Booking and Looking

I have been booking and looking lately. I am always looking around Edinburgh for new things and still drinking in the sights and novelty of the architecture. In addition to lots of juggling, I have also been reading every day. I am learning about expatriates who lived in Paris in the early 20th century. It all began with a Regina Spektor song (“Poor Little Rich Boy”) , and one line sparked my interest in Hemingway:

“You’re reading Fitzgerald, you’re reading Hemingway. They’re both super smart and drinking in the cafe….”

I was going through a sci-fi phase that focused on government control over our lives (Faherenheit 451, the Disillusioned, Brave New World) and really got interested in Aldous Huxley. It amazes me how some people can be so insightful for their time. Huxley and Bradbury both had such amazing ideas about our modern world that are more than true today! Anyway, I went through a couple of Huxley books that reflect a bored and jaded American society (Chrome Yellow, Antic Hay). They immediately reminded me of “The Great Gatsby”, and when I was listening to Ms. Spektor I was inspired to check out a Hemingway book. I borrowed “Fiesta: The Sun Also Rises” by Hemingway and I really enjoyed it. I started researching Hemingway on wikipedia and ran across a slew of other authors who were unconventional. I was especially interested in women writers, and found out about Gertrude Stein. She is certainly not very popular at the Edinburgh library! I could only find one book called “Three Lives”, but I did find another book called “The Biography of Alice B. Toklas“, who was Stein’s partner, friend, and manager. Those two women led such interesting lives! Gertrude Stein practiced automatic writing, and they socialized with such people as Picasso, Matisse, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and other modern thinkers. It sounded like a very glamorous lifestyle, especially since they would go out decked in Oriental robes and strange clothes! Next, I want to get the biography of Isadora Duncan, a pioneer of modern dance.

Speaking of Regina Spektor, I am going to see her in Glasgow on February 19th! These upcoming weeks are bringing lots of excitement, change, and travel for me! This weekend I am going to Glasgow for the Scottish Juggling Convention. Then, Kate and I are going on a 7 day tour of the Highlands with MacBackpackers. The hostel was offering the tour at 1/2 price – how could we resist? Then, the Regina Spektor concert is taking place. Last, Kate and I are planning on moving to Galway, Ireland at the beginning of March.

P.S. I have uploded new photos on Flickr from the Edinburgh Univeristy Juggling Club, hostel, and city.