The Orphaned Anything's
Encyclopedia
The Orphaned Anything's is a 2008 memoir
by American musician/writer Stephen Christian
. It tells the story of a "lesser known" named Ayden Kosacov’s sudden realization that "There's more to living than being alive."
Ayden Kosacov is alive, and that is about all you can say. In the throes of a mundane and jejune life Ayden is slowly coming to the realization that if all his world is a stage then he wouldn’t care if he did or did not miss the final scenes. Through an almost "accidental" suicide attempt and the recovery that soon follows, Ayden learns that there is more to living than just being alive. Finding his way through diverse experiences and people he comes to terms with God, his family, and finally himself.
The Orphaned Anything’s style of writing is in the likes of Denis Johnson
(Jesus' Son
) and Dave Eggers
(A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
) and yet designed to give life lessons, encouragement, and hope like books by Paulo Coelho
(The Alchemist
) and Donald Miller (Blue Like Jazz
).
page in a blog on March 7, 2008.
Memoir
A memoir , is a literary genre, forming a subclass of autobiography – although the terms 'memoir' and 'autobiography' are almost interchangeable. Memoir is autobiographical writing, but not all autobiographical writing follows the criteria for memoir set out below...
by American musician/writer Stephen Christian
Stephen Christian
Stephen Christian is the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band Anberlin and his side-project Anchor & Braille. He and his bandmates started Anberlin in 2002, after the demise of their previous group, known as SaGoh 24/7...
. It tells the story of a "lesser known" named Ayden Kosacov’s sudden realization that "There's more to living than being alive."
Synopsis
An “I'm up, what more do you want from me?” sticker hideously controls the back of Ayden Kosacov’s bedroom door. In his mind what started as a joke is slowly becoming his "glorious and underrated mantra".Ayden Kosacov is alive, and that is about all you can say. In the throes of a mundane and jejune life Ayden is slowly coming to the realization that if all his world is a stage then he wouldn’t care if he did or did not miss the final scenes. Through an almost "accidental" suicide attempt and the recovery that soon follows, Ayden learns that there is more to living than just being alive. Finding his way through diverse experiences and people he comes to terms with God, his family, and finally himself.
The Orphaned Anything’s style of writing is in the likes of Denis Johnson
Denis Johnson
Denis Hale Johnson is an American author who is known for his short-story collection Jesus' Son and his novel Tree of Smoke , which won the National Book Award. He also writes plays, poetry and non-fiction.- Biography :...
(Jesus' Son
Jesus' Son
Jesus' Son is a 1999 film that was adapted from a collection of short stories of the same name by Denis Johnson. It stars Billy Crudup, Samantha Morton, Holly Hunter, Dennis Hopper, Denis Leary, Will Patton, John Ventimiglia, Michael Shannon and Jack Black...
) and Dave Eggers
Dave Eggers
Dave Eggers is an American writer, editor, and publisher. He is known for the best-selling memoir A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and for his more recent work as a screenwriter. He is also the co-founder of the literacy project 826 Valencia.-Life:Eggers was born in Boston, Massachusetts,...
(A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius is a memoir by Dave Eggers released in 2000. It chronicles his stewardship of younger brother Christopher "Toph" Eggers following the cancer-related deaths of his parents....
) and yet designed to give life lessons, encouragement, and hope like books by Paulo Coelho
Paulo Coelho
Paulo Coelho is a Brazilian lyricist and novelist.-Biography:Paulo Coelho was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He attended a Jesuit school. As a teenager, Coelho wanted to become a writer. Upon telling his mother this, she responded with "My dear, your father is an engineer. He's a logical,...
(The Alchemist
The Alchemist (novel)
The Alchemist is an allegorical novel by Paulo Coelho first published in 1988. The Alchemist was originally written in Portuguese. It has sold more than 65 million copies in more than 150 countries, becoming one of the best-selling books in history....
) and Donald Miller (Blue Like Jazz
Blue Like Jazz
Blue Like Jazz is the second book by Donald Miller. This semi-autobiographical work, subtitled "Non-Religious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality," is a collection of essays and personal reflections chronicling the author's growing understanding of the nature of God and Jesus, and the need and...
).
Soundtrack
Stephen Christian released the official soundtrack for the book on its MySpaceMySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page in a blog on March 7, 2008.
