It's Finally Time For the Kurt-Meister

So my typically regular post is coming a day late this week mainly for one reason--I got into Dallas last night at about midnight from an exhausting, wonderful, and at times TOO informational trip to New York for collegiate reasons. Suffice it to say that I was exhausted before, during, and now after said trip. Alas, I trudge on with what I know is vital information to you all! (I love sweet sarcasm late at night when no one has the energy for real jokes)

I plowed through another book last week, one that had been on my list for a very long time. I finally read Cat's Cradle from cover to cover and, upon my first Vonnegut experience, I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Cat's Cradle was my literary pick of the week last week as an extension of my anticipation to finally read such a classic. Cat's Cradle is Vonnegut's satirical take on the current state of man in all of his blunders, the "powers that be" in all parts of the world, and the religious world at large.
In the first pages of the book, Vonnegut comes clean with his famous disclaimer stating that if the reader does not believe that a religion can be founded on a basis of lies, this book is not for them.
With one of the most eccentric minds in literature, Vonnegut details the quest of a young writer trying to compile information to write a novel titled The End of the World.
A Cornell graduate, the narrator goes to great lengths to interview relatives and colleagues of the late Dr. Felix Hoenikker, the creator of the infamous atom bomb.
The story gathers momentum as Vonnegut takes readers to the tropical land of San Lorenzo Island as the young writer continues his trek to finish his story.
My thought process went something like this with every passing chapter (chapters occur at every 1/3 of a page)--"How much imagination can one satirical writer fit into a story?"
Cat's Cradle isn't fantasy or science fiction, though it hoards all the imagination of a three year old pretending to be Superman.
And thus, Cat's Cradle grabbed me from the start with its quick pace and surprising outcome. It doesn't hurt that Kurt Vonnegut is one of the most interesting black humorists of all time.

Need I say more?


While I was in New York City specifically, I made sure to take notes on the street fashion every second I was outside. I must say, New Yorkers certainly have their trademarks down to a system with lots of darker tones, tailored overcoats, and lots and lots of boots.
However, I'll leave you tonight with some pictures I stole from a blog I follow StyleSightings. Though the theme is circular sunglasses, I think the majority of the pieces featured in the post are characteristic of New York street fashion.




Good night!

Jazzy Cloggin'

I hope my droning lack of energy doesn't make itself too apparent in this post-prom mash up of literature and fashion. That's probably my fault for staying up until 3 after the dance last night..

ANYWAY
My favorite day of the now distant week was Thursday. I had the monumental treat of having little homework, and a great book waiting to be finished. Though maybe a bit overdue, I spent my entire Thursday night finishing the iconic novel The Great Gatsby.

F. Scott Fitzgerald was a legendary 20th century writer, born in Minnesota 1896. Fitzgerald attended Princeton University in 1913 and soon acquainted himself with the fast-paced, luxurious living of the "Jazz Age". The 1920's have earned this oftentimes infamous nickname as writers in the Lost Generation recalled the ridiculous lifestyle of upscale New Yorkers, wealthy pageant girls, and the birth of jazz music.
The Great Gatsby, above all, serves up a heaping pile of the 1920's complete with lavish house parties (courtesy of Jay Gatsby), self absorbed ingenues (i.e. Daisy Buchanan), and that-douche-bag-rich-guy-that-makes-an-appearance-in-every-story (Tom Buchanan).

The Great Gatsby is narrated by the most famous third party observer in literature, Nick Carraway. The story recounts the life and demise of one wealthy businessman, Jay Gatsby. Nick Carraway moves to Long Island, New York in hopes of becoming a successful bondsman. He moves into the up and coming neighborhood of West Egg on the island and is noticeably startled when he encounters the gargantuan mansion next door. The wealthiest man in West Egg lives a few feet from Nick, and is the host of countless parties every weekend. Gatsby doesn't usually invite people to his home for parties, they just arrive. The neighborhood of West Egg is divided by water from the corresponding East Egg. Nick introduces the character Daisy Buchanan as his cousin, living in East Egg with her wealthy husband Tom. Through the folds of the story, the reader finds that Gatsby and Daisy were once romantically involved and Gatsby has only grown rich in hopes of wooing Daisy back to him.

