Aspire to everything Inspired

The view from over here, No. 19

LOVED reading this book. Well written and interesting.  Clever plot - really, very clever.  Totally likeable characters.  And very well written.  Which is worth saying twice because it's translated from the original German version, and you know, English and German syntax & grammar rules are vastly different!  (So - Wow - that's a very good translator too!)

I picked it up at Indigo Books in Toronto, but if that's not local for you, you can check it out here.

Highly recommended, friends.

The only drawback to discovering an "International Bestseller" first written in another language?  Us non-German readers will have to wait for the translation of the sequels.  Book 2, Sapphire Blue, is due out next June.  Auuuggh!

The view from over here, No. 09

 
My oldest niece and her husband have birthdays that are just 1 week apart -- her's at the end of one month and his at the beginning of the next.  Admittedly, it's easy to shop for her, but a little more difficult to know what to get for him.  They've recently started a family, so... this recent post by Design Mom inspired a great idea!

I'll select one of my favorite children's authors and pick a different picture book for each of them.  I'm simply tickled with the idea!  Not only is it a great library starter for a young family, but its fun to revisit my favorite childhood stories and come up with the inscriptions for each book too!  :)

author Bill Peet for Birthdays 2011...  Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent and Ella

I'm already thinking ahead to Christmas...  possibly Anatole books by Eve Titus...  

The view from over here, No. 03

 
Just finished reading Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25, by Richard Paul Evans.  I'll admit that I was a little hesitant at first... after all, this guy usually writes Christmas books...  but this book?  Was excellent!  If you're interested in a good, teen-themed adventure.  Dive in, friend.  Dive in! 

I might just be picking up a copy or two for next year's Nielsen Cousins' Book Club too. 



the Poetry Recitation

 
Last night, when I should have been doing sensible things, (like paying bills, putting away the dishes, or writing gracious thank you notes), I was telephoning everyone I know between the ages of 12 and 14 1/2.

and without any preamble or greeting whatsoever...

launching into an Official Poetry Recitation.

 
from the wit of A.A. Milne, to be precise.

It was a splendid series of recitations, if I do say so myself.  (only I may have actually read the longer ones).

... because sometimes we just need a bit of poetry to help our perspective.

Both of the recipients of said recitations were quite enthused and jolly about their surprise calls.  Laughter and Merriment ensued.  Indeed, it's possible there was much giggling. 

Who knows.  With that kind of success, you could be next.  Is it safe to answer the phone, do you think?

"James James Morrison Morison Weatherby George Dupree..."

[Now We Are Six by A.A. Milne, of course. With illustrations by the incomparable E.H. Shepard.]

Falling off the wagon

You didn't know this about me, but I've written dozens of posts about Costco.  Dozens, I tell you.  Though I mostly dictated them to myself while going in or around or out of Costco, so you've never actually seen any of them.  (That's a real relief, isn't it?)  Well anyway, I've been so good - sooo incredibly good, I tell you! - about not buying scads of books at Costco these last few months.  And then one day last week...

I fell off the "No book buying" wagon in a big way.  More like leaped off.  Bought a STACK.  The new Martha Stewart Encyclopedia of Crafts sewing edition?  Check.  The latest Tuscany tome from Frances Mayes?  Check.  The last FableHaven book - which I've been dying to read since it came out on the 23rd - Check!  And, um, just one or two others. 

A stack, I tell you!

Now, I just have to hold firm about my Amazon shopping cart.  Though I've been sorely tempted recently to just hit "Buy"...

Things I do because of books

Well, sometimes I color...
You know how you'll open up a book and there will be a map at the beginning?  Well, I always wonder why those fictional maps are in black & white.  Afterall, wouldn't it make more sense if they were in color?  Just because color is more expensive... well, pshaw.  Personally, I always have to stop and think -- is that land or water?  And which part is the ocean?  (Oi!  remember these are fictional maps - not like Europe or Asia or anything)  It would just be easier if they were in color, without all those confusing gradients and different map techniques to work out.  {sigh}  And all this confusion leads to explaining that I'm always tempted to start coloring in these maps, though I almost never do... 

