Three things I love.

#1: Two Apaches in Paris, by Brassai. I first saw this photo when I went to the Art Insitute of Chicago this summer, and this photograph seems to haunt everything that I do. I fell in love with it the second I saw it; there is a raw emotion in this photo that seems to resonate across the space beside it--which is not a wall, by the way, the photographer purposely left the space undeveloped to give the photo its stark, deep feeling. Looking at this photo makes me feel as if I am not alone in the world--stunning. Beautiful.




#2: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. I'm 3/4 of the way through this book and it's shaping up to be my favorite book of all time. Unfortunately, I had to use the Amazon.com version of this book cover with its LOOK INSIDE skewing the beauteous masterpiece behind it... :). This story chronicles Esther Greenwood's slow descent into some kind of insanity, with a keen eye and sharp language, pointing out things that we have always noticed but never been quite able to put into words. I have been completely immersed in this story ever since I picked it up, and the dreamy, cynical way Greenwood views her own life is both entertaining and tragic, at times so human and endearing that I feel as if I am experiencing this with her. Four stars in progress.

#3: Fictionpress.com Even I have a username on here, but I won't tell you what it is :) I can spend hours just clicking around on this site, reading and critiquing manuscripts, some of which are absolutely wonderful. These are the bestselling authors of tomorrow, publishing their work online for free. If you find the online communities for each genre, they pick out some of the more worthwhile reads--very handy.

Wonderful summer, everyone!