On Break

So, it's my first day of Christmas vacation, and the dogs woke me up at 5:50. Which is fine, I guess. It was at least 20 minutes after I would have usually gotten up. For once, I did not go out and get obliterated on my first night off, so today I'm reasonably prepared to do the 8,000 things still on my to do list. This will be one of the least restful breaks I've ever had--there are at least 2 major things to take care of on every single day of the 12 days I have off, but I'm still happy to be in my pajamas right now.

Last night I watched the movie Once. It was as wistful and lovely as everyone said it would be. Then I read the rest of Olive Kitteridge and felt wrapped in the comforting arms of art. A good book came in the mail yesterday. And I scored another Early Reviewer book for December, so I'm feeling that at least my intake of other worlds is high right now. I'm having trouble writing, but I think that has, for once, to do with my breakneck schedule, and not my terrible procrastination. I've been dabbling in several projects, but I have one that seems to be about to supercede the rest. I'm going to try to wait until January to begin it, though. The holidays are going to be hard enough.

Today's list includes:
Shopping for Christmas dinner
Wrapping all the presents
Taking a good friend to the airport
and...hopefully? A beer or 4.

Page Turning

So, I was searching for a book meme to do, as I'm feeling kind of blah today, and I found this bit of hilariousness on a blog called Whatever.

A Book Reading Meme

In response to all the "book reading memes" with which I am continually tagged, a new book reading meme:

1. Open the book you're currently reading to page 133.

2. Read the fourth line on the page.

3. Put the book back where it had been resting.

4. Tell no one of what it was you just did.

5. Think of five friends to tag with this meme.

6. Do not actually tag them. They are busy and have lives.

7. Go about your life as if nothing has happened.

8. Carry the secret of this meme to your grave.


I don't know why that cracked me up as much as it did, but I'm still rolling.

VBG tagged me not too terribly long ago on her book blog, but I don't want to do that meme because all my "most important" books have already been covered here at some point or other.

I'm currently slogging my way through Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides, but to be honest, I'm not totally sure I'm going to finish it. Who knows. Also still traipsing through Good Omens, which I'm enjoying but am vaguely removed from. There's a humongous, and I mean really humongous, pile of books next to my bed, but the other night I stepped into Barnes and Noble (why? why did I do that?) and saw that there is a new Richard Russo, a new Ann Patchett, a new Alice Sebold, a new Ann Packer...I almost hyperventilated. If only there were more money, and more hours in the day...

Oh, hell, I guess I'll just do the previously scheduled book meme:

Total number of books owned: I have 530 on LibraryThing, but there are more than that, as some things are too boring to put onto LibraryThing. Probably around 600.

Last book bought: The Sword by Jean Johnson. This was my very first foray into reading a romance novel. I wanted to see what it was like, and I knew Jean's online persona, so I thought I'd give hers a try.

Last book read: Chatter by Perrin Ireland. This was my most recent early reviewer book from LibraryThing.

Five Books that Mean a Lot to You:

1. The Temple of Gold by William Goldman.

2. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.

3. The Secret History by Donna Tartt.

4. The entire Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.

5. The Odd Sea by Frederick Reiken.

Honorable Mentions:

The Life of Pi by Yann Martel
It by Stephen King
Empire Falls by Richard Russo
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
What's Not to Love by Jonathan Ames

It's that time again...

The time when I rave maniacally about the LIBRARY BOOK SALE!

We just got home. I loved the new Friday preview night. I now have the Harry Potter books in hardcover now...as well as 10 more books I couldn't live without...and I am only $25 poorer.

Highlight:

FINALLY found The Time Traveler's Wife, as had sadly lent out my own copy, never to be seen again...

Lowlight:

Still no Geek Love to be found...just gave in and ordered it from Amazon.

Poetry section really sucked this time, but oh well. I'm ready for wine and dramatic readings from my finds.

Oh, and it's page 234, to you.

Summer School is Over

And I couldn't be happier.

Summer got off on the wrong foot for me, and though summer school was 100% better than usual this summer, I'm still glad to see the back of it. I'm hoping to make a full recovery by the end of next week and be back to my regular happy-go-lucky blogging self.

This morning, in addition to watering the garden, I accidentally watered my left foot, causing my shoe to squish and smell for most of the day, so I'm doubly happy to be home and airing out.

