It's Over: The Great Slanty Read-A-Thon, And Stealing Buddha's Dinner

While I know I shouldn't feel this good - I can't help it - I don't really do this that much anymore because like I've said in the past I'm illiterate when it comes to actual books these days - especially when it comes to reading for fun.

But after deciding late Saturday night to forgo hookers, gambling, strippers, copious amounts of drugs, and blowing my money on other needless (albeit fun) activities - who would have thunk it - I ended up reading this thing from cover to cover in one sitting because I happened to enjoy it that much (although I did need a couple of smokes because I couldn't handle the shakes anymore - which is my own fault for trying to rid my body of vices for one evening cold turkey style).

I think what got me about it was that deep down it was a story about food and relationships where everything revolved around food (or at least seemed to be): the mixing of cultures and race, being Asian in a White world, Asian versus Asian American, the ties of family - in that sense I guess I read it like I've watched Eat Drink Man Woman, Mostly Martha, The Scent of Green Papaya, or Like Water For Chocolate - I saw it, I tasted it, and I guess in the end, I just wanted to know how it ended.

It probably also didn't hurt that it was an Asian American story, because if I look at the books I actually have been drawn too, those ones I just don't want to put down - even if they are few and far between - they're Asian American stories, by Asian American writers.

And I think there's something to be said for that.

Now I'm not going to say I'll be picking up a book a month, or even with the extra time in my read-a-thon another full blown on novel (because technically it's over now that I've fulfilled my below average expectations -- and like a good Asian American setting the bar low I've actually overachieved and I'd like to keep that taste in my mouth) but who knows - maybe I'll forgo another night of debauchery and instead curl up with a good book.

P.S.

It would help greatly if the next book had something to do with being Asian American, the main character had an aversion to clothes, and there was a chapter in it about street food - and there should be heavy drug use in it too - but not the life sucks intervention style I'm going to kill myself drug use type of story, but more along the lines of "who knew we would end up in a field of weed with a dog named Muddles and two strippers named Tommy and Cheryl handcuffed to our arms just as it seemed all hope was lost in getting the money for Mr. Chu's operation so he could finally live his life as Donita Nguyen".

Because I'd be all over that.

Update: The Great Slanty Read-A-Thon

As some of you already know, I embarked on a seemingly herculean task otherwise known as The Great Slanty Read-A-Thon - and while I'm not ashamed to say that I still have yet to make it to page 5 of my book (and I'll probably have to re-read those pages again) I have made it however to page 45 of Secret Identities - and I figure there's something to be said for that.

So that's what I'm saying.

The Great Slanty Read-A-Thon Update AKA Random Stuff

About one month ago as some of you know I started The Great Slanty Read-A-Thon (I almost typed "Read-A-Thong" for moment btw) and I'm here to update you on my status.

Here's a few of the things I've done so far:

• Read about The Evolution of Asian Male Porn in America and pondered the thought of the AM/WF on camera versus the AM/AF/BF/WF on camera.
  
• Took in a little news on Patsy Mink via Sylvie K as well as caught her dressed up for SF's WonderCon alongside a Yip Yip from a little bit ago.
  
• I watched the really bad film My Girlfriend is a Cyborg after I saw the ass kicking film Taken. My Girlfriend is a Cyborg was so bad I almost dedicated a whole post to it, but then I came to my senses and decided it didn't deserve it. I'm not going to say it didn't have its moments - but that was part of it - it was so frustrating because it could have been a decent movie if she wasn't really a cyborg and it was a completely different film altogether.
  
• Caught down at allkpop.com the recap of the NY JYP Tour where I read the Wonder Girls put on a great show, although I didn't actually go through all 100+ pictures.
  
• Wondered to myself if I should really eat a whole jar of pickles.
  
• Ate the whole jar of pickles.

While there's more I could probably add here - as you might have already figured out, I haven't actually opened the book up yet.

It's just there.

Starring at me.

The Great Slanty Read-A-Thon

Just in case you weren't aware I'm kind of illiterate when it comes to actual books, but with a new year and a new President that hopes for change, I decided to make a little change as well and set a hopefully somewhat attainable goal of finishing at least one book in the year of 2009.

Now I what you're going to say and I completely agree with you - I might be setting the bar a little high and pushing the boundaries of what's humanly possible.

But I'm Asian and that's what we do.

We overachieve.

Now like every good Asian American who sets a goal, I'm not going into this blind - I have a plan.

I figure with 256 pages to my book, that comes out to around 21 pages per month which is about 5 pages per week. I know I probably won't read every day, so that means some weeks I'll have to make up some time in one sitting. Since I'm usually a slow reader with most books (like actually mouthing out the words slow) and I'm also a little A.D.D., I'm thinking that I'm going to need something to keep me in my chair long enough to sit there and read -- which would be good alcoholic beverages. But that also poses a problem.

Since I'll probably be a little too buzzed as I'm reading (because I just don't know when to say stop) - I just may not remember everything I read which then means I'm going to have to re-read what I just read - which is really doubling the time - so that really means I can't get behind because I'm never going to finish this book (just like my 2008 in review which btw I'm taking another week to do because the week and the weekend just got away from me).

If that doesn't sound like a plan anymore - you're right. But I figure I have to start somewhere.

You might be asking the question of how I decided to choose the book I did (which would be the one pictured above) for my Slanty Read-A-Thon.

I actually picked up this book over a year or ago for the following simple reasons:

1. It had a shiny black cover.
2. The cover had pictures of food.
3. It was an Asian American author.
4. A few of the chapter names are "Pringles", "Toll House Cookies", and "Green Sticky Rice Cakes".

I know, not a lot going on in my decision process as far as anyone with a MFA is concerned, but since I'm book illiterate, you really shouldn't be that surprised.

So there you have it. Even though I haven't actually opened the book since I first got it except to see how many pages were in it, I still have to go shopping for good reading alcohol, and I've been delaying this post for about two weeks - it's now in stone - I've committed to finishing "the book" (and I just might be posting on my "progress" in the future).

And if you're book illiterate like myself - or even if you're not (you people who read a book a week) - feel free to join in on the Slanty Read-A-Thon. Pick an Asian or Asian American author that you've maybe been wanting to read for a year (or maybe two) and see if it feels good to crack it open and give it a try - because it's not like there's a timetable :)