Year. Year...year...year...year.

Hannah: What book have you been carrying around while on planes, traveling around recently? Do you and Tegan share books on the road?

Sat, 09 Apr 2011 23:00:07 +0100

Hannah: What book have you been carrying around while on planes, traveling around recently? Do you and Tegan share books on the road?
Sara: well! i always carry a copy of "a lover's discourse: fragments" by roland barthes.
its sort of my bible. except not religious.
Hannah: What is it that you love about "A Lover's Discourse?"
Sara: Oh! so much about that book blows my mind. i think its a book for the recovering romantic.
tegan and i do share books sometimes, but i think she finds my tastes too snobby.
Hannah: Is that how you define yourself at the moment or are you always in recovery as a romantic?
Sara: i would define myself as a recovering romantic now. i used to be fully embracing of love and relationships...now i'm the grumpy cynic! i'm really fun to be around at weddings.
Hannah: Speaking of Tegan thinking you're a book snob, she did a video recommendation for us last fall. She recommended Judy Blume. You are recommending Roland Barthes. Different much? :)
Sara: ha! yes, thank you for that video evidence! amazing. although, i do love judy blume!
Fan: what were some of your favorite books as a kid?
Sara: tegan and i loved the ramona quimby books. (beverly cleary)

The white book (with a blue butterfly on the cover) on the right in that picture is a book called "Still Alice" by Lisa Genova. I have that book but haven't read it yet.. :)

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 01:39:23 +0000

Thank you! :)

In the pile picture of the pile of mail, do you know what the books are? Especially the white one and the one in the foreground?

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:48:47 +0000

The one in the foreground is ‘Tipping the Velvet’, the one next to that is ‘Catcher in the Rye’, then ‘The Five People You Meet In Heaven’ but I have no idea about the other ones. Does anyone else know?

This book was not recommended to me by anyone, I happened upon...

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 23:00:07 +0000

This book was not recommended to me by anyone, I happened upon it by reading the Pulitzers Prize list, which I frequent each year. And so I read it and it became my favourite book. I read it almost completely in the laundromat near my house in Montreal. And I balled hysterically. It is such a good book, it’s so sad. But not like in a sad way like it’s not a book about a dad getting cancer, and then a dog getting hit by a car, and like a baby dying or something like that. It’s like, just life. Just plain old life. The book is about a dad and a son, their relationship over the course of Independence Day weekend. And also his relationship with his ex wife and then his sort of current relationship that he’s having with another woman. That appeals to me, I’m a child of divorce so I love books about other children of divorce. Personally I’m directed to books that are about families or intense relationship dynamics between family members. I mean it’s not a book you read slowly over time, to me the book happens over the course of 3 or 4 days and so to me it’s a book that should be read in 3 or 4 days. And so if you’re not serious about this book, this is a commitment book, don’t come and play around with this book, don’t lead this book on. If you start it, finish it, for real.

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO by STIEG LARRSON “I read...

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 21:36:46 +0000

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO by STIEG LARRSON

“I read much of this on 11 take offs and landings during our Australian Tour in May. Traveling/Touring can be a bit of a brain drain and especially so when you are faced with an abundance of recycled airplane oxygen and jet lag. I was out of the loop but Tegan filled me in on the folklore building around the now deceased Author and his massively popular trilogy. I loved it. Tegan, don’t be mad, I’ve got some bad news, I think I left it in a hotel room somewhere in Western Australia…” - SARA

“Just picked up the mail for this month! Thank u for the...

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 23:00:07 +0000

“Just picked up the mail for this month! Thank u for the letters and books. You guys rule!!! Xo” - Tegan

“#livingthedream” - Tegan

Sun, 27 Feb 2011 23:00:07 +0000

“#livingthedream” - Tegan

Interviewer: Favourite book?

Sat, 26 Feb 2011 23:00:07 +0000

Interviewer: Favourite book?
Tegan: Too many to pick just one. I love John Irving and Wally Lamb.

THE COSMIC SERPENT by JEREMY NARBY “When I went to get the...

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 23:00:07 +0000

THE COSMIC SERPENT by JEREMY NARBY

“When I went to get the book I was aware that I was already being a bit judgmental about the book choice. I must admit that I even had a moment where I regretted saying yes to joining the club. I read fiction mainly and when I do read non-fiction it’s typically NOT of the science/biology nature. While admitting to that though I have to also admit that partly why I don’t read books like this very often is because I want a summary at the end that tells me why we’re here, how we’re here, what happens when we leave here, where here is, etc. I don’t know if I just have a low comprehension level but I didn’t feel like this gave me any conclusions it just created a lot of dialogue internally and externally in my life about what the hell DNA really is, why we don’t know more about it and how I can get my hands on ayahuasca. (for educational purposes only of course).” - TEGAN

AN ANTHROPOLOGIST ON MARS by OLIVER SACKS “I loved a lot...

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 23:00:07 +0000

AN ANTHROPOLOGIST ON MARS by OLIVER SACKS

“I loved a lot of things in this book. I’m not a big science/non-fiction reader so once again, when I found out what book we were going to be reading, I felt intimidated. I read quickly and I read a lot. But as I’m out on the road right now and have been since June, I feel like my mind is mush. But this book didn’t feel over my head (the way Cosmic Serpent did) and perhaps this is what makes Sacks such an interesting, accessible writer, even though his subjects are so medical/clinical from the outside. Somehow he made reading about people who lost their sight and their ability to see color, and their ability to make new memory (due to a grapefruit sized tumor on the frontal lobe of a hippie-turned-Hare Krishna) seem sweet and endearing, and not completely tragic.” - TEGAN

Where do you find all these recommendations? :)

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 17:25:50 +0000

They’re all from different places like blog posts, book clubs, twitter and interviews. If you want to know about a certain post then I could try find it for you.

