guys, reading is cool.

books as accessories?
here's a list of titles i'm obsessing over now:

this book isn't all that new but you''ll be super cool if you read it. it's nick cave, people. some cool is bound to rub off on your hands from reading this. he hasn't published a book in about twenty years, and this one is worth the wait. it's about a manic, drug-addicted sex-obsessed travelling salesman who goes on a desperate roadtrip with his young and hopelessly oblivious son. it's debauched. lurid, horrifying, absurd, and fucking hilarious. the man knows how to do black comedy. he's also got a nifty audio book version complete with his voice reading the book and an original soundtrack. who even does that? i'll tell you who does.
...nick cave, obviously.

this novel is nothing new either. i like old things. my sister and i are in love with ray bradbury. if we were old ladies we would definitely fight over who gets to live in the retirement condo with him. i read this last summer and it's simply beautiful. the opposite of nick cave's book, it's innocent, nostalgic, contemplative and it takes you back to a place you've never been. it's a series of vignettes in the life of a young boy and the stories of his neighbours over the inevitable loss-of-innocence summer. includes trademark bradbury magic realism. boom! outta nowhere.

i'm liking my inadvertent juxtaposition skills. this one is especially devious. ellis is a badass, it's that simple. he's also a douche-bag on twitter, but let's not get into that. it's the looooooong-awaited sequel to ellis' breakout novel, less than zero. anyone who knows this guy's writing knows that he creates miraculously fucked-up characters and i love it. sado-masochists, narcissists, violent, sex-crazed people. the best people.

ishiguro is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. there's just something about japanese names. i would explode if i tried to read a murakami at the same time as an ishiguro. there would be unicorns and rainbows and i would probably see the face of god. anyway, never let me go is well-known because of the film adaption out recently (and, you know, being shortlisted for the booker prize). the novel is gorgeous and tragic. the narrative point of view is done with such precision and delicacy; it's perfectly immersive. the story is emotional, fyi. i bawled. the story is told in flashbacks and memories from 'carer' kathy. quiet horror ensues.

patti smith is another ultra-cool rockstar on this list who has a gift. with this book, i see her as a writer just as much as a lyricist/vocalist. i've read parts of it and i'm hoping someone buys this for me for christmas. i'm not used to paying full price for books anymore *snobbish look*
when i get through with this book, i'll definitely post a review.

in october, penguin uk issued a new f.scott fitzgerald collection with amazing art-deco covers. they're so good i feel like i could WEAR THEM. these are two of my favourite but i believe there are six in total. WANNNT.

-peach