Whenever I need a warm-up for writing (you know, that little nudge before actually doing it) I prefer writing something else. For example a comment, a critique, or maybe a journal. I sometimes prefer reading other things like people I follow or random things on dA. Which brings me back to my reading list, which currently consists of:

Anna Karenina (which I'm at page 100 and can't seem to put aside)
The Solitude of the Mind Reader by Dalia Orbach (in a second I'll tell you more about it)
and a long list of essays/poetry that I'm too lazy to finish.

Before I read those I started with this little news report which you all should consider reading – [link] - regarding the #dAVillage newest contest! Give it a try

Lately I got a little email informing me that I got in Influencing Readers, which is a group of 250 people all across Israel who once a month get a white-cover pre-proof-read books from Yediot Aharonot publication, and by reading and commenting get to influence the marketing/editing of the book. That's how I got into reading The Solitude of the Mind Reader, and currently scratching page 40. It's a nice feeling to know you have the ability to influence something in the book market, something that you are thriving so hard to be a part of. Also nice to see the level of pre-marketed books and get a glimpse of comparison between your works and the pitched works. Gives you some perspective about things. Also you get a free book once a month (along with the white-cover), which just means that my "To Read" shelf is going to grow

Also I've just watched Inglorious Basterds. And surprisingly enough… I didn't really like it. The plot was eh, the directing was nah, the over-all was seen-it done-it already, and all in all it's just another Tarantino film that should be watched and checked but that's about it. I don't think that this was the big woo-ha people made out of it. Which only goes to say that it's time to read more and watch less.

So what are you reading? What do you think about it? Spill your thoughts
Stay as beautiful as you are,
- Omri.

Important links of this journal:
Mindless Echoes Official
My Facebook
My Blog
A Contest?! Where?!
Anna Ka-who?

Cheerup art of this journal:








Haruki Murakami - The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

_{The combination of a down-to-earth straight-ahead storytelling and a fantasy is not something that I expected when I started reading this book for the first time. Set round 1980 Japan the story unfolds both history and drama, and still manages to delves into the 3rd-realm of non-realistic in a much more fascinating and exciting way than you’d expect...Read More...}

Well, it's not that I have so much to update... Just that I felt that the previous journal was not the right one to place before a new year comes and during the holidays. So what I'm going to do is a little show of what I have liked in my reading list lately, and just give a little room for people I recommend reading. GO GO GO!

Seaside by
Trafficking Standstills by
Soo-fi. by
Grading Art by
Sepia Evening Cinema by
Dancing with Trotsky
The Pianist
Blessed be the Child
Home
Tokyo by
Mercreature
Ocean's Pride
Encounter with a Loved Lost
The Art of Seductio by
Me'Hab
Here in the Blue
Grandfather Earth
Osmosis
You Asked Me
Bewitched Love
Blazing

Happy holidays everybody, and a happy new year

- Omri.

Important links of this journal:
Mindless Echoes Official
Mindless Echoes on Facebook
My Facebook
My Blog

Cheerup art of this journal:








John Gardner - The Art of Fiction

_{I don't think that there are many things I read that truly, genuinely, affected the way I see and relate to literature more than this book. Although I don't agree with every word written, I found this book thought invoking and enriching, actually dwelling into the soft tissues of the meaning of art. I highly recommend it to any of you out there who are serious about what you do.}

Let's talk about abomination.

I understand a lot of things, I really do. There are a lot of horrible acts in this world, along with cruelty and misunderstandings. There are many things that many people do to hurt each other in the name of idealism, egoism or pure enjoyment. There are wars, there are false wars, there are still holocausts out there, there are still executions, public executions, lynches – you name it and it's out there. Probably outside your door, if you never bothered looking.

There are things that people do because they are stupid. There are things that people do because they are ignorant. There are things that people do for money. For self promotion. For many million tiny insignificant and damn-right-fucked-up motivation. But there's a thing called self-respect. Something which is to say the respect that a person has to himself or herself, a little thing that supposed to keep us from being down-to-the-dirt cancer on the map of things.

I take away the personal impact of this stupid act on me personally and try to look at it rationally – what kind of a person, with no dignity, self respect or brain can do a thing such as stealing the 'Arbeit Macht Frei' sign of a place such as this?!

