Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Book Worm

I lost my suitcase.

I've had suitcases sacrificed to Anthony of Padua, 1195-1231, the patron saint of lost things. One becomes rather devoted to Saint Anthony of Padua when one travels a lot, I suppose the more you get on a plane or train, the more chances you have of losing a suitcase. Some of you may recall that I had recently restocked my bra and knickers supply at Victoria Secret. I packed my new undies and my new Baby Phat hot pink velvet pants to head up north. Velvet pants were the practical choice at weather -27 before the wind chill factor. Losing these things after so newly and dearly purchased hurt. I also packed my thin flannel plaid robe which Candy uses when conversing with her muses in the studio. I love my delicate plaid robe even though it only cost me 2.50 at a Salavtion Army facility. It is just the perfect weight of material to paint or read or clean the house in without getting uncomfortable. That really hurt. I am also a book worm as you know. Who else would construct a futile list such as A World Peace Reading List except a nerd who believes in story telling and listening? I had also packed lots of reading material. Vogue Angelina Jolie issue, and Vanity Fair Demi Moore issue, 1) To The Nines by Janet Evanovich, 2)The Autograph Man by Zadie Smith, 3) Don Quixote by Cervantes and 4) The Octopus And The Orangutan by Eugene Linden and a copy of No Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy for my girlfriend who was meeting me in a quiet area of mid-north Canada. I'm not stupid, if I was going to be reading in our hotel room, I'd better bring her something to read too.

I didn't know what kind of a reading mood I would be in so I brought choices. I brought Don Quixote because well, god knows I wasn't going to get through it, but I did plan on reading some of it because I want to hook up with others online here with Karen and * for a discussion.

Gone.

Oops.

I think the robe hurt the most.

On Sunday we went medieval at the bookstore. Time to replenish our supplies.

I am so excited to be getting into these new novels. Well I got a paperback and a couple of non-fiction, but here they are...



Finn by Jon Clinch
5) This one has really scared the shit out of me. It's a novel built out of Huckleberry Finn and the idea of who was his father. The cover looks so soft and nice...inside brutality, racisim, horror. But I am fascinated by the memories of Huck Finn played out by this invention and response by the writer to the father. Plus, this writer has a blog for the book and discussions and questions. It's linked in my blogroll under references.

Man In The Middle by John Amaechi.
6) A little known love of mine is basketball. I don't watch it like I used to partly because when Magic retired I was watching all the news coverage and crying like a baby. Brokenhearted I just sort of changed some of my focus back then and watched less basketball. I did however, get recharged when Toronto got a team and I voted and wrote letters in support of the name RAPTORS. As for John Amaechi, well, he was a gay, black English pro ball player for Utah. No. You can't make that shit up. The back cover quotes "The NBA locker room was the most flamboyant place I've ever been. The guys flaunted their perfect bodies. They bragged of their sexual exploits. They primped in front of the mirror, applying cologne and hair gel by the bucketful. They tried on each other's $10,000 suits and shoes, admired each other's diamond-studded rings and necklaces. It was an intense kind of comaraderie that felt completely natural to them but was a little too close for my comfort. As I surveyed the room, I couldn't help chuckling to myself: And I'm the gay one."


7)Against The Day by Thomas Pynchon. This clocks in at 1085 pages. And I thought re-reading Don Quixote was gonna be hard work. Yeah, well, I love the guy. The Crying of Lot 49, Gravity's Rainbow and V. are some of the most fun I've had reading novels. He's just crazy-assed. Intense and sheesh, he really researches what he decides to talk about. The Crying of Lot 49 is his most accessible novel and is a delightful conspiracy de-myth theory, I guess you could say. I simply don't know how to describe him sometimes.

8) The Lay of the Land by Richard Ford. I don't think Ford can do wrong. This is a third novel following the life of New Jersey real estate agent Frank Bascombe. I heart Frank Bascombe. I'm two thirds of the way and loving to hear more about his life. His second book about this character is called Independance Day and was very popular and won the Pulizer Prize if that means anything to anyone. I believe I gave one of his novels to Mister Anchovy one time about a teen growing up in Montana firefighter family, Wildlife.

9) On Mister Anchovy's direction we ordered up New Orleans Playing A Jazz Chorus by Samuel Charter. It gets to our local bookstore in a few days Mr. A.


I do sometimes buy a book judged by it's cover. This one caught my eye immediately in the store. I loved the design. It actually looks like there is duct tape on it...and how the effect was designed into the cover is really clever. Instead of embossed letters the designer, Stephanie Huntwork, used embossing for the creases in the photo of the duct tape.
Made To Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by brothers Chip and Dan Heath. 10) This book looks super interesting. I read the first 20 pages in the book store just to make sure I wasn't being a silly kook for loving the cover. This reminds me of Freakonomics and anthropology because it's looking at ideas and sucessful storytelling as something tangible outside grammar and classic notions of what makes "good stories". Well, their argument is that a good story is exactly what makes an idea stay with us or "stick". Last night I was wondering if this could be applied to art work...I'll let you know! They have a groovy website, with a manifesto which I found entirely applicable or at least challenging to lay against the art market. Check out their blog?


