secrets of the library

I have seen The Secret Lives of Dresses by Erin McKean, get a lot of hype on some fashion blogs I read but I never read what it was about or why it's a big deal.  I just saw the picture of the cover over and over again.  So I had the time and tried to find out some more information about it.  It comes out on the 10th and was written by the creator of A Dress A Day; a blog I read occasionally.  I tried to look it up on my local library's database and this is what it showed me...

There are a lot of things that have secret lives!  Anyhow, I read the little overview that is on amazon and it's not really my style of book but I'll probably read it anyway.  I just have to wait a little long before I can request it.

I know this post didn't really have a point but you're a little curious about the secret lives of soil creatures aren't you.  

Finished my Listening Library

I just finished listening to Count Karlstein by Phillip Pullman.  The audiobook had a full cast, as well as, sound effects and music to go with it.  It was a well produced and entertaining audiobook.  I would recommend that you listen to it over read it.
In reality the story was good.  It had an intriguingly dark plot but it does get all wrapped up with a pretty bow in the end.  It would be ideal to listen to with your kids right before bed.  I should warn you though some parts are rather scary.   It was over all a very British story and I believed that I enjoyed it so much because I loved the thrill of the well produced audiobook.

Enchanted Glass a Good Read

Here is what I'm reading now.

Enchanted Glass by Diana Wynne Jones

I belong to this social networking site, www.goodreads.com.  It's all about books of course.  You can go on there read reviews on books and see what your friends are reading.  What I like about it is some authors are on it as well.  You can see what your favorite authors are reading.  Really, its probably all publicity, where authors have to be paid by publishers to give other books good reviews.  I don't know what goes on, but I bought it.  I am "friends" with Neil Gaiman, one of my favorite living authors and he had this book, Enchanted Glass, on his read list.  I of course requested it from the library and am now reading it.  I'm not sure if I like the book yet or not.  I'm half way done with it and it's cute...I'm just not sure what the plot is.  Where is the great mystery?  Really, I often feel that way about Neil's books too.  It is very cute and magical so far.  We will see what journey Diana decides to take me on.

So basically join goodreads.com if you haven't already and become my friend so we can compare books.

Ecclesiastes 1:5-7

"The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to his place where he arose.  The wind goes toward the south, and turns about to the north; it whirls about continually, and the wind returns again according to his circuits.  All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; to the place from where the rivers come, thither they return again."

I was browsing books and I found THIS awesome book for my dad for father's day.  It is a compilation of short stories of terror hand picked by Mr. Alfred Hitchcock himself.  And then I also picked up The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway.  I had never read Hemingway and felt intimidated, but also ready.  I was intrigued by the script on the back cover..."wild nightlife of 1920s Paris...bull-fighting rings of Spain...bankruptcy, spiritual dissolution, unrealized love, and vanishing illusions."

So I read it.  It is now one of my favorite books.  I liked thinking of it in context.  How was Hemingway regarded in his era?  Did people think his writing style was revolutionary, or too plain and simple?  Did people think his subject matter a bit scandalous?  Where there people who related to these characters and felt exposed?

I've never read a story with so much emptiness.  It felt like the characters had big cannonball sized holes in their gut.  How did they drink all that wine with no stomachs to keep it in?  I think these characters closely reflected Hemingway's life; how sad.

It was also thrilling for a girl trying to figure out where to honeymoon!  Paris, San Sebastian, Bayonne, Pamplona, Burguete, Madrid it seems like quite a trip!  Yes, I really tried to talk Brian into San Sebastian for a few days.

It has inspired me to try some more classics that I have previously been intimidated by...

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitsgerald

The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee WIlliams

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Annie

Annie spends rainy days at the library.

Annie doesn't take off her rain coat and hat while looking for interesting books.

Annie browses through ethnic decor books.


Annie reads about symbolism in African rugs.

Annie's practical book of oriental rugs.

It was a good day for Annie, she loves to learn new things.