I’m just going to apologize right off the bat for this post. My book situation is out of control. Pure chaos. Overflowing with library books, books I’ve bought and books I’ve borrowed. For some bizarre reason, all of the books on my waiting lists at the library all decided to come in at once. Several are in the exact same genre of the novel I am writing: girl crime reporter, so they are really considered research.

I have included pictures of them all (see the second to last picture for an idea of the chaos), but I will briefly give a summary of those that I have already read. I  read and loved Foreign Tongue by Vanina Marsot. I recommend it to all Francophiles.

Am currently reading Villa Mirabella from one of my favorite authors in the Italian-American fiction genre, Peter Pezzelli. For some reason, possibly that the main character is a man in his 30s, I keep losing interest in this one.

The one that has me completely caught up in the character’s world is Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum. One of my bookclubs chose this and I borrowed it, so I am making it priority one so I can return it and let someone else in bookclub borrow it. (My second bookclub meets this week and I will have a new book from them, as well, just to add to the madness!)

I also finished “Which Brings Me to You” By Steve Almond and Julianna Baggott. I must say the whole concept of a book based entirely on correspondence was intially a complete turnoff, but the writing is so wonderful I ended up completely engrossed and loved the book. I can’t wait to read more by Baggott.

I also read Becoming A Writer (Dorothea Brande) and On Becoming a Novelist (John Gardner). Both were so-so, I guess. I also read Mark Bittman’s Quick & Easy Recipes and copied down a few of them. Behind that book in the picture you can see some photocopies I made of recipes from the French Women Don’t Get Fat Cookbook. I think I copied about 5 of them for future reference before turning the book back into the library.

The other books on my nightstand (Cheri and The Things They Carried and the New Yorker anthology) are all books I bought, so I may not get to them for quite some time since I have to read the library books which have due dates first!

On My Nightstand: I have two stacks this week. The first is my writer’s reference books I’m reading. The second is the fiction stack.

 The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauer – I’m about half way through this. At first I didn’t want to keep reading, but now I’m glad I did. It’s a little, teeny, tiny bit too sentimental, but I’ll keep going. 

The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver– I was on the wait list at the library forever for this one. Now that I have it, I’m not itching to read it, but will because it has a wait list so I can’t renew it and have to turn it in in about 10 days.

Little Altars Everywhere by Rebecca Wells– I borrowed this from my SIL, so probably won’t read it in a hurry as I have other books with due dates.

The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson– Bought this at the thrift store after seeing on FB that an author I love – Marisa de los Santos is reading this author.

The Nautical Chart by Arturo Perez-Reverte — I adore this author and snatched this up at the thrift store. Also in a holding pattern until the library books and book club books are read. I can’t complain — I love having TOO MANY good books waiting beside my bedside to read! I am going to bring this with me on my vacation to California in a few weeks.

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I’m happy to report that I had to change out of my jeans in the afternoon and put on a black jersey skirt for my Sunday dinner guests because it was soooo hot! Yea. It is about time.

We had roast (the fail proof roast recipe is in my book); potatoes, carrots, salad, rolls and Dairy Queen for dessert. Oh, and of course, wine!

After church and between dinner, I attended a writer’s workshop and got some good resources for finding an agent and getting published (my fiction novel).

On My Nightstand:

On My Nightstand:

The God of Small Things – One of my book clubs picked this. I’m about halfway into it, though I think I may have read it in the past. It is good, but not something I can’t wait to get back to every night.

Reading Lolita in Tehran — A thrift store buy I have just barely begun — on the back burner for now. So far, it seems like it is going to be really good.

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers — I bought this on the recommendation from Phyllis Bourne (see side bar) who is a published author. I read the first chapter but am saving the rest for when the first draft of my novel is complete.

The Nautical Chart by Arturo Perez-Reverte — I adore this author and snatched this up at the thrift store. Also in a holding pattern until the library books and book club books are read. I can’t complain — I love having TOO MANY good books waiting beside my bedside to read!

