I work within the book industry. As a very young child I loved reading picture books like Golden Books. Through out my teen years I gave up on reading.
I didn't really get back into it until after I left school, when I discovered Anne Rice, Clive Barker and Kurt Vonnegut. There were others, if someone told me they had a mental illness I'd go to the library and borrow an book on it, so that I could understand what the hell was going on with them.
I also read comic books, Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, Preacher and Lenore. There was also, Milk and Cheese and Too Much Coffee Man, that list goes on and on and on and on.
So, this is what I am currently reading.
John Waters, Carsick.
I love John Waters. If I could have dinner when any 3 people he would definitely be one of them. Whenever he's in Australia doing a spoken word I'm there with bells on. I remember the first time I watched Cry Baby, I was in year nine, visiting a friend, she and I both loved Johnny Depp. Watching Cry Baby that day, opened my eyes. Pecker is one of my all time favorite films, I've got Pink Flamingos on VHS, I love it. I re-watched Female Troubles recently, I do have trouble with the sound quality on some of the old films.
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| Sorry, I stole this off the internet and I cannot remember from where. This is Divine in Pink Flamingos. Such an amazing caravan. |
In Carsick, John Waters hitchhicks across America, not before he gives us his Best scenario and his Worst. Apparently the Auto Book is read by John, I couldn't find it anywhere in Australia. Though I am sure I could have downloaded it illegally somewhere. It would have been so great to listen to him reading his crazy adventures.
Masha Gessen, The man without a face.
Last year I spent July in Russia, it was winter here and summer there. I really enjoyed my time, occasionally finding myself wishing I was back. I found the book below on a book donation table. Putin is one of those mysterious people. I've only read the first 3rd of this book. I find it interesting how no one remembers him when he was a child. People who lived in the same apartment as his family only remember him from 9 years old. I'm not normally one to discuss politics, though Russia has had such a complex and sad history, I find that one of the best ways to understand the country you need to have some sort of understanding of their politics.
Miranda July, The First Bad Man. I like strange books, my favorite author is Murakami. I bought this book a few days ago, and I've finished it already. If you haven't read any of Miranda Julys short stories, get onto it. She's a little quirky, though so painfully honest. This book delves deep into a 40 something year old woman's life, heart and mind. There are many parts of this book I could not understand or relate to in anyway. The main character Cheryl's relationship with Clee, her house guest, is so dark and strange.
Heres a paragraph when a baby arrives onto the scene:
"There
had been options, before the baby, but none of them had been pursued. I
had not flown to Japan by myself to see what it was like there. I had
not gone to nightclubs and said Tell me everything about yourself to strangers. I had not even gone to the movies on my own.
I had been quiet when there was no reason to be quiet and consistent
when consistency didn't matter. For the last twenty years I had lived
as if I was taking care of a newborn baby." (pg219)
There
is darkness, the paragraph above is one of the only times Cheryl shows
regret for her life. She lives in a fantasy world, making up deeper
meaning for peoples actions, when in reality that don't really care. She
is lonely, with social issues, she has imaginary shared connection to
infants in the street.
I
felt myself asking so many times whilst reading this book, what, why is
she letting this happen. She's passive, not passive aggressive though.
This book took me into places I didn't enjoy, honestly, though
couldn't put it down. Now that I've finished it, I am not sure what to
do with it. If anyone wants to read it, let me know. You can have this copy.
John Layman, Rob Guillory. CHEW
I've started to get back into comics. As you can see from my list of comics above, I haven't really read anything since the early 2000s.
So I went to All Star Comics in Melbourne, the staff there are knowledgable and incredably helpful. I told them what I've read in the past, and what I like about them, and they suggested a number of titles. Chew was one of them.
This is a story of a guy who is Cibopathic. According to the comic, a Cibopathic, will get "psychic impressions from whatever he eats". I am pretty sure that it's not a real thing, though I
haven't looked into. The cynic in me says that now there is a comic
based on a guy that has it, there will be loads popping up all over the net.
Chew is a detective, he uses his special skills to solve crime. It's quiet a good read. Once I've finished this one, I'll get the second volume.
So that's it from me. I am pretty sure you can buy all these books and more from your local bookshop. If they don't have it, ask them to order it for you.
