in store for me. However, I am not, under any circumstance, to read this book to my son - yes, it's a boy!!! - when putting him to bed.

In other news, I had my job interview at the Dustin Sekula Memorial Library. I think I did well under the circumstances - I have a head cold that decided to creep up on me. Of course, no visit to the library is ever complete without me dishing out some cash. Two book finds - total price at a dollar. A Brief History of the Paradox: Philosophy and the Labyrinths of the Mind by Roy Sorensen and Jamaica Kincaid's The Autobiography of My Mother. 

Until next time, keep on huntin'.

New Book. Sorta.

Last month, I was asked if I would partake in a Mother's Day theme reading at the Dustin Michael Sekula Memorial Library here in Edinburg. Because I normally partake in these readings, I said okay. At least this way I'm ensured a spot on the list as I'd be on the bill. Along with Richard Sanchez - whose short story you can read in Valleysong (read my review) - and a few other poets, we managed the reading successfully. The Johnny Economedes High School mariachi band - can I call it a band? not sure what the terminology is - started off the night. Richard followed next, then Guitar Galore - a group of talented music students who played classical music - then me. 

New faces and familiar faces filled the library meeting room. Mom won a raffle after my reading - am I good luck, or what? I read a few pieces, including the submitted words people who follow me on Tumblr. 

Before everything started, however, I sneaked off to the cafe where I found a copy of Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine. Including the soda, my purchase came out to only eighty-five cents. Great deal. Until next time, keep on hunting.

Trudge

Took a walk today, Dustin Michael Sekula Memorial Library bound - that was a mouthful. It was a toss up between reading and writing at Apollo Park - or any park, actually - or trek my way down the streets of Edinburg to the library. I wound up at the latter because kids creep me out. Besides, the weather was cool and I really didn't feel like making failed attempts to read as my sinuses were sure to act up - they did, and the walk was horrible. But at least I got to see parts of the city I never see. 

Upon stumbling into the library, a young man greeted me. He was surrounded by my weakness - books! Gasping for air - from the sight of the books, not from my journey - I did my best to ignore him. I went straight for the new release shelf hoping to find George W. Bush's (true crime) memoir, Decision Points, there but it was all wishful thinking. And as if calling to me from a greater point of existence, I spot Elmore Leonard's When the Women Come Out to Dance. 

"I like your shirt," the young guy says to me as I pounce on my find before the lady browsing could take it from me. Nervously - why was I nervous? I haven't got a clue - I said thanks. I was - am - wearing my blue Nirvana smiley face shirt (a bad replacement for the black and yellow version of the shirt). 

Snooping around some more, I spotted Julian by Gore Vidal. Dunno why it spoke to me, but it did and I purchased it. The total price was only seventy-five cents!

I picked up the current issues of Writer's Digest and Psychology Today and flipped through them before walking around to find a good movie - with purchasing two books, I thought my book hunting at the library was over (and I made sure to keep it that way). I decided on watching a movie, considering it is Friday and all. What to pick, though? It isn't as if the library is known for its large selection of DVDs. I did happen to find a copy of a childhood favorite - Wargames, starring a young Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy. The movie, FYI, is as old as I am. But what really sold me on the idea of checking out DVDs from the library was a foreign film entitled BenX. Because I'm bad at summary, here's what the case says:

Ben is a bit different. His life is full of strange rituals, and a mild form of autism prevents normal communication with others. As a result, he often seems to be living in another universe - while he is a courageous hero in the computer gaming world that consumes him, Ben is tormented by classmates and ignored by apathetic teachers in his daily life. As the bullies' relentless attacks push him over the edge and out of control, his online dreamgirl, Scarlite, steps in to help him devise a perfect plan to make them pay for their persecution. Director Nic Balthazar's dazzling debut blends fantasy and harsh social realism to bring us an utterly original and important film.

The film is about 90mins long, comes from Belgium - Flemish with English subtitles. It also includes a short film by director Ben Shelton entitled, My Name is Lisa. Running time is six minutes, and here's its description: Short mostly from the vantage point of an online computer diary, a young teenager deals with her mother's increasingly deteriorating mental state caused by Alzheimer's disease. The two films complement each other - they're both tearjerkers. However, you don't have to check out BenX - but you should - to watch My Name is Lisa. You can watch it here:

I'd say it was a good day. Now off to watch Wargames and relive my childhood. Until next time, keep on huntin'.

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Poetry Reading & An Impromptu Book Hunt

The Dustin Michael Sekula Memorial Library hosted another night of reading, and it was great seeing old friends again. Sadly, El Senor couldn't make it. In fact, several people who said they would try to were no shows. It's something I'm beginning to become accustomed to. It's okay, I don't go to their readings either.

Getting there, I started to feel the old familiar itch. There was a book out there for me; I just had to find it. Thinking I might hit pay dirt by finding a copy of Rant by Palahniuk in the used shelf, I instead found a half-priced, new copy of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Chronicle of a Death Foretold - a book that previously graced my bookshelf in college while I was enrolled in Jose Skinner's American novel class.  I can't remember why I sold it - I either needed the cash (which I wouldn't gotten much for it) or because I thought I didn't like - which is more likely to be the case. Either way, I got a new copy of it to sit down with later and read. 