- Doves - "Black and White TownBlack and White Town"Black and White Town" is the lead single on Doves' third album, Some Cities. The single was released as a promo CD on December 13, 2004, and as a full single on February 7, 2005. The song scored the band their second Top 10 hit, charting at #6 on the UK Singles Chart...
(from the album Some CitiesSome CitiesSome Cities is the third studio album by the British indie rock band Doves. The album was released by Heavenly Records on 21 February 2005, and became the band's second consecutive album to top the UK Albums Chart at number 1...
) - The StillsThe StillsThe Stills were a Canadian rock band from Montreal, Quebec, formed in 2000. The band consists of Tim Fletcher , Dave Hamelin , Olivier Corbeil , and Liam O'Neil , Gregory Paquet .-History:The band members have known each other since the age of...
- "Gender Bombs" (from the album Logic Will Break Your HeartLogic Will Break Your HeartLogic Will Break Your Heart is the debut album by the Montreal-based indie rock band The Stills. The album was released in North America on October 21, 2003, and in the UK on February 23, 2004...
) - Death Cab for CutieDeath Cab for CutieDeath Cab for Cutie is an American alternative rock band formed in Bellingham, Washington in 1997. The band consists of Ben Gibbard , Chris Walla , Nick Harmer and Jason McGerr ....
- "Transatlanticism" (from the album TransatlanticismTransatlanticismTransatlanticism is the fourth studio album by Death Cab for Cutie, released October 7, 2003 on Barsuk Records. Prior to the album's release, Ben Gibbard stated: "...unlike The Photo Album, I feel like this record is definitely more like a proper album...
) - Rogue WaveRogue Wave (band)Rogue Wave is an indie rock band from Oakland, California, , and headed by Zach Schwartz who created the band after losing his job in the dot-com bust. Their first album was Out of the Shadow which was released privately in 2003 and re-released in 2004...
- "Love's Lost Guarantee" (from the album Descended Like VulturesDescended Like VulturesDescended Like Vultures is an album by Oakland-based band, Rogue Wave. It was released October 25, 2005 on Sub Pop Records.-Track listing and information:# "Bird on a Wire" – 3:40#*Zach Rogue - Vocals, Electric Guitar, Bass, Hammond B3 Organ...
) - Sigur RósSigur RósSigur Rós is an Icelandic post-rock band with classicaland minimalist elements. The band is known for its ethereal sound, and frontman Jónsi Birgisson's falsetto vocals and use of bowed guitar. In January 2010, the band announced that they will be on hiatus. Since then, it has since been announced...
- "Starálfur" (from the album Hvarf/Heim) - Damien RiceDamien RiceDamien Rice is an Irish singer-songwriter, musician and record producer who plays guitar, piano, clarinet and percussion....
- "Blower's Daughter" (from the album O) - The Innocence MissionThe Innocence MissionThe Innocence Mission is an American alternative rock band centered on husband-and-wife singer-songwriters Karen and Don Peris. The original group, including Mike Bitts and Steve Brown , was formed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in the early 1980s when the members met during a Catholic school...
- "Happy Birthday" (from the album We Walked in SongWe Walked in Song-Release history:-Chart performance:Album - Charting positionsNote: The sales listed above only include physical copies bought at Nielsen SoundScan-enabled physical retailers for the weeks running March 14 until March 28, 2007...
) - Rachel'sRachel'sRachel's is an American chamber music group that formed in Louisville, Kentucky in 1991. Former Rodan guitarist, Jason Noble, played music individually and referred to himself as Rachel's but then began collaborating with now core members, violist Christian Frederickson, and pianist Rachel Grimes...
- "Family Portrait" (from the album Music for Egon SchieleMusic for Egon SchieleMusic for Egon Schiele is the second LP from the instrumental group Rachel's. It was released in February 1996 on Quarterstick Records.The album was composed as the score to a theatrical production by Stephan Mazurek, titled Egon Schiele, about the life of painter Egon Schiele which was staged by...
) - Bloc PartyBloc PartyBloc Party are a British Indie rock band, composed of Kele Okereke , Russell Lissack , Gordon Moakes , and Matt Tong...