I like to read the novels that win the Man Booker Prize. It's just a kind of habit, because I don't always enjoy them. There was a time where I felt everything that won that award was fantasic and how my habit began...but now the general tastes in literature and the winners of this prize seem to reflect a kind of writing and topic I find well, disappointing. We'll see. 11)This year's winner is The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai. I looked inside and the tone is rather ick, but I'll still check it out.

Writers making appearances on political talk shows seems to have an effect on me too. I picked up 12) Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali after seeing her on Bill Maher's Real Time. she had such an incredible prescence I just had to read her book.
..."Ali tells her astonishing life story, from her traditional Muslim childhood in Somalia, Saudi Arabia and Kenya, to her intellectual awakening and activism in the Netherlands, and her current life under armed guard in the West" (from jacket flap).
13.) I tried to find a web site for book designer Stephanie Huntwork, but couldn't. Instead, here is another book cover she designed. Every now and then there is a designer out there that compels me to follow their work, and I will be getting this chicken cookbook probably just because I love what I've seen of this designer's work. she is so cool. The reviews I've found about this cookbook have noted ther design and the enthusiam for her design is telling too, seems there is a gingham theme within the cookbook. Cool.

Last night my suitcase was tracked down and FedEx'ed to me. I'm wearing my plaid robe right now. I have a date with a hot water bottle. Is there anything as nice as compensating having period cramps by settling under the blankets with a great book?

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!




38 comments:

Karen said...

Oh Candy! I'm so glad they found and returned your suitcase. Things just aren't the same without your favourite robe, are they?

And what an eclectic bag of books you guys picked up! Quite an interesting selection.

Candy Minx said...

Isn't it crazy that I missed my robe so much. You would howl if you saw it, it's like something Bill Murray would wear.

I swear, I haven't been this excited about a bunch of books in ages. I've got them sitting on the kitchen table and I'm just working my way through them. And of course, I got D.Q. back in my suitcase!

mister anchovy said...

After Tuffy and I got hitched, we arrived in St. Johns for our honeymoon and there was no sign of my luggage. Air Canada tracked it down though and delivered it the next day up to Pouch Cove..

Rashenbo said...

Phew! Now that's a post!

:)

My husband and I were flying home from Paris and the flights got all messed up... instead of the luggage getting lost, we got lost. We ended up in Amsterdam and our luggage ended up in the states. The airport gave us a plain white t-shirt and a little "emergency" pouch with socks and some essential items.

It was actually fun, but I do hate it when luggage goes *poof*. I think it's funny you mention St. Anthony today. I dreamt about him and St. Jude last night. Not sure why... it's been a LOOONG time since I've had any thoughts about them. :D

Raggedy said...

I am sorry you lost your new VS clothes,velvet pants, favorite robe and books. :(
I am so glad your suitcase was returned to you. :)
Now you have new books to go along with old eh?
Your new books look interesting.
Terrific Thursday Thirteen!
Thank you for your visit.
Have a wonderful day!
Happy TT'ing!
*^_^
(=':'=)
(")_ (")Š
Raggedy

Red said...

I'm so relieved for you that your suitcase turned up, Salvation Army robe and all! And all those Victoria's Secret goodies...

I first heard about Ayaan Hirsi Ali a couple of years ago; I think it was about the time that Theo van Gogh was killed, because I believe they had worked together on a film or something. Then she was on a programme here and I just love the fact that she makes no apology for the way she feels or what she believes in. And maybe we should listen. We all preach multiculturalism and integration, but we don't know much about a culture that -- she claims, and she should know, since she is so entrenched in it -- has little desire to integrate. It's an interesting point of view... I'd be interested to know what you think of her book once you're done with it.

Caylynn said...

Glad to hear they found your suitcase and you had all your belongings returned to you!

What an eclectic and interesting mix of books you picked up! Some of them sound intriguing! Have fun reading them all. :)

Happy T13. :)

Tink said...

I only know Ayaan Hirshi Ali, but I haven't read her book. Happy reading!
Thanks for visiting my cat quotes TT!

Raggedy said...

Your link over at the hub for TT takes you to an older TT post. Just thought I would let you know.
Happy TT!

Gardenia said...

