Historic Germantown Book Club

Windy City Dreams

2012-02-10T08:00:00.000-06:00

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.

How Rube!

2012-02-08T07:30:00.000-06:00

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.]

Uncommon Roaming Notes

2012-02-06T07:25:00.000-06:00

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.

Pop Goes the Weasel

2012-02-04T12:10:00.000-06:00

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!

Rye's Home

2012-02-02T07:30:00.000-06:00

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.

A non-Sequintur

2012-01-30T07:30:00.000-06:00

Monday morning. Though I've been awake for nearly three hours (courtesy of spin class), I could still use a bit of motivation. You? I think this item doesn't quite make inspiration but does fall in the realm of interesting party conversation and perhaps a water cooler mention. After all, I do like shiny.

From Encyclopedia of the Exquisite by Jessica Kerwin Jenkins, the origin of sequin came from the French interpretation of zecchino (Venetian), a gold coin hailing from 1284. For those following the fashion trends, coins were some of the earliest accessories from about 200 AD. [Shiny happy people holding hands.] Of course when times grew tight and wars aplenty, coins turned to fake coins, which eventually made their way to thinly stamped sheets of gold and silver (if your name had a roman numeral following such as Henry VIII or Queen Elizabeth I). The rest of the crowd likely donned brass (if any). Jump a few eras, another war or few, and various innovation to the 1920s. This age of flapper marked the beginning of the modern sequin. The event which secured its place among thousands of Southerners through (likely) perpetuity? According to our author, it was the extremely notable 1939 ruby red slippers.

So there you have it. The sequin sequence.

The Fault Line

2012-01-28T13:45:00.000-06:00

Saturday randomness before running:

Just a few days left in the month to get registered for World Book Night. Like many good things, it was launched in the UK first last year and provides an opportunity for individuals to give others the experience of reading.

Check out this NPR interview with John Green on The Fault in Our Stars. Green's chat is at times moving as he answers questions about the background of the book; two kids with cancer meet at a support group and fall in love. The book is geared for young readers (though that doesn't stop many of us from breaking genres).

Hope your Saturday randomness is a lot of fun.

Spinnin' Heads

2012-01-26T07:15:00.000-06:00

I seem to be on an art kick this week. I'll attribute this interest to the following events/discoveries :

this link from MOMA on Online Courses.
the Sundance Film Fest. Robert Redford.
MITx courseware. I'm big in Japan.
as the week progresses, I'm getting more sleep deprived. Pictures are pretty.

This of course didn't stop me from checking out two more books from the library...once I remembered my PIN.

Author's Note: Links in Item #3 above specifically for GBC K1m and T1m and for anyone else who enjoys Spinnin' TV and needs to rock out at their desk today.

Survival of the Fittest

2012-01-24T06:30:00.000-06:00

According to Brain Rules: 12 Rules for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School by John Medina, I should have been in bed at the moment I arrived home from work and the gym yesterday. Retiring at that hour would have given me a more optimal number of hours of sleep before this morning's run. Instead, I made The Palm's blackened salmon with a side of Brussels sprouts. [Cast iron skillet = amazing!] The good news is that I am well on the well to mastering Rule #1: "Exercise Boosts Brain Power."

On the flip side, I know I struggle with Rule #7: "Sleep Well, Think Well." I sleep very soundly, but perhaps not consistently on the seven to eight hours side of the coin. Though not yet to Rule #4: "We don't pay attention to boring things," I know I can fall into this lot. [Still with me? Good.] A list of all 12 Brain Rules can be found here; as far as a list goes, it's quite good. We will see if I can turn any of the suggestions into habits and invoke a little Gloria Gaynor.

Love is Like a Butterfly

2012-01-22T18:15:00.000-06:00

Today's discovery: Eric Joisel.

From just a cursory review of images, I can see that he fully earned title as "The Magician of Origami". The works are beautiful. Take time to review the gallery on his site. "Self Made Man" and "The Hobbit Orchestra" are among my favorites. Mr. Joisel died in 2010 and as a nod to his life and in his memory Michael G. LaFosse and Richard Alexander created a document so that you could create your own papillon. It's amazing.

If you find yourself with a spare hour, also check out "Between the Folds." I cannot do better than Amazon's description:

Between the Folds chronicles the stories of 10 fine artists and intrepid theoretical scientists who have abandoned careers and scoffed at hard-earned graduate degrees--all to forge unconventional lives as modern-day paper-folders.

There is a part of each of us waiting to be made into something new.

Tel Aviv I Miss Him

2012-01-20T07:20:00.000-06:00

I've been thinking about a spring holiday. GBC K1m gave me fare notices which has tempted me to the East. This year's destination is yet undecided, but I think there will be water.

Tel Aviv, 2007

                        La verdad (opening stanza)
                        - Pablo Neruda
                        Os amo, idealismo y realismo,
                        como agua y piedra
                        sois
                        partes del mundo,
                        luz y raiz del arbol de la vida.

Connect Four

2012-01-18T07:30:00.000-06:00

In 2006 I was on the Piccadilly line near Piccadilly Circus. I had just been to see Judi Dench in Noel Coward's Hay Fever at Theatre Royal Haymarket. I was alone and wearing a pleated khaki skirt and a red sleeveless sweater. My iPod was on shuffle. He was across the train to my left. He donned headphones and was wearing a hat and a plaid jacket with jeans. We made eye contact and then one of us would look away. This happened at least three more times. We both got off on the same stop at Green Park but went separate ways. The ride could not have been longer than a few minutes but the moment was enough to make me write down the sequence of songs in an email to a friend. Poignant moments.

This recollection was one of the first when I flipped through Missed Connections: Love, Lost & Found by Sophie Blackall. A gift from GBC P@1ge, the book is filled with posts come to life through Blackall's illustrations. Sad, funny, clever, these moments are captured for us to be hopeful and to remember. Check out her site for smiles and perhaps your own wistful remembrances.

A Cover Up

2012-01-16T06:45:00.000-06:00

I heard an extremely notable review on NPR last week. Stewart O'nan described a book with these words:

I remember I didn't like the cover — it was a blah photo of two girls sitting under a cherry tree. And Elegies for the Brokenhearted? Wow, I thought, what a terrible title! My initial reaction, from painful and repeated experience, was sympathy for a fellow author.

He then goes on to describe his thoughts after reading it. Elegies for the Brokenhearted by Christie Hodgen gets a positive nod. It's been added to my Excel book list for a rainy day. Incidentally, someone else must have had second thoughts on the cover as its Powell's edition is a little different (thought cannot say better).

Have a good week and happy reading.

Holding for Ransom

2012-01-14T13:55:00.002-06:00

After finishing book three of the Hunger Game trilogy yesterday, I am wondering what to read next. I have a tri-training book that I have only just skimmed, another book on running, a book on the brain, our next GBC read, and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs which is queued up for a local February book club meet. It is the first gathering of this group and since the meeting date was deferred until after I am over my reading water hiatus, I am already prone to like them. My engineering brain has positioned the reads in order of priority according to deadline. I thought this method worthy, but after a visit to Mr. Riggs's blog with the top entry a play on words (Iceland: I'm Lichen It) his debut novel just may win out.

Farm it Out

2012-01-12T07:00:00.000-06:00

I cannot imagine the impact it would have had for me as a child if I received a book with a Happy Meal instead of a plastic toy. Trips to McDonald's were few and far between as it were.

