Friday, February 20, 2009

Just Finished

Not ten minutes ago, I finished The Physics of Sunset. I really enjoyed the book, and let me tell you, it had some crazy, totally unexpected sex details. Won't ruin the story by telling you who is having sex in the book, just in case you plan on reading it. Trust me, it's a very good read!
Immediately after completing the book, I pulled over the laptop and looked up the author. You can always tell if it's really a good book by how curious you are about the author. She has another book called Failure to Zigzag.... anyone read it yet? And another title that caught my eye- yes, possibly because it had the word sex in it, and after reading this last one, I'm even more curious to see what she's got in store for us.
I did my Ebay scan and couldn't A Pocket History of Sex in the Twentieth Century: A Memoir. However, I did find a copy on another used book site, but it turns out that it's an advanced reader copy- which I hate. The release date is March of 2009. So not too long of a wait. Definetely going to splurge and buy it.
Lesson in all of this thrift store book buying is that you may end up spending more money on books if you happen to like the author. How lucky would I have to be to find the other two in a thrift store? Very lucky, I'd say.
On a side note, I went to the Antique Mall today to look for a mirror to hang in the bathroom of our old house that we are renovating in hopes of selling(quickly, I might add). While there, I decided to check out the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store. Their book selection was just sad. Not a whole lot to pick from. But, I did find a copy of edible Austin (the fall 2008 edition) and a build your own play set instruction manual of sorts. Thought it was well worth the .25 for each. I'm sure my husband will be pleased when I tell him that he gets to build a playset!
Now, off to start another book!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

What I Like Most About Days Like This

Dear Internet,

Why must I be so busy that I can't just lay in bed on a cloudy, windy, rainy day like today? Technically, I make very little money and am still considered a stay-at-home mom. So, in theory, I should still be able to nap when my toddler naps, right? I should be able to lay in my nice, comfy bed with a book in my hands to lull me into a nice nappy time slumber?

I'm convinced. Thanks, internet for helping to convince me to do just that. Enough work for right now. Will read some more of the story and take a nice nap as the wind blows and the storm builds outside of my window.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

The One I Picked

It was a toss-up between Violette's Embrace and The Physics of Sunset. Why was I leaning to those two books out of the stack? Let me 'splain....

Violette's has a really cool photo on the cover of a woman who I presume is Violette. She's seated at a table outside of a coffee shop in a city that resembles Paris. It's just a silhouette. Just enough to spike some curiosity in the book. Who is she? What are her secrets? I want to do some snooping around....

Physics has a cool painting-like picture on the front cover of a couple lounging in chairs, smoking, eating (the man sits smoking while the woman is eating what looks like a chicken leg). There's a stack of books on the table behind them and utter chaos all around. Sounds weird but looks like a place that might be fun to be.

Who said you can't choose a book by its cover? I just did. So wrong, I know. I should be more open minded and less judgmental about what it looks like on the outside. But you know what? It felt good to judge the books that way. And I think I made the right decision. I started to read The Physics of Sunset. Couldn't pass that one up. The book is a large paperback. It feels good in my hands.

So far, I'm on chapter three. Didn't read any last night cause Top Chef was on. It's about a few different couples living in Berkeley, California in 1989. The big quake hits. Lives are affected. There's one woman who is from France and married to an American man. They have two kids and she's a bit unconventional- not really caring what anyone else thinks. Next is another couple (they're all neighbors) who have one kid and are incredibly unhappy. They remodel their kitchen instead of divorcing.... if that helps set the tone. She's a poet and likes to think a lot. And lastly, another couple- a little older than the other two. His father just dies and he's grasping the scope of losing a parent. The quake hits and he falls to his knees and starts crying. That's where I left off.

I like it so far.....

Favorite paragraph so far- one that I relate to as well:

"English was becoming ever more complex to Anna as she grew older. In the matter of a dash, for instance: how much pause might a dash be asked to carry? The dash was modern, also seemed to contain all of history. All her favorite writers seemed to balance there and so exist in the tentative."

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

My Newest Finds

I've been a bit stressed out lately and decided that today I would treat myself. Without knowing exactly what treat I wanted, I made a mental list and decided that a trip to the local Salvation Army would do. You see, I just figured out how much money I've made running my own business compared to how much money I've spent last year. The number was depressing and made me want to spoil myself without spending more money. So, thrift store, here I come.

I generally have a few things that I look for immediately when walking into a thrift store: furniture, books, kid's clothing (since I have two of 'em) and silver candlesticks. That last one- I don't know- just a mild obsession that I have lately.

Today, not much in the furniture department that was pleasing to the eye. Ambled on over to the books and within a couple of minutes, I had a stack of four already in my hands. After only about ten minutes total, I walked out of the section with TEN BOOKS! Holy you know what..... when the heck am I ever going to find the time to read all of these new books when there's already a stack of at least fifteen under my nightstand waiting to be read?

Here's what I bought today:

The Last September by Elizabeth Bowen
The Spring of the Ram by Dorothy Dunnett
Violette's Embrace by Michele Zackheim
Three Junes by Julia Glass
Foreign Brides by Elena Lappin
Miracle at St. Anna by James McBride
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (I just noticed that I already have this on my bookshelf! Will donate to a friend.)
Four Novellas- Valentino, Sagittarius, Family, Borghesia by Natalia Ginzburg
The Physics of Sunset by Jane Vandenburgh
Oyster by John Biguenet

I bought all of the above books, two pairs of jeans, one skirt and one shirt for my two year old daughter for..... a little over $12. Incredibly cheap. I love you Salvation Army.

Now, which book should I read first? Decisions, decisions.....