i need books in my life.

i haven't read a single book since summer.
its way sad.
here's a few books i would like to read at some point.

eating animals - johnathan safran foer
night - elie wiesel
push - sapphire

kaur.
ps. i posted that i wanted to see precious earlier this year...i still do

hova is legit.

jayz provided o mag with a list of six books that 'changed his life'.
here it is:

1) the seat of the soul - gary zukav

there are two books that i absolutely live my life by. this is one of them. growing up, i was always curious about religion. this book made the most sense to me; it’s about the way you live your life. i believe in karma and doing the right thing even if it may not advance you as far as you want. if every single person felt the same way about karma and intention, then the world gets fixed tomorrow. but temptation gets in the way. zukav is right: it may take lifetimes to learn.

2) the celestine prophecy - james redfield

this is the other book i live by. it’s fiction—a guy travels to find a secret book that has a series of principles. the story is a metaphor for life: i could go left or right, i could be stuck, or i could keep advancing. some people are happy where they are. i tried to hire a guy once, and i said, “don’t you have ambition to be bigger?” and he said, “no, i’m good.” i had to respect that, but for me that was the wrong relationship.

3) the odyssey - homer

this epic poem was kind of difficult for me to get through, but it has a beautiful rhythm. i got lost in reading about odysseus’ struggle to get home and his longing for someone so strong, as his wife was, waiting for him. that’s like a dream—that kind of strength, love, loyalty.

4) outliers - malcolm gladwell

this book is about the principles of timing and repetition—about preparing yourself for luck, really. he talks about a hockey team, and how the players born in january had a year up on the guys born in december. they were fortunate that their birthday was early, but they also practiced—they put the work in. the book resonated with me because i was born at a time when there was an influx of incredible music into the culture, and i was lucky that my mom and pop were huge record collectors. in my house, i had music by michael jackson, marvin gaye, prince, and the commodores, and i’m listening to it every single day.

5) purple cow - seth godin

this is straight marketing advice: your product has to be a purple cow—it has to be distinct to have any success. you have to be clear on your product: what are you? what are you putting out there? for years i never did an ad for [my company] rocawear, because i cared more about the quality than the face in front. i hadn’t read this book back then, but when someone puts words to feelings you have, it’s like, “wow, that’s exactly what it is.”

6) nigger - dick gregory

i don’t know who turned me on to this autobiography, but his sense of humor and the hardships he went through stayed with me—especially the scene where he started running home from school. it led to his joining thetrack team, which led to a scholarship to college. running opened up a whole world for him.

kaur.

on the topic of goodness.

i read the last lecture.
and if you liked tuesday's with morrie.
you'll like it.
its short and cute and has some great messages.
stuff you know but its a nice reminder.
if you want some background info heres the sight:
http://www.thelastlecture.com/

i would suggest reading the book then watching the youtube lecture.

kaur.

on the topic of what im currently all about.

more books on the list.

1) the last lecture - randy pausch
2) how to lose friends and alienate people - toby young
3) a tree grows in brooklyn - betty smith

kaur.

book.

here is a quick peek into my current reading list!

1. no one belongs here more than you, miranda july - so, i think this one was on my first book list.  it took me a couple tries to really get into it, and now i LOVE it.  i even battled motion-sickness on my roadtrip to finish a couple stories (motion-sickness is my number one enemy, ugh).
2. the picture of dorian gray, oscar wilde - (500) days of summer inspired me to pick this one up, obviously.
3. revolutionary road, richard yates.
4. brave new world, aldous huxley - recommended by one of my BFFs, should be excellent.
   

love, keiko.

p.s.  i started reading #2 poolside in vegas, but i left it out in the sun while in the pool... and the glue melted and the pages started falling out.  this happened to me last summer when i started reading fight club (the only difference is that EVERY page of fight club fell out so it was beyond saving, and this time only 2 pages fell out and i got them back in).

on the topic of sharing.

i havent posted a reading list for awhile.

i will share it with you now.

here we go again.

1) how to win friends and influence people - dale carnegie

2) the picture of dorian gray - oscar wilde

3) wolf at the table - augusten burroughs

4) everything is illuminated - jonathan safran foer

5) zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance - robert m. pirsig

6) boy alone - karl taro greenfeld

7) downtown owl - chuck klosterman

8) freakonomics: a rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything - steven levitt

9) the fountainhead - ayn rand

10) slaughterhouse-five - kurt vonnegut

kaur.

ps. im currently reading 'how to win friends...' and i just finished 'the alchemist' by paulo coelho and i'd love to re-read '1984' by george orwell before summers end

chapters.

happy canada day.
in honour of this event i bought books...
im so excited to read them.
however i still have tons to read that i already bought.

the friends of meager forture - david adams richards
the lost highway - david adams richards
netherland - joseph o'neill
the outcast - sadie jones
dispatches from the edge - anderson cooper
the winter of our discontent -john steinbeck
lullabies for little criminals - heather o'neill
survivor - chuck palahniuk

kaur.

let's read.

i am going to be like kaur, and post my reading list.  also, i would like to note that the book kaur is currently reading is probably my all-time favourite book (extremely loud & incredibly close).