The plight of Mr. Gatsby rings with all the bells of the haughty 1920's. A war hero, Gatsby returns to America to find his previous girlfriend, Daisy, has married a wealthy businessman. Because money was of unimaginable importance, Gatsby believes the only was to gain Daisy's love once again is to gain the riches that she so admires.

The Great Gatsby was revolutionary for its time, exposing the superficial nature of too many people in the Jazz Age. It has transcended generations and maintained relevance for even the most ignorant of superficiality. A true classic, F. Scott Fitzgerald moves mountains with this poignant tale.


And now, boys and girls, I move on to the crucial and hard-hitting subject matter. Although I could blog about stimulus packages, gay rights, or even that war going on in the Middle East, I recognize the need to document one of the really important issues in the world today--THE COLOSSAL COMEBACK OF CLOGS!

I kid you not, it has been documented in the past two or three issues of Vogue--clogs are making a huge comeback in 2010! At first I had no idea how to feel about this rebirth, we make fun of the 70's for a reason right?
But, alas, the experts in fashion have tailored a way to make clogs modern and sophisticated, rather than tacky and loud when you walk.

Michael Kors was among the first to come out with a large selection of clogs in his new collection.


In an assortment of colors, Michael Kors offers you these adorable clogs.

The reason I make a huge deal about this is that I was positive I would hate most designers' takes on the "modern clog". I find myself strangely provoked by these cute little shoes, though! And to justify my interest, I will share a picture of a mildly famous celebrity--Alexa Chung--sporting clogs!


In conclusion, we shouldn't knock anything til we see thorough documentation (by way of Vogue) and usually they know what they're talking about!

Well I guess I'll wrap this up and return to my hazy, exhausted Sunday. Someday I will get sleep

Don't forget to comment and tell me what you are currently reading or what you would recommend!

Hot Off the Silk-Screener

Good evening and happy Sunday! Over the week, when I wasn't at my wit's end with service hours, endless amounts of school work, and preparing for an academic meet, I stumbled across an interesting website for the independent designer Out of Print.

The designers at Out of Print do more than put iconic television characters on thin t-shirts (Inspector Gadget, anyone?). These designers, instead, display iconic book covers that have been out of print for years. With new selections often adding to the mix, Out of Print has recovered famous book covers that haven't been seen since the book's first distribution.


An even more compelling aspect of Out of Print is their noble mission. One might ask, "Hey, why would anyone make such a big deal about literature mixing with fashion?". Much like the popular footwear company, Tom's, Out of Print is on a mission to bring something back to children who are less fortunate. With the money that the designers make from these shirts, they go out and buy vast amounts of books to ship to Africa for underprivileged children. Their mission is one of preserving education and the value of learning. I encourage all to browse the website and pick out a shirt displaying a memorable read of yours.


Next, I would like to highlight one every one's absolute favorite poets, Maya Angelou. Angelou is a loved American poet and author because of her heartfelt story and history. An active member of the Harlem Writers Guild in the late 1950's, Angelou was very passionate about Civil Rights. Her highly venerated biographical fiction classic, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, details Angelou's role in the struggle for equality back when the world was still ruled by white supremacy.


Of course, most people know Angelou as the extremely popular poet that she is. Angelou has countless collections of poems, and essays attributed to her. Most English nerds have gotten to a point where they will basically read anything Angelou publishes, be it passionate poems like "Phenomenal Woman" or, hell, I would read her commentary on a table tennis match. Her voice has inspired millions, and continues to bring out the poet in all of us.


So with that, I will leave you with one of my favorite poems

My Guilt
By Maya Angelou

My guilt is "slavery's chains," too long
the clang of iron falls down the years.
This brother's sold, this sister's gone,
is bitter wax, lining my ears.
My guilt made music with the tears.


