Tag: books

I Am Legend, southern style

~ dannyhong ~ Leave a comment

If you were to tell me that I Am Legend took place in Montgomery, Alabama, I would be inclined to believe you. This is a picture of downtown Montgomery, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, and there isn’t a single soul in sight. I am literally standing in the middle of the street, with no fear at all of any oncoming cars. Because there simply are none. I really imagined that this is what Robert Neville felt like when wandering about in Los Angeles in the story, notating any dark and shady crevices in which vampires could be hiding in.

Apparently in the god-fearing south, and then deeper in, in Montgomery, they fear him just a little bit more, to the point where they go into complete hiding altogether on Sundays outright.

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The 2011 Book List

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Amazingly, with the amount of things I’ve been doing on a routinely basis, I still found time to read a few books this past year. Gone are the days where I’d pound out 30+ books, but at least I can say that I read more in 2011 than I did in 2010 (18 vs. 17). As is kind of the norm for anyone who reads a lot, we tend to get pickier, and more selective of the things we read, and when in doubt, there are authors or subjects that we fall back onto. Such is quite prevalent in my 2011 list of books, but for the most part, I can’t say that I didn’t find some degree of enjoyment in the things I read in the last year.

The Book of Basketball

By Bill Simmons

A gigantic thick book that encompassed way more about basketball than my existence was aware of, but Simmons’ writing style and personality is one that appeals to me a lot, because it reminds me of me somewhat. But what I really liked the most about the book was the countdown of the top NBA players of all time, and that Simmons is as high on Tim Duncan as I am, and ranked him within the top-10 all time, which I can agree with. No-decision.

The Silent Man

By Alex Berenson

Gradually, I’ve been making my way through the John Wells series as I’ve obviously become a fan of Alex Berenson’s writing. So far, out of all of the stories, I would have to say that The Silent Man probably had the most abrupt and sudden climax out of them. It’s like you’re reading through the book, and you’re cognitive of the fact that you’re running out of pages, and the main conflict is not yet resolved yet. And then suddenly, a lot of hints and clues come together immediately, and then just like that, conflict resolved. But it was not that predictable, which is something I could appreciate. Win.

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Closing out Borders appropriately

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The demise of Borders bookstores legitimately makes me sad.  Considering I remember when I saw one for the first time at Springfield Mall when I was still just a young child, seeing their inevitable demise now is kind of like feeling the loss of something very familiar and a symbol of childhood.

Borders was always my preferred merchant of literature, over Barnes and Noble, and to some degree, even Amazon.com.  Mostly because of the coupons that Borders sent out on a very frequent bonus, and it enabled me to purchase my choice of books at a discount, at mostly my own convenience.  As opposed to Barnes and Noble’s bullshit “membership,” which cost actual money, in order to save 10% off purchases through the finite time frame of 365 days.  I don’t like having time limits attached to my hobbies, especially ones that cost money.

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High-er Expeck-taaay-tions

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The other day, I was at Borders purchasing a book about economics in baseball.  I happened to be wearing a shirt that said “i would rather be reading palahniuk” (thanks Katie), completely coincidental, and not because I was going to be going into a book store, and I wanted to assert my literary prowess to any other book nerds who may be glancing in my direction.

After an inconvenient delay, thanks to some black guy trying to swindle Borders with the “this book i recently purchased and have subsequently finished right away, i would like a full refund on it because i ripped out a bunch of pages to make it look like it was purchased damaged when it was really me all along” trick, but thankfully failing, I finally was able to check out.  The cashier, older, corporations would classify as “mature,” took amusement in my shirt, and stated her approval for my choice in literature.  The rotund younger cashier immediately took notice, and came to state her opinions as well, and before I knew it, I was engaged in a chance discussion about Chuck Palahniuk with the older cashier, with the younger one not wanting to feel left out, interjecting her remarks, inquiries about my choice of authors, and comments sporadically.

Now although I didn’t believe her when she said the only Palahniuk novel she’s read was Fight Club (because anyone can watch the movie and say they’ve read the book), the impression I got was that she was attracted to me.  If I’m correct in this assumption, I can easily say that it was most certainly not mutual, but it simply makes me wonder, that I think I have a tendency to attract women that I wouldn’t be close to being capable of returning attraction, because I give off this air of attainability?

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The 2010 Book List

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The year 2010 saw my total number of books read drop again for another year, and I really don’t have much excuse for it. Video games have something to do with it, as does an inconsistent work schedule, but one factor that shouldn’t go ignored is the simple fact that I’ve simply become a pickier reader throughout the last few years. Tired am I, of the repetitive drivel from authors that are Korean, British, gay, over-the-top chick-lit, or any combination of the above. I still don’t have much interest in collections of short stories, nor have I been financially capable of going to Borders and taking random leaps of faith with books with questionable reputation this year. All this being said, I still completed 17 books in 2010, but looking back at the list of things I read, I’m a little disappointed in some of the things I’ve allowed myself to waste my time reading. Nonetheless, as is the norm, bringing in the new year, is the list and brief reviews and overall rating of all the things I read in the previous year.

Word Made Flesh

by Jack O’Connell

LOSS – This book was absolute rubbish. It started off hauntingly and captivating, but it was all downhill from there. This has the dubious task of being the oldest of the books I read this year, meaning the least freshest on my memories, but it’s basically about a former cop-now-taxi driver, who does a lot of bullshit, while people are getting skinned and/or murdered around what is I guess a transitional time period in the New England area. Without question, this was one of the most difficult books I’ve ever had to struggle through in my entire life. Already in a pile of books prepared to be donated (read: gotten the fuck out of my house).

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Reading at the book store

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Today, I went to a Borders, because I have absolutely no books left to read, and there was no way I was going to hop on the plane back to Atlanta tomorrow morning without something to read.  Firstly, I guess this is one of those regional differences that differs noticeably between Atlanta and Fairfax, but there are a lot more people who occupy the courtesy chairs and are actually reading.  Instead of looking for places to lounge while  their significant others are scouring for books.  Asian kids, Indian students, and various other people of Middle Eastern descent are scattered throughout the store, with actual books, and not a bunch of fake Goth teenagers reading manga in the chairs and aisles.

Here’s my thing – I’m not working right now, and my funds are dwindling and honestly making me worry a little bit these days.  The count of white hairs on my head is distressing, and has become like this Ouroboros of anxiety that just creates more.  I haven’t really relaxed in quite some time.  But all those factors considered, I realize that I just can’t sit down in bookstores and read entire books.  I’m the fucking customer that book stores should love.  I don’t treat them like libraries and sit around and loiter and get my fill of reading without paying for it.

Yet it has nothing to do with reading in public, because when I’m at the airport, or Starbucks, or even any sit down joint during lunch, I have no problem pulling out a book and reading in front of other people.  I guess I have this idea that the concept of sitting around and reading at book stores is kind of what hopeless people do.  If you have the genuine interest in what you’re sampling, take it to the counter, and purchase it, and read what now belongs to you.  I don’t have a ton of money these days, but I still can’t fathom actually taking advantage of the unwritten honor system of book stores, and trying to fill my head and kill my time for absolutely dick, inside the confines of a book store.  I think it’s a cheap thing to do, and that’s something I don’t really want to come off as.

But to each their own, and if my life keeps heading in this dry spell, then even getting to the book store in the first place is going to be the least of my worries.