My Spanish Book — I realized that outside my normal life, I have room for one great passion — This year it is completing my novel. Next year will be studying Spanish again. I am the type of person who becomes so immersed in what they are doing I have a hard time spreading myself out.

This is why I quit my job as a newspaper reporter when I had kids. As a reporter, I was obsessed! It consumed my entire life. When I had children, that passion shifted to them. There was no room for both. A friend who knew me well told me she wasn’t surprised that I had to quit my job because she knew me as having so much passion for what I did that she couldn’t imagine me doing both.

MY DVD: has been neglected. I don’t watch very many movies when it is summer and so nice out.

On My Nightstand/In my DVD

Apartment Therapy – Fiona at  La Vie en Fifi wrote about this recently and I am ripping through it after picking it up at the library yesterday! (although you are supposed to take 8 weeks to do the action plan). I’m taking notes and enjoying it enormously.

A Gate at the Stairs by Laurie Moore — This was on my library “wait” list for ages, but finally it is my turn. I started it last night and can’t wait to get back to it.

Parenting Without Fear by Paul J. Donahue  — this is a library book that may not be exactly what I was looking for when I saw the title … we’ll see

Nurture Shock by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman — a friend loaned me this one

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson— My SIL loaned me this. I’ve been excited to read it for awhile. Misadventures with Andi also just posted on this.

Reading Lolita in Tehran — another thrift store buy I just barely began before I got a library book in. So far, it seems like it is going to be really good.

The Nautical Chart by Arturo Perez-Reverte — I adore this author and snatched this up at the thrift store.

In my DVD Player

Paris with Juliette Binoche — such a great story and beautiful scenery and inspirational style. i loved this movie.

On My Nighstand:

The Help  by Kathryn Stockett — This is for one of my bookclubs

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson— My SIL loaned me this. I’ve been excited to read it for awhile. Misadventures with Andi also just posted on this.

Reading Lolita in Tehran — another thrift store buy I just barely began before I got a library book in. So far, it seems like it is going to be really good.

The Nautical Chart by Arturo Perez-Reverte — I adore this author and snatched this up at the thrift store.

In my DVD Player

Up in the Air with George Clooney was entertaining, pretty good, not my favorite movie ever

Away We Go was a fun indie flick to watch this week

Boondock Saints 2 — perfect for St. Patrick’s Day week.

 The Gospel According to Coco Chanel by Karen Karbo    — Very cute book. I cherry picked it however. I’m not big into the history of France or Chanel’s personal history. I just wanted to glean some style tips from it, so I skipped the historical parts. Oh well.

Your Carriage Madam by Janet Lane — got this out-of-print book from the library on recommendation of Marsi. I’m only a few pages into it, but love it so far. I’m already improving my posture.

Dusty Answer by Rosamond Lehmann — This is actually the current book I’m reading (along with Your Carriage Madam). It reminds me of Tana French’s Likeness is an odd way as it deals with inclusive groups of friends viewed by outsiders.

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness – I saw this book on The Evening Reader’s blog and ordered it from the library.

Franny & Zoey by J.D. Salinger — Of course like people across the world I now want to re-read this.

The Nautical Chart by Arturo Perez-Reverte — I adore this author and snatched this up at the thrift store.

Reading Lolita in Tehran — another thrift store buy I will wait to read.

Brava Valentine  by Adriana Trigiani — I am trying very hard to wait to read this until my bookclub does.

Leone’s Italian Cookbook — my Italian father sent to this me as a surprise gift in the mail. (it’s off to the side)

UPDATE:

The Human Stain by Philip Roth — Some of you might have seen this book in my last posting. I returned it to the library without reading it. I do that sometimes when a book doesn’t immediately grab me and I happen to have a big fat stack of good books to read.

On my nightstand

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell (not shown, it is now on my dh’s nightstand!): I finished this book on the place last weekend. We are discussing it at my bookclub meeting tonight

The Road by Cormac McCarthy — I started this in Sedona and it has completely captured my imagination, but I have set it aside because I just had a bunch of library books I ordered come in.