In the UK from now until February 7, a child will receive one of Michael Morpurgo's books with the meal. Murpurgo is most recently the notable author of War Horse (currently out in theatres). So what do you think? I'm mixed. We can't stop the Happy Meal Machine so why not promote literacy. On the other hand, encouraging those avid readers to those fries...

One thing on which we all can agree is Morpurgo's Farms for City Children program. Understand your food chain.

Red-Listed

2012-01-10T06:45:00.000-06:00

In my recent immersion into the Hunger Games series, I have been remiss in reminding everyone of the upcoming reads for the GBC.

Jan - The Assistant by Bernard Malamud
Feb - Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
Mar - Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold
Apr - Choose your own adventure by Mark Twain

Interesting to note that the first quarter books have red covers/jackets. The younger literary me would pursue the symbolism. The present me is going to have a second latte in her red cup.

Happy reading.

Welcome to the Jungle

2012-01-08T12:30:00.000-06:00

A rainy morning, a cup of coffee, and a book. Could a Sunday morning be any better? [Well, of course it could, but I would have needed a few items which weren't at hand, so we'll just say, "No."] I scanned through Catching Fire racing through the words as Katniss must have raced through the jungle, skipping a few steps here and there, looking always for the shortest distance through the page. I sighed when I reached the end and realized that I would have to start the next book as soon as possible. Cliffhangers: the ever present danger of a trilogy. So while 2012 hasn't yet emerged with classic reading, I'm having fun scanning through a few fun titles before schedules demand otherwise.

Wood You Call Me Sweetheart?

2012-01-06T06:45:00.000-06:00

New Orleans
December 2011

The last day of the year was upon me before I knew it. A leisurely stroll by the water reminded me I should log a few goals. Hope your 2012 off to a smashing start.

Catching Shut-Eye

2012-01-04T07:25:00.001-06:00

My mistake last night was in thinking I would arrive at a "good" place to stop reading. An hour and a half later, I had to force myself to power off the Kindle so I could have some rest before early morning spin class. The culprit? Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (book 2 of the Hunger Games trilogy). Rest assured I will have my fair share of espresso today once the endorphins wear down.

In this reading quest, I am also trying out Amazon Prime and the Lending Library. The upside to the service: streaming Dr. Who. The downside: one book borrow limit per month. If anyone has an opinion on Prime, let me know. I am on day two of the free trial.

One Two One Two

2012-01-02T21:55:00.001-06:00

A New Year. New Lists. New Goals. New reads...once I fully recover from the weekend.

Hope your year is off to a stellar start.

The Beginning in the End

2011-12-30T05:45:00.000-06:00

Last note of 2011.

Behind us has been a year of good reads, mediocre titles, and outstanding memories together with the GBC. Ahead of us are (excel) lists of books to check out, shelves from which to select the next unread item, and unlimited reading potential with libraries and Amazon.

It has been a year of travel, new experiences, taking chances and crazy life lessons.

So as the year comes to the close, my wish for you is to be in the moment, enjoying that which is at present and not t+1 or t-1 (for my fellow math geeks).

Best wishes for 2012. We may even read the books.

Going Hungry

2011-12-28T10:45:00.000-06:00

I read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins in three sittings. I managed the first few chapters by iPhone flashlight the night before Tuesday's post. I read a few more chapters after moving furniture for mom and just before moving the Christmas tree. [As an aside, Mom had cleverly decorated one of the trees with old Christmas family photos; it was really neat and of course included a picture snapped of my awkward 15 year-old self. Egads, the hair. ]

I started Part II just before going to sleep. Little did I know I would stay up to finish. I was hooked and there was really no good place to stop after the games begun. GBC K1m and P@1ge had warned me; I should have had better planning. In addition, the book cleverly set up the segue to the next novel in the trilogy which means the next two days will be spent squeezing in one more book before the holidays come to a close and I transition to other genres.

I would recommend the read. It has been some time since I was lost in a book and I have a soft spot for any strong female lead characters from Appalachia which are not stereotyped into moon-shine making, cousin marrying, husband killing Southern girls.

Boxed In

2011-12-26T13:30:00.000-06:00

I started Hunger Games last night which means I was up later than intended and I'm now sipping my third cup of coffee. Mid-morning conversation included a partial (no spoilers) review from my (new) neice, revelation that my sister had also purchased the book for holiday reading, and a comparision of this novel to The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. (Sis always had the better memory.) The Lottery was originally published in The New Yorker in 1948. For those of you who have also read HG, I am eager to hear your thoughts on story parallels (after of course, I finish the book).

Good luck boxing, bagging, and discovering old articles to re-read.

Happy Boxing Day.

Twas the Day Before Christmas

2011-12-24T10:20:00.000-06:00

Wishing everyone a happy, merry, warm, content, loving, and peaceful Christmas Eve day. Hope your journeys are uneventful and your destinations full of little suprises. May you find time to sneak in a few pages from your favorite books.

Prepping Steps

2011-12-22T09:33:00.000-06:00

The December GBC meet was a success by Paige's description. Best wishes to all in the group for a lovely holiday season - I did miss sharing poetry with you.

In preparation for a lack of viable wifi, I am downloading books for my Kindle. As three of you are currently moving through Hunger Games, I have added this (and the sequels) to my one-click list. This should balance the other items of a more serious nature (the brain, leadership, business).

Good luck with your last minute holiday preparations. Hope you maintain your balance.

2011-12-20T07:15:00.000-06:00

December is poetry month for the GBC. In this vein, today's blog is dedicated to two verses. The first comes you from GBC P@1ge. She sent this to me yesterday just before I left Nashville causing me to linger a few moments more with my latte to think about it. The second author? Well, he just seems fitting for a night at the GBC.

Courtesy of GBC P@1ge:

Witch-Wife

- Edna St. Vicent Millay

She is neither pink nor pale,

And she never will be all mine;

She learned her hands in a fairy-tale,

And her mouth on a valentine.

She has more hair than she needs;

In the sun 'tis a woe to me!

And her voice is a string of coloured beads,

Or steps leading into the sea.

She loves me all that she can,

And her ways to my ways resign;

But she was not made for any man,

And she never will be all mine.

**********

Stone Airplane
- Shel Silverstein

I built an airplane out of stone...
I always did like staying home.

Curry On My Wayward Son

2011-12-18T21:50:00.000-06:00

Today was my first visit to Parnassus Books. I knew it would be a good experience because 1) it felt like home and 2) it smelled like a bookstore.

The store was busy. I perused. I accidentally bumped people with my extra large bag. I noticed that there were more than a few of us in search for that book for that someone (not knowing with certainty the item and person who would match our selections).

I bought a book because it was sitting out of place like a castaway toy. I bought another book because I saw the person in front of me buy it. I bought a book because I had been carrying the title in my purse notebook since I visited an independent San Francisco bookstore two years ago. I bought a book I knew I loved and hoped that the recipient would love it too.

It was a great experience. I felt welcome and for a few long moments I was a bit homesick for my former town and the GBC.

Snow Place Like Home

2011-12-16T07:30:00.000-06:00

...or New York for the holidays. Today's photo was snapped in Brooklyn last December.

Hope your weekend is full of holiday party cheer.

