That I start reading again…

Ok, so I had a ton of posts ready to go before I left for Colombia. I had thought that I would be coming home this past Thursday, the 22nd. As these things go, I was convinced, it didn’t take a lot of arm twisting, to stay an extra two weeks and jump into Ecuador for a couple of days. I would almost apologize to you, my loyal readers, but I really don’t think I can or should. I mean, i’m unemployed and having an incredible time.

I have though had some issues with staying here longer. Honestly, the biggest draw back is that I will not be able to keep current with my blog. My reading has pretty much been reduced to a few pages a day. For once in the past year or two the one thing I have been able to do without fail has been over shadowed by my desire to be where I am rather than try to escape from my surroundings in a book. This also means that until I return there will most likely not be anymore book reviews. This will be the first time since I started this blog nearly a year ago that I will not post a review and it’s incredibly troubling for me but again, I cannot complain about being in S. America. And, that said, I am quite confident that you will be able to deal with it. I promise as soon as I get back you will have reviews as well as some other forms of entertainment from yours truly.

On another front, I have been taking videos daily of my exploits. Some videos of my surroundings but more in a diary form. Unfortunately internet here is not exactly great so trying to upload these videos has not been very easy. Therefore once I return and have a chance to sit down at the computer for about 2 days solid you should be able to follow my trip from the day I departed until the day I return home.

I´m not exactly going to take time from my adventures to do extensive research on whats happening in the world of literary events that are coming up but I have one gem for you this week.

Monday, April 26th
@ 12pm
- Rebecca Skloot, author, will be at North Gate Hall Library on the UC Berkeley campus discussing her book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Just recently someone had brought this book to my attention and after reading some of the feedback regarding it I´m quite excited to read it. The event, put on by The UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism and other University groups, is free and will most likely be very entertaining. The book itself revolves around Ms. Lacks importance to science as her cells have been crucial tools for the development of the polio vaccine, uncovering secrets of diseases, aided in in vitro fertilization as well as many other medicinal research uses. The story goes on to tell the story of the Lacks family and how they have been used and not sufficiently compensated or acknowledged. Ms. Skloot is a established science journalist and has had an established career in the world of writing.

As my interest in journalism as a career has grown over the past year I was greatly looking forward to attending this event but of course, as you now know, I will still be in S. America. I had also imagined this event as being a perfect place to talk to current Berkeley J-School students and possibly faculty and learn more about the program. Alas, It looks as though I will have to wait until I return to attend one of their information sessions.

Alright ladies and gents, hold your horses, I´ll be back soon and you will be inundated by not only book realted information but my S. American travels as well!

Pardon the interruption, S. America calls. I´m confident that you´re capable of finding out whats going on on your own this week. I will be back soon, I promise!!

I know, you’ve been waiting so patiently for me to tell you what book won, thank you. Don’t worry there was only a slight hint of sarcasm in there. But, seriously, thank you to those of you who voted. I did have a much better turn out this time with a total of 28 voters (ok, one of them was me) but that’s ok. Not only that but I also tried a lot harder to get people to vote. I feel a little crummy for that cause it kind of bugs me when people constantly tell you to look at there stuff on facebook but, I guess you just got to do it sometimes.

I know there were issues with poll, some people couldn’t vote, some people couldn’t figure out how to vote (not true) and others looked and just didn’t know any of the books. All of which are perfectly fine excuses. I know there are still a lot of kinks to work out.

What was interesting though was that at one point in the week there was a 6 way tie that went further and turned into an 8 way tie and finally resulted in a two way tie. The books that tied in the end, with four votes a piece were…

Tricked ya, gotta click here to see the books!

Moneyball by Michael Lewis

Ding, Ding, Ding… we have a winner!!! Michael Lewis is the first repeat author on the blog. Congrats to you good sir. (Blind Side by Mr. Lewis being the first of his books I reviewed)

First things first. Contrary to what I feel I’ve heard, if you are not the least bit interested in baseball than you should not read this. For someone as interested in baseball as I am, at times I even felt a bit bogged down and overwhelmed by all the statistics and numbers.

Second things second. If you are interested in baseball then you should promptly get away from reading my blog (not really though) and go get this book.

Third things third. It is slightly ironic that I read this book on the eve of the 2009 amateur baseball draft (clearly this review was written some time ago). A draft where it is thought that a pitcher from San Diego State University, Stephen Strasburg, may fetch more than $10.5 million (according to ESPN) as a signing bonus (ok, it actually worked out to be $7.5 million plus another $7.5 million through 1/2011, and no I do not believe that is part of his $15.1 million contract). I can only imagine Billy Bean, current general manager of the Oakland A’s is laughing.

Oh, there’s more…

As you know by now, I live in the bay area. But, that doesn’t mean I can’t sometimes wish I lived in LA so that I could go to the book events there. I must say though that at the moment, San Francisco is kicking La’s butt in terms of the number of events (uh, except for this week). Anyways, for those of you in La, here’s what you’ve got lined up for the week

Tuesday, September 22nd
@ 8pm
- In case you were unaware this summer has been deemed “Infinite Summer” by booksellers and book groups across the world. Why? Well, to promote and encourage readers to pick up the immense book that is David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest. If you recall I did a little review on Skylight Books in LA where Wallace’s book was the top seller for the month of June, well “Infinite Summer” was the real reason for that. So, this Tuesday, Skylight is throwing a party so that all the people who stuck it out and read the book can meet up, discuss and celebrate finishing the book. Let’s see, they will have drinks, desserts, an actor/director (John Krasinski) and discounts on 800+ page books. If you read Infinite Jest and or are a fan of David Foster Wallace this event is for you!

Saturday, September 26th
@ 4pm
- Tao Lin, author of Shoplifting from American Apparelwill be discussing his book at Vromans. His latest narrative explores American culture and art in an amusing and journalistic format. I’m not familiar with Tao Lin but he has been featured all the over the world in publications and would be fascinating to hear speak.

Saturday, September 26th
@ 7pm
- I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist. This is one event that is not to be missed. Susan Anderson and Robert Greene present and sign High Glitz: The Extravagant World of Child Beauty Pageants at Book Soup. I’ve already read this book twice and am preparing myself for the third reading soon. Ok, thats a lie. That said, I could imagine this would be a pretty interesting discussion. And… seeing as its on a Saturday night, you could easily bring a date!

Sunday, September 27th
@ 5pm
- Kaya Oakes, author and writing instructor at UC Berkeley will be taking part in a panel discussion on indie culture at Skylight Books. Oakes, author of Slanted and Enchanted: The Evolution of Indie Culturealong with Ben Bush, editor of The Fanzine; Courtney Knopf of Everloving Records; and Daniel House of CZ Records will all partake in the discussion. Justin Gage, founder of the fantastic music blog Aquarium Drunkard, will moderate, and the band The Old Lumps will play a short set to get things going. If you’re feeling indie… you know where to go.