I have a confession – I read romance books. Ideally, it is a great way to unwind and decompress, and clear your mind in the same way that only a Madonna tune can unstick a song from the brain. In terms of the written Happily Ever After, I’m not alone as a fan of the romance genre. Combined with erotica, this is the top selling genre in bookstores, both physical and online, with over $1.4 billion in sales in 2013. Sadly, these sales aren’t all going toward books written by alums of the Iowa Writers Workshop, or by the likes of Jennifer Crusie (MFA and ABD on her PhD), Julie James (JD, who has worked in the US Court of Appeals) or Lauren Willig (ABD on PhD at Harvard, JD at Harvard.) Continue reading “Go Ahead, Posse, Come At Us”
Category: Books
Fierce Mulligan
Remember the SNAG (Sensitive New Age Guy) in college? He was probably a biology major with a minor in religion or women’s studies, played Ultimate Frisbee, respected the earth and wore flannel, lots and lots of flannel. Ahh, the joys of the liberal arts college. Then there was the Red Bull drinking, effing striped shirt wearing MBA or MBA wannabe. To the right person, he too was probably appealing. And then there was the Metrosexual, the reason Mark Jacobs is launching a men’s makeup line. A man who understands that sometimes women know what they are doing, that spas are relaxing and that working out has surface benefits as well as long term health benefits. These are guys who will go to an art opening or watch Real Housewives over a sporting event, because they are that comfortable in their metrosexuality. Following closely on the well-shod heels of the metrosexual is the hipster, but with tighter jeans legs and more irony. Men should never wear jeggings, even ironically. Continue reading “Fierce Mulligan”
Dance To The Storm/Harbors Make Me Happy
I am not afraid of the storm, for I am learning to sail my ship. Louisa May Alcott
I recently came across that quote and it stayed with me. Not only did this quote force my adult self, with its understanding of free will, to reevaluate my perception of Amy March (she is no longer just the Laurie stealing oh-no-she-diduhnt sister), but it brought to mind comforting nautical references. From Genesis (Noah) and The Book Job to The Perfect Storm, from Homer to Shakespeare (who loved a good shipwreck) to Melville or even the celestial sailings of Winken, Blinken, Nod and Opus, literary works have used the sea and boats as a vast slew of devices – symbols, allegories, tropes and you name its. The sea, the shore, sailing – all are able to have several different meanings: vastness, redemption, opportunity, hardship, a vestige of what was once unconquered and also travel and former lives, the unknown, journeys both physical and figurative, and water, lots and lots of water. Continue reading “Dance To The Storm/Harbors Make Me Happy”
Tom Waits and Book Titles
Books I might, someday, write. And fun with Spotify.
- Paris Is Not A Good City For Women In Love Named George (What, it’s a romance?!?!)
- Tom Waits Taught Me Everything I Need to Know about Love
-
- Anywhere I Lay My Head
- Hope I Don’t Fall In Love With You
- I Want You
- The Piano Has Been Drinking
- Please Call Me, Baby
- Picture In A Frame
- Martha
- Long Way Home Continue reading “Tom Waits and Book Titles”
-
azimuths compass 