Still clinging to the last vestiges of Potter mania, and now reading Stephen King's IT for perhaps the 3000th time. Good time spent with old friends. I've been hiding in books this summer, hoping to either give my brain time to recover, or give myself something to write about.

But for now, bring on the beer.

And Still More Nonsense

For some reason, I've just been exhausted this week. Second session of summer school ended today...one more session to go. I'm feeling relieved, as second session is notoriously the worst, and I survived it with no tears and no major blowouts.

I don't know if that's because I've improved the way I deal with the older kids (I teach high school during the summer) or if it's that I've simply stopped caring what they think of me. Or both. Probably both.

My library thing early reviewer books have not yet arrived, which has me feeling vaguely worried, however it's left me plenty of time to dwell continuously in Potter-land. While the fever is not yet over, it is subsiding. Though I do sort of want a Potter tattoo now, which is hilarious, as I've been against body modifications my entire life. Until now, I couldn't think of a damn thing I'd want to put on my body forever.

I've been thinking a lot about the role of books in shaping who I've become in my life. (I don't know if the constant quest for self-definition is a hang-up of mine or something that everyone thinks about). But I'm thinking of composing a post about it sometime soon when I feel more up to it. Lately, I can't think of anything except taking a nap.

For now I will leave you with some of my favorite words from the Potter canon:

Parselmouth
Legilimency
Fidelius Charm
Patronus
Wizengamot
Occlumency
Metamorphmagus

Mania Continues

Still totally unable to think/write about anything not Potter-related. Sorry.

If you're interested in my incoherent ramblings on the subject, visit Ashley's Post-Potter Blog. Which is full of SPOILERS. SPOILERS, SPOILERS. So don't go there unless you're ready.

I'm remembering that it took me about 2 weeks to recover from The Half-Blood Prince, so I'm figuring on at least that long this time.

Hopefully will be returning to the land of Muggles soon.

Finished and Hence Spoiler Safe

Finished at 1:30 pm.

Flutterhearted, reeling. Ready to dive back in. Ready to start from the beginning. Ready never, ever to leave a world I wish were real.

Ready to discuss. Ashley has checked in; she's finished. Who wants to start the blog where we can talk?

Spoiler Free

I couldn't wait for the postman. I bought a second copy this morning at 9 am.

Currently on pg. 479.

I'll check in when I'm done to let everyone know that I'm spoiler safe. Any ideas on where we can talk about it when we're through so as not to spoil for any people strange enough to wait to read it? (I accidentally spoiled the Half-Blood Prince 2 WEEKS AGO for a self proclaimed Potter fan, so I'm being a lot more careful).

My Dance Card is Full

It's a reading extravaganza!!

First off, like many others, I am absolutely beside myself about the upcoming release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Somewhat foolishly, I ordered it to be delivered on Saturday, the release date...but this means that I won't have it until Saturday afternoon...when I could be waiting at midnight tomorrow. Damn me! The other teachers at work will have already finished by Monday and I can only hope that the weekend affords me enough time to rip through it. I agreed to go to a party on Saturday night, and now I'm all, what was I thinking? How can I party when there is Harry to read? I will most assuredly be closed for business on Sunday as I ingest the book as quickly as my eyes and mind will let me.

Also, I just found out that I've scored two more books in the Library Thing Early Reviewer's program. Last time, I got Lisa See's Peony in Love, which I liked but was not having a heart attack about. This time, I'm reading Gifted by Nikita Lalwani and a sampler of (Not that You Asked) by Steven Almond. Free books rule! The other great thing about the program is that I often like to complain that "no one asked me." As in, "The ending of that movie sucked, but I guess no one asked me." Or, "That was a stupid way to begin this. Why does no one ask me?" So, now I can't complain. Somebody asked me. Not that anything can be changed based on my opinion, but I do like being asked.

And so, I have 3 books arriving by mail that I must read directly upon their arrival. Poor Wicked will be shoved aside again. I don't know if I'll ever finish that book. I like it fine, but I keep having to make way for things that I just can't wait for. Such as Another Bullshit Night in Suck City by Nick Flynn, which I bought myself for my birthday and just finished.

Currently

Life is quiet in Meg-land.

