Summer Break Literature

Thanks to the new pup, an overwhelming need to sleep after a hectic semester, the start of the World Cup, and the fact that every TV show ever is available on DVD, I haven't read as much as I've wanted to over these last few weeks. As noted in my last post, I have finished a few books despite the distractions of frequent naps.

One of them was a book called 10th Grade by Joseph Weisberg. This was a quick read told from the point of view of a 10th grader named Jeremy. It had all the necessary components of your typical coming of age story: somewhat unpopular narrator, hot girl love interest, supporting cast of confused depressive friends, sisters, and a prom. Nonetheless, it was a refreshing read for the first book this summer.

The other book I mentioned in the last post was a fantastic little tome entitled Fargo Rock City. Written by Chuck Klosterman, this book is a must read for anyone who grew up on the musical interpretations of Mötley Crüe, Guns N' Roses, Warrant, Tesla and the like. Klosterman is a master of the pen (or word processor). He writes about hair metal with the same passion as Herman Melville wrote about whale blubber, with vastly different results. (Note: Herman Melville's 8 billion pages about whaling, entitled Moby Dick could put even the most insomniac person into a napping coma. If you haven't had the torture, I mean pleasure of reading this "classic," you can read a synopsis of it here). Anyway, Klosterman effortlessly weaves his tale, waxing philosophic about these 1980's icons. He actually makes you want to pull out those old W.A.S.P. and Dokken albums, let your hair down (at least what's left of it) and rock like you did in 1989. As he writes in the epilogue,

"I could never love Radiohead as much as I loved Mötley Crüe. I could never love Radiohead as much as Mötley Crüe because I'll never be 15 again. I can certainly appreciate Radiohead, but they're not an extension of my life. No rock band will ever be again. For 99 percent of the populace (myself included) that kind of mystical connection can only happen during those terrible, magical years when you somehow convince yourself that a guy like Nikki Sixx understands you."

Those sentences sum up everything that many of us in that generation still feel about this era of music. And, while most of our musical tastes have evolved, there are certain days where like Klosterman and Twisted Sister, we just want to rock!

Most recently, I have completed John Grogan's Marley and Me. This book was laugh out loud hysterical...until the final chapters where I bawled like a little baby. While dog owners might appreciate this one a little more, I feel it could still appeal to people who don't have a barking critter living in their home. You can't help but laugh at the exploits of this hound nor help but be touched by his loyalty and his gigantic heart. Another quickie for the summer months, this one only took a few days to read.

What is next on the summer reading itinerary? As always, too much. Another Klosterman book, Killing Yourself to Live; the Hornby edited Speaking with the Angel; the politically satirical FUBAR: America's Right-Wing Nightmare; Howell's classic Statistical Methods for Psychology; and hopefully, several others.