The end of July brings one of my favorite events during summer: the Man Booker Longlist for 2013 has been announced.
My fall reading list has another thirteen.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Sunday, July 28, 2013
The Sundays
After a holiday away, it doesn't take long to fall back into the regular routines. Alarms and schedules take precedence and reading becomes something I do during the random quiet lunch or in the evening hours once the sun has gone down. Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok is still pending. Here's hoping for a rainy day so I can give her the time she deserves.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Flag Her Down
A Sunday walk. Bright skies. Flags. A breeze
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| Zurich July 2013 |
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Conducting the Show
Book #4 was a choice between The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett or Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok. Having also read Night Circus this trip, I decided to continue with themes of misdirection and "go local with Ms. Patchett.
The book's first two lines drew me in: "PARSIFAL IS DEAD. That is the end of the story."
Who is this person? Why and how? [I know the opening is always a tough bit so props given here to the author.] The story is based in LA and manages to pull in small town, Nebraska...in winter. [I could have actually typed the name but chances are few you would have recognized it.] It's also one of the first fiction reads I've managed in some while where two of the main characters are dead. Having wrote that, it seems strange to type then that this book spoke to me about love, different, powerful, kind loves. Sabine, our assistant, has a nontraditional journey (which I like). All characters are a bit (and in some cases a lot) quirky and Nebraska won me over in the end.
As a train to plane vacation read, it fit the bill. While perhaps not my top Patchett work, it would be worth adding this title to your reading lists.
The book's first two lines drew me in: "PARSIFAL IS DEAD. That is the end of the story."
Who is this person? Why and how? [I know the opening is always a tough bit so props given here to the author.] The story is based in LA and manages to pull in small town, Nebraska...in winter. [I could have actually typed the name but chances are few you would have recognized it.] It's also one of the first fiction reads I've managed in some while where two of the main characters are dead. Having wrote that, it seems strange to type then that this book spoke to me about love, different, powerful, kind loves. Sabine, our assistant, has a nontraditional journey (which I like). All characters are a bit (and in some cases a lot) quirky and Nebraska won me over in the end.
As a train to plane vacation read, it fit the bill. While perhaps not my top Patchett work, it would be worth adding this title to your reading lists.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Random II
Some books are summer books because they are light or whimsical. I hold others to be summer books because they would likely be too dark to read in winter. Swimming with Maya by Eleanor Vincent was a random Amazon suggestion generated from a fresh browsing session with no cookies (physically or electronically). This book chronicles the journey of a mother who has lost her daughter in a horse-riding accident. I'm not certain as to how easy or difficult this might be to read, but I'm playing it safe and adding to my list for summer.
Sunday, July 21, 2013
In Need of Train-ing
Book #3 began and could have been finished on the train. Though completely enthralled with the story since pulling out of the station, with 15% remaining, I felt I would have done my life an injustice for keeping my head down reading rather than head up gazing out the train window at the Alps as they neared view. Looking down was only for the strong of hearts and heights. Instead, Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple was finished with a glass of Swiss wine on my top floor room with a blanket knocking the chill of my not appropriately dressed for the weather exposed knees. (Not too shabby. Nod in thanks to the Universe.)
This book was a recommendation of a college friend who was confidant, co-conspirator, teacher of poster-making bubble letters, and partner on a vacation which included the "two beer flip flop shower". I knew it was going to be good for a laugh and an adventure.
The story has a few voices and my thoughts on several characters oscillated between "how did s/he get there?" to "oh, no s/he didn't". Of course he or she did, and this made for one heckuva fun read. Bee is ever endearing and I adored the relationship between her and her Mom. I'm debating whether or not to suggest this book to my own mom as she already has a few Bernadette-like tendencies. I could imagine her making a sign similar to that in the book (though she'd make it herself). [Does anyone else's parents have separate tool boxes?]
This was a great summer read. In addition, you'll be doing yourself an injustice if you don't check out her website. [Awesome!] Sad that I missed her at Parnassus earlier this year.
Hope a great weekend! I should be back on track with the postings soon.
This book was a recommendation of a college friend who was confidant, co-conspirator, teacher of poster-making bubble letters, and partner on a vacation which included the "two beer flip flop shower". I knew it was going to be good for a laugh and an adventure.
The story has a few voices and my thoughts on several characters oscillated between "how did s/he get there?" to "oh, no s/he didn't". Of course he or she did, and this made for one heckuva fun read. Bee is ever endearing and I adored the relationship between her and her Mom. I'm debating whether or not to suggest this book to my own mom as she already has a few Bernadette-like tendencies. I could imagine her making a sign similar to that in the book (though she'd make it herself). [Does anyone else's parents have separate tool boxes?]
