Back Roads and City Streets

I cannot, cannot believe that it took me this long to read this book. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ A beautiful, subtle, intimate tale of friendship, love, innocence and the dangers in the world. Father and son. Best friends. The town. The adult world. This may be something close to perfect. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Ray Bradbury. Something Wicked This Way Comes.

...and that was how I felt that night. Mixed emotions. Love and sadness. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ (Challenge :: edit and share an old photo) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

This is my second time reading Bright Lights, Big City. I have been writing about NYC and playing with 2nd person, so I wanted to give this another shot. I still didn't love it. Yes, the approach of 2nd person is novel and well executed, but I didn't care about any of the characters nor the story. In this book the story is the vehicle for the craft instead of the craft being the vehicle for the story.

The Gang's All Here from Mix Tapes and Photo Albums.

⠀⠀⠀⠀ Bad Reputation :: Joan Jet Take Back the Power :: Interrupters Libel :: Tilt Just a Girl :: No Doubt The Warrior :: Scandal Edge of a Broken Heart :: Vixen Stupid Girl :: Garbage The Tide Is High :: Blondie Because the Night :: 10,000 Manicas version I'm the Only One :: Melissa Ethridge Not An Addict :: K's Choice I Can't Believe :: Tilly and the Wall

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Published in My Favorite Bullet.

Best Songs I've Reviewed Once upon a time I reviewed great bands. I am still bummed I had to give it up. Here are some of my favorite songs by my favorite bands that I discovered through that gig. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Call it a Comeback :: Banquets Bottle to Bottle :: Gnarwolves Kamikaze :: Aree and the Pure Heart Sixty-One :: Luther Strickland North :: Jet Set Sail Across the Susquehanna and American Bones :: The Stereo State Hard Luck Kid :: Beachslang A :: Restorations Nothing is Real :: White Wives Time Capsules :: Misser Running Out of Places to Go :: The Swellers Nothing Lasts Forever and Young New England :: Transit

Still seeking a publisher.

Puro Amor. Sandra Cisneros. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Elegant, delicate, powerful. Just like Sandra Cisneros. Just like Frida Kahlo. You easily get swept up in this chapbook.

The perfect sight at a women in tech event.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Published in Speech Bubble.

Same Title, Different Song ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Ready Steady Go :: The Meices and Generation X Misery :: The Beatles, Green Day, and Soul Asylum Anthem :: Blink 182, Rush, and Cocksparrer Guilty :: All and Gravity Kills Saturday Night :: Bay City Rollers and The Misfits Here I Am :: The Explosion Always :: Blink 182 and Bon Jovi Inside Out :: Bouncing Souls, Eve 6, and Screeching Weasel Another Day :: Crimpshrine, Rent, and Jimmie's Chicken Shack The Break Up Song :: The Bouncing Souls and Greg Kihn Band Runaway :: Dell Shannon, Tinkle, and Bon Jovi Walk Away :: Bad Religion and Dropkick Murphys

The gradual introduction to the absurdity in Manhattan Loverboy makes us believe it hook, line, and sinker just as Aeiou does even as the narrative gets crazier and crazier. Though, there are some far fetched elements in here, the concept of self-delusion and confronting that, really hits you in the gut.

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The absurdities and coincidences feel so natural to this story and characters that you never question how the chance interactions that drive the story actually happen. The last time I read this book I was living in the East Village and this re-read made me nostalgic for all those places that have closed down. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Converse and hoodies. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ (challenge :: edit and share old photo)