Included Below: Fitting In / The Red Train / Our Missing Hearts / Backwards Through Time / Books! Click HERE for further information about this newsletter. To those from before and those who are new-
I. WELCOME!
Fitting In.
Is it bad that I am in my 40s and still not really sure where I fit in? I dunno, maybe I’m having an existential crisis? Or perhaps I’m just having a mid-life crisis? But also, I don’t think either of these things are true because I’ve generally always felt this way, like an outsider. Maybe I’ve been in a constant existential crisis since I was a kid? It’s very possible. Heck, I could also have been in a mid-life crisis all my life as I’ve generally always felt like a little old man (see this month’s Dream Room story).
I’ve had what seems like several different careers. I’d say they were all within the realm of creative jobs, except marketing, that did not require any creativity (sorry marketers who are reading this). I really do have superb friends, but they are all over the place - from a wide range of ages to all over the world to coming from all sorts of backgrounds. I mean, that is fun, by being an outsider, I know a lot of other outsiders, and let’s be real, they are some of the most interesting people, right?
I do feel that I am at a bit of a crossroads and trying to figure out a few things. Honestly, that’s normal, right? I mean, I think about this stuff all the time. Isn’t that healthy? Maybe not. Anyhoo, to all the outsiders and misfits and weirdos out there - I raise a glass to you.
Have there been any times in your life when you felt like an outsider?
II. TALES FROM THE DREAM ROOM
Each month welcomes an exclusive story from a parallel world.
The Dream Room is a place that where everything is interconnected. The sights and sounds and people that inhabit this world feel familiar. The tales pulled from the Dream Room are sometimes true and sometimes fiction, they may scare you or make you laugh. The Dream Room is a place not to be taken lightly and if you’re ready to enter, read the excerpt below and click on the link for the full story.
THE RED TRAIN: Last year, I started living as a little retired man. I got myself one of those small fold up camping chairs and most weekends during the summer, I take my chair, the books I am reading, notebooks, and snacks, and head down the street from where I live to High Park.
I walk through the woods a bit, find a good spot and set up my chair. I’ll read a bit. Write a bit. Just sit and listen to the leaves gently rustle in the wind. Pack things up, walk a bit, find another spot. You get the point.
I moved into this part of the city about a year ago. Before that, I was in an area that I will not name in case any readers live there. It was just really boring. All chain stores and clean-lined architecture. And the people? Even more boring. Let’s just say a lot of bros who wore suits during the days and backwards baseball caps at night. It felt very transient, like this was the last stop before moving to the suburbs.
After moving, the biggest thing I realized I missed in a neighbourhood was the local characters. You probably know who I’m talking about. People you see all the time and who are a bit eccentric.
Read the whole story at this link.
Q - What is the one thing you’d like to do in your life that you’re not doing?
III. PAUL’S PICKS
A recommendation of something watched, read, or listened to.
Here’s another pick that is more about an author’s body of work. Celeste Ng is the author of three books: Everything I Never Told You, Little Fires Everywhere, and the just released Our Missing Hearts. I could read just about anything by Ng, the way she writes, the focus of her stories, and her style really resonates with me. I’d say her first book, Everything I Never Told You, is my favourite. And, um, in my opinion, I’d kinda skip the television adaptation of Little Fires Everywhere. I know it’s a bit of a cliche to say the book is better, but in this case, it totally is the truth.
A few weeks ago, I actually went to the Hot Docs theatre in Toronto for a live interview/discussion with the author. It was nice to see that the traditional book tour is still a thing, although I assume it is reserved for big time authors like Ng. Regardless, how about we get back to the days when authors were like rockstars, and not because of their Twitter game, because of their actual books. Well, not everyone, the author of all those wizard books is a rockstar and she’s pretty terrible. So, let’s get back to when authors were mildly famous in the mainstream, but humble enough to stay focused on their books.
Anyhoo, check out Our Missing Hearts, which explores many things going on in our current world. The book is: “… an old story made new, of the ways supposedly civilized communities can ignore the most searing injustice. It’s a story about the power—and limitations—of art to create change, the lessons and legacies we pass on to our children, and how any of us can survive a broken world with our hearts intact.”
Q - Any fall book recommendations?
IV. FROM THE ARCHIVES
An old story from my blog brought to you in a new way.
BACKWARDS THROUGH TIME (OCTOBER 2019): When I boarded the train, I realized that I was in one of those four-seater areas, and had the window that faced the opposite way we were going. I thought these four-seaters were reserved for families and people that knew and actually wanted to talk with each other. Alas, we were four individual people, rarely acknowledging each other’s existence. Exactly the way I like it on the train.
I say almost because when I pulled out my book - Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng - and opened it up, the person facing me and sitting directly across pulled out the exact same book as me. We smiled at each other, she asked if I was enjoying it - Yes, very much so - and went to reading. Sure, this author has been a bestseller for a while, but this was her first book, and so a bit more of a deeper cut and a bit more of a coincidence.
This was comforting, allowing me to be in the same headspace as the person I was sharing the physical space with for the next four hours. We were silently seeing the same streets and listening in to the same conversations of the characters in the book.
Read the whole story at this link.
Q - Have you taken any trips lately?
V. WATCH, LISTEN, READ, OR DO
Something to take with you.
I know, I know, I’ve been blabbing on and on about our Stories We Don’t Tell event. We’re not doing one for a few months, so I’ll shut up about that for the moment. However, I will mention the Stories We Don’t Tell book one more time as a segue to list off my other books. Yep, in case you were not aware, I’ve written some novels and a book of stories. Check’em out wherever you buy books!
The Walking Man: Is a thinly veiled novel about an existential crisis. The main character goes on a long walk to find himself. Some fun facts: I actually did this walk from Toronto to Niagara Falls. It doesn’t seem that long, but it’s a pretty good trek. Also, during the book launch, I performed stories from the book while walking on an actual treadmill.
Dreams of Being a Kiwi: This novel is another thinly veiled fictional story about a person suffering from some pretty serious mental health issues. The main character goes on a journey across the world and lands in New Zealand to start a new life.
I’m Leaving It: Broken noses, the Olympics in Russia, identity theft, piano rifts - this book really has it all. It’s a mix of fictional and real life stories and functions as sort of a mix tape in book form. You can pick up any story and enjoy it on its own, but together they form themes. It’s very fun, if I don’t say so myself.
Q - Any fun projects you’re working on lately?
You’ve probably noticed that I’ve included a question at the end of each section. No, this isn’t required homework. However, if you are compelled to write to me with your thoughts, I would love to hear from you. Who knows, I might even share some of the answers in future newsletters (anonymously, of course). Email me here: jpd@pauldore.com.
October 2022 Edition: Stay in Your Lane / Pipes / Essex County / Community / Stories We Don’t Tell Yet Again.