I work with someone who doesn't read. This is not one of those people you run into all the time who mean to read and simply don't, or who read only easy entertainment and/or crap, or the magazine-oriented folk who keep advertisers in greenbacks. Nope. This is a guy actively opposed to reading. He DOESN'T read. His words. Doesn't see the point in it. Of course, there have been arguments - he sees the point of texting, pornography, and even arguments, just not reading. It's like dealing with an alien creature. And I feel that way, too.
So, in celebration of this guy being misguided, ignorant, & wrong, I come to you with reading advice, information, and feedback. Enjoy.
First up: If you're paying attention to my little booklist down there on the right, you know that I have recently read biographies of both of the guys currently running for President. Actually, I recommend them both. The interesting thing about both books, at least in my opinion, is that they are both a decade old. As a consequence, they were written by different men than the ones we're reading about in the news everyday. Faith of My Fathers, by John McCain and close personal ghostwriter Mark Salter, is enlightening, to say the least, in terms of McCain's personal philosophies about things like legacy, war, victory, and privilege. If you're voting for this guy without having read at least his one book they turned into a TV movie, then you are not making an informed decision. Dreams from My Father, from Barack Obama, was essential to me for three reasons: It is the most intelligent perspective on race I've read in recent memory; it bolsters my idea that the next President of the United States should be someone intellectual, introspective and thoughtful, and it's handy for fact-checking all this bullshit about Obama's supposed past that keeps popping up. So read it. I liked it. I'm currently reading Audacity of Hope, which is less engaging, but still a good read.
Max and I are getting through James and the Giant Peach, which I have not picked up since the 3rd Grade. It's darker than I remember, but then - it's Roald Dahl.
Some of the comics I'm enjoying right now include the Boys, from Garth Ennis, Ed Brubaker's run on Captain America, House of Mystery, from Vertigo, all the Secret Invasion stuff, Thor, the Twelve, Warren Ellis' X-Men book, recent Booster Gold and Magneto books, and Terry Moore's Echo. Necronomicon from Boom is pretty good, too. And the recently wrapped Hellboy: Crooked Man mini. I've also been re-reading Alan Moore's Saga of the Swamp Thing run, some old Werewolf by Night, and Hudlin's Black Panther issues.
As far as webcomics go, I regularly read Girls with Slingshots, Diesel Sweeties, the Devil's Panties, Striptease, and the always excellent Freakangels, also from Mr. Warren Ellis & Paul Duffield. Oh, and I recently discovered The Book of Biff, which is fucking hilarious.
Other blogs, some better than mine: Mimi Smartypants is always fun, Matt Olson out of Atlanta will teach you all there is to know about the world of wine, Sam Johnson is back at home, Jesse always has a perspective on a life unlike anyone's I know, and I find the I Am Emily X blog from Planned Parenthood fascinating. Saint Vicious is a new film review blog which looks to be quite good. Oh, and the Renzntzman out of Seattle is fresh and funny, too.
So read something. Or your brain will die, and become not unlike tapioca.