Daily Good Thing

ACCIDENTAL BOOK TRAILER DEBUT

2013-03-09T16:36:00.000-08:00

Update on my DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE fangirling antics. The Filipino publisher apparently thinks I did a pretty good job. I'm Karou in the Filipino DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE book trailer!

I'm ridiculously excited about it. Pretty awesome that my accidental book trailer debut is for one of my favorite books.

Now I just need the casting team for the upcoming DOSAB film to agree....

Daughter of Smoke and Bone

2012-06-03T01:43:00.002-07:00

My favorite book of 2011 was Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor . Beautiful, lyrical prose. Fascinating plot. Interesting and inspiring characters that I really cared about. A kick-butt heroine who is fierce and fragile at the same time. Perfect amount of magic. Incredible settings. Surprises and secrets. Imagery that made me feel like I was really there. Believable relationships. Strong female friendship (something I always look for in YA books). A heartbreaking romance. Character chemistry that gave me butterflies and made me go all tingly. The perfect blend of fantasy and real life. I could go on, and on, and on. I LOVE this book. I don't want to give anything away, the way Laini reveals bits here and there is part of the magic, so here is the official description.

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

This awesome description doesn't even begin to do the book justice. It is all of that plus SO MUCH MORE. I love this book so much that on a recent business trip to Prague (one of the settings of the book) I dressed up as the main character Karou and took pictures pretending to be her. By myself. With a tripod and a camera remote. At 7:00am. I woke up early so I could do it before my conference and to avoid the crowds. I got pretty into it (action shots anyone?) and had a blast. I'm missing a beaded necklace and a few tattoos, but I did my best to "be" Karou. Here are some of the shots from that morning along with some of my favorite quotes from the book. If you've read the book maybe you can guess which scenes I had in mind- I don't want to give too many clues or spoilers for those who haven't had the pleasure of reading it yet. And yes- this is full fledged book obsession/geeking out. Proud of it.

“She had been innocent once, a little girl playing with feathers on the floor of a devil's lair.”

“Hope can be a powerful force. Maybe there's no actual magic in it, but when you know what you hope for most and hold it like a light within you, you can make things happen, almost like magic.”

“Karou was mysterious. She had no apparent family, she never talked about herself, and she was expert at evading questions--for all that her friends knew of her background, she might have sprung whole from the head of Zeus. And she was endlessly surprising. Her pockets were always spilling out curious things: ancient bronze coins, teeth, tiny jade tigers no bigger than her thumbnail. She might reveal, while haggling for sunglasses with an African street vendor, that she spoke fluent Yoruba."

“She knocked and waited, because when the door was opened from within, it had the potential to lead someplace quite different.”

“It's not like there's a law against flying."
"Yes there is. The law of gravity.”

"If you want to see my palms, just ask"
*Thanks Jeni for getting me the beautiful hand hamsas from Turkey!

“Karou wished she could be the kind of girl who was complete unto herself, comfortable in solitude, serene. But she wasn't. She was lonely, and she feared the missingness within her as if it might expand and...cancel her."

“The streets of Prague were a fantasia scarcely touched by the twenty-first century—or the twentieth or nineteenth, for that matter. It was a city of alchemists and dreamers, its medieval cobbles once trod by golems, mystics, invading armies. Tall houses glowed goldenrod and carmine and eggshell blue, embellished with Rococo plasterwork and capped in roofs of uniform red. Baroque cupolas were the soft green of antique copper, and Gothic steeples stood ready to impale fallen angels.

Thank you, Laini Taylor, for creating such an amazing world and characters that I love so much!

Cliché for a reason

2012-05-08T00:11:00.001-07:00

KGT surprised me with beautiful gardenias and See's chocolate. A winning combination. Little things go a long way.

Live As Only You Can

2012-05-05T07:36:00.003-07:00

Great advice from one of my favorite authors
Photo taken at sunrise on the appropriately named Sunrise Beach, Haad Rin, Koh Phangan, Thailand

Swing Swing

2012-04-18T07:30:00.004-07:00

If you know me you may know I am terrified of falling. Not heights but of the actual act of falling. I'm ok with roller coasters (I'm strapped in, I'm ok!) and airplanes (statistically I'm fine) but put me on a 2-foot stepladder and I'm shaking so hard I will probably topple over (proving that you should have NEVER put me on that stepladder).

