Have My Cake and Eat it Two

The day seems to whiz by in three hour blocks.  Awake and at the gym, mid-morning call, late lunch, the afternoon hurdle when the office is so warm you want to nap, post-exercise laundry, and then the time when I should be sleeping but I'm warming up dessert instead.  (Let's be clear:  the only reason to exercise twice in one day is cake. Some might argue that it's triathlons, but it's really cake.)

Books are creeping by in 10-20 page segments.

Knitting is stalled.

Reading water glass two.

Though only Wednesday, it has been a week of endings, but I've had news today of one special beginning.  The Universe always manages to find its balance.

Here's hoping you do too.

There's a Chair in My Shower and Would you Pass the Salt

Tonight's journey was the time equivalent (and in this order) of the last 17% of The Book Thief, 47% of Love Poems, and A-S on the iPod alphabet self-DJ-ed song list.

It has been a real treat the last two weeks to be able to devote a bit more time to leisure reading.  

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.  Just read it.  Then tell me you read it so I can talk with you about it.  If I've seen you lately, I've probably already told you about it.  I am in awe at Louis' journey (and at the various WWII statistics gleaned from the book that I did not recall from pre-science days).  Ms. Hillenbrand does a very nice job with the novel and serious props to her reference list.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion.  This was a fun read after the more somber novel above.  Geneticist seeks wife.  Must answer screening questionnaire in order to qualify.  If you have a series of questions you pose to potential suitors [Do you live at home?  Do you have a job?  Do you think it's appropriate to have a concealed weapon at the dinner table?* ], then I think you'd enjoy this book as a light spring/summer addition to your list.  I won't speak to the Genetics portion of the novel, because well, I tend to do that anyway.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.  I've already admitted that I had a difficult time at the beginning of this novel but I read the last half of the work in large sections, uninterrupted.  Despite the fact that I really knew better than to finish it in a public space, I did anyway.  I was desperate to know what happened, even if the price was a public tear down the cheek.  Liesel, Max, Hans, Rosa, Rudy, I loved you all.  

So, I'm not sure what's next though I am due for the We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves GBC selection for March.  Hope you are enjoying the weather and stealing away a few moments for a book.

*Author's Note:  Some questions appear after very awkward moments at the dinner table.  

Somme Like it Cold

It's a 24 foot panorama as a book!  And while it could be just the endorphins wandering their course after my longest run since June (in 42 degree weather sans gloves), I'm just amazed (and a tiny bit cold).

The Great War by Joe Sacco was published this month and tells (visually) the story of the battle of the Somme. I cannot imagine the effort that went into this piece, but through photos, it is magnificent (and it's now on my wish list).

The Local Reader

A weekend with my sister and advice from Kate have my mind on War and Peace. At this point, I'm relegating it to my reading list as I am not yet ready to delve into those hundreds of pages, even with the help of electronic gadgetry so that I don't have to tote the extra weight around. I believe we did select it for a future GBC book so I'll save Tolstoy for later this year.

I did manage to read Alcatraz on the plane which leaves me at the half-way or just over half-way points of three other books. My plan is to finish two of these this weekend and tackle about 400 years of British History next week. Yesterday, in my reflective mood, I tracked down my Macroeconomics textbook from ND. I'm tempted to thumb through again, but I cannot in good conscience begin a fourth book, can I? While the genres are different (classic, chick lit, history, business), it is probably not a good idea. I also still have The Reader pending for June and a growing list of new titles to explore.

Luckily (don't laugh), I have a spreadsheet.