on my bookshelf : : fall and winter 2013/14

It's SPRING!  Time to share some books.  I skipped my winter post so I have lots for ya! The first 2 are my very favorites...

Shantaram : : Gregory David Roberts
Ooooh wow.  Loved this book!  It is an epic 944 pages long, but I was hooked.  Warning: slightly violent and scary.  But the main character is sweet and sensitive in addition to being a tough guy living outside the law.

The Secrets of Mary Bowser : : Lois Leveen
Loved, loved, loved this book.  Probably my favorite on this list!  A freed slave works as a spy during the civil war.  Awesome main characters!
 
The Dressmaker of Khair Khana : : Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
 This book combines several things I love. Takes place in a land far, far away: check.  Strong and brave female characters: check.  Based on real people: check.  And the main characters make a living by sewing!  Read it!

Fever 1793 : : Laurie Halse Anderson
The yellow fever epidemic of 1793 in Philadelphia, as told by a teenage girl.  Actually a YA book, which made it an easy, quick read.  Loved it, and it's part of a trilogy.  Look for the next books on my next list!


Game of Thrones: A Dance with Dragons : : George R. R. Martin
I've got to be honest with you, I'm ready for this whole thing to be wrapped up. Yet nothing ever seems to get wrapped up, it just goes on...and on...and on..........

The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder : : Charles Graeber
Suuuuuch a creepy true story.  Shiver.

The Reason I Jump : : Naoki Higashida
Written by a boy with autism.  So interesting.  A really quick read. Everyone should read this!

Child of my Heart : : Alice McDermott
Another sweet main character.  Sad book though!

The Winter Sea : : Susanna Kearsley
This one has been on my amazon recommends list for.ev.er.  Not bad!  Historical fiction meets the paranormal.  But not in a super-freaky way.

The Light in the Ruins : : Chris Bohjalian
A 1955 mystery with flashbacks to WWII.  I do love a good mystery.

And my Geek-Out Nonfiction Picks of the Month...
Hands Free Mama: A Guide to Putting Down the Phone, Burning the To-Do List, and Letting Go of Perfection to Grasp What Really Matters : : Rachel Macy Stafford
At first I thought this book really could have been condensed to an article or a blog post.  But it had me tearing up so many times!  I should reread a chapter every month. 

Say Goodbye to Survival Mode : : Crystal Paine

on my bookshelf : : summer 2013

And the Mountains Echoed : : Khaled Hosseini
This is Hosseini's brand new book - author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns.  
“I suspect the truth is that we are waiting, all of us, against insurmountable odds, for something extraordinary to happen to us.” 

The Language of Flowers : : Vanessa Diffenbaugh
I don't think I loved this book as much as some of my sisters (sorry!) - the story was a little out there in terms of being realistic.  If you are a mother, read this and tell me I'm wrong.  Still a worthwhile read...a quick one!
“Perhaps the unattached, the unwanted, the unloved, could grow to give love as lushly as anyone else.” 

East of Eden : : John Steinbeck

I've read this once before, but something compelled me to read it again.  Though it's a pretty sad story, it has several of my favorite elements: lots of characters, spans a long period of time, set in the past, etc. 
“And now that you don't have to be perfect, you can be good.”

Happier at Home : : Gretchen Rubin
I loved her first book and I love this one too.  Since we were home shopping/buying/selling all summer, this seemed like the perfect book.  But I haven't finished it yet!
“As I turned the key and pushed open the front door, as I crossed the threshold, I thought how breathtaking, how fleeting, how precious was my ordinary day. Now is now. Here is my treasure.”

Silver Star  : : Jeanette Walls
Her other books are favorites of mind - this one was almost as good as The Glass Castle and Half Broke Horses.
I can't recall my favorite quote and I've already passed the book along!

A Game of Thrones : : George R. R. Martin
Yes, I have jumped on the Game of Thrones bandwagon.  Not for everyone, but I'm hooked!
“A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.” 

