A good, chilly morning to you all. So the 10 day forecast doesn't show one day of 80 degrees, and the evenings are all below 60 degrees, so I guess maybe winter has come to Florida? It's a miracle. Jeans and jackets for everyone!
In our house, we get pretty excited when the Oscar nominations are announced. The big question is always how many of the important movies have we seen, and how many do we need to cram in? This year we did a pretty good job. I doubt we will even attempt to see "The Wolf of Wall Street" (not sure I can sit through 3 hours of that), but if we hit "Nebraska" and "Dallas Buyers Club", I think we can feel good about our track record. We've got a three day weekend, so we should hit one of those today or tomorrow.
I've also strangely been on a Netflix bender during the day, while I'm eating lunch or whatever. And as a result of good recommendations, all but one have been excellent (wasn't in love with the cheap Charles Manson documentary). So you may see my Letterboxd stuff coming through Facebook. It does appear I have no discrimination, but trust me, I've had a good week.
I've been doing a lot of walking to get my Fitbit steps in. No matter what I do (there are days when I NEVER SIT DOWN), I can't get close to Kathy (Bermudaonion) and Julie (Booking Mama). I swear they must run 24/7 and not sleep. I had to get as many steps in yesterday in order to offset the live Maine lobsters that my dad bought for us to eat last night. Oh boy, were they good! I had to put down garbage bags on my kitchen table to protect it from all the butter and lobster juice flying everywhere.
On the other hand, my reading isn't all that swift. My audio time has been better than print. I finished "Songs of Willow Frost" by Jamie Ford on audio. It was OK, but nothing about it blew my mind. Sweet, predictable, but not exactly what I was hoping for. I'm now about halfway through "Nos4a2" by Joe Hill and it is creepy and a little ridiculous, in the best possible way. And the narration! It is SO GOOD. This woman, Kate Mulgrew, was made to narrate his books.
In print I finished "Palestine", which was incredible and intense. If you like historical graphic novels, and you ever wanted to get a street level view of what is really going on over there, you shouldn't miss this one. Now I have just started Mark Helprin's "Winter's Tale", because I wanted to read it before it comes out at the theater. I haven't made much progress, because I've distracted myself. Has anyone read this? It seemed worthy of reading based on the movie trailer. I need to focus a little more on sitting still.
Wishing you all a great Sunday and three day weekend, if you get Monday off from work. Does anyone have fun plans?
Good morning everyone! Hopefully you are starting to melt and dig out of your ice and drifts of snow. We had frigid temps for about...two days. Yesterday it was close to 80 with stifling humidity. Obnoxious. I've given up on wearing a jacket.
This was a crazy week, getting back to our normal schedule. I feel like I didn't sit down at all, ever. My son had mid-terms all week, plus we served the homeless at a shelter one night, I had book club, there were a couple of doctor appointments, and of course the never-ending confirmation classes. And today is my husband's birthday!! We had a particularly yummy dinner last night but we will celebrate at one of the nicer Disney restaurants in a couple of weeks (it is close to impossible to get into these places when you want).
My parents, my son and I went yesterday to see "Her" directed by Spike Jonze. I was pretty excited about this one, having loved "Being John Malkovich" and "Adaptation". It is possible this one will get some recognition at the Oscars, but it isn't for everyone (some people walked out of our theater - ha!). We enjoyed it though...it was pretty clever.
I wanted to share this picture with you because I think it is cool. (I shared it on Facebook yesterday.) My trainer Andre loved the idea of "One Little Word" that I talked about last Sunday. So he encouraged all of his ladies in his morning class to find their own word and write it on his wall in hand chalk. Here are a few:
I sort of got back in saddle this week with reading, now that the kids are back in school. On audio, I finished "Native Son" by Richard Wright. So powerful! There were some courtroom scenes that would rival anything you've ever read. I also listened to "Schroder" by Amity Gaige, an interesting and wandering adventure that was excellently narrated by Will Collyer (thanks for the recommendation Jennifer at Literate Housewife!). I'm now several discs into "Songs of Willow Frost" by Jamie Ford. I'm not blown away at this point, but he tends to be slow-building.
In print I finished "Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery" by Robert Kolker. This is exactly why I love a true crime novel. I love to be able to Google the characters, and I love the dynamics and the drama of a real case. This one was terrifying and complicated, and has yet to be solved. I'm now reading a graphic novel by Joe Sacco called "Palestine" which is fascinating. I'd seen this GN mentioned as being one of the best ones out there, and so far it is living up to that reputation.
I'm not sure what is up for today yet. I'm definitely going to hit the shower for early Mass here in a second. We will see if my daughter wants to work the shelter today. I think my husband is itching to play golf...we will see if we can squeeze it in. Or maybe another movie. So many good ones. Hope everyone has a great Sunday and great week!