Which is just silly when you think about it -- because it's my book!  I can color it if I want to. Hah!

Sometimes I draw funny charts too...
I have a particular fondness for a clever murder mystery novel.  Lately I've discovered a set of mysteries by Georgette Heyer that are exceptionally witty and delightful.  They're just so... so!  You know?  It's like discovering Agatha Christie for the first time all over again.  {bliss!}  However, sometimes, an introduction to one of these cast of characters can be a bit confusing.  Like when they're all seated around the table at a fancy dress dinner and the descriptive adjectives and pronouns start to fly...  At these moments, I sometimes find it handy to, well, create a map of a different sort.  Such as a dinner seating chart.  Any good society hostess would be envious, don't you think? 

Trust me, it did help.  lol!

And then there are the late night snacks...
Here's another thing about those British murder mysteries...  Have you ever noticed how much detecting occurs at tea time and other meals?  Why, it's enough to cause anyone to be famished!  Which must explain why I found myself mixing up a cuppa' of cocoa at 11:30 at night.  and making a sandwich too.  Simply famished I tell you!

P.S. That sandwich was really good too.

So is it just me, or are you ever tempted to color, draw charts, and make tea... all because of a book?

[Map pictured is from Septimus Heap Book One: Magyk, by Angie Sage. Copyright 2005 by Angie Sage.  Book text pictured is from They Found Him Dead, by Georgette Heyer.  Copyright by the author.]

The business of Nothing

So what have you been up to, my dears?  I've been so incredibly busy that there just hasn't been time for blogging.  On Monday, I read three books.  On Tuesday, I read another two books.  On Wednesday, I went to a movie... and then rented three more to watch at home.  Just finished up and returned the last one this afternoon (Thursday)... "Whew!"  As I said, I've been incredibly busy. 

It all started when I decided that I really ought to read the book Percy Jackson & The Olympians:  The Lightning Thief before seeing the new movie based upon it.  (It's not that I can't separate the two, you see, but since a book usually has so much more detail than a movie, I didn't want the movie to set my perceptions of the story.  Make sense -- even just a little?)  And once I'd finished reading the first book, I thought 'but what if the movie covers more than just the first book?!', so I went on with book 2... and of course, that led to book 3.  At which point, I decided just to keeping going... perfectly reasonable, right?  And so I finished up the series by reading books 4 and 5 on Tuesday.

Once the books were read, I was ready to see the movie on Wednesday...

There are definite differences between the two -- not the least of which is the age of the main character, Percy Jackson (age 12 in the book, age 16/17 in the movie).  And there are some interesting characters left out of the movie (Mr. D and Clarisse, just to name two), as well as interesting plot devices added to the movie (Persephone did what?).  However, all those differences aside... the movie was great!  Definitely put it on your list of Must See films.  There's seriously cool casting.  (Uma Thurman as Medusa?  Brilliant!)  And that summer camp in the woods?  It's just the sort of place you'll wish you had an invitation to too.  All in all, the movie is a fun adventure -- I highly recommend it. 

And if you haven't read the books already... definitely pick them up when you have a chance.  (Maybe you've got a not-so-busy Monday - Tuesday in your future too?)  I thoroughly enjoyed them.  And they come highly recommended by my favorite houseguests.

{sigh}  So, yes, you see?  Its been incredibly busy around here...

Oh!  P.S.  In case you're worried or wondering... the movie only covers book 1.  Here's hoping it does well enough that we get at least one sequel... especially since there's four more books!

In my epicurial dreams, I'm friends with Thomas Keller

Thomas Keller has a new cookbook.  Let me rephrase that... THE Thomas Keller has a NEW cookbook!!

Actually, it came out in November.  How did I miss it?!?  I don't know - I must have been pre-occupied or something.  Or something.  But, did you hear?  Thomas Keller has a new cookbook!!!

