I found this to be an intriguing, suspenseful, easy-to-read true* story of King Edward II of England and Queen Isabella. SPOILER ALERT: Skip the section in brackets! As we watch Isabella evolve from a naïve child bride from France [to a young mother who realizes she is married to a gay man to a woman who has been exiled back to her home country and into another man's arms] the book likewise covers a range of human traits from noble to diabolical. Love in its many forms, greed, jealousy, hubris, hunger for power, treachery, hypocrisy and more are all experienced at one point or another by all the main characters, for whom the institutions of religion, politics and marriage are mere inconveniences.
*Except, perhaps, the Epilogue.
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
A Whiskey Sea, by Ann Howard Creel
I just finished A Whiskey Sea by
Ann Howard Creel and I really enjoyed it. She is
the author of ten published novels -- four middle grade, three young adult and
three adult novels -- although this is the first book of hers I've read.
I was 10 pages into the book & I already really liked it.
The book is set on the Jersey Shore during Prohibition.
Frieda is a young woman whose mother, the 'town whore,' died when Frieda was 5.
Raised along with her younger half-sister by a loving single man, she nevertheless grew up very independent and
guarded (one might even say bitter). She learns to become an expert at repairing boat motors but soon falls
into the dangerous business of bootlegging. Amidst all this, and despite
herself, she falls hopelessly in love with a man who can't love her back, while
a (male) friend loves her in a way she can never reciprocate. The suspense of
the bootlegging runs (the author teases us with a flash-forward at the
beginning of the book, so we know something bad is going to happen at some
point), the love triangle, her intense relationship with her sister and her loyalty and love for the man who raised her, result in a well-written, engrossing and
fast-paced novel.
Monday, November 21, 2016
Dietland
Dietland made me think about so many issues: my own attitudes toward weight, my issues with my own weight, society’s very narrow definition of what is beautiful, how these attitudes and ideas seem to be disproportionately aimed at women, and the billion-dollar weight loss industry.
In roaming around the Internet reading on these topics, I found a few worth sharing:
The Plus Side: Full-figured Fashion Gets a New Look. This article from the New Yorker magazine takes an in-depth look at a full-figured fashion show and visits the history (and future) of Lane Bryant.
On the Runway at Full Figured Fashion Week. This video (2:24) accompanies the New Yorker article mentioned above. It contains abbreviated commentary from the article, but more importantly shows the models and fashions the article describes.
Understanding Obesity Stigma: This brochure (PDF) from The Obesity Action Coalition lists the biases people face as a result of their weight in the areas of employment, education, and healthcare as well as the consequences of those biases.
Obviously, the book covered a number of other issues. I’m looking forward to our discussion tonight!
In roaming around the Internet reading on these topics, I found a few worth sharing:
The Plus Side: Full-figured Fashion Gets a New Look. This article from the New Yorker magazine takes an in-depth look at a full-figured fashion show and visits the history (and future) of Lane Bryant.
On the Runway at Full Figured Fashion Week. This video (2:24) accompanies the New Yorker article mentioned above. It contains abbreviated commentary from the article, but more importantly shows the models and fashions the article describes.
Understanding Obesity Stigma: This brochure (PDF) from The Obesity Action Coalition lists the biases people face as a result of their weight in the areas of employment, education, and healthcare as well as the consequences of those biases.
Obviously, the book covered a number of other issues. I’m looking forward to our discussion tonight!
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
October recap:
Jan, Debbie, Susan, Jackie, Jeanne, Kathy K and Mary T met at Infinity Beverages on Mall Drive on October 17 to discuss The Secret Wisdom of the Earth. Susan had recommended the book and started the discussion with the observation that this was a first-time author who wrote the book over a 15-year span (while maintaining his full-time career as a venture capitalist) and lived in England for much of that time.We talked about how those factors affected his world view and whether it impacted the continuity of the book. Consensus was that the book held together very well and that it was a well-researched and -written debut novel with colorful characters, some of whom were more relatable than others. We identified with the relationship between Kevin and Pops and the friendship between Kevin and Buzzy. It was harder to identify with the 'hillbilly' characters and discussed whether their depiction, as well as that of Paul, the gay hairdresser, was overly stereotyped. After hearing several group members' experiences with people in that part of the country, we decided that oftentimes stereotypes are well-grounded in reality! We pondered the meaning of the title of the book and the chapter headings, and agreed that the "Tramp" (the mountain trek, ambush and rescue) dragged on too long and was literally quite unbelievable.
