05: Michiko Aoyama and Fragility
The Modern Commonplace
The light novel genre has made such an impact on my reading since December 2024 that I would be remiss without including one of my first handwritten commonplace entries of 2025. This week I talk about Michiko Aoyama's book, What You are Looking for is in the Library. Each chapter follows a different character and their individual struggles which got me thinking about how I focus on my own vulnerability in relationships.
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04: Henry Miller and Being Invested
The Modern Commonplace
Living in Paris during World War II, Henry Miller was able to cultivate a voice that celebrates human experience, emotions, and senses that defied genre. Miller was a shock jock in so many ways, but he was invested in how the moment could be captured. Further research topics: Anais Nin Henry James D.H. Lawrence
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03: Shel Silverstein and Melinda Mae
The Modern Commonplace
Shel Silverstein was a man of mystery; one could even say an "international man of mystery". His lack of biographical data does not take away his unique ability to hold an emotion in words. His poem "" gives us the courage to take our time and create the life we want.
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02: Umberto Eco and the Anti-library
The Modern Commonplace
coined the term "anti-library" in response to our quote this week. Eco wrote consistently on how to read, write, and engage with books as more than lumps of wood pulp. At the end of his life Eco's personal home library numbered in the thirty thousands. He was even evicted over concern about the floor handling the weight of his books! Now, that is a Valentine's day story that never gets old. My Favourite Eco Reads:
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01: Welcome to the Modern Commonplace
The Modern Commonplace
The Modern Commonplace focuses on the idea that commonplacing is a personal experience which means there are a variety of ways to keep: digital, audio, or written. Even an artistically drawn or painted commonplace is possible. This podcast wants to bring deep thought and discussions back to the literary experience. I have found myself so overwhelmed in the past because I was not composting my ideas. I was just overconsuming one book after another. I was losing the joy of deep embodiment. Join me, Ashley Woleben, as I host this weekly podcast that brings attention to what I am consuming, and...
info_outlineShel Silverstein was a man of mystery; one could even say an "international man of mystery". His lack of biographical data does not take away his unique ability to hold an emotion in words. His poem "Melinda Mae" gives us the courage to take our time and create the life we want.