no excess

I found this story on the "New Voices" portion of Granta.com. Please read it. It is short and very fascinating. I remember in college attempting to write a story from the second person and becoming so entirely befuddled at how to make it sound natural that I recall crying for days. The young writer of the story I linked to not only beautifully used the second person but seamlessly intertwined it with a first person that does not break up the flow or seem like a cop-out. I am jealous and intrigued. Also I love the brevity of each thought. There is no excess and in that way it gains a true poetic voice. It reminded me of the first twenty minutes of the new Pixar movie, UP, in how it gently and reverently guides you through a couple simple, romantic lives without belaboring anything yet skimping on nothing.

I am truly, truly inspired by this story. I want to write like that. Ever since college I have been so enamoured by authors who can write volumes by writing a few perfect paragraphs. I wish to live my life in that manner as well. Full and simple.

brandonpiercegeary

a shower a day...

It goes without saying that having a day off is a welcome respite. Or should be rather. Today I had a day off work and I feel more exhausted than ever. I do not feel like going to get our car looked at (even though the accident wasn't Melissa's fault and the lady's insurance will surely cover the expenses). I do not feel like reading the Haruki Marukami novel that I should have finished by now (even though everyone else in the reading group read ahead and finished the novel before we had a chance to discuss the first four chapters like we were supposed to so now I look like an even slower reader than the one I actually am). I do not feel like picking up after myself (even though I have been all day). And I do not feel like sleeping (even though I have stumbled through my day in a mysterious half-slumber since I got out of the shower).

And I believe I have finally discovered the base issue. I should not have taken a shower this morning. I find that if I wake up before seven o'clock a shower is just the right remedy for a newly awoken body. I also find that if I wake up after ten o'clock a shower is a lengthy chore that puts a kink in an otherwise productive day. I can prove this is so, just look at today. Lethargy city.

brandonpiercegeary