Thanks once again to everyone who came out for the discussion of As Simple as Snow last Tuesday. And thanks to Jennifer for her fantastic music compilations! Since this was my first time at the Snug, I’m delighted to say that it was a wonderful place to have a discussion. I hope its a venue we can all agree on for quite a while.

May’s book is Blankets by Craig Thompson. This book is a personal favorite of mine, but I hope that all of you enjoy it as well. Here’s a review from Publisher’s Weekly:

Revisiting the themes of deep friendship and separation Thompson surveyed in Goodbye Chunky Rice, his acclaimed and touching debut, this sensitive memoir recreates the confusion, emotional pain and isolation of the author’s rigidly fundamentalist Christian upbringing, along with the trepidation of growing into maturity. Skinny, naïve and spiritually vulnerable, Thompson and his younger brother manage to survive their parents’ overbearing discipline (the brothers are sometimes forced to sleep in “the cubby-hole,” a forbidding and claustrophobic storage chamber) through flights of childhood fancy and a mutual love of drawing. But escapist reveries can’t protect them from the cruel schoolmates who make their lives miserable. Thompson’s grimly pious parents and religious community dismiss his budding talent for drawing; they view his creative efforts as sinful and relentlessly hector the boys about scripture. By high school, Thompson’s a lost, socially battered and confused soul-until he meets Raina and her clique of amiable misfits at a religious camp. Beautiful, open, flexibly spiritual and even popular (something incomprehensible to young Thompson), Raina introduces him to her own less-than-perfect family; to a new teen community and to a broader sense of himself and his future. The two eventually fall in love and the experience ushers Thompson into the beginnings of an adult, independent life. Thompson manages to explore adolescent social yearnings, the power of young love and the complexities of sexual attraction with a rare combination of sincerity, pictorial lyricism and taste.

Please join us for our next discussion on Tuesday, May 27 at 8 pm at Molly Malone’s (the Snug) in Forest Park. Hope to see you there.

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Don’t be surprised if you see me sporting my new t-shirt to the next Genre X meeting.  Its got so many things I love: zombies, comic-styling, and bookishness.

There are 20 authors depicted in the tee.  Can you name them all?

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While I’m smitten with the shroud of mystery surrounding As Simple As Snow’s Anna Cayne, a second reading of the book left me wanting to know more about the man behind the intrigue - author Gregory Galloway. Who is this Gregory Galloway? What has he done since dropping this mystery in our laps and when, oh when, will he return with book number 2? I was initially disappointed in how little biographical information there was to be found but ended up finding the process of piecing together tiny snippets more rewarding than accessing the information neatly filed into one Wikipedia entry. In fact, you can say my search mirrored that of our unnamed narrator whose name also happens to be a double dactyl beginning with G, though not by coincidence according to this thread.

In typical Galloway fashion, I won’t try to neatly tie everything together for you. I’ll just share what there is to know and you can assemble the pieces.

Gregory Galloway grew up in a small Iowa town on the Mississippi River. He attended nearby University of Iowa where he obtained both his BA and MA in English Literature and went on to pursue poetry at the esteemed Iowa Writer’s Workshop, receiving his MFA in 1989. He spent several years in New York City where he landed himself a job with Putnam Publishing working in School and Library Marketing. He also delved into internet consulting during a brief stint in Chicago. However, after returning east he and his wife have made Hoboken, NJ their home. This is where he wrote As Simple As Snow, recipient of the 2006 Alex Award and the illustrious “Best American First Sentences of Novels of 2005″ as bestowed by series editor Dave Eggers in The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2006. Gregory Galloway has also contributed to Egger’s literary humor website, McSweeney’s, further linking the two.

Since writing As Simple As Snow Galloway has been published in collections such as Rush Hour: Reckless and It’s Not Me, It’s You: The Ultimate Breakup Book as well as The Iowa Review. Galloway reveals that he shares Anna’s love of music and mix tapes in this article from Pop Matters. If you’d like to know what this former record store clerk is listening to now, you can find out on his MySpace page. In fact, if you delve deep enough while you’re there you can find out a lot about who and what inspires him. You can even find a short description of his eagerly anticipated sophomore novel, tentatively titled The Teeth of Invisible Dogs, in his comment to this MySpace friend.