A Clash of Kings : : George R.R. Martin (Game of Thrones Book 2)

I blew threw the 800 pages of Book 1 when I wasn't furiously cleaning the house to get it sold during the month of August.  Book 2 has not gone as quickly, since we have been busy unpacking and painting and cleaning and organizing (which is also fun!).  200ish pages to go on this one!

“People often claim to hunger for truth, but seldom like the taste when it's served up.”

The Handbuilt Home: 34 Simple Stylish and Budget-Friendly Woodworking Projects for Every Room : : Ana White 

Jamie and I have grand visions of some DIY furniture projects for the new place--we'll see how far we get on that.  But I LOVE this book and her website, Pinterest, etc etc.  I got the book from the library but just might have to purchase my own copy!

Whew!  A summer of great reading!  Sorry, but my next post will probably be Game of Thrones 3, 4, 5.......

on my bookshelf : spring 2013

It's the last day of spring!  That means it's time to tell you about what I've been reading.

I'm so into NONfiction right now!  Maybe since I'm not going to school or teaching school, I feel like I need some sort of learning in my life.

Toddler 411: : Denise Fields and Ari Brown
If you're a new parent, I totally recommend Baby 411 and Toddler 411 as handy reference guides for all the little questions that pop up.   They frequently cite their sources, which is very important and reassuring to me.  Nothing like a good 'ol print book in this internet age.  Plus, don't you love the toddler picture on the front?  Wow, I guess all toddlers are cranksters....grreat.

How to Talk so Your Kids Will Listen...and Listen So Your Kids Will Talk : : Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
Why did I feel compelled to read this when my child is only 12 months old?  That's a great question. I always meant to read it as a teacher and BOY do I wish I had.  One of the hardest parts of teaching (and, I'm guessing parenthood, though I don't really know yet) is dealing with the emotional and social issues kids have.  This book has some great suggestions!

The Honest Life : : Jessica Alba
I bought this book because I've been thinking a lot about the millions of chemicals swimming around in everything we eat, clean with, etc. and I kept hearing about it.  I wouldn't call it THE #1 resource on clean living, but it had some interesting info and was very easy reading.  I can honestly say that the way this book is written is slightly annoying, and its kind of funny that there are chapters on fashion and home decor.  Best part about it?  The pictures of her ADORABLE kids!  And, I ordered some of the products from her website and really like some of them (shampoo, conditioner, bathroom cleaner...)

The Twelve : : Justin Cronin
Sequel to The Passage - my vampire fiction guilty pleasure.  Pretty awesome, but I like books about monsters more when the monsters are super mysterious - almost just the idea of monsters.  In this book we get up close and personal with some vampire friends.  Intense!  Haven't raced to pick up the last book...
Fav Quote: “Kittredge had obviously misjudged her, but he had learned that was the way with most people. The story was never the story, and it surprised you, how much another person could carry.”

The Round House : : Louise Erdrich
This book was TOTALLY different than most stuff I've been reading.  A mystery, really well written, with interesting characters and setting. Read it!
Fav Quote: “This so gnawed at him on some nights that he lay awake wondering just how many unknown and similarly inconsequential accidents and bits of happenstance were at this moment occurring or failing to occur in order to ensure he took his next breath, and the next.”

Winds of War : : Herman Wouk
Back to familiar territory: WWII. If you want to brush up on your WWII history, this book (and it's second part, see below) is a great choice.  I learned a lot!
Fav Quote: “Peace, if it ever exists, will not be based on the fear of war, but on the love of peace. It will not be the abstaining from an act, but the coming of a state of mind.”

War and Remembrance: : Herman Wouk
Second of the two books, as stated above.  I'm still listening to this one on Audible, so no favorite quote yet.  I still have 27ish hours (!!!) left to go and I'm only halfway through!  PS.  Henry MUCH prefers Caspar Babypants in the car, over boring audio books.  Shoot!

on my bookshelf : winter 2012/13

Hey, look at this!  My book posts might finally get in sync with the actual seasons.  With spring starting tomorrow, I figured it was a good time to let you know what I've been reading to get me through these l oooooooooong winter months.

