Nightstand Companions

I’m never satisfied with my book posts here at NTB. I feel I simultaneously oversell and undersell the books I really like. Plus, I tend to ramble. I’m going to try to be more concise.

Here are a few titles from my 2010 reading list that I’d like you to consider.

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson -- Set in England (I give bonus points to novels that continually mention cups of tea). Generational conflicts. Cultural differences. You can teach an old dog (or an old major) new tricks.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer – New York City, post 9/11. This novel is one of the one-city-many-stories variety that I adore. I haven’t been consciously seeking a 9/11 novel, but I’ve found one that captures the best of what we might take away from that horrible moment in history. The innocence of the book’s young protagonist will break your heart and build it back up again.

The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell – Carrie Bradshaw during high school. Hard not to inform one’s reading of this novel with visions of SJP as Carrie Bradshaw, but Bushnell’s novel rings true for me as a portrait of the Carrie we all think we know. Final page of the novel is completely awesome.

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese – I wouldn’t describe myself as someone particularly interested in surgery, complicated gynecological issues, inner-city residency programs, or the political history of Ethiopia. I am interested in nuns and twins. This novel blew me away in the best possible way. Knowing that Verghese is a novelist and a doctor likewise blows me away--amazing to ponder the capacity of the human mind.

The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls – This memoir was really popular a few years ago, and I avoided it for no good reason. Since I read Walls’ Half-Broke Horses (a novelized account of Walls’ grandmother’s life) earlier this year, I thought I’d give The Glass Castle a try. This memoir would be a fabulous book club selection--so much to discuss about the resilience of children, the role of parents, and the complicated, imperfect nature of love. READ IT.

I still have more great books to tell you about, but I've bored you enough for now. As always, I ask: what are you reading?

Nellie Oleson Fan Club

I don't know what you and your family did on cozy winter evenings back in the eighties, but we watched reruns of Little House on the Prairie. I delighted in what I perceived to be authentic details -- the whole Ingalls family in that one small house, all the grades mixed up together in school, everyone looking so fancy for church, drinks of water out of that community pail (eeks!), the way one out-of-town visitor can really shake things up, females wearing dresses and long skirts every day, the way Ma Ingalls let her hair down only at night, paying for doctor's appointments with eggs (bet Doc Baker had cholesterol problems), chores and more chores.

Sure, I loved when Half Pint learned those life lessons with the help of her wise and handsome Pa -- don't lie, be kind, you win some/you lose some, and darn that fool's gold. And, yes, I loved the later storylines when Laura and Manly fall in love.

But let's face it, what I really loved was the wicked ways of Nellie and Harriet Oleson. I delighted in being dismayed by their snotty, haughty ways. Nels was a saint, I thought.

Though I loved to hate Nellie Oleson back in the day, I never gave any thought to what it would be like to have played an iconic, ringleted villain. Never really considered that there were and are "fans" unable to distinguish between Nellie Oleson and Alison Arngrim. After reading Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated, I have a lot of admiration for Alison Arngrim and the life and career she has made for herself. Arngrim covers her difficult and often dark childhood, life on the set of Landon's Little House, and the doors "Nellie" has opened for Arngrim to do important work in the AIDS community and on behalf of victims of childhood sexual abuse. Arngrim is unflinching and also funny. Arngrim's memoir was satisfying and kind of inspiring. I'm really glad I read it.

Now I find myself a little bit obsessed with learning more behind-the-scenes scoop regarding the Little House set and think I'm going to have to read the two other prairie memoirs published this year, Melissa Anderson's The Way I See It: A Look Back on My Life on Little House and Melissa Gilbert's Prairie Tale: A Memoir.

If my Little House appetite still hasn't been sated by then, maybe I'll read the whole series by Laura Ingalls Wilder all over again, though I was planning to wait until my Sweet P's old enough to do that.

Did you watch Little House on the Prairie? Any favorite episodes? Favorite characters?

The Notebook -- No, Not That One

During the months that I feverishly cleaned and decluttered our home in the hopes of selling it, I allowed myself, in my most hopeful moments, to imagine life in a new home. How I would decorate Sweet P's room with framed color copies of illustrations of literary heroines like Ramona, Anne of Green Gables, and Elizabeth Bennett. Maybe Bub could finally have a dedicated craft center. And wouldn't it be cool if we could have a living room that was more like a library than a sitting room. On one wall somewhere in the house I could feature various prints and paintings of cardinals, my very favorite bird (a whole post on cardinals and their significance to me is overdue). On and on.

When I began steeling myself for the disappointment of not selling and moving, I told myself that all my ideas could wait and maybe even better ones would come along. I found an unused composition book and decided to start recording all my plans and hopes and ideas. It's not really a journal because I don't write long entries or anything, but the notebook is more than and more special than a list. A collection? I'll just call it The Notebook for now. I started out collecting ideas for a new home, but it has turned into a spot where I collect all the things I want to do, try, remember, or consider someday. "Someday" could be next year or in twenty years. Someday might be tomorrow. I've collected references to recipes (i.e. "Melissa D'Arabian Chocolate Chip Rosemary Shortbread" and "Molly Wizenberg -- try pickling"). I've collected quotations (i.e. "The Measure of Love Is To Love Without Measure" from a plaque in my parents' house). I've collected names of books and websites I want to check out, craft projects I want to complete, and even two ideas for businesses (you know, for all my spare time). The Notebook makes me feel happy and hopeful and calm. I feel like a little squirrel storing away nuts for the long winter.