Spinning My Wheels

2011-12-14T07:00:00.008-06:00

If the material did not have keywords such as DNA, Genomics, Knitting Patterns, Top 10 Last Minute Unique Gifts, or Cancellation Policy, chances are high that I have not read it in the last few days. Leisure reading has taken a backseat to All Things End of Year and/or Holiday. Nevertheless, I still received a book tip this morning at my 5:15 spin class. Run Faster from the 5K to the Marathon: How to Be Your Own Best Coach by Brad Hudson was mentioned as the motivation behind the instructor's success at his last race. As my legs are still twitching from the session, I'll trust him on it.

Good luck with your holiday planning and hope you are working hard on your poetry selections for the next GBC meet.

Side note: Please forgive the lack of formatting and link to the book - the interface has been a little less than cooperative this morning.

Knit Picking

2011-12-12T07:00:00.000-06:00

The title grabbed my eye because it's something I hope to say in the near future. With the realization this morning that Christmas was less than 14 days away and my only preparations having been two metallic trees and the formation of a holiday card, my heart rate became slightly elevated. There are things left to knit.

What then is the best way to handle this holiday stress?

[Cue the music.]

Song and Dance (and finally segueing back to my original line). Look, I Made a Hat by Stephen Sondheim is the second volume of collected lyrics and commentary for the period 1981-2011. [Finishing the Hat was the first volume released last year for those of you who like to read things in order.]

Although it won't help me with knitting, it just might serve as a backup gift in the event holiday shopping unravels.

Getting Carded

2011-12-10T15:30:00.000-06:00

It was a smoothie, running, coffee, cheering kind of Saturday morning preparing to move into an eating, drinking, merry, laughing Saturday night.

Sharing advice from a friend: Don't waste the day.

In other news, I now have local library access. [Insert card acquisition between coffee and cheering.]

Duly (and sometimes Dually) Noted

2011-12-08T06:35:00.000-06:00

I carry a small notebook with me for those ideas, suggestions, names, and figures which pass by in fleeting discussion or observation. I have a similar list of random items in my iPhone however these words that are captured with varied penmanship seem to be more permanent. My book has no lines and I do not write in sequential page order but rather items are grouped in sections like my bookshelf...a system of nothingness that perhaps even will not make sense to me in ten years. For now, I remember the "when" of each note and where I was when writing. The book contains the practicality of my father's hat size and the vision of my next two year's goals captured after consumption of a small carafe of wine in Florence.

Items that rarely appear in the book are drawings. Sketching is a skill that I have not yet quite mastered. [See also: recent attempt to draw road reflectors on a receipt at lunch.] I admire those who with a few strokes of lines can illustrate a point, emotion, or map path. No surprise then that this NYT review caught my attention. The author describes Bento's Sketchbook by John Berger. The book is a collection of Berger's drawings, musings, experiences with a few significant omissions intertwined in helical fashion. Between Cole's review and Amazon's preview, I'm hooked.

The opening line: "This autumn the quetsch plum trees are overburdened with fruit." Though this selection is offered electronically, I think this is a book which requires a physical copy which is likely to be shelved near The Faraway One.

It's All Relative

2011-12-06T06:30:00.001-06:00

I have the literary equivalent to chaos theory beside my bed with the morning thought that there could be a little topological mixing. [Apologies. With strong coffee and without an editor, I am afraid that sometimes you are left with geeky blog openers.]

I have been surfing through The Lexicographer's Dilemma jumping to The Power of Babel with a side of various Kindle books. Last night I added Deepak Chopra to the mix. The common thread seems to be a one to many relationship. [A database reference before seven? I may need less coffee.] One course of language evolved to a number of others. A plenitude of words and manners of communication evolved into a few formal rules for grammar. The love of self translates to love in or for a group.

The moral [other than stay away from the morning math]? Things can be more related that they first appear, and sometimes you can find a solution in an unlikely source.

Paper Planes

2011-12-04T17:45:00.000-06:00

Any conversation that involves book lists, book recommendations, book reviews, and/or optimization of audio books is a pretty good chat.

In the event you missed the NPR tale of the mystery Book Sculptures in Edinburgh, you can check the link here. [Note: It is possible that after viewing, your origami will seem very much sub-par.]

Hope you had the opportunity to learn something new this weekend.

Lost in Translation

2011-12-02T07:20:00.001-06:00

Because GBC K1m and T1m have me thinking about Tokyo. Happy Friday and hope new journeys ahead.

Tokyo, July 2007

Read Tape

2011-11-30T07:10:00.001-06:00

I have been on a bit of a music kick this week (see also Sad Songs and Waltzes, a Cake reference) so when a friend tweeted about this book, it jumped near the top of the queue: Love is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss One Song at a Time by Rob Sheffield. Be prepared to have a Kramer jump moment when you click this link as immediately the author will begin to speak, however it's worth the mild shock to find an except of the book to peruse before you commit. (Think of it as book dating.) The book has been around for a few years, published in 2007, which roughly coincides with the time that my life became one giant mixed CD with a few common themes. I would not recommend reading through the Amazon reviews as they seemed to be a bit of a spoiler.

As I have been typing, my shuffle went through The Turtles to Pavarotti to Dizzy Gilespie to Live. What's your mid-week mix tape?

Dream Weaver

2011-11-28T07:00:00.000-06:00

"You are never given a dream without also being given the power to make it true. You may have to work for it, however."

- Richard Bach

taken from Active Dreaming by Robert Moss

The above quote for anyone else who had vivid dreams last night and went early to the gym to try to spin them out. Have a great Monday.

Sad Songs and Waltzes

2011-11-26T11:30:00.004-06:00

In time for the holidays, The Guardian, The New York Times, Amazon and others are publishing their list of "Best Books of 2011." In perusing the NYT list, this book caught my eye. Released and reviewed earlier this year, it has just the right amount of sadness to pair with the newest Ryan Adams' album I'm listening to while typing. [I think I clicked the title because of the early 90s movie Man in the Moon; see also aforementioned sad album reference.]

The Boy in the Moon: A Father's Journey to Understand his Extraordinary Son by Ian Brown gives us a window to view his son's battle with CFC, an extremely rare disease which CFC International estimates to have affected 200-300 children worldwide. The book's been added to my reading list.

Thank You

2011-11-24T09:45:00.000-06:00

Holiday reflections of gratitude include:

venti lattes
taking risks
new friends
old friends
fizzy water
loud laughs
quiet walks
full moons
happy music
sad tunes
plane trips
good listeners
long runs
honest feedback
yoga poses
nontraditional family
Universal guidance
new reads
car dancing
blog readers
ice packs
breaking rules
little surprises

Hope you have a moment of quiet reflection today. We are each so lucky.

Food Comma

2011-11-22T07:00:00.004-06:00

It is a week of cooking laughing running singing dancing cleaning talking staying up to finish the last few chapters of So Long and Thanks for All the Fish trying new things and having a glass of reading water with chocolates.

No commas. No pauses.

Living. Thankful.

A Trifle of Truffle

2011-11-20T20:00:00.000-06:00

Sunday evening.

Reading recipe books with reading water.

It's the type of combination which makes me try Julie Child recipes for the first time for a group of unknowing strangers.

It also leads to discoveries of Mycophilia: Revelations from the Weird World of Mushrooms by Eugenia Bone. The New York Times has a review here of this "beguiling book".