The Tiger's Wife : : Téa Obreht
A woman sets out to find out the truth about her grandfather's death.  I liked the stories within the story going on in this one.
“My mother always says that fear and pain are immediate, and that, when they're gone we're left with the concept, but not the true memory.” 

The Girl Who Fell From the Sky : : Heidi W. Durrow
Well, this book was really interesting, and it was a quick read.  But it had some super-sad stuff going on.  Yeesh!
"It's easy to smile just to make other people feel better.  But when a person fakes happy, it has edges.  Regular people may not see, but the people who count, they can see edges and lines where your smile ends and the real you, the sadness or the anger begins."


The Passage : : Justin Cronin
Vampire Fiction? Really?  OK, I'm reading vampire fiction.  Have I ever told you about my fascination with zombies/end of the world nonsense?  Probably not, because I'm ashamed to admit that I'm drawn to it.  UUUGH, I'm totally hooked on this and now you know.  And this is the first book of a trilogy.  So you know what you'll be seeing next time.
“Sara waited a respectful time, knowing there was nothing she could do to ease the woman's pain. Grief was a place, Sara understood, where a person went alone. It was like a room without doors, and what happened in that room, all the anger and the pain you felt, was meant to stay there, nobody's business but yours.”

The Cellist of Sarajevo : : Steven Galloway
This book was so so so sad because, although the characters are fictional, it's set in war-torn Sarajevo...a scenario that was all too real.  OK, I'm about to get really deep with you here.  I have been coming across similar themes several times in the books I've been reading (specifically, The Passage, Sarah's Key, this one...) - captured with this quote:
“Because civilization isn't a thing that you build and then there it is, you have it forever. It needs to be built constantly, recreated daily. It vanishes far more quickly than he ever would have thought possible. And if he wishes to live, he must do what he can to prevent the world he wants to live in from fading away. As long as there's war, life is a preventative measure.”
...which also relates to a point in The Happiness Project (Gretchen Rubin) that I love:
"What you do every day matters more than what you do once in awhile." Don't you agree??

OK, on a lighter note...my very latest read is

Mrs. Frisby & The Rats of Nimh : : Robert C. O'Brien
I just loved this book as a child, so I thought I should reread it. And since I want to end on a light note, here's the quote I'll leave you with because it makes me laugh!
"'I picked up the string. It got tangled on my foot.  I sat on the fence to try to get it off, and it caught on the fence.'
'Why did you pick up the string?'
The crow, who was very young indeed--in fact, only a year old--said wearily, 'Because it was shiny.'"

Who could blame him?

on my bookshelf : late fall/winter

Get ready for some good ones, folks.  These first two books rank VERY high for me.

The Secret Keeper : : Kate Morton

Finally Kate Morton's new book is out!  And the awesome thing about reading on my Kindle app is that I don't have to lug around a hardback book.  Score!  So, we all know how much I love Kate Morton's books.  This one didn't disappoint.  She keeps you guessing until the very end, which I absolutely love (and, my guessing how it would end was right, for the record).  Switching back and forth from present day to 1941, this book is the story of a woman trying to unravel a mystery from her own childhood and the mysterious background of her mother.
Favorite quote:
"The landscape of one's childhood was more vibrant than any other.  It didn't matter where it as or what it looked like, the sights and sounds imprinted differently from those encountered later.  They became a part of a person, inescapable."

 Winter of the World : : Ken Follett

Gaaaaa....I wish this book had never ended.  This book is the 2nd in Follett's Century Trilogy.  (Speaking of, did I ever write about the first book, Fall of Giants? I don't think so -- read it first for SURE!)  This book picks up right were the first left off, with the same characters and their children too.  That's a lot of people to keep up with (in a very good way)!  At the same time fascinating and terrifying, the way most WWII books are, it was hard to put it down.  When I say terrifying, I mean that I really couldn't read some pages.  It's like a scary movie, where you can't watch the screen.  Ack.  But, as always, Follett's characters are way more smart, brave, and heroic than the average person.  Over the top?  Maybe.  But boring characters make boring stories...
Favorite quote:
“Why was it, Lloyd wondered, that the people who wanted to destroy everything good about their country were the quickest to wave the national flag?” 

