Reality bites

Just watched this movie called Reality bites, about the decade I grew up in, the nineties... And I liked it a lot. It has great music, good actors and a nice story. Okay, it may be a little too romantic for some people, but perhaps that's why I liked it so much!

Mazel

Started reading Mazel by Jewish-American writer Rebecca Goldstein. Had to read this in university in a course on Jewish-American fiction, but didn't have time to do that, since I was too busy with other things...
Well, it's never too late to read a good book. ;-) So far I like it. In the same course we also had to read The Amazing Adventures of Kavelier and Clay by Michael Chabon, which has become one of my most favorite novels. Kaaterskill Falls by Allegra Goodman was also on the list (actually the only one I finished in time... a good one as well) and Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer, which is still standing idle on my shelf... I must really read that soon too, since everyone tells me it is amazing!

Right now listening to James Blunt. Borrowed it from the guy next door. I really like it and probably will buy it sometime soon...

Well, gotta go to do some research on western movies and books...

Wyoming

Lately I have been reading a lot in this book called Roadside history of Wyoming. I use it for background information for this story I'm working on, based on my own adventures in Wyoming, two years ago. It's really a cool book with all those old pictures, funny anecdotes, interesting facts and history. By the way, I hope my story will be more interesting for other people than this weblog... ;-)

Right now listening to this wonderful cd by Over The Rhine: Ohio. Hadn't heard in some time, but it is so beautiful...

The Crucible

Reading The Crucible now. A very powerful play by Arthur Miller. It's about the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692.

Quotation of the day

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
The courage to change the things I can;
And the wisdom to know the difference.

Wag the dog

Tonight I watched a fun movie with a very nasty ending. Wag the dog, with Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro. Great script, superb acting, very funny. But scary as well.

Nevermind.

Ghost world

Just watched Ghost World with Thora Birch and Scarlett Johansson and loved it very much.

A long walk

Just got back from a visit to my parents and the village I grew up in. Nice to be there for a while. Took a long walk with my dad through the countryside. The weather was lovely, but cold. Felt rather tired when we returned. Still feel tired, actually, but it was worth it.
Strange how much I have become a city person in the last few months... A few years ago I could not imagine myself living a city, now I don't want anything else. Still, I feel really lucky having grown up in the countryside. And having a place to return to when I want to escape the city for a while.

Listened to this beautiful record by Jackopierce. Bought it when I studied in Wyoming. Should listen to it more often. Woman as salvation is also very good. Can recommend it to everyone who likes acoustic music!

Kate Earl

It took some time to sink in, but now I really like Fate is the hunter by Kate Earl. A young, but very talented singer from Alaska. The only problem with her debutalbum is that it is a little too much polished by the producer. Live she sounds so much more natural, at least that's what I gather from this bootleg I downloaded at this website. Go check it out! Site is great, by the way. Has loads of live bootlegs by many great artists.

Right now listening to Rachael Yamagata. Another superb singer.

Love grows from the rich loam of forgiveness

So tonight I finished this more than fascinating novel by Wally Lamb. It has held me captivated since I started reading it, only a few days ago, and, I have to admit, I shed a few tears when I finished it. It's such a beautiful story! It's full of tragedy, but it is also about optimism and hope...
It really got me thinking and isn't that what great books are all about? Some people might think the end to melodramatic, but I thought is was very fitting.

Love grows from the rich loam of forgiveness.

It may seem silly or naive, but I know, in the end, this much is true...

Go read this.

Last.fm update

Most played artists as of January 10, 2006

1 Jason Mraz 583
2 Josh Kelley 416
3 The Juliana Theory 410
4 Train 385
5 Goo Goo Dolls 338
6 matchbox twenty 325
7 Switchfoot 322
8 Over the Rhine 317
9 Jude 316
10 Josh Rouse 283

11 Bruce Springsteen 281
12 Joe Firstman 264
13 Simon & Garfunkel 263
13 Johnny Cash 263
15 Laïs 261
16 Neil Young 249
17 Van Morrison 236
18 Howie Day 235
19 Pearl Jam 220
20 John Mayer 213

21 Fastball 193
22 Dave Matthews Band 190
23 Travis 186
23 Maroon 5 186
25 Tristan Prettyman 181
26 Sam Cooke 179
27 Counting Crows 175
28 Natalie Merchant 169
28 Kathleen Edwards 169
30 Ron Sexsmith 168

31 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 161
32 Frank Sinatra 155
33 The Cranberries 154
34 The Rolling Stones 150
34 3 Doors Down 150
34 Martha Wainwright 150
37 Stevie Wonder 147
37 Sandy Denny 147
39 Kate Bush 146
40 Eliza Carthy 145

41 U2 144
42 Aretha Franklin 143
42 Emiliana Torrini 143
44 Tegan and Sara 142
44 Vega 4 142
46 Tori Amos 141
46 Jim Croce 141
46 10,000 Maniacs 141
46 Rob Thomas 141
50 Jimmy Eat World 140

www.last.fm/user/marco78train

Happy being sad...

Wow, this is really one of the best novels I have ever read... It makes me think... I can hardly put it aside...

Feeling kind of sad today without a real reason. It sometimes happens and it's not bad. It's kind of like that Manic Street Preachers song: happy being sad...

Listening to the Smashing Pumpkins now... Great stuff, but I guess I will put in some happy music soon. ;-)

Breathing through wires

Okay, the song I didn't know the title of was Breathing through wires from Music from another room. ;-) Also a very good (mini)record, by the way.

