Jordan Blum's picture
Jordan Blum from Philadelphia, PA is reading various novels (for review) and journal submissions August 22, 2013 - 1:25pm

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to introduce myself. I've been meaning to check this place out for a long time (I know several writers who are active participants). Looks like the ideal place for me as a writer. Now, a bit about myself:

I'm live in Northeast Philadelphia, am in my mid twenties, and I teach at three schools (Gwynedd-Mercy College, Mercer County CC, and Rider University, in case anyone is familiar with them). I have an MFA in fiction and run an online journal called The Bookends Review. Aside from that, I've published about a dozen pieces (half poetry, half fiction) over the last year and a half. I'm a bit slow in terms of submitting work, and I procrastinate a lot as a writer and submitter (don't we all?). I"m also a music journalist specializing in Progressive Rock (Dream Theater, Mars Volta, King Crimson, Yes, Porcupine Tree, etc).

So what are some topics and pages I should check out? And sorry if this post seems narcissistic haha I just thought I might as well make it.

Jordan Blum's picture
Jordan Blum from Philadelphia, PA is reading various novels (for review) and journal submissions August 22, 2013 - 1:31pm

Oh, and as for favorite novels...

Fight Club (and all Palahniuk novels) - actually, I teach Fight Club from time to time
American Psycho (and most Ellis)
The Stand
Catcher in the Rye
Requiem for a Dream

The Great Gatsby

Many more but I can't think of them.

 

 

 

Fugue's picture
Fugue from City of Wind is reading Invitation to a Beheading by Nabokov. August 22, 2013 - 10:54pm

Wow, just saw your post. That is awesome that you are a music journalist specializing in progressive rock! Love me some old school Genesis with Gabriel singing. Mars Volta and Crimson are top on my list as well.

Jordan Blum's picture
Jordan Blum from Philadelphia, PA is reading various novels (for review) and journal submissions August 23, 2013 - 8:28am

Haha cool. Yeah, I love Genesis up until And Then There Were Three. After that, they fell from grace. I was supposed to interview Steve Hackett last year but it never happened :(

If you're into Mars Volta, please give this a read:

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/170575-de-loused-in-the-discography-a-look-back-at-the-mars-volta/

Fugue's picture
Fugue from City of Wind is reading Invitation to a Beheading by Nabokov. August 23, 2013 - 9:59am

Cool man, I will check out that article. Have loved them from the beginning and really can't say I dislike any of their work. Just a crazy band in all the best ways. At the Drive-In was amazing as well.

Jordan Blum's picture
Jordan Blum from Philadelphia, PA is reading various novels (for review) and journal submissions August 23, 2013 - 10:42am

Agreed. As you'll see, I was highly disappointed with Noctourniquet, but other than that I love their stuff.

Fugue's picture
Fugue from City of Wind is reading Invitation to a Beheading by Nabokov. August 23, 2013 - 11:00am

I actually dug that record. They trimmed the fat, which I do love me some fat, but they added some new spices in the dry rub that I enjoyed. I know I'm the minority on this one with most of their fans. To me, it was a fairly focused album the more I listen to it.

Jose F. Diaz's picture
Jose F. Diaz from Boston is reading Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel August 23, 2013 - 11:02am

Welcome to the pit.

Jordan Blum's picture
Jordan Blum from Philadelphia, PA is reading various novels (for review) and journal submissions August 23, 2013 - 11:25am

Eh, to each their own. I think Francis is their masterpiece, while De-Loused is their most consistent.

@Jose - Thanks man, although I've seen you post that exact same phrase on other sites. I'll still consider it sincere lol.

Richard's picture
Richard from St. Louis is reading various anthologies August 23, 2013 - 1:04pm

welcome. great list of books.

Fugue's picture
Fugue from City of Wind is reading Invitation to a Beheading by Nabokov. August 23, 2013 - 3:31pm

Yeah De-Loused is consistent because it was produced by Rick Rubin. Francis, I'm not sure is their masterpiece..it kind of loses me in the middle of the cd..it's just a little long and meandering/noodling for me. I really think Amputechture is their masterpiece. But opinions are like assholes.

Jordan Blum's picture
Jordan Blum from Philadelphia, PA is reading various novels (for review) and journal submissions August 24, 2013 - 7:58am

Thanks, Richard.

Fugue - A lot of people like Amp. I think it's the weakest of the first four, but it's still fascinating.

 

Dino Parenti's picture
Dino Parenti from Los Angeles is reading Everything He Gets His Hands On August 24, 2013 - 11:52am

Welcome, Jordan. With that reading list, you'll fit right in, but be warned: we will add to that list and you may go broke buying books.

JEFFREY GRANT BARR's picture
JEFFREY GRANT BARR from Central OR is reading Nothing but fucking Shakespeare, for the rest of my life August 24, 2013 - 1:03pm

Welcome to the LitReactor, online construct-avatar of Jordan Blum! I dig your musical... leanings? I must say, out of all the music chatter in the thread, the thing that jumped out at me was the mention of Rick Rubin who is like a God to me. Wait, scratch that--HE IS GOD. 

Fugue's picture
Fugue from City of Wind is reading Invitation to a Beheading by Nabokov. August 24, 2013 - 2:11pm

Yes! What Rubin did with the new Sabbath was just simply amazing. He made them channel that darkness from the early days perfectly. It is a perfect Sabbath album for me. Brad Wilk of RATM is a great addition for them on the drums. Just saw them live here in Chicago last week and it was one of the best shows I've seen, ever. And I've been to a ton. How can Ozzy be so intelligible when he sings but yet when speaking he is about as intelligible as Sloth from the Goonies?

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated August 24, 2013 - 2:23pm

Welcome.