Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Books on the Table

I was talking with a friend about the books that are in my house, waiting to be read. There are dozens, occupying one full shelf and several piles on a table, not to mention my bedside table or Kindle.  I thought I'd share, starting with the table.

 Fire Underground, The Ongoing Tragedy of the Centralia Mine Fire, David DeKok - - Because I have been to Centralia and I am fascinated by this, an underground fire burning since 1962. So creepy to see the deserted town area, but creepier to read about how badly the whole thing was handled.

 






Lucia, Lucia, Adriana Trigiani - -  Because my friend Nancy said I would totally love the Italian references. For the same reason, she also gave me Trigiani's Very Valentine.





 
The Anthologist, Nicholson Baker - - Because you have to buy something when you are in an indie shop, and it caught my eye.









The Omnivore's Dilemma, Michael Pollan - - In Defense of Food is around here somewhere as well. 

A Voyage Long and Strange, On the Trail of Vikings, Conquistadors, Lost Colonists, and Other Adventurers in Early America, Tony Horwitz - - Because, as my friends know, my knowledge of American history is woefully inadequate and I am always looking for something that will capture my interest and teach me something. Can that happen if you just leave the book around, like osmosis or something?





Olive Kitteridge, Elizabeth Strout - - That same Nancy said I will like this one too.

Palladian Days, Finding a New Life in a Venetian Country House, Sally and Carl Gable - - Please. It's Venice.

Book of Longing and Let us Compare Mythologies, Leonard Cohen - - Please.  It's Leonard Cohen.

 




Shirtmaking: Developing Skills for Fine Sewing, David Page Coffin - - I think the title tells the tale. I will never sew to that skill level, but I sure can read about it.





American Gargoyles, Crist/Llewellyn - - A lovely little book with lots of pictures. I swiped this from DS1 and promise I will put it back. Someday.

Divine Proportion PHI in Art, Nature, and Science, Priya Hemenway - - Another lovely book with lots of illustrations and sidebars exploring the Divine Proportion. As above, swiped this one from him too. That's a Real Simple magazine on the right, and what looks like a ski trail map on the left.



Christmas at the New Yorker, Stories, Poems, Humor, and Art - - This was left out from Christmas just like that ribbon full of Christmas cards in the kitchen that I keep meaning to take down and put away.

Arthur Rex, A Legendary Novel, Thomas Berger - - Because when my husband and son were buying me a special edition of The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley, but you knew that.) the bookseller thought I needed to have this as well.








8 Weeks to Optimum Health, Andrew Weil, M.D. -  - Because I like him, and I've got 8 weeks. And health.

The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper, Recipes Stories, and Opinions from Public Radio's Award-Winning Food Show - - Nice food read and some recipes to try.

Dance Me to the End of Love, Poem by Leonard Cohen, Paintings by Henri Matisse - - This is part of the Art & Poetry series which pairs...you get the idea. It's beautiful, and again, it's Leonard Cohen. Great song. As a matter of fact, you should listen to it here.






The Knitting Olympics are rolling along, but the combination of so many hours of television commercials combined with my still painful tailbone are making it an actual challenge! I am recording them now so I can just whiz past the commercials.

2 comments:

DS1SO said...

<3 books.

I had a totally lovely evening entirely given to reading on Monday - it was glorious. I'm reading The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis. I wish I could go read now!

Anna said...

I love that book, and I love that you had a reading day!