Sometimes my reading tastes get a little too precious. Determined to only read "important" or "serious" books, I wind up wading through some stuff that is just not that much fun. It's as if I'm worried that at the end of my life, when I head to the big library in the sky, some heavenly librarian will be standing there with my life's reading list in hand. With too much pop fiction and too many national enquirers on the list, I fear she will judge me wanting, deny me a card and point me down the road to the big walmart in the sky where I will spend eternity pushing a shopping cart train up a move-ator or some such suitable penance.
So I miss some of the fun stuff. I even miss whole genres. While I won't apologize for taking a pass on romance novels or pulpy westerns, I do regret not reading more sci-fi. Especially after reading Robert Sawyer's Golden Fleece.
The story centres on a ship travelling to a far off planet to complete a planetary survey. The catch is that the 10 000 or so people on board know that, through the intricacies of relativity and near light speed travel, by the time they return to earth everyone they know will be long dead.
The book starts with a death, a murder disguised as a suicide committed by JASON (the Greek theme runs through a lot of the naming - the ship is called the Argo, for example), the ship's computer. In fact, the whole story is told from Jason's perspective, which is a pretty novel twist on what becomes a murder mystery.
I don't really want to say much more because I don't want to ruin it for the reader. What I will say is that the book is smart, at times funny and even a little thought-provoking. Sometimes, the technical side of things does get in the way of the story - there are some long stretches that feel more like a lecture than a story - but it is never a big issue. By the end of the novel, I found myself wishing it was longer and hoping for a sequel. I will be looking for more of his books in the future.
Next up is Ibi Kaslik's The Angel Riots.
Books, Music, More Books, Travel, Even More Books. . .
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Why Hand-Crafted Counts
People who have followed me from one blog to another may remember that I bought some custom leather harmonica cases from an outfit down in Indiana called Cumberland Custom Cases (http://www.cumberlandcustomcases.com/). The cases turned out far better than I had hoped. They are beautiful.
A couple of months ago, I decided to take advantage of the high dollar again and order a writing portfolio. I knew that Jeff, the owner, likes doing custom work so I thought it might turn out well.
It has.
On Jeff's suggestion, I decided to forgo the plain sides I originally envisioned and opted for a more intricate design on the front. It worked perfectly. The great thing about it is that this is a fully custom work. I told Jeff what I wanted in it right down to the dimensions of the notebook I use. You can't do that at Staples. Furthermore, it was fun dealing with him. We'd email back and forth and he would provide the occasional update. It might take a bit longer, but you wind up with a product that is truly worth the wait.
Jeff was happy enough with the results that he has put these pics up on his website:
Now I just have to wait for it to come in the mail.
A couple of months ago, I decided to take advantage of the high dollar again and order a writing portfolio. I knew that Jeff, the owner, likes doing custom work so I thought it might turn out well.
It has.
On Jeff's suggestion, I decided to forgo the plain sides I originally envisioned and opted for a more intricate design on the front. It worked perfectly. The great thing about it is that this is a fully custom work. I told Jeff what I wanted in it right down to the dimensions of the notebook I use. You can't do that at Staples. Furthermore, it was fun dealing with him. We'd email back and forth and he would provide the occasional update. It might take a bit longer, but you wind up with a product that is truly worth the wait.
Jeff was happy enough with the results that he has put these pics up on his website:
Now I just have to wait for it to come in the mail.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Canuck Book 8 - Tell Your Sister by Andrew Daley
I finished Andrew Daley's Tell Your Sister earlier this week but did not have a chance to write until now. Between work, visiting my parents new house outside of Parry Sound and a very serious phone conversation with my 5 year old niece about our favourite colours (hers - pink and purple, mine - blue), I just haven't had the time to blog.
I bought Tell Your Sister from the author at last fall's Small Press Book Fair. Obviously, buying it from the author predisposes me to liking the book. This inclination was tempered, however, by the fact that the 'Torontonian with a small town past' thing has been done so many times before that it has almost become cliche.
So, with one count for and one against, I dove in.
My verdict is that it is a very good novel, especially a very good first novel. Not great, but that's fine. It was more than good enough to ensure I will be buying his next book whenever it comes out.
The book tells the tale of two small town boys and the choices that can shatter or shape a life. While Dean and Aaron are both originally from the wrong side of the tracks, Dean's family moves on while Aaron's does not.
The novel is split into two strands. The first focuses on the year or so after Aaron drops out of school. Essentially abandoned by his father and stepmother, Aaron scrapes by, living in a rooming house and working at a bowling alley. He has an on again/off again relationship with Dean's sister that is shaped in no small part by the growing chasms of class and opportunity. The desperation of his situation forces Aaron to make some rash decisions with far reaching consequences.
