None of them along the line know what any of it is worth.

Subject: What did you think of Watchmen?

I remember you mentioned highly anticipating Watchmen, so now that it’s finally here I was wondering what you thought about it?

Thanks

Mike

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Mike,

In short, I thought it was wonderful. The characters were cast absolutely perfectly (I actually think dude who played Rorschach was genetically molded in the image of the comic), the story was followed well, and the visual aspect was brilliant. And the scoring! Holy shit about halfway through when I realized they were playing every song that is quoted at the end of each chapter in the book I almost threw up from excitement. However, I’m a nerd and I’ve also read the book about five times (obviously) so I appreciated every tiny little detail that paid homage to the novel. I suspect that for those who haven’t read the book, the film might not resonate as much, and may even be a little hard to follow. Even still, it’s a solid action movie with a message that still resonates today, even though it was based on a cold war world (maybe we’re still in one?).

The only thing I was sort of sad about was the fact that it was impossible to include the pirate comic sub-plot. However I just heard they made a whole separate cartoon out of that story so I am no longer sad (Thanks KS).

xx,
Yasi

ps also excited for: Wolverine.

pps if I were at home I would have used the Watchmen book for the photo because duh but I’m in Japan so all you get is delicious wasabi snacks.

E-mail Yasi your question at AskYasi@thehundreds.com. There is absolutely no guarantee she will answer your question, but at least you can tell your friends you talked to a girl.

I designed this rhyme to remind myself how I tried so hard.

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But in the end, it doesn’t even matter…

If only i’d thought of the right words, I wouldn’t be breaking apart

Subject: books u recomended

Just wondering who “the latter” is written by?
Seems to be on a interesting subject
if you could reply that would be great

Thanks

Zachary

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Zachary,

The latter is not the title of the book, but rather a word to reference a previously mentioned item. It is an adjective that is defined as follows: “being the second mentioned of two (distinguished from former ): ‘I prefer the latter offer to the former one.’”

I’ve often been told that I shouldn’t use some of the words that I use, because it’s pretentious or because it sounds as if I’m just trying to come off as intellectual or such. But really I just love words. There is immense comfort in them. I collect them like one would baseball cards or regrets. And while I do agree that there is merit in paying attention to the language as it is spoken in real life by normal people (totes), I also think that in editing out these words I would be doing myself (and whoever has the misfortune of reading my writing) a disservice. I do not take it upon myself to presume that people know or do not know certain words, and if they do not know them it is my sincere and naive hope that they would look them up. Because to me, using just the right word in a sentence is like playing the just the right note in a song. To use other words may work, but some of the sentiment is lost, just like some notes fall flat. And while I know people will never be able to use words (no matter how perfect) to truly capture all of life’s beauty, I don’t think that means we should stop trying.

(The name of the book is The Razor’s Edge, and it is by W. Somerset Maugham. He never stopped trying).

xx,
Yasi

E-mail Yasi your question at AskYasi@thehundreds.com. There is absolutely no guarantee she will answer your question, but at least you can tell your friends you talked to a girl.

There’s more to life than books, you know. But not much more.

Subject: Please kill my TV

Dear Yasi,

I need your help. I’m trying to cut back on my television intake. Except of course for tuning in just about every other day to root against the Lakers (I’m a Laker hater, sorry). Anyway, I’ve read a few of your posts and I always enjoy the quotes you use. So I figure since you seem to have such impeccable taste in literature you could recommend some books to keep me from the boob tube.

Thanks in advance,

Chris

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Chris,

Always happy to oblige with some book suggestions because I’m just that kind of nerd (even though I myself adore television). I’m in Korea and it’s kind of late and I may have imbibed a pitcher or so of beer at dinner, so I’m kind of loopy but I still think I can be moderately helpful.

Love is a Mixtape by Rob Sheffield – I’ve said it probably ten times but I really fucking adore this book, which is why I’ve read it about twenty five times. I read it for comfort the same way some people eat mac and cheese or do heroin. It’s a memoir told in mixtapes, set in the nineties. There’s some Smiths, a lot of Pavement, and some really beautiful writing.

Most of my quotes are Wilde or Maugham, so for those I would suggest starting with The Picture of Dorian Gray (it’s quite short and you’ll get through it fast) and The Razor’s Edge, respectively. Now is actually a rather perfect time to read the latter, as it’s about the rejection of conventional life and the ramifications of materialism.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz – I read this for a book club I was in (stop laughing) and it was quite good. I guess it had to be to win the Pulitzer.

Any Murakami, especially A Wild Sheep Chase, Kafka on the Shore, or The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. One of the next posts will be about Sputnik Sweetheart, which is also wonderful.

The Wisdom of Insecurity by Alan Watts – I’m reading this right now, and so far it’s excellent. A little non-fiction is necessary sometimes. So is a little insecurity.

xx,
Yasi

ps perhaps the last one if most useful to you, because I can’t imagine why anyone would tune in to every game of a team they hate just to watch them win most of the time. That level of masochism is impressive, my friend. But if that’s what you’re into, I’m not judging. Some people like to have fat hairy women urinate on them, and you like to hate a team with the current best record in the league (tied with the Cavs). Do you.

pps I may have already used that title but I’m too tired to go back and check. Anyway, it’s good enough to be used three times at least.

E-mail Yasi your question at AskYasi@thehundreds.com. There is absolutely no guarantee she will answer your question, but at least you can tell your friends you talked to a girl.

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