On My Nightstand

Two books I'm reading at the moment and a personal favorite of mine.

“Stardust” by Neil Gaiman: I bought this book when I was home for Labor Day weekend and though I don’t have nearly enough time anymore to read, I’m almost finished with it. It’s amazing and such a beautiful book to read. In a time when magic was still a part of the world and people believed in enchanting things happening around them, there was the town of Wall. Just to the east stands a high stone wall, for which the village is named. Here Tristran Thorn has lost his heart to Victoria Forester. And here, Tristran makes his love a promise -- vow that will send him through the only breach in the wall, across the pasture... and into the most exhilarating adventure of his life. Neil Gaiman’s official site has an exert of the book that you can check out. Reading this book, I have thought constantly of my friend Katie since when I read of fairies and magic, I think of her. Even though I’m not even finished yet with this one, I’m definitely going to be checking out more of Neil Gaiman’s books when I have more time on my hands.

“Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs” by Chuck Klosterman: I finally, finally, bought this book after seeing it in the stores for two years. I don’t know why I held off for so long. Chuck wrote this book when he was about to fall asleep, when his ideas would come to him and I definitely understand where he’s coming from. A lot of the time, I’ll be lying in bed, about to fall asleep when I get a brilliant idea. Of course, come morning, I never remember it. This book’s subtitle is “A Low-Culture Manifesto” and though he can get a bit tedious to read at certain points, it frightens me that I agreed with a lot of what was written – especially the chapter on MTV’s Real World and the effect it has had on our generation. Other chapters include the coolness of Billy Joel, The Sims, tribute bands, and Zack Morris. Hilarious, at often time frustrating since he has a habit of taking on a holier than thou attitude, this book is both entertaining and a fast read.

“A Certain Slant of Light” by Laura Whitcomb: This is my all-time favorite book and I think it’s about time I mention it. Named after an Emily Dickinson poem, this is the most beautiful book I have ever read with “Stardust” a close second. Just the way it is written, just how scenes and people and even eating an apple are described, it’s truly awe-inspiring. I want to write a book like this. Helen is a ghost haunting a high school English teacher when she feels something she hasn’t felt in so many years. Someone is watching her. It’s a ghost story, a love story and a mystery all rolled into one and it is a must read. I was in Barnes and Noble one day and was skimming over their new writers shelf when I found this book at the very bottom. It was paperback, a personal preference of mine, and was under $10. I must admit. Those were the two reasons I bought it. But then I read it in one night and I’ve read it over a dozen times already. Every time I go back to the bookstore, just to see it again, I haven’t been able to find another copy. I was meant to own this book and I’m so glad. This is one of my companion books – a collection of about a dozen or so books I take with me whenever I travel. I don't think I could go anywhere without it, just in case I wanted to read it again.