I'm planning to share more about The Notebook as I find the time to realize the hopes collected inside its pages.

One simple thing I had written down in The Notebook was to sort our children's books by theme. This idea is not all that clever as I know several organized moms who rotate books in and out all year. Christmas books come out after Thanksgiving, Halloween ones in October, and etc. Bub and I made an attempt to thematically sort the books during a nesting frenzy this past spring, but the end result is a bunch of books sorted into ziploc freezer bags and looking junky in the book cabinet. Since the books are consolidated in bags, it is easier to clean up when, as happens almost daily, the shelves get cleared. However, the bags also make it difficult to find out what's what.

I've decide instead to sort books by the month/season and to do it month by month, not all at once. I spent a few minutes this evening pulling books for September -- books about school(s), books about apples, and books to help Little Bit in learning his numbers, colors, and letters.

Because the Scholastic Book Order is my special mommy porn, I had no problem finding books for September inside our house, but I think it would also be fun to visit the library to collect books with a theme.

Can I just say how fun it was to choose the books? And how excited I am for Bub to see the special September book box? I know he is going to be so pumped up, and I hope that having this box might inspire us to read more and watch less Phineas and Ferb.

I like the feeling of making the most of some items that we already have and love the feeling that the kids and I may just be forging an awesome new family tradition.

Right now, I am loving The Notebook. My Notebook.

What do you think? What would you collect in your Notebook? Do you have one? Do you rotate books at your house? Any "September" books I should seek out? What literary heroines should be on Sweet P's walls someday when she finally has a bedroom and not just a corner of ours? Please share in the comments.

Please forgive the webcam photography. Also, please know that it is killing me that I have not yet adorned the September book basket with a colorful ribbon or possibly a cut-out of an apple.

Denim Diapers & Detours -- All Thumbs Thursday

All Thumbs Thursday!

Thumbs Up:

+ wearing fancy hats -- Sweet P and I had the opportunity to don hats this past weekend at an awesome tea party bridal shower for my cousin.

+ Glee -- The sensitive side of Puck. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "To Sir with Love." The season finale had me in tears, and I cannot wait to buy the last of this season's soundtracks when I end my self-imposed spending freeze. If you have not been watching Glee, buy or rent the DVDs this summer.

+ Huggies jeans commercial -- I have not purchased the Huggies "jeans" for Sweet P or Little Bit, but that commercial cracks me up. Why shouldn't you look cool pooping your pants?

+ moderate summer temperatures -- More sunshine. Less sweat. My deodorant already has to work hard enough so I am loving the milder weather.

+ Lori Lansens -- I have recently read two of Lansens' novels and have been completely enchanted by both. Check out The Girls, about twins conjoined at the head, and The Wife's Tale, about a woman whose husband leaves her (and then she finds herself, but it's not as cliched as that sounds). The main characters in both novels come from the same small Canadian town so there is a delightful bit of overlap.

+ The Art of Eating In: How I Learned to Stop Spending and Love the Stove by Cathy Erway -- Another book that grew out of a blog! Erway spent two years not eating out (or ordering in) in New York City. I was inspired by her dedication to her project, her creative cooking, and the fact that she spent something like $20 a week on groceries during those two years. Recipes included!

Thumbs Down:

- Construction -- They are fixing the sewers around here and rebuilding my beloved "Little Jewel" grocery store. Necessary projects, but I am so sick of dust, bumpy and blocked roads, and unpredictable traffic patterns and detours.

- Bub and Little Bit fighting, pestering, and picking at each other. All. The. Livelong. Day.

- Miniature brooms that I forget to hide/trash each evening -- related to above complaint.

- The way each time I go to put Sweet P in the bouncy seat or infant seat, one of her brothers has pre-fastened the straps, forcing me to unfasten them one-handed before I can settle her in the respective seats.

- Still not being caught up with my thank you notes or birth announcements -- I'm working on them!

What's Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down for you this Thursday?

All we want is for you . . .

I feel lucky to have grown up in a family where I knew for sure that the title sentence ends "is to be happy." My parents have always wanted me to be happy. I want the same for my own children.

For the most part, I am, have been, and plan to continue to be happy. But yes, sure, I could be happier. Probably most of us could be happier. . .

And since most of us could increase our happiness, I am begging you all to read the book I just finished: The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun by Gretchen Rubin.

Rubin decides one day while riding a city bus that though she is happy, she could be happier and sets out to examine happiness from all angles--historical, philosophical, literary, spiritual, psychological--and to embark upon her own year-long happiness project. Each month she focuses on a different area of her life and establishes 3-4 resolutions that she thinks will increase her happiness.

There is so much I loved about this book and her happiness project. I fear this post could go on and on, and I really want you to enjoy this book for yourself so I'm not going to say everything I could. I will just say that I was inspired by Rubin's specific resolutions and actions, by the depth of research she did, and by her enthusiastic call for others to create their own happiness projects. I seldom take notes when reading for pleasure (can't bear to do it after so many years in graduate school) and I did not take notes as I read, but I am telling you that I am going to reread The Happiness Project soon and with my pencil. On almost every page, I found myself thinking, "Yes, I totally relate to that feeling" or "That is an insight I don't want to forget" or "Wow" or "I need to think about this some more" or "I would really love to see what others think about that." This book has left me with more thoughts to think and, gift of all gifts, titles of more books that I want to read.

