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December 06, 2003
Books. I read too many Books.
Every weekend, I manage a trip to the Evanston Public Library for my weekly quota of train readin'.
9-12 books usually take me from saturday to saturday, with a 50-50 ratio of chicklit and friend's recommendations. I've been going to EPL for so many years, I tend to pull books I haven't already read from the new book shelves without reading the jackets - it's all free, so it doesn't matter if it sucks, right?
I keep meaning to list the book of the day here, but I'm worried it'll make it less about the pleasure of reading and more about getting through the book so I can say I finished it.
I can't say what it is, I can't help but compete with myself.
But this week's take looks so interesting, I figure I'll list 'em before I read 'em. I'll let you know how the reading goes, as the week goes by.
Chicklit:
Alison's Automotive Repair Manual by Brad Barkely
(chicklit only because of the title and the cover, which shows a chick practically falling into the engine of a cool-looking car. )
Who You Know by Theresa Alan
(looks like sex in the city meets shopaholic takes manhattan - plus, it's a debut novel.)
amanda bright @ home by Danielle Crittenden
(although I picked this out at first for the @ in the title, so I could bitch about it later when it totally misunderstands the web community, I also confess to have chosen it because I thought I knew the author. the name sounds familiar - perhaps I dated a relative or something....)
Easy by Emma Gold
(looks like pure girly girl girl crap. which is perfect when I'm walking to the train at 7 in the morning and trying not to over-think the inevitable blind date I'll be going on after work.)
The Hazards of Good Breeding by Jessica Shattuck
(pandering to my weakness for first novels. and this author looks just like this absolutely stunning food critic friend of the most recent ex. I used to know. hmm..is it too soon to call up our mutual friends? 'cause I really wonder what ms. hannah is doing now....)
Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St Vincent Millay by Nancy Milford
(I've been fascinated by the life of edna st vincent millay - and love biography, so I was delighted to see that the paperback was finally on the shelves...)
three books recommended by a friend:
Coming Home to Eat by Gary Nabhan
The Man Who Ate Everything and
It Must Have Been Something I Ate by Jeffrey Steingarten.
(mentioning that you hate fish and vegetables and have a love for Anthony Bourdain when he's not writing fiction means that your chef friends will have book recommendations for you. and if you're like me, you'll take those recommendations and run. perhaps mr steingarten can help me overcome the gag reflex when confronted with bouillabaisse.)
woo hoo! let's get readin'!
Posted by Heather at December 6, 2003 09:05 PM
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Comments
I love Millay's poetry, or at least that which I've read, but sadly know nothing of her life. Does it mirror her writing, i.e. First Fig?
Posted by: Oblivion at December 8, 2003 08:42 AM
the only truly good thing about commuting is that luscious book reading time . . . though I now have a lot of free time now that I'm house sitting in the Blue Ridge Mountains and am snowed in :) When they dig me out I'll head down to the library and pick up some of yout recommendations . . . love that chick lit!
Posted by: Katherine at December 10, 2003 01:24 PM
by no means should you take this list as a list of recommendations, katherine - I've only just picked them out of the library. Haven't read them all yet, and am formulating mostly negative reviews of the ones I have read so far.
as for Millay, Oblivion, I must be honest, I only know Edna through my forays into lesbian and bisexual history coursework, rather than from her poetry. I haven't read any of her work. I'll let you know how it goes!
Posted by: heather at December 10, 2003 04:20 PM
Heather the volume of books you read makes you my personal hero. Also you are the only person i know who can walk 4 blocks while reading without looking up to see where you are going. Perhaps your best talent?????????????
love ya
C
Posted by: dave larson at December 11, 2003 02:46 AM
Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you: my little brother, the loveable practical joker.
he reads more often than he lets on, and is a better writer/editor than anyone I've ever met. If I had any money at all coming in, I'd pay him to edit my novel - he's just that damned good.
maybe I'll get him on spec. in the mean time, he's a pip, he is.
Posted by: heather at December 11, 2003 08:59 AM
You have a brother????? Is he as witty and attractive as you are??? Is he continent?
Posted by: PIP at December 11, 2003 08:22 PM