Dreaming in French by Megan Mcandrew — I began this last night. I can’t wait to get back to it. It is about an American couple transplanted in Paris told from their daughter’s viewpoint (so far that’s what it is about!)

The Likeness by Tana French — I think I heard about this by The Evening Reader’s  blog (see righthandside). Looking forward to starting this, as well.

The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio  by Terry Ryan — my OTHER book club picked this last week for this month. Will have to get going on it. I have either already read it or tried to read it in the past. I’m sure I will remember which when I get started on it.

Slam by Nick Hornby — once again set aside until my library books are read.

FILM/MOVIES/TV

We just finished the last episode in Season 1 of Battlestar Galactica last night. (on netflix). Now on to season 2!

I will be hitting the movie theater sometime this weekend for the second Twilight movie, even if I don’t know what is called off the top of my head, I’ll be there!

BLOG FOR PAY UPDATE

So far, I’ve been offered two opportunities to post on here for pay and turned them both down. The first was a while back and was about plastic surgery. The second came yesterday and they wanted me to write about — get this — crotchless panties. No thank you. I will, however, post something for pay in the future if I think it will be relevant or interesting or at least nonoffensive, to you, my readers. Thanks for understanding.

ON MY NIGHTSTAND

On my nightstand

 One less thing to worry about by Jerilyn Ross. My mother, a wise, wonderful, intimidatingly intelligent woman mailed this book to me on Saturday as a gift. I’m almost done. I’ve always been a bit of a worrier, but now have actually –  for the first time in my life — been having panic attacks. (a whole ‘nother issue I should probably write about someday)*. Anyway, I’m marking up this book like mad and almost finished reading it. It deals a lot with anxiety connected to fluctuating hormone levels and then treatment with cognitive therapy and other methods (just getting into the treatment part of the book).

When Will There Be Good News by Kate Atkinson. I can’t believe I actually got back to this book. Finally. I finished all my library books and now am waiting for more on my request list to become available.

My next bookclub book is Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, but as I am something like no. 700 on the waiting list, so I know it is not going to become available before bookclub. Has anyone read it? Is it really worth seeking out or should I just skip it?

* One thing that has changed that has probably affected my anxiety level is ever since the weather became cold, I have stopped doing something I love — walking. I think just by starting to walk again every day, it can make a big difference for me. So this morning, during the short “kid-free” time I have three days a week (I have two hours to myself) I walked to the library to return some books that were due. It is about a mile round trip. In my big walking days I used to think it was the wimpy walk — the big one was down to the shopping area south of here. But it really feels good to just move my body again. I have been trying to spend this time working online or running errands, but I think it is crucial to use it to walk if it will help this anxiety I’ve been feeling.

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich — Got this from the library for one of my bookclubs. It is a fun read so far. I’m going to hurry and finish it though because I just picked up two new library books today.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery — The chic women over at French Chic recommended this book to me. I’ve been on the library waiting list for ages and really looking forward to digging into it.

The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey — recommended by so many of you awesome women and also by my former priest! I am looking forward to starting this one as well.

Accidentally on Purpose by Mary Pols — Still re-reading this one by my former coworker for my other bookclub meeting next week.

I need to go back and watch the episodes of this sitcom based on her book. I caught the first one, but I have been so engrossed in reading that I have forgotten when it is on and missed it.  In fact,  I have been so happy with so many books lately that I haven’t watched TV for ages. Instead, I go upstairs and curl up with my latest book. I did watch one movie this week “Wolverine: The X Men Origins” or something like that (not sure exact title) It was a fun movie.

I should just aside the Kate Atkinson and chess books for awhile. They aren’t happening for awhile I can tell.

My bookshelves

You can see by my living room what an important role books play in my life. I only save books I love.

On the lefthand side, the two lower shelves are for my children’s books. The shelf above that is all of my husband’s music books and scores. Then on the right bookshelf, the shelf right above the TV is for DVDs. We don’t buy them, but these are ones given as gifts to my children. So I really don’ t have a ton of books considering how much I read. I only keep ones that are meaningful.