The other strand occurs much later when the adult Dean happens to see one of Aaron's sisters at a downtown Toronto art opening. Very quickly, Dean is forced to face a) the departure of his long time girlfriend b) the fact that he can no longer work at a career (real estate) he has no interest in and c) the past that confronts him in the form of his one-time best friend's sister, reminding him of a bad choice he made.
The book moves and works well, building to an ending that is more satisfying than surprising. At times, Mr. Daley risked going too far. For instance, Dean's dazed ramble through the city near the end of the book had me worrying that the author was just dragging things along looking for an ending. Thankfully, he pulled it together in the end.
For my next book, I've decided to delve into some genre fiction. Hey, if it's good enough for Atwood, it should be good enough for me. Truth is, aside from some Philip K. Dick (which reads more and more like non-fiction the older I get) and Kurt Vonnegut, I have read very little sci-fi.
Considering the fact that one of the best living sci-fi writers lives probably less than a half hour from my apartment, this is a blind spot that needs correcting. As such, I'm currently reading Robert J. Sawyer's Golden Fleece. So far, it's pretty good.
I bought Tell Your Sister from the author at last fall's Small Press Book Fair. Obviously, buying it from the author predisposes me to liking the book. This inclination was tempered, however, by the fact that the 'Torontonian with a small town past' thing has been done so many times before that it has almost become cliche.
So, with one count for and one against, I dove in.
My verdict is that it is a very good novel, especially a very good first novel. Not great, but that's fine. It was more than good enough to ensure I will be buying his next book whenever it comes out.
The book tells the tale of two small town boys and the choices that can shatter or shape a life. While Dean and Aaron are both originally from the wrong side of the tracks, Dean's family moves on while Aaron's does not.
The novel is split into two strands. The first focuses on the year or so after Aaron drops out of school. Essentially abandoned by his father and stepmother, Aaron scrapes by, living in a rooming house and working at a bowling alley. He has an on again/off again relationship with Dean's sister that is shaped in no small part by the growing chasms of class and opportunity. The desperation of his situation forces Aaron to make some rash decisions with far reaching consequences.
The other strand occurs much later when the adult Dean happens to see one of Aaron's sisters at a downtown Toronto art opening. Very quickly, Dean is forced to face a) the departure of his long time girlfriend b) the fact that he can no longer work at a career (real estate) he has no interest in and c) the past that confronts him in the form of his one-time best friend's sister, reminding him of a bad choice he made.
The book moves and works well, building to an ending that is more satisfying than surprising. At times, Mr. Daley risked going too far. For instance, Dean's dazed ramble through the city near the end of the book had me worrying that the author was just dragging things along looking for an ending. Thankfully, he pulled it together in the end.
For my next book, I've decided to delve into some genre fiction. Hey, if it's good enough for Atwood, it should be good enough for me. Truth is, aside from some Philip K. Dick (which reads more and more like non-fiction the older I get) and Kurt Vonnegut, I have read very little sci-fi.
Considering the fact that one of the best living sci-fi writers lives probably less than a half hour from my apartment, this is a blind spot that needs correcting. As such, I'm currently reading Robert J. Sawyer's Golden Fleece. So far, it's pretty good.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Something new, something old
First five discs played in my new stereo:
1. Shostakovich's Symphony #1 / Cello Concerto #1
2. Air's Talkie Walkie
3. Joni Mitchell's Blue
4. Tom Wait's Orphans Disc 2 (Bawlers)
5. Radiohead's OK Computer
My old mini stereo finally died on me so I figured it was as good a time as any to upgrade. I went to Bay Bloor Radio on Friday before work and picked up a Teac mini system with Mission speakers. I didn't set it up until this evening. I really do not know much about the brand names or what I should have looked for. All I know is that the thing sounds fantastic. Incredible. Amazing.
In other news, I've ordered my first used book online. I've wanted a copy of Cohen's first Selected Poems (the 1968 version, not Stranger Music) for a long time. I borrowed that book from the Sarnia Public Library quite often back in high school and I had always hoped to find a copy somewhere. Nothing ever turned up.
Why am I not content with Stranger Music? Well, the first collection is more focused on his earlier poetry. It contains poems that are left out of the later collection. Besides, it was my first serious exposure to his work and there's a part of me that wants it for that reason alone.
So I finally decide to take my search online and what do I find? Lots of copies and fairly cheap too. I've never really bought anything used online before so I hope it works out alright.
Now, I must step away from the computer. I've got Bonnie Prince Billy on the stereo, a good book waiting by the recliner and some tea brewing in the kitchen. What better way to finish off a weekend.
