Ask Charles Yu! discussion

Do you want to know what kind of toothbrush Charles Yu uses and if it helps him write better? I'm not sure he'll answer, but ask here!

I use a Sonicare at home. For brushing during the workday, I am currently using a Colgate 360 Full Head Soft Toothbrush, which has a unique tongue cleaner and is "tightly packed," with "tapered bristles and polishing cups [to] help remove more plaque and stains than an ordinary toothbrush."

Do you prefer to first write on paper or type?

I prefer to type. Unfortunately, I never produce anything good that way. Almost anytime I write something worth keeping, I started writing it longhand first. You would think I would remember that, and just write longhand. But the typewriter is so tempting. I just think, what if I get a brain-rush and the words are coming out so fast that the only way I could keep up is to be typing? And yet, despite the fact that such a brain-rush has never happened, I insist on typing most of the time.

I prefer to write, personally, except that on the computer you can go back and change things without having to write it on the side or below and have things be confusing. But then again, I've never written a whole book.

I definitely need a new toothbrush, thanks for the tip! hmm I guess I should have to ask if it really works, but I assume it does.

You've talked about writing and music, how about visual arts? do you paint or anything like that? are you into art at all?

Sweetji wrote: "I definitely need a new toothbrush, thanks for the tip! hmm I guess I should have to ask if it really works, but I assume it does.

You've talked about writing and music, how about visual arts? do ..."

I can draw a decent dog, although really it's sort of a Snoopy rip-off. Other than that, I am not a visual artist. This is a bit random, but I really like the paintings of Mark Tansey, if you are familiar with his work at all.

What is your favorite book (if you have one) or a few really good ones in your opinion? I think you've already said authors, but not specific books.

Aviva wrote: "What is your favorite book (if you have one) or a few really good ones in your opinion? I think you've already said authors, but not specific books."

Any list I make will be incomplete, so to pick a completely arbitrary number, here are 8 of my favorites:

1) WHITE NOISE by Don DeLillo
2) GODEL ESCHER BACH by Douglas Hofstadter
3) THE FABRIC OF REALITY by David Deutsch
4) SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE by Kurt Vonnegut
5) THE MEZZANINE by Nicholson Baker
6) A SUPPOSEDLY FUN THING I'LL NEVER DO AGAIN by DFW
7) GALATEA 2.2 by Richard Powers
8) THE GONE AWAY WORLD by Nick Harkaway

thanks! I added some of them to my to-read! (though I probably won't get around to them for quite a while. and it would be a good idea to read them when I'm older.)

Aviva wrote: "thanks! I added some of them to my to-read! (though I probably won't get around to them for quite a while. and it would be a good idea to read them when I'm older.)"

Now you owe me a book recommendation...

Do you really want a bunch of teen books? I'll recommend some, but I don't know if you'll like them, or even be interested.

1) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
2) Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (and his stuff in general, and all the sequels)
3) R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots) by Karel Capek - this is a play, from the 1920s, but it's the first mention ever of robots, so of course I had to read it. It's interesting, but sort of strange to read.
4) Dragon and Thief by Timothy Zahn (at some point I'll get around to reading his Star Wars stuff)
5) Fablehaven by Brandon Mull - probably really easy to read, but fun anyway. The third one is awesome
6) The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
ummmmmmm....LoTR? Hunger Games? These are all my age books. Ooooh and I really want to read this book called Robopocolypse. And A Game of Thrones. And Unititled on Star Wars but I don't know where to get it...........