Most of all, I love to be reminded that, to quote Rubin, I can "change my life without changing my life." I can create the life I want, increase my own happiness and the happiness of those around me through my choices, actions, and thoughts. I feel inspired.

There are a lot of year-in-the-life/project-type memoirs out right now. I'm a sucker for them. Helping Me, Help Myself by Beth Lisick remains a favorite read. I recently finished Living Oprah by Robyn Okrant, which I also highly recommend; it was laugh-out-loud funny at moments but also very thoughtful and thought-provoking and not at all about taking cheap shots at Oprah or her fans.

The genre is great for revealing what a difference a year can make and for showing readers that it is always possible to keep learning, growing, having fun, challenging ourselves, and reshaping our lives.

I'm not sure yet what my personal happiness project will look like, but I cannot wait to get started and will be referring back to Rubin's book and her blog as I go.

After all, all I want is to be . . .

It's never too much to ask.

The most famous exit in Indiana . . .

The Book Beat is back! I have a few titles to mention that may be of interest. As always, I offer my apologies to the authors of these books that I don't have/take the time to write the kind of really thoughtful reviews their books deserve.

The Aqua Net Diaries: Big Hair, Big Dreams, Small Town by Jennifer Niven

I loved the title of this memoir (even though I loathe Aqua-Net -- Vavoom forever!) and was intrigued once I discovered that the memoir covers Niven's high school years in Richmond, IN. I've actually never been to Richmond, IN, but growing up, I heard about it almost every time our television was on because, you see, Richmond's is "the most famous exit in Indiana, I-70 exit, 149A" and the home of Tom Raper RV and "where the roses grow." The Raper RV commercial jingle was ubiquitous in the Tri-State (IN, OH, KY) area during my childhood. Maybe it still is? Anyone? I'm digressing from Niven's memoir though. I enjoyed reading about a mid-eighties, Midwestern high school experience. My favorite aspect of Niven's story was her friendship with her best friend, a guy, and the way you could see how the high school girl she described would grow into the woman and writer she seems to have become. The high school students she depicts are familiar in that each high school has its own unique characters, most of whom are less unique than we think at the time. I think what I admire most is just that Niven had the courage and patience to reflect upon and retell her high school story. Honestly, I liked high school, maybe even loved it, but the thought of living it over (even for the purposes of writing) is totally unattractive to me. It's such an emotional time, even if your experience was not tortuous, that I would prefer not to think too long or hard about who and how I was then. Even though I don't want to relive my own high school days, I enjoyed thinking about them through Niven's memoir of her own. You might too.

Three Little Words: A Memoir by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

When I was a ninth grade teacher, I managed to avoid reading a single book by David Pelzer (of A Child Called It fame) even though many a student swore to the power and awesomeness of these books. Books about horrible things that happen to children just aren't my cup of tea. However, I bought this memoir in an audible.com sale and decided to give it a try. Three Little Words traces Ashley Rhodes-Courter's many years in the Florida foster care system and her eventual adoption as a tween. Her story is powerful and taught me a lot about the foster care system, most of which I wish were not true. To read about some of her foster placements will break your heart and leave you completely incensed as you ponder indifferent bureaucrats, money-grubbing foster parents, human cruelty, and a pervasive reluctance to really think about what is best for the children in the system. Interestingly, the people who make the most powerful, positive impact on Rhodes-Courter's life are volunteer, non-government employees -- a point that she makes quite effectively. I've never envisioned myself as a foster parent and it's certainly not a job I could take on any time in the near future, but this memoir makes you see what a positive difference that a kind, generous, compassionate person could make.

Tales of the City and More Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin

Maupin's serial tales of life in San Francisco in the 1970s are completely addictive. I'd be reading Further Tales of the City right this minute had my library had it on the shelf this morning. I love the way all the characters end up connecting and overlapping. Each edition of the serial tale is long enough to establish something interesting but short enough that you think, "I'll just read one more" until you have finished the book, practically inhaled it. Some crazy shit happens in these tales--sex, pot, drugs, death, adultery--and crazier things I would mention except that I don't want to be a spoiler. I can't believe I had never read Maupin before and am so excited to read the rest of the city series (six books in all, I think).

Half-Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Jeannette Walls

I haven't read Walls' memoir The Glass Castle, though every one I know who has highly recommends it. In Half-Broke Horses, Walls tells the story of her grandmother (mother of Walls' mother, a main character in The Glass Castle) whose life is full of trials and adventures. I listened to the audiobook of Half-Broke Horses while I was doing things like magic erasing my kitchen cabinets, decluttering my linen closet, and dusting the blades of my ceiling fans. I was thinking that my life was pretty tough, but reading about Walls' grandmother was inspiring, in a "Buck up and get it done, woman" sort of way . . . she was a memorable woman who will leave you thinking that if she can handle everything she handled, you could probably rise to most challenges as well and can, at the very least, get your house cleaned without feeling sorry for yourself. It was the perfect book for the moment in my life when I read it.

So, tell me please: What are you reading these days?

Hookers, Mormons, Orphans, and Foodies . . . Oh My!