I hear it's a fun(gi) read.

One for the Road

2011-11-18T07:00:00.000-06:00

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune,
Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,
Strong and content I travel the open road.

- Walt Whitman from
Song of the Open Road (1)

A photo from the open road for Friday:

Alabama, November 2011

Mid-West Fest

2011-11-16T06:20:00.002-06:00

I heard just the end of this segment on my local NPR station yesterday and had to search out the other two books. "Hello From Flyover Territory: 3 Midwestern Novels" highlights a few (fine, three) authors who do not usually make those top 10 lists of books you want to take with you on a [insert: island, family gathering, plane trip, work retreat, first date etc.]. The author has a point - the only Midwestern writer who comes to mind at first thought is Nicholas Sparks and let's face it, he has his own niche. [Side note: my mother loves his books, I cry at his books made into movies and we share an alma mater.]

So this holiday season, as you pull your chair to tables overflowing with bounty, show a little love to farm country and pick up a tale from an unknown writer. There's a one in two chance, you might like the read.

Don't Skirt the Issue

2011-11-14T06:50:00.001-06:00

Seeing a few moments of "Notting Hill" this weekend made me long for a few things British. One of the last times I was there, I visited a pretty amazing bookshop and purchased a £10 skirt that I only wear outside the US (because of its length). Viva British couture.

Continuing in the same vein this morning, you might enjoy this review of Londoners by Craig Taylor. The book is a series of interviews by people who well...the book cover seems to give it away.

Another moving piece with an English bent is this interview with Nicholas Evans from The Guardian. Imagine a story where you poison your story with mushrooms you collected for dinner. Now imagine that as life. I re-evaluated "lucky" this morning (and also eating mushrooms).

Running Down a Dream II

2011-11-12T11:55:00.000-06:00

Some days you have to put the book down and run.

Today was one of those days.

A half marathon medal for the bookshelf and destined for a glass of reading water later.

Run down your dreams this weekend.

Weight Weight - Don't Tell Me

2011-11-10T07:15:00.000-06:00

I am attributing my writer's block to the time change, lack of a proper coffee this morning, and the transfer of all energy to my legs as I prepare for a race this weekend. [Oh, and there might have been that conversation Monday with a boy, but that's an anecdote for the book. Besides, my gym now has photographic evidence of the moments just after so who really needs the words?]

This morning I am taking inspiration from a couple of nuggets shared by GBC P@1ge from Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels, our November read:

"I'm naive enough to think that love is always good, no matter how long ago, no matter the circumstances." and

"I see that I must give what I most need."

It's all in the mantra.

Shorty Get Loose

2011-11-08T07:00:00.002-06:00

This morning I needed inspiration to check me, more on the forecheck side, not the body check side for the hockey fans following along.

As we have had several Margaret Atwood books make the rounds in our GBC reads, I wanted to share this link to "Underbrush Man," a work in the Guardian's specially commissioned short story series. The opening line of "Light returns, oh how simple faith is justified!" is mantra worthy.

William Trevor has a story as well, An Idyll in Winter. When your schedule is short or your waiting time is long, either may fit the bill for a brief respite of the darker days of winter.

See Rocket City

2011-11-06T19:50:00.004-06:00

I spent the afternoon listening to talks about rockets, quantum physics, psychology and how to measure a good economy. [The probability that I will have crazy dreams just sky-rocketed.]

A starting point for your rocket reading should include Dr. Travis Taylor. He's a pretty dynamic speaker who knows a thing or two about the universe, matter, and of course, rockets.

For a change of pace and a bit of motivation, check out Daily Feats. Their motto: "Go do good."

Hope you too found inspiration this weekend.

Because we Like You

2011-11-04T06:55:00.001-05:00

Near the Monorail, Disney

October 2011

Fridays are made to be awesome.

To inspire you perhaps a little, today's Friday photo is from my first visit to Disney. Ten minutes later, I saw the castle for the first time. It was highlighted in purple against a setting sun skyline. That moment is on my list of Awesome.

Two other gems from The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha: "That one square in the waffle that's the most loaded with butter and syrup" and "Hanging your hand out the car window."

Hope you have an awesome weekend.

Thanks GBC P@1ge for the song-spiration on that trip which seemed apt for a title.

Hold On for One More Day

2011-11-02T06:45:00.002-05:00

A quick reminder for the year end books for those reading along with the GBC:

Nov: Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels [A few Guardian reviews can be found here.]
Dec: Poetry of your choice (which means start reviewing now)

Just before the time changes, one fleeting glimpse of summer via Douglas Adams from So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish:

The summer sun was sinking through the trees in the park, looking as if - let's not mince words. Hyde Park is stunning. Everything about it is stunning except for the rubbish on Monday mornings. Even the ducks are stunning. Anyone who can go through Hyde Park on a summer's evening and not feel moved by it is probably going through in an ambulance with the sheet pulled up over his face.

Welcome November. You are here before I expected you.

Hallow Hollow

2011-10-30T14:30:00.003-05:00

I didn't kick a hornet's nest but ended up with a dragon (stenciled) tattoo. Sometimes it can be fun to step out of character. Word of advice - use care with any nose rings. Also, hair dye can be a bit messy.

In time for the US movie release later this year, H&M announced a new line of clothing available in December for anyone in need of a hoodie, black leather jacket or shiny black pants. If you need a spiked necklace, I've got you covered.

I hope you enjoyed being in and out of character this Halloween weekend.

Uprooted

2011-10-28T07:40:00.000-05:00

"A man is a bundle of relations, a knot of roots,
whose flower and fruitage is the world."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Disney's Animal Kingdom, October 2011

A Seuss Excuse

2011-10-26T21:45:00.003-05:00

When your day starts at 3:00 a.m. you don't have time for reading. Somehow, in a celebratory end of day stance, you do make time for reading water.

You discover:

you can sleep near the window,

you can nap in the aisle;

you can avoid the loud screaming;

you will receive bonus miles.

Twenty hour days make for light posts and entertaining reads of HHGttG.

Fish Bowl Vantage

2011-10-24T07:12:00.004-05:00

My reading has taken a backseat this month to items which provide income and weekends filled with travel. Normally, I devour books on the plane but this month, most flights are reserved for naps for this weary gal.

Last night, I took another turn at So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish by Douglas Adams. I had started this book over the summer but somehow never finished. I decided to begin again rather than adopt the bookmark my Kindle had so lovingly preserved. The story was appropriate company after another near-miss of rapture and departure from a city I adore so much.

Hope your week is off to a delightful start. As a reminder:

"Life," he said, "is like a grapefruit.'"

Happy Saturday

2011-10-22T11:55:00.000-05:00

Rockets to Miracle Miles.

Guitars to Capitols.

Standing on our heads.

Happy Saturday.

Hope something moves you.

Java Script

2011-10-20T07:00:00.001-05:00

I have a coffee book in the shelves but can't seem to find it this morning in my sleep-deprived haze.

Next best thing, a new book about coffee: The Devil's Cup: A History of the World According to Coffee by Steward Lee Allen. Alternatively, if you would prefer 878 pages [!] about coffee, I could suggest All About Coffee by William Ukers. This title is also offered electronically [free] as part of The Project Gutenberg.

If you decide to try them out, let me know.

I'll be quietly sipping my cup(s) of joe.

