Creator of Circumstance

Benvenuto Cellini's Perseus

I have been writing (including a small stint with the moleskine at the bar where my main character’s mother decided she was going to do something unspeakable!) but lately I have to admit to doing more reading than writing. So what has captured my attention?

I’ve been trying to go through my list of books I should read before I die. I add to the list all the time and I often swerve from it (tab 2). It seems a little insane, but I have to admit to reading books that I would never have imagined. It’s been one of the best things I’ve decided to do–create and go through my crazy list and try to read as much as I can. I’ve finally understood a bevy of new cultural references…the Cellini Venus in “How to Steal a Million” is supposed to have been by Benevenuto Cellini, for example. In the movie, Oscar Wilde, Wilde refers to Cellini when he’s in the mine with the Colorado miners. If I hadn’t read his autobiography, I would have been clueless.

I read Catcher in the Rye finally. I discovered Herodotus. I realized that I am not a fan of Jonathan Franzen’s Corrections. My eyes boggled at the Satyricon. I was fascinated by Journal of a Plague Year. I was surprised by what a page turner The Magnificent Ambersons turned out to be.  My eyes, my mind and my heart have been moved.

This is all made so much easier by the fact that I read books like a child can suck down candy. I devour them. I read so fast that I honestly burn through books, which is both good and bad at times. Books I love end too fast!

But in general, my most recent reads include:

The Autobiography of Benevenuto Cellini

This rather longish autobiography is one of the most entertaining I’ve read in ages. Celllini, a goldsmith who lived 1500-1571 was self-important, name-dropping (Michaelangelo, the Pope, various Dukes, Kings, etc.), talented, innovative, charismatic, worldly, and wonderfully entertaining. He traveled all over Italy and France. He knew all the nobility in various cities, including Popes, Dukes and even the King of France. He killed a couple of men but the Pope always pardoned him. He fought in the Siege of Rome. He designed and created golden dishes and coins as well as marble and bronze statues. He had many lovers and he had many enemies. He spent some time in jail. And I turned page after page, enamored of his rich, likely embellished and over-the-top life.

Kafka by the Shore by Haruki Murakami

WOW. Many are probably familiar with Japanese sensation Murakami, especially his book the Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, but this was my first foray into his works. I’m still reading this book but it won’t be long before I finish–it truly is a page turner. A 15-year old runaway, a man who can talk to cats and make fish fall from the sky, a librarian who looks and acts like a man but isn’t quite. It is all fascinating reading and I can’t wait to see where it will take me. Already I know that I want to read all his other books.

Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace

I decided to go along with the masses on this one and join in on the Infinite Summer. It’s not too late to join up…it officially started on the 21st, with the idea that if you read 75 pages a week over the course of 92 days of summer, you’ll get through all 1000 pages. I started a bit early and am on about page 130 or so already. It’s a strange book but I find that I have a strong affinity to it because of its Boston area setting. I know where the Mt. Auburn Club is. I know where Brighton is. I understand the funny New England characters. I’m not so keen on the drug-laden bits (not because I’m a prude but I find that I have a weird physical fainting reaction to graphic shooting/snorting/getting fucked up-almost dying type scenes…and no, not freaked out by needles!!).  His attention to detail is amazing and I love the descriptions. I’m reading this on Kindle, which means that for footnotes I can easily flip to the note and get right back to the text which is nice. I’ll be plugging away on this here and there and most likely will finish long before the end of summer.

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

This isn’t on the main list of books but I am SO glad I read it. One of the best fantasy fiction picks that has come along in ages. Loved this story and I’m desperate to read the next one which, of course, isn’t out yet. The hero-in-hiding, Kvothe, tells the tale of his life to a bard that passes through his in. It’s a tale that is woven with intrigue, foreshadowing and it just plain sucks you in. I loved this book.

I should read a bit less, I suppose, and write a LOT more. That’s the goal for the summer. Had a great session with my writing group tonight and I do feel energized, so hopefully more words will spill out soon.

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