Monday to Sunday

I've been a bit off schedule this week with heavier than normal demands. [Work hours that rhyme with Katy, for $100, Alex.]  This morning, in my horizontal reading of news and email before coffee, I was happily surprised to read this NPR headline which made the rounds this week: 'As You Wish': Take A Peek At The Making Of 'The Princess Bride'.

As You Wish by Cary Elwes made its hardcover release on the 14th and this is a title I'll definitely need in book form.  It will take a slight re-arranging to get it to sit beside my anniversary edition of The Princess Bride but I'm always game for a challenge.

I've already shared that I'm fond of the book, but I honestly cannot count the number of times I've seen the movie or listened to Mark Knopfler's original score.  I'd put both in a Top 10 category.

Hope your weekend was restful, that you didn't need to use Bonetti's Defense, and that if you were scheduled to marry someone who didn't hold your heart, a pirate, a Giant and a dueling Spaniard came to your rescue.

Two Ferns

The Kindle App is brilliant for the last minute flight with hardly any time to pack.  This scenario resulted in my starting We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Fowler.  I'm a few months later than the GBC with this one and am probably the only reader in the group who didn't guess where the plot was headed with Fern.  I'm just over the halfway mark and wondering what's happened to Lowell.  (Don't tell me.)

Since starting the book, I've also not been able to shake the title Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls.  It's another book turned movie and I think one of the earliest titles to make me cry from reading (and watching the film).

Bend and Not Break

I'm a bit off schedule for writing these days.  I've slept in five places the last five days so there have been a few days where I wasn't certain what day it is, including today. At least I've always had my luggage.

The airplane time has given ample opportunity to dive more into Unbroken and I'm completely hooked.  The book is a long one (512 pages according to Amazon sources) and I'm at the 50% mark.  As the story evolves and the reader continues to learn more about Louie's life, I don't think s/he could remain untouched.  There were several moments on the plane where I had to close the reader for just a second to regroup before moving on so I didn't have another Seven Pounds* moment.  I can't wait to finish it and I'm rooting desperately for a happy ending.

*The author wasn't familiar with Seven Pounds and opted to select this film on a transatlantic flight to Europe.  Airline attendants fondly remember her as the person who was sobbing in the seat and kept asking for napkins.  Fellow neighboring passengers likely dismissed her as crazy.

Missed the Groundhog

I ran.  I napped.  I ate (twice).  I had my swim evaluated by someone who consulted for the Austrian Olympic team.  I rewarded my ability not to drown under pressure with a movie.  Did I mention they serve reading water at this theatre?  

Hansel and Gretel was an entertaining film though you'd be quite safe to wait for DVD, and it's not for the wee ones.  One reviewer mentions, "It's historically inaccurate" which has amused me greatly.  (I suppose he was trying to reference the book but perhaps a reality check might be in order.)

I hope your weekend has been filled with fun things, entertaining things, and cold weather which made you do something new.  

Small Wins

With a little bit of luck, I will finally get to see The Hobbit this weekend.  The schedule has been a bit more intense than normal with flu recovery followed by the 2013 day to day obligations (i.e., a full time job and a new training routine).  Looking at my calendar, things will settle out by, well, you probably don't want to look at my calendar.

Here's hoping that you get to knock a small (or a large!) goal off your list this weekend.

The Seen Scene

I've already admitted I'm behind in reading, however it seems I'm not doing too terribly bad with my movie watching (over the course of 2012).  With a bit of a break coming up, I'm certain there is time to view a more.

Here's one of many (many) articles and lists to be published on the Top films of the year, courtesy of the New York Times:  25 Favorites From a Year When 10 Aren’t Enough by A.O. Scott.

How many have you seen?

Hello Tiger

Inside my Life of Pi by Yann Martel is a boarding pass to Seattle dated January 26, 2004.  I had an exit row seat.  This memory was situated at Part Two:  The Pacific Ocean.

My copy of the novel sits on the shelf beside A History of Pi by Petr Beckman.

Tonight I saw the film inspired by Martel's book and was surprised to find passages which were exact quotes from the copy I re-visited this evening.  I enjoyed the cinematography, grew sad but hopeful with the journey and anticipated the eventual question, "which story do you prefer?"

I can recite π to 15 significant digits.

I believe bananas can float.

"The World is Ahead"

I remember the cover of my first The Hobbit book.  I think I purchased it from one of those magazines at school where you could buy three books for a few dollars and everyone's books delivered on the same day like one gigantic bookworm Christmas in the spring.  I'm pretty sure I still have my copy but one of the downsides of sorting your bookcase loosely by genre, book type, and height is that you really can't lay your hands on a book quickly when you want to write about it in the few moments you have before departing for the office.  There is a chance it's with my sister.  She liked The Hobbit too.

Today the Peter Jackson film premieres in New Zealand, and I'm pretty sure this will be on my viewing list.

As You Wish

Last night on the way home from the office, I heard this interview with Mandy Patinkin on NPR's All Things Considered.  Was he tired of uttering his oh so famous line?  No.  It still makes him smile.  Me too.