Hello out there! Can anybody see me beyond their snow banks??? It seems the entire US is covered in snow and suffering frigid temps, and I know you are probably sick to death of it already. Down here, we are having weather in the near 80's, and we are a bit sick of that too. If I put on my jeans BECAUSE IT IS WINTER DAMMIT, then I pay the price by sweating. I hear we may get a little cold snap in a day or two, for a little bit anyway. I might get to wear a jacket. I know it might anger you all, but I'd pay money to be snowed in for just a day or two.
So I hope we all made it through New Year's Eve safe and sound and full of energy and hope for 2014. We spent it with friends, gorging on clam chowda and lobsters (our friends are from Boston), and wine and champagne and very interesting Puerto Rican egg nog (!). I was going for broke, because on the 1st, I snapped that Fitbit on and began tracking my calories. Again. It feels good to be back in the saddle. (Silly question...am I the only nut that runs up and down the stairs and in circles around my house at 9pm trying to hit my goals????)
Several people had mentioned this inspirational idea, born from Ali Edwards, about adopting "one little word"...a word carefully chosen by each of us to welcome into our lives for the year. A word to focus on, to meditate on, to guide us day-to-day. I think this is simple yet powerful. You can choose to join Ali's year-long workshop, or you can embrace it privately. My word this year is going to be STRENGTH. I'll be working with my trainer to up my weightlifting (I love lifting weights), but I'm also talking about strength of will (against food, sitting on my rear end, and too much wine), and strength to guide and nurture my kids without losing my mind. Check out the website. It is a very good thing.
With the new year, I also decided I wanted a way to track the movies I watch. Please know that I am SO not a movie reviewer, but we watch a lot of them, and at the end of 2014 I'd love to say that I watched this many movies and these were my favorites. So look for my Facebook posts from Letterboxd. It's free and easy to use, and if you join or are already on there, friend me (youvegottaread).
Damn I'm long-winded today.
I also wanted to promote my sister's new website she is running with two other cinephiles. It will be supporting the film scene in the Twin Cities where she lives, but has movie reviews and discussions for people who not only love the blockbusters but also indie films off the beaten path. These three know their stuff. The site is called Joyless Creatures (a term director Werner Herzog used for critics...I think this is hilarious!!!). Check it out.
Have I been reading? Well, I'm trying without huge success. I am about halfway through reading "Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery" by Robert Kolker. This was a Christmas gift from my son, and it is really good. True crime is so much my brain candy. I'm also still listening to "Native Son", with maybe 3 discs (out of 15) left. I have no earthly clue what I'm going to say about this when I'm finished. I'm sure to not do it justice. It would be an excellent book club pick. Every time I put on my headphones I think my brain is going to explode.
OK I'm going to shut up now. Wishing you all a really great Sunday, and for many of us this will be the last day of vacation. This is a sad and happy thing all rolled into one!
It's been a long time since I've missed a Sunday Salon, but I did so last week! Just too much going on, including a rather enjoyable soiree at our house last Saturday night, and preparing for Christmas.
Speaking of which, how was everyone's Christmas? Ours was good! We went to 4:00 Mass on Christmas Eve WITH both kids, which is a miracle. Then we had our traditional Polish feast and a tour of nearby light displays. We had Christmas both at my mom and dad's house next door, then at our house, with more eating. Lots and lots of eating. We ended the day at my friend's house for more eating and drinking.
With all that eating and drinking, I'm pleased to inform you that I got a Fitbit Flex and am having a good time with it. Let me know if you want to friend Sandy Slug. I also got some golf stuff, some new perfume, two books (Pioneer Woman cookbook, and Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery), an Amazon gift certificate, running socks, a new blender, and the piece de resistance...the Breaking Bad Complete Series including 55 hours of special features, a Los Pollos Hermanos apron, all packaged in a money barrel!!!! I almost cried. It is just too beautiful.
The only thing my son wanted from his grandparents this year was a Playstation4, and of course none could be found anywhere. So my mom and I set out in separate directions on December 26th at 6:00am and stood in line for the 7am opening at two different Targets to fight over whatever inventory they might have. My mom scored one of four in stock (my Target had none) so all was saved in my son's eyes.
The kids and I have been working out at Andre with some regularity. We've seen a couple movies as well...The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug (pretty good on 3D, but way to string out a story Peter Jackson) and American Hustle which we LOVED. I'm sure we'll see more before the vacation is over, but I'm not sure which one. Anchorman 2? The Wolf of Wall Street? Philomena? Nebraska?
So reading! Or the lack thereof. To cover off the last two weeks, I did finish "Death of the Black-Haired Girl" in time to get it back to the library. It was OK, I'm glad I read it but it didn't blow my mind. I also just finished "The Rosie Project" which was completely sweet and adorable, and a great easy read for the holidays.
