The Road, finally

Thursday, 6:35 am

By Kate

Feb

05

2009

Last evening I scanned through my digital pile of books on my Kindle to see which one I might be in the mood to read. I was thinking along the lines of light-hearted, but somehow my finger clicked on Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. I took it to bed with me, thinking I might plow through one chapter before my eyelids drooped.

Well, not quite. After several chapters, I had to put it aside or I’d have read all night. What a magnificant book.

The Road is about the bleakest book I can remember reading. The story is bleak. The landscape is bleak. The colors are cold and bleak. But the language is oh-so-rich. He paints detailed pictures with words. And yet, the sentence structure is quite spare—except for the similes that pepper every page. One would think that might distract, but they are just so exquisite and they flow so naturally. It’s a work of art.

I have never read anything else by Cormac McCarthy, so I am unfamiliar with his style of writing. I wonder if the spare style in this book was intentional to mirror the bleakness of the story. If so, it works beautifully. It that is his usual style, well, it still works beautifully.

There is not a single word in the book, so far, that could be removed nor one that needs to be added. It is about as perfect as anything I have ever read. And I don’t recall having ever thought that about a book. I wish I’d tucked into it sooner. And yet, I’m in no rush to finish it. Savoring each page slowly is the only way to go.

Happy New Year

Thursday, 6:09 pm

By Kate

Jan

01

2009

I hope that you all have had a wonderful holiday season this year. And my finest wishes for a good 2009.

Life in my little house has been relaxed and most pleasurable this holiday. It was a little topsy-turvy at first, but all turned out nicely. We’re cozy and warm and well-fed. The lad received a few cookbooks for Christmas and he has been practicing on me. Just an unfortunate learning experience or two along the way, but in the main, oh my. Last night, for example, he made me steak marsala and it was to die for. The night before it was rosemary chicken with a honey/balsamic vinegar glaze with horseradished potatoes. Horseradish in potatoes, you say? Ohhhh....so delicious. I shall regret sending him back to school. Meal times are just too much fun. Having someone cook for me is simply a luxury beyond measure.

Does anyone have any New Year Resolutions? I used to have a long list of them every year, but learned that a long list was unrealistic. The only thing it was good for was to make me feel terrible when I didn’t achieve most of them. So, I’ve scaled it back significantly. In terms of blog resolutions, I think just one—try to blog more often. In fact, I will try to post every single day in January. Not sure how well that will pan out, but if I get through January, then I’ll tackle February.

The one resolution that I made in 2008 turned out well. It was simple—read at least one book a week. I used to be a voracious reader. Somewhere along the line, that stopped and it was a good year when I read a half a dozen books. I think there were a couple of years in there were I was doing well to read 2 books. I think part of that was because the public library is in the most inconvenient spot on earth. Otherwise, books have grown rather expensive over the years and I can’t afford to walk into my favorite bookstore to get ONE book and walk out with an armful every month. I have a lack of discipline when it comes to buying books. Best to stay out of the bookstore, which I did. Plus...I didn’t have any more room to store books. I still have boxes and boxes and boxes full of them in the attic.

Well, in May, I decided to purchase an Amazon Kindle e-reader with the whispernet mobile technology that allows me to download books wirelessly from Amazon and a couple of other places that offer free public domain books. I wasn’t sure that would be a whole lot better than walking into a bookstore, but at least it solved a couple of problems—no more piles of books scattered all over the house and no need to lug a book or two along with me wherever I go. Oh, and I could get a book the second I wanted it. Instant gratification is lovely, especially after the waiting lists at the library, which often extended beyond 4 weeks.

This has worked out very well for me. I now have a growing library contained in this little device and it goes with me wherever I go. It’s amazing how much reading I can get done standing in line waiting. Since last May, I’ve acquired 73 e-books from Amazon and 33 free public domain books. The total book cost involved for the last 8 months has been $227 for 106 books, which makes the average cost per book about $2.15. Not bad. And, of those 106 books, I have read 31 of them. Plus another 9 that I checked out of the library.

So, for the last 8 months, I’ve read 40 books and that comes out to about 5 books per month which is slightly more than 1 book per week. I still didn’t quite meet my 2008 New Year’s Resolution for the year, but I came pretty darned close. I should exceed it this year.