Moving along to the used bookshelf, I found an aging copy of The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison - an author I was introduced to during Skinner's class (we read Sula). As I was about to check out, from the corner of my eye I caught the sight of another awesome find - one I had been looking for since before Hastings shut its doors - The Te of Piglet by Benjamin Hoff. Total price? $7.90, meaning the latter two books were fifty cents a piece.

Reading, blues music and book hunting - I should say this day was awesome. What made it even better was, I didn't have to go into work due to the thunderstorm that moved in this morning. Awesome.

Kill Two Birds & Get Stoned

A few years back, I met Kinky Friedman at the University of Texas, Pan American while he was campaigning for governor. I was interested in writing an article for him, but the opportunity never presented itself. Still, it was great meeting Texas first non-politician politician. He was the anti-hero of Texas politics, a quick shooting Jewish cowboy who smoked cigars - even had one on him during his entire speech, though it wasn't lit.

About two weeks before meeting with him, I decided to buy - from Amazon - two of his CDs - Last of the Jewish Cowboys - The Best of Kinky Friedman and Mayhem Aforethought. I listened to them on end, trying to gather the feel of the man who would be speaking at my school. So when the day came to watch him perform - for anyone who's seen Kinky Friedman campaign, you'd agree with me that his speech was a performance piece and not an actual speech, right?

He hit on things that I agreed on and a few that I didn't. In the end, he left us with a bit of advice. Don't vote for him because he isn't one of the other cookie cutter politicians, but because it felt right. While I didn't vote for Kinky Friedman that year, my only regret was not taking my CDs with me so he could sign them.

Flash forward a handful of years, I'm sitting at the Dustin Sekula Library in Edinburg with an urge to get up and browse the books that are on sale. Still wrapped in its dust protector is a hardback copy of Kinky Friedman's Kill Two Birds & Get Stoned. I saved it from certain doom and returned to my seat for the poetry reading.

What would've taken me a few days to read, I recently just finished the book - took me about a week, by the way. The book's amazing, it's difficult to put into words. Or that could be attributed to the fact that I have a head cold.

The book follows Walter Snow, a non-writing writer, as he befriends the two troublesome adventure seekers known as Clyde Potts and Fox Harris and their adventure throughout the streets of New York. The novel is littered with wit, wisdom and the human spirit. Much like it is said with On the Road and traveling, the same can be said with Kill Two Birds & Get Stoned - if you're going wanting to take down corporate giant Starbucks by the end of the novel, then you're one of the no-hopers of this world, lacking the human spirit.

Foreseeing the Punchline

Headed over to Dustin Sekula Memorial Library yesterday to peruse their "collection" of graphic novels. I came out with a only five that piqued my interest. There's more, but they were either checked out or somewhere else on the floor. It doesn't matter. 

I've been in the mood to read a whole bunch of graphic novels because my imagination has been at its most active. I've been wanting to write a script of my own for about half a year - probably more. Another reason can be accredited to my lack of commitment on the whole 100+ Book Challenge that I started at the beginning of the year and haven't really kept up with it. Unlike their prose counterparts, reading a graphic novel only takes me a few hours - mostly because I like to take in the visual aspects - spending at least a few seconds on each panel aside from the reading time. I even go back if a particular piece draws me to it. 

Batman R.I.P. is one of those collections that had me flipping backward through the panels, inspecting each panel for something that will lead me to understand its conclusion before I get to it. Much like Watchmen - and at the same time, very much  unlike it - Batman R.I.P. allots you a lot of important information in small doses.

The superb writing is greatly complimented by the awesome artwork. The sinister Joker's qualities are intensified within these pages, reminiscent of something diabolical - at times, I swear I could picture Marilyn Manson's face (even though, he's probably the least diabolical singer in the "industry"). The torn identities carried by Bruce Wayne/Batman, the loyalties between family and friends - they all play the part of who we are and who we want to be and what we use in order to stay sane.

Batman R.I.P. won't find it hard to garner a place within the Gotham mythos and the canon of comic book fans everywhere. It should be read by anyone wanting to know how to write a story, be it prose, script or a graphic novel.

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Library book find

 

As usual, I wasn't out book hunting last night. I was at the library for the reading. But after talking with Anne Estevis for a bit, I got up and walked toward the book sale shelf and looked at some spines. Found a couple that caught my eye, but nothing that drew me in. That was until I saw Kinky Friedman's Kill Two Birds & Get Stoned. 

I had the opportunity to meet him a few years back when he was running for governor of Texas. Anne and I both agreed that the man's a little crazy, a little strange. Which is probably why he is so damned likable. The book was only a dollar. 

After showing off my find to Anne, she said that one of the many reasons it probably found life on the cart was probably because in its years of release, no one probably picked up the book. "Why leave it to collect dust?" she added. Why of course. Well, Kinky Friedman's novel has found a home on my shelf. 

Until next time, happy huntin'.

