Random Book Finds

I feel this is going to be a regular "column" here, and, if it grows to that, or if there is demand for it, this will get its own blog.

So, I've found out that going to the local branch library and plucking books on a basis that is a little more than random; via marketing on the spine and cover, to some degree, has turned out very wonderfully.

In this way, I discovered the work of Douglas Coupland, who I've since adopted as the standard by which I tend to measure other authors. His book JPod, was one of my first random finds.



This time, the books were Red Eye, Black Eye by K. Thor Jensen, which kind of opened my eyes to the graphic novel genre, as well as the fact that there is a section of such in library; and Crooked Little Vein: A Novel (P.S.), by Warren Ellis, which I found in lieu of the Bret Easton Ellis I was looking for after seeing a favorable book review.


Both turned out to be great finds. They most often do. Once in a while I find a total bore, and just return it without reading it. But, it can be a great way to find new books and authors, and ya gotta love this method of free-finding. Yes, you gotta, or I'll find you, and kick you. Ok, I'll only dope slap you, but still. You do not want to be dope slapped when you could be loving this method instead.


Red Eye, Black Eye, charts the author/ animator's Greyhound trip around the country, from New York, when he lost his job, right around 9/11 (lightly referenced in pictures.) It is very light reading, and came as a huge wake up call. Why haven't I been reading graphic novels this whole time?! I think books, I didn't always find them easy to follow, or interesting, or whatever. Probably the wrong book, wrong environment was all that was going on there. There are some total treasures among the ranks of the 'literary comic book.' This is one of them.

Jensen appears very skilled in summarizing a day of his life in a very compact format, allowing us to experience his travels vicariously through him, as well as meeting interesting characters (couch surfing hosts,) in the same way. He also presents their stories, so we have the opportunity to experience a minute from several other people's lives in less than an hour.
It feels very real (because of course, it was real,) and I felt very connected to the experience, having had my own share of Greyhound adventures.

As a result of the latter, this book has inspired me to consider my own, related to my own experiences. I'm not a professional artist, but then again, Jensen may not be either. Yet, his book is quite fun to read. I hope to see more from him.

Crooked Little Vein, is a well-written, modern novel which maintains enough humor and weirdness to be a page turner. Like the previous author, I don't think Ellis has published much/ anything else. He may either be a little bit of a blood-crazed psycho, or else favors using shockers like blood in a toilet bowl, a bartender who wears another human's scalp, and bukkake. For this reason, I don't feel that his work is that deep or pensive, but it is entertaining.