When you start a book on a Wednesday morning that you purchased a few months back and with each new page, you have a dawning awareness that what you’re reading is undeniably familiar. Thirty more pages in and you know you’ve read it before.
Sigh.
And you’re faced with the fact that you have 3 hours of time to kill on a bus today and you need something to read, preferably fiction. You don’t want to take your new book from John Sandoe because you don’t want to ruin the cover. And you’ve just barely started it, so you’re not hooked yet. As you roam around the den, looking at the shelves, nothing calls to you. There are some books on your Kindle app but you don’t feel like reading from a screen. Maybe this Pat Conroy book full of essays on writing that you still haven’t read? You’re already hatching plans to make time for a quick stop at a bookstore – Barnes and Noble? That other one near Whole Foods? – someplace near Times Square because you only have a short amount of time until you have to be at the matinee of Anastasia.
The fact is, a great deal of my life is taken up with this sort of thing. What to read? Do I have enough books on hand to read? How many books do I take with me on a trip? Are they too heavy to lug in my suitcase/handbag/carry-all? Why am I not compelled to read the books in my TBR stash? What do I think would be the perfect book to occupy my mind while commuting back and forth to New York City?
Is it only me? I suspect not.
Anyway, I still haven’t made a decision and I’m soon off to Manhattan for the day.
We watched A Star is Born last night, part of our ongoing attempt to see all the SAG Award nominees before Don votes at the end of the week. I love the Judy Garland/James Mason version and tend to avoid yet another remake, but WOW! It was fabulous! Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga were simply wonderful. It’s so well done. Bradley Cooper will break your heart. He directed it and adapted the screenplay and let me tell you, he was robbed yesterday. He should have been nominated for Best Director. I don’t agree with some of the other Best Director nominees – I liked Vice, but Best Director? No. I wasn’t at all taken by BlacKkKlansman. I understood the point it was trying to make and wholeheartedly agree with that point and it’s based on a true story, but I thought it was clumsily acted and directed. So why was Spike Lee nominated? Just my personal opinion (and Don’s, as well) of course. Anyway, another lesson learned: give a remake a chance. This one is stellar.
We need to see Mary Poppins Returns and The Green Book and then we’ll be all caught up.
Propane was delivered at 7:30 last night.
We’re all set.
Okay, my friends, I’m off.
Happy Wednesday.
So glad your propane was delivered! Stella needs the dance. And books! I have the same problem. Too many choices staring me in the face. We both know these are first world problems. Sigh.
Indeed. Definitely first world problems, Tana.
glad that you have oil, propane, heat, food … whew!
glad also that you have the ‘dilemma’ about which book to read (i am like that, too) so that you have choices. i don’t have commutes like yours (just a ten minute drive to work) or go anywhere knowing i’ll have a wait so i don’t take a book with me, but i always like and feel better for having a book to read, yarn to knit, supplies to paint …
we had a beautiful but treacherous six inches of snow yesterday and overnight (the third snowfall of five or six inches in the last twelve days) so lots of roads and parking lots are a mess. made it to work, but would much rather be home reading, knitting, painting …! will see if my boss makes it in (i’ll try to not be resentful if she doesn’t).
hope your back isn’t giving you any trouble after monday’s shoveling and car problem, that you have a safe trip to/from nyc and enjoy the work and the day!
kathy in iowa
You’ve been getting a lot of snow!
Take care, Kathy!
I know what you mean about choosing books. I go through that “dilemma” sometimes, too. Right now I’m reading a very entertaining book called Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life. The author is a local (Chicago) woman and is only a few years younger than me, so I can relate to a lot of what she talks about in the book. The Pat Conroy book – A Lowcountry Heart – is a good one. I have that one and have read it.
I agree that A Star is Born was fabulous. Both Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga were nothing short of amazing in that film.
Glad to hear your propane was delivered. I guess I should be glad we run on natural gas here! Safe travels to you…I am going outside now to shovel. We got yet another snowstorm last night (on top of ice) and it’s still snowing, but I have to make a dent in it. I have to take Clementine to the vet in a few hours.
I grew up with natural gas and it is nice just to know it’s there!
You guys in the Midwest have been getting a lot of snow!
I love, love, love A Star Is Born! I came out of the theater simply wowed. The talents of Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper continue to blow me away every time I remember. Just wow!
It was spectacular, Deb. I agree!
You are so not alone in the book dilemma. I have stacks of books but sometimes I think I have ‘nothing’ to read…or that I want to read. I question myself as to why I bought the books in my TBR pile in the first place. Once my mind settles on something to read I’m usually ok. Safe travels today. I’m home nursing a sore back. This aging thing is for the birds.
I know! Why is that? I have lots of books that I haven’t read, but nothing looks appealing. Feel better!
This sounds very familiar. Sigh!
I think it’s a common condition for book lovers!
Glad you are set with propane and can cook! And you’re not alone in the book thing — sometimes having too many on the stack is a bad thing! Just sometimes.
I agree!
Ah…the famous book dilemma…or is it infamous? I’ve often started reading a book…only to realize I’ve already read this at some point. Sometimes I feel like I should keep a list of my books on my phone of what I already own, or have read. Is there an app for that perhaps? If not…there should be!
When we travel…I usually pick up a paperback mystery, something to do with food, light reading. It keeps my attention, provides me with a new recipe, and it doesn’t add any real weight to my purse or carryon.