Back in November, I posted my top reads of 2009. Even though readers of this blog may get the impression that all I do is eat and watch television, I actually read quite a bit and wanted to update you with a few titles (not necessarily yearly top reads) that might be of interest.

In no particular order, I offer the following for your consideration . . .

Let The Great World Spin by Colum McCann

McCann's novel offers a glimpse of New York City in the early seventies with stories told from the perspectives of various New Yorkers, whose stories often overlap. All the stories are somehow tied to that of the man (unnamed in the novel) who walked across a wire strung between the two towers of the World Trade Center. Readers of this blog know how much I love narratives in which unexpected or seemingly unlikely connections and friendships are forged. I love all the layers of this novel and was especially drawn in by the portraits of a mother-daughter pair of hookers, two mothers who lost sons in Vietnam, and a Irish monk living in the Bronx projects. I have no real sense of the seventies as a decade except for some vague images of bad clothing and brown carpet and the mushroom-detailed cannisters my parents received as wedding presents, and I felt like this novel gave me insight into a moment of history I tend to ignore.

Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl

I fear I won't do justice to Reichl's first memoir so I won't say much except that I loved this book and love Reichl's writing and the way she is able to write about so much more than food in everything of hers I have read. Her description of her mother's cooking and planning for her older brother's engagement party will remain with me for a long time for being simultaneously funny and tragic . . . unbelievable. Reichl's memoirs are so satisfying. Please read my friend E's review of Reichl's Garlic and Sapphires for a far more thoughtful account of Reichl as a writer. I ordered Reichl's second memoir, Comfort Me With Apples, and cannot wait until it arrives on Wednesday.

The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance by Elna Baker

I'm sorry, but how can you not want to open a book with such a title? Love it. I'm more than a little bit fascinated with Mormonism, not fascinated like maybe I want to convert, but definitely interested in one of the world's fastest-growing religions. Baker's memoir is about her negotiating her faith with her single gal life in New York City and a significant weight loss. I loved Baker's account of working the doll nursery at FAO Schwarz and was really intrigued by her account of being Mormon and thus abstinent and non-drinking in NYC. Check it out.

Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby

I always enjoy the writing of Nick Hornby. He is a master of characterization and of writing with humor and warmth. I like to imagine that Hornby had a lot of fun writing this novel because the narrative draws in his love for music and his familiarity with a certain type of obsessive, dedicated, passionate, earnest, message-board visiting music fan. If I were in a book club, I would look forward to discussing the ending of this novel with others.

The Kids Are All Right: A Memoir by Liz, Diana, Amanda, and Dan Welch

Can you imagine losing your father and then your mother over the course of just a few years? Can you imagine being the daughter of a famous soap opera star? Can you imagine your entire way of life changing almost overnight? Can you imagine dealing with all of this upheaval during your teenage years? This memoir, told by four siblings, tells the story of the Welch siblings as they deal with the deaths of their parents and strive to take care of one another. Understandably, these siblings remember some moments and events differently, but the end result is a powerful memoir. Plus, when you are finished, you can go to the book's website, and see responses/accounts from other friends and family members mentioned in the memoir.

As ever, I am embarrassed by these mini-reviews that I post here on NTB. I never have/take the time to write about these books and authors with as much thoughtfulness and care as I would like. Ah well, at least I'm reading and trying to encourage others to do the same.

As ever, I'm curious to know . . . what are you reading right now?

Welcome to Booksburgh!*

I love it when bloggers share their reading lists somewhere on their sites. As an avid reader, I get a little thrill whenever I come across the title of a book that sounds like something I might enjoy. I am posting my list in case it might help other readers get that "Oh, that sounds worth looking into" thrill. Also, I'm posting it because I tend to draw a blank whenever someone asks for a book recommendation, which is ridiculous because I read enough to be able to make decent recommendations.

Now just because a book is listed doesn't necessarily mean it is recommended. If you want to know more about any of the books I've read this year, just get in touch with me in the comments or by email (mep at nottobrag dot net). If I've already written about a particular book, you can click on the title to link to the post where I discussed it.

I would post about books more often, but my sisters have given me frighteningly honest feedback about how boring my book posts are!

I've read a lot this year in part because I've been doing a lot of cleaning and for me cleaning time is reading time, thanks to downloadable audiobooks and my ipod. If you haven't checked out audiobooks, you should! And yes, I do read "regular books" too.

MEP's 2010 Reading List

Up in the Air by Walter Kirn

At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream by Wade Rouse

Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann

Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby

The Lost Diaries of Adrian Mole, 1999-2001 by Sue Townsend

Love and Other Secrets by Sarah Challis

Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin

Comfort Me with Apples by Ruth Reichl

Half-Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls

Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie

Sense and Sensibility* by Jane Austen

Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

The Aqua Net Diaries: Big Hair, Big Dreams, Small Town by Jennifer Niven

The Accidental Wife by Rowan Coleman

Lily White by Susan Isaacs

More Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin

What Now* by Ann Patchett

Carpool Diem by Nancy Star

Lift by Kelly Corrigan

Nanny Returns: A Novel by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Ham Biscuits, Hostess Gowns, and Other Southern Specialties: An Entertaining Life (with Recipes) by Julia Reed

Further Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin

Living Oprah: My One-Year Experiment to Walk the Walk of the Queen of Talk by Robyn Okrant

The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun by Gretchen Rubin

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand: A Novel by Helen Simonson

