Andrew Brooks’ Top Five Picks
Hey folks, are you ready for this week’s Top Five Picks?
Meet Andrew Brooks, a first-year MFA in Creative Writing and Book Art.
1. Music to listen to while writing.
I have playlists for every story I’ve been a part of. It’s a tad silly, but if you take into consideration how my friends and I tell our stories, themes for series’ and different characters help set the mood from which to approach the story (a good way to focus when each of you have some kind of pseudo ADD).
So here are some favourites:
i. Alain Goraguer - The Fantastic Planet Soundtrack. psychedelic 70’s electronic jazz for all things.
ii. Johann Johannson - Fordlandia (this and the next one are part of a dystopian cycle of albums)
iii. Johann Johannson - And in the endless pause there came the sound of bees
iv. King Crimson - In the Wake of Poseidon (enough said)
v. Astor Piazzolla - Luna (not an album. though, some of the best modern Argentinan tango you’ll ever hear)
2. Dream Venues
Without a doubt Club Silencio from David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive. Such mythic theatres, inspire so much of my work, and I long to catch glimpses of the kind of shows being displayed at this very dark and intimidating night club in Lynch’s version of Los Angeles.
3. Movie adaptations to books.
The Neverending Story. 80’s film, based on a slightly older book (1975 i think?) takes things in a vastly different direction. Much more light-hearted and somehow breaking rules even fantasia had in the book version in which they bring Falcor, the luck dragon, into reality. The book is much darker, with Bastian going insane after all this being predicted by the person who originally WROTE the story (in the story).
If that isn’t convoluted enough of a description to get you to go back and watch this great movie, then I don’t know what will.
4. Invisible Cities - by Italo Calvino
I would not feel shameless mentioning this book here even if every single purported reader already knew everything about it. Not that i’m prideful; I’m just in awe of this book, and since i’ve picked it up, my life has been different. I also read maybe 1 passage every few months, so I’ve yet to complete it.
5. And instead of anything else here, this is my dedication to Dr. Seuss.
One is never to old to go back to Solla Selew, or seize the day with the Birthday Bird. To go to that place where everyone is waiting, or wade through McElligots Pool. While I am a humble humanist, there is nothing wrong being extravagant in story. Then, perhaps allegory is my favourite literary device.
Have a good week everyone!
If you find yourself hard pressed for time, do look into the music, at least :3
