A Look Back: 2013 Resolutions

Last year I made some bookish resolutions and thought I'd look back at how I did:

1. Read 61 books- YES!
I just reached 61 the other day and may be able to squeeze one or two more in there before the ball drops.
 

2. Go to at least 10 readings- NO!

I came so close-8! I don't really accept responsibility for failing, though, since the last few months have been a little sparse.

 

 

3. Visit the Huntington Library again- YES!

We went for a brief visit this summer with some friends. I'd like to go back this spring for a longer visit, when the temps are lower and the flowers are blooming.

4. Check out some of the few independent bookstores left in LA- YES

 Technically just one, but the Last Bookstore was pretty awesome. 

 

 

 

5. Consider moving the blog to a different format/host (a big we'll see)- YES

I didn't move to a new host, but I did pay for a redesign, since I'm totally clueless.

6. Continue to grow the blog by being super smart and funny- YES!

The blog didn't grow astronomically, but there are a few more followers and page views. I think a lot of this is because of increased posting and commenting on other sites. I'm nowhere near big or famous, but I like what I've got.

7. Read at least 2 graphic novels-NO!

I read one, The Underwater Welder, but wasn't able to sneak in another (it's so shameful that I haven't tackled Building Stories yet).

 

8. Read at least 10 nonfiction works-NO!

I came close on this one, with eight.

 

9. Read at least 5 "classics"- YES!

I read six, seven if you count The Handmaid's Tale (debatable).

10. Finish a draft of my novel by the end of the school year, work on editing during summer break, and then go from there- NO!

I actually stared a new project mid-year, and while I didn't finish it I did make a dent and really enjoyed what I did. 

The Last Bookstore

Over the weekend my husband and I drove to LA to try a few dessert places (The Pie Hole and Bottega Louie) and visit The Last Bookstore. It's a combination new and used bookstore with an art cooperative, record selection, and open mic events. Let's just say it beats the hell out of Barnes and Noble.

The Biblio-Mat

An old friend just shared this awesome video (and idea!) with me on Facebook. According to Vimeo,

"The Biblio-Mat is a random book dispenser built by Craig Small (thejuggernaut.ca) for The Monkey’s Paw, an idiosyncratic antiquarian bookshop in Toronto. Biblio-Mat books, which vary widely in size and subject matter, cost two dollars. The machine was conceived as an artful alternative to the ubiquitous and often ignored discount sidewalk bin. When a customer puts coins into it, the Biblio-Mat dramatically whirrs and vibrates as the machine is set in motion. The ring of an old telephone bell enhances the thrill when the customer’s mystery book is delivered with a satisfying clunk into the receptacle below."

The BIBLIO-MAT from Craig Small on Vimeo.

Every Little Thing You Do is Magic

["Danza Folklorica"- Frederico Fuentes]

I’m a realistic person to a fault, at times. As a child cartoons irritated me because animals don’t in fact talk and children do age over time (those damn effing babies on the Rugrats). As an adult my realistic tendencies have been a blessing and a curse. My savings account has a decent cushion in it because I have a realistic perception of the economy and life’s abilities to throw financial curve balls. I try to set realistic plans in terms of the students I teach and what I expect of others. My tendency for realism calls for contingency plans and Plan Bs (and Cs and Ds). I am a prepared woman. Unfortunately, realism tends to prevent optimism and often leads to irrationality (my poor husband), but that’s another post for another day.

Given my inclination for what is real, it’s a wonder that I’ve developed such a love for magical realism. For those of you who haven’t been in my English class this week or who need to brush up on your literary terms, magical realism refers to a realistic story that is interspersed with occasional magical elements that are generally accepted by the characters as being normal (using the term to define the term- tsk tsk). Magical realism is a genre that requires readers to merge, and acknowledge, the two realities within a text, temporarily suspending belief. I’ll spare you the rest of the lecture and the quotes from all the professors I forced upon my students, but if you’re interested I do have a PowerPoint and the clip from Pushing Daisies that we watched today… Anyway, magical realism allows anything from simple mind reading to telekinesis to paranormal activity to occur in an otherwise “normal” story.  