Commentary on Infinity Beverages: Probably not the best meeting place for our group - they offer about a half-dozen wines and distilled spirits, but not many non-alcoholic options (3 types of canned soda). Acoustics and tables also weren't terribly conducive to conversation. But their martini menu looked good!
We will meet November 21 at Deb's (formerly Camille's) to discuss Dietland by Sarai Walker.
Jan, Debbie, Susan, Jackie, Jeanne, Kathy K and Mary T met at Infinity Beverages on Mall Drive on October 17 to discuss The Secret Wisdom of the Earth. Susan had recommended the book and started the discussion with the observation that this was a first-time author who wrote the book over a 15-year span (while maintaining his full-time career as a venture capitalist) and lived in England for much of that time.We talked about how those factors affected his world view and whether it impacted the continuity of the book. Consensus was that the book held together very well and that it was a well-researched and -written debut novel with colorful characters, some of whom were more relatable than others. We identified with the relationship between Kevin and Pops and the friendship between Kevin and Buzzy. It was harder to identify with the 'hillbilly' characters and discussed whether their depiction, as well as that of Paul, the gay hairdresser, was overly stereotyped. After hearing several group members' experiences with people in that part of the country, we decided that oftentimes stereotypes are well-grounded in reality! We pondered the meaning of the title of the book and the chapter headings, and agreed that the "Tramp" (the mountain trek, ambush and rescue) dragged on too long and was literally quite unbelievable.
Commentary on Infinity Beverages: Probably not the best meeting place for our group - they offer about a half-dozen wines and distilled spirits, but not many non-alcoholic options (3 types of canned soda). Acoustics and tables also weren't terribly conducive to conversation. But their martini menu looked good!
We will meet November 21 at Deb's (formerly Camille's) to discuss Dietland by Sarai Walker.
Friday, August 5, 2016
Summer Reading - beyond Middlemarch
The Trouble with Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon
Is the story of a neighborhood, one in which a woman goes missing. Grace (10 years old) and her friend Tilly decide to interview the people who live on their cul-de-sac and perhaps solve the mystery. What I liked about the book: the girls’ friendship, the out-of-the-mouths-of-babes wisdom, the descriptions and reasoning of adult situations from a child’s point of view. The book is about the everyday tragedies in everyone’s lives that we most often never hear about or take the time to understand. There’s nothing I really disliked, but the book moved a little slow and at one point I felt like “just tell us what the big secret is already!” All-in-all, a quick, enjoyable read.
What She Left Behind by Ellen Marie Wiseman
This book presents two parallel stories: Izzy, a foster child almost 18 whose mother is in prison for killing Izzy’s father (1995) helps her foster mother with a project at a closed, abandoned state hospital. Clara was committed to an insane asylum by her parents for dating the wrong man (1929). Izzy becomes captivated by Clara’s story. The asylum folks are over the top evil. And, the two stories eventually come together in an impossibly happy ending.
BUT, in the Afterword I learned that Wiseman wrote this story based on an actual project to piece together life stories of asylum inmates from their suitcases: The Lives They Left Behind: Suitcases from a State Hospital Attic (by Darby Penny and Peter Stastny, photos by Lisa Rinzler). Oliver Sacks said this “Darby Penney and Peter Stastny’s careful historical (almost archaeological) and biographical reconstructions give us unique insight into these lives which would otherwise be lost and, indeed, unimaginable to the rest of us.”