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

The Handmaid's Tale: A Novel by Margaret Atwood

Whatever Makes You Happy by Lisa Grunwald

Elizabeth and Her German Garden by Elizabeth von Arnim

Going Gray: What I Learned About Beauty, Sex, Work, Motherhood, Authenticity, and Everything Else That Really Matters by Anne Kreamer

New Grub Street by George Gissing

The Twelve Sacred Traditions of Magnificent Mothers-in-Law by Haywood Smith

The Heights by Peter Hedges

The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman

A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table by Molly Wizenberg

The Girls by Lori Lansens

A Company of Swans by Eva Ibbotson

The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett

Past Imperfect by Julian Fellowes

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson

Herb n' Lorna by Eric Kraft

The Art of Eating In: How I Learned to Stop Spending and Love the Stove by Cathy Erway

The Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens

The Irresistible Henry House by Lisa Grunwald

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

Life Would Be Perfect If I Lived In That House by Meghan Daum

That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell

Confections of a Closet Baker by Gesine Bullock-Prado

Thank You for All Things by Sandra Kring

Strings Attached by Nick Nolan

The Case of Jennie Brice by Mary Roberts Rinehart

One Day by David Nicholls

The Lonely Polygamist: A Novel by Brady Udall

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

No Angel by Penny Vincenzi

Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner

Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

The Thieves of Manhattan by Adam Langer

Dear Money by Martha McPhee

Death by Pad Thai: And Other Unforgettable Meals Ed. by Douglas Bauer

Something Blue by Emily Giffin

Miss Mapp by E.F. Benson

Baby Proof by Emily Giffin

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

I'm With Fatty by Edward Ugel

Queen Lucia by E.F. Benson

Spoon Fed: How Eight Cooks Saved My Life by Kim Severson

Home Cooking: A Writer in the Kitchen by Laurie Colwin

Confessions of a Prairie Bitch by Alison Arngrim

Traveler by Ron McLarty

The Widower's Tale by Julia Glass

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Room by Emma Donoghue

At Home with the Templetons by Monica McInerney

Mommy Tracked by Whitney Gaskell

Lucia in London by E.F. Benson

Mapp and Lucia by E.F. Benson

The Extra Man by Jonathan Ames

Scarlet Feather* by Maeve Binchy

Anne of Green Gables* by L.M. Montgomery

Anne of Avonlea* by L.M. Montgomery

Anne of the Island* by L.M. Montgomery

Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain

The Financial Lives of Poets by Jess Walter

Light a Penny Candle by Maeve Binchy

*indicates a book I reread in 2010!

Little Critter Fan Club . . . You In?

Several months ago, I posted about Mem Fox's Reading Magic, a book about the importance of reading to your children. In the post, I listed some of the most-loved children's books at our house and received a lot of great comments with the beloved titles in other families. You can check out that post right here.

Our list of favorites is always changing, but a new primetime player in the reading rotation around here is Mercer Mayer. Mayer writes and illustrates the Little Critter books. After a trip to my parents' house where Bub wanted to read Mayer's Just Shopping with Mom over and over, I decided we should check out some more Little Critter books from the library. We brought two home and read and reread those suckers until both of us had them almost memorized. I was so charmed by the stories and wrapped up in Bub's enthusiasm that I purchased two Little Critter collections at Amazon.

Just a Little Critter Collection was published to celebrate thirty years of Little Critter. I had to smile because the first Little Critter book was published in 1975, the year I was born. I actually don't remember reading them when I was little, but I am so thrilled to be sharing them with Bub and Little Bit now. Anyway, the collection includes seven different "books" in one volume for $9.99. Bub's favorites are I Was So Mad, All by Myself, and When I Get Bigger. Just a Mess and Just Go to Bed resonate with me!

I also ordered the Little Critter Storybook Collection, which includes seven "books" for $11.99. Little Critter is a little older in these stories (in school, having projects, etc.), but Bub is still into the stories. Bub's favorite in this collection is Bye-Bye, Mom and Dad where Little Critter and his sister stay with their grandparents for the weekend and do every fun thing you can imagine, including going bowling and to the movies (which seems to be a highlight for Bub). Bub also loves how Little Critter makes lunch for everybody: "When we got home, I made a special lunch for everyone--peanut butter and pickle sandwiches . . . with potato chips, marshmallows, and chocolate syrup on top. Grandma and Grandpa said it was the best lunch they ever had." As is always the case in Mayer's books, the fun and charm come in the way the text and the illustrations tell two different stories. The stories are always told from Little Critter's perspective, but you can get a sense of just how "tasty" those sandwiches are by looking at the illustrations. It's really fun when Bub picks up on some of the differences, as in: "Little Critter is not helping. He's making a mess." One more bonus is that there are really little critters--a mouse and, in later books, a spider too--hiding in each scene. If you want to stretch out the reading experience, you can pause to find them as you go.

My personal favorite Little Critter book is Just So Thankful (unfortunately, not in either collection). A new critter moves to town and has "everything"--the scooter Little Critter wants, a pool, a big house, servants, tons of sugar cereal, a cell phone, and a limo to bring him to school. When Little Critter invites the new kid over for a day of getting muddy with his dog, playing checkers with his little sister, helping set the table, and a cookout with the whole family, including Grandma and Grandpa, his friend has the best day ever and Little Critter realizes how much he has to be thankful for. I cried the first time I read it aloud. Sure, the early pregnancy hormones factored into the tears, but still, there's a great message and story there.

