Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Roamin' Empires

"And when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it."

- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

My neighbor lent me this book; he said he read it at just the right time, and I feel as though I did too.  A shepherd boy has a simple plan to meet a girl.  While he waits, he meets a man who changes his path seemingly forever.  The man, a king, speaks of the boy's pursuit of his Personal Legend.  A later character, the alchemist, is very instrumental in his journey, and one of my favorite exchanges in the novel occurs around what happens if one gives up pursuit of Personal Legend for something that we are certain will bring us complete happiness.  I agree with the alchemist's point of view.  (I will let you discover the sentiments if this book becomes a part of your personal journey.)  My other takeaway:  life is a circle, not a straight line.  

Speaking of circles, which brings us to pi and then cake, one of our youngest GBC members is officially a few years into his life's journey.  I'm so happy that it includes books, laughter and loving parents who like to read.  Happy Birthday E!  I am wishing that you always follow your heart in pursuit of your own legend.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Turning the Paiges

For over a year I have re-lived GBC book club meetings through GBC P@1ge.  This month's vivid imagery, combined with my knowledge of the host and his abode, made me a little more than homesick for my fellow readers (and various reading water selections).  With her permission, I share P@1ge's words and her photo:
The palace guards were awaiting our arrival, the tables were set with the utmost care, and we had a meal fit for a queen...literally. Inspired by items taken directly from menus for various royal meals, our regal host Sir William prepared an delectable assortment of vegetables (including Brussels sprouts, green beans, green peas, zucchini & yellow squash, carrots and a green salad...oh my!) with an incredible chicken breast and salmon. Dessert included a strawberry cake of sorts (I'll let Mr. H fill you in, my dessert details are fuzzy as I was trying to avoid the dessert table after stuffing myself on meat and veggies!...and no, I did not avoid it entirely...is it possible I had a bite of rhubarb pie? Whatever it was, it was delicious). We even had special menus to commemorate our evening, thanks to Sir Michael. (photo included).

And, yes, we talked about the book. We all agreed that it was a delightful tale of "what if". It was a book about reading and, well, we love to read. Our charming little read was a big hit and it sparked a great discussion of not only the book at issue but other books and other tidbits about the monarchy (guess who had most of the knowledge there?).

It was a very special night, we were treated royally, and I went home and slept like a princess (though there may have been a leftover pea under my mattress!).

And here's what we have waiting in the wings:
March 20: Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold
April 17: Choose your own Mark Twain and pick some lines to share
May: The Family Fang

Happy reading! See you in Spring!

Friday, February 24, 2012

Out on the Boardwalk

Destin, February 2012

My life is like a stroll upon the beach,
  As near the ocean’s edge as I can go;
My tardy steps its waves sometimes o’erreach,
  Sometimes I stay to let them overflow.
      - Henry David Thoreau from The Fisher's Boy

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

I See Smart People

Hats off to Ann Patchett this week for her appearance on The Colbert Report.  Why open a bookstore?  It was a "great tale of redemption."  The new website for Parnassus Books is also redeeming.

My favorite answer during the Q&A with Colbert:  "smart people."

Nashville does have quite a few of those.


Monday, February 20, 2012

Destin-y

Sometimes your path leads you to walks on the beach and really long drives rather than new book titles.


Saturday, February 18, 2012

The Grass is Always Blue

It would be impossible to grow up in a small rural community in East Tennessee and never hear the wonders of the mandolin and bluegrass music.  At the time of my youth, one would have also been hard-pressed never to have heard music from the Louvin brothers, Ira and Charlie.  Last month new release, Satan is Real by Benjamin Whitmer (and Charlie Louvin) chronicles the story of singing, fighting, drinking and being brothers.  If this NYT review doesn't draw you in, listen to their harmony. 

