Read Me Like a Book

OK Ladies, if you can't bring yourself to post a blog, then at least do your fellow blog readers a favor and pick some other good reading material. That's right, I want to hear some good book recommendations...my recs below:

I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley--cute book of humorous essays by a chick who's kinda like us, but way more successful

Empire Falls by Richard Russo--stay away if you can't stand descriptions of smalltown life

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See--for those wanting to relive Memoirs of a Geisha

The Godfather and The Family, both by Mario Puzo--the mafia, or the mafia, Vatican-style. Your call.

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory--you can read her others too, but it's pretty much just like reading this one over and over again

I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone by Stephanie Kunehrt--a YA novel with a punky spirit. Also, I'm probably spelling the author's last name wrong.

Sloppy Firsts, Second Helpings, Charmed Thirds and Fourth Comings by Megan McCafferty--OK, so it's also a YA series, but I love her writing, and, for the most part, the protagonist. Plus there's a fifth one coming out next year, so, something to look forward to.

The Frog King by Adam Davis--like chick lit, but with men. Also, kind of depressing. But I like it.

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett--beautiful writing, just don't let the godawful 2-page epilogue ruin the whole book for you.

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov--I will forever stand by this as the most beautifully written book in existence, if a little creepy.

Exodus by Leon Uris--seriously, if you haven't read it, do it. Such a soft spot in my heart for this book. The rest of his are similar, but if you're into Arab-Israeli stuff, I'd also recommend The Haj for a decent two-sided look.

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden--again, you've probably read it, but if you haven't, you should. And then marvel over the fact that it was written by a man.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini--same deal, but beware--grown men have been known to cry when reading this in public.

I learned my lesson...

So I love to bitch and moan about assholes on the subway, and the disturbing fact that I am turning into one. Well apparently other New Yorkers have taken note of my evolution as well. A few weeks ago I left work late and was faced with the terrors of rush hour to which I am not usually exposed. As I made my way off the R train at the 59th and Lex stop to make the dreaded transfer to the 4/5 to get home, I was trapped for a few minutes in an unmoving sea of human traffic.

But I really wanted to go home! So I decided to sort of sneak my way through the crowd unnoticed...okay, more like push my way through. Well, someone noticed alright. I came up against a guy who decided he was not going to let me get away with it. I told him I just needed to get to the stairway and, outraged, he yelled at me, "you can still say excuse me!" I was a bit ashamed and excused myself quietly, after which he let me pass as I rode the wave of people down deeper to the depths of our wonderful subway to catch my train. My cheeks still burnt red from embarrassment many hours later. He had reached me; he was right and I was just another anonymous jerk on his commute, making his day shittier than it already most likely was. It really hit me because I am trying to change, and to get better at not letting the pace of this place get to me, and every day, one way or another, I fail at at that task. Here I go again, pissing off a stranger by being overly aggressive and selfish.

As though I am the only one who desperately wants to get home after a long and crappy Thursday at work!

Anyway, I guess you could say I learned my lesson...for now. I will see how long I can go before my cheeks no longer burn red and I go back to normal....like everyone else.