Chocolate lovers theme

We weren't exactly the motley crew I was expecting, but we were all in attendance even if some of us (El Senor) didn't read. Richard Sanchez, as always, proved a better MC that I'll ever be. The night's theme was Chocolate Lovers, which was completely obvious by the oddles of chocolate candy thrown about - no complaints here, people.

The Texas Rio Writers, led by author Jan Seale, I believe, was also in attendance. They presented and read from their recently published anthology, Valleysong. They included Richard Sanchez, Siân Taylor Gonzalez - the one with the British accent - Jim Evins - who read from his collection of essays, A Happy Man - Ann Greenfield, Olga Valle-Herr and Jan Seale herself. Also in attendance and a part of the anthology, was Dr. Anne Estevis - a dear friend of mine and retired educator (though, as I've seen, one never truly retires from education). I had Anne's book, Down Garrapata Road, in my bag - the copy belonging to my mother who wanted Anne to sign it. Amado Balderas, another good friend of mine, also made an appearance and, as they say, was our the-best-is-saved-for-last reader.

Several other writers were in attendance and read. The night started off with the young writers of the Valley, which included Anne Estevis's granddaughter, Richard Sanchez's son and one little girl whose name escapes me. I read my short story, "12 Notes to my 12-Year-Old Self," which details an awkward period of my life and the receiving of my first love letter from a secret admirer.

All in all, it was a great night of reading, amour, humor and experience. For me, these readings aren't just a gathering of friends. They are a family reunion.

Museum of South Texas History Book Hunt

It wasn't going to be a hunt. I kept telling myself I wouldn't look for books when we got there. See, Mother needed to find out some historical buildings - say in 100-year-old span, about as long as Edinburg, Texas has been a city (formerly known as Chapin when it first came to be). My mind was set to keep all other things out. No hunting books!

We get to the Museum of South Texas History, a tad out of breath from walking - we live close enough to walk, but we're extremely out of shape. She heads for the front desk and I zig zag toward the bookstore because all answers can be found within the pages of any book, right? Well, sort of. Barbara Stokes, the Senior Curator slash Archives lady wasn't in today. They had over her card and tell her that maybe the bookstore might have some information she's looking for. Already on it, amigos.

I turn up empty on my first try, mostly because I remember about an anthology that was recently released. Valleysong: An Anthology Echoing the Rhythm and Cadence of Life in the Rio Grande Valley compiled and written by the members of Texas Rio Writers. I'm not apart of the group and judging by the book's title, I probably wouldn't find a home within their world. While they focus on the everyday life, the good ol' tortilla-esque stories, I'm more of an in-your-face writer, one who loves to focus his attention on the depravity of the Rio Grande Valley. But what do you expect, right?

I find the book! Snag! $16.95 plus tax. Dang. My ad writing service hasn't paid me just yet, which means no money to afford it. Two of my friends are featured within the pages - Richard Sanchez and Anne Estevis, both of which I met through Amado Balderas who was the original gather of poets and short stories in Edinburg, Texas. I get the book anyway, because I have now added more money into my increasing debt - I'M A KEEPER!

Mother has no lucking finding any actual book on Edinburg history, indicating historical buildings that still stand erect or of major importance. There's always the original museum, but because the first one we thought of, we knew everyone jumped all over it. Fine. Moving on.

Because we weren't exactly sure how old the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot, she buys a few items of decoration just in case it's in our time line - it's not, by the way. While we were looking through the children's stuff, I saw from the corner of my eye, Chicken Foot Farm by Estevis. Where there's one book, there's the first, right? Indeed. I found a copy of Down Garrapata Road. Mother's been looking for it for some time and we can never find a decent copy to purchase. She doesn't pass it up. I don't attempt to talk her out of it, either.

We might not have accomplished the outing, but we did come home with two new books, which will be signed on 10 February 2010 at the Dustin Michael Sekula Memorial Library (also in Edinburg, Texas) for the year's first reading.

Until next time, happy huntin'!

Nueva Onda Poets return

After a few months' slumber, the Nueva Onda Poets returned to the Dustin Michael Sekula Memorial Library for a reading. The spotlight reader was Richard Sanchez (photographed above) who also acted as the MC for the rest of us. Some new faces were in the crowd, as well as, a few original readers. It was like a family reunion.

Richard read a few of his pieces and gave out copies of the May/June issue of The Journal of Texas Trophy Hunters, which contains his story (or can we call it an essay?), "El Diablo."

I read a "chilling" story, loosely based on a story my grandfather told me when I was a kid. It's a work in process, but I managed to get out a clean copy for the reading.

In other news, because I arrived early to the library, I camped in a corner (where the DVDs are - why there's a couch where the DVDs are is beyond me) and thumbed through Homer & Langley by E.L. Doctorow. A few pages in, I decided to check it out.

Because I turned in No Country for Old Men late, I was prepared myself to pay a fine. Oddly, I didn't get one. Didn't faze me much, but I did recall my annoyance with myself for turning it in late in the first place.

I'm sure the book will be devoured before the the two weeks. See you then.