I've been kind of busy. I haven't updated lately. I feel bad. I haven't really had time to sit down and write a nice entry about anything. Today is just some catch up of some things I have been posting on facebook. I made a book list of books I want to read in the next year or so. I have to diversify my reading. Here it goes! (oh and I am constantly updating the list, too, and once I start reading I'll be crossing the books off the list.)
Lolita- Vladimir Nabokov
I read The Price of Salt, and one reviewer stated that he thinks Nabokov used The Price of Salt as a model for Lolita, so now I want to read Lolita. Don’t waste your time reading The Price of Salt, by the way. Highsmith wrote The Talented Mr. Ripley series, and could have done so much more with the characters in The Price of Salt, but the book is sorely lacking.
Clever Girl- Lauren Kessler
About the spy, a woman, who “ushered in the McCarthy era.” Basically responsible for bringing communism to the states. Matt recommended the book, so I am going to read it. It’s different for me. I don’t usually read non-fiction, but I want to read this one.
The Picture of Dorian Gray- Oscar Wilde
This book was a recommended reading for my gay and lesbian literature class, but I thought it was required so I bought it. I bought the Norton critical edition, so I really should read it. It has some fascinating articles in it. And Oscar Wilde. Poor, poor Oscar Wilde :(
Ulysses- James Joyce
I read Dubliners freshman year at Providence College. Loved it. Ulysses is different but I still want to read it.
A Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man- James Joyce
Same thing
Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams- Sylvia Plath
This is a book of short stories, diaries and prose that I think was published posthumously, but I could be wrong. Anyways, I’ve read half of it, and the stories are fairly mediocre. There are a few that stand out. But I want to read the rest of it (and I’ll re-read the first half) because The Bell Jar is just so damn amazing, and it’s my favorite book ever <3
Lord Jim- Joseph Conrad
I love Joseph Conrad. Love, love, love him. So much. He writes like such a sweetheart. Yes, he sounds like he swallowed a thesaurus, but his first language was Polish, not English, but he wrote his novels in English. Nostromo will always be one of my favorite novels.
The Sound and the Fury- William Faulkner
STFU. I love William Faulkner. As I Lay Dying is fantastic. Plus I already own the Norton Critical Edition because it was recommended for a class last year but I never actually read it.
Song of Solomon- Toni Morrison
Well, Toni Morrison is the female version of William Faulkner, but of course, since she’s a woman, she doesn’t get the recognition that Faulkner gets. And I love The Bluest Eye, Beloved, Tar Baby, and Sula, so I want to add Song of Solomon to the list.
Bringing Down The House- Ben Mezrich
Jonathan recommended this one to me. Another non-fiction (I think?). I want to diversify my reading :-P
The World Is Flat- Thomas Friedman
Another one Jonathan recommended. And again I think this is non-fiction? I’ll read it though!
*additions*
The City and The Pillar- Gore Vidal
We were supposed to read this book for Gay and Lesbian lit this semester, but the professor took it off the syllabus, but I had bought it already so I want to read it eventually. It seems like a pretty good novel.
A Garden of Earthly Delights- Joyce Carol Oates
I am going to learn more about Joyce Carol Oates, so the next few books will be books by her.
Expensive People- Joyce Carol Oates
them- Joyce Carol Oates
A classic.
Wonderland- Joyce Carol Oates
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This entry on facebook is called "A Small Message to Customers"
I work at a coffeehouse in Rhode Island called Bagelz. This is just a memo to customers.
1. If I am cranky, it’s probably because of you. Let’s just get that one out of the way.
2. Do not talk on your cell phone while ordering something. If you are in line waiting, and I ask, “may I help you,” is it really that difficult to stop your conversation for a whole 10 seconds to let me know what you want? And is your conversation that important that you need to tell me in .7 seconds so I cannot understand what it is you said because you are so anxious to get back to your conversation about what girl you scored with last night? Why is this such a problem?
3. If you are in a store with music playing, kids screaming, people talking, etc, do you really think that whispering will allow me to hear what you want to order? And when I say “excuse me” or “what” or can you repeat that, don’t you get the hint that I can’t hear you? Or, when I say, “I can’t hear you,” don’t you get the fucking hint that I can’t fucking hear you?
4. If you’re a party of two, and you both want iced coffee, is it difficult to say “two iced coffees” instead of saying “I’ll have an iced coffee,” making me go to the back to make your iced coffee, then when I come back and ask is there anything, you ask for another iced coffee. Why do you do that? Just say two iced coffees you fucking idiot.
5. If you’re a party of 2 or more, do you think I am some memory bank or voice recorder that can remember 19 different things? No, I cannot remember “chicken salad sandwich with swiss cheese, lettuce and onion on an egg bagel; medium chocolate fudge iced coffee, large hot chocolate, turkey sandwich with spicy mustard instead and american cheese instead and just tomatoes, no onions or lettuce on an everything bagel; a medium hot hazelnut, and a bacon egg and cheese on an onion bagel.” I cannot remember all of that at once. Tell me one fucking thing at a time, please.
6. If I ask you a supplemental question as I am making your order, and you don’t pay attention, I am making your decision for you. Sorry. Pay attention if you’re ordering food.
7. Don’t ask me what kind of cream cheese is better. Do I have your taste buds? No, I fucking don’t. I can’t tell you what you think will taste better.
8. Our meats like turkey, ham, roast beef, and lox are all premeasured to a certain number of ounces, and then they are wrapped in plastic for us to use so we always use the same exact amount. Don’t you fucking lie to me and say that the last time you were here the “other girl” put more lox on your fucking Nova Scotia Lox sandwhich, because she fucking didn’t. It’s all measured the same bitch. I know when you’re lying to me.
9. Supplementally, if you tell me that the only reason why you came back was because of our Nova sandwich, and you are disappointed with the sandwich this time around, boofuckinghoo. It’s not my problem. All the sandwiches are made the same. I’ve been working there for over a year. I know we all make them the same way. If you don’t like anything else on our menu, that’s not my problem. Go someplace else.
10. No, I will not scoop out your bagel. If you don’t want carbohydrates, don’t order food at a place called BAGELZ.
11. When you order food, DON’T WALK AWAY. Do you think we are both telephatic and can communicate via the mind? That I can call you back by thought? If you order food, stay at the counter. I am not going to go fetch you if you disappear. If I yell your order out, and you don’t come, I am moving on to someone else.
12. That little, tiny container where we keep packets of cream IS NOT A TRASH BUCKET. First, it says “This is not a trash bucket” on it. Second, that is the smallest trash bucket I have ever seen. Do you have trash buckets that small in your home? Probably not.
13. Do not send your 5 year old in to order food and pay. 5 year olds can’t think.
If I think of more I’ll add more. That’s all for now.