ARE YOU WHAT YOU READ OR WHAT YOUR READ AND KEEP?!?!?

I do love to read, but I don't like to keep books. In fact, I don't really like to keep "things" -- I only keep the things I love and that really matter to me. So, you will find a lot of music and a lot of DVD's in my space. As for books, I tend to read 5 or 6 at a time. Always have. Not sure why. I tend to lean toward non-fiction. Whenever I visit someone whom I am getting to know, I love to see what sort of music and books they keep in their home. I think you can learn something about people by what they enjoy to read and the music they like to hear. So, I thought I would share my book collection with you. Self-indulgent? Dull? Lack of anything better to share on my blog? Yes, perhaps.

The books that I love and keep can be divided into two groups: "Coffe Table Art" and "Reading Material"

...reading Material:

Well, I guess one could call this Small Table Art, but this was my very first book. My mother actually gave this to me. It is inscribed, "To Matthew from Mommy, Feb. 27, 1969. I was 2 years and 3 months old. For some reason, this has always been one of my little treasures. My mom was never one to give gifts --- especially of this sort. So, I guess it means a lot to me. Oh, and it is very deep. It follows the story of a good little boy who is very sleepy. (I was never sleepy as child -- always hyper)

through the looking glass - lewis carroll
alice's adventures in wonderlang - lewis carroll
(these hard cover editions have the orginal sketches/drawings by tenniel. i guess mr. carroll was a real perv, but these two books continue to amaze me. so many layers --- even if you're not stoned)

confessions of a pretty lady - sandra bernhard
may i kiss you on the lips, miss sandra? - sandra bernhard
love, love and love - sandra bernhard
(brilliant pop culture observations from the jaded and yet somehow innocent all at once)

complete patti smith - patti smith
auguries of innocence - patti smith
(rock and roll hero and poet of note)

harold's end - by someone or some people who call themselves jt leroy
(beautiful hardcover with a really sad, twisted and oddly touching story -- harsh)

the little prince - antoine de saint-exupery
(this is my favorite book of all time --- not just a children's book. the world would be a better place if everyone read this once a year)

crackup at the race riots - harmony korine
(i know, i know --- but i think he may be a genius)


a very tiny book that i gave to my Grandmother after I first left texas and moved to boston. my mom sent it to back to me after my Grandmother died in 1996. I inscribed it, "To Grandmother on our first Christmas apart. I'm there even if you can't see me. I love you. Matty. 12/91" I guess I am keeping it because she did. I don't remember what it was about this little book that made me think of her. she sometimes had trouble sleeping because she told me she had visions and it bothered her. maybe that is why.

...coffee table art

movies of the 60's
movies of the 70's
Pierre & Gilles
(way cool books from the folks at taschen)

recreation - mitch epstein photography

he is an amazing artist, but it was this picture that captured me. to me is sums up both the 70's and my childhood --- the women are obsessed with exploration with the snake, but one of them has simply laid her baby off to the side. ...all attention is on the snake and none on the baby)

bjork
isabelle huppert
(neat-o picture books of two really neat ladies! i could just look at ms. huppert for hours on end)

revalations -- collection of diane arbus work
(creepy and disturbing)

blood & glitter
picture this
(2 great collections of shots by mick rock)

jack pierson
(in between the gay fashion model shots you will find some very interesting glimpses into male sexuality)

redemption
(photography by floria sigismondi who seems to be totally wacked and fantastic!)

8 femmes - francois ozon
(covered in hot red velvet, this hardcover book is a sort of marketing tool for his film, but really interesting shots of the filming of a great movie --- can't read a single word as it is all in french)

anima mundi
(mark ryden is so fucking cool)

365 takes
(awesome collection of work by andy warhol)

2 big books filled with pictures of everyone's fave diva, simply barbra
an autographed book filled with great pictures of joe dallesandro, who is so hot!
the strange hard cover book by tori amos and ann powers which either goes above or below my head, but i just can't seem to toss it

...books i am currently reading at the pace of a snail on valium

that's revolting: queer strategies for resisting assimilation
tricks and treats: sex workers write about their clients
(two fascinating collections edited by once local matt bernstein sycamore who i suspect is just crazy but also brilliant. i don't agree with a lot, but these collections make you think -- which is always good)

china boy - gus lee
(well, everyone else seems to be reading it)

gutterboys - alvin orloff
(with whom i have emailed a few times. i actually read this a few years back while vacationing in ptown, but after a recent exchange with him on myspace i decided to re-read it. i think this would make a great film)

break, blow, burn - camille paglia
(odd opinions about poetry. i am loving it)

with billie - julia blackburn
(interesting recollections of billie holiday, but blackburn got all the info from another writer's hard work. i think she should have shared credit with the other writer. ...who killed herself and left behind lots and lots of notes which blackburn turned into this book)

i put a spell on you
(nina simmone's 'autobiography' -- sometimes interesting. sometimes a bit dull)

...books waiting for me to read (and they have been waiting for a while now)

weird like us - ann powers
(always enjoy her insights, but they are better without tori amos tossing things about because that just gets too strange for even me and i LOVE tori amos)

herzog - saul bellow
(got the urge to read something by him after he died)

my life thus far - jane fonda
(stop making fun of me)

4 books on jungian theories and thought
(i was really interested right before i moved to sf. ...now, i am not so sure. but, i will read them sooner or later)

...oh, and i have a copy of the bible and and a book of essays by fassbinder -- one is of more relevance. can you guess which? lol!

oh, and all of my journals which i started keeping upon the day i graduated high school in 1985. i think there are about 25 of them. pain in the ass when i move, but i like to look back at them at random from time to time.