Oh, Delightful Literature World...

I have many favorite books and authors. I normally like the stuff that's well, out there. Beat poetry and books are my all-time favorite. If there's acid involved, I find it more fun and scary to read. Hunter S. Thompson for example. I love his persona(s), his books, political opinions, way of speaking, and his taking of four hallucinogens at once and writing. Crazy dude, but I've learned I love those crazy people in this world. They do something, whether the world likes it or not. Well, Jack Kerouac. In my top ten writers, his love of the open road, experiencing everything, truly writing the reality of the craziness of the Beat time. I adore every word, even the awkward parts. Here's the list of his amazing talent I've read: On the Road (personal favorite), The Subterraneans, half of Dharma Bums, And the Hippos were Boiled in their Tanks (with Burroughs). He's amazingly talented, and will read more of his literary genius. He also wrote some of my favorite quotes, "a circle in square peg"...well, I've learned I am one. :)



I read On the Road because finding out that Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, and The Beatles were all inspired by this book, thought I'd read it. Now I want to backpack/road trip the world. Kerouac is a true inspirer. No drugs involved, well for him, he always does.



If you are a lover of Beat culture, I suggest reading The Holy Barbarians by Lawrence Lipton (dad of interviewer on "Inside the Actor's Studio", it's a true-blue rendition of what really went on in Beat culture, their opinions, and why they did the stuff they did. I understand and love that generation even more. The book maybe hard to find, but so worth it.




One of my favorite books is 1984. Amazing, it struck me so hard. It's supposedly science-fiction. Not my usual genre. My mom reread it, and I read the back and thought it sounded like Fight Club (one of my all-time favorite films), so I read it. Started out pretty boring, but I got into it at about page 70. I think George Orwell's statements about coming generations (being dead on, by the way) scared me first. It's scary-good. The story of a government worker who wants to rebel, but with Thoughtpolice he can never even consider it, it's a creepy reality. It makes me interested in government and politics, and question everything, everything the media says. Could the world ever decline this bad? You never know, so fight for your opinions. Don't stay quiet. I had to read "Animal Farm" for school, and thought it was okay. But as growing up I've realized how influential that story is. "Everyone's equal except some are more equal than others"...that's what I'm talking about. Willis. lol


Okay, so a children's book. The Little Prince or Le Petit Prince. Amazing book. I can read it in about 45 minutes. Written by a French pilot in the 1940's with illustrations to coincide. I read it because it was James Dean's favorite book. Notice the pattern. I learn something new every time I read it. I sometimes read it when I'm in a major angst mood to calm me down, and it always does. The line, "what is essential is invisible to the eye..." remains a everlasting, wise phrase. One of my favorite books. You can read it as a kid, or a kid at heart. While your growing up, a fantastic book. I'm glad I am a humongous fan of James Dean. Because reading Surviving James Dean, I read this one. I now read it everytime I am angsty, angry, frusterated, or feeling like no one understands you. I understand this book more and more every time, and also am more emotional every time.
Hmmm..other favorite works of literature, my stand-bys. Oh, Fight Club. One of my favorite movies (and I'm a girl)...I don't really care if other girls don't understand it. I do and it means something to me. It's more than just Tyler Durden and "Jack" having their butts whooped, and beating the crap out of each other. It's a social commentary, and satire. I love this book, film.
I recommend it to all. Watch movie first, or read first. I really don't care. I see it as a modern definition of man, and how we should run our lives. Amazing. Chuch Palahniunk is an amazing writer. I read over half the book during exam week. And I'm a relatively slow reader. Let that be known. He always writes about stories that interest me, low-life people with the seediest behavior, or something completely random. Probably Tom Waits influence again, and if you are a Tom fan, they play "Goin' Out West" in Fight Club, right before the rules. Amazing song.


I can't think of more, and I'm thinking of maybe trying to read English translated French classics, I'm super into French culture right now. Any suggestions?