Baby Baby - Haters
... the other Black experience
books that changed your life.
i think i was programed from birth to adore reading. With both of my grandmothers being librarians, there was never a lack of literature in my home. As I got older and began to develop my own personal appreciation of art, I found certain novels that pushed through me, and changed who I was as a person. Although I am always searching for a new bound copy of my dreams, it seems like I always go back to the same stories. These are the books that have changed who I am. These are the stories that diagram my life, these are the novels that i can recite every word from every page, the books that are like sex and drugs and raw emotion and life.
1. THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES- RAY BRADBURY
I remember being assigned this as "Summer Reading" in the 7th grade. I spent that summer on the Eastern Shore with my father, eating oysters and roaming the desolate streets of that island. This story of man's exploration and cultivation became the basis behind the way I perceive the world. This tale of want and need, and imperialism the pain, agony and defeat that comes with starting life, and ending other. The Naming of Names.... There will Come Soft Rains... House if Usher II..... Ray Bradbury and his dark portrayal of the destructive nature of man. This book changed my life.
2. FINNEGAN'S WAKE- JAMES JOYCE
where do i begin. James Joyce, James Joyce. stream of consciousness. this book which has found its way to my bedside many of nights, always leaves me differently. there are times when the utter beauty of dreams and language, and not having to format that to prose overwhelms me. And then there are times where i anger myself at not being born int the 1920 and writing this first. Joyce has truly helped me form my style as a writer, as a dreamer as a nocturnal being. This book has changed my life.
3. CASTING STONES- HELEN CHASIN
I found this book hidden in a poetry section of my high school library. The slip in the back said it hadnt been checked out since 1992. This small, dirty book, with frayed edges and stained paper contains words that i speak everyday. The second book of poetry from this unknown women written in the 1970s, was full of rage and hate, sex and lust and fear, and complete admiration and passion and magic. She sits on the back cover, smoking in her long hair. Inside she breathes life into her strange poetry, written with no form but her own. Poems like "News" and "Perception" felt like they came directly from my heart, through my hands, and onto these pages. To this day I have yet to find another copy, mine worn and beaten from constant love and affection... I love this book. I carry this book in my purse. This book has changed my life.
4. ALICE IN WONDERLAND- CHARLES LUDWIG DODGSON
How naive we are to think that just because there's rabbits, and little girls and a tea parties, that its a children s book. Even as I read this in my youth, I absorbed the underlying currants that this tale of a little girl and her fantasy world had to offer. And then Jefferson Airplane summed it up. This book is actually kind of scary, filled with dark illusions to life in Britain circa 1800s. Charles and his all to demented mind, makes Alice a pawn in his opium induced dreams. One pill makes you bigger, and one pill makes you small.... feed you head. This book changed my life.
5. REST AREA- CLAY MCLEOD CHAPMAN
If you are from Virginia, then im sure you know of this man. I have been in love with Clay since I was in the 10th grade and i sat Indian style in front of his feet and listen to him read aloud his tales of demented love and loss. This man, dressed in a white shirt, khakis and a beard found his way into my heart through my ears. Still after watching him on various stages, set to music, close quarters, face to face, the magic and fear of his words only grows stronger. These short stories ranging in style and texture, all came together over a common good. Shock, mystery and amazement. He twist his tales and bends the lines between what is acceptable fiction and what is deranged reality. Being from Richmond, I feel like everything he writes could, will and has happened in this city. He made me change the way i look at things around me. These streets are filled with the dead and their tales. And Clay just happened to write about it. This book has changed my life.
So many others....so many others....so many others....
these books are changing my life.
1. THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES- RAY BRADBURY
I remember being assigned this as "Summer Reading" in the 7th grade. I spent that summer on the Eastern Shore with my father, eating oysters and roaming the desolate streets of that island. This story of man's exploration and cultivation became the basis behind the way I perceive the world. This tale of want and need, and imperialism the pain, agony and defeat that comes with starting life, and ending other. The Naming of Names.... There will Come Soft Rains... House if Usher II..... Ray Bradbury and his dark portrayal of the destructive nature of man. This book changed my life.
2. FINNEGAN'S WAKE- JAMES JOYCE
where do i begin. James Joyce, James Joyce. stream of consciousness. this book which has found its way to my bedside many of nights, always leaves me differently. there are times when the utter beauty of dreams and language, and not having to format that to prose overwhelms me. And then there are times where i anger myself at not being born int the 1920 and writing this first. Joyce has truly helped me form my style as a writer, as a dreamer as a nocturnal being. This book has changed my life.