1. Shostakovich's Symphony #1 / Cello Concerto #1
2. Air's Talkie Walkie
3. Joni Mitchell's Blue
4. Tom Wait's Orphans Disc 2 (Bawlers)
5. Radiohead's OK Computer
My old mini stereo finally died on me so I figured it was as good a time as any to upgrade. I went to Bay Bloor Radio on Friday before work and picked up a Teac mini system with Mission speakers. I didn't set it up until this evening. I really do not know much about the brand names or what I should have looked for. All I know is that the thing sounds fantastic. Incredible. Amazing.
In other news, I've ordered my first used book online. I've wanted a copy of Cohen's first Selected Poems (the 1968 version, not Stranger Music) for a long time. I borrowed that book from the Sarnia Public Library quite often back in high school and I had always hoped to find a copy somewhere. Nothing ever turned up.
Why am I not content with Stranger Music? Well, the first collection is more focused on his earlier poetry. It contains poems that are left out of the later collection. Besides, it was my first serious exposure to his work and there's a part of me that wants it for that reason alone.
So I finally decide to take my search online and what do I find? Lots of copies and fairly cheap too. I've never really bought anything used online before so I hope it works out alright.
Now, I must step away from the computer. I've got Bonnie Prince Billy on the stereo, a good book waiting by the recliner and some tea brewing in the kitchen. What better way to finish off a weekend.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Hero Worship
I'm going to see Leonard Cohen in June. That's really all I have to say.
Things are good. Work is improving. I'm about to start apartment hunting.
I'll write more later but, for now, I'm just going to relaxing and wade further into Ondaatje's Divisadero. It's quite good.
Things are good. Work is improving. I'm about to start apartment hunting.
I'll write more later but, for now, I'm just going to relaxing and wade further into Ondaatje's Divisadero. It's quite good.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
My Ipod Has A Genre Called Sarnia
In it, I have stuffed all the works I have by friends and acquaintances from the Chemical City. From veterans like Jim Chevalier to up and comers like the Chocolate Robots, it is a genre I visit often. It's not that the music does not hold up against the rest. It does so in fine fashion. I just set up the genre to make the music easier to find.
One always finds people who are quick to criticize Sarnia. There's a facebook group dubbing Sarnia the 'ghetto of Ontario'. Aside from the fact that, if Ontario had a ghetto, it would probably found on the opposite side of the province (but that's a topic for another day), I just cringe at this sort of talk because it is so short-sighted.
When I think of Sarnia, I think of the fact this supposedly horrible city shuts down its downtown core for a weekend every summer to celebrate the works of its artists and artisans. I think of the photographs and artwork that decorate my walls. I think of a place that still feels like a small town for good and bad reasons. I think of the energy exchange and wonder what other small city could boast a shop like that.
People are too quick to look downriver in Sarnia, towards the apocalyptic tangle of pipes and boilers that is the chemical valley. Their compass points to the darkness. If they turned around and faced upriver, however, they would see Lake Huron, one of the great inland seas, and a shoreline that is incredibly beautiful.
Sure, it's not that simple. I know that things in Sarnia are far from perfect. What amazes me is that so many people are trying to make it better, so many people are taking the time to create art and music and poetry.
Well, that's enough cheerleading for today. I've never been good with pom-poms and the like. Besides, it's time to head to work.
One always finds people who are quick to criticize Sarnia. There's a facebook group dubbing Sarnia the 'ghetto of Ontario'. Aside from the fact that, if Ontario had a ghetto, it would probably found on the opposite side of the province (but that's a topic for another day), I just cringe at this sort of talk because it is so short-sighted.
When I think of Sarnia, I think of the fact this supposedly horrible city shuts down its downtown core for a weekend every summer to celebrate the works of its artists and artisans. I think of the photographs and artwork that decorate my walls. I think of a place that still feels like a small town for good and bad reasons. I think of the energy exchange and wonder what other small city could boast a shop like that.
People are too quick to look downriver in Sarnia, towards the apocalyptic tangle of pipes and boilers that is the chemical valley. Their compass points to the darkness. If they turned around and faced upriver, however, they would see Lake Huron, one of the great inland seas, and a shoreline that is incredibly beautiful.
Sure, it's not that simple. I know that things in Sarnia are far from perfect. What amazes me is that so many people are trying to make it better, so many people are taking the time to create art and music and poetry.
Well, that's enough cheerleading for today. I've never been good with pom-poms and the like. Besides, it's time to head to work.
Monday, March 10, 2008
An Epistolary Confession
Dear Readers,
I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but I have a weakness for books of letters, especially those written by writers. It started with Steinbeck's A Life In Letters. I picked it up on a whim and have had a hard time putting it down since. It was a revelation. Even in such spontaneous scribblings, Steinbeck is a pleasure to read. The little details, the relationships, the observations - to this day, Steinbeck's book remains the gold standard as far as I'm concerned.
