My favorite book I’ve read is To Kill a Mockingbird.
I sometimes wonder if that’s too cliché to admit, especially since I’m a former English teacher. Harper Lee’s classic is a little simplistic. The moral lesson is really black and white.
But I love that book.
I wish I could claim a different book was my favorite. Maybe something more challenging, like Moby Dick or War and Peace or Ulysses.
Or a book that proved I was more cool and cultured! Like Beloved or Reservation Blues or Invisible Man or You Shall Know Our Velocity.
But I’ve never finished any of the books in the first list, after many attempts; and the books in the second list are in my top ten, but I’d be lying if I said any of them was my favorite.
To Kill a Mockingbird still holds the title.
* * *
I didn’t fully grasp why Harper Lee’s wonderful story was my favorite until a former student told me what his favorite book was.
One of my former students came to see me play a concert at a little coffeehouse by the college he attended. After my show, we stood outside and chatted.
“What’s your favorite, book, Mr. Vial?”
It’s funny how former students still call me Mr. Vial, even if they are old enough to buy beer, and I no longer teach at the high school.
“To Kill a Mockingbird,” I said.
“Oh yeah, I think you taught me that freshmen year, right?” I nodded.
“I probably didn’t finish it, I wasn’t much of a reader in high school,” he admitted.
I laughed. “What’s your favorite book?” I asked.
“Looking for Alaska!” he said. His eyes shined and he went elsewhere.
He took a long drag on his cigarette. “Have you read that book? I don’t remember who wrote it—but I do remember Mrs. Farkus gave it to me to read. That book f—ing changed my life.”
“Oh yeah! I’ve read it. John Greene wrote it. It’s a great book.”
He went on to explain why it was his favorite, offering more details about what was happening during his life during a difficult year in high school, than details from the actual novel.
“I wish we were given more books like that to read during high school,” he concluded as he finished his cigarette.
* * *
I drove home from my gig that night and realized what makes a book our favorite.
A book becomes our favorite not only because of the details in the book, but what was going on during our lives while we read it. One’s favorite book might be more about ourselves than the actual story.
If anyone criticizes you for your favorite book, they are missing the point. Same with favorite song, or favorite movie.
If you criticize someone for their favorite book, you are indirectly ignoring how deeply personal the action of reading a book is in parallel to the events of their life while they were reading it.
We don’t read in a bubble. Books are stories, and stories are alive inside us.
I now understand why To Kill a Mockingbird will probably remain my favorite book. It affected me when I first read it at age 14, and then it affected me as a teacher as I taught it to freshmen.
That story is now embedded into my own story.
It’s my favorite book, and I now say that with pride.
You are only as good as the community you create
Trolls. (Don’t you hate them?)
Drama all over your Facebook Feed. (Ah! Ain’t that annoying?)
Mean Tweets. Antagonizing Youtube comments. Xenophobic rants to news article. Digital bullies…
The Internet has inspired a lot of platforms for us to create and share, but it’s also giving us a sounding board for negativity. The first place to go to complain, to vent, to yell.
I bet people don’t share their negativity to bring others down; they do it for the opposite reason. They are seeking a catharsis from their own sadness.
This becomes extra prevalent in music and art communities, a place where negativity goes to thrive on the souls of well-meaning, song-seeking, starving artists.
But it’s not cathartic. It’s the opposite. Spreading negativity is like Voldemort using an Imperious Curse on ourselves. It takes us over…
So what’s the best way to beat negativity? Simple. Create a community of positive folks. We are only as good as the community we create.
* * *
Further reading: Check out Lefsetz’s excellent blog on “Dealing with Hate”
Further fun: Enjoy a song to sing when ignoring bullies: Taylor Swift’s “Mean”
My songwriting game club is filled!
I’m pretty pumped. I was going to limit the game to 15, but I’m a bad counter and let one extra writer in the game. 17 (one songwriting duo) of us are departing on a journey or writing a song a week
Music and songwriting fans, check out this hilarious interview with Bob Schneider. He talks about his own songwriting (who’s been leading his songwriting challenge since 2001), even mentions how some great songwriters like Ben Folds, Patti Griffin, Jack Ingram have come and gone. He shares other parts about his musical life, like playing most Mondays at the Saxon Pub, offering his shows up the audience as a live CD, how he plays new material all the time…
Really great stuff here.
It was my wife’s birthday yesterday, and here are seven reasons she’s awesome.
Yesterday, Natalie celebrated her birthday in true Ann Arbor style, including a wonderful dinner at the new Aventura.
Today, I thought I’d share seven wonderful things Nat has taught me through her actions, because she’s pretty much the best person ever.
1. Be brave
Nat’s the bravest person I know. (If you’ve read her memoir about surviving a cult farm and indentured servitude in Sweden, then you know this already!) I wouldn’t have had the courage to do music without her e encouragement.
2. Speak your mind, and from the heart
If you follow Nat’s Facebook posts or read her monthly column for the Bridge, you know Nat is an outspoken, unapologetic, thoughtful feminist. Speaking one’s mind allows us to find our own voice.
3. Be patient
Nat and I post a little too much about our energetic dog, Lois, but we love our big dum-dum! However, I’ll admit, Nat’s the one that reminds me to be patient with our pup, as well as with myself and with life.
4. Family comes first
Between Texas and Florida, let alone trips up north, we miss Nat’s family quite a bit, but Nat has shown me how important it is to put family first, and make the most of quality time when we can.
5. Have a positive attitude
This might be the most important life lesson I need reminded. Nat told me, “We need positive energy to make these creative careers work!” I’ve let that guide me since, and do my best to realign myself when I get pessimistic.
6. Be organized
Seven–the number of white boards we use in our house, all full of goals, writing ideas, agendas and lists.
7. Take risks and have fun
I find my biggest fear is facing the feeling of fear, and Nat’s willingness to speak in front of crowd, share her ideas, and share her work reminds us it’s more fun to beat our fears.
Happy Birthday, Nat!
After my lengthy tour in the fall, I was mentally tired. A little discouraged, too. Songs weren’t arriving as quickly as I desired them to arrive throughout 2013.
So I took a break from writing songs altogether throughout the winter. I honestly didn’t play much guitar except for gigs. I read a lot, wrote some poems, and neglected music.
However, 2014 arrived, as did the polar vortex.
During the days where we could do little except shovel snow, drink hot tea, and hope the pipes don’t freeze, I found myself picking the guitar up again.
I’m back on the wagon and in a weekly songwriting routine.
Last November, my friend Hannah told me to check out this NPR story about Bob Schneider’s songwriting game he’s been doing since 2001. (More here.)
There are only two rules:
- Your song must use a preselected phrase or term
- You have to turn in a song each week by the deadline
I’d like to stay on the songwriting bandwagon this year, so I’m creating a simple songwriting game following those same two rules, too.
At first, I’ll be selecting the phrase or term, and emailing out a short list of participants. Right now, I’m picturing this as people sharing their songs with the group using a Soundcloud link and lyrics in the return email.
I thought I’d open it up to my musical friends. If you are interested in joining me in the songwriting game, email me at
polarvortexsongwritinggame@gmail.com
I’ll be starting the game Friday, January 10.
Let’s write some songs!
