A Valentine's Day poem for you

In celebration of Valentine's Day (aka Single-Awareness-Day), I thought I'd share with you all one of my all-time favorite poems from E. E. Cummings, "if everything happens that can't be done" (1944). I love how he breaks the rules of grammar, punctuation, and meter, all while talking about the common rules of love, youth, and how we all fit into the two.

Whether you have someone special to share the holiday with, or if you're like me and will be kickin' it with old friends and stuffing yourself with pizza and sappy chick-flicks, I think this poem is a nice reminder that love means different things for all of us, comes at different times, and different forms. My favorite line is the end, when "one times one" can be interpreted in so many ways for each of us.

I hope you all can take a moment out of your fun-filled holiday and see how my Valentine's Day gift to you fits into your own idea of love. Enjoy!

Best,
Gent

"if everything happens that can't be done

(and anything's righter

than books

could plan)

the stupidest teacher will almost guess

(with a run

skip

around we go yes)

there's nothing as something as one

one hasn't a why or because or although

(and buds know better

than books

don't grow)

one's anything old being everything new

(with a what

which

around we come who)

one's everyanything so

so world is a leaf so a tree is a bough

(and birds sing sweeter

than books

tell how)

so here is away and so your is a my

(with a down

up

around again fly)

forever was never till now

now i love you and you love me

(and books are shuter

than books

can be)

and deep in the high that does nothing but fall

(with a shout

each

around we go all)

there's somebody calling who's we

we're anything brighter than even the sun

(we're everything greater

than books

might mean)

we're everyanything more than believe

(with a spin

leap

alive we're alive)

we're wonderful one times one"

Thoughts on Zadie Smith's White Teeth

As I mentioned in a previous Favorite Things post, Zadie Smith's White Teeth (2000) has recently become one of my favorites. Known as the debut novel Smith seemingly sprung up during her time at Cambridge University, White Teeth has raised much controversy by many who claim Smith reaches too far for a first-time novelist.

The story is about the friendship of two middle-aged men: Archiebald (Archie) Jones and Samad Iqbal. Archie is a dull Englishman who is introduced at the start of the novel as he unsuccessfully attempts suicide. Samad, Archie's best friend, is another failure: a devoted Muslim who craves power and fortune, yet has waited tables for the past 20 years. The story unfolds to show how Archie's and Samad's London-born children assimilate to their surroundings, together and apart, in ways their immigrant parents never could (though equally as awkward).

While she confronts the hard issues of urban living within an overcrowded London, nevertheless, Smith bravely attempts to mix together a new scene of London-life. She pays less attention to the individual Londoner and carefully focuses on relationships as a whole. And these quirky relationships across cultural divides make the outwardly flat characters stick with us long after the story is over.

Overreaching or not, by taking us into the overlooked corners of contemporary fiction and confronting such challenging themes, it's easy to see how Smith has made such a notable name for herself at just 24-years-old, while proving to be anything but a stereotypical, first-time novelist. Check it out and see for yourself!

Best,
Gent

Favorite Things

Gentre

1. A lot of free time during winter break has resulted in a full out addiction to Freaks and Geeks. I'm not really a fan of television, except for Lost, Arrested Development, and Downton Abbey, but I promise that it's impossible to watch this and not fall in love. With only one season, you can move through it pretty fast.

2. Black-on-black, turtleneck style! Audrey Hepburn looked fabulous in this uniform-of-sorts, but when I wear I still get a lot of wierd looks and a lot of "Why are you wearing that?" Why does everyone hate on the turtleneck? It feels great and makes you sometimes look extremely cool. (Right? Right? Maybe I'll keep telling myself that...)

3. Dolly Parton. Maybe this makes me sound like an old woman, but it's genetic: my mom's enduring love for her was passed on to me. Perfect road trip music. If you don't listen to "Jolene" and love it...I'll eat my hat?  

Gent

1. Andrew Bird's Noble Beast (2009) is my favorite album of Bird's. I first heard this album back in high school and couldn't stop listening to his soothing voice and sweet melodies. I've been fortunate enough to see him live this past summer and hope to see him again in the near future.

2. Warby Parker has instantly turned into one of my favorite retailers for eyeglasses. If you're on the lookout for new glasses, Warby Parker has great deals. Plus, for every pair you buy, they will donate a pair to someone in need.

3. Zadie Smith's White Teeth (2000) is one of my favorite books and a must-read for all bookworms. For a first-time novelist, Smith has received much appraise (and plenty of criticism) for tackling the hard issues of urban living. Lookout for an upcoming book review!