 

I’ll admit, for loving the genre so much I haven’t read nearly enough of its books. Right now we’re reading Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez in class, but I’ve also read his most famous novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude. Isabel Allende’s House of the Spirits was the first magical realism novel I read, back in high school, and since then I’ve read a few more of Allende’s works. Toni Morrison’s books incorporate magical realism, as does Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children. I’m also a huge fan of Carlos Ruiz Zafon, who I am going to see read in a few weeks. While this is definitely not a comprehensive sampling, it has been enough to make me realize how much I enjoy reading these books.

I think my appreciation comes from the fact that in order to pull off magical realism an author has to be quite talented. Enough layers and details have to be established in the realistic portion of the text to support the magical elements, a surely difficult task. An author has to create a careful balance that ensures the right amount of whimsy without crossing the line into cheesiness. While not a book, the perfect example of this is the “so-good-it’s-bad” Sarah Michelle Gellar movie Simply Irresistible, where she takes cooking advice from a magical talking crab. A good writer makes their audience recognize and accept the magical elements of the story, allowing them to seamlessly merge into the ones that are realistic.

Back to the term whimsy. Not counting Harry Potter, I don’t generally care for the fantasy genre, or novels that center around magic, but there is something about the whimsical that attracts me. To me whimsical is the movie Amelie, it’s the tree that grows inside Skylight bookstore, it’s little kids dressed up running around their backyards with homemade capes and puppets (for the five kids left in the world that aren’t glued to an imagination-robbing device for hours a day). It’s a feeling that gives you the notion of unusual possibilities existing in this world that can often seem mundane and cynical. Magical realism may not always be pretty or positive, but it opens tiny little trap doors that allow you to escape from the ordinary. And then the door closes and you’re back to reality- and so on and so forth. 

Professor Luis Leal does describes the genre best when he says, "If you can explain it, then it's not magical realism."

Amazon's Attempt to Monopolize the Book World

As a bibliophile and staunch proponent of quality literature I am technically supposed to hate Amazon, and for good reason, especially considering their business moves in the past few months. And part of me does despise the fact they're slowly trying to develop a literary monopoly of sorts, yet the other part of me really appreciates their low prices and shipping options. I'm a conflicted woman.

Strike 1: Taking Money Away From Local Booksellers

Amazon has been criticized for years for squashing the little guys- independent booksellers are no match for the world-wide business that sells everything from tuna to Tolstoy. Most things are in stock, the reviews are in your face, and you can purchase what you need from the comfort of your holey sweatpants at home. The convenience factor has been a critical selling point, given the fact Americans are inherently lazy bums.

Strike 2: The Publishing Mess

Then, a few months ago things got even worse. Amazon had stared it's own publishing branch awhile back, but has recently seen legitimate growth, signing with authors such as James Franco and Deepak Chopra, as well as celebrities such as Penny Marshall. Along with these some of these publishing contracts are ebook exclusivity rights, which will only allow digital copies to play on Amazon's ereaders. Barnes and Noble fired back, announcing a boycott on selling any texts published by Amazon (ones that are not part of the exclusivity deal are still available online). Other booksellers, including some in Canada, are following suit. These companies are hoping that this will put pressure on authors to not sign with Amazon.

Strike 3: Rumors of a Brick and Mortar Store

Rumors have started swirling that Amazon will open an actual store in Seattle, focusing on books and Kindles. This, of course, has really put everyone in a tizzy- how is anyone supposed to compete? Amazon of course won't confirm anything, but the fact that Amazon has seen some profit trouble makes doesn't make it surprising.

What's a Thrifty, Book-Loving Girl to Do?

On a business level, what Amazon is doing is smart- get your product out there, everywhere, and for as cheaply as you can afford to. Simple Econ 101 stuff. On a philosophical level, I think they're being assholes. Why do they have to win everything? Stay away from publishing, stay away from strip malls.