Perhaps most revealing, Galloway kept an Amazon blog for almost a year until November 2006. Here you can read his musings about topics ranging from Bill Muray and John Berger to telephones and reckless behavior. You’ll also have an opportunity to see his dabblings with collage in University of Iowa’s cARTalog project, one of which is pictured above.

Enjoy your research and feel free to add any additional pertinent information, either about the man or the book, in the comments.

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I remember my first Sweet Valley High book.  I was a bored 10 year old who tended to absolutely devour any book I could get my hands on.  My parents were pretty strict about my media diet, but I was pretty much allowed to bring home anything I wanted from the library.  So it was a fateful day when I finally decided to grab one of those 70s looking pastel books to supplement my steady diet of Christopher Pike and RL Stine.  Sad as it may be, it also introduced me to some of my first impressions of dating, makeup, and relationships.

Of course, now I can look back with utter horror and analyze the Wakefield twins and their ilk with near total contempt.  To be anything other than rich, white, thin, and beautiful was totally outside of their Southern California universe.  The girls were constantly dealing with the tragedies of kidnapping, rape, murder, amnesia, and stalking, but the managed to maintain their generally virginal and optimistic outlooks.  And “the perfect size six”.

After years being out of print, Sweet Valley has returned with a vengeance. The updates have the same titles, but include references to email and cell phones, updated hair styles, and in a shocking twist the girls are now a perfect size four instead of a perfect size six.  Sigh.

In 2008, and in what many are calling the golden age of YA Lit, it seems a little ridiculous to reissue these books.  Despite whatever warm feelings of nostalgia I might have, Sweet Valley High reinforced all of the stereotypes I was exposed to in the 80s and 90s.  Its from another time in teen literature’s history - full of problem novels and heavy handed morality tales.  Even the world of paperback fiction is a little better now.  Gossip Girl and The Clique, descendents of the Sweet Valley of yesteryear, have a lot more to say about today’s teen.

However, if your nostalgia has gotten the better of you and you’re wanting to indulge your childhood reading habits a bit, try checking out The Dairi Burger, a tongue in cheek blog (named after the favorite hangout of those Wakefield twins) analyzing the literary tradition of Sweet Valley, The Babysitters Club, Sleepover Friends, and more.

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Since we’ve gotten in to some throughly Web 2.0 fiction this month with our selection of As Simple As Snow, its worth noting that there are some other thoroughly entertaining (and polished) examples of interactive fiction out that in the big wide web.

Publisher Penguin is just finishing up a six week series of digital fiction called We Tell Stories, that features six original short pieces that bend the notion of traditional publishing and experiencing literature.  Here’s the word from the lead designer, Adrian:

I’m the lead designer for We Tell Stories - it’s a website created for Penguin, in which six authors are telling six stories in ways that are completely original to the web.

Our first story, The 21 Steps (a homage to The 39 Steps) was told over Google Maps; another was written live and displayed in real-time, in five hour-long installments, by Nicci Gerrard and Sean French. This week’s was by Matt Mason (’The Pirate’s Dilemma’) and Nicholas Felton (’Felton Personal Annual Report’), and they created an infographic snapshot of teen life and the new media world.

We’re really pleased with all these stories, but the final sixth story is coming out on Tuesday, and it’s the one I’m most impressed by. It’s basically an unholy cross between a text adventure, choose your own adventure, and dungeon map. Technically speaking, it’s not very sophisticated, but it has an interface that I’m sure hasn’t been done before.

It’s written by Mohsin Hamid - author of the Booker-shortlisted ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’. I would be the first to say that good novelists or screenwriters don’t necessarily make good game writers, but in this case, Mohsin really nailed it and he wrote a story that shows a very deep understanding of interactive storytelling; it’s called ‘The (Former) General in his Labyrinth’.

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When it comes to design, book covers can be pretty hard to beat. There’s a reason there’s an old adage about judging a book by its cover - so many of them are just fantastic. Smashing Magazine put together a compilation of some of the best covers from all over the world in a nifty little post. They’ve also compiled some fantastic typographical posters, newspaper designs, and even information on data visualization. You know, if you’re in to that sort of thing. Or you can just look at the pretty covers. More after the jump.

