On my Saturday/weekend ritual of grabbing an iced latte at Peet's on Larchmont, scoping out books at Chevalier, and picking up more book donations from former interviewee, King. My friend and I decide to get a bite to eat at Wild Oats Cafe on Melrose where I spot Joe walking in. I can't help but eye the Vonnegut book in his hands as he stands behind me in line. I know, I'm totally smooth and not obvious at all. Once at my table I get his attention and ask him which Vonnegut book he was reading (I recognized the Vonnegut cover but didn't know which book it was). It was Cat's Cradle. He just started reading it so he couldn't tell me much about the book but he has read other Vonnegut books like Slaughterhouse Five and Breakfast of Champions. It had been a while since he's read Vonnegut's books so he's been looking forward to reading his new book. So far Slaughterhouse Five is his favourite from them all.
He actually got Cat's Cradle for Christmas. It was one of the many books on his wishlist. Joe tried to remember the titles piled up on his desk right now and he could only remember Don Quixote.
We chatted a bit about other books he enjoys and he tells me he reads alot of works by H.P. Lovecraft. "I've read alot of his stuff pretty much. It's all great." His favourite book of all time is not by Lovecraft. "Lolita is my all time fave. I love everything by Nabokov but Lolita is the best - I love it." I smile because it happens to be one of my faves too. There was a pregnant pause then Joe adds, "I'm not a pedophile or anything! But you know, it's a good book."
I had asked for his name at the end of the interview and he started telling me that he was not hard to find online. "Yeah, I'm sure if you type my name you'll find all these pages on me. I also make rap music." All I kept thinking was, "Man, this guy is sure of himself..." When he finally stepped outside to take a seat at one of the little tables my friend leans in excited. "I KNEW I recognized him from somewhere!" I am still completely clueless at this point. "Wait, he really is famous?" My friend informs me that he hosts a show and that if I look him up I would definitely find something on him. Of course I scramble to look him up when I got home and sure enough Joe Hanson is the host of the "Joe Gets..." pods on Current. Silly me.
Alas, he would not allow me to take a photo of him, just his book. "Sorry, I just woke up and rolled out of bed so I am not looking my best." And there you have it. My mini interview with Joe Hanson.
Rave reviews and nothing but good things from my friends about Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein. Super excited to announce August's book club pick! (Thanks, Marina, for the awesome pick!)
The novel tells the story of Valentine Michael Smith, a human raised by Martians on the planet Mars, upon his return to Earth in early adulthood. The novel explores his interaction with — and eventual transformation of — Earth culture. Lots of fodder for discussion if you ask me. Because there is a longer version (600 or so pages) Marina suggests you look for the shorter edition if you can. I, however, could only find the 600 page version. Should be fun regardless.
We are meeting on Saturday, August 29th @ 11:30am. Location? Marina's home right by Dodger Stadium. Comment or message me somehow for the address.
Um, thank you Cezie-face for putting a gun to my head until I picked up a copy of the Scott Pilgrim graphic novels. I bought book 1 and I am now officially hooked! It's great because when Cesar said that this book is about him I can see why. I started having flashbacks to how it was when we all lived together. The shennanigans we would get into and the silly things we would say and do.
The book is now highly recommended by yours truly. I can't wait to get a copy of book 2.
What is Scott Pilgrim about, you ask? He's this 23 year old who plays bass in a band, is "in-between" jobs, mooches off his gay roomie, and is dating some 17 year old high school girl. CHINESE girl, to be exact. Oh, and it's set in Canada. That factoid right there is worth its weight in gold!
Look at me, gettin' all into graphic novels now. Finished Scott Pilgrim within hours and started Maus by Art Spiegeilman. Been meanng to read it since college (I'd always see the book on the shelves every quarter when we'd buy books for new classes.) Amazing so far. How did I go this long not reading it?
I knew I recognized him from somewhere! I happened to be sitting next to one of my earliest interviewees, Peter, at Peet's today. Check out my interview with him here. I wish I caught this earlier so I could've said hello.
I wanted to give a special thank you to my favourite bookstore in Los Angeles, Chevalier Books on Larchmont, for donating a great gift card for my book drive. Yet another reason why I love them. Liz and Sue, thanks again!
Check out Chevalier's blog and sign up for their newsletter for the upcoming events.