The best part is that I am reading voraciously again. And I’m reading authors I might never have discovered. 2008 has been an absolute feast.

The Coinstar Plan

Friday, 2:18 pm

By Kate

Nov

14

2008

Somewhere during my internet travels in the last week, I stumbled across an idea that got my eyes glowing. I learned that Coinstar, which has coin counting machines scattered all over creation, is offering a holiday bonus gift of $10 if you plug at least $40 of coins into their machines. Even better, I could get Amazon e-certificates for whatever amount of change I fed their machine. (They also offer e-certificates/gift cards for places like Circuit City, Borders, iTunes, Lowes, Eddie Bauer, Starbucks, and a couple of others.)

Well, I thought, change is kind of like found money. No earmarks on it. Until now, anyway.

I took a tour through the house and emptied out the various bowls and baskets of change that I’ve accumulated. I turned over chair and sofa cushions and found more. I scooped up the pile of coins next to the washing machine. Then I went through all my jacket and coat pockets from last winter to see what they might turn up—one slightly worse for wear ten dollar bill and several quarters and dimes. Whoo!

I sat down on the floor to count it all out. My total stash came to $32.16

And I thought...well, it’s a sure bet I’ll be spending at least another $10 at Amazon in the next couple of weeks, so I’ll just withdraw $10 and turn that along with the other ten dollar bill into rolls of quarters. That’ll put me just a little over the $40 requirement for the $10 Coinstar bonus.

And that’s what I did.

The nearest Coinstar machine is at my grocery store. I’ve not used it before, so I went through the little tutorial offered on screen. It was pretty easy. I selected the Amazon e-certificate option and poured all the coins into the counting tray. I wondered if it would be accurate—it was. It spit out a receipt and e-certificate in the amount of $42.16 along with a form to send to Coinstar to get my bonus. This deal lasts through December 7th.

Last evening I entered the e-certificate redemption code on my account at Amazon and 5 seconds later I was good to shop.

Ahh, sudden guilt-free riches.

In the past, I could have blown through $42 in a hurry at Amazon. But since I’ve acquired my Kindle e-reader, I’ve found a large selection of older books and classics that cost less than a dollar—like 25 cents. I often wonder just how tolerant the credit card company will be after a constant string of 25 cent charges. No one has said anything yet, but I think an e-certificate is probably a better plan.

Anyway. I downloaded three new books for a total $4.80. I think my e-certificate funds might last me a while.

My current winter reading list, including my three new purchases, includes:

The Princess Bride by William Goldman
I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Reading Like a Writer - by Francine Prose
The Works (150+) of Lucy Maud Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne of Windy Poplars, Anne’s House of Dreams, Anne of Ingleside, Rainbow Valley, Rilla of Ingleside, etc.)
The Road by Cormac McCarthy (because I didn’t get it read over the summer and I haven’t been quite in the mood yet for death and destruction.)

And, because I can never leave well enough alone, I ordered a skin for my Kindle a couple of days ago. Did I mention that I also named her Esmeralda? Yeah well, I did. But the skin thing...I saw this image on one of the Kindle boards a few days ago and I knew then and there that I Had To Have It.

I appreciate that skinning Esmeralda more or less violates the entire premise of a bland case surrounding the reading screen. The idea is that the Kindle case recedes into the background so that it’s almost like tumbling into the pages of a book when reading. Ah well. I can do that quite as well with a pretty Kindle, too. Can’t wait ‘til it arrives!

My Summer Reading List

Friday, 7:23 pm

By Kate

Aug

01

2008

We could probably all agree that I haven’t been around the blog much this summer. You see...I did purchase that Amazon wireless reading device called a Kindle. It arrived on my doorstep somewhere around the 6th of May and it took all of about 15 minutes for me to decide that it was the best invention since sliced bread. It has, evidently, galvanized my reading lust.

