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A couple days ago, I photographed my last shoot for the year. Should I repeat that last part again...because...really...I might just sing it. LaaaaaSSsst shoooooo^ooot of da YEEEEEEEAR! Yes, I just sang it Jamaican style. When I walked back to my car, I felt all High School Musical and snapped my fingers and kick-ball-changed into happiness. I love shooting, but I also love times when I can recharge, rethink, and realign my core and strive to become a better photographer. Stepping away from my camera sometimes helps me do this.
These past few weeks have been totally crazy, but whenever I had a free chance, I'd bury myself in a book. I didn't read as much as I'd like this month, but I'm hoping that changes in December. In fact, last night I hid in my closet and made out with Amazon.com. It was like seven minutes in heaven...with my credit card. When I emerged, JD asked what I was doing and I was all, huh...whaaat...oh, nuthin...
JD thinks I have a shopping addiction, but if Amazon is wrong, I don't wanna be right.
Oh! Look at these new book ends. And then I died from all the cuteness. |
Here are a few recent Good Reads...
*Little Bee by Chris Cleave.
Okay, so this book? Unreal. Capital U. Capital Nreal. I started it and realized I couldn't put it down...it was literally glued to my hand and I found myself reading at red lights (just kidding...sorta). It's narrated by a Nigerian girl (Little Bee) who immigrated to the United Kingdom and chronicled struggles she faced as she tried to escape the brutal murders of her family and village. But it's not just that. Cleave interweaves another story of an English couple who changes the trajectory of Little Bee's life and ends, ultimately, with her finding a voice and leaving a legacy. I read this book en route to NYC and finished it in a cab ride to Manhattan. As we crossed into the city, I sobbed...and knew I was changed.
*Fifth Avenue, 5 am by Sam Wasson.
Speaking of NYC, I bought two books at the airport because I needed material for the plane ride home. I've never seen Breakfast at Tiffany's, but seeing how it took place in Manhattan and I was headed there, I thought this book was apropos. Much to my surprise, it not only read like historical documentation of how the movie was made, but a sociological look at women in the 1950s and the roles Hollywood created them to play. Wasson dissects how Audrey Hepburn ushered in a new type woman...a type of woman who challenged preexisting ideas of gender, sexuality, and power, all while wearing a little black dress.
*Tinkers by Paul Harding.
I bought this book simply because it won the Pulitzer Prize. Ugh, I know. I was THAT girl in the bookstore...but cut me some slack, I was on a time crunch before I boarded my plane. Now here's the thing about this book: it's not just well written, it's SO well written. All these pretty words strung together like fireflies on a lonely clothesline. I enjoyed the read, but I just didn't get into the story as much as I wanted...and it was shame because I totally wanted to.
I started a new book last night while I was at the dog park with Polo and under the dim lights adjacent to my chair, I struck gold. And it's only chapter two. Can't wait to share about later, but until then I hope you're having a beautiful week and gearing up for kick-ball-changing of your own!
Happy Wednesday! |
    
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Good Reads : By Its Cover
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S he mailed it to me along with a Frommer's guide to London. Two books. I immediately grabbed the guide and used it for my trip a few months ago, but left the other book on my shelf, partially hidden. Gail sent me the guide and one of her recent favorite reads, Rebecca. And I kinda laughed when I saw the cover and shook my head because, really, did she really think I read Danielle Steele-ish lookalikes?
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Because of our strong similarities in book preferences, Gail emailed and asked if I started it. Uhhhh, makeupanexcuse...makeupanexcuse. It's the cover, isn't it? She came out and asked me plainly and I answered: YES. It's one of those books that looks like it belongs in a bargain bin on South Beach...the bin that ladies with long, pink acrylic nails thumb through just before their Bunko tournament.
I eventually picked up Rebecca and made my way through it's lyrical passages, falling in love with Maxim, Rebecca, and their love along the way. And--just like my mother always told me--you can't judge a book by its cover.
Here are a few other books I've read and absolutely endorse...
*The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. My book/photography friend Arielle contacted me and said I should probably get a jump start on this book...and then Gail emailed me and said I should pre-order...before it was even released the public. Of course I bought because I didn't want to feel like the kid stuck outside of the library during a literary sleep over. Written with such beautiful prose and a unique story line, I loved it. It started off so strong and somewhat petered out at the end, but it was delightful nevertheless! If you're looking for strong writing, a different kind of story, and a little bit of magic, this is for you!
