Dr. Frank's What's-it

Something poppy and old-school

This is a "show" update, the same list posted below, but I added the details for the Portland Barnes & Noble thing on October 2nd.

It's funny that after all the frantic guitar upgrading I did in the past year's quest to free myself from the dreaded old confirmation-present Yahama, I find I'm still going to be playing it on this trek because the new fancy guitars don't have cases that are anything like air-worthy yet, and this trip is going to give United Airlines around ten chances to break whatever I do bring, which seems like tempting fate too much and I really want to come out of this guitar odyssey with at least one non-broken guitar left. Still working on that problem. But I cleaned up the old beast as best I could, and it is, if nothing else, what it is. Have a few drinks before the show and I'm sure you'll hardly even notice.

Also, here's a link with info on all the people on the Austin panel about music in books. Gayle Forman is kind of the superstar of the group because of the big huge If I Stay, which is incidentally the only novel I know of that references my band, to wit:

"So listen up family. At my funeral no one is allowed to wear black. And for music, I want something poppy and old-school, like Mr. T Experience." He looked up at Willow. "Got that?"

"Mr. T Experience. I'll make sure of it."

There's an endnote explaining that the song she had in mind was "Love American Style" because it was on a mixtape she got from someone once. And the above dialog is partially addressed to the unborn baby in Willow's belly. Pretty funny. So, my place in history is now more or less assured. Remember that when you write your next book about rock and roll.

So, herewith, the "events". See you in Seattle or New York or wherever:

Wednesday, September 24th, 6:00 PM

University Book Store, 990 102nd Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004

Saturday, September 27th/28th

Anderson's YA Conference, Hotel Arista, 2139 City Gate Lane, Naperville, IL 60563

Monday, September 29th 7:00 PM

McNally Jackson Books, 52 Prince St, New York, NY 10012, in-store "conversation" with my editor, Krista Marino

Thursday, October 2nd 7:00 PM

Barnes & Noble, 12000 SE 82nd Avenue, Portland, OR 97266

Also:

Saturday, October 18th:

Texas Teen Book Festival, St. Edward's University, Austin, TX, where I'll be on a panel called Come On Feel the Noise about music in books, along with Gayle Forman, Len Vlahos, and Kevin Emerson.

Unless You Go in Expecting It To Solve All of Your and the World's Problems, American Beauty is a Pretty Good Way to Waste Two Hours

The linked reassessment of the film American Beauty is pretty silly, but the metafilter commentary on it was interesting enough to spur me to spend some of last night's insomnia watching that movie for the second time. First time around, I found it trite, heavy-handed, and pretentious, mostly, and disliked it, mostly; this time, I realized there's a great deal more ambiguity and complexity than I'd given it credit for. It's definitely worth another look, even if it was probably overpraised in its time.

(It's certainly not a "bad movie" simply because the character is a narcissist, or because he thinks bad thoughts and does bad things, or is insufficiently concerned about the welfare of his family or the plight of fast food workers, or because of anything to do with the members of the Supreme Court or 9/11. What is with people expecting fictional characters to be unambiguous superheroes or unobjectionable moral paragons? That they're not is what makes stuff interesting.) Anyway, I found the film to be at least as good a way to waste two hours as I Know Who Killed Me.

Stuff I'm Gonna Be Doing

A few things coming up.

Wednesday, September 24th, 6:00 PM

University Book Store, 990 102nd Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004

Saturday, September 27th/28th

Anderson's YA Conference, Hotel Arista, 2139 City Gate Lane, Naperville, IL 60563

Monday, September 29th 7:00 PM

McNally Jackson Books, 52 Prince St, New York, NY 10012, in-store "conversation" with my editor, Krista Marino

(Probably going to be doing something in Portland in early Oct. as well, yet to be confirmed as far as I am currently aware.)

Also:

Saturday, October 18th:

Texas Teen Book Festival, St. Edward's University, Austin, TX, where I'll be on a panel called Come On Feel the Noise about music in books, along with Gayle Forman, Len Vlahos, and Kevin Emerson.

I'm Blushing

Seth Christenfeld of guyslitwire revisits King Dork and has lots of nice things to say.

Oh Carole

Lexington Green of Chicagoboyz turns up this gorgeous demo of "Pleasant Valley Sunday"...

...and links to my old "Monkees Derangement Syndrome" essay.

Sarah

Listed

The Booklist review of King Dork Approximately can be viewed by subscribers only, but you can read it here, and here:

How do you survive high school without succumbing to institutionalized “Normalism”? That is one question asked by self-professed loser Tom Henderson in this long-awaited sequel to cult-favorite King Dork (2006). There are other questions as well: How do you get female attention and increase chances of “ramoning” (having sex)? And what would make a good band name? In the wake of last semester’s scandal, Tom is finishing his sophomore year at a new school that is disturbingly friendly and spirited (“Go Badgers!”) yet still holds girlfriend potential. Unfortunately, life at home isn’t as rosy. Though lacking the mystery of King Dork, this novel’s subtle plot is carried by a voice sharp with humor, sarcasm, and intelligence. Small but important revelations result in Tom’s growth and ability to better navigate the “normal” world. Because the novel is packed with music, book, and movie references, readers’ cultural literacy will get a definite boost. Utterly enjoyable, this book’s culture-meets-romantic-confusion focus makes it a teen take on Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity (1995), and it should hit home with social misfits and “subnormals.””