And there's a fascinating website devoted to the Willard Suitcase exhibit.
So, I have another book on my list to read.
Is the story of a neighborhood, one in which a woman goes missing. Grace (10 years old) and her friend Tilly decide to interview the people who live on their cul-de-sac and perhaps solve the mystery. What I liked about the book: the girls’ friendship, the out-of-the-mouths-of-babes wisdom, the descriptions and reasoning of adult situations from a child’s point of view. The book is about the everyday tragedies in everyone’s lives that we most often never hear about or take the time to understand. There’s nothing I really disliked, but the book moved a little slow and at one point I felt like “just tell us what the big secret is already!” All-in-all, a quick, enjoyable read.
What She Left Behind by Ellen Marie Wiseman
This book presents two parallel stories: Izzy, a foster child almost 18 whose mother is in prison for killing Izzy’s father (1995) helps her foster mother with a project at a closed, abandoned state hospital. Clara was committed to an insane asylum by her parents for dating the wrong man (1929). Izzy becomes captivated by Clara’s story. The asylum folks are over the top evil. And, the two stories eventually come together in an impossibly happy ending.
BUT, in the Afterword I learned that Wiseman wrote this story based on an actual project to piece together life stories of asylum inmates from their suitcases: The Lives They Left Behind: Suitcases from a State Hospital Attic (by Darby Penny and Peter Stastny, photos by Lisa Rinzler). Oliver Sacks said this “Darby Penney and Peter Stastny’s careful historical (almost archaeological) and biographical reconstructions give us unique insight into these lives which would otherwise be lost and, indeed, unimaginable to the rest of us.”
And there's a fascinating website devoted to the Willard Suitcase exhibit.
So, I have another book on my list to read.
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Fantasy and Reality
I read two very different books recently. The first was The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro. In reading a book review of it on NPR, I was reminded that he is the author of Remains of the Day, which I really liked. The story is set in medieval England sometime after the death of King Arthur. A couple of the characters from that tale figure into this story. There are ogres and a dragon and sprites, which make it a fantasy. There is fog which causes memory loss, which makes it something of an allegory.
You’re thinking, “SHE read this book??” Yes. And, I don’t know what to tell you except that I liked it a lot. I liked what it had to say about memory, forgetting and its impact on forgiving. The NPR reviewer says “there might be a powerful novel in all this mythic material, but I couldn't quite find it.” On the contrary, I think Ishiguro’s quiet style IS powerful and beautiful.
The other book was Best Boy by Eli Gottlieb, a story narrated by a 50-something autistic man, who has spent much of his life institutionalized. His circumstances are sad, but he is resilient. There were multiple characters in this book that were drawn very clearly. The book offers a double vision of them – through the eyes of Todd who takes them, for the most part, at face value and then through our own understanding of murky, self-interested motives.
You’re thinking, “SHE read this book??” Yes. And, I don’t know what to tell you except that I liked it a lot. I liked what it had to say about memory, forgetting and its impact on forgiving. The NPR reviewer says “there might be a powerful novel in all this mythic material, but I couldn't quite find it.” On the contrary, I think Ishiguro’s quiet style IS powerful and beautiful.
The other book was Best Boy by Eli Gottlieb, a story narrated by a 50-something autistic man, who has spent much of his life institutionalized. His circumstances are sad, but he is resilient. There were multiple characters in this book that were drawn very clearly. The book offers a double vision of them – through the eyes of Todd who takes them, for the most part, at face value and then through our own understanding of murky, self-interested motives.
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
#4 Reading books you wouldn’t normally read
It stuck me how many of us didn’t want to read The Boys in the Boat. But, we read it anyway because we’ve joined this group and made a commitment to read. And, in this case, it turned out that we all liked the book. For many reasons. For different reasons.
The #4 above refers to this article: The 16 Best Things About Being in a Book Club.
I'll add #17: Collectively we're awesome :)
What do you enjoy about being in a book club?