*The Rules of Civility by Amor Towels. Oooooh, this! book! I finished this book in two days...I was smitten immediately with New York City in the 1930s. The story squarely revolves around Katherine Kontent and the struggles she must endure to find her voice, self, and, eventually love. But it's made complicated by the fact she hails from a family of Russian immigrants and tries to blend in with New York high society. Between the strong writing and the twists and turns, this book was a delightful read!
*The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. Where do I start with this book? It caught me off guard and was written in such a personal way my heart ached, lurched, and grew with each chapter. The book starts at Vicotoria's 18th birthday and release from the foster care system, painting a picture of her affinity to flowers, a language few can speak and which she is fluent. The book navigates her life through foster care, and shines with redemption, hope, and finding the ability to love. So, so good.
Happy reading, y'all, and if you've read something you're in love with, pass it along in the comment box...I love good suggestions! :) |
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Good Reads : Paula McLain + Melanie Benjamin
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| Without fail, he and Polo wait at the door for me when I come home. Without fail, he brings a glass of water to bed because he knows I'll ask for it at a later point in time. Without fail, I drive him crazy (no, really, Jasmine you're driving me crazy!!). Without fail, I'll beg to get into a photobooth...case in point at last Saturday's wedding: |
And without fail, he knows I need a book to maintain balance in my life (apparently watching Jersey Shore isn't considered an intellectual activity). In light of this, when I'm on the verge of falling over the edge, we go to a bookstore and roam the aisles for soul food. Because, without fail, it means he loves me.
Here's a few good books I've read lately...
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. Okay, so this book? Ah-maze. Written fluidly and I was lost in its pages for a few days...when I finished the last chapter, I made JD promise we'd live in Paris for a few weeks next year. No, really, Jasmine you're driving me crazy!! The story is historical fiction based on Ernest Hemingway's first wife, Hadie Hemingway, and their struggles to start his writing career. Her sacrifice, diligence, and love melted my heart and though it ends with sadness and pain, her life was truly remarkable. LOVED it.
A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway. Being so intrigued with Hemingway's personal life, I read his autobiography. It's incredible to read his words in light of McLain's research and juxtapose both versions. His tight, lean writing painted his life in Paris and Europe with beauty. I was especially fond of his chapter on hunger. Essentially, he says hungry artists are better artists because they want it more. It being writing for Hemingway, but I applied it to any artform, especially photography and how hunger for precision, success and authenticity reveals itself in need. And want.
Soul Cravings by Erwin McManus. This series of short essays by McManus was a nice break from my usual reading. Every chapter reveals McManus' insight on love, specifically the role God plays in loving humanity. More than anything, it challenged me to love beyond what I think I'm capable of. For this, I'm thankful.
Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin. Oh, wow. This book hit me like a swig of Nyquil. Soon enough I was dreaming of rabbit holes and Cheshire cats. I bought this book and was glued to it since I've always been fascinated with Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. The story is told through the voice of Alice, the real life girl for whom the story is dedicated. As the daughter of the Dean of Oxford (where Lewis taught mathematics), he befriended Alice and their story unfolds in the strangest of ways, revealing a new side to this child protagonist...who eventually grows up outside of Wonderland. A truly delightful read.
If you have book recommendations (I prefer only AWESOME BOOKS), please feel free to let me know what they are since I'm always on the look out for good reads! Happy Tuesday! |
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Good Reads : Rebecca Skloot + Ann Tyler
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I t was close to 1am and the bedside lamp made oblong shadows on the far wall. JD woke at midnight and asked me to close the book, but I promised it was just a few more pages. When I got the end, my eyes filled with tears. And gratitude. That's what a good book does for me. I turned off the light, molded into the curve of JD's spine, and said an evening prayer. The kind of prayers my mom used to say when she put me to bed as a child and made me laugh. Angels dancing above my head and sweet dreams (which I presumed meant aisles filled with candy). That's what a good book does for me. Perhaps that's why my dearest friends know when to pass along a good book...