If you know me you also might know I really, really, really LOVE trees. Bamboo, Redwoods, Evergreens, Banyan Trees- I love them all. Further proof here and here. Trees even play a pretty big part in my WIP.

When I was in Chiang Mai this month my love for trees was put to the test. I had an opportunity to go zip-lining in the jungle of Northern Thailand. I've been zip-lining before but you zip-line, land, walk to the next podium, zipline, land, repeat. This was something called "Flight of the Gibbons" and you literally zip-line from tree to tree.

I had to at least try it.

We started out with some warm-up lines not too far above the ground. I didn't enjoy it at all. My harness felt too loose and was chaffing and our instructors were goofing off. After the second trial run we landed on a tree that was shaking in the wind and I almost turned back.

But I didn't- and I'm so glad I stuck it out and conquered my fear of falling! At least for the day. I did every single zipline- even the ones where they connect it to your back and you free fall for a bit. It was AMAZING. The views were incredible and I got to see the jungle and the trees in a way I never would have been able to from the ground.

Tree love!

Flying

Ok, maybe I was still a little scared. Just of the landing though!

Couples zipline. Aww

Lesson- always better to do something because you love it instead of not doing something because you are scared.

Also. Trees are awesome.

Happy Year of the Dragon

2012-02-07T09:01:00.000-08:00

Why hello there! It has been a while. Hope 2012 is off to a glorious start for you. Happy Year of the Dragon!

Last year was year of the Rabbit- which was my year. I thought it was meant to be a good year but apparently your own year is bad luck. 2011 was pretty fantastic so if it was supposed to be my "unlucky" year I can't wait to see what 2012 has in store for me!

I spent the Chinese New Year holiday in Hokkaido, Japan (which was absolutely MAGICAL- details to come) so missed most of the festivities and fireworks here in Hong Kong but did manage to check out some of the fun in the days leading up to the holiday.

KGT and I were exploring on a lazy Sunday and stumbled upon a charming little street market in Sheung Wan with lots of CNY goodies. KGT got me a cute handmade dragon ornament -I collect ornaments and love them to have a story to go with them. I also found some fantastic fluffy earmuffs for only 30 HKD (about 4 USD) for my Japan trip. They broke by the end of the trip but I'd say I got my money's worth.

Being the dragon (obviously)

And it wouldn't really feel like Chinese New Year in Hong Kong without a trip to the beautiful and somewhat tacky New Year's Flower Market in Victoria Park, CWB. One side is all sorts of dragon related kitsch as well as a ridiculous amount of Angry Bird merchandise. This side is crowded with people trying to get you to buy whatever they are selling. The other side is remarkably tranquil and calm and full of beautiful flowers for the new year. I bought a lovely little cherry blossom bouquet that waited until I came back from Japan to bloom.

snacks

pinwheels to blow away bad fortune

Dragons everywhere

orchids

Happy Year of the Dragon- best wishes for health, happiness, and good fortune!

Stop SOPA&PIPA

2012-01-17T22:25:00.000-08:00

Stop American Censorship

Congress is about to pass internet censorship, even though the vast majority of Americans are opposed. We need to kill the bill - PIPA in the Senate and SOPA in the House - to protect our rights to free speech, privacy, and prosperity.
We believe in the open internet. Do you?

Watch the video, please!

thankful

2011-11-28T07:11:00.001-08:00

I know it has been a while since I've posted but November has been absolutely crazy! This whole year has been crazy- I can't believe 2011 is almost over.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! It felt a little strange working on Thanksgiving but it was actually quite festive. One of my colleagues brought amazing pumpkin pie and I made "thankful cards" for everyone in my office. Nothing fancy- just a simple "I'm thankful to have you as my colleague because X". Kind of like when you are little and give valentine's day cards to your whole class. A lot of my colleagues aren't American and so don't celebrate Thanksgiving but I think the sentiment of being thankful is pretty universal.