My crime is "heroes, dead and gone,"
dead Vesey, Turner, Gabriel,
dead Malcolm, Marcus, Martin King.
They fought too hard, they loved too well.
My crime is I'm alive to tell.


My sin is "hanging from a tree,"
I do not scream, it makes me proud.
I take to dying like a man.
I do it to impress the crowd.
My sin lies in not screaming loud.

Jak & Jil & Precious

Sitting in White Rock Coffee while the sun goes down on a perfectly serene Sunday, I am reminded of a movie I watched earlier this weekend that was anything but serene.
While a piping hot White Rocker might be easy to digest, the major motion picture Precious was one hard film to stomach.

Based on the novel Push by Sapphire, this film details the suffering and eventual retribution of a sixteen-year-old, illiterate, and overweight high school girl looking for self worth. A modern day echo of Alice Walker's The Color Purple, Push is a hard-hitting piece of literature.


Before I heard of plans for a movie, I read this very graphic and revealing novel. Sapphire uses a dialect similar to that of Zora Neale Hurston in Their Eyes Were Watching God. As Precious is illiterate at the onset of the story, she spells her words phonetically and pens sentences without considering grammar. This stylistic approach makes the subject matter more realistic to the reader, putting the blatant neglect of a child's education in the forefront. As Precious progresses through secondary schooling, her reading and writing scores sky rocket and there is a notable difference in the language used. Precious lives with her obese, invalid mother who lives off of welfare checks. Precious is pregnant with her second child as a result of childhood abuse from her father, who proceeded to leave the family with the news of his daughter's pregnancy. Sapphire uses a literary style known as stream of consciousness. With this style, the author illustrates the main character's every thought in the order they occur. This framing of the story along with the novel's dialect make the first twenty pages difficult to follow. As with the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, readers adjust to the dedicated author's mission to make Precious' experience as tangible as possible. I recommend this novel to people who haven't already seen the movie, and even to people that have. The film makers that worked on Precious obviously did a fantastic job as it was nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture.



Being the extreme party-goer and socialite that I am, I also dedicated parts of this weekend to exploring various fashion blogs. I was on a search for a new homepage and was led to the popular fashion blog Jak and Jil. I read a story in March's Vogue about ten new fashion blogs that made an impression on the Powers That Be in Vogue. Jak and Jil as well as Style Sightings are layouts of stylish candids that are taken on location--lately in Paris. Jak and Jil is updated constantly, usually drawing from the model-esque beauties roaming the streets of Paris.



For all those interested, check out this fabulous blog at http://jakandjil.com/blog/


At the bottom of the Jak and Jil web page, there is a list of other equally interesting fashion blogs such as Style Sightings. Style Sightings uses a similar technique with street style candids. The photos are organized into categories with themes such as "Furry Friends" or "Denim Days"



The URL again is, http://www.stylesightings.com/


To close, I'd like to open up a new addition to my blog called What've You Read Lately? I love hearing about the literary choices of my peers, so let me know what you're currently reading or what you've already read and really enjoyed. Good night and Happy Easter (if you're into that kind of thing).

Mental Illness paired with Prom Tips? My favorite combo.

Happy Sunday blog readers! Today I would like to dedicate my post to the authors that tackle the delicate subject matter of mental illness and the novels that have struck a chord with me and made me interested in the inner-workings of the human brain.