Luckily, I don't see myself buying any new books for awhile, but when I do I'm going to have to make a choice. Go to the poor, wounded Barnes and Noble? Try to hunt down the books I actually read at the non-existent independent bookstores in the city I live? Drive to LA? Or guiltily place an order with the Book Devil?

If we look at it from strictly economic terms, I'm not necessarily doing anything wrong- the money I save from ordering from Amazon will be spent elsewhere, therefore still pumping my hard-earned cash into the lethargic economy. But, ethically, I'd be supporting a company I don't necessarily support (which I'm sure I unknowingly already do).

My head says yes, but my heart says no.

And if anyone leaves anything regarding the stupid movie You've Got Mail in the comments I'm going to scream. What ever happened to Meg Ryan, anyway?

Word Vomit/Lack of Focus

Bookish thoughts for the evening:

- So many people are reading Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by my boy Jonathan Safran Foer. I really, really enjoyed it and hope everyone else does too, although I'm a little bitter that the surge in popularity has been brought on by the new movie. While it's always great to see forgotten books see a increase in sales it makes me sad for the others of thousands of fantastic books that don't get that kind of publicity. In related thoughts, I'm really thinking about reading his Eating Animals book on vegetarianism, since I've been been reducing my meat intake.

- Twice in the last week I've been told by different groups of friends that I will one day buy an eReader. It's not going to happen, folks. Never. Not never as in "I'm never going to drink that much again," but never as in "Sarah Palin is never going to say something intelligent."

- I have to cave in and order a book, despite the fact my "Ultimate To-Do List" is still an impressive (?) 57 items. It's for a good cause- the new book club selection is The Call, by Yannick Murphy (speaking of vegetarianism).

- I'm currently reading The Geeks Will Inherit the Earth by Alexandra Robbins and am having some very mixed feelings. First of all, at almost 400 pages it's too long. Nothing against lengthy books, but this one doesn't need that kind of heft. Secondly, I find the dialogue from the supposed real teenage subjects a bit contrived. I do appreciate the message and am interested to see how it ends, but I must admit to being anxious to move on.

- I might actually go to the movies, willingly, to see The Hunger Games.



- Speaking of movies, I absolutely abhor movie-tie in covers. They're so gimmicky and cheap looking not to mention the obvious marketing purpose. Tacky.

- I loved stalking the Twitter hashtag #agentday yesterday; literary agents wrote about what they did, while they did it. Going to buy stamps and conferences calls sound much cooler when they involve signing authors rather than your stupid friend from high school chronicling their every effing move. Being an agent is a lot like being a high school teacher- they read, edit, babysit, and drink a lot. Career change? Nonetheless, I did manage to pick up on some helpful hints in case my awesome novel ever decides to write itself.

- I watched a documentary not too long ago called Helvetica, on the story behind the type that has basically infiltrated the world. It never occurred to me that a movie on a font could be boring- it was. I tried.

[source]

- I spent a good fifteen minutes devouring Flavorwire's "The 20 Most Beautiful Bookstores in the World" the other day, and have come to the important conclusion that all future vacations will include mandatory outings to independent bookstores. Lisbon, anyone?


- After each book I finish I contemplate reading The Girl Who Played with Fire (that's the next one, after The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, right?) and I just never, ever feel like it. I mean it's on the shelf and the money was spent, so eventually it'll happen, but I can't guarantee if it will be in the next five years. Consequently, my blog post comparing the first book the movie has become my most viewed piece. I find this amusing because it wasn't really all that thought-provoking or analytical. Thanks anyway, though, Google.

Off to read. Or watch an episode of last season's Chuck (speaking of geeks). Maybe I'll get crazy and do both.

Man, I love these guys [source]

Can I Get a What What?

What I Need: Patience to teach Julius Caesar to my sophomores during the next six weeks.

What I Want: Good Times painting by Christopher Stott (only a mere $998)


What I Roll My Eyes At: That I had one student ask to read a Chelsea Handler book and another a Miley Cyrus biography for their extra credit books assignments.