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter : : Carson McCullers

Speaking of interesting characters, each one in this story will break your heart.  So slightly hard (depressing) to read, but still worth reading.
Favorite Quote:
"Why was it that in cases of real love the one who is left does not more often follow the beloved by suicide?...p\Perhaps, when there is love, the widowed must stay for the resurrection of the beloved--so that the one who has gone is not really dead, but grows and is created for a second time in the soul of the living?

Change of Heart : : Jodi Picoult 

 This one was recommended to me by my auntie Carrie, and it is just as interesting as she said it would be!  A death row inmate wants to donate his heart to the sister of the girl he murdered...could this plot be any more complicated?  I'm still reading this one, so don't tell me what happens. :)
Favorite Quote:
"In the space between yes and no, there's a lifetime.  It's the difference between the path you walk and one you leave behind; it's the gap between who you thought you could be and who you really are; it's the legroom for the lies you'll tell yourself in the future.

Not sure what's up next...any suggestions out there?

on my bookshelf : late summer/early fall

For this installment of "On My Bookshelf," I'm including my favorite quote from each book!  These are listed from my least favorite to my most favorite...the bottom 2 might be tied though. :)

Learning to Swim : : Sara J. Henry

Woman rescues kidnapped child, tries to find the kidnappers. This book gets a big "meh" from me.
The thought made me uneasy, which probably meant I should do it, my theory being that almost always the choice that makes you the most uncomfortable is the one you're supposed to do.

 Gone Girl : : Gillian Flynn

Woman disappears--did her husband do it? This book was crazy!  You'd have to read it to find out why.  But "crazy" in a brutal and often crass way.  Not sure I'd recommend it.  But the plot did keep me guessing!
The once plentiful herds of magazine writers would continue to be culled--by the Internet, by the recession, by the American public, who would rather watch TV or play video games or electronically inform friends that, like, rain sucks! But there's no app for a bourbon buzz on a warm day in a cool, dark bar.  The world will always want a drink.

 Started Early, Took My Dog : : Kate Atkinson

I love a book with a likeable main character (or characters, in this case).  This one was pretty good!
There was a lie at the heart of the camera, it implied the past was tangible when the very opposite was true.

Cutting for Stone : : Abraham Verghese

You know this post, from May, where I talked about maybe giving up on this book?  Well, my sissy told me not to give up, and I FINALLY finished it (4 months isn't too long to get through a book, right?)  Anyway.  You know those books where all of the sudden you want to slow down and devour every word because it's that good?   Yeah.  Read this book.
The key to your happiness is to own your slippers, own who you are, own how you look, own your family, own the talents you have, and own the ones you don't. If you keep saying your slippers aren't yours, then you'll die searching, you'll die bitter, always feeling you were promised more. Not only our actions, but also our omissions, become our destiny.

The Happiness Project : : Gretchen Rubin

So, this book is tied with "Cutting for Stone" for my favorite (curiously, also a book I started a LONG time ago and finally finished), but they are completely different.  "The Happiness Project" is all about one woman's project to make herself happier, by keeping specific resolutions each month for a year.  I'm a pretty happy person but I think this book made me happier!  Two gems were these:
One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy; one of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy yourself.
"It is easy to be heavy; hard to be light." -G.K. Chesterton

Definitely read this book, or follow Gretchen Rubin's blog here: www.happiness-project.com
As soon as I come down off my current happiness high, I'm going to get her new book: Happier at Home. 

ice cream story

Um....is it crystal clear yet just how much I love desserts?  If not, here's another post to help you understand.  So we had a date night and somehow ended up at Molly Moon's ice cream shop in Wallingford.  How on earth did that happen?  Well anyway, as we were standing in the (actually pretty short) line, I laid my eyes on this item:

 ?!?! Molly Moon has an ice cream cookbook?? How did I not know this existed?  So of course I purchased it and spent the drive home deciding which recipe to make first.  Since I had a hard time deciding between the Stumptown Coffee and Scout Mint, and since Scout Mint won, I knew I had to make the coffee ice cream first.