*Today We Are Rich by Tim Sanders. This book was given to me by David Jay, a huge proponent of reading business books. He was so excited about this book he gave a copy to both me and JD. I finished it in a few days and it's a great read because while it touches on business aspects of life, its focus is on life aspects of life. Quality time, appreciation, and balance...I needed to read it.
*The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. My dear friend Gail sent me this book all the way from Indiana, so it's extra special to me. It's the true story of procuring, acquisition, and fostering of cells that changed the course of history and science, but the cells were taken without Henrietta's knowledge. It's story of bio ethics and legal battles and chronicles the lives of her children and as grapple with her death and legacy.
*The Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. When my friend Brianna placed the book on my bed, I didn't know what to think. Our taste in books is...well...she sometimes reads books with a silhouetted poodle and french girl on a pink cover. Umm, yeah. This true story is the intersection of a homeless man and a prominent art dealer in Texas whose lives become dependent on each other through a series of heartbreaking events. It reads like a movie and I cried like a baby. |
*Back When We Were Grown Ups by Anne Tyler. My mother gave me a Barnes&Noble gift card, so when Gail recommended this book, I immediately snagged it. And it didn't disappoint. The way Tyler writes is near perfection. The flow, the narration, her ability to draw a reader in...augh...beautiful! The story is about Rebecca's struggle determining--later in life--who she is, who she might have been, and who she thought she'd be. And the balance between her thoughts and the ever-present pressure of family life. I loved it.
If you have a good book, pass it to a friend. If they're anything like me, it'll make them feel loved. Happy Wednesday! |
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Good Reads : Steven Pressfield + Jennifer Egan
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A couple weeks ago, JD and I accompanied our friend on a blind(ish) date. We sat at an outdoor cafe in Corona Del Mar and the seabreeze rushed across our faces as we laughed over initial introductions. We met for brunch and as we ordered food, I couldn't help but stare from the corner of my eye. I haven't been on a first date in 14 years, so watching two people meet and do that soft dance of leantouchsmiletouchlaugh intrigued me. It was like an unedited episode of The Bachelor!
Later that night, I turned to JD and high-fived him for being a great wingman. I mean, weren't we, like, PROFESSIONAL DATERS or something?! Of course his encouragement did nothing for my pipe dream of being a legit matchmaker...and then photographing the wedding. Duh. At the end of the date, we walked back to the car and I wondered what would come of two beautiful people meeting at a cafe, whose story just might have started that day. I smiled to myself and thought it sounded like the start of a great book.
Speaking of great books, I've been trying to keep up with reading, so here's an update to my reading list...and a dog named Polo Bear... |
*The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. I casually mentioned this book during creativeLIVE and have heard nothing but great things from people who've read it since the recommendation...so, yes, I still maintain this book is sheer awesomeness. My friend David Wenzel gifted the book to me and it radically changed my approach to my work and embracing discipline in my art. It's so, so good.
*The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. I was given this book by a blog reader in Ohio and I was blown away by her kindness! There were moments while reading this book when I was completely enraptured, and then moments when I sighed in exasperation. Setterfield is, clearly, an amazing writer, but elements of the story (oh, like when a cat leads Margaret into the garden in the dead of night?!) that frustrated me. I'm a huge fan of fiction, but all the mention of ghosts and serendipitous events made the story less believable. I still, however, read until the end and enjoyed it overall.
*A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan. Halfway through the book, I debated finishing it. The prose, the flow, and the diction was beautifully perfect, and Egan masterfully crafted interlocking stories, but it was just...so...raw. It oozes drugs, sex, and rock&roll and, well, I've just been sheltered from that stuff. Why, yes, I'm a candidate for Homeschooler of the Year, too. I finished the book and I'm glad I did because the Powerpoint chapter made the entire book worth it all. It was incredibly beautifully written. Oh, and it won the Pulitzer. Not too shabby, eh?
*Bossypants by Tina Fey. Need I get into this book? Because, well, it's Tina Fey. That should be enough, but in case it's not, please realize this book will make you laugh in public. It was common for me to hold up the book so people wouldn't think I was laughing to the voices in my head. It's part autobiographic, part life lessons, part awesome. Definitely an enjoyable and easy read.
Happy Thursday! |
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