Congratulations humanity, once again you proved me how low we all can get.
For an Article About This







John Gardner - The Art of Fiction

_{I don't think that there are many things I read that truly, genuinely, affected the way I see and relate to literature more than this book. Although I don't agree with every word written, I found this book thought invoking and enriching, actually dwelling into the soft tissues of the meaning of art. I highly recommend it to any of you out there who are serious about what you do.}

I've decided to open a blog, just because I'm need a place to put my thoughts and reviews on books, articles and such and never really had one. I'm gonna upload more than just those, probably, but for the time being I leave it for reviews alone.

Yes, that also means that if I read something I really enjoy on dA I will post a blog about it. Yes, that also means I'm open for suggestions (but you already know that if you note me I will get to it eventually, even after millions of months… that one's going to ~lonipalooza which still waits since August… but I do not forget!).

If you are interested in reading my thoughts jump over to –
My Tumblr Blog
Which is still my preferred blogging system, at least for the time being. Be sure to let me know what you think or just drop a stupid line – all accepted First review in order:
John Gardner – The Art of Fiction

For the meanwhile I don't have any other news for you guys, but have you read anything by these amazing artists lately?
`innocencedied2nite, ~Heart-Beats, `Memnalar, =AlecBell

Just read a few of their new ones, worth a glimps!
Oh and for those of you who look for some activity:
#dAVillage, =DailyLitDeviations and of course #Writers-Workshop

And hurry up, 21st of Dec is a deadline!!! Litmas?!!?

Happy holidays!
- The Hanukkah Arsonist







John Gardner - The Art of Fiction

_{I don't think that there are many things I read that truly, genuinely, affected the way I see and relate to literature more than this book. Although I don't agree with every word written, I found this book thought invoking and enriching, actually dwelling into the soft tissues of the meaning of art. I highly recommend it to any of you out there who are serious about what you do.}

Flying over to the next world we are taking a stop at a little island off the map, we call this island - Imagination Land, and the reason we are stopping there is because we are all artists and we have too. Some think that the reason we stop at Imagination Land is that we are travelers in this entire world and the only common ground is this little stupid island where everything is possible. But to be honest we are stopping there because the other way, the other option, is called Gray Land. And like its name it is simply boring and gray.

Imagination Land have many useful practices, but all of them are incomparable with its main practice – it is absolutely personal. And with that personal freedom in mind you kinda wonder what is the common ground. Well, the common ground is fairly simple, once you don't break your brain over it – art. When we create we make a common ground. And that common ground, as it's supposed to be, is common as in a personal experience yet still a connecting everyone around.

So what are you getting at, Omri? What do you want from us?!

What I want from you is to take 60 seconds, put a stopper, a stopwatch, a 1-minute long song or any other time measuring instrument you like. Stop doing everything you are doing. Just sit, stand, lay, jump for that little amount of time and think of how wonderful it is that you are able (no matter how good or bad you are at it in your own eyes) to create something so personal yet so common at the same time. Let that thought sink in. Let it become an inseparable part of your personality, as who you are.

And when you understand it, when it finally make you smile, take that smile and put it on your shirt as a trophy for all to see that you are an artist – no matter what they say, think or whisper. God damn it you are a damn artist. Isn't it a wonderful feeling?

Don't ever let people underestimate who you are and what that means. Don't ever let insecurities and false thoughts drag you down to the pits of – I don't worth a thing, or any other such thought. Don't ever let the gray world teach you that what you do doesn't worth it. You have your smile, you have your art – you worth it.

Life is too short to give up people! Just do your damn thing.

Served hot with potatoes.
- Omri.

Important links for this journal:
Mindless Echoes on Facebook
Mindless Echoes Official
My Page on Facebook
Project Positivity

Cheerup art of this journal:








John Gardner - The Art of Fiction

_{I don't think that there are many things I read that truly, genuinely, affected the way I see and relate to literature more than this book. Although I don't agree with every word written, I found this book thought invoking and enriching, actually dwelling into the soft tissues of the meaning of art. I highly recommend it to any of you out there who are serious about what you do.}