Teenage Years, Part 1

There are those little gems you find in a cool bookstore completely by accident that become beloved, well-worn books that make their way around your immediate group of friends, Grab Onto Me Tightly As If I Knew the Way, by Bryan Charles, was one of those books for me.  Not only is it a kind of Catcher in the Rye of the Nirvana generation, but in a way that Holden could never be, the narrator, Vim Sweeney, is deeply damaged, and somewhat unaware of that damage.  He's just a kid trying to make it through High School graduation and the beginning of life.  

I can't quite put my finger on why this novel works so well, but somehow it does.  And unlike Catcher in the Rye, which I truly believe you have to read as a teenager, or you won't connect to it in the way you are supposed to, Grab onto Me Tightly works for an adult who is less in touch with the overwhelming emotion of those formative years.  It's just a great read.

Happy Reading,

Julia

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

Hef

The great thing about being a Publicity Assistant at a book store like Book Soup is the amount of people and experiences you get to have. On Saturday one might have lunch with THE scream queen before sitting down to drinks with one of the most promising up and coming SciFi/Fantasy authors of today. But after last night, all that pales in comparison. Not that any of those guys are not totaly amazing and interesting to sit next to, but hanging out with a living legend is liable to change a person's view.

I'm from the ultra-liberal Bay Area of California, went to an ultra-liberal university and was taught by women who were not only students of the 'first-wave' feminist movement, but were the actual organizers of it. To them Hugh Hefner was Satan reincarnated. This demonizing always left a bad taste in my mouth; if someone brought so much joy to so many, how could that person be bad? If someone broke through the repression of female sexuality, and celebrated it, instead of shaming it into the thin stucco walls of the suburban bedroom, how can we call that person anything less than a liberator, a saint even?

No matter what your stance on Playboy Magazine (I personally think it is one of the best, most literate magazines available...and yes, I do just read it for the articles), there is absolutely no question that Hugh Hefner changed the face of America. Between Hef, Erica Jong and Helen Gurley Brown, the face of modern sexual politics in America were plunged into a new arena.

Personally, I say thank you Mr. Hefner (and Ms. Jong and Ms. Brown). Thank you for breaking through the surface of repression, maybe someday we'll be completely free of the crazy societal restrictions that still weigh on our collective psyche.

Happy Reading,
Julia

P.S. Also many thanks to Hef for giving us Marilyn Monroe. What a legacy!!!