about me

Hi all. I've been taking a bit of a break from Authonomy, mostly because I need to finish a Master's Degree thesis, and the work is coming along rather slowly. Please continue to drop notes on books you would like me to read, and I will do my best to catch up.

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One of my favorite things in the world is when telemarketers call me. If there was a "Please DO call" List, I would put my name and number at the top of it. In the past when telemarketers have called, I have:
1) Explained, in English, that I don't speak English; or
2) Tried to sell them a leafblower for $250, explaining that its a much better deal then what they are trying to sell to me; or
3) Answer all their questions by asking for definitions of words (for example, they ask: "So, are you interested?" I respond: "Well, that depends on what you mean by 'interested'.")
4) Offered to buy more and more and more and more of whatever they were selling until it finally got the point where they had to admit that they could not supply that quantity of phone lines/magazine subscriptions/whatever.
This is guaranteed comedic entertainment. Why would I deprive myself of it by adding my name to a "do not call" list?

BEFORE YOU ASK ME TO READ YOUR WORK, PLEASE UNDERSTAND THIS:
First off, authonomy writers who regularly leave meaningful and helpful comments for other authors always go to the front of the line.
I love to read, and I will read any genre, any format. I also love to write, and I am driven to be better at it. I believe that reading, revising and getting constructive criticism from others are all important exercises for improvement. Because of that, I have learned to read with a critical eye. If you want commentary from me, please expect that I will be pointing out what you have done well, as well as what needs improvement, not because I am a "hater" or a negative person, but because that's the type of feedback I crave.
If you're just looking for a glowing review that will tell the world how awesome and flawless you are, don't bother asking me to read. I'm not that kinda reader. There are others here better suited for that purpose.
Read some of my reviews to get a better idea of what I mean. Otherwise, you have been forewarned. Still want me to read your book?

favourite books

RIGHT NOW I AM READING:
The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne

The Catcher in the Rye is my favorite novel of all time
The Millenium Trilogy by Steig Larsson
As a kid, I read a lot of John Bellairs. Still love him.
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
early Grisham (The Rainmaker is my fav),
Dreams of My Father by Barack Obama
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
Autobiographies: Miles Davis, Gandhi, Booker T. Washington, Nelson Mandela
short stories by Hemingway, Ann Beattie, and Tim O'Brien. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
The Great Gatsby
A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah
The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell by John Crawford
Alone by Lisa Gardner
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Che Guevara by Jon Lee Anderson
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
even though it was work/school related, I also really enjoyed reading:
The Trouble With City Planning by Kristina Ford
. . . and some others. I will add to this list later.

my websites