Things I learned in College : Lesson 6.

Start building a personal library.
Professor Bach was my International Studies Advanced/UpperDiv/Kickmyass/MakeYouCry/RatherBeDead writing instructor. And yes, he was incredibly difficult. Professor Bach was one of those men that you just so desperately wanted to make proud and please. I knew he was an intelligent man and I wanted nothing more than to make him just raise an eyebrow at me in ponder and perhaps agreement. In any case, within a quarter of debating about democracies and ethics in international relations I walked away with one valid lesson.

To start building a personal library.

No other professor in the four years i was in college even MENTIONED the idea of building a personal library. They in fact, and rightfully so, encouraged the purchase of books from other students to save our already burned out wallets. Don't get me wrong, I sold books left and right just to get a menial amount of pocket change, which i probably ended up blowing on a pack of gum anyway. I too was one of those people who stupidly sold $40 for a cool $1.50 because it was paperback (assholes). Granted if you were a student of biology, econ, IT and your textbooks were $200+ please yes, sell your books as new editions are issued at what seems to be a bimonthly rate. But i'm talking about all your other classes...

I definitely regret selling back some books and only getting chump change for it. At least if i had kept those books i would have been able to maintain a level of priceless pride for having endured courses in Asian American studies, Art History, Modern Theater, Poetry.. and so on. Instead, i have empty bookshelves with nothing to show.

Of course, people will say that you will never read those books again, but as Professor Bach had reminded us, that's not what matters. It's a measure of boasting to people who haven't read... or something like that.

note: I've received some great feedback about these Lessons and would love for other people to contribute. Please email me or write me a comment and let's talk.

Let the Great World Spin + Man on Wire

Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann.

There is no shame in me saying that i took upon reading this book because of an Amazon recommendation. Had I become a part of the "tipping point?" Yes. I added to this Mr. McCann's acclaim of being a number one best seller for 2009.

So i'm not done with the book but i already have some general thoughts that could or could not sway you about whether you'd like to read novels again.

Let the Great World Spin first is very much like Crash, the film. But this movie is based around the time in the 70s where a great man had walked across on a wire that was connected on the World Trade Center. The most outrageous characters and the utmost real characters cross paths between this time in unusual yet normal ways. I think that the book so far has done an excellent job portraying the characters in their own elements. From prostitute, priest, mother who has lost her son at war... they all wind together in a form that is actually strangely poetic. What makes this book so easy for me to read though is that it comes in little vignettes that keep things short enough for me to complete while i'm riding the metro and before i go to bed. Today was actually the first day that I had almost missed my stop on the train because I was so eager to finish a chapter.

+

MAN ON WIRE
Starring Phillipe Petit

So it shouldn't really surprise you that the next thing i wanted to do was watch Man on Wire! Lucky for me in the midst of finishing this book, my Netflix arrives with Man on Wire in tow. And how wonderful the timing was. I watched the film and oo'd and ah'd at his tricks, juggling, and of course him walking on air.

It was exhilarating watching Philippe walk between the Notre Dame towers, then the bridge in Sydney, and finally the two World Trade Center towers. An entertainer to say the least yet at the same time an absolute nutcase! But it was simply so amazing to see this man devise such a brilliant plan and then execute it so well. I was glued to the screen the entire time. And honestly, I could not express more how much I loved that Erik Satie's Gymnopedie No.1 was playing for when he started the walk across the towers . Perfect perfect music composition for the movie.

The only regret i truly have is that 1. I wish i were alive in the 70s to have seen this happen 2. since i wasn't alive i wish i had seen it in the big screen at a theater... or better yet, Imax. Hopefully one day the New Beverly Center will play it again or something... it's just too magnificent.

Could you imagine being on the street in New York that day and looking up to see something like this? These are times I wish I lived multiple lives and could remember those past lives...

Reading while riding

Last week, I finished reading The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, a definite recommended read for the eager factoid minded. So I enjoyed the rest of my week riding the Metro bookless... thinking that it would be nice to just people watch and look at the scenery. Quickly i discovered how wrong i was. I missed having a book and people watching was hardly entertaining when all i wish for is that an attractive guy sits next to me. Instead, the usual Korean/Chinese/Japanese grandma who finds me a harmless indistinguishable Asian race will sit next to me as I seem like someone who will not steal from her. Anyway, that's a rant for another day.

So! I needed a book.

I've always wanted to try reading short stories as an alternative to fiction novels, which are my utter favorite. Funny thing is that i remember asking Ernie for a short stories book from way back when, but she couldn't resist in the midst of all the SATC craze to get me Love Letters From Great Men instead. An excellent book, don't get me wrong, but also incredibly depressing. . . Something I don't think would make me feel any better about being single near Valentine's Day this year, but that's for another day.

In any case, I went Barnes and Noble and picked up

The Best American Nonrequired Reading

Edited by Dave Eggers

I'm hooked! The book starts with an introduction by Marjane Satrapi, the author who wrote Persepolis. Then jumps right into the Best American this and thats of the 2009. For example: The Best American Titles of Books Published in 2008, one being curbside Consultation of the Colon or Strip and Knit with Style. The the book goes on to talk about the Best American Anonymous Postcards and even Bank Heists. Just a really great great mish mosh of fun.

Apparently it is a book that has been composed by high schoolers from Michigan and San Francisco. And what's even better is that they have a Blogspot to follow their journey for their next book of Bests 2010. I can't wait for these 15 min reads between the Gold, Purple and Bus 720!

I get excited about reading books on buses... My life is full of such excitement. haha.