Which brings us to this past weekend and my spring cleaning / purge. The great thing about this is I dug up a number of books I nearly forgot about. Two of them were books of letters, one by a publisher and one by a writer.
The book by a writer is Evelyn Waugh's collection (The Letters of Evelyn Waugh). I've put it in the on deck circle, as it were.
The other book is Imagining Canadian Literature: The Selected Letters of Jack McLelland. I've spent the morning thumbing through it and I am amazed I did not give it more time the first time around. Richler. Cohen. Atwood. Layton. Purdy. This is CanLit in grand style. It's great to see these names become people. Of course, the fact that these are letters to and from a publisher means that it is not a complete love-in. That is one of the pleasures of the book, seeing the writers talk so candidly about their craft and the marketing of such. I'm thinking it may become one of my books for the Canadian Book Challenge (http://bookmineset.blogspot.com/2007/10/canadian-book-challenge.html).
In some ways, it saddens me. Reading these letters makes me realize just how poor a medium email is. And how lazy we've all become. Rather than deal in thoughts and emotions, we are quick to toss off cliches and smilies. Have we really become so important that we cannot take the time to say that we are laughing out loud?
What about those who are quick to jettison punctuation or capitals? It's fine when done right, but we are not all budding ee cummings. As such, what was once a bold and calculated statement becomes a testament to laziness and sloppiness. It tells the reader that the writer does not think enough of them to take the time to write a proper, thoughtful letter.
Ironically, this seems to happen most in the one place where it should happen least - the business email. How does one respond to a business letter that has a smiley in it? Or one that is so full of spelling/grammar errors as to be almost unreadable. The irony being that the worst offenders are often the highest up the corporate ladder.
I guess this has turned into a bit of a rant. I did not mean it to be. It's just that it bothers me. Where once we took the time to communicate, it seems now we just want to get the letter over as soon as possible so we can get back to the television or something.
There I go, tilting at windmills again. By now, you're probably getting bored of this. So I will wrap it up.
How are things with you, by the way? What's new? Read anything good lately?
So long for now,
Remi
I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but I have a weakness for books of letters, especially those written by writers. It started with Steinbeck's A Life In Letters. I picked it up on a whim and have had a hard time putting it down since. It was a revelation. Even in such spontaneous scribblings, Steinbeck is a pleasure to read. The little details, the relationships, the observations - to this day, Steinbeck's book remains the gold standard as far as I'm concerned.
Which brings us to this past weekend and my spring cleaning / purge. The great thing about this is I dug up a number of books I nearly forgot about. Two of them were books of letters, one by a publisher and one by a writer.
The book by a writer is Evelyn Waugh's collection (The Letters of Evelyn Waugh). I've put it in the on deck circle, as it were.
The other book is Imagining Canadian Literature: The Selected Letters of Jack McLelland. I've spent the morning thumbing through it and I am amazed I did not give it more time the first time around. Richler. Cohen. Atwood. Layton. Purdy. This is CanLit in grand style. It's great to see these names become people. Of course, the fact that these are letters to and from a publisher means that it is not a complete love-in. That is one of the pleasures of the book, seeing the writers talk so candidly about their craft and the marketing of such. I'm thinking it may become one of my books for the Canadian Book Challenge (http://bookmineset.blogspot.com/2007/10/canadian-book-challenge.html).
In some ways, it saddens me. Reading these letters makes me realize just how poor a medium email is. And how lazy we've all become. Rather than deal in thoughts and emotions, we are quick to toss off cliches and smilies. Have we really become so important that we cannot take the time to say that we are laughing out loud?
What about those who are quick to jettison punctuation or capitals? It's fine when done right, but we are not all budding ee cummings. As such, what was once a bold and calculated statement becomes a testament to laziness and sloppiness. It tells the reader that the writer does not think enough of them to take the time to write a proper, thoughtful letter.
Ironically, this seems to happen most in the one place where it should happen least - the business email. How does one respond to a business letter that has a smiley in it? Or one that is so full of spelling/grammar errors as to be almost unreadable. The irony being that the worst offenders are often the highest up the corporate ladder.
I guess this has turned into a bit of a rant. I did not mean it to be. It's just that it bothers me. Where once we took the time to communicate, it seems now we just want to get the letter over as soon as possible so we can get back to the television or something.
There I go, tilting at windmills again. By now, you're probably getting bored of this. So I will wrap it up.
How are things with you, by the way? What's new? Read anything good lately?
So long for now,
Remi
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)