Happy Birthday Mr. Strummer!

Today marks the 60^th birthday of Joe Strummer.  60.  This past weekend was also the Annual ‘Strummer of Love Festival’ coordinated by his lovely daughters in Somerset, England.  I’m thinking next year possibly hitting it up for my 40^th birthday.  http://www.strummeroflove.com/

I have a funny relationship with The Clash.  I liked them as a teen but didn’t get really into them until my early 20’s.  I remember having a crush on a boy in highshcool that used to make tapes for me which always had ‘Should I Stay Or Should I Go?’ on them.

A few years ago, my friend A reintroduced me to them and again it was a love affair.  Time passed and again, The Clash got shelved for some new music of the moment.  Then recently another chap sent me home with another bagful of Clash books, DVD’s and the like.  The Clash on the brain much?  I need to stay away from boys who like The Clash methinks.

I’ve liked many a band growing up.  In a way I sometimes think I have music adhd.  But whenever my iPod and mood find myself coming back to ‘Combat Rock’ and ‘London Calling’ – I feel so happy.  The music instantly takes back to my teen years when it was all about spinning vinyl on the crappy record player in my bedroom and forgetting about homework for hours on end.

Last week I received a fresh paperback copy of The Clash with a lovely hot pink cover.  It tells the unique story of the Clash, by the Clash. The Clash was a band like no other. Pioneers of British punk rock, their incendiary gigs, intelligent song writing, definitive style and passionate idealism caught the spirit of the times and made them a worldwide phenomenon. Rolling Stone magazine declared London Calling one of the greatest albums of all time, their autobiographical documentary Westway to the World won a Grammy, and their music lives on, influencing emerging bands and exciting new audiences today.

This is the first official book to be created by the band. With unprecedented access to the Clash archive, this landmark publication brings together previously unseen material–including tour posters, artwork, and photos of the band at home, on stage, in the studio and on the road–with each member telling it like it was, in their own words.

Trendsetters, icons, revolutionaries: their story is steeped in mythology. Many people have an opinion about what made them who they were – this book gives the chance to read the full story, from all four band members themselves.

What I appreciated about this book is that it gives small bit size pieces on each of the lad’s stories at certain times in their musical history.  Paul Simonon is my favourite but between him and Mick Jones they kept me giggling throughout this compact pocket edition.

Initially when this book came out in hard cover I thought ‘how am I going to read this book tucked up in bed?’  It’s an easy read and so unlike in the long windedness of ‘Redemption Song:  The Ballad of Joe Strummer’.

There are so many good bits to the book:  the disco graphic snapshot retrospective, global historical tour dates, film information highlights and fantastic vintage pictures of the band.

Ah yes, not only is the book a good chuckle but reading it will bring you closer to the band.  It’s pretty emotional at times – be prepared.

I have an extra fresh copy of The Clash book to giveaway to one of my lucky readers.  Thank you to Chapters Indigo!  All you need to do is sign up to my blog and you will be entered for a chance to win it.  The deadline for entries is August 31, 2012.

Lastly, Happy Birthday to my fellow Leo, Mr. Strummer!  Wherever you are in the heavens…we miss you.

Book Report: ‘Please Look After Mom’ Written by Kyung-Sook Shin

'Please Look After Mom' Written by Kyung-Sook Shin

‘Please Look After Mom’

Written by Kyung-Sook Shin

It’s very rare that I read a book and feel so utterly moved that I take moments out of my reading and think about what emotions and memories they evoke for me from my own past.

I had an emotional reaction whilst reading ‘Please Look After Mom’.  It made me think of my relationship with my own mom.  Those early years as a rambunctious teen with a whole lot of mod attitude and giving her the hardest trailblazing time.  Hey, I was the first born and I wanted my fun and fought for it.

‘Please Look After Mom’ tells the story of a family’s search for their missing mother — and their discovery of the desires, heartaches and secrets they never realized she harboured within.

When sixty-nine-year-old So-nyo is separated from her husband among the crowds of the Seoul subway station, and vanishes, their children are consumed with loud recriminations, and are awash in sorrow and guilt. As they argue over the “Missing” flyers they are posting throughout the city — how large of a reward to offer, the best way to phrase the text — they realize that none of them have a recent photograph of Mom. Soon a larger question emerges: do they really know the woman they called Mom?

Told by the alternating voices of Mom’s daughter, son, her husband and, in the shattering conclusion, by Mom herself, the novel pieces together, Rashomon-style, a life that appears ordinary but is anything but.

This is a mystery of one mother that reveals itself to be the mystery of all our mothers: about her triumphs and disappointments and about who she is on her own terms, separate from who she is to her family.

Getting back to my teen years – some battles I won.  Some I lost.  But all these years later I see how those battles and wins shaped me similarly to what the characters in the book experienced.  I only have my mom to thank for that.  My love of music, art, travel, drive, emotion and sometimes brassiness – all comes from her.  Her sacrifice – always endless.  Even today.

‘Please Look After Mom’ reminded me of everything my mom has done for me, given me, cooked for me, fought for me and cherished for me.  There were moments I actually wept because of the pure beauty in the words, language, tone and sentiment of this book.  In a way it kinda changed my life.  I know – it’s cheesy to say.  But it’s true. 

There was a moment in the last few month’s where I actually thanked my mom for something she did for me as a teen.  This is something let’s say we don’t really do in my culture.  Now I said it over the phone (small steps) – but I’m glad I told her. 

Thank you to Lindsey at Random House – I have a free copy of ‘Please Look After Mom’ up for grabs.  Sign up to my blog and you could win yourself this lovely work.  If you are already subscribed consider yourself already entered.  Contest Closes on May 12, 2012.

If you don’t win it, pick up a copy for your Mum’s for Mother’s Day and remember her to thank her in your own special way.

Best of Luck! 

Mel xo

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The holidays are coming up and for those faithful followers to my blog, I would like to post out a sweet gift as a thank you in December!

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Mel xo