Hip and Well Read: Shoplifting from American Apparel

Hey Hipsters and Bibliophiles, The people have voted and November's book is... Shoplifting from American Apparel by Tao Lin has won for November. *** NOTE: due to the usual meetups being on the last Wed. of the month, and this day in Nov. being the evening before Tday, I'm moving the meetup one week. Luckily, this is a short book, so hopefully not a problem for anyone.*** description: Set mostly in ManhattanÂÂ-although also featuring Atlantic City, Brooklyn, GMail Chat, and Gainsville, FloridaÂÂ-this autobiographical novella, spanning two years in the life of a young writer with a cultish following, has been described by the author as ÂÂ"A shoplifting book about vague relationships,ÂÂ" ÂÂ"2 parts shoplifting arrest, 5 parts vague relationship issues,ÂÂ" and ÂÂ"An ultimately life-affirming book about how the unidirectional nature of time renders everything beautiful and sad.ÂÂ"From VIP rooms in hip New York City clubs to central booking in Chinatown, from New York UniversityÂÂ's Bobst Library to a bus in someoneÂÂ's backyard in a college-town in Florida, from Bret Easton Ellis to Lorrie Moore, and from Moby to Ghost Mice, it explores class, culture, and the arts in all their American forms through the funny, journalistic, and existentially-minded narrative of someone trying to both ÂÂ"not be a bad personÂÂ" and ÂÂ"find some kind of happiness or something,ÂÂ" while he is driven by his failures and successes at managing his art, morals, finances, relationships, loneliness, confusion, boredom, future, and depression. I had no problems finding this at the local independent bookstore. Shoplifting from American Apparel is available on Amazon.com, however, I encourage you all to support your local independent book store or library: City Paper's List of Independent Bookstores Google Map/Listing of Independent Bookstores in Philly You will notice that that if you RSVP "Yes," you'll be charged to attend. This is to help me cover my costs as Organizer and reduce the number of no-shows we have at meetings. Please keep in mind I'm only giving refunds if the meeting is canceled or rescheduled, not if you change your mind about attending. Thinking about coming when the Meetup is FULL? Read/click here. Happy Reading! Michelle