Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Song of the Day - Gary Clark Jr. - Bright Lights
Hello there BOOKWORMportal readers I have got a treat for your ears today. Gary Clark Jr. is one of the best contemporary blues artists I have heard in a long while. My favorite has been The Black Keys for a long while but this guy just might be the new contender. His music is mean and powerful and just downright provocative. I have devoured his music today and honestly had trouble choosing which song I wanted to put up. Hope you enjoy!
Monday, August 12, 2013
Song of the Day - David Bowie - Heroes
Hey there BOOKWORMportal friendlies, to keep with my Perks theme, today's song will be the tunnel song (movie version). The song is Heroes by David Bowie and it is outstanding.
"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure how that could be." : Stephen Chbosky - The Perks of Being a Wallflower
So it has been awhile since I have posted a review about a book and I wanted to start with one that I felt especially close to. Stephen Chbosky writes a come of age story for young misfit Charlie who struggles to find his place in the world. Charlie is not quite misanthropic but he never blends in because he doesn't understand a lot of basic human interactions and views the world through a genuinely innocent lens. Without further adieu, The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
What makes this novel so intimate and easily relatable is that it is entirely written in a letter or diary form. "Dear friend" is always the start of Charlie's thoughts before he tells the mystery writer about his day. Though we are never revealed to whom he is writing to, he is able to be honest and open with what he experiences and thinks about what is happening around him. It really could be a diary because with what is expressed is so unbiased and open, it is almost as though Charlie is expressing his thoughts to himself.
Charlie is entering high school, a time where kids are beginning to form into what they might be for the rest of their lives. Charlie is seemingly above average intellectually and he tends to struggle with making friends but his English teacher immediately recognizes his potential and takes on the role of being a mentor to him. He assigns books to Charlie that are not on the lesson plan and Charlie writes books reports on them. His teacher exposes him to some of the greatest works in history and he happily devours each one. Meanwhile, Charlie remains as a loner and tries to keep under the radar. That is until he meets Sam and Patrick.
I absolutely adore Sam and Patrick... They marched to the beat of their own drum, they were misanthropic, they had some deep seeded issues that have led them off the path of what a normal high school teen should be on. They were the wallflowers who were biding their time until college where their interests would become more widely accepted. They introduce Charlie to new people who enjoy The Rocky Horror Picture Show and listen to bands like The Smiths and Mary Elizabeth, Charlie's first girlfriend (a Punk rock Buddhist with anger issues). Although Patrick and Sam are offbeat they have found their niche. Patrick is a homosexual who is in love with the closeted football player and Sam who was forced to grow up too fast and grew up believing that she was less of a person than what she was. "We accept the love we think we deserve." Chbosky created some of the most real characters I have ever read, these people were my best friends in high school.
Charlie does face a hard time and is forced to relive some childhood traumas that he surpressed for quite some time. However, once he does he seems to finally let go of the guarded version of himself and chooses to "participate" in life. While much of the novel is truly heartbreaking, I believe this ended in a positive note. Chbosky also helped with the movie adaptation of the novel. Not too shabby and stays relatively close to the novel.
"And in that moment, I swear we were infinite."
What makes this novel so intimate and easily relatable is that it is entirely written in a letter or diary form. "Dear friend" is always the start of Charlie's thoughts before he tells the mystery writer about his day. Though we are never revealed to whom he is writing to, he is able to be honest and open with what he experiences and thinks about what is happening around him. It really could be a diary because with what is expressed is so unbiased and open, it is almost as though Charlie is expressing his thoughts to himself.
Charlie is entering high school, a time where kids are beginning to form into what they might be for the rest of their lives. Charlie is seemingly above average intellectually and he tends to struggle with making friends but his English teacher immediately recognizes his potential and takes on the role of being a mentor to him. He assigns books to Charlie that are not on the lesson plan and Charlie writes books reports on them. His teacher exposes him to some of the greatest works in history and he happily devours each one. Meanwhile, Charlie remains as a loner and tries to keep under the radar. That is until he meets Sam and Patrick.
I absolutely adore Sam and Patrick... They marched to the beat of their own drum, they were misanthropic, they had some deep seeded issues that have led them off the path of what a normal high school teen should be on. They were the wallflowers who were biding their time until college where their interests would become more widely accepted. They introduce Charlie to new people who enjoy The Rocky Horror Picture Show and listen to bands like The Smiths and Mary Elizabeth, Charlie's first girlfriend (a Punk rock Buddhist with anger issues). Although Patrick and Sam are offbeat they have found their niche. Patrick is a homosexual who is in love with the closeted football player and Sam who was forced to grow up too fast and grew up believing that she was less of a person than what she was. "We accept the love we think we deserve." Chbosky created some of the most real characters I have ever read, these people were my best friends in high school.
Charlie does face a hard time and is forced to relive some childhood traumas that he surpressed for quite some time. However, once he does he seems to finally let go of the guarded version of himself and chooses to "participate" in life. While much of the novel is truly heartbreaking, I believe this ended in a positive note. Chbosky also helped with the movie adaptation of the novel. Not too shabby and stays relatively close to the novel.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Song of the Day - The Black Keys - When the Lights Go Out
Happy Saturday! Today's song of the day is by The Black Keys. I absolutely adore Dan Auerbach and this song is legit. If you dig The Black Keys you should also check out his solo album. Enjoy!
Friday, August 9, 2013
Song of the Day - Citizen Cope - Nite Becomes Day
And today's song my dear readers is by Citizen Cope. I have been really digging soul music these days. This song isn't too busy but still has many layers to it. Very relaxing. Enjoy!
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Song of the Day - Andreya Triana - A Town Called Obsolete
Hey there BOOKWORMportal readers today's song is sung by a woman who has memorized me for the last year. If you are in an a soul mood, she has a haunting ability to translate words of loneliness and despair into something powerful and strong. Have a gander, and enjoy.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Song of the Day: The Shins - Simple Song
Hello there BOOKWORMportal readers, I apologize for the absence but alas, life happens. I know it is midweek but I would like to try a little something new. For starters I would like to do a song of the day.
Today's song of the day is by The Shines called Simple Song. Remember dear readers that no matter how bad things may feel and no matter how much it seems like the world is crumbling, look to your loved ones and they will help you along.
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