Chat dans le Chapeau

2011-10-18T06:45:00.002-05:00

Today called for whimsy, distraction. I mean, we're all just waiting for the announcement on the Man Booker Prize winner, right?

So, in those few extra minutes you have just before lunch, with your third cup of coffee, or at mid-afternoon tea, distract yourself with this Dr. Suess quiz from last month's Guardian. [Note to readers other than the GBC: despite the judgement you may have made from the amount of reading water we consume, we are also a group of quiz loving intellectual geeks at heart. Well, at least one of us is.]

Have a great week!

Oh Mickey You're so Fine

2011-10-16T17:30:00.000-05:00

After a weekend that went by in a blur of dancing, walking, roller coasters and ~~screaming~~ laughing , this evening will be a quiet night to decompress and read (and soak my feet).

A reminder to everyone reading Room that you just have a short few days to finish for book club.

For everyone who tries to seize the day, a few words from my "Pocket Classic" Zen Flesh, Zen Bones. Always handy to have these little gems when you are flying post champagne brunch.

Lightning flashes,
Sparks shower.
In one blink of your eyes
You have missed seeing.

Bear With Me

2011-10-14T07:00:00.001-05:00

Knoxville, October 2011

Today's Friday photo quickly snapped just before departing the Knoxville zoo last weekend. After a long day of Universe versus my patience, all I could do was grin and bear it.

Happy Friday.

Well-Groomed

2011-10-12T07:00:00.001-05:00

In a discovery too late to help my sister, I have a copy of The Scottish Wedding Book by G W Lockhart. The book is filled with some practical advice on the ceremony [church or castle?] as well as historical and factual anecdotes about Scotland. [The legal age of marriage is 16, and Mary Queen of Scots married on a Sunday.] As should be no shocker, the book is heavily scattered with Roberts Burns poetry. Other handy inclusions for those who can learn set dances from a single page of instructions are five options for dancing including "Strip the Willow". Finally, if one is at a loss for wedding quotes, the book has a little something to offer, including this gem:

"Marriage is a wonderful invention - but then again, so is a bicycle repair kit." - Billy Connelly

Guardian Angel

2011-10-10T06:50:00.000-05:00

I have already taken the plunge back into the working week but have been rather remiss about being current in the weekend's news events. In trying to catch up this morning, I ran across a few articles from The Guardian that I thought you too might enjoy:

Several of those dashing big screen actors have committed to recording audio books. Colin Firth or Samuel Jackson for the next road trip? Not bad options.

Romance novels are among the highest growing genres for the electronic reader. The spike is attributed in part to the reader's ability to hide the steamy covers from those across the aisle. [In the event you don't make it completely through the article, you should be aware there is an event called RomantiCon.]

Finally, leaving you with a story of hope to start your Monday, this article brings us Cricket and Compton. Yes, L.A.'s Compton. You can read a bit more of the club's history here.

It was all news to me.

Stay Grounded. I Do.

2011-10-08T08:45:00.001-05:00

In less than 12 hours my sister ties the knot and I'm waxing nostalgic this morning on childhood moments of laughter, torment, and of times when we were grounded to the sofa on either side and we spent hours reading. (I wonder if mom knew this was really awesome punishment.)

We all love to read.

On a day of celebration, Oktoberfests, exams, and other GBC miscellany, I hope you all find time to do something you love.

Jobs, Shuttlesworth, and Maggie

2011-10-06T07:00:00.001-05:00

I remember where I was when I bought my first Apple product - the old-school USB shuffle. I still have it.

I also remember where I was when I learned that not everyone was born with the same rights - an elementary school Social Studies class reading the Constitutional Amendments. Even in vocabulary for the young reader, it was clear that something had been wrong.

Thinking of these and the losses a few of our GBC members have suffered in the last few weeks, I do what I usually do and turn to rhyme.

Elegy
William Shakespeare
Sonnets and Poems, p.119

Fear no more the heat o' the sun,
Nor the furious winter's rages;
Thou thy worldly task hast done,
Home art gone, and ta'en they wages;
Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.

Fear no more the frown o' the great,
Thou art past the tyrant's stroke:
Care no more to clothe and eat;
To thee the reed is as the oak;
The sceptre, learning, physic, must
All follow this, and come to dust.

Fear no more the lightning-flash
Nor the all-dreaded thunder-stone;
Fear not slander, censure rash;
Thou hast finish'd joy and moan:
All lovers young, all lovers must
Consign to thee, and come to dust.

No exorciser harm thee!
Nor no witchcraft charm thee!
Ghost unlaid forebear thee!
Nothing ill come near thee!
Quiet consummation have;
And renowned be thy grave!

Guiderius and Arviragus in
Cymbeline, iv.2

Islands in the Stream

2011-10-04T06:35:00.002-05:00

Most of you know I like lists and have a penchant for (shoe) shopping. In an email last week, this link for "101 Books We Can't Live Without: What to Read on a Deserted Island" popped up. It is actually a fairly good list and there are a few titles I haven't managed to conquer but they are in my handy Excel sheet of "Books to Read": Geek Love by Katherine Dunn (first discovered in a San Francisco book shop, but sadly out of stock) and Lunch Poems by Frank O'Hara. When searching for more info on Lunch Poems, I found this link to his poem "Animals" which seemed apropos of the day.

Hope your Tuesday has reason and rhyme.

Stop This Rhyming, I Really Mean It

2011-10-02T18:00:00.001-05:00

The Princess Bride, a "Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure" was mentioned at brunch, and I spent the last half hour re-reading the intro and Chapter 5's duel. If your only exposure has been the movie, you might enjoy the quick read through the novel. The characters are fantastic and the lines ring to familiar tones. Also, if you pick up one of the anniversary editions (I have the 25th), you can read about Buttercup's baby and a little about Steven King. [Misery loves company.]

Hope you enjoyed the lovely autumn weather this weekend and that you have the week ahead as you wish.

Imperfection is Beauty...

2011-09-30T08:03:00.002-05:00

Chicago, September 2011

Because this actually happens, or at least it does to me.

Have a great weekend.

Letter Opener

2011-09-28T06:30:00.001-05:00

Last night I dreamed I left my Kindle at the library. I think my subconscious was trying to remind me to read more and Excel less. With a tightly packed week, I have had just enough time to review a few letters from My Faraway One: Selected Letters of Georgia O'Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz mentioned here.

I'm sharing opening excerpts from two letters to begin your day. One selected because it was written 95 years ago today; the other chosen for the romantics among us.

Alfred Stieglitz, September 28, 1916
[Lake George, NY]
It is another day. - Afternoon. - Another perfect day. But not so varied - not so exciting. - Blue sky - a perfectly calm smooth Lake - brilliant sunlight & milder in temperature.

Georgia O'Keeffe, December 10, 1916
[Canyon, TX] written on paper 24" x 17"
Sunday - Sunset.
I'd like to write you with letters about two feet high -
But maybe that would be a bit high -

Comma Chameleon

2011-09-26T06:50:00.001-05:00

One might hypothesize that reading a book about the development of grammar just before sleep might be a good move to lull one into slumber. Rather, I find that I have been staying up later to finish the next chapter. Fascinating to read how language started to find more structure in the 1650s (only to lose it again in the 2000s with the gross acceptance of text [my words, not Lynch's]).

