Saturday, February 28, 2015

Training, Train, Plane

It's a weekend of a long run, sand between the toes, and guilty pleasures reading.  To this end, I've downloaded the last of the Divergent series books by Veronica Roth.  I finished the first one over three airports and two flights and the second one last weekend between two panels of knitting.  [Obviously, the knitting knocks me out of the target audience group.]

Both titles were quick reads and the stories were easy to fall into.  It will be interesting to see what Allegiant holds (though I am betting on Tris to do something solo and irrational). Ms. Roth's blog says she likes puns, trains, and Chicago.  That's a trilogy after my own heart.


Thursday, February 26, 2015

Seasons of Love

With vegetation again visible beneath the melting snow, it seems especially appropriate to highlight one of neighborhood's own book releases this week.  Kate O'Neill's Surviving Death: What Loss Taught Me about Love, Joy, and Meaning is now available on Amazon,  Kate is an optimist, a linguist, and a host of other "ist"s that fall on the side of characteristics of people you are happy you know.  She has a beautiful writing style that works well in media ranging from a 140 character limit to long blog posts.  Of course I've added this title to my reading list.

Thanks for being courageous, Kate.  I hope your story touches and helps a host of others.  Much love to you.

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Will Do

Some of the books I read are stalked for months and purchased when the price hits a sweet spot that I can no longer resist.  (I'm sorry authors; I know this isn't what you want to read, but I do work on a budget.)

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes was one such novel on my list.  Last weekend's flight schedules gave me ample opportunity for a three-day read.  This title was a NYT best seller and well-rated so I didn't feel I could go wrong with a $2.99 investment.  As I joked earlier, perhaps it was the sunny weather and the thought of a day off, but I lost myself in this book quickly.  I missed safety demos, in-flight announcements and the beverage cart.  Clark was an unlikely companion for Will.  In fact, the intro of our main character completely threw me off (which likely attributed to the "hook" of the story).

With a twinge of Fault in our Stars fated love, I read through the ending with long exhales and deep sighs.  Love, messy and forgiving, which occurs more often in print than in direct experience.  [At least the forgiving part; the messy is usually easy.] We all have limits with love and I've spent a fair bit of time thinking about that this weekend as a result.  (I've also made a mental note about triathletes that will make more sense if you read the book.)

This is a great book to purchase now and save for a spring or summer read if lighter material fits your fare.

Friday, February 20, 2015

Big Sky

I read two and half books this last week.

I think it's the weather.

Somewhere between Tucson and Phoenix
February 2015

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Next Reads

If you've managed to stay on schedule with the GBC, you should have recently finished Stones for Ibarra and should be working your way down into Deep Down Dark by Hector Tobar.  Morning Edition recently featured Mr. Tobar here as part of the Morning Edition Reads book club (which likely differs from ours in the reading water category).  Nashville's own Ann Patchett selected this title as the club's first read.  I'm looking forward to venturing in.

Hope you had a good weekend and happy reading.

Friday, February 6, 2015

Wires Crossed

Somewhere on the coast of New Brunswick
September 2011

A friend of mine and I went on a journey into New Brunswick from Maine and had it in our minds to find a lighthouse inspired by a little blue sign and an arrow.  As it turned out, we never found the lighthouse, but we had a really interesting drive along the coast and a lot of fun buying ice cream at a tiny gas station in a town whose name I can't remember.

Sometimes it's a good idea to bring a map.

Sometimes it's just good to have the ice cream.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Mockingbird Serenade

In a city four hours south of me, an 88 year old woman made an announcement that rattled the world. [Okay, so technically her publisher made the announcement through various media sources but it's much more romantic to imagine that it happened in Monroeville. Also, was it necessary for the news channels to mention her hearing and eyesight?  Is that really relevant?]   I scrolled through twenty pages of Google results on the book title and found the name Harper Lee on each one.  Set to be released July 14, 2015, I would imagine first day sales will rival a Ms. Rowling opener.  Amazon could do a little more work on it's book promotion with:
A wonderful new novel from one of America's bestselling authors. Exploring the tensions between a local culture and a changing national political agenda; family arguments and love: an instant classic.
but I suppose they have a little time.

I haven't yet read if she's taken the title from Isaiah 21:6 but I think it's also fitting:
For thus the Lord said to me:  "Go, set a watchman; let him announce what he sees."