Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Death and Rebirth



Location: My Desk
Mood: Productive
Reading: Wuthering Heights

I've finally dug my desk out from under the mountain of laundry, books and miscellaneous papers covering it and am catching up on all my backed-up web stuff. Somehow I just don't feel as motiviated when I'm using my computer from the livingroom or my bed.


Since I lasted posted I have had my birthday, been to Space Camp and finished a couple books. Among other things (A hand-painted cocktail glass, gorgeous paper flowers and the softest green hoodie ever) I recieved a copy of Wuthering Heights from a family friend for my 21st. Apparently fashion illustrator Ruben Tuledo and Penguin Books have joined forces to re-release 3 classics (Emily Bonte's Wuthering Heights, Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, and Jane Austen's Pride and Pejudice) with new covers. I had to admit upon opening the gift that I was immediatly interested. The other two look pretty great as well. Though it took me a bit or mental-yoga to wrap my mind around the language and way of speaking, I find myself enjoying it. It hasn't 'sucked me in' as all my favorites have, but I'm not tempted to just put it down in favor of one of the other's on my list of things to read.

Prior to opening it, all i knew of Wuthering Heights was that it was a classic, somewhat tragic and "That times Twilight", which I am assuming refers more to the popularity and cultural impact than the writing itself. Oh and that Kate Bush song (of which I prefer the Pat Benetar version).

I've become fairly dependant on my local library's online audiobook service which allows one to download up to four audiobooks per library card straight to your computer for a limited time. This alows me to cram even more litereary fun into my life via my iPod and computer, though I have created a bit of a rule for myself that I cannot download any fiction that I haven't yet read. When Smart Mouths (awesome podcast from the 'Andrew Sims' franchise which includes Mugglecast and Imprint) anounced that they would be interviewing author John Green on their next Smart Mouths Book Club episode when they reviewed Will Grayson, Will Grayson I immediatly downloaded Looking for Alaska (they didn't have Will Grayson, Will Grayson and besides, I haven't read it yet). I cannot express enough how amazing this book is. No it is not a survival tale about a quest through the wildreness. Alaska in fact refers to Alaska Young a freespirited, though troubled Junior at Cullver Creek boarding school in Alabama. The book cleverly explores the way we look at death and what happens after. Despite the potentially depressing subject matter Looking for Alaska manages to stay engaging and entertaining with characters and incidents we can all relate to on some level. Read It.

♥ G