Advice on social manners and on speaking proper English emerged together in the 1700s as more people wanted to differentiate themselves from illiteracy and gain acceptance with the upper classes. Various champions of structure emerged, and one wonders what their wives must have thought of these men who were obsessed by proper use of commas and of spelling. [No love notes laying around certainly.]

As you scan your brain today for the proper word, consider placement of that semi-colon, and avoid ending a sentence with a preposition, know that these rules were not easily forged and that many a writer was a rule-breaker. The Lexicographer's Dilemma, indeed.

[Note: it is quite intimidating to write about grammar when one is a rule-breaker.]

Falling

2011-09-24T21:20:00.000-05:00

If I owned a hammock, I would have slept outdoors tonight. For the first time, it felt like autumn has arrived.

Observe the wonders as they occur around you.
Don't claim them.
Feel the artistry moving through, and be silent.
- Rumi

Drive South

2011-09-22T06:55:00.001-05:00

It is a toss-up as to which items I missed most with this week's GBC meeting: the company, the reading water, the biscuits or the homemade peach cobbler. [My run training however is glad I missed three of these.]

Using GBC P@1ge's words for a description of the meeting:

Most everyone had read all or part of The Warmth of Other Suns, and the verdict was: great book. This work of non-fiction that reads like a novel sparked a lively discussion among the group. From the author's writing style, to her research and dedication to her project, and the three people she chose to highlight...we found this to be a quality book worth investing in (and worth finishing if you haven't
yet).

I haven't yet read the book but will be certain to keep it in the queue. I dived into The Lexicographer's Dilemma by Jack Lynch and since the Chapter "Vulgarities of Speech," I have been pondering which shibboleths I have adopted by life in the South.

Alma Mater

2011-09-20T07:00:00.003-05:00

I arrived to the airport a bit early for my standards. The hour at the gate plus the three hour delay was more than enough time to bring me well into the story of The History of Love by Nicole Krauss. I was so engrossed in the book that I nearly missed my boarding call. While everyone napped on the flight, I had my reading light on, determined to race the remaining battery power to the end. [Side note: I was surrounded by seven men and women in jeans, t-shirts, boots, and Stetsons who had won a Marlboro contest and were returning from Montana. I think they were less than thrilled with my light.]

With just 10% remaining at 10,000 feet, the Kindle had to be powered down. As I mentioned, I read the book last year. But I didn't remember. I didn't feel.

It was after 1:00 when I arrived home and the only thing I wanted to do was to finish. I began "Would a Lamed Vovnik Do This?". Through the last pages as the voice changed between Alma and Leo, I remembered, and I cried.

When I read with the Kindle, I tend to make a number of bookmarks for favorite sentences or passages. This time I made one: "If it weren't for her, there would never have been an empty space, or the need to fill it."

September Moon

2011-09-18T09:00:00.000-05:00

A lot happens in a year.

You take risks, face fears, learn new things, forget old things, move forward, and occasionally fall back. You know with certainty that life moves on and that no matter how high or low an experience, all things tend to settle back to their neutral and natural rhythm. You find balance, reconnect with old friends, make new friends, and find happy moments where you can. You run a lot. You let go. You hold on.

Here's to a little Sunday reflection with your coffee.

Take It to the Bridge

2011-09-16T06:40:00.000-05:00

For those of you who are familiar with my tendencies to snap photos of bridges in moving vehicles, I offer the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge. Happy Friday.

Boston, September 2011, 70 mph

"We build too many walls and not enough bridges" - Isaac Newton

Play Stop Rewind

2011-09-14T07:00:00.001-05:00

For some time, I have been anxiously awaiting the electronic release of History of Love by Nicole Krauss. A few days ago patience was rewarded and I downloaded the book for reading. As I moved through the first few pages, I paused. This story sounded familiar. How many characters named Leo Gursky could I have possibly known? Not many. Nevertheless, I pressed on. As Leo unlocked the door in the rain, my mind's door unlocked and I became more convinced that I have read this novel however I could not (and cannot) remember the ending.

So, being the organized nerd, I consulted my spreadsheet of book titles and searched this blog. Not only had I read it last spring, but I wrote about it, yet still have no memory of the story. My conclusions are that I'm either turning the corner toward old-age forgetfulness or that I am meant to reread this work. There is of course the third possibility that the book really was not memorable but I'm giving Ms. Krauss and GBC P@1ge (avid book supporter) the benefit of the doubt that this is not the case.

Re-reading any books this year?

Never Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen

2011-09-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

After a weekend which seemed a little heavy, a walk in the moonlight this morning left me in search of something beautiful to begin the week. Many of us in the GBC are cooks as well as readers. Even if you are not, this selection would be worthy as a conversation piece for your shelves. The Great Food Series published by Penguin Books is a collection of 20 titles with covers rumored to have been inspired by ceramics. The cookbooks span approximately 400 years of recipes with subjects ranging from simple meals to infantry cooking. The complete paperback set lists for £139.80 with each book sold separately at £6.99 and will be available in the US beginning October 25 from Amazon. The Well-Kept Kitchen by Gervase Markham is shown below; click here to view the entire set.

Saturday Sun

2011-09-10T08:00:00.002-05:00

A reminder on this beautiful weekend that our next GBC read is The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson.

My Saturday mantra taken from the Acknowledgments of Turn Right at Machu Picchu and is sometimes referenced as the Incas' Golden Rule:

ama sua, ama llula, ama cheklla

- Do not steal, do not lie, do not be lazy.

Have a great weekend.

Not Falling Flat

2011-09-08T07:00:00.003-05:00

I've long believed that my books find me when I am ready to read them. In my typical "Oh, I'm flying tomorrow and should find a suitable book" state just before midnight last Wednesday, I discovered Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park. The novel was a completely random purchase aided by high reviews and the magic of Amazon 1-Click. [At least one of the book's characters would have calculated the odds in this selection. As a math nerd, I'd go with 1:250 based on my search methodology.]

As I mentioned Tuesday, the intro had me hooked. Add to this initial pull, the following Labor Day weekend details:

my trip would include Boston (the book's setting)
a car journey that was saved thanks, in part, to Dunkin Donuts (Starbucks, Maine has you out-ranked.)
the weekend company involved two math geeks
I was requested to provide an explanation of Facebook vs Twitter, and
at least one of the GBC members had a hangover like the protagonist (though without the embarrassing call just before crashing).

If any of those items connect with you, you will probably find more than a thread in the story to keep you reading. The characters are quirky and the story oscillates between moments of "slightly off" to "wow, I was just as awkward" with an undertone of sadness that lingers momentarily like an autumn breeze after the leaves have disappeared. It has a touch of the hopeless romantic with the wit of a science geek. The book is a quick read and pairs nicely with back to school weather and memories of your first college years.

I won't address the particulars of the story line so that you can enjoy it in the same manner as I did, clueless about the background and (if you're lucky) 30,000 feet in the air.

Prime Time

2011-09-06T11:40:00.003-05:00

Cohesion may not be the theme of the day. I trust you will give a lenient eye to a gal who awoke at half past three and is just having her first three shots of espresso. [This post brought to you by the number "3".]

The Man Booker Shortlist was announced today. Time to make your guess for the likely winner.

