"The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini came highly recommended to me. I must confess I'm disappointed. I liked the first half of the book, which paints the picture of a family in pre-Taliban Kabul.I especially the loved the portrayal of child-like innocence and naivete' in the characterisation of Hassan. After a while, though, the story got too predictable, too cliche'd. Ok - so it is set in Afghanistan which is a change from the usual, but how many times have we read about betrayal, bullies, redemption ? Forever? The story IS touching, but it's just been told before. Period. My suspicion that this would end up being another Hollywood movie proved right. It is currently in pre-production, possibly out in 2007.

Some excerpts from Kurt Cobain's 'Journals' that I just read -

 

Opening page:

"Don't read my diary when I'm gone.

OK, I'm going to work now. When you wake up this morning, please read my diary. Look through my things and figure me out."

 

From the entry 'Reversion relapse':

"Such high expectations, so much support, everyone wants it more than me.Almost feel like I'm doing it for them.Infinity does not exist.Mathematics are based on Base 10. Numerical variations are the synthesis of retrogression, such being: reactive, cause and effect, cummunicational, social interplay with situations amongst people, music, spots, war and regional determination of botanical /herbacious possibilities. Hi, I don't have dyslexia. An infrared light will simulate the sun in terms of winter....

...I feel there is a universal sense amongst our generation that everything has been said and done. True. But who cares. It could still be fun to pretend..."

 

From another note-

"..Once I saw Jesus on a Tortilla shell.."

 

"My lyrics are a big pile of contradictions. They are split down the middle between very sincere opinions and feelings that I have and sarcastic and hopefully - humorous rebuttles towards cliche' - bohemian ideals that have been exhausted for years. I mean it seems like there are only two options forsongwriters - either they're sad,tragic visionaries like Morrisey and Michael Stripe or Robert Smith ot there's the goofy, nutty white boy, hey, let's party and forget everything people like Van Halen or all that other heavy metal crap."

 

"Censorship is VERY American.

I have met many minds able to store and translate a pregnantly large amount of information, yet they haven't an ounce of talent for wisom or the appreciation of passion. The conspiracy towards success in America is immediacy. To expose in great repetition to the minds of small attention spans. Fast, speedy, now, with even more nacho cheese flavour! Here today, gone tomorrow because yesterday's following was nothing more than a *tool* in every individual's need for self importance, entertainment and social rituals. Art that has long lasting vaue cannot be appreciated by majorities..."

 

"Nihilism is a fine building block to construct a foundation of ideals but don't let the termites come in."

 

Must say this is one interesting book! Other than the notes, there are loads of skectches, original manuscripts of songs, cartoons(often featuring his parents, I think), concepts/art work for album covers, numerous lists like 'Things the band should do', lists of Cobain's pet hates - which are pretty funny, drawings of guitars, a seahorse!, Elvis Cooper, and some bizarre notes, like the pictorial represention of how he wanted 'In Utero' recorded in the studio - the setting, amp settings, et al. Btw, 'In Utero' was originally intended to be called ' I hate myself and I want to die'.

 

Really refreshing change from the other mundane books I've been reading.

 

 

 

If you haven't already heard of it, "Bookmooch" is a community for exchanging used books. What ? Why? How? - that's all [ here ]. So, if you want a book but don't really want to buy it and its not in your neighbourhood library, this seems like a good option. But hold it right there - there's always a 'give' before you 'take', so you need to have a few books that you are willing to give away. Works if you bought a book and you ended up chewing on it for a couple of months without really getting anywhere. Hmm!! Personally I prefer to keep my books, with the hope that someday I'll read them all...but it seems to work for a lot of people, if the statistics on the site are to be believed.