sleepy old dog.JPG

sleepy old dog.JPG, originally uploaded by Bloodlossgirl.

Guardian Challenge Book #3

My third book read for the Guardian UK Challenge was Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson. Now, I've long been a fan of her mystery series that began with Case Histories , so I was very excited to read this book, her first novel. Kate Atkinson is the mistress of gentle black humor, non-linear storytelling, and the last-minute reveal - elements that are indeed present in this first book, giving me a sense of how she has honed these skills over the years. Our protagonist is Ruby Lennox, narrating her story (and that of her family's) from the moment of her conception in York, England in 1951. The chapters narrated by Ruby are interspersed with "footnote" chapters that show us family history that occurred pre-Ruby. I found this book to be breathtaking in places and mostly darkly hilarious throughout (although, like any Atkinson book, it draws a tear from me from time to time). Atkinson has also clearly researched what English life was like for the lower-middle class during the First and Second World Wars. An excellent read, I give it 4 stars out of 5.

Guardian Challenge Book #2

Since today is the first day of graduate school, it seems only fitting that I procrastinate by writing up a short review of the second book I read for the Guardian UK Challenge, The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood:



There's a reason this book is considered a dystopian classic. It's a chilling diary of a future society in which women are valued only for their reproductive capacity, and are no longer allowed to read or own property. The book is narrated by "Offred" (Of + Fred, the new name given to her when she is placed in the household of a Commander named "Fred"), a handmaiden attached to the household of an elite. Offred struggles with her memories of life before the new regime, with her fears for her husband and her daughter, and with her fears for herself, should she fail to conceive a child with the commander. A brilliant and amazing book - I am only surprised that I never read it before.

Next up: Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson.

Guardian Challenge Book #1

The first book I read for the Guardian challenge (linked in the previous entry) was Armistead Maupin's hilarious Tales of the City , the first volume in the series. This book was quick and delightful to read, with short witty chapters and engaging characters. I realized half-way through that the book was first published the year I was born, but it didn't seem dated. I loved the series of interlocking tales of the inhabitants of 28 Barbary Lane, and look forward to reading the rest in the series. Tales of the City even ended with a bit of a mystery that one hopes will be solved in the books that follow. I give it four stars out of five!

Guardian 1000 book challenge

So, via the lovely M. Molly Backes @ Bittersweet, and at the behest therefore of Biblio File , I've decided to enter the fray of the Guardian 1000 Book Challenge . Just because I don't already have enough reading constraints for the year by only reading books that are already in the house.

This has to do with the Guardian's 1000 Books to Read Before You Die .

So, the challenge is to read and review 10 books off the list (that's 1%) between February 1st of 2009 and February 1st of 2010.

Of these 10, you must read 1 from each category and, if possible, 1 should be a book you have never heard of until you saw it on this list.

Fortunately for me, I counted how many of those books from the list that I have in my house: 42. Auspicious number! I definitely have books from each category (most from the Sci Fi/Fantasy category), but unfortunately I won't be able to do a book I haven't heard of until January of 2010.

I amazed myself by having already read 78 of the 1,000, and having heard of hundreds.

No, I still don't think I have a book problem; I'm just a naturally-born librarian.

12 sentences

bunyanland
Originally uploaded by Bloodlossgirl

In lieu of content, here's a story:

Paul put the plate of flapjacks gently down on the table, having learned his lesson about haste last time, and layered a thick stream of homemade maple syrup (tapped himself) upon them. His mouth watered at the sight of the mountain of pancake goodness, but the fire was dying and he needed more wood.


Donning boots and overcoat, Paul headed out to the woodpile and his axe, glinting cheerfully in the morning sun. He’d only chopped into the log twice, maybe, when he saw the message, “It’s time to go West.”


Paul had always seen the messages in the wood; sometimes faces, never words, but somehow the knots in the wood delivered the message. Swearing and longing for his stack of flapjacks, sadly cooling, Paul whistled for Babe and set off West and South on Babe’s broad back.


When Paul reached the coast, the ocean was on fire as far as he could see, with no people anywhere. Paul sat on the beach and Babe plunked down beside him, panting from the three-day run.


Paul watched the fire burn itself out for another three days, before once again riding away with Babe, the blue-tinged ox. Paul Bunyan, the last of the Nephilim, bears witness to the end of humankind before going home to his pancakes.


The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.

Copyright 2009 H.N.James

Dog days are here again

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Originally uploaded by Bloodlossgirl

The dog is home! The dog is home! The dog is home!

Home again, jiggety jig

homeinspring
Originally uploaded by Bloodlossgirl

As of 12:30 a.m. this morning, we're back in Charleston. While I still have a love-hate relationship with West Virginia, a great wave of joy washed over me when we entered our house. This is our place, that Nick and I have created together. I missed it greatly during our slightly-under-two-week vacation. I missed my space, and my books, and my kitchen laid out exactly as I want it. I'm so relieved.

This morning I've already been out to Pantera Bread Co. for a decaf and a bagel; deposited a check; stopped by the bookstore to check next week's schedule; and done a rudimentary grocery shopping trip for essentials. It's sunny and 39 degrees and it feels balmy. The world seems a bit brighter.

While we cut various portions of our trip short by about a day in either direction, it turned out to be what we needed in terms of duration. We decided to travel yesterday so that we'd have a full weekend at home before Nick & I start working again on Monday. After 2008, which was chock-full of crazy travel deadlines and too much driving, we decided to start out as we mean to go on this year: in a leisurely fashion. The weather was clear, and it was lovely to watch the outside temperature sensor start registering higher temps as we drove south and the car began to get better gas mileage.

Tomorrow we'll pick up the dog and our homecoming will be complete.

I needed time away, with family and friends, to refresh my perspective and make me want to be here again, and ready to work on the things I need to work on this year. We're not planning much travel this year, if we can help it - ya'll will just have to come visit us.

Minnesota has never been my home, despite family roots and fond memories of childhood visit to my beloved grandmother. Wisconsin is not my home anymore, although it's familiar and easy to be there, and not challenging to me the way West Virginia is. Madison is an all-you-can-eat buffet of delicious foods and people and bookstores, but I always eat too much of everything and end up sick, literally and figuratively. I'm sure I can't live there again.

I have this weird intense joy just watching the sunlight through the sunroom door.

So, 2009 can bring it.