Oct
31
Theme of the week: What book is currently rocking your world?
Filed Under Weekly Theme by Jenni Prokopy

Completely unrelated to being an independent creative, I’m loving Paula Kamen’s Finding Iris Chang, about her friendship with the incredible journalist who committed suicide a few years ago. Reading this book is like reading Paula’s journal - it’s so personal, and really examines the challenges writers face in covering gruelling stories, among many other things. I’m fascinated with the mental illness angle, too, and the question of how our work can affect us both positively and negatively.

Hmm. Maybe it IS related to being an independent creative. I’ll be interviewing Paula about her book soon for ChronicBabe and I’m excited to hear what she has to say about the writing experience for herself.

So, what’s the book that is rocking your world today? I mean, besides the The 4-Hour Workweek and Getting Things Done.

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Comments:
4 Comments posted on "Theme of the week: What book is currently rocking your world?"
Helena B on October 31st, 2007 at 5:45 pm #

Maybe not rocking my world, but definitely raising at least one eyebrow: “Richistan” by Robert Frank. On deck, same subject matter (rich people and their behaviors) “Deluxe” by Dana Thomas. Last book that rocked by world was by national book award winner, Lily Tuck, “The News from Paraguay.” http://www.harpercollins.com/authors/20714/Lily_Tuck/index.aspx


Barbara Dufford on November 6th, 2007 at 1:45 pm #

First, congratulations on the piece about this site in the Tribune. So glad I read it!
Thanks for the post about Paula’s book. Monica Eng’s article about Iris Chang in the Tribune magazine some time ago moved me greatly.
Two other books, one just finished and one I’m reading now, aren’t directly related to my work as a self-employed designer, but are part of the big picture, which seems esential to keep in mind. The first is Camilla Gibb’s “Sweetness in the Belly,” a beautifully written novel which also provides a moving account of the trials of modern Ethiopia. Second, “Iran Awakening” by Shirin Ebadi, is a great window on the Iranian Revolution and its roots as experienced by a highly-educated woman.


Jenni Prokopy on November 6th, 2007 at 5:32 pm #

Thanks Barbara! I had also read Monica’s piece on Iris when it came out, before I got to know Paula and her writing work, so it’s a small world.


Brian Beecher on November 7th, 2007 at 11:39 am #

Jenni:

Can your blog be of any help to creative story and poetry/song lyric writers?


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