02.28.07
Posted in Books at 20:11 pm by Josh
Welcome to the second rousing (or not) posting of books I read last month. Though off to a strong start, as we always are at the first of the year, February didn’t see quite the same success as January in terms of book count. I blame part of it on the first book I read being rather long and a little droning at times, part of it on the fact that I didn’t start until February 5 because I was tired and I wanted to listen to my iPod on the subway, and part of it on the fact that February has less days than other months, though only by two or three so I suppose that’s not the best reason in the world. Regardless, I’ll take two or three days wherever I can get them. Combine them with the first five days of the month and that’s a week I missed which could have meant a whole other book. Anyway, I’m very clearly stalling. Let’s get on with it.
Here Is Your War by Ernie Pyle - Probably the best delivery of the American events which took place in Northern Africa in 1942 that you will ever find. Pyle tells it like it was, dispelling myths with clever anecdotes, sarcasm, and occasional shots at himself which may have been my favorite part. Whether poking fun at himself or someone else, Pyle captures the American Soldier, the boys who left home as boys and returned as men, albeit changed men who no longer knew the world they left behind any better than they knew the world they entered. The lived day to day, made the best of the bad, and laughed through as much of it as they could. The attitude of old America is enviable, at least. Those boys knew what it was to die but more importantly, what it was to live. I’m sorry that Ernie Pyle didn’t live to tell about it himself. 5/5
The Stranger by Albert Camus - I was broke and needed a book and this has been on my shelf since I was in the eleventh grade. As I said in my post earlier this month, better late than never. Overall, it was good. A little choppy at times but Camus really develops the character in such a way that you, yourself, feel somewhat apathetic when you’re done. Still, it could have used a wee bit more action or suspense for my taste. 3/5
Look At Me by Jennifer Egan - Finally back to good fiction. I was a little skeptical at first, with the main character being a sex-driven, drug-addict, not-particularly-successful model but once you get into the meat, you find yourself dragged in. The interwoven plots are tantalizing, the description is inhuman, and the characters, except for Z, are breathtakingly relatable. Sometimes the sex felt like more of a preoccupation than it should have been but then again, I’m not sure that such a plot point is entirely unrealistic even if it may be for my own life. But that’s quite enough about that. In short, if you’re fiction has been feeling a little bitter or dry lately, pick this up. Even if you don’t like it I bet you’ll have at least an hour’s worth of reasons why. 4/5
Dark Island by Joshua Cacopardo - Haha, yes, I’m adding my own book to this list. Why not? If I hadn’t spent countless hours with this manuscript, I probably could have read something else! Overall, I’m pleased. Looking back four years, I think I missed my original point altogether (transcendent terror?) but in comparison to other “horror” novels I’ve read, I think this one can stand firmly on its own. Some characters could have been developed better…not more, just better. And the plot gets a little weak sometimes but hey, it’s a ghost story. You don’t read it for the plot. You read it to feel apprehensive when you’re alone in a dark room. That being said, I think I’ll stick with psychological suspense thrillers or something like that from now on. No more supernatural. Too cheesy. 4/5
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02.27.07
Posted in Movies at 10:00 am by Josh
Last night I saw a late showing of Factory Girl with my tres awesome new neighbor whose equally awesome name is Sorrell. I didn’t remember much about what I’d read; in fact, I didn’t realize that I’d read about Factory Girl at all until midway through the movie when Hayden Christensen (whom I loathe so he will not get a link) strolled in as Billy Quinn. It was then that I remembered Bob Dylan gripping about the portrayal of his character and his relationship with Edie Sedgewick and how it wasn’t done in a favorable light, blah, blah blah. Dr. Dylan, I love you but let’s be serious here. You weren’t always the nicest guy in the world.
That being said, he still comes across as infinitely kinder than Andy Warhol whose portrayal by Guy Pearce was outstanding. They actually showed a 1971 interview with Warhol at the end of the movie so we could see his authentic reaction to Edie’s death and I kid you not, I could hardly tell him apart from Pearce. Awesome, awesome, awesome.