Last Saturday my friend and I decided to break in her new bike. After I rolled up to her apartment we biked around the Hollywood Forever cemetery then off to Larchmont for our usual caffeine fix at Peet's and a quick bite. Seeing that it was pretty hot out all we wanted to consume was something cold, something not too heavy. Greek salads at Z Pizza it is then!
We sit outside next to an adorable dog, Julius, who I just could not get enough of. I had to tell his owner, Abe, that if he wasn't careful I would run away with dear Julius. Abe frequents Larchmont since he lives close by. He practically comes here everyday with Julius! Today he took Julius out of the house since his wife, an actress, was filimg a project at their home. "Julius was starting to get really excited with all the people around so I decided to take him out for a bit so that my wife could get work done." (As an aside, Abe tells me his wife and her friend have a blog called The Actor's Diet. It's 'delicious' - you should check it out.) Abe took this opportunity to read outdoors. He happened to be reading Lush Life by Richard Price. He tells me the book takes place in the lower East Side of New York City and involves a murder. "'There is a bit of a culture clash between those who live in the projects and the hipsters. At least that is what I'm guessing from what I've read so far."
Abe's read other books by Price and really enjoyed them. That is why he was compelled to grab this book. He actually heard about it on NPR's Fresh Air (we both started to gush about Terry Gross). "It sounded interesting so I got my copy at Chevalier's across the street." Another Chevalier patron - I love it! "Yes, I usually try to get my books from there. I know it's a bit pricier than Border's or Barnes and Noble but I love supporting the shops around here. Plus they are great people. And Julius was even featured on their blog."
Before Lush Life Abe was reading Malcolm Gladwell's "The Outliers". "I had read other Gladwell books, too, and I think I like 'The Outliers' the most. The conclusions got me thinking. I'm not sure if they are totally legit or just great anecdotes but it is all entertaining nonetheless." There was an interesting story behind how he got to reading "The Outliers". Abe works for the documentary company Brave New Foundation and they have this great system where people leave items on a coffee table at work for people to take/borrow/use/pass along. "They usually have DVD's there due to our line of work", Abe says, "but one day there was a copy of 'The Outliers' with a note: Read and pass along."
Abe is currently working on a project called "In Their Boots". He actually had a screening of the film this past Thursday at Sony. Sadly I could not make it. The episdoes document gay and lesbian partners of soldiers who have been deployed in Iraq. It's all about "Don't Ask Don't Tell". I was very curious about the project and before Abe told me what it was about I thought it had to do with a project someone I met in Chicago was involved in. This guy (Andrew) traveled around the country with a van full of soldier's boots. He would help set up a traveling museum of sorts and talk about the various veterans whose boots were on display.
If Abe were to write his own book it would most likely be non-fiction. "I produce documentaries so it's my forte. However if I were to write fiction I'd like to write like my favourite author, Zadie Smith. I just think she is brilliant and funny, which is really important to me."
Abe asked me about what I was currently reading. I told him I was finishing up a book by Jhumpa Lahiri called Unaccustomed Earth for my book club. We discussed the book a bit and how I felt about the short stories in it. "I'm really touched by the different stories especially since many of them revolve around the relationships with mothers or parents in general." I tell him a bit about the chapter Hell-Heaven and how I could related to how the daughter of an immigrant mother had to deal with growing up as an American kid and slowly letting go and often times pushing away her Indian heritage. It was the same way with me being born here and being raised by my mother. Abe shared how his wife felt the same way. Her wife's parents are from Taiwan and how his wife shared with him the moment she stopped wanting to hold her mother's hand in public. Very typical reaction most people go through during the pre-teen phase. When having immigrant parents there is that added level of letting go because you're not a "kid" anymore but also letting go of being raised a la the mother country's way of thinking.
Who attempts to see a movie at the Arclight last minute on 4th of July weekend without purchasing tickets in advance? That would be me and my friends. It was the Sunday of 4th of July weekend. A group of us wanted to see a movie, ANY movie, but alas, our attempts to get tickets were a bust. Upon pre-paying for parking at the machines I see Lindsey sitting on one of the fake rocks in that courtyard area, you know, the ones that light up at night.
She is reading Middlemarch by George Eliot. We bond over having never read it before except she's finally getting to it while my copy still remains on my shelf. Lindsey read half of the book in high school and never finished it so since she was off duty from the Arclight she decided to get some reading done.
