Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts

Friday, November 17, 2006

Way to go Dr. Frank

Remember The Mr. T Experience, one of the finest pop punk bands ever? I've lost touch with them (they still perform occasionally so I've heard), but their 90's records still get played regularly at FTC Headquarters. The band revolved around singer Frank Portman aka Dr. Frank. Let me tell you...this man is a genius in writing simple songs with beautifully funny cynical lyrics like "Nixon had his puppy, Charles Manson had his klan, but god forbid that I get a girlfriend" (from 'Even Hitler had a Girlfriend'). With Brilliant one-liners like 'The future ain't what it used to be', 'Thank you (for not being one of them)', 'Who needs happiness (I rather have you) and 'The weather is here, wish you were beautiful' he could also have pursued a career at Hallmark. Instead Dr, Frank wrote a book, named King Dork! A fresh addition to my 'to read' list...

"Tom Henderson (a.k.a. King Dork, Chi-mo, Hender-fag, and Sheepie) is a typical American high school loser until he discovers the book, The Catcher in the Rye, that will change the world as he knows it. When Tom discovers his deceased father’s copy of the Salinger classic, he finds himself in the middle of several interlocking conspiracies and at least half a dozen mysteries involving dead people, naked people, fake people, ESP, blood, a secret code, guitars, monks, witchcraft, the Bible, girls, the Crusades, a devil head, and rock and roll. And it all looks like it’s just the tip of a very odd iceberg of clues that may very well unravel the puzzle of his father’s death and–oddly–reveal the secret to attracting semihot girls.
Being in a band could possibly be the secret to the girl thing–but good luck finding a drummer who can count to four."

The book has been getting a lot of good reviews and this week I read on punknews.org that Will Ferrell and Adam McKay have grabbed the rights to the novel. It's not yet clear whether Ferrell will actually play in the movie. All I can say is: way to go Dr. Frank!

(if you're wondering who Will Ferrel is...click here)

Some MTX mp3's:

The Mr T Experience - Even Hitler had a Girlfriend
The Mr T Experience - I Fell For You
The Mr T Experience - She's Coming Over Tonight

Friday, November 03, 2006

Bookhunting

Today I went to my favorite bookstore. I had some bookcoupons left from my birthday/graduation that were in desperate need of spending and this is what I bought:




* The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents America
(The Book) Teacher's Edition: A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction
* A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
* The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcom Gladwell
*
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Earlier this week I bought The Beach by Alex Garland and Wonderboys by Michael Chabon at bargain prices, so I got my reading cut out for me. First I have to finish Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk though, which I'm thoroughly enjoying. I really should have more time or make more time to read!