I Just Read About That…

SOUNDTRACK: QUATTE.F- “I’m So Glad” from My Space (2009).

Quatte.f is a patron at my library.  He had asked me to help him transfer some photos and eventually to help him upload his demo song to his MySpace page.  He told me that he was in a local group of some sort–I don’t recall who they were–and this was his chance to go solo.

I’m not much of an R&B fan (NO!), but after we uploaded the track, he asked me to listen and I did.  And I have to say I really liked it.  It’s catchy as heck.  And his voice is really strong.  He also avoids most of the histrionics that I dislike so much about R&B.

So, I wish him much success, and since I doubt he’ll ever see this, if you click on his link and listen to his song he’ll be pretty psyched that he’s suddenly gotten all of these listens to his song.  And if you’re from a label, he’s currently unsigned.

Check it out.

[READ: March 22, 2009] Miracle Wimp

Sarah got a copy of this in the mail.  She said, hey, this looks like something you’d like.  So I read it, and finished it in like three hours.

At first, I was afraid that it was  just jumping on the bandwagon of the Diary of Wimpy Kid phenomenon.  But when I checked the release dates I found that the first Wimpy Kid came out in 2007 and so did this book.  We got a pre-released copy of the paperback edition (which is soon to be released in 2009) so no complaints about riding on coattails!  (Although, the online cartoon started in, I believe, 2005).

The book is about Tom Mayo, a junior in a high school set in the boonies of western Massachusetts.  The book details the ritual humiliations that come with being a wimp in high school.  There aren’t diary entries per se, but each page has a title and about a page worth of stuff that happened about that topic.  There’s also some rudimentary drawings (not as charming as Wimpy Kid’s, which is especially weird since Tom wanted to be in art class) that convey what happened in that “entry.”

The obvious difference between the two is that Miracle Wimp is set in high school, and as such it is more PG-13.  There’s a few more curse words, and a very small bit about dating (kissing is as far as they get).  So it’s more grown up, but not much more.

All the basic high school food groups are represented: wimps, jocks (the Donkeys), stoner/metal dudes [who are scary but also kind of cool] (the Heads) and teachers (well, really only one is the focus [Mr. Boort!], and Tom’s obsession with him is quite amusing and ultimately heartfelt). [The dollar store jeans are fantastic!].  Girls aren’t mentioned much in the book…more as accessories to the boys, which actually rings true for Tom’s status.

The book isn’t mind-blowingly original.  But of course, there have been millions of books written about high school.  Nevertheless, high school is certainly a rich mine for information and jokes, and it’s always fun to see another perspective.

As this book goes, I definitely enjoyed it.  It’s not hilarious, but it is quit funny.  And as I said, I read it in about three hours.  So, it’s not going to take up too much of your time.  It’s a light, enjoyable, breezy, humorous read.

Some details: the explanation of the title is very very funny (and I’m impressed that the Donkeys thought of it), and littered throuhout the book are jokes that will certainly make you smile, and occasioanlly laugh.  If you enjoyed Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and are waiting for the next one to come along, try this book.  You won’t be disappointed.