Walt Whitman

Goat husbandry

Okay, I kinda want this book because I want goats. (Or sheep?  Or both?).  But also, how about that cover?

 

A.S. Byatt

Weird vintage craft books

Book wish list

I should head to the library soon.

Currently reading

Murakami's latest.  And loving it (as per usual).

A list

Of books I've read this summer.  In part, this is a place marker for future reading endeavors.

--Iris Murdoch, Jackson's Dilemma: I really wanted to like this one, but it felt like a bit of a slog.  Too much preoccupation with trivialities.

--Aimee Bender, An Invisible Sign of My Own.  Nice, light reading for summer.  I liked the style but no ideas shook me to my core.

--Edward Abbey, Beyond the Wall. Inspiring.  Made me want to live with greater purpose and freedom.

--John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley and East of Eden. The first is a re-read; always love it and this time it was particularly impactful.  Also loved East of Eden--lengthy story that made me care about the characters, wish I could be like them, and think about new things.

--Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey.  Also a re-read--much lighter and more silly of a book this time around.

--Shelley Jackson, Half Life.  Completely enjoyable, enviable writing style.

--John Connolly, The Book of Lost Things.  Kinda boring, really fluffy, but good for laying by the pool.

--Margaret Atwood, The Blind Assassin.  Re-read (pattern here--less re-reads and more new things for future).  Always good.

From Life

I mean, seriously,

Look at the man (from Life).

Photo by Peter Stackpole//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images

Travels with Charley

Reading this one right now, and loving it.  I may go on a Steinbeck kick after this, which is a bit of a revolution for me--I hated him in high school.  I also may have a crush on him.

Required reading

Pretty obsessed with this one these days.

Back to Basics

With the help of this trusty book, here's a few things I'm planning on doing this summer:

• Cut back on unnecessary expenditures, especially clothes
• Related, pare down to an essential wardrobe that includes only things I always want to wear
• Sit in the grass
• Read lots of books, slowly
• Go swimming (a pool will do, but a lake or a river would be fun)
• Learn about goat husbandry--I want a goat!
• Eat good food that's good for me
• Get creative--I'm thinking sewing, dying clothes, making terrariums, etc.

Colette

I recently read the Claudine novels by Colette, and they left me fascinated by the french writer.  She was outspoken and scandalous for her time, questioned female roles and norms--all while leading several different lives and writing good books.  I'm planning on reading Gigi this summer.

Paris Review Interview, Summer/Fall 1967

Punch's Almanack

I struck more gold at this website, this time in the form of Punch's Almanack.  Full of witticisms and pen and ink illustrations, it's worth a couple of minutes (or hours) of your time.

The Penny Magazine

I stumbled across The Penny Magazine of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (how great is that title?) here the other day, and can't get enough of it.  It's got wonderful illustrations, plus information on just about any topic you can think of (and some you can't...elastic cement, anyone?).

Gardens

I planted some seeds this weekend, and am getting really excited about gardening in general.  I am crossing my fingers especially for the arugula; I'd love to have some homegrown for pizzas and salads.  Hopefully these resources will help out the whole project....(from Amazon).

Edith Wharton

After becoming obsessed with The Buccaneers, I'm now on an Edith Wharton kick.  Here's what I'd like to read:

Book review

This is the second book I've read by Wilkie Collins, and I've thoroughly enjoyed both.  They're not amazing literature, but they provide good Victorian chills.  The Woman in White is a mystery involving two women who look mysteriously alike--the combination of the story line and the prose make it a quick, worthwhile read.

Reading wish list

I'm always on the hunt for a good book.  Usually I have a couple going at a time, 

and I try to find a balance between subjects that make me think and light reading.  

Here's what I've been eying--I think a trip to the library is in order.

 I love Borges.  I haven't read this one but I've

been  enjoying reading authors' thoughts on the

process of writing lately.

I've been trying to improve my sewing skills, 

so hopefully this will help.

 I recently read an interview with A.S. Byatt

on the Paris Review and it made me want to 

read more of her books more thoughtfully.

I heard an interview with the author of India 

Calling on the way into work one morning, 

and it sounds like an interesting read.