Zen at Lucy's

After gorging myself with clam chowder, onion rings, and a vanilla milkshake at the House of Pies in Los Feliz it was time to arm myself with clean laundry for the week. Accompanied by my friend, Ann, it was off to Lucy's Laundromat on Sunset & St. Andrews.

After shoveling heavy sheets and comforters into the massive dryers I introduce myself to King as he is jotting down notes in the margin of his book. King is reading Charlotte Joko Beck's "Everyday Zen". This is his second go at it. He had read this book about 3 years ago and thought it would be nice to revisit this read. King is very interested in philosophical topics and finds Buddhism fascinating because "it is about you and not some other diety." I asked if he was Buddhist and he informed me that he is actually agnostic. Once in a while he will read about Buddhism or similar books that share the same philosphies but only when the mood strikes him.


The last book he read was Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, a novel about students at an elite school in the English countryside. This book was suggested to him by his former English professor. King's favourite book? The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. My face lit up with glee because this, too, is one of my favourite books! I told him that this is a book that, when I am feeling down, I will pick up and it will remind me that life is, indeed, beautiful, and that whatever I am depressed about will start to look insignificant. We both love the simplicity of this classic book as well as the philosophies shared and discussed. You're reminded of innocence and honesty in its purest form that we once posessed before we became the adults we are today. I asked if he had read the book in French, too, but alas, he had not.

Some recent reads that he likes to recommend to people are The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and Gregory Maguire's novel turned hit Broadway musical Wicked. A non-fiction rec? "Freakonomics"!

If King were to write a book of his own it would be about "childhood" - how our experiences are children shape and mold who we are today. This is something that has greatly intrigued him. I inquired as to whether or not he studied psychology or sociology. He actually wanted to get into psychology however once he realised that there wasn't any money in it career-wise he opted to pursue nursing. Do what you gotta do, right?


Have you read a book both in English and in its native language? If so, which book? And what other language?