You're such a bitch :)

Obligatory Disclaimer: I know that smileys aren't exactly found in books (not the ones I read, anyway), but they are made up of punctuation, which can be found in books, so, by proxy, I can write about them in my book blog.

Oh, the smiley. The winking smiley. The smiley smiley. The sad smiley. The open-mouthed smiley (insert crude joke here). I'm definitely guilty of smiley usage, and am grudgingly ashamed. I know that they're ridiculous- seriously, I'm trying to convey a message with colons and ellipses? Really? I used to put smileys on the homework I corrected as a fourth grade teacher, and the intellectual side of me acknowledges the fact that they really are pretty damn elementary.

On the other hand, they have some pretty practical, time-saving uses. You can be as sarcastic or mean as hell, but if you put a smiley at the end the person may think you're just joking or at least being lighthearted (and sometimes I actually am).

You're such a bitch :)
Subtext: God, you're actually a massive a bitch but I know you'll go crazy if I just say it- the smiley will seem jokey.

Wow, your kids have more toys than Toys R Us ;)
Subtext: Your kids are really spoiled. Super great job on that. Have fun buying them a Lexus at age 16.

I really wish I could have hung out with you last night :(
Subtext: You can be really annoying and I much prefer to sit alone staring at the wall picking fuzzballs off my sweater than seeing you.

They're also great for ending a text session with something. It can be awkward when you've been texting someone for awhile and it's time to move on. Saying bye is so strange when texting, for some reason. On the other hand, an appropriately timed :) can be a nice ending.

Smileys are also great for instances when you have no idea what to say. Something sad? :( Something happy? :)

So, just to recap, smileys are a fantastic way to avoid substantial communication, allowing us to further society's technologically-rooted emotional detachment with mere punctuation.

Neat-o

I found the site The Book Cover Archive today- pretty damn cool. They take pride in an "appreciation and categorization of book design." You press "randomize" at the top (over and over and over again) to see their awesome collection.

10 Best of 2010

While I may not have read as much as I wanted to in 2010, I definitely read more than ten great books. Here are the top ten that I read in 2010, many of which were published prior to this year. In no particular order...

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell- My husband had been pestering me to read this ever since he finished a few years ago and I could kick myself for putting it off for so long. Amazing writing that ties several different narratives together, this book is a what it means to be "well-crafted". We also went to one of his readings this summer- Mitchell is as humble as he is brilliant.

Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart- I love Shteyngart, but he is definitely not for everyone. His narrators aren't always completely likable and the social commentary that he provides may be too accurate for some. Personally, I think he's amusing, a great writer, and, in this text, forces you to think about what the near future will be like.

One Best Hike: Half Dome by Rick Deutsch- I hiked Half Dome in Yosemite with my brother this year and this guide was an outstanding resource. It provided information for pre-hike necessities and for every point along the way.

Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones- I really loved this novel- so much of it was about the act and importance of reading, and what literacy means to different people. For those that love Dickens' Great Expectations you will appreciate the tie in to this classic. It's set on a tropical island that has been completely cut off from the world, until the only white man there start reading to the children. It's a little explicit at times, as far as violence and sex, but the uncheesy sentimentality behind it is well done.

Solar by Ian McEwan- I agree with some critics that say this isn't his best novel, but I actually really enjoyed it. McEwan's writing is still up to par and I really appreciated his take on global warming, the environment, and the overall message that the world needs to invest in clean energy. Just make sure you go into this book accepting that you're not always supposed to like main characters.

Big Machine by Victor Luvalle- I generally stay away from science fiction, but this book was outstanding. Luvalle's narrative voice has a life of its own and his combination of philosophy, psychology, and straight up crazy is fantastic.

Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell- If you need a book for a plane trip or to read by the pool in a few months this is perfect. Witty and hilarious, it's a quick read about an ex-mobster turned doctor.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy- If I had to put my top ten in order, this text would be near the top. McCarthy's ability to say so much, so simply is a true art form. This book is dark, depressing, and exhausting (obviously, since it's about a man and his son trying to survive after some sort of unnamed nuclear holocaust).

Campbell Biology by various authors- I'm not suggesting you necessarily read this, but since it's my favorite books of 2010 I had to include it. I read the stupid text cover to cover (over a thousand pages) to prepare for the biology CSET, which I passed. I'm hoping this credential helps save my job next year, plus I actually love cells, ecology, and the human body.

Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie- I confess, I'm not quite done with it, but I know it would make the list. Magical realism, coming of age, and politics in India- what's not to love?

Runners Up: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The Irresistible Henry House, The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, By Nightfall, and The Long Run.

Don't Waste Your Time: Tell All, In the Kitchen, Fun with Problems or The Nanny Returns.

What books did you love in 2010?

Resolutions

I have mixed feelings about New Year's Resolutions- I think they can be good if people really stick to them, but waiting to January 1st can be an exercise in procrastination (if you weigh 350 pounds in August you may want to move your ass and eat your veggies mid-year instead of waiting). Society seems to accept not sticking to New Year's resolutions, since the whole thing is a bit gimmicky, which may not be the best thing if you're trying to give up smoking. I haven't made any for a few years, but this year I thought it might be fun to make some literary resolutions- then, if I'm still blogging, I can see how I did when 2011 is over.

Read more 2010 has been incredibly busy, and many of the things that have taken up my time have included reading for something that I wouldn't exactly call pleasure (finishing my Master's and studying to get my science credential). In 2010 I read only 26 books, compared to 39 in 2009. I'm not going to put a number out there, but I'd definitely like to go over 30 in 2011.

Try a graphic novel I'm still actually having a lot of trouble calling them "graphic novels," as I'm more inclined to just say "comic book." My husband, whose judgment I trust, has read several over the past few years and raves about both the stories and art. And I do believe Times Magazine listed The Watchman as one of their top 100 novels, so at some point in 2011 I'll give this genre a try.

Get real I generally stick to contemporary fiction/authors, but I do enjoy a good biography or piece of nonficiton occasionally. While I do learn a lot from fiction, I feel that I'm actually being educated when reading nonfiction. Unfortunately, the writing isn't as always top shelf and can be dry. No promises, but I'm sure I can squeeze in a few.

Writing Like so many of my fellow English degree holders, I'd like to one day write a novel. This year I plan to continue actively contemplating this endeavor (please note I didn't necessarily say I was going to physically do anything about it...)

Finish what you start I have been in the middle of Don DeLillo's Underworld for years now- I call it my "project" book. I read its prologue in a class in college and received it that year for Christmas. It's a beast of a book (832 pages), and, for those not familar with DeLillo, he's a wordy son of a bitch. Every year or so I pick it up and start again and put it down for whatever reason (one of the only books I've ever not finished). But, I generally finish what I start and it truly is a great piece of writing, so I'm missing out if I don't. I just hope I don't have to restart it...

Go to more readings Going to author readings is one of my favorite things to do. Unfortunately, for some crazy reason, no one wants to come to Riverside, so I'm forced to drive to LA. Most readings are on Monday or Tuesday nights, which makes it difficult to schedule in. As an English teacher, I think the district should give me a sub the day after...

Curb the habit I really need to stop buying books. On average, I end up with maybe one or two new ones a month, which doesn't sound like too many, but for our spacing issues it is. I'm probably going using them as a running reward- a new book every 150 miles or so (hmmm, so that means a new book every six weeks... not sure if that's too much better).

We'll see how I do!

Reality Bites