The Upside

I've decided it's time to branch out of my typical Julia-like posts and start writing about anything and everything that's inspiring me on a day-to-day basis. The topics will range anywhere from books to fashion to current events and everything in between. At the moment, Ordinary People by Judith Guest, is tickling my creative energies.

It's a semi older book, published in 1976, and to be honest, I would never have picked it up had it not been for a bad date I was on the other week. The dude that I was chatting with over a glass of wine at Ottimista (mmmmm, great spot in SF - if you're in the area and love wine you must try! http://www.yelp.com/biz/ottimista-enoteca-cafe-san-francisco) and he asked me about what types of books I like to read. I answered with my "cut and paste" description of my sick obsession with David Sedaris and Augustin Burroughs, type reads. I love self deprecating humor, dysfunctional family stories...ya know, the "dark" stuff. He says, well then you've probably read, "Ordinary People!" Sadly I had to burst his painfully boring little bubble to say that in fact, I hadn't read it.

Long story short, and lots of, "Julia, you MUST read this book," later, I was suggesting it for my next book club meeting. Lucky for me (although I would have read it anyway), mostly everyone thought it was a great idea. So! Here I am, smack dab in the middle of this story and I'm loving every word of it. It's been a while since I've taken to a book so favorably. In a string of boring or just flat out bad books (shoot me in the head, Suze Orman) Judith Guest's story about a family struggling with the loss of a child and all the pain and implications that come along with that, is a breath of sobering but fresh air. Not since the Twilight (don't you judge me) series have I been so wrapped up in a story.

What do you know, I knew all those bad dates would eventually amount to something.

xoxo Jules

P.S. It's also been made in to a movie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081283/