1. Sybil-Flora Rheta Schreiber

Written in 1973, Sybil is a novel that has truly transcended its era and remains relevant to modern day readers. I read this head-trip of a book last summer while vacationing in New Jersey. Schreiber retells the true story of a young girl battling a deadly mental illness. However, in Sybil's case, she is plagued with perhaps the most famous case of split personality disorder ever recorded--Sybil has split herself into sixteen different personalities. All of this is displayed plainly in the tiny blurb and provides a general plot summary of a very complex novel. This blurb alone will probably prompt many readers to thrust it back onto its shelf and quickly pretend they did not pick it up. I absolutely agree that, when I took this book into my hands for the first time, it scared the life out of me. But once I threw myself into the story, I soon forgot the gravity of the subject matter and focused on the emotional downfall of Sybil Isabel Dorsett. This novel is the most impressing look at mental illness as it is written by Ms. Schreiber who treated Sybil throughout her life-long battle with the sixteen other people inside of her head. I would recommend this novel to anyone, as my mother said when she recommended it to me. My mother read this book in high school and, to this day, says she will never forget it.

2. Angelhead-Greg Bottoms

This book scared the living be-jesus out of me--and I loved it. Last summer I found this book on a whim at Half Price Books (my favorite place ever). I had no idea what to expect, but just the cover made such an impression on me that I had to buy it. I didn't know at the time that Angelhead would be the most graphic, honest, and enlightening true story of a young boy's descent into madness. Greg Bottoms tells the story of his brother, Michael, as he battles with severe paranoid schizophrenia. In the beginning, Michael deals with his illness through dangerous acid trips which result in his unconscious body sprawled out on his bedroom floor where Greg found him most nights--Greg was eleven or twelve at the time. Michael's disease begins to develop at the tender age of fifteen and snowballs as Michael becomes more violent and loses pieces of his mind. Greg maintains a cool and displaced tone in his narration. The reader can sense that Greg very rarely feels sorry for his brother. As Michael's condition gets worse, the family tries their hardest to ignore his obvious cries for help. A family that has gone through hell with years of financial instability, they seem to purposely ignore Michael's dangerous tendencies (all of these are coping methods for his illness). I admit that, because of the graphic subject matter, I had trouble reading Angelhead at night or in large sittings. Although it is a difficult read, Angelhead is one of the most heart-wrenching books I have ever read.

Okay! Now that I have gotten all of that off my chest, I have some prom tips for both girls and guys (as the night is rapidly approaching). Now I will try to make these different from the run-of-the-mill fashion tips one might find in Seventeen or Teen Vogue--I don't classify girls by their body type.

FOR GIRLS
1. The Nobody-Wants-To-See-That Rule: Okay girls, prom is the biggest night of the school year for juniors and seniors. It is a night to dress elegantly and modestly--don't have your you-know-whats hanging out! Summer is coming up, so let's just save the skanky tendencies for when you go swimsuit shopping, not prom dress shopping. Keep the ladies intact and the booty covered.
2. The Go-With-Your-Own-Style Rule: We have all seen the hideous, bejeweled messes that Macy's and Dillard's call prom dresses. Although these are the popular places to shop for dresses, there are more stores to look through! This rule is to reiterate to girls that it is okay to spend lots of time looking for a dress. Try a couple different places. There is nothing worse than buying a dress you don't really like only to discover a much better choice a month later. Take your time.
3. The This-Isn't-Noah's-Arc-You-Can-Go-To-Prom-Without-A-Significant-Other Rule: You've gone to homecoming with a group of girls before, why should it be different for prom? The point is, if a guy has shown to lack the balls to ask you to the dance--don't decide to stay home and watch Pride and Prejudice! Chances are, there are dozens of other people that don't have dates as well, girls as well as guys. Get a group together and go date-less. Hey, it means you can dance like a slut and nobody can say anything! (Joke).