On audio, I listened to "Police" by Jo Nesbo, the maybe final installment of the series, but who the hell knows. I don't trust the man any more. It was a solid mystery and I was highly entertained, but in my heart I've grown weary of his manipulations. He has messed with me too many times. I also listened to "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed, and despite the mixed reviews, I really enjoyed it. Actually I loved it. I guess while I have not lived the type of life that Cheryl did, I can respect someone who turns to physical exertion and nature to purge demons. I am now four discs into "Native Son" and WOW. Even though this book was written in 1940, it packs a huge punch, and even early in the book I've found my emotions in turmoil. Rage, frustration, sympathy...at the white and black characters in the book.
So with the new week, we are looking at some shopping (my daughter has some gift cards burning a hole in her pocket), maybe a day at Sea World before our passes expire, and celebrating New Year's Eve with friends. On January 1st though, it will be time to pay the piper, and pay up for all the excesses lately. And don't forget about James' Triple Dog Dare starting January 1st! Hoard your books now (haha)!
Hope you all have a great remainder of your holidays. Does anyone have big plans? New Year's resolutions? I need to come up with some of my own, since my right eyelid has been twitching for two weeks straight. Which I'm pretty sure isn't a good sign.
See you in 2014!
Today I'm on my last favorite list...Young Adult. Now this genre of book is always a little tricky with me. I'm not even close to being a young adult, but I have two living with me. And I have way enough of the typical trappings of this age to go around. I am not patient with angst, drama, fit-throwing, emotional outbursts, and anxiety in my books because I'm trying to survive this stage in my children. So you could say that I'm pretty hard to please in this category. Yet I've found five this year that blew my mind. In all five there are strong characters with mountainous obstacles, and I've been moved, sometimes to tears. Here they are in no particular order:
Eleanor and Park - Rainbow Rowell
I said it a couple of days ago, and I'll say it again. You are missing out on LIFE if you don't read this author. Although this novel is technically YA, it is good for everyone. This story about outcasts finding each other, young love, and rising above the worst home life is one you will not forget. Precious characters is what Rowell does. Just do yourself a favor and read it.
Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
This book defied all odds with me. YA is touchy, and I don't read Sci Fi AT ALL. But enough people told me it was excellent, and the movie was coming out so I caved. And I'm glad I did. A compelling, precocious protagonist, clever twists and a knock out ending did it for me.
Rose Under Fire - Elizabeth Wein
From the author that impressed us with her strong females and twisty plot in "Code Name Verity", we get more of what we loved in her new book which stands as a companion novel (a few consistent characters in the two books). The ladies in this book don't get any more kick ass than this...survivors of torture, starvation and experiments in the Ravensbruck concentration camp in WWII. At this point, I'll read anything Ms. Wein writes.
The Sea of Tranquility - Katja Millay
This gem was recommended to me by Rhapsody Jill, the expert in all things YA. Yet I hesitated and shame on me for that. This book had some similarities to Eleanor & Park (outcasts that find love), except the characters are older and more damaged. The characterization is so real and raw, the chemistry palpable. I was so completely moved, and similar to a Rainbow Rowell book, it ended too soon.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky
Yet another well-crafted book, written in the form of letters, that truly captures high school in the 80's from the perspective of a bright, shy and damaged young man. I loved all the cultural references, as well as the message that there can be joy in being yourself and finding your people.
So I'm back again today to talk about my favorite fiction reads in print for 2013. Definitely the pool to choose from was much smaller because I have not had much luck in sitting down and reading the written word this year. All of the books below were published in 2013 except for Murakami.
Calling Me Home - Julie Kibler
This was a surprise find for me, chosen as a monthly book club selection by She Reads. I am still thinking about this story about love and friendship between blacks and whites in the South. I could not put this book down. It broke my heart but in the best possible way. Definitely not one you want to miss!
Indiscretion - Charles Dubow
HIGHLY recommended at SIBA. Read in one sitting my the slowest reader on earth (me). Loved by everyone in my book club. Smutty, twisty, and impossible to resist. Not exactly high brow, but every now and again you need a book like this in your life.
Life After Life - Kate Atkinson
I suspect you will see this book on my year end lists. It was a bizarre premise but one that tickles your brain...one woman living and dying over and over again, with many different outcomes. As a ruined, battered woman. As a mistress. As a search and rescue worker in the Blitz. As an assassin of Hitler. Fascinating storytelling that forced you to think about coincidence and destiny. And while I did struggle to understand the WHY of the whole thing, it was a clever and engrossing read.