What I Hate: eReaders are getting cheaper (thanks a whole fucking lot, Amazon)


What I Wish: That I could rent a (luxury, fully renovated) cabin for a week somewhere out in the middle nowhere and read by a fire drinking Bailey's all day. It would be quiet, it would be cozy, and it would be expensive.


What I Love: That so many great books came out this fall. Perotta, Murakami, Eugenides, Smith, and Ondaatje, to name a few.

What I Wonder: Marisha Pessl's new book would have an actual release date so I could determine whether or now she is a one-hit wonder.

What I'd Visit Tennessee For: Paranassus books, an independent bookstore that Ann Patchett is behind in Nashville. I've been stalking the Facebook page since I heard her talk about it during the summer and love seeing it come together.

Raise Your Hand if You're Not Surprised, Part 2

[source]

Borders officially announced it will close the doors on their remaining stores this fall after failing to find someone to swoop in and dig them out of the financial hole they've buried themselves in.

A moment of silence, please.

The good news is that liquidation sales may start as soon as Friday, meaning those of us, ahem, with book buying problems can go ahead and fall off the wagon guilt free (it's basically charity).

I have mixed feelings as far as this resulting in even more bookstores closing; it's not like Borders is a mom 'n pop store being overrun by a big box chain- they are a big box chain! Survival of the fittest- Barnes and Noble and Amazon took advantage of Borders' weakness. This town aint big enough for the both of us.

On the other hand, it is sad. Sure, they're big business, but they have books inside! Books with pages and covers! Books that smell like paper and can be put on shelves! Not media files ready to download and read on a screen. People who love to read gather there and leave with new stories to devour. It's also depressing that more people will lose their jobs and large real estate parcels will sit empty.

Barnes and Nobel better step up their game...

Damn that Green Grass

I guess I technically have a "reading-based" job as an English teacher. Supposedly, anyway. After finishing up a unit of study on "functional documents," including how to write resumes, business letters, and fill out job applications, it doesn't necessarily feel like it. Don't misunderstand- I much prefer teaching high school English to teaching elementary students how to read (although there are plenty of barely-literate high school students), but there are moments where I allow myself to daydream about other career options, especially those involving books and publishing (side note: if I could go back and do it all over, I would have probably tried a little harder to become a cardiac surgeon).

My coulda/woulda/shoulda career list:

Literary Agent I feel like the more I read the better I have gotten at predicting the success of an author (pat, pat, pat).
Novelist No comment. Sigh.
Editor I do love me some red pens- "This is not a sentence! Where is the subject?"
Bookstore Owner If I won the lotto I'd open a bookstore/bar/ice cream parlor- I'm contemplating an entire post due to this concept, which I promise will be both massively delusional and entertaining.
Librarian You know, one of the hot ones that takes off her glasses and lets down her hair at the end of the day.
Bookstore Buyer Although submitting purchase orders for Nicky Sparks would be a bit disheartening, it would be great to introduce the world to lesser known talents (if there are any bookstores left).
Lit Professor Unfortunately, I have no desire to go back to school since I'll be paying off my BA/credential/MA until I'm 87-years-old. Plus, permanent university positions are about as hard to find as Justin Bieber's manly parts.

Regret has such a nasty reputation. People turn their noses at regret because accepting responsibility for not making the right choices at the right time can be frightening... and humbling. I think feeling regret and accepting its presence can be an important catalyst for change. Ignoring regret leads to denial, which tends to cost people a lot of money in therapy bills and anti-anxiety meds come their thirties and forties. So, yes, I do regret not becoming a doctor or getting my MS in publishing from NYU's graduate program (all their damn advertisements on UCLA bulletin boards). On the other hand, I am happy where I am personally and enjoy the freedom I currently have to pursue my various hobbies and interests. I acknowledge my regret, I accept my regret, but I refuse to let it control my life. And who knows, maybe I'd get tired of dealing with dramatic creatives all day. The grass is always so damn green on the other side.

So, until the career fairy comes to town, I'll be hanging out with teenagers and counting the weeks until we actually can start a novel again (after the state testing prep and the dreaded unit on poetry).