Read:
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Shopgirl by Steve Martin
Here We Are in Paradise by Tony Earley

Reading:
Blue Angel by Francine Prose

Listening:

Here Comes Your Man by the Pixies

Slept Through:
For Your Consideration

Actually Watched:
Revenge of the Nerds

Worried about:
Oscar Peterson (isn't eating properly all of a sudden)
Gonzo (screamed when I pet him yesterday)

Rejoicing:
Tax refund arrival

Planted:
Angelonia
Ageratum
Amaryllis
(didn't notice until now that it was "A" day)

Yard Sale-ing Yield:
negligable

Ate:
Chicken Tikka Masala
Tempura fried crab in lueysuan sauce
Spicy Eggplant and Tofu with Thai Basil

Interview-o-rama

Many thanks once again to Velocibadgergirl for interviewing me as part of a meme that's going around. I saw it first on Amy's blog, but I didn't feel like I knew her well enough to ask her to interview me. Here's the deal:

To participate:

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."

2. I will respond by emailing you five questions of my choice, but probably not until early next week.

3. Then, you should update your blog with the answers to the questions.

4. You have to include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you get to ask them five questions.



1. Why did you start blogging and what do you like best about it?

I started blogging after I realized that I was checking my friends' blogs on a daily basis. When people first emailed me links to their blogs, I was a sporadic reader and then slowly it became a part of my daily life. I have an MFA in fiction, but what I always wanted was a "slice of life" column...some forum in which I could write short pithy pieces about my daily existence. It became clear to me that that was what my friends had, essentially, and I wanted in.
I like that, finally, when people ask if I'm writing, I can say yes. And I love the community of blogging. I've met so many awesome people and I love reading all the different writing styles and subjects. I feel more connected to myself as an artist, even though I'm not doing anything that most people would consider particularly artistic.

2. If you could see one band or singer in concert--living, dead, broken up, or still together--who would it be?

Dude, all these music questions, after I just did a huge post on music! I don't know quite how to answer this, but I guess the obvious answer is the truest one for me: the Beatles. I've been a Beatles fan since I was practically in utero; when I first listened to A Hard Day's Night at 11, I found I already knew all the words. My love for them intensified over the years and I became a big collector. I'm not so much anymore, but there is an entire room of my house dedicated to them.
I'd want to see them between the time of Magical Mystery Tour and The White Album, when they became more of a studio band and the songwriting partnership of Lennon-McCartney was fragmenting a bit. I'd love to see how that would be recreated live.

3. Name one book you think everyone should read and explain your choice.

This is tough. Because, of course, I think it's tempting to try to name my favorite book. But I think I'm going to say....oh, crap. I'm torn. I'm giving a top three. This question be damned! The Temple of Gold by William Goldman. This is the first book I ever read that made me want to be a writer. And it cemented my ability to live vicariously through a character, to totally commit to a person who doesn't exist and just...be...in his or her life. I feel like I turned out to be a better person, more accepting somehow, because I read this book so early in life. Ok, I'll stick with that. The Temple of Gold by William Goldman. Read it.

4. If money and time off work were not a problem, what vacation would you take?

I'm not a very big vacation person. Vacations in which travel is involved always feel to me like their own kind of work, like I need a vacation from them by the time I'm done! But I very much would like to leave this country, as I never have, not even to Canada. You know what I'd like? I'd like to have a couple of months to travel the world visiting the shooting sites of movies and tv shows I've loved. I'd take me back to Washington State, which I love, where I saw the shooting site of Twin Peaks (it ruled! My best vacation ever!) but this time I'd go to Roslyn, WA as well to see the Northern Exposure sites...then off to New Zealand to visit Middle Earth...New York (I've never been)....

5. If you could only listen to five albums for the rest of your life, what would you pick?

I suck, cause I kind of did this last week.
The Beatles: The White Album
Radiohead: OK Computer
Kent: Isola
They Might be Giants: Flood
Eminem: The Marshall Mathers LP

Ok, comment away if you'd like to play. And read Pardon the Eggsalad because she was nice enough to interview me and the Billy Collin's poem after which her blog is named gives me the shivers (as all good poems should).

All the Latest

So, this weekend was the famous library booksale. I went Saturday and today, because I am just that much of a dork. And I saved 10 dollars to maybe go back on Wednesday when the dregs are just 10 cents. Book lust ran rampant this weekend...

I replaced many books that I've lent out over time and lost track of, and bought for myself many books that I've borrowed from others (Ali) and loved.

