Books and Rings...

No news is good news. And I have no real news. Things are fine at work. The weather is cooling and still raining. (My favorite kind of weather.) I'm making new friends who are uber cool. I'm going back on Face to Face, the debate tv show, for the semi-finals on Saturday. And while none of that is very exciting, I am reading some pretty good books.

I'm actually reading about three books at the moment. And I'm trying to branch out from American and British authors. A few weeks back I read a newspaper article that explained that the majority of books that are translated into foreign languages are originally written in English. Therefore, your average English speaker and reader is less likely to read works from foreigner authors because there are fewer foreign authors translated to English. I think this is a huge disappointment. Culture is translated through literature. And while it is always preferable to read literature in its original language, my inability to read other languages makes that impossible. Therefore, I'm trying to settle for the next best option and look for foreign authors translated to English. And recently I think I've found a couple of gems.

The first is called "Piercing" by Ryu Murakami, a highly acclaimed Japanese author. I've only just begun, but the first few chapters gave me the same sick-to-my-stomach sensation that gripped me when I read American Psycho. A successful, young Japanese man is compelled to murder weaker beings. The most vulnerable potential-victim being his own infant daughter who he watches every night with an ice pick in hand. The terrifying premise is obviously quite dark, but it has a truly Dostoevsky feel to it so I'm going to keep reading.

The next is equally dark, titled "I Have The Right To Destroy Myself" by Young-Ha Kim. I'm especially drawn to the nameless narrator of the book. Set in Seoul, the narrator guides the reader through a tragic and complicated love story while glorifying suicide. And the presentation of the story is incredibly compelling. Some characters have names, some simply are distinguished by letters and professions. I'll be sure to write more as I turn more pages.

The last book I'm reading, and the one I am closest to finishing is called "Anansi Boys" by the English author Neil Gaiman. It is fantastic! It revolves around two brother, one of whom is an American god. Gaiman has created an entire mythical world based on a combination of Greek, Roman, Chinese and Native American mythology. It's fascinating to see an entirely unique fictional culture derived from non-fictional traditions. I'm thoroughly enjoying the book.

Now that I have actually taken the time to describe these books, I'm realizing that I seem to have developed a dark, disturbing trend. I should mention that my literary choices aren't always so severe. I recently read the entire David Sedaris collection and laughed so hard I almost stopped breathing. I highly recommend his "Naked." I also indulged in "Possible Side Effects" by Augusten Burroughs who was equally hilarious, though slightly more depressing. And of course, my reading selections aren't always so lengthy. I'm more than happy to settle for the incredibly sexy and slightly vulgar word-smithing of my favorite columnist, Mark Morford. (www.sfgate.com/columnists/morford) Read it. You'll love it. Or at least lust for it.

Alright. For the two and half people who actually read this blog, feel free to add your reading recommendations.

Ah... and before I forget! Huge shout out to my best friend who is GETTING MARRIED! That's right, her Air Force guy popped the question! I guess giving up California and moving to Texas was worth it. (If you've seen the ring, then you definitely know it was worth it!) And with the engagement I'm finally giving up on the idea that she'll ditch her guy and come hang out with me in Seoul! Congrats Cynthia and Demetri!