June 22nd, 2010
Book Break
I am taking a break from all the Costa Rica boring talk to talk about books! I am trying to have a better attitude in the morning by being grateful about things in my life. My walk to work yesterday went like this:
“I really do not want to go to work. I have too many problems that I do not know how to solve and I just want to go home and make coffeecake”
“Why are you complaining? Today is going to be a great day and here are the reasons why.”
“You got so into your book on the way to work you almost missed your stop. You like the people you work with. When work is over you get to read more of your great book on the T. After work you are going to make it to step class at the gym which will make you feel great and less guilty about all the crap you ate this weekend. After the gym you can go to the library and get more books! After dinner you can read your book.”
As you can see, most of the excitement in my day revolves around books. If I do not have a good book to read, everything is a little bit more gray.
Here are some books I’ve read recently.
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel (P.S.)
was a long and intense read. It is not only about dogs which is what I thought it was when Oprah first started talking about it. I am still not sure if I liked the book but I still think about it, so I guess that is something.
Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel
Jeannette Walls also wrote The Glass Castle which is about her life growing up as her family wanders the country. This book, Half-Broke Horses, is about her grandmother who was a tough rancher and an overall tough lady. Pretty good and inspiring book.
Her Fearful Symmetry: A Novel
Audrey Niffenegger wrote The Time Traveler’s Wife. This book is very different but still has some other-wordly parts. It was nowhere near as addicting as The Time Traveler’s Wife but still worth reading. Especially if you like ghosts…
The Imperfectionists: A Novel
I had to actually double check to make sure I read this book because I don’t remember it! This book is about a newspaper in Rome that is going downhill. Each chapter describes a different writer at the newspaper. Cool concept but sort of subdued. I did not really care about any of the people and obviously the book did not stick with me!
And the book that I could not stop reading on the T was When You Reach Me
which is technically a young adult book but it was so good! Thanks bro for the recommendation. It mixes a little science fiction with just plain cuteness. I loved it.
My pile is getting very low so if anybody has any summer suggestions please send them along! Need. More. Books!
I loved Half Broke Horses! I really didn’t like Glass Castle that much. I hated that her dad stole the money all the time.
I’m currently reading both The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barberry; and Life with my Sister Madonna, by madonna’s brother. Both are good for completely different reasons.
Haha. I did not know Madonna’s brother wrote a book. Is his name Madonna’s brother?
Haha, smartass.
No, it’s Christopher Ciccone. I just couldn’t remember how to spell Ciccone when I was writing that.
Do I get to see you when you’re in town over fourth of july?
I just read Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld and couldn’t put it down. Also just got to meet Curtis and she was awesome. About a girl going to prep school who feels like she doesn’t fit in. Am currently reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks about the woman who’s cells created the first immortal cell line (HeLas). I think you and Frenchie would both like it. It is non-fiction.