I love Thomas Keller's cookbooks, though I'll admit that I've never, well, um, actually cooked anything from them.  But they're just so unbelievably gorgeous to look at and the text is simply so delicious to read.  They're useful and informative and simply delectable.  A Thomas Keller cookbook isn't just about the recipe, you see.  No, it's about the farms and markets where the food came from and the kitchen where its made and the presentation of the meal.  If I ever wrote a cookbook, I'd want it to LOOK just like a cookbook by Thomas Keller.  (And if I ever eat a $200 per person dinner, it will be at his premiere restaurant, The French Laundry in Napa Valley, CA.  Oh. My. Deliciousness.)

Which certainly explains why I'm all-in-a-dither over his newest tome, doesn't it?

Want to know more than just my enthusiastic dithering?  Here's what the Amazon reviewer had to say:

"You don't often see the name Thomas Keller mixed with words like "accessible" or "home cook," but with Ad Hoc at Home, the award-winning chef presents a collection of recipes destined for the center of the table at casual family gatherings. Don't throw away your whole notion of "quick and easy," though, as this is still a casual cookbook filtered through the genius mind of the man behind The French Laundry Cookbook, but the sense of whimsy and the pure joy of Keller doing his version of comfort food proves irresistible. The inspiration for his restaurant Ad Hoc was the simple family meals created and served by the staff at his restaurants. As he says in the introduction, "here is food meant to be served from big bowls and platters passed hand to hand at the table." And with dishes like Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, who's going to argue with that? --Brad Thomas Parsons"

I am drooling already.  If you'll promise to come for dinner soon, I'll promise to buy this cookbook and make us something incredibly delicious from it.  Deal?

Pardon me, but is that your new Irish Library showing?

You just knew I wouldn't forget about this one, right?  Because, really, after mentioning all those book stores we visited in Dublin, I just know you've been dying to see what delightful new tomes I picked up from the Emerald Isle... right?  Well, without further ado...

Any Regrets now that I'm home?
Just this one...  I discovered I already have that exact SAME copy of The Wind In The Willows at home.  Which means I didn't need to spend €9 (or $14) for it in Ireland!   "Arrrgh!" 

Reviews are already coming in!
The Ottoline books and The Thornthwaite Inheritance have already been thoroughly read by my niece, Sweetie.  Her verdict?  

"Really really really good!  I really liked them all -- especially The Thornthwaite Inheritance." 

Now if that isn't a great teen recommendation... well I just don't know what is!

When I have a moment, I'm looking forward to...
Perusing Nonsense Botany and Nonsense Alphabets, which I picked up in the shop at The National Gallery of Ireland.  It's a reprint of a vintage book of children's poems and illustrations... and so incredibly charming!  I'm really excited to read it and start daydreaming of inspiring ideas.  I'm already quite sure I'll be using this book for some creative endeavors in the future.  Hmmm...

And that Harry Potter book on the bottom?  I'm so excited about that one!  It has all sorts of pockets, and flaps, and secret notes & letters, and... ooooooh!  so much fun stuff!  I am just sure it's going to be worth every penny of the small fortune that I paid for it.  Hurray!

Pssst!  Don't tell, but...
There are a few gifts mixed into that stack too.  I won't tell you who they're for or when they'll be wrapped up, because that might ruin the future surprise for someone or someones, but... LOL!  Maybe there's a copy of The Wind in the Willows in your future?

Sent! June Book Club Mailing

After that last Book Club post where I mentioned the RSVP postcards, you'd think people would just be johnny-on-the-spot to get them returned as quickly as possible, wouldn't you?  Well, not so much.  I'm still waiting for FOUR.   Though, when I reminded one of the FOUR... he jumped up and down with such excitement to get home and Find. His. Postcard!   That sort of excitment tends to happen when you're five years old.

And just for you, my dears, here's a sneak peak at all the lovely literary goodness that's gone out the door this week...

See anything you're interested in reading?