18 years old with my Sandman graphic novel
The main influences of my high school years that have stuck are Anne Rice, Bauhaus, Joy Division, Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, Tim Burton, and Neil Gaiman. I don’t know who I would be without those artists. They’ve directed me in places to go, how to dress, how to identify myself, and who my friends are.
Zadie Smith’s NW is about different people living in Northeast London who are connected through time and environment. NW is a modern masterpiece. Smith easily weaves pop culture and classic literary references into tableaus that eventually all connect. Her novel includes narrative, lists, stream of consciousness, and vignettes. She writes about interracial friendship, interracial marriage, interclass marriage and within these different relationships she explores perception versus actuality. In NW Smith questions what is authentic and what authentic means to each individual.
Chuck Palahniuk released a sequel to Damned. It’s called Doomed. And he’s touring to support the launch of his book. Last month Palahniuk spoke in conjunction with the Commonwealth Club at The Castro Theatre with John Law, Carrie Galbraith, and Kevin Evans about the Cacophony Society. It was quite a production. You sat according to your ticket level. I had purchased a book in advance so that secured me a better seat than just a regular lecture ticket. This appearance was not related to his newest book at all.
Goth Grammarist 