Check out Little Critter at the library if you get a chance and, if there are any toddlers or preschoolers on your holiday list, consider one of the collections as a gift.* Paperbacks of individual titles are usual $3.99.

One of my status updates on facebook a few months back was about Little Critter books and lots of people chimed in to name their favorites. So, do you have a favorite Little Critter title? What are some other favorite kiddie reads at your house? Please share in the comments.




*No one is paying me to write this post, just to be clear. I just really love Mercer Mayer books.

I've earned my personal pan pizza. Go forth and Book-It.

One of items lost when our hard drive bit the dust a week or so ago was the document where I had been recording the titles of the books I've read in 2009. I've been working on recreating the list this evening and decided that today's NaBloPoMo (see graphic to right) would be a list of my favorite reads so far this year. You can click on each title to link to the original NTB post written about each book.

In no particular order, here are some of my favorite reads this year:

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

Commencement by J.Courtney Sullivan

This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper

How I Became a Famous Novelist by Steve Hely

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Still Alice by Lisa Genova

Admission by Jean Hanff Korelitz

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

Plus, there's one more title that I loved but never posted about: Quartet in Autumn by Barbara Pym. This novel tells the story of four co-workers (not friends) who work in mindless office jobs as they transition into retirement. At moments, the novel is amusing as Pym so perfectly captures the eccentricities and habits of retirees. At other moments, the novel is truly heartbreaking in its portrayal of loneliness and disconnection.

You know what's coming, tell me please what you've been reading and enjoying this year . . .

Brown paper packages tied up with string . . .

. . . These are a few of my favorite things (right now):

Books
Still Alice by Lisa Genova -- this book was recommended to me by Mrs F with 4 in the comments section of this NTB post. The novel traces early-onset Alzheimer's disease from the perspective of a fifty year-old woman who has the memory disease. I came away with a new perspective on just how traumatic the disease is on the patients. I feel bad admitting it, but before I had always thought more about the struggles of caretakers of those with Alzheimers. This novel would be a FANTASTIC book club selection. There's a lot of talk about, especially questions of quality and sanctity of life. Please read it.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins -- A few months ago I posted about The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and noted that it was so awesome that it made me want to teach ninth grade English again. Catching Fire is the sequel, and I loved it just as much or more. Totalitarianism. Revolution. Reality Television. Again, would be a great book club selection. So, go read The Hunger Games, then go read Catching Fire, and then join my hurry-up-and-finish-the-next-book-please-Suzanne-Collins club.

How I Became a Famous Novelist by Steve Hely -- Hilarious, satirical novel about today's publishing industry and readers. The novel's protagonist basically tries to write a bestselling novel by consciously writing the worst novel ever. Laughed out loud several times. Those of you who read a lot, check out book reviews, and pay attention to what's on the Bestseller list and the book table at Costco will especially enjoy this one.

Eats
Extra sharp cheddar cheese sliced and placed on my beloved Cracked Pepper and Olive Oil Triscuits

Cherry Cordial Ice Cream -- I'm eating the Edy's brand right now which is actually called "Cherry Chocolate Chip" but the point is that the combination of bright pink cherry ice cream, small chunks of chocolate, and pieces of maraschino cherry is freaking irresistible.

Dominos American Legends Pizza -- Dominos is less than half a mile from my house. If I call, it is delivered in under 20 minutes and thus we eat our fair share of Dominos. I am a master of the Dominos online ordering system with coupon codes, NTB. The two varieties of American Legends pizzas I have sampled are excellent. Do yourself a favor and try the salty and delicious Philly Cheese Steak Pizza or the Pacific Veggie one (request thing crust for that one--yes, Dominos has thin crust and it is quite lovely).

Shows
Jim and Pam are getting married. I have cried during every episode of The Biggest Loser this season (plus enjoy the train wreck that is crazy Tracey). Joel McHale and Community are hilarious. This season's Top Chefs are kicking ass (love Kevin from Atlanta, intense Jen from Philly, and the non-twin Voltaggio brothers -- not a fan of the Greek guy). And, I am Gleeful.

Weather
Love the cooler temps (but winter, don't get any ideas about arriving early, especially since you tend to overstay your welcome in these parts). Love the smell of Fall, especially when it's windy out. Love that the leaves are changing.

Okay, what are your favorite things right now?

Mama, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys.

When I was a high school English teacher, I often socialized with other teachers and their significant others. Contrary to the suspicions of teenagers everywhere, English teachers do not sit around correcting grammar for kicks. But we do sometimes talk about books and when the subject of reading came up, the husband of my friend/colleague (next-door classroom neighbor) had one contribution to the conversation: "Have you ever read Lonesome Dove?" Each time he mentioned the novel, his wife would sigh or roll her eyes or flat out say, "No one wants to hear about Lonesome Dove."

It's not that I would not have wanted to hear about Lonesome Dove. It's more like nothing I heard about it would have made me think I would like it. When I heard the title, I always conjured images of Texas, dust, and tired horses. When, a couple of years ago, my friend Actchy read and enjoyed Lonesome Dove, I decided to use one of my audible.com credits to obtain the audio download for my ipod. But I didn't seriously consider listening to it. I still didn't think I'd like it. Texas, dust, tired horses. Urgh.