FOR GUYS
1. The Every-Girl-Wants-To-Get-Asked-So-You-Aren't-Off-The-Hook-If-You-Have-A-Girlfriend Rule: I think that's pretty self explanatory.
2. The Most-Girls-Think-It's-A-Turn-On-When-Guys-Dress-Up-For-Nice-Occasions Rule: Boys, you don't really have a choice. If you are planning on going to prom, look nice! For juniors, I don't think you have to go all out with a tuxedo yet, but put some effort into your appearance. If anything, the vast majority of girls will be extremely impressed if their date cleans up and doesn't whine about it--girls like that kind of thing!
3. The No-You-Don't-Have-To-Save-Every-Penny-You-Have-Two-Years-Prior-To-Pay-For-Prom Rule: Though it is tradition for the man to pay for everything, that doesn't exactly apply here. There are countless expenses to be accounted for on prom night: tickets, transportation, dinner etc. Guys, no girl is going to expect that you make six figures and will pay for every service required (or at least they shouldn't). So talk to your date in advance and agree on who will pay for what. No one has enough money to cover everything.
4. My last rule for guys is the third rule for girls--Don't get down on yourself if you don't plan on asking a girl, or even if a girl says no. Especially after being rejected, I would be willing to bet that most guys would throw in the towel on the whole evening. Go ahead and go. Dance with a girl that also went stag--One thing might lead to another!


That concludes this post but I will leave you with some prom muses for boys and girls.

Girls-




Guys-

Guilty Pleasure Fashion Hobbies meet Impassioned Literature Critic

Who doesn't love a blog dedicated to sharp fashion muses and the fiction writers with sharp tongues? Err..pens? Well, I have resolved to dedicate this blog to both.
My reasoning being that, while I have a passion of sorts for the inner monologue of fiction writers, I also have a tremendous addiction to Vogue, vintage heels, and yes (dare I say it)--Chanel.

I am not afraid to admit this blatant love for what many deem superficial, and here is another dose of my fabulous reasoning. Ahem: Though a fashion obsession/hobby may seem superficial and materialistic, the interest is secondary to my passion for detailed realism. The kind used in books, not in Vogue. The way I see it, my love for the holistic views reflected in books compensates for the materialistic tendencies of the fashion world. Rant. Commenced.

Therefore I am pledging to dedicate this blog (from here on out) to these two interests. In most blog posts I hope to level the playing field with some literary insight and some fashion critiques. And yes, there will be rants. Maybe, if the minuscule amount of people who actually skim this blog get lucky, I'll talk about music. But I mean really, who listens to music these days anyway? :D

So I'll begin with the fashion portion. I feel somewhat legitimate what with the graspable subject matter. I dedicate this first fashion themed post to my two most sought after fashion muses: The beautiful Emma Watson and the chic Zooey Deschanel.

My introduction to Emma could probably go without explanation: the bushy-haired, tweeny girl portraying Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films. Yes, this is the first I ever saw of Emma, in her awkward stage of on-screen adolescence. However, I think the ridiculously evolved style she possesses nowadays is indirectly kicking the ass of every cynical, snotty girl that said she was "buck toothed" or "frizzy haired" in the Sorcerer's Stone. Emma Watson oozes class. Her style is sleek and sophisticated as she transcends the stereotype of her young age. Her recent Burberry campaign has earned her much well-deserved attention. Whenever I see her in Vogue, I make a note to study every article of clothing she's wearing. Though she, undoubtedly, buys all of her clothing in London for well over the normal budget of a well-to-do family in Dallas, I make a note of the look she is portraying. She is an inspiration for those of us who, as teenage girls, would rather look like sophisticated, older women than degrade ourselves while looking like immature children.



Next, I bring you the fabulous Zooey Deschanel. Still a budding actress, most people first saw her in Elf or maybe even Yes Man. However, she has been trekking her way through the ranks of Hollywood in cameo roles for quite some time. This relatively subtle presence in tabloids and movies is what makes her impact so extraordinary. In a very short amount of time, Zooey has become a household name in fashion. Her retro, 60's inspired hairstyle and large blue eyes have inspired countless girls (including myself) to imitate her effortless style. The shaggy, blunt bangs that shade her forehead help create the sense of aloofness she carries with her down the red carpet (the adorable vintage platforms don't hurt either). Zooey has a style that is all her own, as she perfects the art of mixing vintage clothing with upscale, designer pieces. A well rounded public figure, Zooey also plays in the band She and Him with M. Ward, putting her sultry singing voice on display. The question that weighs on every one's mind is "Is there anything Zooey Deschanel CAN'T do?"