This week my sister had sent me a link to this Think Geek shirt.  Yesterday morning, I suggested to friend that she use a "to blave" line in a wedding speech.  All roads lead to Wesley?  So last night, I settled in to watch the movie during it's 25th anniversary year and pondered in which box my 25th anniversary book was packed.

Farm it Out

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.

Welcome to the Jungle

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.

Mid-West Fest

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

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).

Hallow Hollow

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.

How Do I Look?

On Saturday, I asked you about your summer reading lists, and on Sunday, I received my weekly NPR email which included this link on summer reading. Representatives from three independent bookstores compiled a list of sixteen titles to consider for those hot, sweltering, humid months ahead. The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall makes two of the three readers' lists - enough to peak my interest. The selection includes a book on baking, a book on yarn, and one of my faves, Ms. Hepburn and "Breakfast at Tiffany's." Several of these will be added to my list and perhaps these titles might make us "divinely and utterly happy" (to quote Ms. Golightly).

Losing Your Head

A couple of days in the airport give one the opportunity to complete a short read. I was inspired to step out of my planned queue (mainly because I didn't want to travel for business with a book entitled Possum Living), and decided instead to visit Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. I cannot remember when I had last read this book and was happy to delve into a world of wonders for the series of hour long flight segments. There were so many characters I did not initially recall: the Duchess, the Knave, and the Frog Footman while so many others (Cheshire Cat, the Queen, the Caterpillar) were expected finds.

I think I was not the only one with Alice on her mind as the waitress last night made the comment when people were changing seats at the restaurant: "What is this? A Hatter's Tea Party?" Indeed a cup of tea and a bit of change are quite appealing at the moment.

Inspect Her Gadgets

I have completed the first two chapters (about one third of the book) of My Life in France. It appears that the last seven chapters are a bit shorter in length. [It is the math side of my brain which presses me to record such mundane details.] I was amused to learn that Ms. Child and I shared a common fascination: kitchen gadgets. Of course, her mortar and pestle were of a significant scale larger than mine, but well, she was a much better chef. If I start to whip up quenelles de brochet, then perhaps I will consider an upgrade. The chinois (strainer) is already on my list of things to come for the kitchen; I have been using one during volunteer activities in a professional kitchen, and it is extremely handy.

Another observation thus far is that some of the photos do not have captions identifying either place or persons. I wonder if this is due to an understandable lapse in memory on the details of a photo taken 50 years earlier, Ms. Child's death before the final version was completed, or whether the material was so obvious that the subject should be inferred, like the photo of Minette (p.38). I could not recall this item discussed in the Foreward or Introduction, but I do like closure to these types of details.

Regardless of any lack of captions, the book continues most pleasantly and even gave me a sense of foreboding when a certain meal was being prepared. It was as if I were cheering for her every success. Regardless if one has seen Julie & Julia or read Ms. Powell's blog, I think we owe her a bit of thanks for bringing a forgotten gem back to the limelight again.

Just One More...

It is the last day of the year and I have managed to squeeze in one more book and plan to get at least one more mile tallied before the day has ended. My kitchen is a disaster area, and I have stepped away for the moment to sit, type, enjoy the super-red Christmas tree and have a few long breaths to savor the moment. Most of us have looked back or are looking forward; maybe you have found yourself making resolutions for the upcoming year. It is that type of day.

I have spent the last two days reading Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. This is another book soon to be turned into film in the next year. Despite an interest in the book, I found this material difficult to read. The opening paragraph reveals the narrator's murder and there is no mystery to discover who might have committed the crime, just as to whether or not s/he will be caught. There was a moment where I did not feel as though I could read further, but I pushed past the window and spent the morning finishing the last few chapters. The ending felt a bit rushed or drawn out, depending on perspective, but I won't give anything away here. Keep your eye out for one chapter which has a different title than the rest.

Thanks for spending part of your year reading my musings. Happy New Year and I hope to see you next year.

Traveler for Travel

My airport selection left me with The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. Highlights for me thus far (about 1/4 read) include the setting in Chicago and the fact that the author teaches letterpress printing, which I adore. A visit to her website gave me links to libraries and a cemetery; I regard both of these as a plus.

This is also another example of book to film this summer. I am certain this is yet another reason that the book caught my eye: effective airport marketing combined with small selection. I typically like to have a gap between reading and viewing so that I am not too critical in a film review. Timing is everything.

Striking a Balance

I have no doubts that all had a tremendous time at Book Club last night. I am sorry to have missed the event. I am certain that you enjoyed some delightful vegan creations by GBC Kate as well as had lively conversation paired with our familiar reading beverage. I do look forward to hearing the summary of the book discussion, after of course, I finish the book (film).

Last week I learned that a friend had recently acquired a NY Knights jacket. This week, while perusing another friend's library for that next paperback to be devoured these last two days, I discovered The Natural by Bernard Malamud. I believe in signs. For a few hours I lost myself to the joys of baseball and one man's quest "to be the best there ever was in the game." I have long been a fan of the Robert Redford film of the same name and was happy to discover the subtle differences between print and the screen.

So this morning I am left with a couple of thoughts: are we each a "natural" at something and do career/life/non-sport coaches use signs?