In my cart so far…
So, it snowed last night…just enough to be pretty (which now, a few hours later, means it’s one giant, sloppy, unpretty mess). The snow reminded me that winter has in fact, just begun. Given that I’m a poster-child for SAD, I’m planning ahead and doing some book shopping so that if (hahahahahah!) or rather, WHEN the dysfunction rears it’s ugly head on day #4 of rain (who am I kidding…I mean day #2!) I will at least have some good reads lying about. Better to bury one’s head in a book than just, ya know, bury it. So here’s what’s in my cart so far:
Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith
I’ve read zero Rob so far…I’m curious…and anything with “repainting” in the title is bound to resonate with me…I repaint often. (Which is another way of saying I paint badly quite often.)
Sadly, that’s the only mommy book I’ve added so far. (Thus, this post.) The only other things in my cart are three children’s books about Thanksgiving. (Thanks Aly…I finally checked out the Squanto book you recommended.) Like I said, I’m planning ahead.
I thought briefly about adding Foucault’s Pendulum as per a recommendation on a friend’s facebook page, but this sentence from the review sent me back to the children’s section: “This complex psychological thriller chronicles the development of a literary joke that plunges its perpetrators into deadly peril.” That is soooo utterly unappealing to me. And I don’t even feel compelled to apologize for my lack of intellectualism. (Mark it down.)
So, who has some reading recommendations for me? I’m aiming for somewhere a bit beyond Squanto for children but below the psychologically thrilling Foucault…it’s a big target…surely some of you can help! Lest my brain moss over in this perpetual winter drizzle, do comment soon! Thanks. (I thought about this and this, but I dunno….I guess I kinda want something more….fun.)
Sharolyn, 
corey 2:47 pm on 28 December 2007 Permalink
I enjoyed Velvet Elvis. I also really enjoyed Blue Like Jazz. Both are good reads. I’m working through The Road Less Travelled by Scott Peck, which has been really really great. It’s like self-help for the rest of us, and I don’t have to buy crystals, focus my chi, or align my thoughts with the planets.
Sorry about the SAD thing. Email me daily and I’ll try to make you laugh with really crass dick and fart jokes. It’s the least I can do.
Sharolyn 8:59 am on 29 December 2007 Permalink
I see Blue Like Jazz all the time but have been resisting it. What’s up with this sentence? “I never liked jazz music because jazz music doesn’t resolve” (????)
I am halfway through The Book Thief.
http://www.amazon.com/Book-Thief-Readers-Circle/dp/0375842209/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198947444&sr=8-1
It’s not a “fun” read, but is brilliantly written. It’s the first book in probably years in which I just escape to another world. Basically, it is a novel about a makeshift family hiding a Jewish man during WW2, written from the perspective of the reaper (he’s not grim, but he is the collector of souls). The author does a great job in his timing of letting you know the details and gives just enough foreshadowing to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Sharolyn 10:30 am on 29 December 2007 Permalink
Okay… just thought of something more “fun” :) in the non-fiction category.
My husband and I recently read “The Sexual Man: Masculinity Without Guilt”. It was written in 1994, but there’s nothing new under the sun, right? I’ve read some bad Christian books on sex, but this one was helpful to me. The premise is that the author felt most major research projects took on too broad a spectrum of subjects, so he surveyed hundreds of mainstream, middle-of-the-road heterosexual men – most of them Christian, many of them pastors. Are you just wondering what they said??
June 12:11 pm on 29 December 2007 Permalink
Yes, yes I am.
Sharolyn 12:41 pm on 29 December 2007 Permalink
Does that mean I should tell you, or that you’re supposed to read the book? I’ve never felt great at this blogging thing! :)
For one thing, all the guys think they are abnormal, yet they are all thinking the same things. Also, the charts and graphs are one thing, but the personal narratives are another. I really felt for a lot of these guys. In this safe environment it is helpful for me to hear guys be completely honest who are not my husband, because then I won’t take things personally or I am free to think of their thoughts outside the context of my own marriage. I hope I am making sense.
