Well...it's not any of the books I mentioned...

It's......

1984!! By George Orwell - very excited by the first couple of pages. Feel like it's a bit Wrinkle In Time ish.

I'm also trying to figure out to knit, workout, and read, all at the same time, to finish all of my projects :)

Off to bed...let's see if I can get past 2 more pages....

Back Atter

Ok, so, after another viewing of Julie&Julia (which was still just as inspiring and comical as the first time) and a little nudging from the b/f, I am back at it, and I am going to finish this project, damn it!


To be honest, I have been reading, although not as much as I'd like to - I was distracted by numerous other books. So, after having 12 or so sitting on my table from the library, all acquiring library fines, I finished one - Away, by Amy Bloom. Definitely worth reading, and a very interesting story of a life of beauty and hardship, and one very strong woman. A refreshing read, really, and a surprising end. Those who love historical fiction novels like I do, this is a quick read for you.

I have also started Suite Francais, a novel in which the author was an older Anne Frank, written about the war, during the war. A fascinating read, yet again for the historical fiction fans. And, yet again, it is late back to the library, but worth returning, paying the fine, and renewing if at all possible.



Now, I think my interest has waned a little from the Board`s list - time to hunker down, skip the library fines, and read what I have borrowed from others: from Andrew, the lovely Ayn Rand novels, of which there are several on the list. From Cindy, The Hunt for Red October. Or maybe it`s time to start Ulyssess, or Kim. I will see what grabs me...interest is waning here at 10:45 pm...

Next book...

Ok, so I am like a kid at the candy store when it comes to the library...as I think I've already mentioned in this blog. It's the beginning of September...the end of the triathlon world for me, the start of school, and the crisp cool air that has the promise of sharpened pencils and chalkboards. I miss school. And with the heavy amount of rain heading my way, I am going to pick up my reading...see how many books I can read before Christmas.

As mentioned before, I have quite a few books signed out, borrowed, and ready to take back. So, I have no idea which one I will go to tonight. It's going to be a mood thing. Do I want to read something like the last book, something enjoyable, something completely different? Ahhh, the stress.

Well, I take comfort in the fact that in the end, I have to read them all, so I can pick and choose from what I have now...the last month or two of this probably will be the most painful, struggling through some of the thrilling (not) non-fiction I see on the list. But, like the hill climb today, the steepest part is at the top, but in the end it has the best view.

Fall, here I come.

Depressing...

Well, if you want a full dose of absolute realism, you've got it with Tobacco Road! A story about a guy who just can't see reality, yet it's all around him - I have to give ol' Jeeter credit - he has hope. In the end, God, or whomever, decides it's time to end his miserable existence by burning his house down. So much for prayer and believing!

At this time in my life where everything seems to be going down hill, and I don't have a lot of hope in fixing it, I can almost admire Jeeter to be blissfully ignorant in his misery.

Jeeter was a courageous man, although stupid, based on this example:

"The urge he felt to stir the ground and to plant cotton in it, and after that to sit in the shade during the hot months watching the plants sprout and grow, was even greater than the pains of hunger in his stomach".

Time for me to get some hope! If you like dark humour, this book is for you. Onto the next book.

Someone told me recently that I need to work on finishing things. I really need to finish this project.

Mind Calm

So, I left my book out in car. It's late. I don't want to get it. I'm going to bed with another book....hmmm...which one shall I pick...(I have 6 or so out)....yay, my candystore of books :)

AAAACKKK! They Are Ripping My Library Apart!!!

Ok, so they are apparently going under renos, but I feel almost physically affronted to find the returns bin next to the security guard (who also is not a huge fan of the renos which are already apparently 2 weeks late). Will it make it better??? According to him, he is a skeptic as the plans have changed 4 times over the last couple of weeks. We shall see.

Now, onto my next book. I picked up "Loving" by Henry Green, written about the life of domestic servants during WW2 in the English country side. It's got a corny 1980s movie cover of those actors, I suspect. This is number 89 on the board's list.\

There is then Erskine Caldwell's novel "Tobacco Road" about the Lesters, a white family in the early 1930s living around Augusta, Georgia who are destitutely poor, apparently occupied by hunger, sexual longings, and fear they will descend to equate with black families, to sum up the back of the novel. This one is number 91 on the board's list.

Hmmm...

I think it comes down to the first sentence of the book:

Loving: "Once upon a day and old butler called Eldon lay dying in his room attended by the head housemaid, Miss Agatha Burch."

Tobacco Road: "Lov Bensey trudged homeward through the deep white sand of the gully-washed tobacco road with a sack of winter turnips on his back".

Although hard to decided between whom has the best name, either Eldon or Lov, I think I'll go with the Tobacco Road. Lov seems like he belongs in Loving....

At the Liberry....

So, I'm done. Finished number 100 on the board list, The Maginficent Ambersons. Alas, due to a fantastic birthday dinner of Chinese for a friend, I am a little late returning the book, but, for a 30c fine, I'm ok with that.

Tonight, as the pool is closed early unexpectedly, I decided to come to the library early, pick up my hold, and enjoy a tea as I complete my blog on the last book. True, I do have 5 books at home, but that's my style - I like the comfort of the fact that if I happen to finish a book at 3 am, I can then start another one.

I know, I'm crazy.

I just love being surrounded by books. Ideally, I would buy every one of them so I can add them to the library of my future, where I have ladders, a fireplace, and a comfy chair! Alas, I'll go for the free route (until they are overdue, of course). In the meantime, I'll enjoy this massive glass building that sounds like you are in a vacuum...I have been amazed by this building ever since I moved down here. Such light, such erethral quality unlike any new building. I love the way the sunlight streams during the day, and how you can watch people on many floors above you - I like to imagine what they are reading.

The Magnificent Ambersons is a novel that ends with several lasting lessons that have are summarized quickly in the last several pages, as if Booth just couldn't handle ending the book without leaving his legacy of advice to all who would hopefully read his book.

It's telling of the author, when he writes in the last 5 pages, how he states:

"The Ambersons had passed, and the new people would pass, and the new people that came after them, and then the next new ones, and the next - and the next -......'There's nothing in this family business,' George told him confidentially. 'Even George Washington is only something in a book."

The ending is perhaps sad, a character that learns his lessons, but redeems himself some toward the end. Unrequited love and regret reigns supreme, but you go away with a little hope.

I would recommend reading this book for the protaganist, George Amberson Minafor, who is fantastically mocked by the author. The book, although written in 1918, draws many a parallel and offers view points shared by many today on the modern world, and the "pre-automobile" lifestyle. Short, and easy to read. Definitely a fantastic book.

Based on a coworker's suggestion the other day, I've decided to make my own top 100 out of the 400 I am reading. This would definitely be on it.