We’ve been in the new house almost two weeks and its starting to feel like home. My Mom and her friend Marge, who is like a second mom, came for a long weekend to help us get settled. We’ve had workers in and out just about every day doing “things.” We’re trying to get all the little tweaks done by the end of the year so we can start 2014 with a clean slate.
The first time I checked my mailbox I was delighted to find some bookish gifts from Thomas at My Porch (and The Readers). He sent me a book bag from Green Apple Books & Music in San Francisco for my book bag collection AND a Barbara Pym tea towel. Thank you, Thomas!
I’ve been on two bookish excursions since we rolled into town. The first was to R.J. Julia. Finally! I’d driven passed this bookstore many times over the almost two years we’ve been scoping out the area and house hunting, but we were always either on a time crunch or the store was closed. It’s a fantastic bookstore, and was definitely worth the wait. I can’t share with you what books I purchased, as they are Christmas gifts, but I did buy a copy of The Ocean at the End of the Lane to help the store win an event with Neil Gaiman!
The second excursion was to the local library to get our library cards. It is, of course, the most important card in my wallet.
On the reading front, I’ve recently read:
- DUST by Patricia Cornwell: Not Cornwell’s best, but there’s a shift occurring in how and what she writes that I’ll discuss in a review later this week.
- THE SPARE ROOM by Helen Garner: A superb, short novel that I read for the Australian Woman Writers Challenge (which my participation in this year has been sorely lacking). It is one of the most emotionally true stories I’ve read about illness, care-giving, and friendship.
- DRESS YOUR FAMILY IN CORDUROY AND DENIM by David Sedaris (on audio): This book got me through Ohio and Pennsylvania on the drive out here. It was my first full Sedaris. I’ve heard him on NPR, of course, and now plan on listening to all of his books. My favorite parts of this book are his stories about and impersonation of his brother.
Currently I’m reading:
- LIT: A Memoir by Mary Karr (the first book checked out of new library): Fantastic sentences.
- WILD JUSTICE by Kelley Armstrong (a review copy): I didn’t read the first two books in this series, but I’m enjoying the story so far. Its my I-have-to-read-for-a-few-minutes-in-bed-before-I pass-out book.
- WILSON by A. Scott Berg (on audio): My listening got derailed because I wasn’t able to listen to it on the drive from Chicago due it being on my iPhone and not having a way to play it in the vehicle I was driving.
So, that’s what’s been going on in my life with books. I’m looking forward to getting back into a blogging routine and catching up on my blog reading.
I'm glad it all arrived safely.
My mind tends to wander or I get distracted when listening to audio books. But David Sedaris can definitely keep my attention. Seems like the kind of writing that could keep my attention in audio form.
I can't handle fiction on audio but I usually do okay with nonfiction. The hours flew by listen to him! I also downloaded his app but haven't played with it yet.
I am so glad to hear that you are getting settled and have begun exploring! One of my first tasks after moving is always to get our library cards AND to explore the local bookstores. Those are musts if I am ever going to feel at home in a new city.