3. CASTING STONES- HELEN CHASIN
I found this book hidden in a poetry section of my high school library. The slip in the back said it hadnt been checked out since 1992. This small, dirty book, with frayed edges and stained paper contains words that i speak everyday. The second book of poetry from this unknown women written in the 1970s, was full of rage and hate, sex and lust and fear, and complete admiration and passion and magic. She sits on the back cover, smoking in her long hair. Inside she breathes life into her strange poetry, written with no form but her own. Poems like "News" and "Perception" felt like they came directly from my heart, through my hands, and onto these pages. To this day I have yet to find another copy, mine worn and beaten from constant love and affection... I love this book. I carry this book in my purse. This book has changed my life.
4. ALICE IN WONDERLAND- CHARLES LUDWIG DODGSON
How naive we are to think that just because there's rabbits, and little girls and a tea parties, that its a children s book. Even as I read this in my youth, I absorbed the underlying currants that this tale of a little girl and her fantasy world had to offer. And then Jefferson Airplane summed it up. This book is actually kind of scary, filled with dark illusions to life in Britain circa 1800s. Charles and his all to demented mind, makes Alice a pawn in his opium induced dreams. One pill makes you bigger, and one pill makes you small.... feed you head. This book changed my life.
5. REST AREA- CLAY MCLEOD CHAPMAN
If you are from Virginia, then im sure you know of this man. I have been in love with Clay since I was in the 10th grade and i sat Indian style in front of his feet and listen to him read aloud his tales of demented love and loss. This man, dressed in a white shirt, khakis and a beard found his way into my heart through my ears. Still after watching him on various stages, set to music, close quarters, face to face, the magic and fear of his words only grows stronger. These short stories ranging in style and texture, all came together over a common good. Shock, mystery and amazement. He twist his tales and bends the lines between what is acceptable fiction and what is deranged reality. Being from Richmond, I feel like everything he writes could, will and has happened in this city. He made me change the way i look at things around me. These streets are filled with the dead and their tales. And Clay just happened to write about it. This book has changed my life.
So many others....so many others....so many others....
these books are changing my life.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by SaintGermaine on -
Wow, a Finnegan's Wake fan! The world is a cell for critters to sit in. Indeed.
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Permalink Reply by SaintGermaine on
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A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle
As I'm sure some of you know, being a kid that doesn't fit in is tough. I think I was in the 3rd grade when I first met misfit Meg Murray and her autistic super-genius brother Charles Wallace. Madeleine L'Engle's books were the best escape pod I could imagine. I'm very grateful she wrote them.
Breakfast of Champions
This was the first Kurt Vonnegut novel I read; I got it off my mom's bookshelf. While probably not his best work, this was the one that introduced me to the gentle cruelty of Kurt Vonnegut. "We are here to help each other get through this thing. Whatever it is."
The Essential Ellison by Harlan Ellison
In high school Harlan Ellison was my idol. He was the writer as warrior, boldly pushing the boundaries of consciousness in the ongoing battle to maintain his dignity in a bizarre and often painful world. It was science fiction as battle cry. I recently had the opportunity to meet the man himself. He lived up to his surly, razor sharp reputation, at the ripe old age of 82!
The Book of the Subgenius by JR Bob Dobbs
Wow, a religion made just for me! UFO's, bigfoots, conspiracies, sex, slack! This was the bible around our off-campus apartment back in college, and I still think its message is one worth listening to. Think for yourself, turn your life into an adventure, "Don't just eat that hamburger, eat THE HELL out of it!"
Out of This World: The Poetry Project at St. Mark's Church, ed. by Anne Waldman
I've never understood why they teach poetry by single authors in most college classes, it took this anthology I found used to really open me up to it way back in my Freshman year, and it's still my favorite. It's out of print, but you can still get used copies on Amazon
Journey To The End of Night by Celine
There's more to Celine's darkly comic masterpiece than draft-dodging, corpse dropping and sex on the go. There's also a deep compassion for the tragedy of the human condition, and a desire towards transcendence through style and attitude. We laugh to keep from crying.
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles by Haruki Murakami
In 2000 I was out of work and wandering around the city all alienated and depressed when my roommates mother gave me this book to read, about a Japanese guy who's pretty much doing the same thing. It's been one of my favorite novels since then. It's a surealistic masterpeace about finding the hidden meaning and inner strangeness in ordinary life. Just brilliant.
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Permalink Reply by ladypaige on -
journey to the end of night is number 7 on my list, ah dear. you struck a cord. god that book is fucking amazing.
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Permalink Reply by Rosenda on -
Modern Primitives: by Research/VSearch Publications. A fascinating informational classic.
