The NYT does NOT like Augusten today

I finally got around to perusing the New York Times today, because I am utterly sick of studying. One of their writers reviewed Augusten Burroughs' new book, a memoir about his father. Man oh man, did she hate this book. You might take a stop by the NY Times to read it, because she slams the hell out of him and it's actually kind of interesting to read. I, for one, will still be buying his book in hardcover. I actually liked Possible Side Effects and Magical Thinking, even though the reviewer says they were about nothing. That's the problem with book reviews--what you like is just that, a subjective preference. Though I have found spectacular reading material by following the New York Times' advice--maybe I'll hate A Wolf at the Table. Maybe I love anything that's not a casebook. Maybe you don't care. Now I'm just rambling to avoid studying the Clean Air Act anymore, because I am tired of reading about what the Administrator shall do. Even though he never does, because he's a government employee. Just like I might be one day.

My birthday wish list

My three favorite authors are all coming out with new books between now and my birthday. If you want to be my favorite person, you could buy them for me! 'Twould be a terrific little birthday package; containing one, two, or ALL THREE. They are: Bright Shiny Morning by James Frey, A Wolf at the Table by Augusten Burroughs, and When You are Engulfed by Flames, David Sedaris. I will read them promptly, whilst ignoring my two jobs and summer school work.

America doesn't do drugs

Tuns out, if you're British and you've been convicted of a crime involving drugs (or anything else that implicates moral turpitude, a phrase that governs lawyers too and that I hate), you will not be permitted to enter this country without a visa. Brits can typically come to the states without one (just like we can go there without one). But they are literally turned away at the U.S. airports at which they land if they have drug convictions, or if they simply admit to having been a drug addict at one point. I get that we want to protect our country from villains and the like, but this is silly and absurd. Just because a person has done drugs, we turn them away. Murder, by the way, is not a crime involving moral turpitude, so I assume that convicted murderers in without a question. Because they're less dangerous? A British memoirist, who was arriving at Newark to attend a book party and book tour to promote his book, was deported straight away for this reason. I guess we'd rather get rid of him than read a book?

Best Books of 2007

For those of you that like to read things on paper as well as on your 'puter, here is a link to the New York Times' best books of 2007. I love the NYT, so they're bound to be good (though I'm ashamed to admit I've read none of these). Besides, how can I read anything when my coffee tastes not unlike poop (I'm only guessing as to the taste of poop), see last post for context.