The #4 above refers to this article: The 16 Best Things About Being in a Book Club.
What do you enjoy about being in a book club?
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
What’s In a Name
I realize that since the first of the year, I’ve read a number of books whose titles have been the name of a character. I’ve been meaning to write about the books for some time now. I told myself initially that I didn’t really like them, so I wasn’t going to write a post about any given book. But, now, months later, I find that I still think about them. So . . .
The Book of Aron: A Novel by Jim Shepard. It is about a child, Aron, in the Warsaw ghetto of 1938 or so. More interesting to me is the character, Janusz Korczak, a real-life doctor “renowned throughout prewar Europe as an advocate of children’s rights who, once the Nazis swept in, was put in charge of the Warsaw orphanage.” The story is well-told by Aron as his world is increasingly shrunk by Nazi politics. As a child he has a knack for adaptability that is canny but also heartbreaking. At the end of the book is suggested reading for those who want to know more of Dr. Korczak.
Eileen: A Novel by Otessa Moshfegh. One review says it is “dark and funny and full of oft-queasy truths.” I would elaborate on that by saying it is light on funny and heavy on dark and queasy. Eileen grows up as the child of an alcoholic. Probably, consequently, she has her own issues with alcohol. This is a story of consequences. I found it disturbing.
My Name Is Lucy Barton: A Novel by Elizabeth Strout. One review says “It is both a book of withholdings and a book of great openness and wisdom.” For those of you who have been in the book club for some time, you may remember Strout’s Olive Kitteridge. ‘Lucy Barton’ is not a collection of short stories, unless you count the stories that Lucy’s mother tells her while Lucy recuperates in hospital. It is from Lucy’s reflections on and memories of these stories that we get another perspective. There is darkness delivered in unanticipated moments. There were times I thought, “wait, did she just say that . . .?” This book stayed with me a while and I also found (parts of) it disturbing.
A Man Called Ove: A Novel by Fredrik Backman. Backman is a Swedish author and the story takes place in Sweden. The synopsis says it is about a curmudgeon – Ove. That alone made me hesitant to read it. And, it took some getting into the story because I didn’t like the premise. But, I’m telling you, I cried at the ending. It’s a simple, predictable, well-told story.
The Book of Aron: A Novel by Jim Shepard. It is about a child, Aron, in the Warsaw ghetto of 1938 or so. More interesting to me is the character, Janusz Korczak, a real-life doctor “renowned throughout prewar Europe as an advocate of children’s rights who, once the Nazis swept in, was put in charge of the Warsaw orphanage.” The story is well-told by Aron as his world is increasingly shrunk by Nazi politics. As a child he has a knack for adaptability that is canny but also heartbreaking. At the end of the book is suggested reading for those who want to know more of Dr. Korczak.
Eileen: A Novel by Otessa Moshfegh. One review says it is “dark and funny and full of oft-queasy truths.” I would elaborate on that by saying it is light on funny and heavy on dark and queasy. Eileen grows up as the child of an alcoholic. Probably, consequently, she has her own issues with alcohol. This is a story of consequences. I found it disturbing.
My Name Is Lucy Barton: A Novel by Elizabeth Strout. One review says “It is both a book of withholdings and a book of great openness and wisdom.” For those of you who have been in the book club for some time, you may remember Strout’s Olive Kitteridge. ‘Lucy Barton’ is not a collection of short stories, unless you count the stories that Lucy’s mother tells her while Lucy recuperates in hospital. It is from Lucy’s reflections on and memories of these stories that we get another perspective. There is darkness delivered in unanticipated moments. There were times I thought, “wait, did she just say that . . .?” This book stayed with me a while and I also found (parts of) it disturbing.
A Man Called Ove: A Novel by Fredrik Backman. Backman is a Swedish author and the story takes place in Sweden. The synopsis says it is about a curmudgeon – Ove. That alone made me hesitant to read it. And, it took some getting into the story because I didn’t like the premise. But, I’m telling you, I cried at the ending. It’s a simple, predictable, well-told story.
