Let The Reading Begin. And Fun Feature: Creepy Marzipan Babies

First thing today, I walked into a metal barrier at the entrance to the library. I smashed my leg as hard as I could and kept walking. I read for an hour and checked my email and two hours later, I looked down. My jeans were covered in blood. I hadn’t stopped bleeding from the gash in my leg and I hadn’t even known I was bleeding to begin with!

All through my first seminar today (which rocked, by the way) my leg was pouring blood. I have to admit I feel pretty hardcore about this. But also fascinated by my ability to go for two hours without realizing blood is draining from my own body. It made me question what state I’m in that I’m so detached from myself.

My seminar had a genius icebreaker, maybe the best one ever, that was not just an icebreaker but also relevant to the topic (which was the revolt of objects). We had to go around the room and talk about what was a deal-breaker when it came to dating. I mentioned my hatred of horses and also something related to a question I have about a person that I’m thinking about sleeping with right now (though I won’t go into detail on this blog).

The stories people shared were so funny. One of the best parts was when Phillip told everyone that his name actually means “lover of horses” in Greek, so he and I could never be together. At the end of the two-hour very academic seminar, our professor wrapped it up by letting us know we’ll all meet someone right for us at some point.


I ran across this amazing website of babies made entirely of marzipan while researching the sugary substance. They're so creepy, I can't help feeling like they're fabulous.

With my new mentor, I worked out my proposed reading list for the semester. Here’s the list for Riva and mom and anyone else who cares to read along:

Tobias Wolff (surprise, surprise) - This Boy’s Life
J.M. Coetzee- Disgrace
Andrew Greer- Confessions of Max Tivoli
Elizabeth McCracken – The Giant’s House
Nathan Englander – Relief of Unbearable Urges (remember this one, Aimee?)
Andre Dubus – Adultery and Other Choices
Howard Norman – The Bird Artist
Amy Bloom – Come to Me
Junot Diaz – Drown
Jane Smiley – Age of Grief
Any stories I haven’t read by Flannery O’Connor
Richard Ford – Independence Day
Kazuo Ishiguro – Remains of the Day
Saul Bellow – Herzog
Michael Cunningham – The Hours (hated the movie, but the book is supposed to be way better)
Ian McEwan – Atonement and Saturday (I keep planning on reading him and not doing it.)
Tim O’Brien – In the Lake Of The Woods
Grace Paley- Collected Stories
Charles Baxter – Burning Down the House
I might try to read ZZ Packer’s stories again, only because one of my stories keeps reminding people of her book.
Prisoners: A Muslim and a Jew Across The Divide – Jeffrey Goldberg