Night Film - Marisha Pessl
The world either loved or hated this book. I was in the loved category, despite the hype. It was unique, using different forms of media (newspaper clippings, police reports, web pages) to tell the story of a man driven to investigate the suicide of the daughter of a reclusive, iconic filmmaker. It gripped me from beginning to end. It was trippy and twisty and delicious. But you ain't seen trippy until you've dabbled with Murakami...
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle - Haruki Murakami
May I present the King of Trippy. I had been insanely intimidated to even try his books, with his imagery, symbolism, cats, wells, and precocious teenagers. But I finally tackled this one, and I think I loved it. I'm not altogether sure what it was about, but it was interesting and unlike anything I'd ever read before. For that, it belongs on this list.
One last list from me tomorrow, and that will be Young Adult, some of the best stuff I read this year.
Surprise, surprise! Here I am with an actual proper post! It is amazing how out of practice you get with this thing. But I couldn't let the year pass without doing a favorites list. They are so much fun...I love doing them, and I love reading everyone else's.
As usual, I'm going to break things down in groups, and start with my favorite, audios. In my audios list, there is a mixture of biographies and fiction and YA. When I break out my lists for fiction and YA, those will only be what I read in print.
It is hard sometimes to really isolate the root of the awesome in audios. Is it great writing? Is is phenomenal narration? Sometimes it is both. In the list below, rest assured that the moons have aligned and you will be treated with the best of everything.
Tell the Wolves I'm Home - Carol Rifka Brunt
There is nothing fun about teen angst, coming of age, and AIDS in the 80's, but this debut novel is worth the tears and heartbreak. It is gorgeously written, a masterpiece, and ultimately filled with hope. While the narration of Amy Rubinate was solid, the real attraction here are the words. In my review, I gave it 4.5 stars but over time, the story has stayed with me, and I feel it deserves a place on this list.
Me Before You - Jojo Moyes
Well, here we are, more crying. But I'm sure none of you are surprised to see this book on any list because it grabbed the world by the heart and squeezed. Truly one of the most precious and touching books you will read (or listen to) this year, about a young woman at odds with her life and her quadriplegic employer. The narration of Susan Lyons was excellent, but the real highlight was the message.
Rod - Rod Stewart
You don't have to be a fan of this guy or his hair to enjoy this audio. Although he was a musical presence in my youth, I always thought he was a sleazy oaf. But please believe me when I say that this is the most fun you will have listening to an audio. His antics, his self-deprecating humor, his raw honesty, brought to life by the impeccable narration of Simon Vance, was an 11 hour belly laugh.
Steve Jobs - Walter Isaacson
I'll give credit to Isaacson for doing a great job of making this biography extremely readable, but the raw data...Jobs' quirky personality, his career path, his brilliance, his vision...really made this read a winner. Whether you like the guy or not, whether you are an Apple addict (like me), the facts themselves are nothing short of mind-blowing. Dylan Baker as narrator became Jobs, throwing in all the passion and enthusiasm that you would expect in a book about this great man.
The Dinner - Herman Koch
This was another fun book to listen to for many reasons. Snarky commentary on the rich? Unreliable (and possibly sociopathic) narrator? Unexpected twists and turns, never knowing what was coming at you from around the corner? Good stuff. And I may be partial to delightful little British accents in my narration, like Clive Mantel here, but you could tell this guy (who normally narrates children's books) was having a ball. It has been optioned for a movie, to be directed by Cate Blanchett.
The Secret Keeper - Kate Morton
I have a hard time verbalizing how much I love Kate Morton and her meandering, long-winded, gothic storytelling. Her novels have at least 200 extra pages in them, but somehow I am still disappointed that it is over when I turn the last one. The extra added punch that makes these stories so magical is the narration of all of them by the amazing Caroline Lee. If you are a Morton fan, you must not miss this one.
Where'd You Go Bernadette - Maria Semple
This was definitely the "it" book to listen to this year. To start with, our protagonist, Bernadette, was larger than life. Strange, lovable, and completely full of piss and vinegar. I laughed my way through this one. But the narration by Kathleen Wilhoite? Probably some of the best narration I've ever heard EVER. They have optioned this for a movie, and I'm not surprised in the least.
Fangirl - Rainbow Rowell
This was certainly the year for Rainbow Rowell for me. I've read all three of her books, and I would now consider myself a Rowell fangirl. I implore you...just read her. Her books are perfection. They are gritty and real, but ignites a chemistry in her characters and creates a preciousness that turns people like me (cynical and snarky) into mush. Our narrator, Rebecca Lowman, did an amazing job...the perfect mixture of youth and wit. I promise you that with any of Rowell's books, you will fall in love with her characters so hard that you won't want it to end.
Tomorrow I'm going to talk about my favorite Fiction reads in print! See you then!
Posts
