Douchebaggery

One of my favorite events ever was the Hot Chicks with Douchebags event with Jay Louis.  At first, I admit, I was a little nervous, just the title of the book itself was enough to set my heart asunder.  At first I thought that it was a how to book about how to get hot chicks, then I thought the author would fit into the latter category of the book; even looking through the book beforehand I didn't know how to take it and I had no idea it was a website.  

But I sat and listened to the lecture that Jay gave and throughout the half-hour or so, as he spoke, my preconceived notions turned around.  Not only did Jay talk of the inherent feminism in his blog and book, but he also talked of the socio-economic principles that guided this group of people, the actual trouble it was causing for the douchebags and their hot chicks, and the ramifications on society as a whole.  I must say, it was the biggest turn around in my own judgement on something that I have ever experienced.

So I open my email today and there on my bookseller news email that comes like clockwork, I see this.  Jay and Simon & Schuster are being sued by one of the 'douchebags' for libel.  I'll refrain from commenting on my opinion so that Book Soup doesn't get sued, but I must say that Jay's plight is one that I believe to be largely misunderstood.  Sure the website is funny, but there are deeper issues happening underneath it that need to be discussed.  

Happy Reading,

Julia 

Surprise Diamonds

It's rare in these times of woe that a big group of people get together to celebrate Neil Diamond, but last night at Book Soup that was exactly the case.  David Wild came in to talk about his new book, He Is...I Say: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Neil Diamond.  In the past few months, many events have been somber musings on the state of the financial markets, marked with a brief moment of joy just after election night, but last night, we kicked it old school Book Soup style.  Not only was the crowd loud and raucous, frequently cheering and roaring with laughter, but we even had a special guest.  

For those that found parking and made it into the store on time (a.k.a. 20 minutes behind schedule, as that is on time in L.A. time), one Mr. Chris Isaak actually came in and played a little Neil Diamond for us on his beautiful guitar with that beautiful voice of his.  Women seemed to come out of the far corners of the store to drool for three minutes over the dreamboat musician.  

In the standing room only crowd, everyone sat with rapt attention as Chris sang, cheering wildly when he finished and turning to David for some good laughs and a great event worthy of the best Neil Diamond has to offer.  

Happy Reading,

Julia

At Work

At nine forty-five arguably America's best, and most famous, photographer breezed into Book Soup.  She extended her rough hand, introducing herself as Annie, before getting down to the business of signing 400 books.  With a never faltering signature, Ms. Leibovitz, trooped through the 33 boxes of books we lined up for her.  Standing in  the room with Annie, one could forget that she has created some of the most famous and lasting photographs of our time, photos that I've plastered on the walls of various dwelling, beautiful images of people that have changed and molded the world we live in.  Still, she stands unassuming, cranking through a never-degenerating signature on linen bound book after linen bound book, while casually discussing a love of San Francisco, fear of global warming, and a genuine curiosity about great new children's books to  potentially take home to her kids.  

As the signing came to a close, and details for tonight's event at the Skirball were finalized, a customer asked politely if he could get a book signed, which she was more than happy to do, before offering her worked hand again and bidding us adieu until this evening.  

Happy Reading, 

Julia

Bush = No Creative Output

According to this article, President George W. Bush not only destroyed Iraq, Afghanistan and the economy, he also destroyed creative output for many writers. Many of said writers commented on the fact that the past eight years have been so emotionally detrimental that they have been stunted in their ability to write or create art of any kind.

The way I see it, the writers who were emotionally stunted by this tragedy of the last eight years have been offset by some of the most amazing protest art ever. Think Banksy, Shepard Fairey, and books like The Art of War. If anything, I think times like these cause a proliferation of artistic expression because really, historically speaking, it's the best method of protest. And I, for one, am happy that my generation has jumped on the time-tested tradition of protest through art.

One only has to see the posters of Obama as Superman plastered all over L.A. or the Banksy art spraypainted on the side of a building on Melrose Ave. to know that art has not suffered in this dubious political and economic climate, if anything it has flourished. Thank GW for that.

Happy Reading,
Julia