On the Road

By Jack Kerouac

This book was pretty great. I wasn’t sure what to expect going into it, and I got exactly what I expected.

The fractious friendships and travelings of a youngish fifties Beatster. A life so much more open to interpretation and freedom than the one presented to me today. It didn’t change my life or anything like that, but it was a great read and really made me appreciate how quickly social norms can just evaporate and be replaced. The idea of hitchiking today is pretty much taboo but thirty, forty, fifty years ago it was a more than viable option. It felt oftentimes that nothing was happening or that the story was repeating itself in a different location, and it lacked any kind of conclusive ending, but I still liked it. It was the book that sparked the most conversation with people who saw me reading it… thirty year old men who read it in college and wanted to expound on its profundities with me.

I’m not a big profundity expounder, really.

Through the Looking Glass

By Frank Beddor.

This book is notable for having stirred me off my lazy ass to actually start reading again. I spied it on my friend’s bookshelf and its rather interesting cover intrigued me. Retold fairy tales were usually at least interesting if not good and it had been a while since I’d really settled down with a book, just reading for the sake of reading.

It was good, a very quick read, I certainly enjoyed it and would (will!) read the next, Seeing Redd, when it comes out in paperback (and after my friend buys and reads it himself, first, ha). Other than that, this book’s only notable feature is the fact that if it weren’t for it I wouldn’t be here, on a literary roll, reading everything I can get my grubby paws on.

Thanks, Mr. Beddor!

Blogress

I figured I’d create a blog through which I could keep track of my progress through various things. I’ve decided to pour more of my life into things I’d been putting off, and so far I’ve been managing to do that pretty well. A blog to follow that journey would not only help me remember and keep track of what I’ve done and what I’ve yet to do but help hone my greatly neglected writing skills. I don’t intend on this blog being especially public but I may use it to write personal posts or off-topic things from time to time. Who will read this intro? Anyone? I highly doubt it, but… why not?