Replaced:
The Bullfighter Checks her Makeup by Susan Orlean
The Bean Trees, Animal Dreams and Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver
A Short History of a Small Place by T.R. Pearson
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

If you have my copy of any of these, just keep it.

And then I just bought books. 40 books in all. Hopefully enough to hold me to the next library booksale.

Afterward, Michelle, Kathy, Thomas and I came home and cooked a huge breakfast of fresh eggs with tomato, green pepper, onion and cheese; whole wheat belgian waffles; bacon; and toast. And also mimosas. After we were suitably buzzed (what is that morning buzz? Any alcohol before 11 and I'm a space cadet) and full, we retired to the porch and read selections from our new books to one another. It was blissful. Thomas and I think we should do it every year, complete with dramatic readings.

I was thinking today, after watering all the beautiful plants Michelle gave me (ginger lilies, irises, ribbon plant, anemones, daisies and sedum) and trading seeds (nasturtium, echinecia) with Kathy, how lucky I am to have such wonderful friends who share all my deepest loves: books, gardening, laughter, food, movies...even blogging. I have much love for all my friends today, including those in the blogosphere.

In further exciting news, I got a letter from Pat Koballah! He says he wants to buy my car. I think it's love.

Meme me baby, One more time

This here is a meme I stole from Velocibadgergirl over at Pardon the Egg Salad. I'm feeling brain dead due to this being my first day of Spring Break (12 Days OFF!!!!! BLALALREAJAHRFA BRAIN TURNING TO MUSH AT THE THOUGHT) so I thought I'd steal this book-related meme, as I will probably spend most of those 12 days reading.

Hardback or trade paperback or mass market paperback? I like trade paperbacks best (probably some snotty holdover from grad school)

Amazon or brick and mortar? Brick and mortar, naturally, but sometimes our B&N is just too far a drive.

Barnes & Noble or Borders? Barnes & Noble

Bookmark or dogear? Dogear, unless the book is borrowed, in which case I try to remember not to do it. I'm tough on my books. They're always dog-eared and often dog-chewed. I try to think of them like the Velveteen Rabbit: well-loved.

Alphabetise by author, or by title, or random? Ha. That's really funny. I do recognize my books by spine color, though, which helps with all the fruitless searching.

Keep, throw away or sell? Keep. I'm a total book hoarder. If I borrowed a book and loved it, I'll go out and buy it just to have it for myself. I reread almost everything I have though, so it's not a waste.

Keep dust jacket or toss it? Keep, if not consumed by animals.

Read with dust jacket on or remove it? I often use them for bookmarks if I'm at the beginning of a book...but then ususally I take it off near the middle of the book when it is no longer useful in that regard.

Short story or novel? Heh. I write short stories, so you'd think I would prefer them. But I don't. I love a great novel more than anything else.

Collection of short stories or anthology? Doesn't matter. I love the Best of the South and the yearly Best of anthologies, but I'm just as willing to read one author at a time.

Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket? Harry Potter! Though I'll probably get around to reading Lemony Snicket one of these days.

Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks? Usually, I just read until I pass out. But if it's an up-all-nighter kind of a book, I'll make myself stop at a chapter break.

“It was a dark and stormy night” or “Once upon a time”? Dude, my degree is in fiction. Also I hate books that start with the character's entire first name, i.e., "Darcy Ann McCraken was a strange girl."

Buy or borrow? I'm poor. But as I said, if I loved the book enough, I'll buy. Go Library Book Sale!

New or used? I don't care. Money is the only concern here. I don't mind if my books get around.

Buying choice: book reviews, recommendation or browse? At the library book sale, I'll buy anything that looks interesting, because they're a dollar or less. If I'm buying at B&N, I go with what I know: books by authors I love. Otherwise, I take lots of friend and sister recommendations.

Morning, afternoon or nighttime reading? Yes, thank you.

Favourite series? I'm not a big series reader, so I'll have to go with Harry Potter. Ooh, no wait, Lord of the Rings. Or, Harry Potter.


Favourite children’s book? Gah, how could I choose? I love the classics like Where the Red Fern Grows and Bridge to Terebithia, Tuck Everlasting, all the Madeleine L'Engles....And of course Laura Ingalls Wilder...Narnia
And then of course Ramona Quimby and the Judy Bloom ones...oh, hell, I love them all.