Raise Your Hand if You're Not Surprised

After hinting and it announcing plans, Borders officially filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy yesterday. Even without the warnings, it's not really all that surprising. I'm not an economist or accountant, thank God, but I'm not exactly a dumbass and the signs have been there for awhile. There's something about people sitting at tables reading books and empty lines that doesn't exactly say "high profit margin."

Show Me The Money
When you walk into a Borders you can expect to pay the recommended publisher's or manufacturer's price on everything from books to DVDs. to stationary. Once in awhile they'll have BOGO tables and they send out their lovely little coupons, but for Joe Schmoe who stops in looking for something particular there aren't too many bargains. Last week I wrote about a recent order I bought through Amazon- it cost me $49.98 for five books (it actually cost me nothing since I had a gift card). If I would have walked into a Borders store and bought them there it would have cost be $86.79 before tax, or about $78 with my rewards card. That is assuming they had everything I wanted, which is seldom the case.

The Mighty Amazon
Now if I had purchased the five books on Border's website it would have been comparable (about $10 more) to Amazon. But honestly, who do most people turn to when they're buying books online? Amazon is reliable, has more options, and generally has things in stock. Amazon even offers their Prime program for $75ish a year for those people who need their products within two days. And Borders' prices on DVDs, CDs, and other products is way above Amazon's.

But They're Always Busy
There's a difference between people being in a store and people buying things from the store. People are always in Borders, but they're not purchasing merchandise- they're nursing the same latte for two hours so they can read People, Entertainment Weekly, and Good Housekeeping. I've heard of people going in several times a week to read whole books! Why buy the cow when they let you get the milk for free?

Stupid eBooks
Kindle has dominated the eBook market (there are some competitors, now, but it's similar to the iPod and other mP3 options)- fifty points to Amazon! Borders has its own version and also sells eBooks online, but still, this isn't enough to save them.

What Does it All Mean?
In the email I received yesterday it means that Borders is going to come back bigger and better than ever... after they close 30% of their stores (about 200, including those in Mira Loma and in Modesto, since I know people from Riverside and Modesto read this). Border's stock is down 74% this year, while Amazon is up 5% and Barnes and Noble has increased 34% (interesting how they're surviving...).

Good luck, Mike Edwards- you're going to need it.

Kanye Hearts Borders

First of all, I am completely joking with the title of this post, at least about the "hearts" part- this just allows me to go on a quick rant. When the hell did the word "heart" become a verb? It's a shape, a symbol, an organ, folks! Crap. Shit. Geez. Okay, done.

Anyway, when my husband and I were on vacation last month we quickly tired of Hawaii's radio stations after forgetting CDs and iPod auxiliary cables for the rental car (lots of Christian rock, surprisingly). Finding ourselves at a Best Buy we decided to hit up their very limited music section, and, after hearing rave reviews of Kanye West's new album, my music-loving husband decided to give it a try, and I didn't object. Turns out, many of the songs are great to run to, so it's been on heavy rotation lately (nonetheless, I still wholeheartedly believe that Kanye West is still a massive douchebag).

What does this have to do with books? Well, in my favorite song on the album, All of the Lights, Kanye sings, "public visitation/we met at Borders/told her she take me back/I'd be more supportive." What? Kanye is singing about Borders? As in the place with the books? Granted it's obviously one of those arranged, "you can't beat the crap out of me in public" kind of situations, but still, Borders? I wonder if Kanye got suckered into the Rewards program like I did. After a little research it turns out that while Kanye may be an arrogant prick, he's actually somewhat smart (for a gangsta) and has done some time... in college.

So, yeah, that's pretty much it. Kanye mentions Borders in his songs and I get excited.

Image Credit: http://www.gossiboocrew.com/kanye-west/2009/09/14/kanye-west-is-an-arrogant-drunk-ss-douche-bag/

The Bastards at Borders

While making a quick stop into Borders tonight I allowed myself to be suckered into upgrading my free Borders rewards card into the souped up "plus" version (please note, I did say that "I allowed" myself... taking responsibility is the first step in addiction). The stupid lady saw me hesitate before saying no and went in for the kill: "Ten dollar coupon... free shipping on all orders... ten percent off everything, always... forty percent off bestseller hardbacks... coupon for free coffee..." All I heard was, "More ways to justify buying books! Do it!" So, I did it. Damn.

