Replay

There's a new book out, a novel, called Replay, by Ken Grimwood.  The premise is that a man is transported from his midlife ennui to his college days, and he remembers everything that happened afterward. Which is to say, he knows then what he knows now. He keeps going backward and forward in time, living his life in what he hopes is a better manner. 

I find this a fascinating idea and can't help but wonder what I'd do differently, besides the obvious sports gambling. All those jobs I wouldn't have taken, the guys I wouldn't have dated as well as the ones I would have, and mostly, the things I wouldn't have said. After my little mishap (okay, it was huge) with a certain urban university, I would have gone to Northwestern. I wouldn't have eaten all that ice cream the summer I graduated from college. I would have gone running with Dilbert when he started doing it. I would have gone to grad school sooner.  I could go on. 

I am a great believer in the butterfly effect, and besides, time travel is currently impossible so this line of thinking is pointless.  I guess I just realize how many regrets I have. Well, guess I'll always have company. 

Last Week at My Parents

Well, I spent last week visiting my parents, which I discovered is not quite the same as going on vacation.  I'm still wondering which book would have caused the greatest stir if I read it openly: the latest Chuck Pahlaniuk about a filmed gang bang (great, I should read him more), the book on how to not write a novel (over 200 mistakes illustrated), the wedding planning book (purely for writing research, the author is a monster), or the one about male-female relationships. Any of these books could have opened up a big, greasy can of worms with my parents and probably earned me a lecture on any number of topics. My parents are good people, and I especially enjoyed playing crolf (no, that's not a typo) with my dad, but a week is all anyone should be required to spend with them. I'm a little nervous now that I know I'll be spending about a week with them around Christmas and my cousin's wedding. Perhaps the good wedding vibes will overcome the crazy, weird Christmas energy. Nah. Oh yes, I'm going to Europe with them in two years.  I should have my head examined. I also got a new computer, an iBook. I love it. The only thing is that I can't get my iPod to sync up with it. Yes, I know, everyone should have my problems. Perhaps I'll blog about my books later, but I have a play to read and an apartment to clean tomorrow.