Have so much to be thankful for this year....

being able to live in my favorite city in the whole world

the fact that one of my all time favorite people also lives in my favorite city

incredible friends all over

family (mom, dad, brother, sister, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles...)
books

DELICIOUS thanksgiving food- even in Hong Kong! Shout out to Blue Smoke BBQ. The manager is from Georgia and the food was absolutely delicious. They had all my favorites! Read my review here . Ok just delicious food in general.

living in a time where I am connected to all the people I love via awesome technology. thank you facebook, twitter, skype, googlevoice, email.

my teeny tiny but wonderful apartment

my health

having so many visitors this year!

dim sum

all the support for my WIP

being able to walk to work

Yu's!

the amazing hiking trails in Hong Kong

Yu's Sichuan Restaurant in Causeway Bay. I go at least once a week .

the trips I have planned (LA, Japan, Thailand...)

and the list goes on and on. I won't bore you any more though. Instead I'll leave you with a pic of my delicious thanksgiving dinner and this spectacular article on how being thankful is actually good for your health

been busy...

2011-11-07T16:56:00.000-08:00

To my lovely readers- sorry for recent lack of posting- work/life has had me pretty busy. I'll be back to it soon. Thanks for reading! Have a wonderful day x

Happy reading and exploring....

Source: weheartit.com via Katherine on Pinterest

Jerry talking about candy

2011-11-01T09:09:00.000-07:00

Halloween Countdown is over but this was too good not to share...

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T08:02:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween weekend!

I certainly did. Delicious Halloween themed dinner at a good friend's house, going all out with my costume, dancing all night...it was so much fun! I was Lumiere the Candlestick from Beauty and the Beast. It was one of htose costumes where no one got it right away and then when I explained they were like "ooooh!" It definitely ranks as one of my favorite costumes.

What were you for Halloween?

Boo on the spaghetti- I love it!

Be Our Guest!

Also in case you missed it here is the fabulous Heidi Klum looking amazingly creepy at her Halloween party:

Halloween Countdown: Haunted Dollhouse

2011-10-28T20:33:00.000-07:00

Growing up I loved doll houses. First I had a Fisher-Price plastic one and then when I was older I was lucky enough to have a beautiful, hand-made doll house. I still love doll houses- which is why when I came across Jenny Lawson's work I had to share it.

Jenny (aka the Bloggess) has a haunted doll house. She has been working on it for over 10 years and it is one of the most amazing and intricate doll houses I've ever seen!

Everything in the doll house is not only spooky in some way but most things have been inspired by fantasy books or films. You can see more of the doll house here but below are some of my favorite parts

Fairy Skeleton: Cause of Death- Disbelief

The Attic- can you spy Hedwig in the back?

A dragon's egg hatching as a raven looks on. I personally think this one is a reference to Game of Thrones but I'm not sure

The bedroom has the sword from Narnia hanging above the bed and the dog from Nightmare Before Christmas

The bookshelf opens to reveal a secret passage....

Such beautiful and intricate work! It is the perfect Halloween dollhouse. I wish I could shrink myself and wander around in it.

Thanks to Jennifer at TheBloggess and Kitsy.com for sharing!

Halloween Countdown: All Hallow's Read

2011-10-27T08:50:00.000-07:00

Halloween already has candy, trick-or-treating, haunted houses, costumes...what more does it need?

All Hallow's Read- that is what it needs!

Inspired by the genius that is Neil Gaiman (and if you don't know who he is you better find out fast or we might not be able to be friends) is a wonderful new Halloween Tradition that I am SO excited to share with you! Because remember I get excited about things.

The idea behind All Hallow's Read is to give someone a scary book on or around Halloween. The options are quite literally endless. You've got your R.L. Stine, Steven King, about a million Vampire Books, ghost stories, Gothic novels, murder mysteries, the list goes on and on.

So this year in addition to giving trick-or-treats...give a book!

You can find out more information at http://www.allhallowsread.com/ and here is a little more insight to the inspiration behind it.

I am going to give someone special a spooky Stephen King novel (haven't decided which one yet) and Hollowland by Amanda Hocking. Ok full disclosure- Hollowland might really be for me but if I give it to someone then I can borrow it/steal their kindle and read it myself. In case you haven't heard of it Hollowland is a really cool sounding Zombie book. I have never, ever read a zombie book and was never really that interested but I read an excerpt from this one and it had me hooked. So we'll see. If I like it I'll check out the sequel Hollowmen. This is also my first Amanda Hocking book- really looking forward to it.

