The Vinyl Cafe

After spending some time reading about literary theory for an assignment, I decided my eyes needed a treat. So, I picked up my trusty copy of Stuart McLean's Secrets from the Vinyl Cafe. I have loved McLean's short stories ever since grade seven when my Humanities teacher read us a hilarious Christmas story of his. I consider Dave and Morley to be my friends. Isn't it funny how that happens when you read a book? Maybe I'm the only one that does that. I don't know. But, I find that my test of a good book is when I get so invested in the lives of the characters that they become part of my life too. I think that's really magical, and I am indeed grateful for writers like McLean who have the ability to do that. I think I'll have to read another story tonight before bed too, just for kicks. 

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Poetry

Last semester, I had a poetry class. It was pretty fantastic. I adore poetry. It's so simple, yet so complicated at the same time. I find a great beauty in that juxtaposition. One of my favourite poets is E. E. Cummings. Here's something to make you smile on this blistery day:


somewhere i have never travelled
somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond
any experience,your eyes have their silence:
in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,
or which i cannot touch because they are too near

your slightest look easily will unclose me
though i have closed myself as fingers,
you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens
(touching skilfully,mysteriously)her first rose

or if your wish be to close me,i and
my life will shut very beautifully,suddenly,
as when the heart of this flower imagines
the snow carefully everywhere descending;

nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals
the power of your intense fragility:whose texture
compels me with the color of its countries,
rendering death and forever with each breathing

(i do not know what it is about you that closes
and opens;only something in me understands
the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)
nobody,not even the rain,has such small hands

How lovely is that? Thanks for the smile, Mr. Cummings. 

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One Fish, Two Fish...

I'm nearing my twenty-first birthday, and yet I am still very fond of Dr. Seuss. I grew up reading those stories, and a great swelling of happiness ensued -- which I later identified as my love for reading. This man was a genius, truly writing for the masses, even if he didn't know it. But, maybe he did.

What is your favourite Dr. Seuss story?

mine is a tie between How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Green Eggs and Ham (and Oh! The Places You'll Go comes in at close second)

Harvesting the Heart

Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult. I just finished this one today. It's been long time since I've read one of her novels, and after reading this one, I remembered why I love her so much. Picoult writes about real things. Her novels are about real, true human experiences. And she's not afraid to delve into the unknown, the hushed-up, or the controversial -- all the while keeping things tasteful and writing with exceptional style and talent. Reading this novel, I fell for each character in a different way. Instantly, my sympathies go to the protagonist, Paige, and they remain there until the end. However, through Picoult's incredible ability to show the point of view of each character in a different way, my levels of sympathy go up and down throughout the novel, and that's something I love, and truly respect about Picoult's work. She makes me think, and that is the test of a great writer -- to make you question, but also to reaffirm your own beliefs in values. This was a great read, though I did skip over a lot of her detail about the heart surgeries... not my cup of tea. All in all, a good one. 

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The Bard

William Shakespeare. Love him? Hate him? Adore him? I adore him. This week I've been reading Twelfth Night  in preparation for my Shakespeare class on Monday. It's been a month since I've been in that class, and  I actually really miss it. I have a fabulous professor and even better material: the Bard. Shakespeare was a genius. I don't care if you believe he stole ideas, he was a genius. If those ideas weren't wholly his, he was a genius to put them together in a manner that would make them immortal. Genius.

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Introduction

I love to read. I also love Belle & Sebastian so that's how I picked the title for this new blog.
I decided that I need to read more this year, and not just textbooks. So, I'm breaking rules.
I'm going to read books that aren't on my reading lists! I'm a rebel.
As I'm reading, or once I've finished, I'll blog about it. Or even just about some of my favourite literary moments.
Enjoy. Go pick up a book, curl up in bed, and go to a different world. That's my favourite thing to do. 

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