Even though I’m a writer, and an avid fan of art, in general, I’ll admit that I have always been an on and off reader. Raised without television, I read religiously up until the day that I packed my bags and headed off to college. College, however, was a different story. I was always flustered between classes and two jobs and simply couldn’t make the time to read anything other than what I HAD to read.

Now that college is a thing of the past for me, I’ve luckily been able to set aside more time these days for reading, but - sometimes - I need a little inspiration.

Needless to say, I was psyched when Spin Magazine invited me to be a member of their book club. I took up the offer gladly and now I’m thrilled each month to read and discuss the books that the selected members choose. The first book that I read was Milan Kundera’s, ‘The Unbearable Lightness of Being‘. And I loved it.

Each sentence is painted artistically and poetically as the stories surrounding several lovers’ intertwined lives unravels. Infidelity is a leading motif in this piece, but the book neither encourages nor discourages it. Instead, the book plants you into a place of perspective. It allows you to see deeply into the lives of those who cheat and break hearts and those who are faithful and get their hearts broken. And every possible variable in between. Read More »

Something Old: I Heart Huckabees (2004)
Something New: The Happening (2008)
The Connection: Mark Wahlberg, a.k.a. Marky Mark, Funky Bunch ringleader and damn fine panty model

Mark Wahlberg is the sh*t. Born in the ghetto of Boston to a family of eleven, Wahlberg dropped out of school, did a bunch of drugs, got thrown in jail, was crazy ripped upon release, became a heartthrob rapper, modeled for Calvin Klein, started doing some acting, and now produces not one but two excellent award-winning television shows. Seriously, how rags-to-riches American dream can you be? Plus, he’s crazy hot.

I repeat, Mark Wahlberg is the sh*t. His new movie, The Happening, however, is not.

This is not Wahlberg’s fault. The Happening’s crappiness can be attributed 100% to the film’s writer and director, M. Night Shyamalan. Inspired by such cinema classics as The Birds and Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Happening is the story of a mysterious disease (of sorts) spreading across the East Coast, causing the infected to become disoriented and commit suicide. People begin fleeing the urban areas where the outbreaks first occur and head to the country, only to find that they’re not safe anywhere. (Dun dun DUNNN!) Read More »