- Anil’s Ghost – Michael Ondaatje
Mona Simpson gave each one of us a personal reading recommendation, on the last day of class, and this one is mine. Years and years ago, I tried to read Ondaatje’s The English Patient and I couldn’t get through it. A couple years later, I picked it up again and devoured it. Also, over this past quarter, Mona has become a bit hero of mine, so I will take any personal recommendation she gives me.
- Off Keck Road – Mona Simpson
Mona Simpson also gave the entire class a copy of this novel. Of course, I’m going to read this.
- Out on the Wire – Jessica Abel
Okay. So this girl worked at This American Life for a few years and witness the entire process of story producing, from pitch to on air. She didn’t write a just any old book about that experience, but rather a comic book! Ira Glass is a comic character— explaining what makes good radio. Are you kidding me?
- Radio Diaries: DYI Handbook
If you haven’t listened to Radio Diaries, do yourself a favor. Pull your phone out right not and subscribe to that shit. They’ve been around for decades and they know their shit. So this book is their hand book explaining all of that. Um, yes please.
- Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl: Memoir – Carrie Brownstein
This title alone kicks ass. And then on top of that, it’s Carrie Brownstein! Just the co- creator of the funniest show ever: Portlandia. She knows how to write. She’s funny, but she’s also super honest. I’m always curating artistic heroes and she’s been on that list for a while now.
- The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest – Stieg Larsson
Is this a guilty pleasure book? I read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo for my Scandinavian Literature class in the fall. Over winter break I read The Girl Who Played with Fire and it left me at the edge of this huge cliffhanger. I really want to know what happens! Besides, it’s an appropriate to read this in Denmark. I won’t be reading it in Danish though. I haven’t mastered the language that well.
- Tender is the Night – F. Scott Fitzgerald
Westwind sent me to Philadelphia this fall to a creative writing conference, with two other students and Reed Wilson. Reed Wilson drove us back and forth from the hotel to the conference. On one of those drives, we all talked books. Reed recommended this one that I have yet to read. He’s usually spot on with me, so I’m excited to dig into it.
- The Rain God – Arturo Islas
Um. This was a quick add. I’ve shared three of my four classes this quarter with Taylor Leigh Harper and we almost instantaneously became buddies. Not only am I in awe of her work and her taste, but she’s also helped me edit my own work to polished pieces. I will heed any of her recommendations. I already ordered a used copy on amazon.
- Tell Me a Riddle – Tillie Olsen
See number 8. Already ordered!!