A few hours later I have to admit to some buyer's remorse. First of all, I primarily buy my books through Amazon, which has cheaper prices than Borders both in stores and online, so the free shipping and ten percent off isn't very helpful. Secondly, I don't really buy "bestsellers," since they're mostly [insert nice word for crap that won't offend people that read those]. Oh, and I don't generally drink things with calories, unless it's full of booze, so the fancyshmancy coffee isn't exactly relevant. And, now that I look through their coupon book full of supposed savings, I'm even more regretful. It's has coupons for kid's books, Harlequin romance novels (augh), books for Dummies, and a free "Fancy Nancy Fan Club Kit" (who the fuck is Nancy?).

Damn those Borders bastards.

Why I Need to Go to New York City

I am prone to frequent bouts of massive cabin fever- due to the fact that this isn't a psychoanalysis blog I'll spare you my opinions regarding why. It is in fact a blog about books, which permits me to share why New York City seems like a great place for readers.

First up, obviously, is the famous bookstore, The Strand. Known for being emphatically independent, this huge bookstore supposedly houses more than 8 miles of books inside, both new, used, and rare. Interesting side note: interior decorators and set designers can rent "books by the foot" from this store, which will even customize the selection in case someone is looking closely.


Another stop, just to see what the place looks like up close is a coffee shop named D'Espresso, a place I recently saw featured in the style section of the New York Times. The "books" are actually hand-painted tiles, the entire decor budget topping $500,000. The owner hopes to open more- maybe he'll put one in Riverside. I currently hate coffee, but I'm sure they have hot chocolate.


I'm enamored with Central Park in a way that I'm sure only tourists are (do locals love it? I don't know). To be honest, if I could only do one thing while visiting it would be running- I'm tired of all these East Coasters raving about their Central Park runs in Runner's World. Anyway, reading would be a close second.


Saving the best for last, I would most definitely stay at the disgustingly expensive, but insanely awesome, The Library Hotel. Each floor and room is genre inspired, both with decor and books to peruse (biographies, new age, business, fairy tales, encyclopedias, classics, etc...).


Maybe next year.

An Open Letter to Borders: Please Stop Fueling my Addiction

Dear Borders,

I'll be the first to admit I have a problem. Two, really. The first is buying books in excess- I have over forty unread texts on my bookcase (not counting those of my husband that I also want to read) and I keep buying more.The second is falling victim to coupons that offer a percentage-off discount- namely those you so religiously flood my inbox with every week. The self-control required to delete them is exhausting! Don't even get me started on the "save 40% off this weekend only" ones that I usually fall victim to. I'm running out of room- my shelves are almost full and I live in a one-bedroom apartment. Space is limited. The dog needs room to walk around. The DVDs need a home too. This constant enticement must stop.

To be honest, I don't even really like your store. You devote shelf after shelf to horrible authors and refuse to stock more than a few copies of more obscure, albeit quality, novels. Your live music nights remind me of American Idol rejects and I've actually seen your employees need to look up who wrote The Grapes of Wrath. Oh, and staff member Stephanie's recommendation card that says everyone should pick up a copy of Jennifer Weiner's newest book because she "really felt like the author understands what it's like to be a single girl" should be burned.

I know I'm the one that signed up for your stupid rewards program. And I'm the one that has chosen to not opt-out of the emails. But think about it. Are you going to sign an alcoholic up for the "Wine of the Month" club? I think not. Would a pothead decline a cheap bag of weed? I highly doubt it. As much as I hate your store I can always find some classic missing from my collection or the last copy of something that would never make it on the New York Times Bestsellers (of Mostly Crap) List.

I suppose an intervention may be in order. Or you could just intuitively stop sending me coupons since, in reality, I will make no effort to change anything.

I hate you people,
C.S.

PS- I've enclosed a picture to illustrate the direness of the situation.