Interviewer: What book do you wish you wrote?

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 23:00:06 +0000

Interviewer: What book do you wish you wrote?
Tegan: Anything by John Irving. He is my favorite writer. Until I Find You is my favourite … or A Widow For One Year. I have this fascination with male writers in their forties, especially those who write intense female characters.

“goodbye tower of summer reads (highlights: “atmospheric disturbances” by rivka...

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 23:00:06 +0000

“goodbye tower of summer reads (highlights: “atmospheric disturbances” by rivka galchen…”bottomless belly button” by dash shaw….”against interpretation and other essays” by susan sontag…)” - SARA

"I am reading Bill Brysons Book “Down Under in a Sunburned Country”. SO FUNNY! If you..."

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 23:00:06 +0000

“I am reading Bill Brysons Book “Down Under in a Sunburned Country”. SO FUNNY! If you have not read any Bill Bryson you should! He is so funny and his books are all about travelling. Great plane reads!”

- Tegan

For those of you who are still interested in going to a book store near you here are my 3 choices...

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 23:00:07 +0000

For those of you who are still interested in going to a book store near you here are my 3 choices for this winter:

The Brief Wondrous History of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
I Love You, Beth Cooper - Larry Doyle
I Live Here - Mia Kirshner, J.B.Mackinnon, Paul Shoebridge, Michael Simons

- TEGAN

"Books! I promised you much more than a list, but I find myself staring at the blank screen of my..."

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 23:00:07 +0000

“

Books! I promised you much more than a list, but I find myself staring at the blank screen of my computer with almost nothing to say. Perhaps the titles below will satisfy you for now.

I bought (and in some cases read!) this month…often recommended by fellow bookworms…

-Illuminations by Walter Benjamin
-The Armies of the Night by Norman Mailer
-At Work by Annie Leibovitz
-My Sister’s Hand in Mine by Jane Bowles
-Best American Essays 2008
-Haunted by Philippe Dupuy
-Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh
-Selected Non Fictions by Jorge Luis Borges
-A Seahorse Year by Stacey D’erasmo
-Regarding the Pain of Others by Susan Sontag
-The Essential Dykes to Watch Out For by Alison Bechdel
-The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs (I left my last one on a flight from Munich to Montreal!)
-Best American Comics 2008

I’ve managed to get through most of what is listed above, often while juggling three other books and a coffee. I’ve enjoyed everything but especially loved “the armies of the night”.

I used to be terribly serious about starting and finishing one book at a time. I’ve broken that pattern, along with a string of others this past month. I realize I am a creature of stringent habit. Blame astrological hiccups (the psychic downstairs who read my palm last night did) or my mothers rigid rules on library book lending.

”

- Sara

LOVE IN INFANT MONKEYS by LYDIA MILLET “I loved so much of...

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 23:00:07 +0000

LOVE IN INFANT MONKEYS by LYDIA MILLET

“I loved so much of this book. It was bizarre and funny and sad. I haven’t been so interested in an author since Rivka Galchen’s ATMOSPHERIC DISTURBANCES. I kept flipping to the book jacket to stare at the Authors photo and wonder about her fascinating brain. Its really a wild and curious collection. Highly recommended.” - SARA

BAMBI VS. GODZILLA: ON THE NATURE, PURPOSE, AND PRACTICE OF THE...

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 23:00:06 +0000

BAMBI VS. GODZILLA: ON THE NATURE, PURPOSE, AND PRACTICE OF THE MOVIE BUSINESS by DAVID MAMET

“I picked up [this book] while browsing at London’s Clerkenwell Tales in late June. I could have bought most of what was in the shop, I absolutely love seeing alternate covers of my favorite books. And this store was jam packed full of them! Covers are art, and its the biggest reason why I’ll mourn the loss of books and bookstores in the future. I know it may not realistically happen in my lifetime, but the more kindles and whatchamacallits I see in the hands of friends and strangers, the greater my desire to consume whats still out there floating around becomes. This book really excited me! I found there were fascinating parallels to the music industry, and even though I’m not involved in the film industry, I was totally entertained by the content.” - SARA

THE TALENTED MISS HIGHSMITH- THE SECRET LIFE AND SERIOUS ART OF...

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 23:00:07 +0000

THE TALENTED MISS HIGHSMITH- THE SECRET LIFE AND SERIOUS ART OF PATRICIA HIGHSMITH by JOAN SCHENKAR

“I picked the book up after reading this review I admit that I am still digging through it. Its massive. But I felt as though I should include it here, because there is a chance it will be an ongoing read for some time to come. After 400 or so pages, I can say this, I completely agree that this is no ordinary literary biography. It reads more like a novel and I couldn’t help but be inspired and wildly entertained by the more gossipy chapters. Totally engaging.” - SARA

THE INVISIBLE DRAGON: ESSAYS ON BEAUTY, REVISED AND EXPANDED by...

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 23:00:07 +0000

THE INVISIBLE DRAGON: ESSAYS ON BEAUTY, REVISED AND EXPANDED by DAVE HICKEY

“was the only book of Mr. Hickey’s I could find in stores. So while I waited for “Air Guitar” to arrive from Amazon.ca, I introduced myself with this book. It was a tough read, but I loved his voice and I blame the topic for my lack of commitment and interest. Not because I wasn’t interested, but because I wasn’t all together familiar with a lot of the references and topics touched in the book. Plus it was 100 degrees and I don’t have air conditioning in my apartment. I kept losing consciousness and would forget to put in the bookmark and then I’d wake up feeling lost about what I was reading before I fell asleep. SIGH. I’ve already committed myself to a second read on this tour. (But after “Air Guitar”, which arrived, and I am loving).” - SARA