Back at work this week, and time becomes very valuable again. Urgency, agency, and…? Raging seas! (of the capitalist waterworld).
* Public, for all its hype and many press clippings, lived up to the crazy high expectations. Do try a Pegasus Bay 2004 Reisling, some of the lightly cooked foie gras, tender venison, and some Hokey Pokey ice cream. We sat in the wine room – perfect for big groups. After dinner, Dan, Wook, and I wanted so badly to become the next AvroKo.
* Paul Auster writes with great urgency (or was it agency?). The Book of Illusions is a quick read but emotionally intense. Life, death and living with the pain of death seem to be the running themes. Those with a film background may find his fictional silent film critiques very interesting.
* I love it when the New York Times writes about Korean people in the Sunday magazine. Director Park Chanwook was the focus this time, and having watched Sympathy for Lady Vengeance a few months ago, it was nice to gain some insight into why he makes such super-violent and freakishly psychotic films. All with a tight elegance and visual chic, of course.
* Two depressing films I enjoyed lately were Friends with Money and Leaving Las Vegas. Friends with Money, starring Jennifer Aniston, is an indie flick about how middle age life in this modern society (especially for women, it seems) is full of unhappy dead ends, regardless of your material standing. Of course, people will occasionally find joyful moments – but these are fleeting. Leaving Las Vegas is a heartbreaking love story about an alcoholic and a prostitute. Nic Cage won an Oscar for his performance as the alcoholic screenwriter Ben, and it’s not hard to see why. But even when people are mired by the excesses of society, it doesn’t strip them completely of their humanity, or so the film seems to say.
* I finished A Pale View of the Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro about a week ago. Before I forget, I just wanted to note that this novel, his first, immediately establishes his trademark voice, the voice of subtlety and awesome restraint. This book almost anticipates the coming of his critically-acclaimed masterpiece, The Remains of the Day, with its references to war, changing cultures, and appearance or mention of Americans on foreign land. It’s interesting that he chose a Japanese woman, Etsuko, as his first narrator. And the way he writes about Mariko, the little girl who seems to have lost touch with reality, is hauntingly unforgettable.
* Malcom Gladwell, one of my favorite New Yorker writers, has some great articles you should check out online. I love his article about ketchup and the cellular church. I told my dad about the church article and he said it was true that Rick Warren’s books are everywhere, even translated into Korean. Oh, and I’m currently reading Blink, which is Gladwell’s amusing book about our adaptive unconsciousness – our ability to think without thinking.
* I’m seriously thinking of starting a blog about restaurants. Maybe even having a proper brand for it so I can flash a business card to restaurant owners after I eat at their place. It’ll be a simple site with some photos and very brief descriptions of the restaurant. I won’t rate it or give it any stars because I’ll only put up places that I find interesting and/or delicious. I think this will be helpful to people who like to ask for ideas on places to eat, and it’ll also allow me to refresh my memory whenever I’m looking to eat out at a reliable restaurant. Coming soon!
“I always thought I knew you, but more and more, I feel like I don’t have the slightest clue who you are,” she said to me.
“Well, I don’t think that’s anything you have to worry about,” I said. “I hardly know who I am, myself.”
We looked out across the water and at the reflection of tall buildings looming behind us.
“Wanna grab a beer?” I asked.
“No thanks, not in the mood to drink,” she replied.
I shrugged and walked away without saying goodbye. I headed towards the nearest dive bar hoping to catch the end of happy hour.