imaginarycircus

It was snowing for 30 seconds. Life was perfect for 30 seconds. Me curled up on the couch with my laptop and papers and kitten--a big cup of cofee, and snow outside--what could be better? Certainly not the minus five degree weather tomorrow. Not my utter failure to produce new pages of this novel.

Last night I took the wrong train out of 125th Street. I know better, but I hopped on the Hudson line anyway. I had to get off in Riverdale and make a pitiful call to David to come and rescue me. The Riverdale platform is creepy at night when no one is there and there is no station. I'm such a dork face.

My professor told me to read Stanley Elkin's "Magic Kingdom" because it reminds him of my novel in a way. I'm not sure how a novel about terminally ill children having a last fling in Disney World is like my novel about a runaway nun--but I just ordered it from the Strand. I love the order online for pickup option they have because when I go into the Strand I get so overwhelmed I can't remember what I wanted to read, or I can never find it if I bring a list. 18 miles of books is too much for me. I just get a headache.

I'm well read pre-1920, or maybe pre-1890. But my reading 20th century, and really post-1960 literature is woefully spotty. I cringe in class when the professor asks have you read my favorite writer X? Because usually I haven't. Latest example? Have you read Cormac McCarthy? Um, no. I have been meaning to. Thankfully the next question was have you read Calvino. YES! Yes, I have.

I need a list I can refer to. So Let's make one.

my current reading list is:

Michael Ondaatje's The Collected Works of Billy the Kid read
Stanley Elkin's The Magic Kingdom (purchased)
David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas (purchased)
Paula Fox's Borrowed Finery (purchased) read
Joan Didion (several of her books)
David Hollander's L.I.E. especially because he is my prof this semester (purchased)
Ben Rice's Pobby and Dingan (purchased)
Rob Thomas's YA novels
Brockmeier's The Truth About Celia
Margo Lanagan's Black Juice
Hannah Tinti's Animal Crackers
Scott Snyder's Voodoo Heart
Zz Packer's Drinking Coffee Elsewhere
Jeffrey Eugeninedes The Virgin Suicides read and Middlesex
Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones because I see it mentioned all the dang time.
Brian Hall's Saskiad
John Hawkes
Cormac McCarthy All the Pretty Horses read
Ryan Harty's Bring Me Your Saddest Arizona

Recommendations? Anyone got any?