1.  look me in the eye - john elder robison (i am currently reading this).

2.  girl, interrupted - susanna kaysen (because at one point i loved this movie).

3.  stupid and contagious - caprice crane (because someone told me it is hilarious, and because i was not prepared with a book list when i went for the buy 3 get the 4th free sale at chapters - i panicked for the 3rd book).

4.  all families are psychotic - douglas coupland (i read this book in either grade 9 or 10... and i think i loved it... and i also panicked for the 4th book to buy).

before july 1st i plan to buy another 3 books and get a 4th for free - i love this sale, but next time i will prepare myself with a list beforehand.  if you have suggestions let me know!!!

love keiko.

p.s.  i just read neil gaiman's book, coraline, the other day.  so good.  i loved the movie, and thought it was crazy creepy... but the book?  so much creepier/so much more intense.  i need to read more by him.  my boss at work saw that i was reading coraline and started raving about how awesome neil gaiman is... and another coworker told me he is great... and a sweet friend of mine told me to read him.

pages.

i just started reading extremely loud and incredibly close (jonathan safran foer).
let me just say it is amazing so far.
go read it!
other books i need to read in the near future:
look me in the eye - john elder robison
mercy among the children - david adams richards
all the pretty horses - cormac mccarthy
in defense of food - michael pollan
zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance - robert m. pirsig

kaur.

listography.

keiko and i like lists.

its an affliction to some degree.

mostly i just love it.

for her birthday i made her a mixtape.

and bought her 'my listography'.

its a book which has pre-set lists you fill in.

pretty sweet.

there is an associated website.

it may be one of my favourite things!

http://listography.com/

kaur.

goals for the day?

1.  prepare a picnic for tomorrow.

2.  read nick and norah's infinite playlist, outside.  sunshine=yes!

3.  return a shirt, and use the money/store credit from that to buy the necklace i want.

love keiko.

ummm.

at first i wanted this blog to be kind of impersonal, just about things i think are dope/ things that i hate.  but right now i am incredibly bored, and have nothing better to do except this lamo survey thing (i selected only some questions to answer, and then had nowhere to post it, i try to keep my facebook minimal - no notes... so i am putting it here), maybe you will feel like you know me better.

1. So, what did you do all day?: worked, ate at earls for really cheap (free $5 gift card, and kids chicken tenders), watched the greys finale (and maybe cried a little), "twittered".
2. What is the most expensive thing you've bought recently? my most recent expensive purchase was two months ago, my digital slr.  my actual last purchase was super cheap, 3 pairs of flipflops for $10.
3. Last concert (or show) you attended: bloc party.
4. Describe your favorite artical of clothing: at the moment, i would say my white "boyfriend" style button up shirt.
6. Last video game played: SCRABBLE ON DS.
10. What was the last board game you played?: scrabble
11. Who won?: definitely me.
14. Last movie you watched at home: Notorious, with kaur, so expect some sort of review sometime soonish.
16. What was the last thing you created: i am working on a painting for a friend, of a jellyfish takeover.  but since that is incomplete - "blake and taryn's infinite playlist volume I" for a friend, with a super cute case an everything.
17. Are you reading any books right now?: bloodletting and other miraculous cures, no one belongs here more than you, and shortcomings.  well, i finished shortcomings, but i figured i would include it since it was on my list of books to read.
18. Do you remember your favorite book from childhood?: one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish - still have most of that book memorized.  (also: every robert munsch book)
30. Last new artist that you listened to and really liked: tender forever, i believe was the last new band i started listening to.
31. Last new one you hated: kings of leon.  ok, i dont actually hate them, but i just cant seem to get into them, at all.  but, ive only ever heard one song, so yeah.
41. What was the last free thing you've gotten?: free $5 gift cards for earls.

not exciting, but it'll have to do.

love keiko.

i heart books.

i make endless lists, just like kaur.  only i usually carry mine around with me in a cute little notebook.  my "stickies" application on my macbook is filled with them, too.  so here is a very abbreviated version of my "books i want to read" list:

the brief wonderous life of oscar wao - junot diaz

learning to love you more - harrell fletcher & miranda july

eeeee eee eeee - tao lin

shortcomings - adrian tomine

i also have a long list of hunter s. thompson that i've been meaning to read.

but at the moment i am reading the book that slumdog millionaire was based on, because the movie didn't live up to my expectations i am hoping the book does me better.

love keiko

read me read you

i make lots of useless lists. i actually have a file that is simply filled with lists...everytime i think of something to add i have to run and add it.

here is an excerpt of my book list.

the unbearable lightness of being – milan kundera
a long way gone - ismael beah
all the pretty horses - cormac mccarthy
visiting hours - shane koyczan
everything is illuminated - johnathan safran foer

kaur.