If there are any males reading this, this is the SCROLL DOWN POINT. The point where I have finished gushing about fashion and will move on to discuss perhaps my favorite thing in the world: literature. I just realized how stuffy and librarian-esque that sounded. I like books. That's better.
Since I dedicated my fashion bit to my two most prominent fashion muses, I have decided to dedicate the literature section to my two favorite authors: JD Salinger and John Updike.

Alright indie kids, have at it. I have listed the somewhat infamous JD Salinger as one of my favorite authors. Though rather unprolific, Salinger has obviously left a huge impression on his readers (even if only through a novel and some short stories). In truth, The Catcher in the Rye is Salinger's only real novel. Others, such as Franny and Zooey and Raise High the Roofbeam Carpenters are combinations of stories that have been pasted together to form a coherent piece of literature. I'm sorry indie kids, but my favorite work of Salinger's is not the Holden Caulfield frenzy that is Catcher in the Rye. However, I grew very attached to a gluing of two short stories concerning the Glass family, a book called Franny and Zooey. Salinger wrote Franny and Zooey as two separate short stories that were submitted to the New Yorker in the 1950's. Both following the same story line, the combination serves as a wonderful view into the lives of seven child prodigies, mini Einsteins of their age. The book delves into their struggle to relate to "normal people" after their privileged upbringing. I would recommend this book to anyone. It might stop you from rolling your eyes at the mention of JD Salinger.


Finally, I close this hideously long post with an ode to perhaps my favorite author: Mr. John Updike. Strikingly different, yet very familiar to Salinger, Updike is an extremely prolific author. Updike has written well over twenty works of fiction. The similarity between the two lies in their psychological writing style. Both authors tend to dig through their characters, uncovering their inner workings and idiosyncrasies. Both have become critically acclaimed authors using human emotion as the prime subject matter. Updike, in particular, has written a poignant series of novels that feature a quirky and somewhat immature main character named Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom. The series of four books follows Rabbit, a former high school basketball celebrity, on a journey to find his place in the real world. Every thought John Updike twists into a personal emotional journey. The reader runs with Rabbit. I feel certain that I will gush more about these books in particular. For now, I leave you with a picture of young Updike and the regret that it is 1:00 AM, this post is eons long, and I am betting that maybe two people will read it. Oh what a tangled web I weave. Good night.

His Name is Bob

Bob Crawford


God. Is it any surprise that sometimes I gawk at the audacity of humans? What in the world made all of us so damn cynical and uppity. How many precious airs can we put on until we become just that: dead air. No soul. Not a solitary reason in the world to point fingers and terrorize as we so often do.
This out pour of mine is a direct result of the news I came across today. I live in Dallas, Texas; it is home to somewhat of a music scene in Deep Ellum. Anyone that has spent more than a minute in that wing of town knows what I mean when I mention "that little guy with the keyboard". Some may not know him by his name (Bob, by the way). Most know him because he is a seemingly "off" older man that is never spotted without his small keyboard in his hands.
I came across the website for a documentary that local film makers have created about the story of this man's life. When I saw him at Club Dada or the State Fair, I had no idea that he is a slightly retarded savant whose mental deficiencies are a result of heinous abuse from his family members at a young age.
This man's story is incredible and there is nothing that gives me more hope for humanity than when I see other human beings caring for a social "misfit". I am inspired, touched, extremely angered, yet, oddly hopeful upon hearing this man's story.
His mental health was put in danger when his mother took so kindly to whacking him with a bat when he was in trouble or dropping him on his head multiple times as a baby.
As for now, Bob is a visionary. People that have met him will never forget him and often say that they feel he is an angel. Now please, for the love of *Oh shit the G word!* people, please save the rolling of eyes for your parents or YOUR blogs. This man is a sign that people can live while defying all odds.

The link to more information on this poignant documentary, His Name is Bob, is included below.

http://hisnameisbob.com/index1.html