green LA girl reading

My seeester, Z, turned me on to the green LA girl blog a while back and it has become one of the top green blogs I peruse in my spare time. I have yet to run into her at green mixer events but a friend of mine did divulge that he met her at a green drinks event in Culver City last year. Jealous!

Last June Siel (green LA girl) set a goal for herself to read 30 Books in 30 Days, a goal that piqued my interest. This happened before I really got into her blog but I got in touch with her to ask her a bit about how it all went down along with asking her a bit about her reading habits. How awesome to set a goal like that but I feel like I already have so many books on my plate as it is. I am already in a book club (currently trying to finish Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates, among other books, and over the weekend I helped birth the brain-child of a new book club that two chaps and myself would like to get started -- it will revolve around short stories and it will be nothing less than fabulouso! More deets to come...)

By the by...the green LA girl blog turned 3 on Saturday. Happy Anniversary!


- Last year you had the goal to read 30 books in 30 days! Could you explain a little bit on how you did this (pacing, tactics, etc.)

That goal was set and achieved without planning or methodology.... I like to set monthly goals, and that month, I decided to read 30 books -- and just did it. One tactic that helped: Reading short books. Another tactic: Not working a day job.


- If you could pick one book from the 30, which would you say was your favourite? Why?
Probably Barry Yourgrau's Wearing Dad's Head -- for its surreal humor and energy.


- As Green LA Girl, do you utilise e-book devices? If so, do you prefer reading books electronically or would rather opt for actual physical books?
I actually recently (long after this book a day challenge was over) got a Sony Reader -- but I have to say I don't use it very often. It has, however, become a useful way to read books in the public domain for free, thanks to Project Gutenberg and other sites.


- What are a few tips for being a green reader? Do you frequent libraries, buy used books more, borrow from friends?
I have many many tips, handily compiled in this green reading roundup post.


- As a green blogger do you find yourself reading more books related to green living?

Yes -- especially because many get sent to me for review.

- What book are you reading now? What is it about?

I'm reading John Wieners' Selected Poems 1958-1984 -- a book I picked up at Brand, a used bookstore in Glendale, just based on the fact that I like the press that published it (Black Sparrow).


I'm also in the middle of Seymour Garte's Where We Stand: A Surprising Look at the Real State of Our Planet -- a book that was sent to me for review that has sadly languished on my shelves for about a year....


- Do you have a favourite author?

I used to fixate on specific authors back when I was a teenager, sort of the same way I'd develop intense crushes on boys, but in general I just don't develop obsessions as I used to, on boys or authors. The authors whose oeuvres I'm most familiar with are Vladimir Nabakov and Rikki Ducornet, the former because when I was living in Brooklyn Heights this used bookstore had like all his books for a few bucks each, the latter because I wrote my dissertation on her work.


- What book do you often recommend to people?

Controlling Your Drinking: Tools to Make Moderation Work for You by William R. Miller and Ricardo F. Munoz, for somewhat obvious reasons. I found the book helpful -- and suddenly all my drinking buddies are seeking moderation in their lives.


- Name a great book you've read lately.

My Life in CIA by Harry Mathews


- What do you plan on reading next?

Not sure. Do you have a recommendation?


- Do you read multiple books at once?

Always.


- If you were to write a book, what would it be about and why?

I'm currently trying to revise my Nanowrimo novel. I think it'll end up being about the cleanliness of media (as in methods of communications, not necessarily broadcast news or the like) and the messiness of words.