Why Do We Feel Pain?

Because I am currently house sitting for a scientist who is helping out with the oil spill in Louisiana, I decided to be a little scientisty myself. That and I am catching up on my Nerdfighter videos.

Therefore, the scientific answer to why we feel pain: “…when energy enters you it can be pleasant like standing in a sunshiny day, but if it’s too much energy, it will actually start to break down the bonds that make up the chemicals that make up your [body]. That’s right, you…are made of chemicals. And when that happens your body is like, ‘NO! MAKE THAT STOP!’ And so it tells you that there’s something wrong which is why we feel pain.”

FANtastic. 🙂

Sherman Alexie

Read Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian. Given my recent decision, I wasn’t sure if I could finish this one, but I prayed about it and didn’t get a “no”, so I went ahead with it. I really appreciate how well Alexie deals with grief. I could imagine a young adult reader connecting with this book as one connects with John Green’s Looking for Alaska. Of course, since I was listening to the audio version, I also had the pleasure of listening to Alexie read (If you’ve never heard him read–you need to stop whatever it is your doing, find his website, and drive to his nearest reading, even if it is over 17 hours a way. He is that good. And, he has the amazing ability of memorizing his stories. Fascinating!)

Read

The Ask by Sam Lipsyte.

* Awesome.

* Loved the language.

* Love the story.

* Fantastic!

Finished Reading

Exquisite Agony by Gene Edwards

Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (Audio)

Denis Johnson’s “Emergency”

Okay, first, I am in love with Tobias Wolff’s reading voice: http://www.newyorker.com/online/2009/05/11/090511on_audio_wolff

As for “Emergency”…

I appreciate the language in it, i.e. “the road we were lost on cut straight through the middle of the world,” “the tang of evergreens stabbing us,” “the only light visible was a streak of sunset flickering below the hem of the clouds.” And they continue. I love the beautiful word choices. I love the big ideas combined with the minute details. I wish I could write like that.

I also appreciate the story–I am reminded of Kerouac’s The Road and Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. A never-ending journey and an overt concern for bunnies. I love lines like this: “The bunnies weren’t a problem yet, or they had already been a problem and were already forgotten.” Apparently, I have a fascination with writer’s messing with my sense of time. Or I did have a problem with that, but I don’t now. Or, I am going to have a problem with it, but I don’t yet. =)

But… really… must we have the use of drugs? I find a bit of magic removed from stories when writers rely on the use of a good trip. Maybe it’s that I listened to the stories my dad told about his clients (he’s a substance abuse counselor), or maybe it’s my Baptist upbringing. Either way, I think magic is so much more fun when there is no explanation, or when the explanation is new, different–not drugs. On the other hand, Wolff thinks that because the story is so tightly written that it is different from a normal “tripping” story. I can see that, but I would question the necessity of the drugs.

In other news, my sister is going to save lives. She is in nursing school. 😉

Books Are Awesome!

http://emergingwriters.typepad.com/emerging_writers_network/2009/12/holiday-shopping-guide-sarah-joy-freese.html

If you don’t do anything else this Christmas…

Buy this book:

http://shop.notesandgracenotes.com/.

First, because Allan Shapiro is an amazing author. Second, because I am an amazing editor. And, I am not cocky at all.

Just saying.

Eclipse

Yes, I read it. Don’t judge. 😉

Blurbing Book Club Book Reviewer

So, one of my all time favorite young adult authors, John Green, has a social networking site with his brother, Hank Green. As various people have commented and the site has grown, they have decided they need some moderators. John requested several informal applications from a variety of people, and after a few weeks, Hank informed people of their positions.

I am, hereby, the Blurbing Book Club Book Reviewer. My posts will be on Fridays here: http://nerdfighters.ning.com. I feel honored and slightly speechless. And, I am going to need several Young Adult book recommendations. I already have several ideas, but not quite enough for one per Friday! Whew!

Wait, wasn’t I supposed to be doing something productive like grading or studying for my GRE? Hmm…

Read

Finished reading New Moon. Felt guilty. Reread Beowulf to make me look intelligent.