What book are you giving for All Hallow's Read? And who are you giving it to?

ps if you seriously don't know who Neil Gaiman is do yourself a favor and read Stardust . American Gods is next on my Gaiman must read list.

HAPPY ALL HALLOW'S READ!

Halloween Countdown: Trick-or-Treat!

2011-10-26T07:26:00.000-07:00

Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year. I love dressing up and all the Halloween movies and carving pumpkins- everything about it.

In honor of Halloween from now till October 31st all of the Daily Good Things will be Halloween related.

To kick things off here are two great Trick-or-Treating scenes from two great movies. The first is from one of my favorite Halloween movies- Hocus Pocus

I so want to be her for Halloween one year!

And here is the Trick-or-Treating scene from the classic movie E.T. -

That has to be of the best moments in Halloween cinematic history. Makes me want to re-watch E.T. right now.

Do you have any favorite trick-or-treat scenes from movies?

live in the sunshine

2011-10-24T06:48:00.000-07:00

floating in the sunshine in the south china sea

beyond big wave bay in hong kong

Dragon's Back in Hong Kong

with my sister at my favorite beach on maui

getting offline

2011-10-22T19:12:00.000-07:00

Oh the Internet- keeping us all so connected. Email, twitter, facebook, blogging...it is all great but sometimes it is nice just to unplug and get offline. I spend most of my days at work looking at a computer and then when I get home I will also spend another hour or two looking at a computer. I spent all day yesterday unplugged- left my phone at home, didn't open my computer- it was glorious. Made me kind of feel like I was on vacation. Brought a camera to document my day but the battery died- oh well- just one less screen to look at during the day :)

Slept in, tried a new Mexican restaurant for lunch that had awesome gauc, went to an afternoon matinee to see Friends with Benefits which was great, went up to the peak and found an amazing park that actually has grassy fields (so rare in HK), read for a few hours in the park which might be my new favorite place, hiked around for a bit enjoying the incredible views, went to Mongkok and thrifted for potential halloween costumes, and then finished the day with an Indian feast at a great spot in Causeway bay. Came home and was tempted to go online but instead curled up in bed with a book.

Now I feel relaxed and rejuvenated and it I still have a whole day left in the weekend.

Overlooking Times Square in Hong Kong

street crossing outside of Sogo in Causeway- very crowded

now that I've found a park I can combine 2 of my favorite things- books and tress!

ode to the nerds

2011-10-20T09:02:00.000-07:00

This pretty much sums me up

grumpy nerd in the jungle

but actually really happy because I am hiking one of my favorite hikes in Hong Kong wearing a tank top from Laos and shorts from my alum UC Davis

-all things I am pretty enthusiastic about

Other things I am "nerdy" about (aka get way to excited over)

-travel

-books

-good food

-mexican food in particular (missing this!)

-DIM SUM

-writing

-cooking

-researching trips

-local art that reminds me of places I've been

-foreign films

-chinese literature

-China in general
-taking pictures

-wet markets

-hong kong's dai pai dongs

-hiking

-teasets

-any kind of outdoor market
-fresh mozzarella
-autumn leaves (really missing this in HK)

-bamboo

-tress in general. I really, really love trees

-fantasy fiction

-dystopian fiction

-when people who didn't like to read discover the book that makes them a reader
-ice cream
-waterfalls
-spicy sichuan food
-dressing in costume

-libraries
-dancing badly with lots of hair flipping

-board games

-dailygoodthing

What gets your inner nerd going?

a picture worth a thousand words

2011-10-19T08:58:00.000-07:00

I am recently LOVING artwork that uses actual words as the medium. I fell in love these posters that print whole chapters or an entire book on the back of them. Going the opposite direction Vietnamese artist Huy Lam's beautiful portraits that are completely created using one or two words over and over again

Van Gogh was created using the word "Genius"

Bob Marley, One Love

And for the one and only Marilyn Monroe- her supposed dimensions. An impressive 36-24-37

Heath Ledger is immortalized in his famous role as the Joker using the words "Such a Shame"

They are all amazing (and you can check out more of Huy Lam's art here ) but my favorite is definitely the Van Gogh

I really want to try to re-create this style using one of my own photos. I'll post it when I do :)

Daily good thing- discovering awesome art

Kenya is calling...