The plane rides went through in a blur with Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park. It is a light, hold on to the last bits of summer book book with License Notes that include a fairly stern warning and threat to "soak a geeky t-shirt in ammonia and beat you with it" for illegal sharing. Noted. The acknowledgments included references to math, zombie, time travel, and grammar. She had me with geeky.

Hope your week is off to a good start. Cooler temperatures and rain might just be the excuse you have been waiting for to finish those lingering few chapters.

Going into Labor

2011-09-04T08:00:00.001-05:00

Items for a successful holiday weekend:

Fully charged Kindle with minimum of two unread books [one serious fiction, one $3.99]
Fully charged iPod [playlists for car journey which may or may not include Katy Perry]
Reading water stash [and map to closest point of replenishment]
Good friends [a must]
A Salmon Festival [why not?]
Sunscreen [see previous post from Italy]
Mobile phone [or two if work-tethered]
Vitamins [see item 3]

Enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Hitting the Wall

2011-09-02T07:30:00.001-05:00

Because Machu Picchu left me thinking about:

climbing,

walking,

finding,

discovering

the

magnificent,

powerful,

mind-blowing,

and awesome.

Today's photo: The Great Wall.

(Wear good shoes.)

Reviews in the News

2011-08-30T07:15:00.000-05:00

As most of us missed the Edinburgh Book Festival this year, I thought I would direct you to this brief summary of the highlights (positive and negative). I will admit it was the article's subheading "Best Use of Inner Demons" which caught my eye.

For "The Wire" fans among us, you might check out "The Cut" recently reviewed in NYT.

Good luck tackling those lingering summer reads before the holiday creeps in to give us the indication that temps might soon stay below anything that begins with a 9. Happy reading.

M-brace Sunday

2011-08-28T13:20:00.003-05:00

Little did I expect the useful machete tips from Turn Right at Machu Picchu by Mark Adams. This book has made me both much more interested in making the trek and more apprehensive that I am a little too far removed from my backpacking days to try it.

A Sunday is a good day for Machu Picchu, movies, mimosas, making music, and meditating. Make the most of your weekend.

Ice Ice Baby

2011-08-26T07:08:00.004-05:00

Four hours from Seward, Alaska September 2004

Sometimes life gives us clues that things may not go as planned: a first mate with a dark coat, hat pulled over his eyes smoking a Camel; a captain with hooks instead of hands; a boat that is significantly smaller than the others; and a trip paid for by a frugal customer. This was our story.

On the up side, before the three hour Gilligan's tour where life rocked before my eyes like a Stephen King see-saw, I saw my first glacier. The picture above is a digital scan of an old school photo; everything did look this blue.

Pondering

2011-08-24T06:50:00.000-05:00

"To be awake is to be alive."
- Henry David Thoreau from Walden

As I did my laps around the pond this morning (and fought the gnats), I thought of autumn days passed in quiet places, of lakes and benches, and of falling leaves. I thought of living deliberately and of Walden.

"Only that day dawns to which we are awake. There is more day to dawn. The sun is but a morning star." - HDT

Font-ain of Youth

2011-08-22T06:30:00.005-05:00

I may have to change the timing of when I'm reading Turn Right at Machu Picchu. The last few nights my dreams have been of walking, shoe adjustments and other exercise. The good news is that I have avoided the "puma wakachi" (the bug that makes the puma cry) in my subconscious state.

For the editors, logophiles, people (like me) who find themselves debating the use of "Arial", or if you own one of these shirts, you may wish to add Just My Type: A Book About Fonts by Simon Garfield to your reading lists. It might Pico your interest.

Existential Potential

2011-08-20T21:50:00.001-05:00

I spent most of the day talking. In a brief day trip, I got to catch up with some of my favorite people. My lessons:

Over shampoo: Life goes on. Kids are happy. Sometimes it takes a haircut to find yourself.

Over coffee #1: Life is beautiful. Everything is cyclical.

Over brats: Geo-thermal units are pricey. Take a break from work sometimes. When things get really messy, use a fork.

[Side note: when a proprietor remembers your name and order though you haven't been a customer in over six months, you feel awesome.]

Over coffee #2: It's important to warm up. There is a woman who will always have had a worse first date than you.

Over reading water: 3-Iron was a great movie. Being spontaneous has its rewards.

Over the road: It's easier to remember birthdays if they are prime numbers. If you are a good listener, it will be several minutes before the caller realizes the call was dropped.

Hope a great weekend full of delight.

Wilde Thing

2011-08-18T06:40:00.000-05:00

GBC P@1ge reports a successful August meeting and that the club did discuss the book. I would have enjoyed listening to the conversation about the dull middle of The Picture of Dorian Gray and how the book progressed to a fairly snappy ending. The meal's base was a risotto bar - extremely clever, Marcia. Each could sample a little of what pleased them (much like our main character).

For those reading along, the end of year reads include:

September - The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

October - The Room by Emma Donoghue
November - Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels
December - Poetry of your choice

With temperatures that finally dipped below 90, it is beginning to feel like autumn reading is here.

Potato, Potahto

2011-08-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

There are moments in a single person's life that one learns too late that an item has been improperly stored. In that moment of realization, the organic principles that you did not pick up during your undergraduate degree somehow manage to come to the forefront of your mind, and the most avid of recyclers will toss containers without a moment's thought in order to bring their abode back to a more normal olfactory state.

In this vein, I offer Annie Nichols' potatoes as a way to avoid a counter of offending tubers. Her small book is full of tasty nuggets such as potato gratin made in a springform cake pan and whose accompanying photo makes this dish look like a collection of delicate layers just waiting for a fork. Roti, curry, stew, hasselbacks and a chile potato tart are a few of the other recipes which round out the book and give me reasons to use those obscure pans I have amassed over the last ten years of baking.

Mr. Potato, I've got my eyes on you.

[A link to the book can be found here, however there appears to be numerous variations on the 2003 printing. My copy has delicious crispy fries on the cover which I cannot seem to find for you.]

Born to Be Wilde

2011-08-14T15:30:00.000-05:00

With a few days remaining, you still have time to finish this month's GBC selection The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. I finished this read on a train from Florence to Rome a few months ago, however while trying to recount the book this weekend to GBC P@1ge, I realized just how much I had forgotten. (I lay blame for overlooked details to the exceedingly early hour of the journey, the previous night's reading water, and the distractions of the country-side.)

There are so many quips about beauty: skin deep, eye of the beholder, a welcome guest. How do you value beauty, and for what, if anything, would you barter to keep it? Dorian Gray is worth at least one thousand words; the discussion should be quite interesting.

The Beach Boys...make that Girls

2011-08-12T07:30:00.001-05:00

To see a world in a grain of sand,

And a heaven in a wild flower,

Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,

And eternity in an hour.

- William Blake taken from

Auguries of Innocence

As a nod to the recent travel reads and the winding down of summer, today's photo is a beach holiday. I took this snapshot on 10-10-10 in Aruba. [The sunset was so beautiful that evening that I think nearly every guest snapped a near-same image.]

Child of the Sun

2011-08-10T07:00:00.002-05:00

If anyone describes one of my works to be a "600-page doorstop classic" that allegedly even offspring would not read for $10 (early 1900s dollar), please stage an intervention, and give said books to faulty door owners in the surrounding area.

