books — Page 112

Books and Reviewing Them

March 19, 2019 at 11:16 am by Claudia

The other side of the pew. You can see from the carving, that it was attached to another pew at some point. I like both sides of the pew, one for its ornate carving, the other for this bold, almost sculptural cut-out. I added the antique doorstop I got at auction many years ago.

I’m running a bit late today. For the past three days, I’ve been having trouble falling asleep at night. Yesterday, I was sleep-deprived. Fortunately, even though it took me ages to get to sleep last night, I slept until nearly 9 am this morning, so I feel much better. But my schedule has been thrown off!

Thanks for all the comments on yesterday’s book review. For those of you who are newer to the blog, I have written literally (and I never use literally unless I mean ‘literally’) hundreds of book reviews over the course of this blog’s 11+ years of existence – so many, that I started a separate blog about books. And I reviewed books there, as well.

It all caught up with me a couple of years ago. I had so many books to read and review at any given moment that I was no longer reading for pleasure. I was suffering from burnout. One day, as I was sitting here in my blogging chair, I decided to delete the book blog. One click – gone. I felt enormous relief. And then, even though I was still getting book review offers, I backed away from them. I clearly needed a break. Recently, I found myself thinking about reviewing again, but at a much saner pace. Maybe a book a month? Maybe less?

I see so many book reviewers who seem to think a review is regurgitating the plot with one or two sentences addressing whether the reviewer liked it or not. That’s their review. That’s it. They are getting free books from the publisher in exchange for that review and I think they can do better. To be balanced in my thoughts about this subject, there are several book reviewers on Instagram who write detailed, informative reviews – who really put an enormous amount of effort into their response. They do very good work. While I’m far from the best reviewer out there, I do try to be fair and give solid reasons for my response, whether positive or not-so-positive. And I always try to find something good about a book, as well. Since you’re all aware of my thoughts on theater critics, especially the ones who let their personal bias inform the review, I’m sure you understand why I work very hard to be fair. Not everyone’s taste is my taste. And I always try to address that.

Anyway…

I escaped the house yesterday and went to the bookstore. Well, I went to Michael’s first, where I purchased some craft paint and brushes for the ongoing work on the dollhouse. Then to B & N, where I departed with three magazines and a book. Yes, there was a line at Michael’s, even though there was hardly anyone in the store. The book I purchased was by Ian Rankin, a very well known, longtime writer of mysteries. I’ve always known about him, but I’ve never read any of his books. A post from The Mysterious Bookshop about his most recent book (he was there for a signing) made me think I should stop and take notice. Have any of you read his books?

It’s still somewhat chilly out there, but it’s sunny. And Spring is a day away.

Happy Tuesday.

Patience Needed

March 17, 2019 at 11:14 am by Claudia

Breezy, a bit cold, wind chimes doing their thing. In short, a morning in March.

But it’s sunny. So I’m okay with it.

We’ve had a fairly low-key weekend. I didn’t end up going to Michael’s yesterday. But I was restless. What for, I’m not sure. I think it mostly has to do with the fact that winter is getting ready to depart, yet I can’t really do anything outside. I’m in a sort of limbo. I imagine I’m no different from many of you. So, I just have to patient. I usually am, but yesterday? I wasn’t.

I did finish Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk and loved it. I’m still thinking about it today. I remember the NYC of the eighties, the NYC in which 85 year old Lillian takes her walk. As someone who is in the city fairly frequently, I also know how the landscape of the city at that time would change during the next thirty years. The old National Biscuit Company factory, where squatters live in the novel, would become Chelsea Market. The Twin Towers would collapse on 9/11. The areas of the city that were dangerous at night would become much safer. I found the story fascinating on so many levels.

I’m about to start In Miniature – How Small Things Illuminate the World and I’m also about to review (tomorrow) How to Know the Birds, published by the National Geographic Society.

We’ve recently changed our diet and have cut way down on sweets, too much cooking oil and fat, as well as salt. We feel good about making that change.

But, Don was also restless yesterday. We were both a bit down. We strayed a bit from our diet, which, I think, is fine as long as it happens rarely. We drove a mile to one our of local orchards and bought one of their apple pies. After all, it was Pi day last week and we missed it, so we had to atone, right? But I’m already thinking I might have one more piece today and then leave it. Or I might not have that piece. I feel better without sugar in my system.

Now, to get some exercise. This week, I’m going to start hitting our rail trail again. We need to walk, something that is not easy to do around here in the winter.

Music, reading, watching films, listening to Don play his guitar and ukulele, dreaming of my gardens. It’s all good.

Happy Sunday.

Random Thoughts on a Saturday

March 16, 2019 at 11:01 am by Claudia

It’s windy and colder today. A front is moving through, bringing with it temps in the 40s. It’s all relative, of course. The 40s are perfectly fine for this time of year, and to be truthful, the 60s, though nice, seemed a bit too warm for March.

I am definitely eyeing my porch. The path to the glider is blocked by chairs from the Funky Patio and the Secret Garden. The snowblower is out there, covered by a tarp. Also covered with a tarp, the former kitchen island. It’s not habitable at the moment, but I’m counting the days until I can do some cleanup out there.

I got waylaid a bit in the midst of reading Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk – stopping for some magazines, a book I am to review, a gorgeous book about Paris interiors – but I read a big chunk of it this morning and hope to finish later today. It’s a lovely story.

On one of the pages, there is a quote which captured what I often say about life with my husband: “I relaxed better beside him than I ever did alone.”

Amen. I often say – yesterday was one such occasion – that I can’t wait to sit next to him on the sofa when the evening comes and we’re settling in for the evening. Or that I feel better after we’ve exchanged a big hug. I feel my shoulders drop. But mostly, it’s just being here with him, something I don’t take for granted.

I read it out loud to Don and he smiled.

We watched a wonderful movie the other evening: Quartet. Don had seen it before but I hadn’t. Have you seen it? It stars Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Pauline Collins, and Billy Connelly and centers on a home for aging musicians. It’s utterly charming and moving and funny. It’s directed by Dustin Hoffman. Lovely performances by all, including the supporting cast, many of who are retired performers, musicians and actors. It’s on Netflix.

I am especially fond of Tom Courtenay, who never gives anything but an honest, real, and moving performance, and Maggie Smith. I saw her years ago at the Stratford Festival in Canada – I must have been in my late teens or early twenties. Stratford was about four hours away from my home in Michigan. She was part of the company that season and watching her work onstage was so powerful that I remember it vividly all these years later. She has the most graceful and elegant hands! She often played opposite the late, great Brian Bedford and watching the two of them together was the equivalent of watching a virtuoso musical performance.

I’m not sure what I’m going to do today. Read, of course, and the usual vacuuming and laundry. Maybe a trip to the bookstore for some magazines? I need some craft paint from Michael’s, as well, but Michael’s on a Saturday tries my patience. My particular Michael’s never has enough people working at the registers, so the wait is endless.

We’re in that middle time, the straddling of the seasons. Way too soon to do any work outside, but it’s warmer and the sun is shining so one could almost be tricked into doing something…anything.

Ah, well.

Happy Saturday.

Books and Reviewing Them

Patience Needed

Random Thoughts on a Saturday

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

Archives