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Cover of Snow by Jenny Milchman
I just finished reading Cover of Snow by Jenny Milchman, and I'm recommending it for anyone who likes to read suspenseful thrillers. The story is about a woman trying to discover why her husband, who was a cop, committed suicide after 8 years of marriage. The book cover describes the book as "feeling like racing across a frozen lake: heart-pounding, exhilarating, frightening." This is Milchman's first book and I am looking forward to reading more by her.
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
I haven't finished Defending Jacob yet, but it reminds me of another
book I read with a similar theme -- how far would parents go to protect their
children from the consequences of their own actions? The book is The
Dinner by Herman Koch and it's described this way: “An internationally bestselling phenomenon: the
darkly suspenseful, highly controversial tale of two families struggling to
make the hardest decision of their lives—all over the course of one meal.
… Each couple has a
fifteen-year-old son. The two boys are united by their accountability for a
single horrific act. … Skewering everything from parenting values to
pretentious menus to political convictions, this novel reveals the dark side of
genteel society and asks what each of us would do in the face of unimaginable
tragedy.” I read it shortly after it was published in 2013 and I’m
tempted to reread it.
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Review of my Last 6 Months of Reading
After our book club meeting, I got to thinking about what I've been reading since I last posted here and thought I would share some of the titles.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain. According to Cain, "at least 1/3 of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking, who innovate and create but dislike self-promotion, who favor working on their own over working in teams." I found her book fascinating since I am definitely an introvert. Her discussion of "the rise of the Extrovert Ideal throughout the twentieth century" and how strongly this idea has influenced our society to be eye-opening. I highly recommend this book for extroverts in a relationship with an introvert, extroverted parents with introverted children, and extroverts and introverts in business/other relationships for learning to understand and communicate with each other better.
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green. This book was a gift from my husband, a play on my name of course. Delightful book about a young man who has 19 relationships with girls named Katherine and always gets dumped. This "anagram-happy, washed-up child prodigy" goes on a road trip with "an overweight Judge Judy-loving best friend riding shotgun" to prove the "Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability." This book was delightful and entertaining.
Jennifer's Way by Jennifer Esposito the actress. I found this a sympathetic nonfiction story about Esposito's rough journey to get diagnosed with Celiac Disease. Since I also have CD and multiple food intolerances like she does, I could relate very strongly to her story.
Dancing the Cows Home by Sara De Luca. A memoir published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press in 1996 about a young girl's 1950s Wisconsin childhood in Polk County.
Over my Head by Claudia L. Osborn. "A Doctor's Own Story of Head Injury from the Inside Looking Out." I ordered this book after my father's head injury last year and found it helpful and scary when realizing the long lasting difficulties people can have from head injuries. Published in 1998.
Blue Highways by William Least Heat-Moon. I picked this memoir up several years ago at a garage sale and finally read it this last year. Loved it! A great travelogue about little towns along our backroads by a man traveling on little money and sleeping in the back of his truck. It was originally published in 1982 but I read the 1999 version with a new afterward included. I discovered some places I thought would be fun to visit and especially enjoyed his thoughts about the places he visited. I found myself underlining a lot in this book so thought I would share a couple of quotes: "The franchise system has almost obliterated the local cafes and grills and catfish parlors serving distinctly regional food, much of it made from truly secret recipes. In another time, to eat in Frankfort was to know you were eating in Kentucky." "Had I gone looking for some particular place rather than any place, I'd never have found this spring under the sycamores." Besides all the places William visited, the people he met on his journey were fascinating, often with succinct comments on "modern society."
I listed below several light fiction books I have picked up at library sales, garage sales, and that were passed on to me by family. All entertaining, good reading for the days I didn't want to delve into more complex books.
Season of the Dragonflies by Sarah Creech.
The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry.
Rescue by Anita Shreve.
Good Grief by Lolly Winston.
Songs for the Missing by Steward O'Nan.
