oh my god, I’ve just finished reading this book at two in the morning when I have to be up in 6 hours and it is unequivocally the best written, most interesting, intelligent, intoxicating, heartbreaking, clever, wonderful young adult book I’ve ever read. 

I really need to make sure more young adults read it. ( you should read it, too, if those adjectives sound appealing to you. actually, I highly recommend you read it regardless. )

This book is really great. I may be biased by knowing the author, but I don’t think there’s any refuting the evidence. 

It is a short book, 5 stories and 4 vignettes in a mere 135 pages, but each one is measured, calculating - exactly as it needs to be. The stories tell anecdotes almost, small scenes that hint at a larger whole. Simple observations in language that tells the story that is not being told, through mirrors, through shadows like fading memories.  But the stories provided are wonderful, the characters are finely chiseled, vibrant, interesting, people you want to get to know, stories you didn’t know you needed to hear.

I keep thinking about it and seeing so much more than I was actually told. I can’t get it out of my head.

some of my favorite bits: 

“I understand why Svetlana the anthropologist feels sad about us. We don’t live long. But, I want to tell her, we live well.” (on life in radioactive Paris, the City of the Faint Glow)

“And so long as those who’d seen that world still walked the face of this one, its shadows would remain cast over it.”

and of course the entirety of “Tell Me About Your Brother”, which has got to be my favorite story.

I’ve already begun selling it to people, despite not having any physical copies to press into their hands.

I spent a good portion of my evening slipping recommendation slips in books all over the store. I’ve been meaning to do this for weeks but haven’t been in the right state of mind, until tonight. 

I said some things like, “Every thought you think while reading this is only exactly what he intended you to think. reading these stories is an act of mental submission.” and “the only way this book could be better is if it included 3-D glasses.” and “Read the last paragraph on the first page, if you aren’t hooked by the end of the last sentence, there’s nothing I can do for you.” and “Thrilling Adventure! Terrible Danger! Talking Animals! English Colonialism! what more could a boy want?”

I said some other things, too.

I’ve just finished and started re-reading Lesser Apocalypses, the most amazing book to be released this June.

So Justin Torres came into Alley Cat today but I wasn’t sure it was him at first (he had more facial hair than when I saw him a few weeks ago), so I stood there creepily sneaking glances at him trying to be sure one way or the other. after a couple minutes when he stepped out to take a call, I turned and said “Kate, I thiiiiiink that’s Justin Torres.”

to which she replied, “What? who? oh… yeah, I think you’re right. VERY easy on the eyes.”

then I Very Subtly set out on the counter the only copy of his book we had, where he’d certainly see it, and went back to my work.

so Kate’s checking him out - in both senses of the phrase - when he notices the book and sweetly says, “Oh, that’s my book.” Then Kate gives us up, reveals that we’d set the book out as a trap and furthermore tells him that we’re totally crushing on him.

he takes it well, signs the book and I sigh as he leaves.

the end.

nyrbclassics:

“A raw, stinking, crawling hunk of fantasy by Blaise Cendrars”
The front and back cover designs of the original English-language translation of Moravagine by Blaise Cendrars, courtesy of the excellent book and art blog 50 Watts.
Click through to see the drawing of Cendrars taped to the first page of the book as well as Paul West’s review of it.

yesterday I managed the remarkable feat of pulling myself out of a week-long reading slump by falling for the THREE BOOKS I started reading.

I read the first couple chapters of The Adventures of Sindbad, really loved the first half of We The Animals (still surprised I’m loving this one, it’s throwing me for a loop) and I’m currently immersed in Lady Sings the Blues, which is absolutely loaded with the word Bitch.

Billie Holiday was apparently surrounded by bitches and hoes throughout the majority of her childhood, and was never too shy to call them out.

now I know what I’m reading for the next week.

we got this awesome box set of The Best of P.G. Wodehouse at Dog Eared today. almost guaranteed to be gone by the weekend.

Bookselling uniform from 5 March 2012 (GPOY)

I really really super wanted this shirt from Word Brooklyn - a bookstore I have never been to in a neighborhood I don’t know in a city I’ve never seen - when I saw it on Tumblr a few weeks ago but I couldn’t justify dropping 25 bones on it.

SO, I had this brilliant fake idea where I would jokingly offer trade in brownies to any of my FB friends who would buy it for me. I never thought this would actually work, but luckily I have some awesome friends, one in particular who understands my penchant for sporting cool Indie-Bookstore-Tshirts and was willing to trade.

HENCE, last week I sent off a fresh batch of my mum’s famous brownies (the best brownies in the world) to Sarah and was rewarded in due course with this fantastic shirt in the mail. I’ve also promised to make her a fresh batch next time we’re together in person.

I hope to make brownie-trade a more frequent currency in my future.

also, this shirt is super comfortable and I want to wear it forever.

cool story, bro.

So Justin Torres came into the bookstore today and is it shallow to admit that I kinda want to read his book now because he was nice and super cute and I liked the way his pants fit him?

the book is supposed to be Very Good but doesn’t sound like something that I would generally be interested in. also he signed his books and bought some interesting things. I like judging authors by the things they buy in bookstores.

our introduction to Giovanni in Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin.

I told myself I wasn’t going to read anything that wasn’t either non-fiction or in translation, but I was also convinced by a friend that I Had To Read Giovanni’s Room. so far it is simply wonderful.