Po(sey) Sessions

Alice came to the fork in the road. "Which road do I take?" she asked. "Where do you want to go?" responded the Cheshire cat. "I don't know," Alice answered. "Then," said the cat, "it doesn't matter." - Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

If you’re anything like me, one of your favorite reasons to read is for the story. Not for the character development and interaction. Not because of the descriptive, emotive powers of the writer. Not because of deep, literary meaning hidden beneath layers of metaphor. (Even though those are all good things.) No … it’s because you want to know what happens next? Or, um, is it just me? The story can definitely be a strong driving force in my reading experience. But more often than I read for the writing. I have said it before, but that isn't going to stop me from saying it again. I read to see beautiful words flowing across the page. I read to see the way that thoughts and memories and ideas and histories weave together on that printed page. There are books I read where the writing doesn't impress me and the story pushes me through it. But I am there for the words, the way they brush against each other and me.

This is unfortunately not a totally original idea. In fact, there is a whole blog out there about literary tattoos called Contrariwise . But once I started looking I found out there are a lot of interesting articles and pictures and everything out there regarding the topic. One blogger sees this trend as a way to " signpost your erudition through skin ink ." If you visit the Contrariwise blog or do your own search you will find certain authors and phrases are very popular. Especially Vonnegut, specifically the phrase "so it goes." Shirley Dent summarizes the message of an article in The Economist saying, " tattoos are no longer the edgy insignia of the free spirited but the arty-farty must-have accessory of the middle classes ." She continues to stay that those who get literary tattoos are able in some way to transcend the trend of the tattoo and show more of their personality. What do you think? Many other bloggers have also posted a link to Contrariw...

Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author of ten novels and many short stories. She also happens to have three books in my to read pile. I decided that with my current interest in her, I wanted to find out a little more about her and her experiences as a writer. She has done some guest blogs for other Teen Tuesday members on their main blogs and various other interviews and commentary can be found online. A while ago I blogged about starting Chasing Windmills and how much I was enjoying reading it. The content matter is a little difficult for me to read, so I have been slow with continuing it. So many aspects of the book and the writing style really struck a cord with me. When I was contacted regarding reading another Hyde book, I quickly jumped at the chance to own a copy of Love in the Present Tense . And the last time I was at the library I went ahead and picked up the only novel they have of hers, Pay It Forward . Catherine Ryan Hyde was born in 1955 (you can do the math on that ...

Track 1 - Jocko Homo is the semi title track of Devo's Are We Not Men? referred to by Laurie. Laurie: They're Kind of Devo Dan: Devo? Laurie: Sure. Devo. "Are We Not Me?" Band from Ohio. Late seventies. Track 2 - Unforgettable plays from the TV in Chapter VII. Oh, my darling, it's incredible, that someone so unforgettable... ...Should think I am unforgettable, too. Nostalgia...by Veidt For unforgettable you. Track 3 - You're My Thrill plays while Night Owl and Silk Spectre rescue the residents of a burning building. Night Owl: Okay, Let's ride. I'll put some music on the in-ship stereo. You're my thrill You do something to me You send chill right through me When I look at you, 'Cos you're my thrill... You're my thrill How my pulse increases I just go to pieces When I look at you 'Cos you're my thrill Track 4 - A lyric from The Comedians closes Chapter II of Watchmen "And I'm up while the dawn is breaking, even t...

This Sunday I am working on two ground breaking piece of literature. Watchmen was on of the first comic books to be published in graphic novel format and establish it as a piece of literature as opposed to kiddie fair. Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson is the second title I am currently reading. It was on the forefront of the cyberpunk science fiction genre established by William Gibson . Watchmen was written by Alan Moore and published in a twelve-issue series starting in 1986 and then later republished in single paperback novel. This graphic novel has become the only one to have ever won the Hugo Award , in part because 1988 was the only year that had a category in which a comic book or graphic novel would qualify. It is brilliantly illustrated by Dave Gibson who utilizes creative adaptations of cinematic techniques. Watchmen tells the story of a group of superheros. The book shows them as real people who must confront ethical and personal issues, who struggle with neurosis an...