A few weeks ago, I was pretty much out of audiobooks for my ipod and decided to give Lonesome Dove a try. The first thirty minutes of listening are all about how it's really hot, dusty, and boring in Texas. I did not know if I could handle thirty-six more hours of dust, heat, and tired horses.

Well, I LOVED Lonesome Dove. I laughed. I cried. I marveled at Larry McMurtry's masterful weaving together of so many narrative threads. Each plot line was my favorite one while I was listening to it, with the exception of a few sections that made me so stinking anxious I could barely listen.

"I don't feel good about those Suggs boys," I would tell my husband, who had already read the book. "Are they as bad as I think they are?" Or, "How much do you love Deets? I really love Deets." "Is something going to happen to Newt? Just tell me because I'm going to stop listening right now if that's the case." "Blue Duck is just so evil. I feel sick just thinking about him." "Weren't you so intrigued by Po Campo?" He had to kindly remind me that he read the book in 1996, not last week.*

Reading Lonesome Dove, I learned about a time and place in history that I've never really thought about: the post-Civil War West. I feel foolish admitting this, but I never thought about "how the West was won." Had no idea what Texas Rangers were (not a baseball team?). I had never really thought about what cowboys did besides wear hats and ride horses. Had never paused to think about what a cattle drive was. Never really thought about how important it would be to have a good horse or why one would want to steal horses.

And you know how, if you visit some place like Gatlingburg, TN, you can dress up in those old clothes and get your picture taken. On two occasions, I have dressed for such pictures, choosing to wear one of the satin/lacy type dresses which, thanks to Lonesome Dove, I now realize were reminiscent of those worn by the whores who worked in the saloons.

More than anything, I can't get over how much courage or folly it would take to travel miles and miles into unknown, lonely terrain. I especially can't get over mothers sending their young sons on a cattle drive from Texas to Montana.

Lonesome Dove is a long journey but the hours spent in the company of McMurtry's characters are so worth the trip.

Other recent reads that I heartily endorse are as follows.
I'm Down by Mishna Wolff -- hilarious and thought-provoking coming-of-age memoir about a white girl whose father more or less thinks he is black and raises her and her sister in a poor, black neighborhood

I'm Sorry You Feel That Way: The Astonishing But True Story of a Daughter, Sister, Slut, Wife, Mother, and Friend to Man & Dog by Diana Joseph -- if the title doesn't sell you on this memoir, there's not much I can offer, except to say it is honest, well-written, and completely engaging

Admission by Jean Hanff Korelitz -- novel about a Princeton admissions officer coming to terms with her own past and the pressures of making decisions about the futures of so many applicants. I really loved this book.

Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl -- I can't believe I have not read Ruth Reichl before, but this memoir of her years as the New York Times restaurant critic was fantastic. I will be seeking out her two previous memoirs ASAP. I hope to post on this one in more detail in the future, but I wanted to mention it now in case Top Chef Masters isn't tiding you food fanatics over until the new season begins.


As always, I want to know what you are reading? And, what's your "Lonesome Dove"?



*Inspired by my constant commentary on Lonesome Dove, hubby DVRd and has been watching the miniseries. I've only caught snippets, but I have to say that realizing that D.B. Sweeney of Cutting Edge fame plays top hand Dish Boggett really made my evening.

YA . . . more than OKAY!

I still have several books and authors I want to share with you and so the Book Beat beats on. The popularity of the Harry Potter books and, more recently, the Twilight series, has highlighted the fact that books written for younger audiences also have appeal for adult readers. As with books written for adults, YA books vary in style, quality of writing, and level of difficulty. For me, however, a compelling narrative is a compelling narrative, whether or not I am a particular book’s target reader. I get pretty frustrated/annoyed when people consider certain types of books beneath them. When I read, sure I hope to learn, to be inspired, to be transported, to appreciate the beauty of language and the nuances of a writer’s style, but most of all, I hope to enjoy the reading experience. If you enjoy the books you are reading, do not let anyone make you feel ashamed or foolish about what you read. Now down from soapbox, I present my next grouping of books you may want to check out:

Novels Written for Young Adults that Might Appeal to Readers of All Ages:
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
I resisted this book, despite its awesome reviews, because I did not think I wanted to read another Holocaust narrative because, you know, they do not tend to end well even though they often highlight the best of human courage and resiliency alongside the worst human depravity. The Book Thief offers insight into the Holocaust from the perspective of a young German girl, reminding readers that not all Germans bought into Nazi thinking, even though party membership was widespread. The book is narrated by Death, which takes some getting used to, but is effective. What I love most about this book is the way it highlights the tremendous power of words, a truth that readers of all ages cannot be exposed to enough. Steal this book if you have to. I don’t think you’ll regret it.


The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
This novel made me wish I was teaching ninth grade English, which is, trust me, quite rare. Set in the future, The Hunger Games is the perfect novel for helping one to reflect upon present realities, particularly reality television. LAP and I have discussed how people (ourselves included) these days are kind of “soft” and wondered if we could step up and survive without life’s luxuries if we had to do so. This book offers glimpses of life lived in survival mode. It would be a great book to teach in conjunction with Lord of the Flies or to replace Lord of the Flies with the story of a strong, smart, courageous young heroine. I was an itty bit disappointed with the ending, which clearly left the door open for a sequel (which I discovered will be available in September). I will forgive the ending, I guess, if the sequel delivers. I’m reading another YA book set in the future right now. It’s called Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. It provides some food for thought, particularly about the ugly/pretty distinction, but the romance portion is a bit clumsy and the points are made more obviously than necessary. Still, I’m enjoying it and may investigate its sequels, though not in a hurry.