Some notes on the The Juliana Theory's first concert ever in Holland!

I was there and it was awesome! Too bad I didn't bring a camera, so the picture you see here is just one I stole from the internet...

The concert took place in a very small club in Arnhem and was part of a special emo night with two Dutch bands (John Coffey and The Hot Stewards), a Belgian group (Zaccharia) and, from America, Haste The Day and The Juliana Theory. The crowd was mostly made up of emokids in black, who were fun to watch, except for a few very annoying girls and boys that kept on talking during the concerts and not giving a **** about the bands that were playing.

Anyway, since I'm not that much into screamo I was not blown away by the first four acts, although especially Haste The Day gave away a very solid show.

The Juliana Theory, however, is not real emo. They are just a rockband. And they are awesome! I don't know how long the concert lasted, I completely forgot about time. I'm not going to try to put this great experience into words, anyone who wasn't there missed a great concert, that's all I can say. They played songs from all their records. I'll try to list them here by album.

From Understand this is a dream: Constellation (which was their last song)
From Emotion is dead: To the tune of 5,000 screaming children and If I told you this was killing me, would you stop? (probably my favorites of the evening)
From Love: Into the dark (which is also on Emotion is dead though), Do you believe me (another favorite) and Jewel to sparkle.
From Deadbeat sweetheartbeat: This is a lovesong... for the loveless, Shotgun serenade, Leave like a ghost (drive away), My heart is a soldier, This Valentine ain't no saint (another favorite), The final song and French kiss off.

They played one other song, that I can't remember the title off... Guess I will have to listen to alll their records again today to find out ;-)

This concert reminded me how much I love The Juliana Theory! And of course, it's very cool to be able to say that I saw their first concert in Holland ever!

Too bad they didn't play my two favorite songs, but then again, you can't have everyting. ;-)

I hope they will come back soon!

The Juliana Theory

Whoohoo, I am going to see one of my favorite bands ever live tonight! I really can't wait till I'm in Arnhem!!!

I have been listening to their cd's the whole afternoon, so I'm quite well prepared!

Hopefully I will be able to write a wonderful review tomorrow!

Rediscovering my music collection

The last few days I have spent rediscovering many old gems in my record collection. Right now I'm listening to that great Everclear cd called Songs From An American Movie. And I also found this wonderful song by Bryan Ferry called Fool for love with a medieval introduction called Ja Nun Hons Pris, written by Richard Lionheart. I also enjoyed Shea Seger, Guster and Sixpence None The Richer very much.

Had to go to the hospital and had to wait for quite some time, which was nice because I brought I Know This Much Is True which has already got me captivated!
And there was this lady who was reading out loud some fairytale to her son. People should do that more often in waiting rooms, it's fun!

Oh, and I did not succeed repairing my bike after all... :-( So I decided to bring it to some professional...

I know this much is true

Finished Washington Square by Henry James this morning. One of the advantages of being jobless is that you have plenty of time for reading, listening to music and other fun things, so I guess I might just as well enjoy it! ;-) However, I hope to find a new job soon.

Tonight I will start reading a very fat novel: I know this much is true by Wally Lamb. It's almost 900 pages so I guess it will occupy me some time.

Repaired my bike today and it seems I have succeeded!

And oh, last Tuesday I watched Catch me if you can with, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, at the BBC. Liked it a lot.

Right now listening to the Counting Crows!

Lyrics of the day

The last few days I have been busy rediscovering music in my own collection. Among the songs I hadn't heard in quite some time was this very lovely one by Air:

"Never been here - How about you ?

"You smile at my answer,

You've given me the chance,

To be held and understood.

You leave me laughing without crying,T

here's no use denying,

For many times I've tried,

Love has never felt as good.

Be it downtown or way up in the air,

When your heart's pounding,

You know that I'm aware.

You make it easy to watch the world with love,

You make it easy to let the past be done,

You make it easy.

How'd you do it ?

How'd you find me ?

How did I find you ?

How can this be true ?

To be held and understood.

Keep it coming - no one's running

The lesson I'm learning'

Cause blessings are deserved

By the trust that always could

Be it downtown or way up in the air,

When your heart's pounding,

You know that I'm aware.

You make it easy to watch the world with love,

You make it easy to let the past be done,

You make it easy.

You make it easy to watch the world with love,

You make it easy to let the past be done,

You make it easy.

The purple rose of Cairo

Yesterday I watched this very funny movie by Woody Allen called The purple rose of Cairo. It's about this movie character who falls in love with a woman in the audience and walks off the screen to be with her. It reminded me a little of my all-time favorite movie Pleasantville and it also made me realise that I hardly know any Woody Allen films... Must change that.

Some thoughts on The return of the native

My oh my, this morning I sure had a hangover from last night... And I did not even drink that much wine and beer...

It wasn't too bad, so I could finish The return of the native today. The first novel by Thomas Hardy I have read in almost three two years. He used to be my favorite writer, but then I changed and didn't like his somber tone anymore. Just like I didn't like the Smiths anymore. But The return of the native got me, despite all the tragedies it contains. You know, what I don't like about his books is that Hardy's characters hardly ever seem to be able to escape destiny, while all the time you know that they only have to talk or be a little more optimistic to be happy and escape their eventual ruin. But what really gets me all the time is his wonderful writing. I don't know many writers who can write such beautiful prose. And the best about this novel is that Hardy gave it a much more positive ending then he had intended...

Anyway, I liked this novel very much. But tonight I will start with Henry James' Washington Square!