Some books I'm going to read . . .

Here are some thoughts on books I have read, or am going to read:

The Silmarillion -- I've read the beginning part of this, and it's an amazing, epic tale.  Written in an arching, (ahem) epic style, there's very little showing and a lot of telling . . . and yet it's gripping and poignant.  It has a lot of sorrow and sadness, for it's how middle earth began.  It also is where we found the name of one of our daughters.  I highly recommend it, and I need to put it on my "to read" list so I don't forget to finish it again in the whirlwind that is my life.

The Tale of Two Cities -- I read this in high school, and remember being really touched at the end.  I would definitely read it again, and probably understand it a whole lot better, to boot.  I have a far, far better mind now than I did then.

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man -- Curiosity, mostly, drives my desire to read this one.  I've heard it mentioned in enough books that I've read that I want it to be part of my cultural knowledge.

Foucault’s Pendulum -- Ditto.

The Poisonwood Bible: a novel -- I've read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, and Loved It.  I really like Barbara Kingsolver's writing, and this one is currently on my list.  It was recommended by one of the women in my book review club, and several of us have read it.

To the Lighthouse -- I did not like this one.  At all.  I read it for a college literature course, and the strangeness of the family culture just didn't do it for me.  Well, that, and the incest.  (I have a hard time with that kind of thing in lit.  Just don't like it.)

Les Misérables -- I've gone back and forth on this one, but after reading a recent review, it's back on my to read list.

Dune -- Vern has read these, and I've watched the first movie.  I just can't quite get into it now, as the move ruined them for me forever.  They should have waited until now to make them, as they may have been more believable.  (Star Wars was more believable than Dune.)

Slaughterhouse-five -- I thought I had read this in high school.  But, after reading up on it at Amazon, I realized I hadn't.  But I'm going to.  And it puts Catch-22 back on my list.

Catch-22 -- Because I didn't read it in high school, and I'm highly intrigued by the reviews.

Freakonomics : a rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything (Nothing by an economist, please.) -- I think you should give this one a chance.  I've read several economists, and they're a fascinating bunch (if you get the right type).  Economics isn't a finance-bound discipline.  It's the study of behavior, and what motivates it.  So, banish thoughts of Keynes from your mind, and see what this guy has to say. ;o)

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance : an inquiry into values -- This is one of the  most interesting and mind-bending books I've ever read.  It's beyond explanation . . . you've just got to read it.  (And make sure you've got some quiet time to digest it, too.  This isn't a speed-read.)

The Three Musketeers -- Love the story and movie.  I wonder if I'll love the book, too?  It's on my list.

Wicked: the life and times of the wicked witch of the West -- I've heard smashing things about the play, and want to read this one.  Update: Here's a bit of a note from a friend: "I saw Wicked on your to read list, and I thought I'd tell you that it's pretty nasty. Apparently the musical took the general idea, (I don't know, I haven't seen it, but I've heard it's fabulous), but the book made me cringe. And it is hard to make me cringe."  So, this one is off the list.


The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time -- The title alone had me at "hello".  Didn't it for you?  (Edited to add: I read some of this at Amazon, and while the book is fascinating, the recurrence of pretty foul language has me looking elsewhere.  I was really hooked at first, because I have two autistic nephews, and found the point of view intriguing . . . but my mild OCD kicks in when the f-bomb drops, (don't ask me why) and it's all I hear in my head for at least a day.  So, this one's out.)  In other news, I found it funny that the reviewer talked about how this "first-time novelist" did such a great job.  Well, he's a professor of creative writing at a British college, for Pete's sake.  It's not like he's a freshly-stamped BA. ;o)

Vegetables in Winter?

So I've just ordered this book:

And I'm not sure I can adequately express how excited I am.  (I know, I know.  Vegetables.  In winter.  That's what the grocery store is supposed to be for.)  But I've been seriously uncomfortable with getting all of our food from mostly unknown sources, exposed to who knows what (pollution, unwashed hands, the treatments allowed under the "organic" label), and harvested long, long ago.  A Safeway produce lady told me they warehouse their produce for two weeks before it gets to the store.  I was astounded.  Not only does that mean it doesn't keep (good for them, I guess), but the nutritional value is pretty much gone by then.  Safeway successfully changes fresh, reasonably healthy produce into empty calories.  With fiber.

Since most of our diet is now fruits and vegetables (along with sprouted nuts & seeds, and fermented foods), the idea of providing our own, even in winter, is wildly attractive.  (Have you SEEN the prices of organic produce lately?  Ay yi yi.)  And as our growing season here is between 4-5 months, knowing how to continue to provide for ourselves gives me this great, warm feeling inside.

So, I'll let you know what I think of this book.  It seems to be the small-scale farm version of his Four Season Harvest, which I really really love.  Elliot Coleman has a respect for, and understanding of, the earth, its seasons, plants, and their needs.  The kind of understanding that I'm eager to gain; first through study, and then through faith*.

(You know, I really should probably post a few book reviews of books I actually ready lately . . . like Animal, Vegetable, Mineral, Thy Gold to Refine, 12 Steps to Raw Foods, Signature Family Dishes, Kabul Beauty School, La Hacienda, or any of the fourteen Georgette Heyer novels I devoured during the first half of the year.  Requests on which goes first welcome.)


*My definition of Faith: a belief which moves one to action, or the application of knowledge gained by teaching (as opposed to the knowledge gained by experience).  Faith is work--the application of principles learned and the true test of a principles truthfulness or validity.

I hardly ever win things . . .

But I managed, via random number generator, to win one of Julia's Spring Cleaning contests. Yesterday the package arrived, and now I get to read The Joy of Knitting by Lisa R. Myers, and Mindful Knitting by Tara Jon Manning. Both titles have appealed to me in the past, but they hadn't yet made it to the top of the wishlist. ;o)

I'd post photos, but the camera got shot by a high-powered stream of water this morning (I'm not yet trained to turn off the deer sprinkler before wandering the yard), and I'm waiting for it to dry completely before trying to use it again. Please send lots of positive happy-camera vibes my way, if you would. If my Oly dies, I'll be so very, very sad. I've had that camera for more than five years, and I just love it. DH has been pining for a Digital Rebel, though. So, if it is the end, {sniffle, sniffle}, there's always a new beginning on the other side. Right now that sounds kind of hollow.

Enjoy your Saturday!!!

The Mail is Here! The Mail is Here! Oooooo!!!!

The Book has arrived. Long awaited, Amazon-delayed, and here. I'm off to read . . . and knit in it's honor. ;o)

(** Let's have a contest to see who can name the character who said quote in the subject line. Email me your guesses; please don't leave them in the comments. ;o)