Back to Chocolate Cake

So now that I am done with school FOREVER (hopefully) I actually have time to read whatever I want, yay! Being an English major is like being that fat kid from the movie Matilda in the scene where the principal gives him an entire cake to eat. At first he’s stoked. Cake, alright! He thinks, much like an English major is excited to be given their first novel to read for homework (ok maybe not excited, but at least pleased that the assigned reading was not from a text book, yuck.) Then little by little, the kid is full, and the hook nosed principal is staring at him, forcing him to chew every last bit of the giant chocolate cake. By the week before graduation, I never wanted to open another book again; I was full. 

To no one's surprise, my appetite for reading returned, and the first book I chose as a college graduate was The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. I know this book is so 2003, but I don’t like to read books in the height of their fame. I prefer to read them before or after everyone else. I’m such a rebel.

             Fortunately I knew nothing about this book whatsoever going in to it. I love surprises so I don’t want to say much about it except what you may already know (that it received outstanding reviews, was a #1 New York Times bestseller, and it is based on an Afghani boy). The writing is absolutely beautiful—Housseini is so talented. Every sentence in this novel has a purpose and the story unravels flawlessly. Not to mention I felt like I learned a thing or two so, bonus points! I feel like nothing I say can accurately express the wonder that is this book, so if you are a reader and are late on the bandwagon like yours truly, then check it out.

Between the Bars

I’m on an Elliott Smith kick. If you haven’t heard of him, here is your golden opportunity.

Like many amazing artists, he was a raging alcoholic and a drug user. He died young, at age 34, from suicide/possible homicide right as he was reaching mainstream fame. Nearly half of the Good Will Hunting album is comprised of his music and as a result he was nominated for an Academy Award in 1998. (Youtube the video of him playing at the Oscars… he looks so uncomfortable and out of place, which is weird to see at the Oscars where everyone is so well put together)

This song is called Between the Bars, and it was written to personify a conversation with a bottle of alcohol. It took me awhile to fully appreciate it but after listening to the lyrics a few times and understanding them, it makes the music so much better.

Drink up baby stay up all night

with the things you could do, you won’t but you might

the potential you’ll be that you’ll never see

the promises you’ll only make

Drink up with me now and forget all about

the pressure of days, do what I say

and I’ll make you okay and drive them away

the images stuck in your head

People you’ve been before that you

don’t want around anymore

that push and shove and won’t bend to your will

I’ll keep them still

Drink up, baby, look at the stars

I’ll kiss you again, between the bars

where I’m seeing you there, with your hands in the air

waiting to finally be caught

 

Drink up one more time, and I’ll make you mine

keep you apart, deep in my heart

separate from the rest, where I like you the best

and keep the things you forgot

 

People you’ve seen before that you

don’t want around anymore

that push and shove and won’t bend to your will

I’ll keep them still

Relating to Anna Kendrick

So I am taking the liberty of welcoming myself to the blogging world. I never thought I would actually get into this, but low and behold, here I am- typing with a purpose.

 

For those of you who have not seen the movie "Up in the Air" go see it. Now.

For those of you who have seen it thumbs up for you, because you get the reference. When George Clooney is sitting next to Anna Kendrick in the plane, he asks why she is typing so hard. She replies “I type with a purpose”.

I love this line because I relate. I too, slam on my computer keys like I’m mad at them. More importantly, I have a purpose to my typing. Writing is my purpose. When I don't write I miss it. It is what I want to do, and the reason why I have a blog in the first place.