Favourite book of which no-one has heard? The Temple of Gold by William Goldman

Favourite books read last year? I did a post about this, but The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, The Time Traveler's Wife, Life of Pi

Least favourite book finished last year? Eh. Stephen King's Cell was not good. I'm sure there were way more. I read A LOT. I did not love Endless Love, though I still think of it often.

What are you reading now? Just finished Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld and started Empire Falls by Richard Russo

What are you reading next? my sister rented the new Amy Tan for me from the library. I'm picking it up this afternoon.

Best Reading of 2006

So, I thought that in honor of the approaching new year, I would post some kind of list. I considered trying to do one every day until Sunday, but frankly, I don't have a lot to make lists of, and I'm too lazy besides.

I try, in general, to read a book a week. Sometimes I do better than that; sometimes I read only one book in a month, but as I've mentioned before, I don't get cable so that what free time I have can be devoted to reading, blogging, gardening and making stuff. Reading will always be first on that list. I don't think there's ever been a time in my life when I didn't have at least one book going, even if I was just re-reading an old favorite.

So I read a lot of books this year. And a few really stood out. Here they are, in no particular order. (Note: these are not books that came out this year. These are just books I read this year.)

The Amazing Adventures of Cavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
How is possible I waited so long to read this book? I'm so contrary sometimes. An amazing history lesson so tied into the fiction that you forget you're learning. More important to me than most, maybe, as my husband is in the comics business so, essentially, I was learning our bread and butter. But if you know me, you know that I read for story above ALL other things. A beautiful story.

The House on Dream Street by Dana Sachs
I'm slightly acquainted with Dana Sachs, so I put off reading this book for a long time. I never wanted to read it just because I knew her. But I got it at the library booksale for 75 cents. I left it to the bottom of my pile because I'm not so into travel memoirs. But this far transcends that genre. I was impressed by Dana's willingness portray herself fully, even when she was doing something that might make you think less of her. Brave, engaging writing.

The Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Another one I kept putting off. It seemed so gimmicky and the first chapter was just. so. boring. But a bengal tiger named Richard Parker so charmed me that I was hooked. The ending of this book is masterful. If it doesn't, as it claims, make you believe in God, it at least forces you to know your own heart, which maybe is the same thing.

Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
Once again, I'm a contrary bitch. And I would have stayed one, as far as this book was concerned if it hadn't been the voice of Alex which ran a lovely counterpoint through the whole novel.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
I admit that I am an absolute sucker for a good love story. And to me, this is one of the best. It haunted me for weeks. This book asks you to give in entirely, to give up not just logic but its facsimile as well--I stopped even trying to follow the "story logic" of Henry's time travel--and it is this, I think, that leaves you so raw and open to the story, just like love does.

A Million Little Pieces by James Frey
I read this after the controversy, so I knew what I was in for. But this novel swept me away anyway. I read it like a person on fire, reached the end, turned it over and started again. As I said, I read for story above all else. It was a great story.

The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst
Something about the imperfect relationship between the two main characters really struck me about this book and lent it, for me, something beyond the standard grief/love story. Also, I am a dog fiend.

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
I just finished this recently, so I haven't had as much time to reflect on it as I did the others. But it kept me sequestered for two days, grunting non-commitally in response to Thomas's questions and behind in my work.

Two old friends I revisted this year:

The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan
I hadn't thought of this before, but my feelings for this book are very similar to those for The Time Traveler's Wife. But added to this lovely novel is the insidious way that Amy Tan's dialect makes the world seem skewed and new, like seeing with different eyes.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Just finished this for the 4th time this morning. It was the perfect choice through my illness--familiar enough not to keep me awake with suspense when I needed to sleep, but elusive enough never to seem too familiar. There is something about this book that can never be owned no matter how many times you read it. I hate to make grand pronouncements, but this may be favorite book of all time. There's something so delicate about it, and yet it's as powerful as a sledgehammer.


Thank God for the library book sale and for the library of Ali, my sister, who keeps me in reading material all year long. I've probably read 120 books this year, altogether. For 8 of them to have been exceptional enough to mention seems like a great gift. 8 times this year, I sat up in bed, holding a finished book and crying, either for the characters, or because the book was over, or because someone in the world made something so true and beautiful that it made me afraid I could never do the same.

2006 was a good year.