porch boy.

Some pages from the sketchbook I worked in May-November 2007, which was lovingly titled "the unofficial number three" the day I bought it. I get really connected to sketchbooks, journals, etc., and then when they are filled and I have to move onto the next one it's actually quite hard. Does anyone else have that problem?


I've also read several short stories from this book today:
I went on my usual book search which occurs every time I've finished whatever it is that I've been reading (in this case, The Seas by Samantha Hunt - excellent). I like being at school for this journey more than being at home, because Camrbidge has my favorite place: The Harvard Bookstore basement. Last night, Borders had to do. I was looking for a book called Black Swan Green which a friend told me about, and which had excited me very much (I have an obsession with black swans in green water). Unfortunately, it was not in stock and had to be ordered. Since I was in desperate need of a book NOW, I followed my usual procedure, which means wandering around aimlessly until something speaks to me. I find the best books this way. This was how I found Ruby by Francesca Lia Block, on a particularly ominous day involving a snow storm and a run-in with a haunted elephant bead in front of the T entrance. While my trip to Borders was not half as eventful as the day of ominous elephants, I found Nissen's book and knew it was the one as soon as I saw that her first name was Thisbe. I read the back and I was sold. First of all, the very first story is entitled "The Mushroom Girl." I am automaticallly a purchaser of any book that shares a title with one of my paintings. The characters are lovely and messed up in delicate and realistic and beautiful ways all involving love. And you know that I love love. Her writing is somewhat reminiscent of Karen Russell for me. They came out around the same time. They are reminiscent of each other: unintentionally, perfectly. My favorite lines of Thisbe's, I think, are the following, and it is only because they explain the exact way I would describe my mind's thought process on the topic: "He doesn't even want what he's supposed to want: a partner, compatibility, we-both-like-to-take-long-walks-with-our-dog kind of love. That's yuppie love. Drew wants crazy love: fated, astrological, intense, cosmic, I-saw-you-and-I-knew love. He thinks maybe he could find that with the mushroom girl. He doesn't know why he thinks this, he just does." And I'll leave you with that. Love, me.