I was glad to hear your propane was delivered. Thank goodness for dedicated crews to do those necessary deliveries. Enjoy your day! ;)
I bet there is an app. Hmmmm.
Claudia, I usually don’t have problems with books, since I always have a stack of library books. I only take a book with me when I am local, not traveling. My problem is usually which knitting or needlework project (s) to take when I travel.
Echo everyone else’s sigh of relief that you have propane! Have a good work day.
I like library books but I often get overwhelmed by the looming due dates.
So many wonderful books yet to read! It can be a dilemma to settle upon the right one for that particular day/ time/ situation. So many times I remember exactly what I was reading when a certain “thing” was going on in life. When people tell me “I don’t read”, I often think they are saying they don’t breathe. I can’t comprehend that.
A Star is Born. I am so happy to hear you say you loved it. I know you don’t like trendy things, and I worried what you would think about it. I love all 3 of the makes and remakes. Each one is the same basic story, but so very very different and beautiful on their own. Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga were beyond amazing in my mind. The music, the story, it was all just wonderful. I was so sad he didn’t get the nod for best director. I keep hearing Glenn Close is going to win for actress, but I am holding out my hope!!
We had another 7 inches of snow and no school for the 2nd day in a row. By Friday the wind chills are supposed to be -35*. I guess winter has arrived and shown its ugly face. I am beyond ready for spring ~ but more so, summer. Safe travels.
It was snowy all day here near Lake Michigan too (we got lake effect snow all day yesterday as well), but it was so lovely. I momentarily forgot I’m officially over winter myself :-)
I can’t comprehend it either, Chris. Who doesn’t read???
I liked Glenn Close in The Wife, but it wasn’t what I would call an Oscar winning performance. She was excellent, but I thought Olivia Colman in The Favourite was better. But how can you compare Colman and Gaga? Apples and oranges – both excellent in ver different vehicles.
Know the feeling. I have many books in my library yet I need one that I am in the mood to read.
Happy hunting.
Yes, you have to be in the mood!
Enjoy the city-hope u find something to read–I gave away most of my books as I wanted others to enjoy them but kept a few!!! I have read some of them a dozen times! I love my library too!!!
Glad you have heat!!!
I donate stacks of books, but I still have hundreds here in the house.
Hope your trip in went well and you had fun in the book stores. And, yay, the propane arrived. I spent lots of time walking outside in the fluffy stuff falling all day. The thing I love best about a snowstorm is how quiet it is. Peaceful, calm. I needed some of that now. I commented earlier that my brother was very ill. He was removed from life support and passed away on Tuesday. It turned out to be legionnaire’s disease, not diagnosed until too late as is often the case. So sudden. So random. I’m keeping to myself these days and doing only that which I find comforting – which includes reading your lovely blog, Claudia.
K.
to kay …
oh, i am very sorry for your loss.
glad you are trying to do things that feel good, help you rest or relax. when you’re ready, i hope you will reach out to people and God, too.
i will continue to pray for you and your family … for peace and comfort in happy memories of time spent with your brother, through friends bringing casseroles and hugs and especially in God’s promises of eternal life.
we don’t know each other, but if you want, consider this a hug from me.
kathy in iowa
Thank you, Kathy.
I am so very sorry to hear of your brother’s passing, Kay. Sending you love and healing during this time. I lost my brother many, many years ago and I know how painful it is to lose a sibling. Take care of yourself and know that we are here for you.
Thanks, Claudia. Coming here is like visiting with a neighbor to me.
xoxo
I hope that you had a relaxing trip to the city and you chose a good book to read on the way!
Interestingly, I got into a conversation with the woman I was sitting next to. Turns out she is a former actress who lives in Woodstock. We railed against Trump and talked theater. Delightful. I found a book in the city.
I’m so sorry you had a rough weekend!! What a time to get low on oil and run out of propane! It’s so good that you and Don are healthy–keeping your driveway and walkways shoveled is hard work. It’s a relief he’s home this winter to help. I have to admit that despite the weather guy’s warning, I was not prepared to wake up Monday to 5 below! Our thermometer had never registered in the minus range before. Just punishing and the wind never stopped for 3 days! Luckily for us, we didn’t lose any branches. We’ve had relatively mild winters the past 3 years which made a huge difference for me because the few years before that had really broken my spirit. I don’t know how these really old New Englanders deal with this crap all their lives! I have to laugh when I think that I was born in Cuba to Navy parents and lived in Southern Cal for my first 25 years…New England seemed so romantic thanks to the transcendentalists and James Taylor and when I moved to Rhode Island the winters were more picturesque than frigid. But that was almost 40 years ago. Times, climate, and my tired old bod have changed. On another note, I’ve been following some piano restorers on Instagram–fascinating to see the components involved in rebuilding a piano. I’m pretty ignorant about the innards. If you have time to fritter (!), check out my Instagram to see who I follow–the photos are gorgeous and the pianos are amazing! One company from London has some Bechsteins and other treasures, one up for sale is a Steinway either A or B like the one John Lennon played–they are selling it with the tag It would make a great tribute to John! Just thinking of Don’s next birthday! LOL
Oh, how interesting! I will go to your IG profile and see who you are following, Nora. Thank you!
Library?
No time before I had to leave for the city. I found a book in Manhattan.