Thursday, February 16, 2012

You Picked a Fine Time to Leave Me

Yesterday was a completely new experience:  my first library fine.  Sadly, the Rocket City library system (unlike Music City) does not send reminder emails to patrons who are nearing their due date.  As I find it hard to believe that these collective scientists could not come up with an If/Then code for their catalog system, I will have to give credit to a fundraiser for slowly seeping fines into their revenue stream one latte at a time.  (Technically, it's more like a double espresso for one week's delinquency.)

Word to the wise:  if you borrow a book, please return it on time, else you might owe more than a few dimes.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Read Hearts for your Sweet Heart

Last year, I offered a few book/music pairings for Valentine's Day.  In the spirit of love and the heart, here are a few readings you can add to your list:

  • For those feeling cheeky:  "Valentine's Day" (poem) by William Shakespeare. [For a few moments I thought of including it here however I'd like to keep the site from showing up in at least a few of those searches]. Pair with a blood orange martini and Pearl Jam
  • For the single or dating:  "The Gravitational Field" - Chapter 19 in Relativity by Albert Einstein. Pair with a G&T and Tony Bennett.
  • For those who say the "L" word: Heavenly Date and Other Flirtations by Alexander McCall Smith.  Pair with a crisp white wine and Al Green.
  • For those of you steamed by today's grammar errors:  "The Tractable Apostrophe" from Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss.  Pair with Lagavulin and a red pen.  [Music is a distraction from editing.]
  • For the heart broken:  The Merck Manual of Medical Information.  Pair with anything really and avoid your iPod at all costs.
Hope a lovely Tuesday.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

All I Have to do is Dream

A dear friend brought a book to brunch.  I was excited to see the title and then even more thrilled to learn that it was intended for me to borrow.  [I may have clapped.] 

After a night of dreaming about work, the timing just might be right for this to be my next read:  The Alchemist: A Fable About Following your Dream by Paulo Coelho.  

Hope your weekend found you chasing your dream.  

Friday, February 10, 2012

Windy City Dreams

Today's Friday photo is from from a visit last fall.  It's my kind of town.


It was Carl Sandburg's kind of town too.

Carl Sandburg
Chicago Poems 1916

          Joy
LET a joy keep you.
Reach out your hands
And take it when it runs by,
As the Apache dancer
Clutches his woman.
I have seen them
Live long and laugh loud,
Sent on singing, singing,
Smashed to the heart
Under the ribs
With a terrible love.
Joy always,
Joy everywhere—
Let joy kill you!
Keep away from the little deaths.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

How Rube!

At least a few of us are in the same boat.  We have not had time to read this week.

For your book fix this morning, I'm offering a loose tie-in to History of the World by Howard Zinn.  A search of "Rube Goldberg book" gives some pretty interesting results leading me to believe there has been at least one science teacher somewhere who gave this as a project (or collectively and simultaneously, book nerds got creative).

So let's give credit to the engineers among us with a nod to Purdue for this history of the world in 2:37.


Honorable mention goes to Bestpal for best use of VHS tapes, a skateboard, antique chair and an old-school wooden wine rack to open a book.  [Oh, and I'm calling this a sport.]

Monday, February 6, 2012

Uncommon Roaming Notes

With a short month ahead, a reminder that our next GBC read is the Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett.  I have been quite the uncommon reader (or perhaps common) of late with perusal of articles online and a focus on a particular textbook for class rather than making headway in my current book.  

This short article yesterday in NYT got my attention:  Sunday Routine:  A Day to Roam and Write with Nathan Englander.  My Sunday was akin to this however with a little less Brooklyn and a few more rockets.  

I am sharing this book review in particular for GBC P@1ge, The Science of Yoga by William J. Broad.  There have been a few articles and rebuttals of late questioning yoga's effectiveness with injury so I'll add this to the list of reads.

Hope your Monday will be off to a fine start.  

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Pop Goes the Weasel

Something whimsical for a rainy Saturday morning.

            The Pop-Up World of Ann Montanaro

Wish me luck that I can still snag a run or at a minimum see a rocket capsule.  Happy Weekend!

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Rye's Home

If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.  
- J.D. Salinger
Catcher in the Rye

Happy Groundhog Day.