BRAIN VACATION

I had to put down "Valis" by Philip K. Dick because I had had enough. It takes too much brain power to plow through a book about insanity and philosophy. It's one or another. There's a reason I don't read Carl Jung in the summer. My brain is mush from summer laziness. (I totally just remembered I read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" during summer a few years ago, and that is ALSO about insanity and philosophy. But that was kind of an intense, crazy summer, so I guess it made sense. But now I am a laid back, mellow kid. So, no go this time around.)

Today I did something I haven't done in about forever. I asked the librarian for a recommendation! I told her I needed a palette cleanser due to some recent heavy reading (Toni Morrison's "Jazz," which I liked least of all her novels I've read so far) and she recommended Sara Paretsky's "Hardball" which is a mystery novel. I've never really sought out lawyer-type mystery novels before (I didn't realize "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" was a mystery novel! I was tricked into it!) but I think it just might be the thing to wake up my brain and get me ready for "Light in August" by Faulkner.

I am so obsessed with The Hold Steady right now. Did you know that most of that group used to be in a band called Lifter Puller, who are, of course, from Minnesota? My favorite state of all? (Prince, Atmosphere, and Husker Du are ALL from Minnesota!!!) Full disclosure: I've never been to Minnesota. But I imagine puppies to roam freely there.

Here's one of my favs right now from them, Chillout Tent. This is a fan-made video:

xoxo, t