An interview with George R.R. Martin*

It's hard to go back writing in a rational way after trying the write-whatever-the-fuck-you-feel-like-writing way. Can I go back and write about how much pleasure does my new coffee machine brings me? What about the book that I am reading? Wouldn't I belittle G.R.R. Martin's master piece if I try to describe how much better it is than Tolkien's Lord of The Rings?
I wonder what would a chat with Martin over a good Columbian/Ethiopian blend coffee be like? Perhaps he hates coffee. I can picture him all fat and sweaty telling me: "I'm more of a tea person". I look at him and say: "I can't understand, how can you not be a coffee person? You are probably one of the most famous fiction novelists of the new millennia and you don't drink coffee?" With a mocking grin he says:"No". Still unable to fathom his taste of hot beverages: "… but aren't all writers supposed to drink Starbucks's coffee and use a MacBook to generate creative ideas and bestselling novels? Aren't there some sort of pre-requisites in order to be published in the Newyorker?" He stays silent for a minute or two, then he says: "perhaps with a lot of sugar and cream I would be able to drink a cup of coffee." So I ask him: "shall I order you a double-double?" He nods. Five minutes later I am back with a medium sized mug: "here it is a double-double, just the way you like it."
Not wanting to waste any more time, I fire my first question: "how can you generate so many creative ideas?"
"I write more than I read. I don't waste my time reading other novels. I'd rather listen to music, and contemplate Damien Hirst's, Enno de Kroon's and Jed Martin's art works." He takes a sip of the coffee I got him, I can see that he did not like it. "De Kroon and Hirst I know them, but who is this Jed Martin?" It couldn't be… Displaying a shy smirk he says: "Well Jed Martin is a fictitious artist invented by Houellebecq. If Jed Martin existed he would've been my favorite artist of all times." I say nothing, he adds "What? Aren't we allowed to choose fictitious artists? There is nothing wrong with appreciating fictitious people, and making imaginary friends. Just like this interview we're having, remember it's all happening in your mind. You are not in Manhattan , and you are certainly not in Starbucks. Remember that you are sitting on your couch imagining this failed interview and watching BBC news worrying about the upcoming great depression! "

 
*Fictitious interview with George R.R. Martin

 

 

Cell 201 B

She…
If I write what's on my mind she will surely hate me.
She'll call me an arrogant freak or some ugly names.
She will call me a traitor, a cheater and a clan deserter.

 
He…
If I write what's on my mind, he'll condemn me to hell.
He'll send angels to hunt me, and saints to capture me.
They will have me purged, ruptured, and mended by the Holy Ghost.

 
He…
If I write what's on my mind, he'll condemn me to heaven.
He'll send demons to hunt me, and evil spirits to possess me.
They will have me purified, crucified, and baptized in ice and fire.

 
You…
If I write what's on my mind, you will understand me, and you will like it.
You will write me back, you will feed my grandeur delusions, and my megalomaniac tendencies.
Just like two schizophrenic patients, we will nourish our respective deliriums.
Together we shall lead this decadent world into a second renaissance.

 

 

 

Sleepless

People never sleep at night. They go out, they stay home,
They drink, they read, watch a musical or a TV show.
People never sleep at night. They go out, they stay home,
They make love, they play chess, write a post, delete it and write it again.
People don't work during the day. They spend time,
Making time, wasting time, they read blogs and tweet their thoughts.
People don't work during the day. They spend time,
Making plans, what to read, what to watch, whom to love,
What to write when the night time comes.

 

 

 

Holiday season

As I am sitting in my living room watching Gad El Maleh and enjoying the last few days of my xmas vacation in Lebanon, I came to realize that I am actually looking forward to go back to Paris.

Nine days in Lebanon had seen me socially worn out. I have never been involved in so many social activities. Visiting close friends, not so close friends, parents of friends (whom I love as much as my own), ex-professors, future/previous work supervisors, family members, etc, etc…

For those who know me well, nothing tortures me more than social obligations and nothing gives me more pleasure than riding my bike. Well during this holiday season, I have barely ridden my bike and had tons of social obligations! GO FIGURE!

Nonetheless it felt good being away from the bike for a week or so; it's just the winter break that I have been waiting for.

Happy new year everybody!!

 

 

Late December updates

It looks inevitable. Living a student life in Europe has to be financially meager. Yesterday at around 7 p.m my bank agent called me, saying that my student loan was declined. So much for Christmas shopping. I was on my way to get N a nice iPhone. In fact I was about to make the payment when I received the call. Well it seems that it has to wait for few weeks. On a more positive note, we will be leaving Paris to Beirut via Rome in a couple of hours. The "Aeroports de Paris" website shows no flight delays. A nice surprise, a very pleasant one indeed… with Alitalia you never know! "Ils sont fous ces romains". I am just praying not to lose our luggage somewhere between Paris and Rome. I hate travelling.

Lean christmas in Paris?

Living off my scholarship money and the small wage N is earning, doesn't allow for many Christmas festivities in a city where Christmas rhymes very well with its name. Ok perhaps I am pushing it too far here, but who wouldn't associate Christmas to Paris? Shopping at La Fayette (or Val d'Europe), drinking hot chocolate at La Jacobine, visiting the marche de noel at la defense, in addition to the hundred other activities one can do.

This year we are enjoying a different version of Christmas period, a leaner version. Where one doesn't eat foie gras but cheap Carrefour made Pâté. If you go to the cinema, you opt for the 2D version instead of the 3D cause it saves you 3.56 euros per ticket. You keep on spreading yourself too thin, until the bank finally approves your 10,000 euros student loan, and then… just then you decide to make it all up! You go and buy your partner those 300 euros eye glasses, just to give yourself an excuse to buy in iPad, two cycling kits, four books, and brand new pair of camper shoes!

This year, santa (or my drying bank account) has brought us two return tickets to Beirut J with the same amount santa could've gotten us a 3 days trip to Amsterdam and an iPad 2… One can always argue that spending Christmas with family and friends as well as drinking coffee at Starbucks Sassine are priceless, while a fine joint in Amsterdam costs around 10 euros. Don't get me wrong I am psyched by the fact that I will be visiting Lebanon I am just presenting a constructive alternative.

 

 

Reading period

As part of tomorrow's mid-term exam preparations, I have dedicated a significant amount of time to read Houellebecq's latest work as a way to fight the exam related stress.

I'm halfway through with the book and not planning to stop before finishing it entirely. After all, perseverance is the key to success.

If I had to describe Michel Houellebecq based on what I have so far read from his book, I would confidently say that he's one hell of a self-centered author. In fact I think he goes way beyond self-centrism. He redefines the entire ego-centrism and self-centrism concepts. However unlike many other mortal authors, he is actually good at it. I even dare to say that he deserves it. The way he describes and market himself in his book (In short, he's a mess!) is so good that you would actually want to go on amazon and buy his entire collection. Unfortunately that is not going to happen. Books cost a lot of money, and they would cost even more if you decide to ship them back home.