The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher. If you love fantasy fiction, you will enjoy this one with the added flavor of steampunk. Butcher is also the author of the Dresdon Files series. This book was passed down from my son to my husband to me. Always love sharing books with them!
It was fun to review some of the books I've been reading in the last months. Hope there's a few here you hadn't heard of and might enjoy. Until next months book club meeting, happy reading!
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain. According to Cain, "at least 1/3 of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking, who innovate and create but dislike self-promotion, who favor working on their own over working in teams." I found her book fascinating since I am definitely an introvert. Her discussion of "the rise of the Extrovert Ideal throughout the twentieth century" and how strongly this idea has influenced our society to be eye-opening. I highly recommend this book for extroverts in a relationship with an introvert, extroverted parents with introverted children, and extroverts and introverts in business/other relationships for learning to understand and communicate with each other better.
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green. This book was a gift from my husband, a play on my name of course. Delightful book about a young man who has 19 relationships with girls named Katherine and always gets dumped. This "anagram-happy, washed-up child prodigy" goes on a road trip with "an overweight Judge Judy-loving best friend riding shotgun" to prove the "Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability." This book was delightful and entertaining.
Jennifer's Way by Jennifer Esposito the actress. I found this a sympathetic nonfiction story about Esposito's rough journey to get diagnosed with Celiac Disease. Since I also have CD and multiple food intolerances like she does, I could relate very strongly to her story.
Dancing the Cows Home by Sara De Luca. A memoir published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press in 1996 about a young girl's 1950s Wisconsin childhood in Polk County.
Over my Head by Claudia L. Osborn. "A Doctor's Own Story of Head Injury from the Inside Looking Out." I ordered this book after my father's head injury last year and found it helpful and scary when realizing the long lasting difficulties people can have from head injuries. Published in 1998.
Blue Highways by William Least Heat-Moon. I picked this memoir up several years ago at a garage sale and finally read it this last year. Loved it! A great travelogue about little towns along our backroads by a man traveling on little money and sleeping in the back of his truck. It was originally published in 1982 but I read the 1999 version with a new afterward included. I discovered some places I thought would be fun to visit and especially enjoyed his thoughts about the places he visited. I found myself underlining a lot in this book so thought I would share a couple of quotes: "The franchise system has almost obliterated the local cafes and grills and catfish parlors serving distinctly regional food, much of it made from truly secret recipes. In another time, to eat in Frankfort was to know you were eating in Kentucky." "Had I gone looking for some particular place rather than any place, I'd never have found this spring under the sycamores." Besides all the places William visited, the people he met on his journey were fascinating, often with succinct comments on "modern society."
I listed below several light fiction books I have picked up at library sales, garage sales, and that were passed on to me by family. All entertaining, good reading for the days I didn't want to delve into more complex books.
Season of the Dragonflies by Sarah Creech.
The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry.
Rescue by Anita Shreve.
Good Grief by Lolly Winston.
Songs for the Missing by Steward O'Nan.
The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher. If you love fantasy fiction, you will enjoy this one with the added flavor of steampunk. Butcher is also the author of the Dresdon Files series. This book was passed down from my son to my husband to me. Always love sharing books with them!
It was fun to review some of the books I've been reading in the last months. Hope there's a few here you hadn't heard of and might enjoy. Until next months book club meeting, happy reading!
The Next Book I'll Read
You pick up the last book in your stash and wonder, what will I read when I’m done with this one? Where do you go? What sources do you consult?
I used to browse tables in bookstores when bookstores were a thing. Hours slipped by as I read the backs, the dust covers, or three random pages from within.
I now subscribe to NPR Book Notes and listen to their regular pod casts. When I can snag a NY Times Sunday paper, I browse every page of the Book section. When various lists (e.g., Best Books of 2015) and awards (e.g., the Edgar Awards) are published, I go through those lists.
More recently I’ve been checking on a monthly Twitter conversation hosted by an author in the UK (#theyearinbooks). She usually starts by asking “What are you reading?” or “What’s next on your list to read?”
