9 to 5 Poet

The lovely chapbook Savage Machinery by Karen Rigby is about to be released by Finishing Line Press. I reviewed this book a while ago for Read Write Poem, and I cannot say enough good things about this amazing book.  I would strongly urge you to pick up a copy here.  (Scroll to the bottom to find her title — the list is alphabetical by author last name.)  Support this poet — buy her book!

I know I’m over thirty and have been frequenting bookstores since I could toddle, but I still need to remind myself of that fact.  I can’t just walk into a library and expect to find every book on my list.  Or in this case, walk in to two libraries in two days and find more than one book on my list.

I was a good kid. I made a little list in pink sharpie marker, based on your suggestions, then visited my work library. I found one suggestion.  I thought that maybe I would find others at the major down city library.  Nothing!  Every single book on my list was checked out, lost, on hold, or never returned.  By the way, if you never return library books, you’re evil and are going to hell. 

Despite this (very) mild frustration, I found a bunch of books that I will be able to take with me on vacation.  Here they are, in no particular order:

• The Scalepl and the Silver Bear by Lori Arviso Alvord — I have to read it for work, because she will be speaking at my school next year.
• You’ll Be Okay:  My Life with Jack Kerouac by Edie Kerouac-Parker — I am Beat poetry nut, and I am obsessed with memoirs and biographies about the Beats. I couldn’t resist.
• The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry:  Love, Laughter, and Tears at the World’s Most Famous Cooking School by Kathleen Flinn — Because I have yet to read enough food writing yet.
• The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield — Looks really good.  Thanks, Diana!
• Another Bullshit Night in Suck City and Some Ether both By Nick Flynn – Yesterday, they had this article in my LA Times headlines email and I couldn’t believe that I missed this poet’s memoir.  I’m blaming grad school, since it came out when I was still in.   
• Bones to Ashes by Kathy Reichs — The one paperback I picked up at the bookstore.  I like mysteries, I like the TV show, so I figured I’d try it.  After all, I can leave it there, since I only paid $6 for it. 

So there’s my list.  I think that  my luggage will be made of mostly books.  (And since they’re library books, I can’t leave them there. Because then I’ll go to hell.)  

I don’t expect to finish them all, not by a long shot.  But I just finished my freelancing gig at 10:45 last night and I need something to occupy my time. I’m already itchy. (I’m slightly nuts.) I know, vacation is for relaxing. But what could be more relaxing than reading on a beach?

In a little over a week, I’m heading on my summer vacation to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  We’re staying at a couple of resorts, so I’m anticipating a lot of time for beachside and poolside reading. 

Last year, when I went to Jamaica, I asked readers to recommend some beachy books to read. Through your suggestions, I discovered the awesome Thursday Next series and read the whole thing on vacation. (Almost). 

Since it was so successful last year, I’m asking for help again.  If you have any good summer reading suggestions, please post them here. I have access to an extensive city library and the excellent library at work, so I’m hoping to load up next week.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

This week, I read a wonderful chapbook called Savage Machinery (18 pages) by Karen Rigby.  I don’t want to spoil my review for it, which will appear on Read Write Poem on Wednesday, but this is a wonderful series of poems. 

My husband read over my shoulder while I was writing my review and said, “Oh an Adam and Eve poem.  You must like this chapbook!” And of course, I did, for more reasons than having an Adam & Eve poem. The chapbook weaves together several of my favorite themes. It’s about sensuality, food, religion, human connection despite distance and dang it, it rocks. 

When it comes out from Finishing Line Press in September, I heartily encourage you to pick it up!

Total For 2008: 3819 pages
Genres: Memoir (3), Essay (1), Graphic Novel (1), Non-Fiction (3), Poetry (5), Comic Book Anthology (1), Novel (2)

My level of discipline has suddenly plummeted. 

Rather than writing poetry on the bus, I’m obsessively completing crossword puzzles.  (I bought a book of 500 at the campus bookstore on my Monday.)  I can see black and white little boxes in my sleep.  I keep itching to do another, as soon as I finish one.  I think they could be habit forming.

Of course, I’m also spending more time outside, taking walks and playing catch or frisbee with my husband.  When I’m inside, I’m watching TV or watching more TV.  So You Think You Can Dance  has a two hour premiere tonight, which is practically a holiday in our house. 

And my reading habits have changed.  In the past three weeks, I’ve read two different mysteries.  The first, admittedly, was an assignment for writing a review for the Uptown Neighborhood News. But it whetted my appetite for more mysteries!  Unfortunately (or fortunately for my review) the first was way better than the second. 

I would highly recommend State of the Onion (325 pages) by Julie Hyzy, especially if you like female protaganists in your mysteries.  The second, Simple Genius (420 pages) by David Baldacci is kind of cruddy. That’s the technical literary term. The story is good, but the prose and dialogue is so wooden that I felt dirty for reading it. 