This was a great summer read. In addition, you'll be doing yourself an injustice if you don't check out her website. [Awesome!] Sad that I missed her at Parnassus earlier this year.
Hope a great weekend! I should be back on track with the postings soon.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
I Go Out Walking After Midnight
I've had a small hiatus from writing. During that time I was reading, traveling, and walking in the woods. Between trains and planes, I devoured four books over the journey. (More to come later on those). For now, the memories I'm holding onto are my walks in the woods.
For hours, I'd follow small trails, hoping I was on the right path and eager to see the small yellow signs which had my destination village. These signs also had a small snowman on them which I never quite managed to make out. I didn't see any snowmen.
Since returning, I've had Robert Frost's "Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening" and Thoreau's Walden mulling around in my brain. The item which sticks with me most:
For hours, I'd follow small trails, hoping I was on the right path and eager to see the small yellow signs which had my destination village. These signs also had a small snowman on them which I never quite managed to make out. I didn't see any snowmen.
Since returning, I've had Robert Frost's "Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening" and Thoreau's Walden mulling around in my brain. The item which sticks with me most:
"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life..."
- Henry David Thoreau
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
I'll Have a Double
I found the tipping point with the book. Somehow I crossed the point of no exit. I had to finish.
Having stayed awake to finish it last night, I can't say I quite understood how the loose ends were tied up (so to speak). I also can't say currently if it was worth sacrificing that additional hour of sleep. I think I need a double espresso to decide that.
Having stayed awake to finish it last night, I can't say I quite understood how the loose ends were tied up (so to speak). I also can't say currently if it was worth sacrificing that additional hour of sleep. I think I need a double espresso to decide that.
Monday, July 8, 2013
A Cup of Coif-ee
In the breaks between electronica and German bands performing covers of John Denver and Lynyrd Skynyrd, I've started a new book. This one was an Amazon recommendation (which I should now take with more consideration based on the varied genres of books I've downloaded for family members). Cross Dressed to Kill by Andrew Lucas is not my normal read. I'm nearly one-third into it and can't decide if I like it or want to stop reading it. I couldn't sleep last night so I kept reading. (I'm not sure which of these was cause and the other effect.) I do like the sparkling shoes on the cover.
The link above previews the first chapter for you. Perhaps start it after listening to Kraftwerk to walk in my non-sparkly shoes.
The link above previews the first chapter for you. Perhaps start it after listening to Kraftwerk to walk in my non-sparkly shoes.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Don't Send in the Clowns
I had a long travel day on the 4th which meant the required company of good book. I had downloaded several items that had been crowd-sourced the day before and started with The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern at 10,000 feet. (This is the 4th book I have read this year on the circus. It's rather a curious June to June theme that I won't explore to any further psychological depth...particularly without a morning coffee.)
I adored this book. I read it in the plane, paired with Rosé, at Starbucks, and at gate C14 where I noticed my battery was depleting and wondered if my Nexus would be able to finish the journey. After a brief mathematical calculation involving % completion, time spent reading with a mild extrapolation to additional time required, I decided yes, opting not to charge, and turned off the device with 10% battery power remaining somewhere over Europe. The story lines run in parallel: the circus which appears with no warning and operates from dusk to dawn, and the characters which develop and meet in order to create such a venue. There were no scary clowns (+1) but circular tents whose scenes ranged from the Ice Garden to Clouds (+2 for clouds). This was my type of circus.
While I would have ended the book about 20 pages earlier, I can understand the author's desire to tie up loose ends. Per my usual, I won't give away any spoilers, but this book is a great summer read item for your list.
I adored this book. I read it in the plane, paired with Rosé, at Starbucks, and at gate C14 where I noticed my battery was depleting and wondered if my Nexus would be able to finish the journey. After a brief mathematical calculation involving % completion, time spent reading with a mild extrapolation to additional time required, I decided yes, opting not to charge, and turned off the device with 10% battery power remaining somewhere over Europe. The story lines run in parallel: the circus which appears with no warning and operates from dusk to dawn, and the characters which develop and meet in order to create such a venue. There were no scary clowns (+1) but circular tents whose scenes ranged from the Ice Garden to Clouds (+2 for clouds). This was my type of circus.
While I would have ended the book about 20 pages earlier, I can understand the author's desire to tie up loose ends. Per my usual, I won't give away any spoilers, but this book is a great summer read item for your list.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
A Time to be Social
There were a number of things I enjoyed about "Alice Munro Puts Down Her Pen to Let the World In" by Charles McGrath: the title of the interview, Ms. Munro's reenactment photo taken on the railroad tracks, her numerous quotes throughout, and her electric blue toenails.
She's an 82 year old after my own heart.
She's an 82 year old after my own heart.
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