Reasons why I love my Kindle:
1)It’s easier carrying it wherever I go, than lugging a heavy book or two or three with me. (I don’t have to decide which book I want to take with me...I can take them all on my Kindle and read what I’m in the mood to read. I also have a newspaper subscription on it.)
2) It’s easier reading it in bed than trying to juggle a large book and a cup of coffee (yes, I drink coffee at bedtime...then go to sleep).
3) It’s easier to read...I can select my own font size.
4) Since life seems to be composed of waiting in line for too many daily tasks, I can read my Kindle rather than fuss and fume about having to wait.
5) I can download a book in about 5 seconds flat wherever I am...in bed, standing in line, sitting in the car, etc.
6) I can download a chapter or two of a book that I’m not sure yet that I want to buy. For free.
7) The classics are cheap...Pride and Prejudice was a whole 25 cents. I’ve spent a total of $50.32 for 12 Kindle books.
8) Kindle books take up a lot less space than a shelf full of dead tree editions. And I can carry all of them with me wherever I go.
9) Amazon keeps a copy of all my Kindle purchases so if my Kindle ever fails, my library is still intact and preserved.

I still use the public library extensively—for books that I am not sure that I’d choose to permanently add to my own library or for books that I can’t purchase on Kindle. If, after reading a library book, I decide that I’d like to add it to my library, my Kindle is ready and waiting for a download.

The point is...I’d much rather read a book on my Kindle now. And I have been. A lot.

So. Between Kindle and the library, I’ve had a very bookish summer, so far.

Books I’ve Read This Summer

Thomas Hardy
 Jude the Obscure (♥ L)

I’d ordered this book from the library a week or so before I bought my Kindle.

Jane Austen
 Pride and Prejudice (♥ K)
 Mansfield Park (K)

Pride and Prejudice makes me literally laugh out loud. Every time I read it, something new jumps out at me. Love this book.

Charlotte Bronte
 Jane Eyre (♥ K)

I read this book annually. My dead tree edition is 117 years old now. It needs a rest.

Jim Butcher, Dresden Files Series
 Storm Front (L)
 Fool Moon (L)
 Grave Peril (L)
 Summer Knight (K)
 Death Masks (K)
 Blood Rites (K)
 Dead Beat (L)
 Proven Guilty (K)
 White Knight (K)
 Small Favor (K)

These are really fun books about an eccentric sort of modern day wizard (in Chicago) doing battle against all sorts of badness. After I ordered the first three through the library, I decided to add the set to my Kindle. I’ll read each of these again. Well done. I love ‘em.

Dan Koeppel
 Banana: The Fate of the Fruit that Changed the World (L)

Everything you ever wanted to know about bananas and a lot that you didn’t: The current banana crop is pretty much a monoculture crop that’s dying out from a global virus and too often the harvests are brought to us by child/slave labor and egregiously corrupt governments and corporations. Banana Republic didn’t get its name for nothing. It is still a dirty business. Makes me regret loving banana bread so much. Excellent read and resource. I’ll be adding it to my Kindle.

H.C. Flores
 Food not Lawns: How to Turn Your Yard into a Garden and Your Neighborhood into a Community (L)

Any grass is too much grass. This author agrees. ;)

Philip Pullman
 The Amber Spyglass (K)

This is the last of His Dark Materials trilogy (which included The Golden Compass). I’d checked the book out of the library, but only had read about half of it before its due date. I’ll add the first two to my Kindle eventually. They’re keepers.

DH Lawrence
 Lady Chatterley’s Lover (♥ K)

I really do ♥ ♥ ♥ this book. Gets better with every reading.

Dmitry Orlov
 Reinventing Collapse: The Soviet Example and American Prospects (♣)

Not a popular book, evidently. My library didn’t even have it. If you’ve ever been curious about what life was like in Russia after the gov’t and economic collapse, this is a good resource. Definitely a leftist bent to it, way lefter than I am even. An illuminating read. Worth the purchase price.

George Eliot
 Middlemarch (K)

Currently Reading

Howard Zinn
 A People’s History of the United States: 1492 - Present (L)

Very regrettably, Kindle doesn’t offer this book yet. It’s a fantastic book and I’ll want to return to it many more times. Zinn is a terrific writer.

