It's the Growth

I'm reading the book The Happiness Project.  In it a young woman writes about her realization that in the middle of her good life, she wasn't as happy as she should be.  So she set out to figure out how to change that.  The book chronicles her research, efforts, results and realizations.  

I just read that she had a realization one day that she almost had it but that something was missing.  What was it that made people keep striving?  And the answer (so far) was that we are happy when we continue growing. 

I think there's something to that. 

If you haven't read the book, I recommend it.

Recommendations

I recently enjoyed two books and a movie enough to share them with you.

First, A Discovery of Witches.  I once stumbled into Diana Gabaldon's Outlander and loved it.  This reminded me of that but with a totally different premise.  I was totally transported. 

Next, the Informationist.  Think Jack Reacher, only in female form. 

And finally, the movie.  I pick all sorts of random movies to watch and many times they're nothing special.  But this was.  It was based on a real story of a man who threw his funeral party before he died and attended it.  Of course, where else could this happen but  in the South?  Robert Duvall.  Sissy Spacek.  Bill Murray.  Need I say more?

If you read or watch these, let me know what you think.

Score!

My favorite book reviewer via podcast, Nancy Pearl, has slowed down.  At one point she had a weekly podcast via KUOW public radio.  So I've been casting about looking for another book podcast.

Well, I've found it.  Books on the Nightstand is a team project of Ann and Michael, two book reps. This is their personal project, not an extension of work.  They cover a variety of genres and while I haven't listened to all the podcasts-yet-I've enjoyed the ones I have heard. 

For you non iPod-ers, I think you can listen from their website.

Library Card

Edited to add that I appreciate the kindness of the readers who did not point out the gross misspelling in the title and through out the post, which has now been fixed. Libary , indeed!

When I was 8 or so, I began riding my bike to the public library, which was housed in what was the original Troy State Teachers College building. When I was a child it was behind the building that housed City Hall, the fire department and the jail. Home was about 3/4 of a mile away, out Elm Street. It took a lot of googling, but I think this is the building as the college.





Nancy Drew, Misty of Chincoteague, The Black Stallion, the Phyllis Whitney books, Little House on the Prairie, all these and more sparked my imagination there. I must have read a room full of biographies - they were short, and written for children. I remember Edison, Babe Ruth, Abraham Lincoln and Tom Thumb just to name a few. There were no obvious moves to censor what I read, although in Troy I'm sure if I'd picked something inappropriate, either the librarian (whom I can see in my minds eye but can't recall her name) would have redirected me or called home to let them know.



The building itself was wonderful. Broad marble or granite steps led to double doors which opened onto oak hardwoods worn smooth from students and readers. The circulation desk was straight ahead, with the card catalog to the left I believe. Children's books on the right, adult books on the left.



I loved it there.



So when I started making my own money, I bought myself books. I forgot how lovely it was to walk into a library and feel like you had the whole world available to you in the card catalog files. And I'm one of those people who can read a book but it looks brand new when they finish. Yep, I'm one of those.



Over time, the books have taken over. Upstairs I have several 3 shelf bookshelves full of books and the built in shelves are full as well. Downstairs they are tucked in everywhere.



Enter the late economic turbulence. Bossy started this "Poverty Party" and I signed up. Now, after working at it, the only debt I have is my mortgage. But I do have some pretty self indulgent spending habits, so I think this is the time to adjust those.



So, I have decided to stop buying books. Well, let's be reasonable. This is me. I will stop buying the popular fiction books. Any books that I come across that I must have a personal copy of I will evaluate a purchase then. This should allow me to try new recommendations - I love to listen to Nancy Pearl podcasts and I have her books - without making either a capital outlay or find space for the book. There's no telling how much space or money I will save.


To that end, I got my library card today. It was empowering. Although the branch nearest my home is somewhat limited, a huge branch is located near my office, and only two blocks away. Getting out for a walk at lunch is another good thing.



Now to edit the books that have already taken up residence. But that's another day.



See you at the library!

Shoot the Lawyer Twice - Book Review

I got another book to review. It was called Shoot the Lawyer Twice by Michael Bower and it is the 4th in a series featuring Rep and Melissa Pennyworth. I had the hardest time getting engaged in the book. I wanted to like it, I really did.

Mysteries are my favorite in all their forms: cozies, whodunnits... I can't think of any more forms, but I'm sure you understand.

Last weekend I made myself finish it. Part of my problem is that when I am really busy at work, my mind is too tired to read. When I was younger I never thought that could happen.

I didn't allow myself to read the other reviewers until I finished. Then I went and looked. Boy, they didn't like it either.

There was too much going on, and it was too hard to make connections between the various threads. That's the best way I can think of to describe it. I liked the main characters. It seemed a lot of work for the story.

The Guernsey LIterary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I belong to an online book group. Each month they have advance reading copies you can request, and if you are selected you get a free book to read and review. I recently got The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows.

I was trying to make my review so brief it ended up sounding constipated (but it was published, thankyouverymuch):

Irrepressible human spirit
The daily privations and loss during a war time occupation are held at bay by generosity and ingenuity resulting in a clandestine feast of contraband pork. The book club hastily formed as an excuse for breaking Nazi curfew becomes a source of strength, courage and hope for the members struggling to survive the war, and results in a journey home for the journalist who visits them after the war.

At any rate, I enjoyed it. It was in epistolary form - which is kind of fun for a change. And it covered a portion of WWII history that I know little about, although I like WWII history. There is one society member who is positively adventuresome in his war time cooking - hence part of the name.

Read it!

Oh, and if you want to see Bookbrowse for yourself, click here: Bookbrowse

What I did for the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend

So, as I packed up Friday afternoon at the office, I considered what I had to do over the weekend:


1. Read the advance reading copy of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society I received to write a book review on - which I did, on my porch with the ceiling fan going and the dogs lying on the cool tile floor,

or in Gus' case, on the wicker love seat. This is the look I got when I told him to get down (he just got back up once I was intent on the book again).

2. Paint the Thomasville bilious yellow cabinet I found at a flea market before Christmas. I got the paint in March-Prussian Blue by Ralph Lauren at Home Depot-and it proceeded to rain every weekend after that or it was too cold. Nevertheless, I think it turned out well.

Inside you can see the bilious yellow that it once was. The knobs need to be changed out, and I am going to have a piece of mirror cut to go on the top surface.

3. Catch up on laundry. Does this include dry cleaning? Below is where I do laundry, which feels a lot like a dungeon when there is a lot to do. Got a lot done. But not all. Well, got some done. And I have a big bag of dry cleaning.

4. Get the rest of the summer clothes out of my closet (which is really a sliver, not a closet). Sort of done, maybe will be done when by the time I go to bed.

5. Try a new recipe. I picked Bacon wrapped jalapeno thingies. Well, since I made a test run with only 5 peppers all that is left is the empty pan which should tell you it was yummy. I made one change and that was to fat free cream cheese (the block). For the recipe, go here: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/07/bacon-wrapped_j/

6. Nurse Cotton's toe - she had licked her back foot until a toe had gotten infected. Honestly, these are the highest maintenance dogs. I had a picture of the toe here for you, but reconsidered. The good news is it no longer looks like an inflamed plucked chicken.

7. Assemble the storage shelves I bought shortly after buying the house but postponed when the basement flooded at every rain shower. Didn't get to that one.

What a relief, there's something left for next weekend.