I also want to mention two YA series that I read a few years ago, but want to endorse, though they are nothing like the books mentioned above. I loved the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books by Ann Brashares. Please, please do not judge these books by the movies. I also get a huge kick out of the Georgia Nicolson books by Louise Rennison. In my mind, these British books are sort of a Bridget Jones for young teens and tweens. Freaking hilarious at times.

If you don’t trust my authority that YA books are worth checking out, perhaps you might trust Nick Hornby’s. He writes about quite a few YA titles in Shakespeare Wrote for Money, a collection of his reading columns for The Believer, and comments, “I see now that dismissing YA books because you’re not a young adult is a little bit like refusing to watch thrillers on the grounds that you’re not a policeman or a dangerous criminal, and as a consequence, I’ve discovered a previously ignored room at the back of the bookstore that’s filled with masterpieces I’ve never heard of . . . The world suddenly seems a larger place” (81-82). So there.

What about you? What are you reading? Any YA titles to recommend? When have you read outside your box and been pleasantly surprised?

Exactly what I didn’t know I wanted . . .

What with no longer watching Bravo’s Real Housewives* franchise, doing a lot of fast forwarding through this season of Dancing with the Stars, getting Little Bit to bed at a reasonably early hour, continuing to clean my perpetually messy and disorganized house while listening to audiobooks, and completely finishing that old dissertation, ntb, I have found more time to read lately.

Aware that my Book Beat posts are sometimes boring, I try to think of creative ways to thematically group the books I would like to share with you all. At this point, I have enough groupings for one massive post on books or several "shorter" ones. Without further ado, I present the first grouping:

Books that combine personal experience, great anecdotes, relevant but non-boring research, humor, and plenty of fodder for discussion:

Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip--Confessions of a Cynical Waiter by Steven Dublanica aka The Waiter:
This book was a bargain audiobook ($4.95) that I purchased because I had seen the author make a brief appearance on Oprah and liked him. I was worried that the book would be all about waiters spitting in food and that it would bring back unpleasant memories of my days as a waitress at Friendly and then The Olive Garden (where, for the record, I never even considered spitting in someone's food). Though entitled Waiter Rant, The Waiter is more insightful and thoughtful than he is angry and ranting and more compassionate than cynical. Reading about how horrible some customers are will definitely make you want to be an even better diner and tipper. More than that though, this book will make you think about other topics: the social significance of restaurants and dining out, what constitutes meaningful work, workplace power struggles, and the public health implications of treating restaurant employees poorly (i.e., the fact that many work sick because they cannot afford to take a day off and can even be fired for missing a shift on a busy day). The fact that The Waiter is a former seminarian made things even more interesting to me. At the end, he offers tips for being a good customer, one of which is not to ask for extra lemons and sugar so that you can make your own lemonade. I cracked up when I heard that because that happened ALL THE TIME when I worked at the Olive Garden, and I used to marvel at the audacity of those customers.

Pregnant Pause: My Journey Through Obnoxious Questions, Baby Lust, Meddling Relatives, and Pre-Partum Depression by Carrie Friedman
Readers of this blog know how interested I am in trying to chronicle and negotiate the delights and challenges of parenthood. Because I am right in the thick of it right now—the poop in the tub, public meltdowns, imaginary friends, chicken nuggets, night feedings, stroller analysis, heart-melting surprises, messy surprises, sleep books, ear infections, and on and on—it is sometimes easy to forget that small children are not the center of everyone’s world. Friedman’s book is a humorous but also serious take on her own journey toward motherhood—is she ready, how will she know, and why won’t everyone just leave her alone about it in the meantime. For me, it was good to be reminded of how frightening, baffling, and sometimes obnoxious/obsessive that parenthood--especially of really young children--might appear to those who are still thinking about if and when they want to join the fray. Friedman is witty, edgy, and endearingly vulnerable as she describes her, to quote the title, "journey through obnoxious questions, baby lust, meddling relatives, and pre-partum depression." She is not quite sure she wants to press “play” at the end of Pregnant Pause (pretty sweet title, by the way) but I closed the book with a sense that if or when she does, she will be as ready as anyone can be.

Both Waiter Rant and Pregnant Pause would be good book club choices as they are accessible, engaging, and humorous while also lending themselves to discussions of "big" issues.

For now, writing a blog is enough for me, though someday I would like to write a book. I have absolutely no plans to write a novel and indeed cannot imagine a novel that would not be a thinly-veiled account of my life. Reading these books helped me to envision the kind of book that I could see myself writing: a book that combines personal experience, relevant but non-boring research, humor, and hopefully insight.** For now, I am happy living and enjoying my life and trying to have and learn from the kind of experiences others might want to read about, connect to, and laugh at, but when inspiration strikes, I will be ready.




*If you still watch, I’m not judging. I just had to cut myself off when I found myself feeling anxious and on edge during some episode, disgusted during others.

**a book like one previously reviewed on NTB: Helping Me, Help Myself by Beth Lisick, which I wish that I had written or thought of writing