The book covers just about every topic you can think of. That was helpful, too. Not that we were avoiding topics in our marriage, but sometimes they don’t just come up on the drive home from church. ;) So I’m thinking this book could really help seasonal affective disorder! (tee hee) Can someone change the subject? This is getting embarrassing.
June 2:14 pm on 29 December 2007 Permalink
Sharolyn,
I’m quite sure that everyone else talks about sex and marriage all the time. On the way home from church. In front of the kids. You are the only ones who don’t.
; )
I’ll check out the book. SAD is not good for much, including marriage.
aly hawkins 10:05 am on 30 December 2007 Permalink
For Christmas, I gave my fam three of my favorite books read in the last year. I highly recommend all of them:
Lisey’s Story by Stephen King
Handling Sin by Michael Malone
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
How is the Squanto book? It looked pretty Christian-y.
Chad 1:02 pm on 30 December 2007 Permalink
I’m about 175 pages into “The Year of Living Biblically,” by AJ Jacobs. It’s the greatest thing since.. well… ever.
http://www.amazon.com/Year-Living-Biblically-Literally-Possible/dp/0743291476/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199048513&sr=1-1
corey 9:39 am on 31 December 2007 Permalink
1. ok, so wait- no daily emails?
2. i’m reading an advertising book called “chasing cool” right now by noah kerner and gene pressman (link it yourself, you lazy bastards). it obviously leans heavily into the advertising world, but it’s interesting to see how the corporate america plans each new advertising launch in relation to the success of the ipod. case studies include grey goose vodka, barneys new york, armani, and us weekly.
3. sorry for the no-capitalization post. it’s an e.e. cummings morning.
Cerise 3:55 pm on 2 January 2008 Permalink
First of all, a shout out to “The Road Less Traveled” – I read that for the first time in college and still have never found a book to really hammer HOME the whole concept of total personal responsibility better, know what I mean? The only drawbacks to that book: 1. Dr. Peck seems to have had a crap personal life, which is kind of discouraging and 2. I live in constant fear that my ‘road map’ is outdated and I’m one of those poor sods who, according to him, constructed my ‘road map’ in high school and never altered it again like (again according to the author) so many unfortunate adults in this world. I’m always running around wondering if I’m working with a faulty ‘road map’. Apologies to those who have no idea what I’m talking about. Or those who feel like they’ll scream if I say ‘road map’ (with those prissy little single quotes) again.
Honey, if you like feminist fantasy/adventure/buckling swash and the like, read Robin McKinley. She’s my favorite, favorite fiction writer of all time. Start with “The Blue Sword”. It’s adventuresome heroines who are kind of rough-edged and wry who find themselves in difficult situations. Not intellectual (I only had to run for a dictionary every 5 pages or so), but not a throwaway either as far as your mind is concerned.
June 11:19 am on 4 January 2008 Permalink
Thanks all! I’ve appreciated checking out your recommendations as well as the highly varied Google ads they have inspired. Lately, I’ve been reading Oliver and the stories of Frog and Toad….to my children (hopefully that was a given) and my new cookbook by Jessica Seinfeld. (Cuz’, as Brian says, the Seinfelds don’t have enough money). Anyone for pink pancakes? (Made so by beet pureé.) I also finally received the biography of John Newton that I ordered well before Christmas, so between pureéing duties, perhaps I’ll crack that.
Yep, it’s offical: I’m boring.
Sharolyn 1:22 pm on 4 January 2008 Permalink
June, I made Jessica Seinfeld’s Spaghetti Pie last night for dinner. Our kids wouldn’t eat the meatballs.
Moral of the story: They didn’t notice pureed carrots disguised in their sauce, but broccoli radar won over the turkey meatballs. Guess what I’m having for lunch?
We are all supporting the Seinfelds and the next car for their collection.
Blog Mama 9:20 pm on 25 January 2008 Permalink
Velvet Elvis is sitting on my nightstand (along with about 20 other books I’d like to have time to read). My nephew loaned it to me. I’m also “reading” Love in the Time of Cholera and Animal Vegetable Miracle.