Middlemarch is about an English town in the early 19th century, she tells me. "Lots of politics going on."
Lindsey reads all sorts of books. "Actually", she confesses, "I don't usually read." But when she does she tries to make the most of it, picking and choosing some great books to make it worth her while. A favourite of hers if Jonathan Safran Foer's Everything is Illuminated. Such a good read and I still need to finish it.
She's recently read Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl. It's a mystery novel set in high school. Each chapter is a different theme. I wonder if it is like Veronica Mars. I just did a mini search on the book right now and found the website. Um, yes, I am going to have to read it now. Seriously! http://www.calamityphysics.com
Growing up Lindsey enjoyed the classic Charlotte's Web by E.B. White. She also read practically every Babysitters Club book! She can't pick a favourite babysitter though. Man, I can't remember which one I liked. Mary-Anne, I think?
Lindsey also read alot of the American Girl books. She even had and remembers having a Kirsten doll. If I remembered correctly Felicity was my girl!
Her own book would be something for teenage girls. "I'd want to write something smart with a protagonist girls can look up to. Girls definitely need a good role models."
Before I left her I had to ask what movie title I would find on her name tag. (See, under every employee's name is their favourite movie). Hers? "Sixteen Candles". (Oh Jake Ryan) This girl is awesome! I like her style.
What book series did you read when you were younger?
Yet another great reader encounter at the Lucy's Laundromat (after some fun random encounters on the same day. One of which was a friend and member of Justin's book club. Small world, right?) This time a young child. I always find myself hesitating before approaching them. I felt like a vulture flying over a body. I would watch him from the corner of my eye as I folded my clothes. Finally after packing up I approach his mother and ask for permission to interview her son. I mean, a random gal with a camera? :)
After getting permission from the madre I proceed to have a little conversation with Rodrigo. He is sitting atop one of the counters reading Eldest by Christopher Paolini, part of the Inheritance trilogy. Simply put (and in a meek voice) the book is about a boy named Eragon and his dragon, Saphira. I prod him for a bit more and it was very cute to watch Rodrigo during this process. Looking down with his chin perched on his fingers, carefully crafting his response in his mind. "They go on many adventures." Rodrigo has not read all the books in the series. This is Book 2 and he's only read the 1st and 2nd books thus far. This read is purely for fun, not for school.
He is in the 7th grade and he just finished learning about the Greek gods. If he could write a book it would be about Greece. I had to ask which god he preferred. After much deliberation he answered with "Poseidon...because he seems better than the others. Even Zeus."
A favourite book of his is The Lightning Thief, Book 1 in the Olympian book series by Rick Riordan. He thought the book was funny. I wanted to know what else kids read these days, wondering if favorites from my childhood were still hits, books like Goosebumps. Rodrigo tells me he likes the Goosebumps books. He's drawn to books in a series because the story keeps going. He is, by far, not a fast reader at all but he is working toward improving his skills so that he can get to more books quicker.
What book series did you enjoy when you were younger?
Currently on a Meg & Dia kick especially since their new album came out...a few months ago? Still trying to get my interview with one of them to see what they are reading on tour. Mike K., hook a girl up!
Video of Meg discussing The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera for Spin.com's Book Club selection many moons ago.
Dinner Destination: Downtown Los Angeles. Little Tokyo to be exact. After having our fill of spicy sushi rolls and pitchers of Kirin my friend Erica, her gentleman caller and I decide to meet up with his friends at the Barbara's at the Brewery a few minutes away. I love going to the Brewery, a section of Downtown Los Angeles that happens to be one of the largest artist colonies in the world. Lofts and art spaces galore. (Upon arrival Erica and I were drawn by the pretty glow of a light installation in one of the warehouses).
We met up with the guys at Barbara's (bar/restaurant) where I (literally) bump into Wren. He's on his way toward the patio armed with a cigar, a glass of Scotch, his iPod and a copy of Paul Arden's "Whatever You Think Think the Opposite". Wren lives upstairs (he's lived at the Brewery for about 4 years now) so he often comes down to hang out.
Wren was having a conversation with friends where this particular book came up in conversation so he decided to go out and buy a copy. Paul Arden used to be the creative director at Saatchi & Saatchi (our ears perk because Erica and I are familiar with the agency). This lead us to segue into a conversation about the AMC show, Mad Men. "Paul Arden was their Don Draper." This book is about turning everything on their heads. Plain and simple, whatever you are told to believe, believe the complete opposite.