Despite these mixed results, I still want to read more mysteries.  So, if you have any recommendations for mystery authors that can write well, let me know!  I think I need to make peace with my tendencies towards frivolity, at least for the summer. 

Total For 2008: 3801 pages
Genres: Memoir (3), Essay (1), Graphic Novel (1), Non-Fiction (3), Poetry (4), Comic Book Anthology (1), Novel (2)

Yes, I am still here.  But, I feel like I’ve got a writing hangover, similar to that I experienced after NaBloWriMo.  Even though I tuckered out on NaPoWriMo 5 days early, I’m a little tapped out. I’ve also had to play some catch up on reviews (Page 4 of the PDF for my Uptown Girl review), so I’ve had a momentary retreat from blogging. 

However, I have been doing other things (yes, there are other things) including…

• Seeing a Twin’s Game with my hubby, as well as Mr. Horrorpants and his wife. The Twins are actually on a winning streak, although that phrase will probably jinx it.
• Enjoying the beautiful weather - it’s finally above 50 degrees.
• Recovering from the massive report I had to coordinate at work.  I am so glad it’s done, never to be coordinated again.  I hope.
• Reading my next book to review for Uptown Neighborhood News, State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy
• Watching Season One of The Riches– I have a huge crush on Eddie Izzard now.
• Finishing Asphalt Sky.  I swear to God it’s coming out soon. 

So life is good.  Just not very bloggable right now.  And that’s okay. 

Of course, I’ve been reading. My review of Rae Armantrout’s Next Life (78 pages) is up at read.write.poem. 

Then last night, I finished A Very Good Year  (276 pages) by Mike Weiss.  This is an interesting book — it follows the production of one wine (Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc) throughout its lifespan, from growing on the vines to being consumed by a couple of people.  What’s interesting is that Weiss balances the tutorial on winemaking with the character study of the people who are involved in making the wine.  You end up caring about the vineyard owners, the farmers, and yes, even the marketing guy.  At the end, there is a bit of suspense as we wait for the Wine Spectator rating.  I swear, I never thought that could be exciting, but it was.

So that’s what I’ve been reading. How about you?  Any recommendations as I swing into a (hopefully) less busy season at work?

Total For 2008: 3056 pages
Genres: Memoir (3), Essay (1), Graphic Novel (1), Non-Fiction (3), Poetry (4), Comic Book Anthology (1)

I just finished reading the first volume of the Uptown Girl comic anthology, Begin the Begin (200 pages), which I will be reviewing this month for the Uptown Neighborhood News.  (How did I come up with this book to read?)  Not to spoil the energy for my review, it’s exceedingly cute and an overly accurate depiction of my neighborhood.  If you want to know what it’s like to live in Uptown Minneapolis (a hipster neighborhood, for those of you out-of-state), pick up this book!

Total For 2008: 2350 pages
Genres: Memoir (2), Essay (1), Graphic Novel (1), Non-Fiction (2), Poetry (3), Comic Book Anthology (1)

As I was buying my new book for my next month’s review at Uptown Neighborhood News, I realized that I hadn’t updated my reading list report in awhile.  And I’ve been reading up a storm!  So here’s the latest.

Obviously, I just recently finished Deborah Keenan’s wonderful book Willow Room, Green Door.  (265 pages) You can check out the review over at read. write. poem. (Plug Plug)

At the same time, I was reading Bill Buford’s memoir Heat. (315 pages) It follows his midlife crisis as he quits his job as a magazine writer to learn how to be cook. He interns in Mario Batali’s kitchen, spends some time in Italy as a pasta maker and a butcher, and generally kills himself trying to do something that twenty-five year olds find challenging.

I’ve been wanting to read this book for a while, but it had always been too soon after leaving the culinary school. I didn’t know if I was ready to immerse myself back in chef culture, which can often be insular, masochistic, and macho. It can also be really fascinating, if you consider their temperments as artistic. I think Buford realistically captures all of these aspects in his book. It’s like he knows he’s crazy but he does it anyway, which many chefs and cooks acknowledge daily. If you’re interested in food writing at all, which I totally am, I would recommend Buford’s memoir.

Total For 2008: 2150 pages
Genres: Memoir (2), Essay (1), Graphic Novel (1), Non-Fiction (2), Poetry (3)

Alright, so I have read Leilani Hall’s Swimming the Witch. (74 pages) I just haven’t posted my opinion on it yet. On my site. Last night, I wrote my review for read. write. poem., and the review will be appearing tonight at midnight. I’ll post the link tomorrow morning when it’s up (and I’m up).

Until then, my reading count is:

Total For 2008: 1570 pages
Genres: Memoir (1), Essay (1), Graphic Novel (1), Non-Fiction (2), Poetry (2)