Regardless of the source, I find myself going to amazon to look up new prospects. I do that to read the description and perhaps a review or two, but I also want to see the image of the book. Because, after all, I judge books by their covers.
Where DO you find the books you read?
I used to browse tables in bookstores when bookstores were a thing. Hours slipped by as I read the backs, the dust covers, or three random pages from within.
I now subscribe to NPR Book Notes and listen to their regular pod casts. When I can snag a NY Times Sunday paper, I browse every page of the Book section. When various lists (e.g., Best Books of 2015) and awards (e.g., the Edgar Awards) are published, I go through those lists.
More recently I’ve been checking on a monthly Twitter conversation hosted by an author in the UK (#theyearinbooks). She usually starts by asking “What are you reading?” or “What’s next on your list to read?”
Regardless of the source, I find myself going to amazon to look up new prospects. I do that to read the description and perhaps a review or two, but I also want to see the image of the book. Because, after all, I judge books by their covers.
Where DO you find the books you read?
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Recipe Exchange a Success!
This year at our holiday get together, some of us participated in a recipe exchange. We weren’t sure how it would go. Would it stopper creativity? Would it be any fun? I have just a couple photos from the exchange.
This was the recipe that I sent to Jackie. I added some decorative touches. The creative part came in the return address (I used Susan’s):
This is the recipe that I received from Debbie. Beautifully illustrated (those silly pretzels preparing their own bath!). Debbie put my address in the return area:
This is the recipe that Debbie received (sorry, I don’t recall from whom). Disguised as a card, unfolded it is a recipe from a very old cookbook.
I don’t have a picture of it, but someone found a recipe related to the Los Alamos wives! Talk about resourceful and creative!
We all agreed that we had fun with this and will do it again.
This was the recipe that I sent to Jackie. I added some decorative touches. The creative part came in the return address (I used Susan’s):
This is the recipe that I received from Debbie. Beautifully illustrated (those silly pretzels preparing their own bath!). Debbie put my address in the return area:
This is the recipe that Debbie received (sorry, I don’t recall from whom). Disguised as a card, unfolded it is a recipe from a very old cookbook.
I don’t have a picture of it, but someone found a recipe related to the Los Alamos wives! Talk about resourceful and creative!
We all agreed that we had fun with this and will do it again.
Thursday, January 7, 2016
LibraryThing – How Did I Not Know About This?
OMG. From Twitter to a blog to THIS: LibraryThing. It’s an online site where you can enter what you’re reading. Keep that list available to you anywhere (unlike my Excel spreadsheet).
And, once you’ve added a book, you can see how many other people (members of the site) have also read it and what they had to say about it!
Holy Moly! I need a day off. No, two days off and a 20oz Starbucks. OK, slow down. You can enter 200 items (books, movies, music) for free. After that it’s $10/year or $25 life. Hmmmm. My personal list of books is well over 500. Even our book club list is over 200. I don’t know what to do!
A long time ago I joined Goodreads, but have never used it. Perhaps I should investigate that further, because I think that’s free and they have a larger membership. I feel the need this year to get even more organized with cataloging my reading and perhaps being a bit more social with it.
What do you think? Do you keep a searchable list of your books? How many of you are on Goodreads?
And, once you’ve added a book, you can see how many other people (members of the site) have also read it and what they had to say about it!
Holy Moly! I need a day off. No, two days off and a 20oz Starbucks. OK, slow down. You can enter 200 items (books, movies, music) for free. After that it’s $10/year or $25 life. Hmmmm. My personal list of books is well over 500. Even our book club list is over 200. I don’t know what to do!
A long time ago I joined Goodreads, but have never used it. Perhaps I should investigate that further, because I think that’s free and they have a larger membership. I feel the need this year to get even more organized with cataloging my reading and perhaps being a bit more social with it.
What do you think? Do you keep a searchable list of your books? How many of you are on Goodreads?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)