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I hope you’re enjoying this month’s genre X selection, As Simple As Snow by Gregory Galloway.  One of the reasons we chose this book was for its unconventional structure, and the opportunity to make the mystery an interactive experience through the reader’s own research.

If you’re looking for a little help or inspiration remember to try looking at the website for As Simple as Snow.  There you’ll find song lists and lyrics, links and explanations regarding psychic phenomenon,  and more than enough codes and clues for further unlocking Anna’s story.

Hope you can join us for our next discussion on Tuesday, April 22 at 8 pm at Molly Malone’s (the Snug) in Forest Park.

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This evening 826 Chicago will roll out it’s second publication of student work, Right in Front of Us, a collection of forty-seven stories written by Chicago high school students. The book contains a foreword by author and Oak Park resident, Alex Kotlowitz, who will join the teen authors at Aspira High School (3729 W. Leland) for a book release party beginning at 6:00pm tonight. Festivities will include some words from Kotlowitz about the project, readings by the students, and of course a book signing & reception. For those who can’t make it, books will be available for $12 at 826’s own The Boring Store.

If a trip to Wicker Park to visit The Boring Store isn’t in the cards, then think about discovering Chicago in a whole new light, guided by the young authors of 826 Chicago’s first book, A Sunday Afternoon Hot Dog Meal. This 2007 publication, written and illustrated by 205 elementary school students, is available on Amazon.com and promises not only to give you the skinny on many of Chicago’s time-tested locales and traditions but, according to 826 National, “will also allow you a glimpse into where to find more unique offerings, including but not limited to: shrimp from the future, a park shaped like a spot of paint, six-foot tall smelly, sweaty men, a pizza crust that’s humongous, kind and friendly neighbors, and cabs that smell like fresh flowers.” All that, and the peace of mind that you’re supporting a fantastic organization with your $12…sounds like a deal to me.

For anyone who’d like to know more about the programs offered at 826CHI or any of the 826 nonprofit writing centers founded by author Dave Eggers, I’d recommend viewing this video created by 826 National and narrated by NPR superstar Sarah Vowell for our listening pleasure. You can also check out this list if you’re interested in finding out what students are publishing at 826’s San Fransisco, Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Ann Arbor and Boston locations.

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If you haven’t read The Very Hungry Caterpillar in a while, you might not recognize where all of these tasty treats come from. These fabrics, produced by Andover Fabrics are available for purchase at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.   These a-MAZ-ing designs are in Eric Carle’s own very distinctive style. More images after the jump.

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First let me apologize for my long genre X absence. Between vacations and library conferences I’ve been away from the posting helm for too long. I’m looking forward to sharing all kinds of bloggy things with you this week.

For instance, I know that you’re still trying to catch up on all of those 2007 Oscar pics (sidenote- just how long will Juno be in theaters anyway? Honest to blog. ), but it seems Hollywood is way ahead of us. A recent article in Variety is handicapping the Oscar 2008 race. So on to this year in Oscar bait. Here are some of the choicest choices:

Blindness: Based on the novel by Jose Saramago, this is the story of an entire town that’s struck by sudden blindness, with the lone exception of the doctor’s wife.  Starring Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, and Gael Garcia Bernal.

Burn After Reading: 2007 winners the Coen brothers direct a dark comedy about a couple of gym employees who discover a CIA agents memoirs and attempt to sell them. This one stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Tilda Swinton, John Malkovich, and Frances McDormand. Holy powerhouse.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Based on the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, this is the story of a feeble old man who ages backwards.  The script went through several edits since it was optioned in 1998, including one by famed screenwriter Charlie Kaufman.  Directed by David Fincher and starring Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt.

The Duchess: 18th century period drama starring Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes.

Revolutionary Road (pictured above): Kate Winslet and Leonardo reteam for the first time since Titanic in the 1950s suburban drama.  Based on the novel by Richard Yates.

Anything else you’re looking forward to in 2008?

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Thanks once again to everyone who came out for the discussion on Tuesday. Despite the general lukewarm response to the book, I think it was one of the more enjoyable genre X discussions. And I think we all agree that the Snug at Molly Malone’s  is the best venue we’ve seen so far. So we’ll stay there for a while and see how it goes.

