My reading goal for 2011 was 100 books. I made it closer than I did in 2010, when I read only 84. But try as I might, I couldn't manage it this year either. 95 books. So close. On New Year's Eve I powered through a mystery novel I've been reading for about 2 years and read a couple of short plays in between listening to audio books. But those last 5 books were beyond my grasp.
I became a little more realistic with my goal for 2012.
90 books.
Easily doable, right?
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Thursday, December 8, 2011
The Night Circus
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern will leave you reeling.
Enter, if you dare, the black and white world of the circus where only the illusions are real. Meet the mysterious, tattooed contortionist and the twins with hair like fire. Meet the sad, quiet fortune teller and the beautiful illusionist. But you may only enter at night. During the light of day, trespassers will be exsanguinated...
Enter, if you dare, the black and white world of the circus where only the illusions are real. Meet the mysterious, tattooed contortionist and the twins with hair like fire. Meet the sad, quiet fortune teller and the beautiful illusionist. But you may only enter at night. During the light of day, trespassers will be exsanguinated...
Monday, November 28, 2011
eReaders
The day has come. I'm picking out the eReader I want for Christmas.
I adore physical books. Technology can never replace paper for those of us with souls.
But I love books in all their forms: brand new from Barnes and Noble, old and dusty from used book stores, downloaded for free from Gutenberg.org, or recorded on CD and nestled snugly in my car's 6-disc changer.
And if a Kindle or NOOK can make it possible to read in even more places, at more times than I can now...then bring it on. I am, however, also shopping for a cover for the contraption that will make it look like an actual book.
I adore physical books. Technology can never replace paper for those of us with souls.
But I love books in all their forms: brand new from Barnes and Noble, old and dusty from used book stores, downloaded for free from Gutenberg.org, or recorded on CD and nestled snugly in my car's 6-disc changer.
And if a Kindle or NOOK can make it possible to read in even more places, at more times than I can now...then bring it on. I am, however, also shopping for a cover for the contraption that will make it look like an actual book.
Monday, November 21, 2011
The Wake of the Bounty
In reading about the Bounty mutiny, I came across a reference to the book The Wake of the Bounty by C.S. Wilkinson. It describes a conspiracy involving Wordsworth which rescued Fletcher Christian from Pitcairn Island and returned him to England.
The theory sounds quite ridiculous, but fascinating nonetheless. It appears The Wake of the Bounty is a rather rare book, so I'll have do some looking around to find a copy.
The theory sounds quite ridiculous, but fascinating nonetheless. It appears The Wake of the Bounty is a rather rare book, so I'll have do some looking around to find a copy.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Gift from the Sea
Anne Morrow Lindbergh's Gift from the Sea is one of those books you're supposed to love. As a woman, I'm supposed to melt at the thought of it. It's soothing and inspiring, right?
I'm only a few chapters in, but so far the statements are vague and I'm more concerned about the sand fleas that must be crawling out of Mrs. Lindbergh's marine decor than I am about gleaning advice from seashells. The only complaint I've heard from others seems to be that the book is outdated and not feminist enough. I have no problem with things that are outdated, but I fear I'll finish this "inspiring" book without gaining any useful insights.
I'm only a few chapters in, but so far the statements are vague and I'm more concerned about the sand fleas that must be crawling out of Mrs. Lindbergh's marine decor than I am about gleaning advice from seashells. The only complaint I've heard from others seems to be that the book is outdated and not feminist enough. I have no problem with things that are outdated, but I fear I'll finish this "inspiring" book without gaining any useful insights.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
The Age of Comfort
The Age of Comfort by Joan DeJean is packed with information about the place where surroundings and intellect intersect. DeJean takes the reader on a tour of French history by way of its furniture.
Does comfortable furniture make a man more civilized? The French certainly thought so; and most of Europe agreed with them during the 1700s, a time when everyone but the English wanted to be as French as possible. Does indoor plumbing affect a person's mental state? Undoubtedly. These questions arise as we see the change in the way people express themselves and even view their own bodies depending on the furniture they sit on.
Occasionally dry, but unfailingly interesting, The Age of Comfort is a treat.
Does comfortable furniture make a man more civilized? The French certainly thought so; and most of Europe agreed with them during the 1700s, a time when everyone but the English wanted to be as French as possible. Does indoor plumbing affect a person's mental state? Undoubtedly. These questions arise as we see the change in the way people express themselves and even view their own bodies depending on the furniture they sit on.
Occasionally dry, but unfailingly interesting, The Age of Comfort is a treat.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Michael S. Hart, creator of Project Gutenberg
Click here for the obituary of Michael S. Hart, creator of Gutenberg.org. This site is one of my favorites as it provides free ebooks.
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