Reading and Writing

Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud

Really interesting and accessible book. Creative and thoughtful. I must recommend.

The Chomsky-Foucault debate on Human Nature

Would rather have read this with someone else. This belongs in the category of books you need to read with another person so that you can discuss the ideas. Reading this alone does not allow for the same kind of synthesis and dynamic experience.

Writing: I am behind. But I need to read more -- before I write anymore.

What else? Lots of VERY BAD chick lit books for my chapter on chick lit. I actually cannot believe HOW BAD some of this stuff is... I can't even get through it. It's really painful. How can people publish this stuff? Let me put it this way: Bridget Jones Diary reads like the poetry of Keats if I compare it with the stuff I am reading.

Reading old editions of Oxford American. Some good writing. Especially from the old classic Southern writers--Flannery and the like.

Also for mental health escape--my Poetry magazine subscription. I've been reading poetry to escape chick lit (now this says something, I know), lit crit, online news, and life in general.

My entire life, when I have fled the rigidity of logic, I have turned to poetry for some respite and mental health....entering again, one of those phases...