Her entry begins:
I just got back from six months of travel in non-English speaking countries, and have been bingeing on American libraries and bookstores ever since. Right now I'm re-reading The Way of Zen, by Alan Watts—always a good way to press the reset button on a stressed-out brain. I started listening to his lectures when I was in Morocco, and got hooked on his humor and insight. I also started The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind by Julian Jaynes. It's an extremely trippy book, and makes you think about human history in a completely new way. Basically, he argues that all people used to hear voices in their heads, and that consciousness as we know it now is...[read on]About Wild Awake, from the publisher:
Things you earnestly believe will happen while your parents are away:Learn more about the book and author at Hilary T. Smith's blog.
1. You will remember to water the azaleas.
2. You will take detailed, accurate messages.
3. You will call your older brother, Denny, if even the slightest thing goes wrong.
4. You and your best friend/bandmate, Lukas, will win Battle of the Bands.
5. Amid the thrill of victory, Lukas will finally realize you are the girl of his dreams.
Things that actually happen:
1. A stranger calls who says he knew your sister.
2. He says he has her stuff.
3. What stuff? Her stuff.
4. You tell him your parents won't be able to—
5. Sukey died five years ago; can't he—
6. You pick up a pen.
7. You scribble down the address.
8. You get on your bike and go.
9. Things . . . get a little crazy after that.*
*Also, you fall in love, but not with Lukas.
Both exhilarating and wrenching, Hilary T. Smith's debut novel captures the messy glory of being alive, as seventeen-year-old Kiri Byrd discovers love, loss, chaos, and murder woven into a summer of music, madness, piercing heartbreak, and intoxicating joy.
Writers Read: Hilary T. Smith.
--Marshal Zeringue
Posts