 So the process involved "marinating" ground espresso beans with the milk, cream, and sugar over night, then pouring the mixture through a "fine mesh sieve" which we don't have....so I tried using cheesecloth and a strainer.  I can't say that it worked that well.

  But after a couple of passes through this contraption, I thought it had reached an edible substance.

 Then you put the mixture into your ice cream maker and let it do the rest. I added chopped chocolate pieces in the final mixing minute.  Then into the freezer to set a bit.  The hardest part about making ice cream is the waiting!

Final verdict: it was yummy but WAY strong!  We were afraid to eat much before bed, thinking we'd be up all night. So, through no fault of Molly Moon, this attempt was a bit of a flop.  But, you know what it means? I'm just going to have to try again. So sad... :)

on my bookshelf : summer 2012

The Postmistress : : Sarah Blake
This was a good one...another WWII story.  Iris is my favorite character, the postmistress, who appreciates organization and upholding the flow of the sacred postal system (almost). 

Let's Take the Long Way Home : : Gail Caldwell
Well...don't read this book unless you are ready to have a good cry.  Holy moly.  It was soooo good though, I think I finished it in two days.  The story of the friendship between two women and . . . well, the first page give it away anyway, but I'll just say it was pretty touching! Tear!

Belong to Me : : Marisa de los Santos 
I like a book that has several stories going on at one time.  Belong to Me has that goin on. Spunky Cornelia, prissy Piper, and tenacious Dev occupy these pages.  Just as good as her other book, Love Walked In--now I'll have to pick up her most recent, Falling Together.   I love finding a good author...


The Weird Sisters : : Eleanor Brown
I have to admit this book wasn't my absolute favorite, but it did hold my interest (with a new baby, I'm going to have to stick to real easy reads for awhile).  I probably picked it because of the title, since I've got some weird sisters myself.  Kidding!


The Paris Wife: : Paula McClain
I'm not finished with this one yet, but it's a page-turner.  Makes me want to read more about Ernest Hemingway, since this is a story "told" from his first wife's perspective. Also makes me want to move to Paris. In the spring. But only until September. Hmmmm.....

on my bookshelf : spring 2012

here are my spring reads!

The Glass Castle : : Jeannette Walls
After reading "Half Broke Horses" I couldn't wait to read "The Glass Castle."  Whoa, this book was sort of sad!  Still a really good book, but a tad heartbreaking.  Read it!

Room : : Emma Donaoghue
My little sis promised me that I'd fly through this one...and I did!  Written from a 5-year-old's point of view, it's actually a pretty scary story but the way it's told from his perspective makes it a little more bearable.  But I still had to skim through some parts because I was too scared (do you ever do that?).

Bossypants : : Tina Fey
I've been putting off reading this book because I kept hearing how hilarious it is.  I wanted to save it for just the right time.  Well I couldn't put it off anymore, I'm reading it right now and it IS hilarious! My friend Helena said she has the audio version, and hearing the stories in Tina Fey's own voice is priceless.  I believe it!

Henry and Ribsy : : Beverly Cleary
So my students were doing book reports in April, which led me to read about 10 children's books in about 10 days (awesome!).  My favorite was "Henry and Ribsy" - mostly because of the main character's name.  I remember LOVING the Henry and Ribsy/Ramona books when I was a kid.  Made me look forward to giving my Henry a horrible home haircut, buying him a rowdy mutt, and making him take out the trash.  Someday. 

