Bookworming

For the last five years, I had a monkey on my back called a script pile. There was a consistent stack of at least 20 scripts on my bedside table; some given to me by my boss’s agents, some from my boss’s manager, some from people that had contacted me directly in hopes that I would read, fall in love, and pass on to my boss, his agents, and his manager, and the dreaded last category – scripts given to me by friends. That they wrote. Eesh. The odds of liking a script that your friend wrote? In case you’re in suspense: not good.

I am a speed reader; reading has been one of the few constants throughout my life that I’ve always known I can do well. I entered kindergarten as the strongest reader in the class and while I may have graduated high school a seriously strange girl who caused authority figures some understandable worry, I never faltered in English.

This being the case, you’d think that I wouldn’t have been haunted by a stack of unread scripts, that I’d just focus and knock them all out, but I soon learned that the script pile is an evil force that replenishes itself as soon as it’s low. There is no point in trying to reach the bottom of the stack; it’s a sisyphean task. I realized that the only way to handle it was to give every submission about a week to simmer. By then, someone would say something like, “The director of _______ wants to schedule a meeting”, or “_______ will probably call in with an offer today”, or “Have you read _______? I think it’s great”. As soon as a script was mentioned, I knew that one needed to be read that night, but many of them were never mentioned – they were merely space-fillers, time-suckers, wasted dreams – and they could continue to sit unread.

It was quite some time before I realized everything I read was in Final Draft, contained a three-act structure, and was required. I had stopped reading books for pleasure because I had no time. I missed books. And I reunited myself with them, finally, during my travels.

Thanks to my Kindle (no I don’t want to play with your iPad, I’m jealous, go away), I was able to travel light and carry a lot of books at the same time. We really do live in a marvelous generation for technology. It’s just everything else that’s iffy.

Here’s what I read. Have you read something great lately? Please share, I love a book recommendation. Just don’t send me your script.

Notes from the Underwire by Quinn Cummings

I laughed out loud uncontrollably several times while reading this story about a former child actor living a normal life that happens to be hilarious. And I’m a tough audience. Check her blog out here.

Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace With Marriage by Elizabeth Gilbert

I bought this book because I liked Elizabeth’s previous book Eat, Pray, Love. It wasn’t until I began reading that I realized that she and her boyfriend are in Southeast Asia for most of the story. Small world. Ms. Gilbert examines marriage from a historical perspective in an attempt to understand it and accept it for herself, because if she doesn’t marry her foreign boyfriend, he will never be allowed to enter America again. I enjoyed the book and I learned a few things, too.

Buddhism Plain and Simple by Steve Hagen

I found this book some years ago and have read it once a year since then. Even though I know almost every word now like lyrics to a favorite song, I am nowhere near being able to apply the calming philosophies in my everyday life on any sort of consistent basis, hence the re-reading. Every time I do, it feels like I’ve taken a nice, long bath, and washed a lot of bullshit off of me.

At Least In The City Someone Would Hear Me Scream by Wade Rouse

If you don’t have a funny, fabulous gay man in your life, you do now. This is a light-hearted tale of a man who decides to channel Thoreau and forgo his city life for a cabin in the country. Of course, he does crazy gay-man-from-the-city things like fight raccoons with lip gloss and  wear silk scarves to the feed store. Imagine Isaac Mizrahi in the Chevy Chase Funny Farm role.

Notes From My Travels by Angelina Jolie

This book made me want to be a better person. I am very impressed with Ms. Jolie’s thoughts on refugees and more impressed with her actions to help them.

The Scenic Route by Bennie Kirshenbaum

Part love story, part travel adventure. Maybe you’ll relate to it personally, maybe it will just be a nice read.

Wishin’ and Hopin’ by Wally Lamb

If you’re not familiar with Mr. Lamb’s other books, She’s Come Undone and I Know This Much Is True, I would highly recommend them. Wishin’ and Hopin’ was a cute, fast read about a boy named Felix in the fifth grade in the fifties. It didn’t affect me in the way I’ve come to count on Mr. Lamb’s books, so it was a bit of a disappointment.

A Broad Abroad in Thailand by Dodie Cross

Of course I had to read anything I could find about farang in Thailand. This one gave me a lot to laugh about.

Tales of a Female Nomad by Rita Golden Gelman

Chances are, if you’re a female who enjoys travel, you will feel like you’re reading about yourself in some of Ms. Gelman’s chapters. On the flipside, her adventures have required incredible bravery, and I’m not sure I’ve come close to experiencing the courage that it takes to live this life. Working on it! Her website is here.

Bringing Home the Birkin by Michael Tonello

Yes, I was dying to know how this man was able to purchase Birkins by the carfull and re-sell them for a great profit. It made me wish that I was able to do the same thing, but because 1) I don’t live in Europe, 2) I’m pretty sure this is a much harder feat to accomplish today and 3) it seems that it would take a lot of start-up money, I read the book instead. -K