- "Kreuzberg" (from the album A Weekend in the CityA Weekend In The CityA Weekend in the City is the second studio album by British indie rock band Bloc Party. It was recorded at Grouse Lodge Studios in Westmeath, Ireland, in mid-2006 and was produced by Jacknife Lee. The record was refined and mixed at several locations in London at the end of 2006...
) - Animal CollectiveAnimal CollectiveAnimal Collective is an experimental psychedelic band originally from Baltimore, Maryland, currently based in New York City. Animal Collective consists of Avey Tare , Panda Bear , Deakin , and Geologist...
- "Did You See the Words" (from the album FeelsFeelsFeels is the sixth studio album by American freak folk band Animal Collective, released in October 2005 by FatCat Records. Initial copies contained a bonus disc of live material. It also appeared at #55 on Pitchfork Media's top 200 albums of the 2000s....
) - CodesevenCodesevenCodeseven was formed in 1995 as a melodic hardcore band in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Their first "official" release , A Sense of Coalition gained popularity on college radio stations for a cover of Don Henley's "The Boys of Summer" Codeseven was formed in 1995 as a melodic hardcore band in...
- "Roped and Tied" (from the album Dancing Echoes/Dead SoundsDancing Echoes/Dead SoundsDancing Echoes/Dead Sounds is the fourth and subsequently final release by Codeseven. It was their first and only release on Equal Vision Records...
) - Blonde RedheadBlonde RedheadBlonde Redhead is an American alternative rock band composed of vocalist/rhythm guitarist Kazu Makino and twin brothers Simone and Amedeo Pace , which formed in New York City in 1993....
- "Elephant Woman" (from the album Misery Is a ButterflyMisery Is a ButterflyMisery Is a Butterfly is the sixth studio album by Blonde Redhead, released in 2004.- Track listing :# "Elephant Woman" – 4:49# "Messenger" – 3:21# "Melody" – 4:36# "Doll Is Mine" – 3:06# "Misery Is a Butterfly" – 5:07# "Falling Man" – 3:26...
) - The Sea and CakeThe Sea and CakeThe Sea and Cake is an indie rock band with a pronounced jazz influence, which formed in the mid-1990s in Chicago out of the ashes of local bands The Coctails and Shrimp Boat. The group's name came from a willful reinterpretation of "The C in Cake", a song by Gastr del Sol...
- "Sporting Life" (from the album The FawnThe FawnThe Fawn is a 1997 album by The Sea and Cake.-Track listing:# "Sporting Life" – 4:54# "The Argument" – 5:02# "The Fawn" – 3:07# "The Ravine" – 3:18# "Rossignol" – 3:30# "There You Are" – 4:48# "Civilise" – 3:21# "Bird and Flag" – 3:51...
) - Feist - "Brandy Alexander" (from the album The ReminderThe ReminderThe Reminder is the third full-length album by indie artist Feist. It was released on April 23, 2007 in countries outside of North America, and May 1, 2007 in the United States and Canada....
) - RadioheadRadioheadRadiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
- "Videotape" (from the album In RainbowsIn RainbowsIn Rainbows is the seventh studio album by the English rock band Radiohead. It was first released on 10 October 2007 as a digital download self-released, that customers could order for whatever price they saw fit, followed by a standard CD release in most countries during the last week of 2007. The...
) - Ryan AdamsRyan AdamsDavid Ryan Adams is an American alt-country/rock singer-songwriter, from Jacksonville, North Carolina. Initially part of the group Whiskeytown, Adams left the band and released his first solo album Heartbreaker in 2000...
- "Two" (from the album Easy TigerEasy TigerEasy Tiger is the ninth studio album by Ryan Adams released on June 26, 2007 on the Lost Highway label. Although the album is attributed solely to Adams, Easy Tiger features The Cardinals as his backing band, with Adams stating: "The only real concept of this record was complete and utter...
) - NicoNicoNico was a German singer, lyricist, composer, musician, fashion model, and actress, who initially rose to fame as a Warhol Superstar in the 1960s...
- "These Days" (from the album Chelsea GirlChelsea Girl (album)Chelsea Girl is the debut solo album by Nico. It was released in October 1967 by Verve Records, also home to The Velvet Underground. The name of the album is a reference to Andy Warhol's 1966 film Chelsea Girls, which Nico starred in...
)