The weekend’s nearly here

Books!

So.  I’m having lunch with my grandma yesterday when she hands me an envelope “on behalf of the dancers.”  My gram’s part of a dancing troupe at “the home” you see.  Last week I ran over to watch them perform the hookie lau and play photographer.  I ran off a few pics.  Gram distributed.  No biggie, right?  WELL, the girls banned together and bought me a gift card to Borders.  Free books people!  FREE.  BOOKS.    It brought a tear to my eye; it was the sweetest thing ever.  *sigh*

Needless to say, I could barely make it through my meal before heading for the bookstore.  I bought one book on my fall reading list:  an Everyman’s Library edition of Persuasion.  Beautiful.  Love it.

And one book that was not:  The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.

See how I am?  But it couldn’t be helped.  The cover held intrigue; the summary the thing of legends.  The girl at the check-out counter told me the book is amazing – which made me all the more giddy.  I cannot wait to read it.  I do so hope I’m not disappointed …

Autumn reading…

In case you haven’t heard, there are a whole group of people who read with intent.  It’s true!  They plan ahead.  They make lists – and then they stick to them.  

I’ve never been such a person. 

I’m more the lone wanderer.  I meander aimlessly amongst isles of books – viewing covers, reading backs, analyzing their weight in my hands – hoping to find that hidden treasure.  Sure, I keep an ear out for recommendations; but mostly I choose as I go.  As of late, however, I’ve begun to see the value of preparing ahead.  Perhaps it stems from the inspiration of Mandi and her 200 books - perhaps it stems from the fact that the older I get, the harder it is to recall books I was considering.   Whatever the reason, I found a great way to merge the laid back with the organized over at Pancakes and French Fries.  

I like it because it’s wee.  Fifteen books (or seventeen, since I’ve grouped a couple) – leaving room for, you know, whatever.  I also like the idea of choosing something from my shelf.  There are vintage books I purchased because they were pretty.  There are books that mysteriously appeared.  Now they will be read.  So without further ado … my reading list for fall 2009 …

New books I plan to take in (buy, beg, or borrow)…

1. Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
2. Perelandra/That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis
3. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
4. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
5. Persuasion by Jane Austen
6. Family Roundabout by Richmal Crompton
7. The Woman Warrior/China Men by Maxine Hong Kingston
8. When You are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
9. Three Cups of Tea:  One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace … One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

And books currently upon my shelf …

1. Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson
2. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
3. Surly Tim and other stories by Frances Hodgson Burnett
4. Ben-Hur by Lew Wallace
5. The Sonnets by William Shakespeare
6. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe 

As always, I welcome suggestions for future lists, or, you know, to squish in here or there …

A good day…

Ever had one of those inexplicably good days?  Your circumstances may be just as precarious as the day before … but today, they seem the least bit daunting.   All that matters is deep down you know – life is good. 

Yesterday was one such day. 

… in spite of blue skies and sunshine, the frangrance of autumn danced in the air.

… chatted with my brother.

… marked a few things off my list.

… pondered books to read.

… began a Christmas project.

… received the good news that I may get paid afterall!

… picked peaches.

… enjoyed a spur-of-the-moment dinner with family. 

… snuggled up to a good book. 

Nothing life altering, you see.  But oh-so-sweet. 

And that’s exactly what I pray for you, my dear readers – a day perfectly ordinary, yet nothing short of spectacular!

The post

If you reside here in the US of A you no doubt received information pertaining to mail carrier changes due to “rapidly declining mail volume.”  I was a bit saddened by that last part.  This is not the first setback of the US Postal Office, mind you.  August 17, 1859, the postal service took to the skies – in a hot air balloon.  Poor ol’ John Wise was sent aloft in Lafayette, IN – with some 100 letters to be delivered in New York – only to make it 27 miles.  Today’s issues, however, seem more ominous. 

Still, I will hope. 

I will hope for a day when we grow tired of the impersonal.  When we long to take the time to sit down and write a bit of ourselves in a letter, to be delivered to one we love – and that loved one will be delighted at the gesture.   And I will keep that hope alive by writing letters of my own …