Books Remaining on my Summer Reading List

Anthony Trollope, The Pallisers Series
 Can You Forgive Her? (♥ K)
 Phineas Finn (♥ K)
 The Eustace Diamonds (♥ K)
 Phineas Redux (♥ K)
 The Prime Minister (♥ K)
 The Duke’s Children (♥ K)

Years ago, I watched The Pallisers on Masterpiece Theater, which encouraged me to read the books. It’s been years since I’ve read them. I’m looking forward to jumping into them again with a...slightly older perspective.

David McCullough
 John Adams (K)

Michael Pollan
 Omnivore’s Dilemma (L)

Christopher Moore
 Spirit House: A Vincent Calvino Crime (K)

I’ve never read anything by Christopher Moore, but Kindle offered this new release for free...so hey. Free book, I’ll give it a try. Could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

Cormac McCarthy
 The Road (K)

Nothing like an apocalypse to round out the summer.

Key:
♥ - books I’ve read before and will again.
K - Kindle book
L - from the library
♣ - purchased dead tree edition

I want a Kindle

Thursday, 4:42 pm

By Kate

May

01

2008

About the last thing I needed was to see a Kindle up close...and even get my hands on it. I am so in love. I WANT one. Do I need one? No. Could I convince myself that I need one? Well, I’m pretty good at rationalizing things. Sure, I could. But, really, if I want to spend that kind of money, I think a freezer would be a whole lot more practical.

Sigh. I don’t want to be practical. I WANT one.

When my ‘add to shopping cart’ finger started getting a little too itchy, I gathered up my stuff and rushed to the library to get paper books (The Mayor of Casterbridge and Storm Front). That should hold me for a couple of days. Maybe this lust will pass by the time I’ve finished reading them. If not, I guess I’ll have to rush back to the library for more. And keep reminding myself that borrowing books is FREE. Yeah but....

The Perfect Title

Tuesday, 1:48 pm

By Kate

Dec

11

2007

It was time to stock up on some new books at the library the other day. One of them was on the library's front page, listed as recommended reading. I don't normally pay that much attention to the library's recommendations, but this book leaped out at me. How could it not? The title is An Arsonist's Guide to Writer's Homes in New England, printed on a flame red background. That has to be one of greatest titles I have ever seen. According to the Publisher's Weekly review (which I also usually take with a grain of salt), they think (lifted from Amazon):

Clarke's fourth book (after the story collection Carrying the Torch) is the delightfully dark story of Sam Pulsifer, the accidental arsonist and murderer narrator who leads readers through a multilayered, flame-filled adventure about literature, lies, love and life. Growing up in Amherst, Mass., with an editor for a father and an English teacher for a mother, Sam was fed endless stories that fueled (literally and figuratively) the rest of his life. Thus, the blurred boundaries between fact and fiction, story and reality become the landscape for amusing and provocative adventures that begin when, at age 18, Sam accidentally torches the Emily Dickinson Homestead, killing two people. After serving 10 years, Sam tries to distance himself from his past through college, employment, marriage and fatherhood, but he eventually winds up back in his parents' home, separated from his wife and jobless. When more literary landmarks go up in flames, Sam is the likely suspect, and his determination to find the actual arsonist uncovers family secrets and more than a bit about human nature. Sam is equal parts fall guy and tour guide in this bighearted and wily jolt to the American literary legacy.

I've just started reading it...only about 10 pages in, so I can't really say how well it lives up to the review. So far, the ten pages I've read have been a treat. Other reviews mention the novel's darker aspects, disguised as humor. That seems to be a given, considering the topic.

And the book's back dust jacket leaf says this:

In the league of such contemporary classics as A Confederation of Dunces, Catch-22, Little Big Man, and The World According to Garp, An Arsonist's Guide to Writer's Homes in New England is an original and exciting work -- a novel disguised as a memoir; a mystery that cloaks itself in humor; an artful piece of literature that bites the hand that breeds it. A heartbreaking story about truth and honesty and the damage they do, it's above all a massive piece of entertainment that will make you think and make you care."

Well. After all that, it had better be good. Although, even if it turns out not to be all that and more, just seeing the book sitting on my end table is worth it. Makes me laugh every time I look at it. What a wonderfully subversive title.