I am really enjoying Mark Adams' Turn Right at Machu Picchu that I began a few days ago. I like his style, his choice of wording (example above), and selection of quotes such as "His facts are extremely interesting; his presentation of them is clumsy and tedious," describing Bingham's writing. (Hiram Bingham III is one of our hero explorers on the journey through Peru.) Chapters are short and titles are clever which makes the book extremely suitable to read after a long day.

Plane ticket purchase pending.

Boa to Tears

2011-08-08T06:30:00.002-05:00

"Your boa has constricted itself." - Sarah

Her comment was directed to our author recapping an obvious issue when his feather boa became tangled into his bike's derailleur. As I moved through the last essay in Yoga for People Who Can't Be Bothered to Do it by Geoff Dyer, I thought the expression an apt description for the book. Perhaps I should taken my own advice and read an essay here or there rather than moving through the second half of the book in one sitting (with copious amounts of coffee).

The experiences became a bit of a blur and I am now hard-pressed to remember which girl went with which city and whether or not there were drugs involved. Perhaps this is the author's intent. The second half of the book beginning near "Decline and Fall" moves through several essays which contain a mousy hotel, a dead body, a breakup, lonely travel, and crying over breakfast. (Not exactly the thing to read during a rain storm if you are looking for a pick me up.)

On a positive note, "Leptis Magna" introduced me this site in Libya, and "The Zone" gave me insights into Burning Man. As I closed the last few pages, I could not help feeling as though I missed the something that I was supposed to take away.

Babble Babel

2011-08-06T09:30:00.000-05:00

When I first opened the box to reveal a trio of books, my first thought was, "Oh, I have made a mistake when writing." After discovering the gift note from one of my dear friends and GBC members, I quickly moved to "Presents!" I later learned this NPR review for grammarians was at the heart of inspiration for this package.

A Dictionary of Modern English Usage by H.W. Fowler has four columns devoted to prepositions at the end of a sentence. Even via social media with 140 character constraints, I try to avoid the ending preposition. The tweets where I fail haunt me like the memory of my fourth grade teacher with pencils in her hair. With my morning coffee, I have reviewed onomatopeia and ottava rima.

John McWhorter's Introduction to The Power of Babel compares language to cloud formations. I like clouds so I immediately started skimming to see whether the book included Finnish. (Hyvä.)

The Lexicographer's Dilemma by Jack Lynch is yet untouched save a check of the dedication. He gives nods to three great teachers; I wonder if any had pencils in their hair.

Thanks GBC P@1ge.

In-Titled

2011-08-04T07:00:00.001-05:00

The Long List for the Man Booker prize was announced last week. There were a few familiar authors but most of the other thirteen would be new reads for me. The short list will be announced in just over a month, and it is from this list I usually pull a new read. (Last year it was Room.)

Perhaps just as entertaining is the complete list of titles submitted for the "create your own Man Booker prize worthy title" which includes 10 references to "Tiger", "Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead," and "Life of 22/7." On that (constant) note, have a great end of week.

The Third Parallel

2011-08-02T06:40:00.001-05:00

I have known those who read multiple books concurrently. I have heard various explanations: scholarly approach, boredom, inability to commit, or the right to brag at parties (which as I type the list, seems to resemble dating).

I tend to stand by my book but last night was forced into a plan C. Like many of you, I enjoy reading just before falling asleep. As I settled in for another chapter or two of Yoga for People Who Can't be Bothered to Do It, I saw this message:

[Don't worry if you can't read the text; just think of it as seeing through my glasses.] I was foiled by technology. Time to initiate a backup plan.

My Faraway One? Remember this book is heavy and I did not want the sensation of burning biceps as I nodded off. So it was that last night I began Turn Right at Machu Picchu by Mark Adams. Chapter One reaffirmed my desire to visit and secured the novel's place as my next read. Judging from the sheer volume of reviews I scrolled through to find Mr. Adams link, I am not the only fan.

$1.25 Investment

2011-07-30T17:30:00.000-05:00

A woman says to a security officer, "Have you seen a balding man with a red purse and a dark-haired girl?" The officer responded, "Actually, I have".

Family day to the fundraising library sale gave my mother this anecdote. We each scored several book finds for the bargain price of 25 cents each.

My additions:

1965 reprint of More's Utopia (Saint Thomas More)

1962 copy of Lanterns and Lances (James Thurber)

1938 edition of How to Organize and Conduct a Meeting (W.H. Henry & Dr. L Seeley)

1960 printing of The Compassionate Tiger (Hunton Downs)

and finally, the pièce de résistance

Cooking for One is Fun (Henry Lewis Creel) from 1979.

Happy weekend reading.

My Baby Wrote Me a Letter

2011-07-28T07:00:00.002-05:00

There are two types of packages on the doorstep which make my list of awesomeness: shoes and books.

I was a lucky girl this week and have received one box of each. When I ordered My Faraway One, I neglected to check the weight so I underestimated the amount of arm strength necessary to pick up the brown box while carrying work bag, yoga mat, purse, new Pumas (see above), coffee mug and water bottle. At 4.4 pounds, it will test your balance.

Last night I started reading the work in no particular order. With only a few editorial updates (as apparently O'Keefe was a terrible speller), the letters I read examined the mundane, their respective arts, the locales, and that emerging affection which made this collection possible.

Have Passport. Will Travel.

2011-07-26T06:55:00.003-05:00

A reader can move through Yoga for People Who Can't be Bothered to Do It very quickly. We do things as travelers which seem very logical at the time [negotiate the cheapest boat and captain in Bangkok] only to realize during the journey that perhaps the strategy adopted was not the best one [cheapest boat = cheapest overhead which may mean a hole or two in the vessel]. My travels essays would certainly include said Bangkok boat, an Alaskan sea captain on a Gilligan's Island Tour, and a complete chapter devoted to the Shanghai taxi. While I cannot connect with each of Dyer's anecdotes, there is certainly enough empathy to have an enjoyable read. I would not recommend moving straight through the novel in typical fashion but take a chapter or two with a pause. This also gives you the opportunity to have sufficient coffee to invoke a portion of Dyer's Parisian experience.

Won't You Write Me a Letter, Won't You Give Me a Call?

2011-07-24T08:45:00.000-05:00

"All I want is to preserve that wonderful something which so purely exists between us."

- Alfred Stieglitz

As several of you know, I am a romantic. I am also a fan of posted mail and enjoy writing the occasional letter. As a teen, I sent bi-weekly notes to the "love" of my life and waited each day to see if I would receive a brown envelope in return. As an adult, I have had only one other experience where note writing was abundant and felt urgent and necessary.

In 31 years, Georgia O'Keefe and Alfred Stiegliz exchanged letters over 5,000 times. A total of 25,000 pages existed and a portion of these has just been released in My Faraway One, Selected Letters of Georgia O'Keefe and Alfred Stiegliz: Volume 1, 1913-1933. The above quotation was taken from one of those letters in 1918. Sarah Greenough is due credit as editor for this edition (which I will be ordering in just a few short moments in hard cover as Kindle just does not seem appropriate).

While waiting for delivery, perhaps I will make time to write a few letters and listen to the artist from whom I've taken the title, John Prine.

Bridging the Gap

2011-07-22T07:15:00.003-05:00

Even after a year, I still need a map.

Sometimes I also need assistance to find the county lines on severe weather maps.

These are the "Bridges Near Madison County," my county.

Happy Friday, and do not take pictures while you are driving (unless they are bridges).