2011-10-18T07:53:00.000-07:00

I love living in Hong Kong and feeling like I have all of Asia at my fingertips to explore and adventure in. And while I am living in Hong Kong I am dedicated to using my resources and time towards traveling in this part of the world (trips home to California being the exception).

Then I'll stumble across this and immediately start dreaming about going to Kenya. Can you blame me?

Photo by Mathilde Guillemot

Photo by Billy Dodson

Photo by Jonathan P. Howard

Someday I'll go and see it all for myself- but for now these gorgeous photos will have to do.

Tai Tam Gap

2011-10-17T09:20:00.000-07:00

Tai Tam Gap Hike

Take the MTR to Tai Koo and then follow the signs to Wilson Trail Stage 2. Urban terrain mixed with green rolling hills and bridges that look like they are from medieval times. Happy trails!

Go with the Flow

2011-10-16T08:36:00.000-07:00

I love all kinds of books but ones from a secondhand bookshop have a certain kind of specialness. It is like two stories- the story the book is telling and then the story of the actual physical book.

Several months ago with a very good friend I discovered my own local secondhand bookshop:

The shop was actually closed but we browsed the stacks of books that were outside in the hall. Since then I have gone back several times and now plan on making it a weekly or bi-weekly thing.

so many books crammed into such a tiny space!

Flow is literally overflowing with books...

Flow is located on Hollywood road on the 7th floor of the building right across from the crosswalk. Erm I'll come back with a more exact address tomorrow :)

My book haul this week:

Anne of Green Gables is a childhood favorite that I am really looking forward to re-reading.

Anything by Joyce Carol Oates is always great- I'm sure I'll Take You There will be no exception.

Somehow in all my years as a booklover I'd never read The Bridges of Madison County before. I actually started and finished it this morning. Such a beautiful book. Now I want to see the movie!

Very excited about The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters as she is one of the authors I want to start reading more of. This is actually from Dymocks Bookstore. Reading it with my little bookclub in Hong Kong. Since it is a ghost story that takes place in England we are planning on discussing it at a British restaurant right around Halloween.

I have heard SO many good things about The Magicians by Lev Grossman- absolutely can't wait to start it!!

Overall a very good weekend for books!

“Analysis destroys wholes. Some things, magic things, are meant to stay whole. If you look at their pieces, they go away.”- The Bridges of Madison County

High in the Hong Kong Sky

2011-10-15T20:58:00.000-07:00

View of Hong Kong from the 118th floor of the Ritz Carlton

For a truly spectacular view of the Hong Kong skyline go to Ozone at the top of the new ICC building in Kowloon. Try and go on a clear night- the views are amazing. Plus there is no door fee- just buy a drink or a snack once you are in there. Everything is relatively reasonably priced as well (considering you are at a sky high bar in the Ritz Carlton). Non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks can be found for around HK$110-HK$120 (about 14-16 USD).

I recommend going on a week night so it isn't as crowded and you can get a spot by the window. The decor is a little over the top- bright flashing neon moon lights that change from red to green to blue and back again. But I'm there for the view- not the interior design. Service is good but can be a little snooty- and remember that for men no t-shirts or flipflops.

To get there you can either take a cab directly to the ICC or take the MTR to Kowloon station.

Overlooking our city

I can never get enough of Hong Kong's incredible skyline and this is one of the best ways to see it. Yep- I'm head over heels for Hong Kong

Living Bridges

2011-10-14T08:16:00.000-07:00

I thought that these treehouses were pretty amazing but I came across these beauties and they absolutely blew me away....

Living tree root bridges. They can be found in one of the wettest places on earth- Cherrapunji India.

The bridges are made from the roots of the ficus elastica tree and actually get stronger as time goes on. They take over 10 years to be fully functional but then you have strong sturdy bridges that can support up to 50 people or more at a time.

Find out more about these miraculous living bridges here

Serious travel-lust to see these gorgeous natural creations in real life. I've never been to India but I would love to go and when I do I will make sure to go to Cherruapunji.