Everything in depth about body modification. The comprehensive study part about the Polynesian islanders tattooing traditions with pictures about the meanings is FASCINATING. Old school and new school tattoo artists, this came out about 20 years ago but it's still very relevant and great reading.
Actually..........all the other early ReSearch publications are AWESOME and LIFE CHANGING. The one with detailed long conversations with William Burroughs and Brion Gysin is GREAT and wonderful. I also like the two Pranks! books, they are hilarious. I really really enjoyed the stuff about Survival Research Laboratories work by Mark Pauline. That is a real trip that he actually damaged his hand permanently "messing with rocket fuel" as he put it so clearly in his interview.
If you gotta get one you have to get MODERN PRIMITIVES. That is amazing, it truly is. You hear from so many people and their reasons and history in that art form and everything. Some of it is serious and some it totally funny.
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Permalink Reply by Rosenda on
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Two more life changing books, also from ReSearch Publications:
These book also completely blow my mind and expanded my universe. :)
Industrial Culture Handbook: ReSearch 6/7
W.S. Burroughs, Brion Gysin, Throbbing Gristle: ReSearch 4/5
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Permalink Reply by SaintGermaine on
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Oh, I remember those Research books, they are the used book sale holy grail!
Rosenda said:Two more life changing books, also from ReSearch Publications:
These book also completely blow my mind and expanded my universe. :)
Industrial Culture Handbook: ReSearch 6/7
W.S. Burroughs, Brion Gysin, Throbbing Gristle: ReSearch 4/5
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Permalink Reply by RobertTidwell on -
the book that changed my life was American Gods by Neil Gaiman. It made me love reading again and showed me a world of story telling that I didn't know existed, when I looked Neil Gaiman up and found he'd writen comics. I now write comics.
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Permalink Reply by smartblackgirl on -
As a librarian, I could list a million books, but I won't. Here are just some of my faves.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker. It changed the way I look at Black women, Africa,everything.
House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper. A Liberian writer writes about my parents' homeland and the war that tore it apart and her search for her lost sister.
A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah. A soldier from Sierra Leone writes about his life as a child soldier and how he escaped.
Nickel and Dimed/This Land is Their Land by Barbara Ehrenreich. Two books that give a funny and sad look at economic inequality in America.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Classic book about the evils of racism and judging people that are different.
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Permalink Reply by MER on -
Bridgman's Complete Guide to Drawing from Life or any Bridgman's book series.
It's a insanely great book that helped me a lot when I was in school. It just opened my eyes on how to deal with the human figure.
I kind of wish I knew about this book sooner. It's been around since the 50's but wasn't compiled together until later.
He's Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys
This book opened my eyes to understand how to properly date a man. I have serious trouble doing it and I always end up coming off needy when I don't mean to be b/c I'm not that kind of person.
I think that's all. I don't have too many books in comparison to movies that opened my eyes.
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Permalink Reply by LesYpersound on -
fernando pessoa's poetry... easily... it's blowing my mind at this moment. :]
camus' myth of sisyphus (philosophy essay) ...rebel and choose the absurd meaninglessness that is life! be.
a few chapters from tolstoy's the kingdom of god is within you ...spiritual anarchism
john kenneth galbraith ...liberalism argument for government control/restraints for greater freedom and providing for the real opportunity for the masses to self-organize
edward said on humanism and democratic criticism ...specifically the bit about philology... and the part that blew my mind was actually a quote for someone else on how language, letters, writing has become or is a communal living art form that belongs and is recreated a new by everyone and anyone interacting with it. so it goes without saying that his book on orientalism is life changing for anyone into critical race theory. :]
frantz fanon's the wretched of the earth
hannah arendt's the origins of totalitarianism
gloria anzaldua's la frontera/borderlands
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Permalink Reply by Madamoiselle De Sade on -
1984
Tuck Everlasting (that movie ruined it)
To Kill A Mockingbird
The Outsiders
My 3 Grandfathers- a short poem,
Hiroshima no Piko
Dragon Kite
My Name is Asher Lev
The Iliad
Nectar Through a Sieve/Nectar in a Sieve
Siddartha
Fences by August Wilson (play version)
Lolita (because it can be interpreted more ways than just "pedophilia is gross")
Rhinoceros- All I remember is being calm after reading this. I liked it so much I directed the condensed version for my senior final. All my energy was focused into the absurd.
And I remember in 8th grade this book about a Native American girl running away and hiking thousands of miles to see her father only to find he didn't remember her/was distant. Instead of returning home she lived with the wolves. Name! *brain fart* Really helped me figure out some stuff. Everything I've listed helped me use introspection to put things together about myself. I'm missing a lot but it's late/early.
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