happy new year!

I don’t usually make resolutions (or if I do, it’s jokingly), but my resolution for 2007 is to read 50 books. Here goes nothing!

“Unicorn Mountain, Vols. I and II”

Unicorn Mountain is a collection of Pittsburgh’s finest comic artists, writers and bands. It’s hard to believe they’ve only been around about a year, considering the breadth of material included in the two volumes. The first is printed on newsprint, but the second is perfect bound with brown ink, which makes for a really classy presentation.

THE LOWDOWN
Published: 2006, 129 and 216 pp.
Obtained via: Curt, head honcho of UM
Date started: 12.19.06
Date finished: 12.25.06
What I liked: Some of the comic artists and writers really know their stuff and are producing incredible stories.
What I didn’t like: Some of the fiction pieces should have had another read or two.
What I learned: I need to get involved with UM.
Unresolved question: How long it will take me to create a comic version of some of my old grocery stories.

Curtis Sittenfeld, “Prep”

I seriously feel like I just relived high school. “Prep” follows Lee’s four years on scholarship at prestigious prep school Ault. She feels weird and observes her classmates from afar, too afraid to participate in their socializing. The book charts her baby steps toward happiness, which she never quite grasps as she’s too self-conscious to let herself be in the moment, let a boy like her or open up to potential friends.

THE LOWDOWN
Published: 2005, 406 pp.
Obtained via: Library
Date started: 12.14.06
Date finished: 12.18.06
What I liked: The exact portrayal of what it’s like to be 15 and a fish out of water. How the book skips ahead to the next semester to keep up the action without losing its pacing.
What I didn’t like: Lee’s infuriating self-consciousness!
What I learned: All the things not to do in any social situation. How to make high school more bearable. (Could have used that 10 years ago, right?)
Unresolved question: The last chapters makes some mention of Lee’s college career and later life, but did she ever really grow out of being an observer on the sidelines? I bet she became a journalist.

Nerve.com, “Sex Advice From…”

While making a Christmas books order, I came across this compilation by the editors of Nerve.com and just had to read it. They surveyed regular folks around the country to get perspectives on sex from competitive eaters, Santas, sorority girls (the most boring, by far), nudists and bloggers, to name a few.

THE LOWDOWN
Published: 2006, 320 pp.
Obtained via: chroniclebooks.com
Date started: 12.13.06
Date finished: 12.17.06
What I liked: [REDACTED]
What I didn’t like: After a while it all sounds the same.
What I learned: [REDACTED]
Unresolved question: I think they covered it all.

Jeffrey Brown, “Unlikely”

Before you accuse me of high levels of nerdery, I’ll come out and say that this is a graphic novel. Like Craig Thompson’s “Blankets” (which came highly recommended to me; which I devoured in less than 24 hours; which is the only other graphic novel I’ve read so far), this story’s about a guy who’s a virgin and has his first experiences and problems with a girl.

THE LOWDOWN
Published: 2003, 256 pp.
Obtained via: Library
Date started: 12.07.06
Date finished: 12.07.06
What I liked: The realness — some of the text bubbles capture the minute words we swallow or glaze over. Seeing the bell curve of a relationship presented in an unromantic way.
What I didn’t like: The drawing’s a little chicken-scratchy. But I also don’t like overly perfect and computer-aided comics, so I guess I’m just picky.
What I learned: Reconfirmed — I like graphic novels.
Unresolved question: Are all graphic novels about dudes who are virgins?

Susan Orlean, “The Orchid Thief”

I’d guess more people are familiar with Meryl Streep’s portrayal of Orlean in the movie “Adaptation” than anything else. This is the book Charlie Kaufman was attempting to adapt. Orlean’s New Yorker story about a man with a botched scheme to poach rare orchids from a protected Florida swamp using Seminole tribe members as his arbiters was fleshed out to a book with the help of an incredible amount of historical material. Orlean’s storytelling style is like refined dinner-party chatter, perhaps that of a distinguished professor who’s on his fifth snifter.

THE LOWDOWN
Published: 1998, 304 pp.
Obtained via: Library
Date started: 11.27.06
Date finished: 12.05.06
What I liked: The interaction between Orlean and John Laroche, the Orchid thief. In her reporting for the book, she spent weeks in Florida, and it’s very obvious that her fuse grew short with him.
What I didn’t like: Some of the historical tidbits go on for ages, although Orlean really knows how to pick the funniest ones.
What I learned: More than I ever thought I’d know about orchids and plant cultivation in Florida.
Unresolved question: In “Adaptation,” Streep as Orlean at one point seems to ingest a cocaine-like substance derived from orchids. So… that’s not real, right?

Call for suggestions!

My reading list is insanely long, but I find some books I added months (or even a year) ago don’t really catch my fancy anymore. The list below are books I’m considering reading soon, from reading reviews or the recommendations of friends. Please add any comments about the titles or suggestions for ones to add!

Zadie Smith, “On Beauty”
Jincy Willett, “Winner of the National Book Award”
Curtis Sittenfeld, “Prep”
Betty Friedan, “The Feminine Mystique”
Kevin Huizenga, “Curses”
Julian Barnes, “England, England”