So many beautiful places to see in our world - I love having so much to look forward to and so many places to daydream about going.

PS- This also gave me some serious inspiration for one of the settings for my work-in-progress...doesn't it look like the perfect setting for a fantasy story?

Jay Gatsby is in my house

2011-10-13T05:04:00.000-07:00

Or will be soon...on my wall specifically

You can't see from this photo but this is a poster with the entire text of The Great Gatsby written on it. On the front is scene from The Great Gatsby. I am guessing it is Jay looking out across West Egg at Daisy's house with the green light on the lawn.

THIS IS SO COOL! I definitely want to get The Great Gatsby one although there are lots of other great ones. Another one that I love is the Wuthering Heights poster. Wuthering Heights is one of my favorite novels and the image on this poster is beautiful- I love the tree.

Trees and literature all in one poster. I need it! And according to the website they are coming out with Grimm's Fairy Tale posters soon. Other books include Don Quixote, Anne of Green Gables, Heart of Darkness, Little Women, Peter Pan, Frankenstein, and many many more. What books would you want on your wall?

Thanks to BookRiot for finding this!

So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.

-The Great Gatsby

"Be with me always—take any form—drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! it is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!'"

- Wuthering Heights

Finding Meaning

2011-10-12T09:45:00.000-07:00

One of the big books on my ToBeRead list is Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. Big in every sense of the word. Over 1000 pages Infinite Jest is big in scope, aspiration, and reputation. Wallace is hailed as one of the greatest writers of his generation and his death in the fall of 2008 shook the literary world.

Wallace taught writing at Pomona College and a friend of mine had the opportunity to take a class from this literary genius. Adam wrote about his experience in the class and how "Dave" impacted his writing and his life in a absolutely fantastic article for N+1 Magazine. Adam is an incredible writer himself and I am thrilled to share some wonderful snippets from his article here.

Adam

My own soft underbelly was spoken (if not written) politeness, a Midwestern habit of deference and sorrys and if-you-don’t-minds my Midwestern teacher invariably mentioned or mocked or prodded in a mild recursive torment, recursive because politeness tends to be polite about itself.

On the class itself

The class was exciting and productively creative, and fostered abject terror. Wallace knew that he could drive us as hard as he could, and he did, even as he endured a mental hell we learned about only after his death. I knew nothing, suspected nothing.

On receiving critiscm from Wallace

He worried that he hadn’t gotten through to me, and, confused, he asked, "I mean, did you cry?" "Yes." "Good. I would’ve cried.”

Wallace as a teacher

He gave so much of himself, convinced that he could teach us writing’s minutiae and that our knowing the minutiae would help us to communicate meaningfully and that meaningful communication would help us to feel for and so to care for other human beings. So there he was, his generation’s literary genius, teaching undergrads how not to split infinitives.

Being Real

If Wallace worried that you were bullshitting him, he’d sometimes blink hard, pause, and look angry and anxious at once, as though you’d stolen from him and hidden what you stole

Seeking Meaning

I’d light a candle on the rim of the fountain and stare at the gray stone rim, at the candle, at the water as it fell into the pool and at its reflection against the fountain’s blue center by white lights in the water, a kind of cross-section of cloud, and hear the endless rush of the fountain as I recited “A Rabbit as King of the Ghosts” and waited for meaning, hugged my knees, closed my eyes.

Wallace's writing

Wallace’s rhetoric is unmistakably religious, powerful, and problematic.

What made David Foster Wallce the writer he was

These are the torments that led to his triumphs: his faith in other people and his doubt about humanity.

David Foster Wallace's influence spread outside the literary world. Colin Meloy- the frontman of one of my favorite bands The Decemberists wanted to base the music video for "Calamity Song" on a scene from Infinite Jest. David Schur, co-creator of NBC's comedy "Parks and Recreation" openly admits his full-blown obsession with the book jumped at the opportunity to direct the music video.

“His concern was always what it is to be a human being—that is, how to be an actual person, someone whose life is informed by values and principles, instead of just an especially shrewd kind of self-preserving animal.”

David Foster Wallace on Dostoevsky

Find meaning in your life. Through books, music, travel- through living.