Cutting for Stone : : Abraham Verghese
This is another one of those books that KEEPS appearing on my Amazon recommends list and all the bestseller lists.  However I'm having a really hard time getting into it.  Will have to give the update next time....hopefully I won't have given up on it.  I'm not a quitter!

on my bookshelf : winter 2012

LOTS on my bookshelf these days (too many?).  I will leave out my boring grad school textbooks.  These are being read or in my queue!
* * I saved the best for last so make sure you read to the end!! * *

One Hundred Names for Love : : Diane Ackerman
Really interesting - the story of a woman whose husband had a stroke, and his road to recovery (true story).  A little hard to read - because it would be such a sad situation!

The Happiness Project : : Gretchen Rubin
As if I need help being happier! 

Brain Rules for Baby : : John Medina
A follow-up read to the original Brain Rules (remember this post?) which I loved - tons of info about how the brain works....this one has fascinating info about child development and what's good for raising geniuses.

The Book Thief : : Markus Zusak
It wouldn't do much for my credibility to let you know that I only realized this was a young adult book when I was half-way through reading it...but it's true.  It was written in a really interesting way though - the story of a German family hiding/housing two unique individuals during WWII.  Really great book.

The House at Tyneford : : Natasha Solomons
Another book about someone hiding out during WWII.  Also a love story - *swoon* !

The Kitchen House : : Kathleen Grissom
A young girl works in the kitchen house as an indentured servant...her story of trying to find where she belongs as she grows up.

Room : : Emma Donoghue
Just started it!  Don't know much about it!

The Hunger Games : : Suzanne Collins
I actually reread this before seeing the move - I read all three books in the trilogy about a year ago.  Who hasn't?

Half Broke Horses : : Jeannette Walls
Oh. my. gosh. Loved, loved, love love love love love loved this book!  I read it in about one weekend.  The author, Jeannette Walls, is telling the story of her grandmother's life--from the grandmother's perspective.  Reasons why I would put this book on my list of All-Time-Favorites:
1. True Story - huge points here
2. Hilarious Characters - wish they were my relatives
3. Hilarious Scenarios - you will not believe the craziness this woman got up to!
4. Even though it's hilarious, this woman went through some real rough times.  The awesome thing about this book is that at the same time it's not a downer.  The main character is a tough old biddy!

The Glass Castle : : Jeannette Walls
Just started it - same author as above.  This time it's story of the author's own life.  Wish I could shut myself into a room for 24 hours to read it all at once!

Any readers out there have suggestions for me?

on my bookshelf...this summer

I read a bunch of excellent books this summer!

The Sixteen Pleasures : : Robert Hellenga
I read this book to get ready for my trip to Italy.  It made me excited to go there, drink wine, see art and old churches, meet an Italian man.... oh wait, scratch that last one. :)



The House at Riverton : : Kate Morton
This is the third book by Kate Morton I've read...and sadly, she has only published three!  I loved all three (the other two are The Forgotten Garden and The Distant Hours).  They are fantastic stories that span generations and involve unraveling mysteries...loved them!
**Also contributing to my love of this book is the fact that I read most of it on the beach in Italy........ah! memories!


Faithful Place : : Tana French
Another mystery, really well written (well, to my standards: it kept my attention). 

Brain Rules: : John Medina
So, in virtually EVERY grad school class I was hearing someone recommend this book, whether it was the instructor or my fellow students. If you are a nerd like me that is fascinated by how the brain works and why, you should read this book too!  Great for everyone, but a must-read for teachers.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks : : Rebecca Skloot
If you haven't heard of this book by now, which country have you been living in??  This was another one I'd heard recommended over and over.  For good reason!  It's the story of a woman whose cancer cells were taken without her consent...and were subsequently used in thousands of medical studies.  It's not too over-your-head with medical jargon, though.  Really interesting to read about her story and how it affected her family.

Italian Shoes : : Henning Mankell
This book was pretty dry, but worth slugging through.  It's the story of an old hermit living on a secluded island in Sweden, until several people come along to shake him out of his hermitude.  This was an audiobook, which is a good thing because you learn what all those Swedish names and places
are actually supposed so sound like!