April’s book is As Simple as Snow by Gregory Galloway. Here is a review from Publisher’s Weekly:

It turns out that snow is “actually very complicated,” and so is Galloway’s quirky, engrossing debut. In a small town near a river not far from a city, the narrator, an unnamed high school sophomore, encounters new Goth arrival, Anna Cayne. Holden Caulfield meets the Blair Witch, perhaps–but our narrator is more sympathetic and Anna more fascinating than their counterparts. The narrator is unsure why anyone would pursue him (”I’m bland. I’m milk. Worse, I’m water”), but pursue him Anna does, charming him with intriguing postcards, reading recommendations and long walks by the river. He’s soon completely, hopelessly in love. But halfway through the story Anna disappears, leaving the narrator and the reader feeling lost and betrayed. The book becomes a search for Anna, complete with ciphers, codes, sightings and buried maps. Does affable art teacher Mr. Devon have something to do with her disappearance? Who was really driving the night fellow student Bryce Druitt slammed his car into the side of the bridge? Galloway makes plain from the beginning that everything in the book might be a clue, and that it’s up to the narrator and the reader to solve the mystery for themselves. This can be great fun or lead to great frustration, depending on one’s tastes, but there’s no doubt that this rich, complex puzzle is the work of a talented author.

On Tuesday we spent a good chunk of time discussing the roles that music and musicians played in The Fortress of Solitude. Music is intregal to this month’s book as well. I won’t give too much away, but I highly recommend that you seek out the web site for the book, where readers can print out liner notes and track listings for the CDs that Anna makes for our narrator in As Simple as Snow. Just one of the many clues to unlocking the mystery in this incredibly captivating YA/adult crossover novel. Yeah if you can’t tell I’m pretty excited to discuss April’s title!

Hopefully Galloway will be able to generate some excitement in you as well! Please join us for our next discussion on Tuesday, April 22 at 8 pm at Molly Malone’s (the Snug) in Forest Park.

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image courtesy of Gare and Kitty

It seems if you wanna be somebody in the fiction profession, you need to move to Brooklyn. Pronto. Check out this humourous piece by Colson Whitehead on why Brooklyn writers need to get over themselves already and this Salon tour of Brooklyn writing world.

And then when you’re finished come out and join us at Molly Malone’s this evening at 8:00 pm to discuss The Fortress of Solitude, superheroes and all things Brooklyn!

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journal for music buffs from Chronicle Books

Although I love making lists, the whole “stranded on a desert island” question has always intimidated me. Choosing one book or album that I would want with me and never tire of? Thats practically impossible. But in 1978 Greil Marcus asked 20 famous music writers to offer up the one rock album they would choose if they were lost in the tropics. The end result, Stranded: Rock and Roll for a Desert Island, can be found online now. And if you’re craving more, check out Phil Freeman’s recent follow-up to this rock classic, Marooned: The Next Generation of Desert Island Discs . Or if you’re just looking for a good rockin’ read, check out this list of 45 books for the literate music fan.

And of course we would love to hear from those of you who can offer up your own answer to this ever popular question!

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I hope all of you are enjoying our March Genre X selection, The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem.  Lethem uses comics and superheroes as a theme in Fortress, including mentions of the Marvel character Omega, a silent boy who discovers he has robotic parents in 1970s Hell’s Kitchen.

In a relatively unusual move by Marvel, Lethem was recently given the chance to re-imagine the obscure comic, Omega the Unknown.  The book, which is drawn by artist Farel Dalrymple and colored by Paul Hornschemeier is currently available for viewing online via this link from Publisher’s Weekly online.

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In an odd intersection of surrealist writers and sports, baseball blog Yard Work reports that Haruki Murakami, author of genre X’s January selection The Wind Up Bird Chronicle recently attended a Cubs pre-season game in Arizona.

The author’s treatise on the experience is after the jump (beware- its long). In case you’re dismayed at the notion of Murakami writing a straightforward sports report, rest assured that notions of 4 a.m. pasta eating, girls with perfect ears, and fleeting mentions of Jeremy Piven abound.

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