And for all of her real-life drawbacks, Sienna Miller blew me away as Edie Sedgewick. The voice, the look, the transition from good girl to drug-induced stupor; it was breath-taking. The only complaint I have about Factory Girl is (of course) Hayden Christensen whose enactment of Bob Dylan was strikingly similiar to his portrayal of Darth Vader and that whiny loser in Eurotrip. In fact, his performance solidified his position in my hierarchy of lousy actors so that he and Keanu Reeves are now on a par level with one another (and you know how I feel about Keanu Reeves).
In short, check out Factory Girl. Especially late at night.
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02.26.07
Posted in Reflections, Pictures, Insomnia, New York City, Life, Quotes at 14:25 pm by Josh
I walked across Central Park in the snow last night after the Oscars. It was surreal and peaceful; I felt like a little kid, making fresh tracks across the thick, soggy snow, the sole person in a grassy forest surrounded by towering skyscrapers hidden in the wispy fog of a cloudy night. After years of wanting to go to Strawberry Fields, I stumbled upon it accidentally and took this picture before taking my first walk past Dakota.
“Outside Dakota died the symphony…”
~O.A.R.
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Posted in Quotes, Theater at 09:41 am by Josh
Think of it like Obi-Wan Kenobi. Like, he can see everything that’s going on in Episode VI but we never actually see him. That’s what all of you should be doing while you’re on stage.
~The Director for Tisch’s Production of “Waiting For Lefty”
Finally, a director whose artistic thought-process I can understand 
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02.24.07
Posted in Random Thoughts at 09:49 am by Josh
If half & half has gone bad, it should smell bad, right?
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02.22.07
Posted in Announcements, Writing, Life at 14:43 pm by Josh
There is a story to be told. It’s been brewing in my mind for what seems like years. Maybe it has been years. I don’t know. All I know is that it must be written. And the thing that must be written is unequivocally elusive.
For those of you with even the remotest grasp on the English language, you understand the problem this presents. For the rest of you, breathe deep; there is no problem at all.
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02.21.07
Posted in Theology, Random Thoughts at 23:13 pm by Josh
| Wireless Number with Rollover |
| xxx-xxx-xxxx |
- 666 Minutes |
Should I be concerned?
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Posted in Culture, Today, Unsolicited Opinions, Announcements, Weather, Writing, Life at 14:02 pm by Josh
It’s Ash Wednesday, in case you haven’t noticed the people wandering around with sooty crosses on their foreheads. There’s something vaguely ironic, though not unexpected, about donning the repentant mark of Lent while walking into an Irish pub…
In other news, it’s in the fifties in New York City today. This, along with the fact that I’m getting Mexican after work today, makes me happy.
Finally, I decided to expatiate (sort of) on an experience which took place in church on Sunday. It made me smile. A brief, unrelated addendum took place last night with my friend Tony during small group. He’s known for some weeks now that I’ve been interested in this woman who attends and so last night I was supposed to ask her out for coffee. When group was over, as Tony and I chatted, she walked past us both and headed for the door, asking me a question as she left. I replied briefly and then watched the door swing shut behind her. As I turned my attention back to the conversation with Tony he gave me a friendly shove, hurdling me across the hall, nearly into the closed door, offering wishes of good luck with a playfully mischevious smile. What man can return from that with his head hung in shame? Not I. And so thanks mostly to Tony, the deed was done.
I often don’t know where I’d be if it wasn’t for my friends 
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02.19.07
Posted in Random Thoughts, Writing at 14:07 pm by Josh
I hate editing, I hate my story, I hate thinking, I hate continuity, and I hate my inexcusable lack of vocabulary.
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Posted in Random Thoughts at 10:20 am by Josh
Our laundry room is dirty and I often drop a sock or two on the floor as I’m unloading the dryer. My question is, does the five-second rule apply in this situation or is that only for food?
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