Wren explains that he is a filmmaker and a musician. He's made music videos and commercials so he understands how it is when creative minds and worlds collide. "This book is great because and we need to get into a habit of turning things upside down. People have a lazy habit of thinking, never questioning, and we need to break out of that habit. Not everything we are fed and told is necessarily correct. Lots of great aphorisms that one can read and sit with for a bit before moving on."
Another great book recommendation is Friedrich Nietzsche's "Human, All Too Human", a book with many short thoughts and perfect to deconstruct. Wren is also a fan of Chomsky especially his work that states the only thing we're responsible for are predictable of our actions. "We have a hard time simplifying but we have to. When I read that I thought, "Fuck, that's it!" It's become his mantra, to simplify, not overthink.
His best friend in New York has recently recommended Snow by Turkish writer, Orham Pamuk. "It's good so far, a work of fiction, and I believe it has won a Nobel Prize. Very well-written. I wish I could get through it quicker but my reading time is very limited." When he's not reading books Wren enjoys reading The New Yorker and the Scientific American.
I asked him about his reading habits. Wren admits that he is not a fast reader at all and we all admitted we were the same way. "I also don't read silently. One of my favourite books is Ulysses by James Joyce. I've read it several times and I've felt that it one one of those books that is meant to be read out loud. I read scripts often and reading something aloud gives you a sense and feeling for the material. Articulating words in your mind is different from when you recite them. Plus, my mind tends to wander so I like to hear the words. I especially do this when I read poetry. The author has a voice and you want to hear it."
Growing up he enjoyed reading the Freddy the Pig detectice series. Around the 7th grade he got his hands on Les Miserables. "I felt like I was very snooty for reading it". This triggered the memory of my interview with Keith who got in trouble for reading Hard Times as a child.
If he were to write his own book? "I could easily say that it would be a book about relationships and long walks through the mountains or something autobiographical, like many first novels. However I'd like my book to be about somebody trying to find the right way to do things in order for the outcome to be positive and productive. The conflict will revolve around how the world is conspiring against us so the protagonist must find a way around these obstacles."
Wren has been writing in a journal since he was 17. Our conversation slips down this path about our journal writing habits. "Periods vary. I can find myself writing all the time then you will see posts few and far between. We all tend to write alot when we are upset, when our emotions are running high. I currently have an electronic journal simply called 'The Weather'. Entries are short like 'It was nice today'. A quick summation. That's all we really need."
Met up with my friend, Ann, for dinner at Mao's Kitchen on Melrose. I love this place but I personally enjoy eating at the Mao's in Venice. The setup is so much better. It's very true to the communist feel!
Arriving casually late I find Ann seated in the outdoor patio area waiting and reading the first book in the Sookie Stackhouse series, "Dead Until Dark" by Charlaine Harris. For those who have been sucked into HBO's hit show "True Blood" you are well aware that the Sookie Stackhouse books are the reason why we have a new show to obsess over! Ann and I (along with many of our friends and colleagues) can't get enough of the show. I don't have TV so I had given the first season's DVD's a shot (and now I'm doomed).
Once I had heard that the show was based off books I was intrigued to check them out myself. Everyone kept telling me that the books are pretty faithful. However when I went to the local bookstore on Larchmont and found the series of books on the shelf I reacted like a vamp approaching cloves of garlic. I am so used to the dark HBO series that I've grown to love that the cheesy, almost children's book cover turned me off. I couldn't get over how cartoony Sookie and Vampire Bill look on the cover. Vampire Bill looks like the Count von Count from Sesame Street for crying out loud! Talk about judging a book by its cover.
I asked Ann what she thought so far and she says that the narrative seems to be right on the money. Or rather the TV show is pratically mirroring the book's narrative. "Even the dialects in the book are so similar. When I read the words I can hear Sookie's voice talking in my head. It's great!"
Alright, so I may have to give the books a try. I will just have to tear the covers off...and avoid reading the backs of the books because I ended up reading the back of Book 9 and all I kept thinking was "Wait, WHAT?! He does WHAT?!" Just seemed too silly. But hey, I can't knock it 'til I try it, right? I'll have to borrow Ann's copy when she is done and give you all a full report on biting the silver bullet.
Are there any television shows or movies that you enjoyed first then decided to check out the books they were based off of?
