Nothing new, but...

I've been sort of taking a typical-for-me, post-semester break from everything, which involves a lot of tv and video games, and way more sugar than a human being should ever consume. In the process I haven't been writing as much as I should, or for that matter, at all, but I have recently been reading more for pleasure than I normally get to (being an unorganized English major usually means that most of my reading is assigned, no matter how brilliant I find it). Instead of posting my creative work, I figure that I'll give a rundown of what I'm reading right now:

A friend introduced me to this book called The Physics of Superheroes, by James Kakalios, as the consummate nerd with an interest in both physics and superheroism (the regular kind does nothing for me), I am finding this to be an awesome read. So far the author has rhapsodized about kinematics by talking about the force needed for Golden-Age Superman to leap tall buildings in a single bound, as well as posited that Krypton must have been partially composed of neutron star matter, which of course explains why it exploded, sending young Kal-El to Earth. I am not doing it justice of course, as I seem to have lost my knack for wit in the course of the day, but rest assured it is a brilliant read, which explains physics concepts in a way that is both intriguing and effective for a layperson.
Speaking of intriguing and effective...



I don't think I have to say it any more but I suppose it's possible that there may be someone I don't know reading this blog(yeah right), so I'll admit that Pablo Neruda is probably my favorite poet, period. His Odes to Common Things is a huge reason why. For the past year, I've told people who asked about Neruda, my interest in Neruda, the nation of Chile, slightly unusual poetry, or the weather about this collection of poems. Basically, it's like a brilliant poet sat in his house and said "I'm going to write about every thing I see today". The result is a profound look at things from a bowl of soup("Ode to Conger Chowder") to a suit ("Ode to My Suit") that gives them context which is much broader than "this chowder is tasty" or "this suit is nice". There is no real point in advertising this book since the author is long dead, but if nothing else I just think everyone should know that a perspective like this existed in the world.

I am also reading The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon. At the moment I don't have much to say about it other than it won a Pulitzer and that it has good tone. Also, I find myself endorsing it to other people without having finished it, or even really having gotten deep enough into it to have a strong opinion...hmmm...must be a good book. I intended to be much further along than I am but it was misplaced for a bit, so I got thrown off.





I am actually reading, like three or four other books right now, but these are the ones I'm really focused on, so they will be the ones with the largest immediate effect on my own writing. Anyway, gotta get back to my sugar and videogames