So glad your suitcase was found. There is nothing much more disconcerting than a lost suitcase. Since 911 I've quit packing ANYTHING of value - I take no makeup, take lousy underwear, one book in my carry on, replaceable toiletries - then I pray the darn thing gets to the destination with me. I've had my brown birkies disappear, a bottle of Lolita Lempicka perfume, small bag holding my best earrings disappear, Lancome makeup confiscated, along with key rings, photography equipment - now I buy a box camera a destination -

yay, now I know someone else who has saved the Angelie Jolie issue of Vogue - a loss of that would have been devastating -

Going to order the New Orleans book from Amazon and Infidel looks intriguing - today when I order Super Food. Just started reading "The Idiot" by Dostoevsky - the thickness of it reminds me of mountain climbing - I've finished the intro - and feel like I've made it to base camp

Darla said...

What an interesting list of books! I've got all these must-buy authors and I do enjoy reading their books, but there's nothing like picking up something just because it looks interesting. I need to do that more often. :)

Glad to hear your suitcase got back to you safe & sound.

Unknown said...

Losing my stuff is one of my biggest fears when I fly. That and crashing...but I digress.

The Huck Fin book sounds very interesting. I can see how it could take a dark spin to it. I'll have to go check it out.

Carmen said...

Having a lost suitcase sucks - the airline lost mine when I arrived in Venice! No hair products=bad Italy pictures. ha ha.

I hope your hot water bottle and books help. :)

Anonymous said...

I am so glad you got your robe back. Hope you are feeling better.

WOW! Some of those books look really good. And, some look like they will hurt my head and make me think.....a lot. LOL!

Cold here today. 0 degrees. I have to go out tonight and it will be -10. Waiting for sun, 30 degrees and a walk at the beach this weekend.

Stay Warm!

* (asterisk) said...

Wow, well done on getting your case back. I think they almost always turn up, but god knows when it'll be.

Like Red said, we heard of Ayaan Ali at the time of Tho van Gogh's death. They had indeed worked on a film together (as I'm sure you knew), and I believe it was one of the supposed "anti-Muslim" films that led to his murder.

She seems really interesting. And real. I think you know when someone in the media is real because you agree with a bunch of stuff they say, and then you disagree with some other stuff. You know they're not just trying to take a certain line. And that's refreshing.

Fence said...

Finn looks like it'd make a great read. Love the cover, and the idea of it. I'll have to keep an eye out for it.

Happy T13

Joy Renee said...

I like the look and the sound of Finn, I hope I encounter it someday. The new Pynchon novel is actually one that I have out of the library right now but I don't think I'm going to get to read it. It's due next Friday and my husband who can devour books at phenomenal rates has not reache the halfway point after ten days. So I don't think I better even start it. I would just have to start it over again the next time I got my hands on it.

my TT is 13 research projects that are going to be impacted by the impending library closure. It is part 1 of a projected three part series.

i'm so glad you didn't loose your suitcase and its contents. one of my recurring nighmares involves loosing luggage while traveling.

Anonymous said...

WOW! Great list, Candy!Some of those books look really good. I loved reading Janet E. book Eleven on Top. I couldn't put it down!
I'll have to check some of these out!
Have a great Thursday!

Mercy's Maid said...

I did a bookish TT this week too. Enjoyed your list.

Janet said...

Finn and Man in the Middle sound AWESOME! I'll have to check those out, thanks :-)

S.M. Elliott said...

"Made to Stick" sounds awesome. Please please post your thoughts on "Against the Day"! I'm tackling Gravity's Rainbow this year (loved Lot 49).

Wylie Kinson said...

Glad you finally found a topic for your TT!
Also happy to hear about robe recovery. I live in my robe so I really got that disappointed vibe.
Your reading list is indeed eclectic -- and tres interesting. I saw the duct tape book in Chapters the other day and was so very tempted to pick it up, but alas, my gift card was only good for 30 bucks and I already had three 'must read' paperbacks in my hand.
I wish books were more affordable!
I'll keep my eyes peeled at the second hand bookshop in a few months.

Joan said...

Thanks for coming by my blog, Candy. It looks like you are a fellow reading enthusiast. I enjoyed reading your TT.

felix said...

Candy, you are fortunate that your bag was located. Lost luggage always reminds me of the story of Hemingway's suitcase, full of his mss. back in his poor days in Paris. Hemingway had wired his wife, Hadley, to join him on assignment in Switzerland, and she decided to bring him a nice surprise, knowing how he liked to work on his stories whenever possible. She packed up every scrap of manuscript in their apartment, packed it in one suitcase, and their clothes in another. Guess which one was lost on the train?

Hemingway took the next train back to Paris when they discovered the suitcase was gone, searching the apartment to see if Hadley might have overlooked some of his papers.

She hadn't.

Hadley could have used FedEx. Heh.

FOUR DINNERS said...

Love books so I'll give em a go - read Don Quixote years back.

Try the Red Dwarf Books and owt by Tom Sharpe. Think you'll like.

Buttercup said...

I'm also glad you got your bag and all the contents back. Phew! I haven't read any of those books but "Infidel" looks interesting.

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