Olive Kitteridge : : Elizabeth Strout
I like books where I really care about the main character. Olive Kitteridge is not a character I grew to love dearly, (she's a cranky old hag) but I found a soft spot in my heart for her by the end.  Especially because a bit of a crankerton lives inside me.  Would you guess? :)  Looking back, I should have read it when I had a solid chunk of three days of so to really get through it.  As it was, I started it after school began, so forcing me to read it 3-4 pages at a time (which is all I can get through on a school night before nodding off).

Plentiful summer reading!  Alas, school really puts the brakes on the reading schedule.  But never fear, I'm getting my winter "on my bookshelf" post ready...there are some real gems coming up!

cupcake day

Sunday was cupcake day! I made my favorite cupcakes from this book. Warning #1: the recipes in this book are EXTREMELY involved. Warning #2: the recipes in this book are EXTREMELY delicious and you will want to eat at least 3 cupcakes in one sitting.

So my favorites from the book are the German Chocolate Cupcakes. The key to the amazingness of this recipe is putting chocolate chips on the tops when they are still warm. Then you frost over them. OMG. seriously.Two of my favorite ladies were over to help keep me from consuming the entire batch that night. Thanks gals!

on my bookshelf

What I wouldn't give to just read. all. day. long. This one:(the sweetness at the bottom of the pie : : by alan bradley)
is taking me f o r e v e r to get through...not because it isn't good...I just have no time to read. :( But I did finish this one over Christmas break:

juliet : : by anne fortier

and this one recently via audiobook:

true grit : : by charles portis

right now I'm listening to...

the forgotten garden : : by kate morton

really good so far! Audio really is the way to go for me. Listening in the car = more than an hour of "reading" every day. Sad and awesome at the same time!

on my bookshelf

What's been on my bookshelf lately? Lots! I was queen of the Summer Reading Club. Many are not pictured, like

#1. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (Stieg Larsson)
It's not often I buy a hardback book. I had to because I could not wait for the third book in this trilogy. If you have not read these books, what planet are you living on anyway?

#2. Eat, Pray, Love (Elizabeth Gilbert)
Again, if you haven't read this you might be an alien. I read it because it seems you must, but I have to say it was not my fav. There were some nuggets of wisdom inside, though.

#3. The Art of Racing in the Rain (Garth Stein)
ooooooooooomg, I loved this book. LOVED!

#4. I'd Know You Anywhere (Laura Lippman)
I listened to the audiobook (nerd alert). It was a really interesting story. Creepy. But interesting.

#5. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society (Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows)
I loved The Art of Racing in the Rain, but I am in love with GLPPS. I'm still reading it - I don't want it to end. It makes me want a penpal. anyone?

#6. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet (Jamie Ford)
Really sweet story. Why am I reading all these WWII books??

Books I've Not Yet Read:
-The Lady and the Unicorn (Tracy Chevalier) - Recommended by the lovely Suzanne
-Left for Dead: My Journey Home from Everest (Beck Weathers) - Recommended by K9
because I love a good stuckonamountainprobablygonnadie story.

Why don't you read these too?

on my bookshelf

I'd been doing tons of reading for my class; going to Hawaii gave me time for lots more (fun) reading! I made it through two books and started another. Here's what's been on my bookshelf:
Teacher Reads, Crafty Reads, Fun/Interesting Reads! By far the best of this bunch was "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. I kept hearing from all these people that it was so amazing. They were right! It was one of those books you don't want to end. Every day I would look forward to coming home and getting back to it. Love that!!

on my bookshelf

I love me a good book. Here's what's on my bookshelf presently and from the recent past: the good, the really bad, and the boring.

1. Into the Wild (John Krakauer). For some reason I'm totally drawn toward adventure stories, especially if they take place on some remote, cold mountain (see last selection). In a sick, train-wreck kind of way. I read this one in November, mostly while soaking in my hot bathtub. No freezing in the wilderness for me!

2. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay). This is one of Jamie's favorite books. I started reading it during Christmas break - it is NOT a quick read. However, he promises me that it's totally sweet, so I'm going to pick it up again during mid-winter break when I can sit and read and not fall asleep within two paragraphs. can't wait!

3. Life Cycle of the Career Teacher. For my grad class. Ri-ve-ting.

4. Remember Me? (Sophie Kinsella). I'm a little ... not I ashamed of reading this book, but this is a genre to which I thought I'd never return. Ridiculous plot line, painfully predictable, but boy is it an easy read. So when I have a maximum of 5 minutes of reading time before I fall into a dead sleep, I can still get through 10 pages. guilty pleasure!

5. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (JK Rowling). I read this a while ago to get ready for the movie to come out...for the 2nd time. Love me some HP!

6. Miracle in the Andes (Nando Parrado). Remember my sick obsession with wilderness adventures? Well, this is not a wilderness adventure, it's a wilderness nightmare...the story of the plane crash in the Andes (remember Alive?). Crazy and terrible but really makes you appreciate that safe cozy bed/bath/couch where you're reading.

7. The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo (Steig Larsson). This book isn't pictured because I'm a total nerd who listens to audio books. Don't judge me, I commute! Ok, and I listen while I sew. and maybe at the gym too. Just shows you how gripping this book was! if you love a good mystery, pick this one up.

off to download the sequel right now...

i'm obsessed

How did I go through 28 years of life without knowing how much fun crocheting is?? This epiphany sent me straight to Amazon . . . because if there's one thing I like more than crafting, it's buying books about crafting.
I stocked up on some fun crochet books. Crochet Inspiration, by Sasha Kagan, is full of great patterns - fabrics, edgings, and fun flowers like the ones on the cover. I got right to work on some of those:

More to come from this other find: 100 Flowers to Knit and Crochet, by Leslie Stanfield !

a book holder

So about what I made (see last post).

Sister wanted a book holder for young Oliver. Did I mention that my nephew is a genius? He is just over two, can say his ABCs, count to 10, and read several books. By "reading" I mean memorizing and repeating. Still! OK, so Oliver loves his books and just got a Big Boy Bed. My sister wanted a book holder to help with the book organization. Brilliant! -and- so easy. She got the idea from this super cute blog...but as I'm trying to link to the blog...I get the dreaded "Oops! This link appears to be broken." :( Sad! I hope they didn't go out of blog business. Anyway, here is the book holder, not hung yet:

ps. Stupid Blogger.com! Does it ever refuse to load the image the right way for anyone else? Grr. I am posting it anyway. Maybe it will fix itself. Just tilt your head slightly to the left and you'll get the idea. yes, like that.

What I Got For Christmas

Ta Da!

I was super excited about this book. Excited as in, I thought I would probably get it, because it was one of the few things on my wish list, but I still almost couldn't resist buying it before Christmas anyway. But my patience prevailed.

I have only recently fallen in love with Alicia Paulson, author of Posy Gets Cosy. This book has so many great ideas... love it! Naturally, I had to make the Nutcracker Doll, as seen on the cover, first.

This doll reminds me so much of my crafty grandma, who used to make doll after doll with looooooong skinny legs. Go, right now! Go see Alicia's dolls here.... they are just so stinkin' cute!

The book is full of great sewing ideas for making unique and personalized keepsakes that are great for gifts. As usual, I marked the pages of the projects I simply must make. I should be busy for a while!

Another Little Bird

Oh hi again! It's been a busy couple of weeks getting ready for school...and now the first week is down! My time has largely been spent thinking about 7-year olds, not crafting, but I did squeeze out a few of these little birdie ornaments in the meantime...
The pattern is from this great book:
I also got Amy Butler's newest book:


I'm going a little crazy because I don't have the time now to spend all day every day crafting whatever my heart desires. Waaaaa! Even though I made a point to say every "I sure am enjoying every minute of this summer!" I still feel like I let it slip by too fast!!