Pickup In Aisle 5

If you have ever been enamored (or trapped) by someone on a plane, The Newlyweds by Nell Freudenberger might draw you in.  Freudenberger notes in this Guardian interview that the inspiration for the book was, in part, drawn from her plane encounter with an engaged couple en route to Rochester.  An excerpt of the story, or more accurately, the original story (which grew to book) was published in the New Yorker in 2010 with the book launching the first day of May 2012.

The couple's story:  Bangladeshi woman meets New York man via dating website.  Online courtship ensues.  Woman leaves all to become American wife.  Even the "average" marriage has material for a book (or a reality show) but this more extraordinary beginning certainly gives lit potential after "I do."  The New York times review can be found here.

Moral of the story:  don't talk too much to the person in the seat next to you.  You just might emerge a protagonist.

Not Chasing Cars

I can change a tire on a bike.
Nearly though ran over a tike.
Exhausted body but mind still races.
Grateful today for the quiet places.  

Lady Meets The Tramp

Thursday discovery:  Vamp&Tramp, Booksellers, LLC

It's located not so far away.

They have miniature books, broadsides, and hand-made books.

I haven't discovered a title which wasn't lovely.

Blank Book * by John Hastings and Our Secret Garden by Paul Johnson were among my favorites.

* Author's note:  the link is to the general page, you'll have to scroll for these titles.  (It's worth it.)

To Infinity...

Yesterday, we lost Sally Ride and today would have been the 115th birthday of Amelia Earhart.  As a young  girl growing up in the middle of nowhere (or so it felt) America, these were women left an impression on me.  Though never aspirations of becoming a small plane pilot (I wanted a spaceship), I was mesmerized a few years ago in Connecticut when I stood in the hanger which housed one of Earhart's planes.  (I was on an interview so had to play it cool but all I really wanted to do is walk around, touch everything and take the book on the coffee table which gave a history of women in aviation.  I resisted.)  If you too have a fascination on the "rest of the story", The Earhart Project is documenting its expedition to Hawaii in search of wreckage.

I'm sending a Tuesday salute to all the strong women with crazy dreams, both those I know and those who came alive only in books.

Good Will Hunting

A reminder that next month's GBC read will be The Hunting of the Snark by Lewis Carroll.  A scan of Goodreads gave me:  witty, surreal, and entertaining.  With Mercury still in retrograde, this may just be exactly what we needed.  In addition, this book has been cataloged by the Gutenberg project so here's the link for a free read.

Happy weekend reading, walking, studying, biking, sleeping.  May you also find a bit of rest.

Up in Arms

Rosie
July 2012

This Friday photo inspired by my intense need for caffeine this morning after a very full work week.

Now if I could just finish a Rube Goldberg device to re-fill it...

Cool Runnings

For those of you who have been destined to write a short story about the odd lives of the people in the GBC  neighborhood or some other random topic of choice, here is your chance.  Oh, did I mention that you had to have been living in the UK for the last three years?  Don't worry, there is always 2015.  

The Costa Book Award has a twist this year in that the entries will be anonymous so the novice writer can be paired "page to page" with the more experienced (and perhaps well known) entry.  As I read the news this morning, I wondered it the bookish Brits had been affected by the spirit of the Olympic games.  Maybe?

Regardless, all pens welcome.  

A Funny Thing Happened...

"It's been proven by history: all mankind makes mistakes." - Captain Sharp, Moonrise Kingdom


I was in the mood for a Mark Twain anecdote this morning but in the end, decided this takeaway from last night's movie would do.  I received a James Thurber quote from a friend this weekend which stirred up memories from an American Humor class I had in college.  I own a slightly underlined, highlighted, and marked "USED" paperback copy of The Thurber Carnival.  The text has red dots next to the items we reviewed in class.  I did not sell this book back to the University because the cash return was not equal to the chuckles I got when revisiting the pages.

To Err is Human, To Forgive Design

Because I'm a nerd and I once lost a letter-grade to a carport design because I didn't account for "snow load" (in Tennessee), I am compelled to let you know about To Forgive Design by Henry Petroski.  Reviews in NYT, WSJ, and The Independent give me a hint that I would enjoy reading about a build and the lessons which often accompany doing something wrong.

Take It for Grant-ed

Did you ever wake up perhaps just a bit earlier than normal and manage to squirrel away all the extra minutes you managed to create on various tasks around the house: eating, coffee, laundry, uploading photos to the site of a PR guy who actually thought you knew what you were doing with a camera, and the odd ironing?  Then, did you ever find yourself with just a few minutes to spare and wonder whatever in the world could you possibly include in the GBC blog?

Then...you remembered that one GBC member had an extraordinarily fine day yesterday which ensures she will remain in the neighborhood happily for several more books to come?  Congrats GBC K1m on the grant (and thanks for the inspiration of the day)!

Post It Note

A reminder that the next meeting of the GBC is soon approaching, however I think there would be hardly a soul who has not managed to make it through the summer read, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

I'm betting the odds are ever in your favor.

If you Can't Stand the Heat...

The heat and the lingering summer illness has evaporated my writing creativity along with my water.  I'll pause today in an attempt to gain momentum on In Cold Blood while also baking a batch of cookies.  Batter Up.

Tri-Cycle

Today's Friday photo is a quote from astronomer, mathematician, and "Flagstaff famous" Percival Lowell.  The words are inscribed on his mausoleum at Lowell Observatory.  At 7,200 feet elevation, even the mundane act of taking this photo made me feel connected to the cosmos.

Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, AZ
June 2012

In 1776 II

Happy 4th of July!

Hope the corn is as high as an elephant's eye

And you manage to stay cool with temps that are sky high

Where Art Thou?

Gateway to Gallery of Lost Art

"The Gallery of Lost Art" launched today.  It is an online exhibit sponsored by The Tate and Channel 4 featuring currently 20 works (lost, stolen, or even ephemeral) with a new item added weekly for the next half year.  At the time, the exhibition will be considered complete and we'll have a half year to enjoy before it too expires.