My Memorable Books of 2012

2012's book total was 75.  I was shooting for 100 but I think I did pretty good.  Here are the books I absolutely loved reading this year:

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier.  Brilliant, totally original.  This is a debut novel from this author and I'm looking forward to reading what he writes next.  It is suspenseful without being creepy or scary and witty as well.  There are so many great books for kids & young adults out there, anyone who says that kids don't like to read or there isn't anything for kids to read has got rocks in their head.  The only downside is that I have to fight M. for them as he's often trying to read a book at the same time and doesn't necessarily want to read it *with* me.

Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann.  Written in a very dense prose that creates it's own world immediately, the first chapter was a bit slow going, but after that I couldn't put it down.  On the premise that everyone is connected, the author takes people as diverse as possible and connects them to a single day in New York City and a single event (Phillipe Petit's tightrope walk between the Twin Towers).  By the third chapter I was anxious to meet the next person and see how they were connected to the characters that came before and after.  And yet each chapter/character could stand alone as a single short story as well. And I am in *love* with the cover art that makes the NY skyline into an entire world.  It's only after studying it for several minutes that you see the little tightrope walker at the top, near the author's name.  Truly a perfect cover.

To Reach the Clouds by Phillipe Petit.  Because of Colum McCann's book, I was prompted to seek out Petit's account of his walk between the Twin Towers, from first conception to everything that came after.  There are no words to describe the beauty of this book, both in Petit's language (poetry is a more accurate term) and in the documentation, photographic and otherwise.  Terrifying, exhilarating, splendid.  A love letter to the Towers that now live only in our hearts and memories.

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake.  Reminiscent of "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" in that it takes a watershed event in recent history (World War II) and tells a new story when we thought we'd heard them all.  This book interweaves the lives of three women, Emma Fitch, a young fragile doctor's wife, Iris James. the postmistress of Franklin Massachusetts, and Frankie Bard, an American radio reporter covering the war in London and eventually across Europe.  Each fights the war in her own way and yet in the end they cannot fight it without leaning on each other.  Really a superb read.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly.  I loved this book.  The title character is a spunky 12-year old girl in 1899 Texas who develops an interest (and eventually love of) science and because of it, a relationship with her previously-thought-scary grandfather.  She begins to see the world and her place in it in a new way and thus begins to redefine her life and dream for the future.  While the book ends as 1900 dawns, in my head Callie is a happy successful adult scientist/naturalist/intrepid explorer.  Because this is "juvenile fiction" many people will miss it.  Please don't be one of them!

The Kick Keswick series by Marne Davis Kellogg (Brilliant, Priceless, Perfect and Friends in High Places).  Kick is a mature woman who knows how to enjoy the best things in life, be they designer clothes, expensive wines, gourmet food, and jewels.  Especially the jewels.  In her spare time, Kick is the notorious Shamrock Burglar; she goes after only the finest jewels and leaves her signature shamrock bouquet in its place.  She wants nothing more than to embrace retirement at her lovely farmhouse in France (which has a multitude of hidden vaults) but finds herself working for the good guys recovering stolen goods from her clumsier colleagues.  Pure fun!

I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella.  Kinsella has another wacky heroine in Poppy Wyatt, a girl who has lost her engagement ring and her phone all in the same hour.  When she finds a phone in a trash bin, it's finders keepers and hilarity ensues as the owner of the phone, businessman Sam Roxton, wants it back.  Actually the phone is supposed to be used by his personal assistant who has walked out on the job without notice.  Poppy strikes a deal with Sam to keep the phone and naturally cannot resist reading his texts, emails, and offering advice and personal assistance.  I can always count on Kinsella to keep me laughing and entertained and wondering how all these crazy loose ends are going to get tied up into a happy ending.

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.  This is the latest addition to my unofficial list of Books Everyone Should Read (The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows was the first selection).  Victoria Jones has spent her entire life in the foster care system.  Now at 18, she has aged out and has nowhere to go.   She has an almost encyclopedic knowledge of flowers and their meanings and the only way she can connect to others is through this language of flowers.  After living in a local park and planting a small garden of her own, she meets a local florist who kindheartedly offers her some work.  She soon realizes that she has a talent for giving customers exactly the flower they need (which is not necessarily the one they want or think they want).  As word of her talents spread, she begins to feel more confident, begins to work, build friendships, find a home of her own.  A vendor at the local flower market is clearly drawn to her and she to him.  But a secret from her past could ruin everything.  Can they be happy?  I loved loved loved this book!

Broken Harbor by Tana French.  I do not read thrillers or mysteries or horror because I am a fraidy cat.  A very big fraidy cat.  I do not need a book to interrupt my sleep, thankyouverymuch, and definitely not a scary one.  Tana French is my one and only exception to this rule.  Yes, her books often scare the beejeebers out of me but they are so well-crafted, the language is so poetic, the characters so finely drawn that I actually enjoy having the bejeebers scared out of me.  As with her other books, Broken Harbor focuses on a member of Dublin's Murder Squad, this time Detective Mick (Scorcher) Kennedy.  He's working a case involving the murder of two young children and their father.  The mother is in critical condition.  Is it a botched murder-suicide as it looks at first?  Or is the real murderer trying to make it look that way?  As Mick and his rookie partner, Richie, get more into the investigation there are too many things that don't add up.  What was really going on in the Spain's house?  Mick's childhood ties to Broken Harbor begin to play with his mind, not to mention that of his sister, Dina, whose hold on reality is tenuous at best.  French's books are not just psychological studies of the perpetrators but the detectives as well.  It's been said that great criminal minds and great police minds are very few threads removed from each other.  Every detective has a case that hits too close to home.  Can they hold it together long enough to not only solve the case but themselves as well?

Clean by Dr. Alejandro Junger.   In this book Junger discusses the myriad of health issues facing modern society and how the benefits of a dietary cleanse can benefit and begin to heal the body.  Normally I read these books with a healthy dose of skepticism but I recently went gluten-free for a few weeks as an experiment.  I was amazed at how many nagging little problems (joint pain, cravings, lack of energy) went away - and came back as soon as I went back on the gluten.  A lot of what is in this book resonated with me on a deeper level and I finished it wanting to try the program.  It's designed to be 21 days in duration and consists of liquid smoothies or juice for 2 meals and a healthy meal for the third, perferably at lunch.  No wheat, dairy, sugar, caffeine and a bunch of other things as well (look up elimination diet for specifics).  Given my experience with the gluten, I wonder if any of these other things may be causing issues?  21 days isn't all that long to try it and find out!  My husband wants to try it too and we planned to start after the holidays but the flu has put paid to that.  As soon as we're both feeling healthy again, we'll give it a go.  I'll post on the blog how we did and what we thought afterwards.

It's no secret that I am a Royal Watcher.  While I wouldn't say I'm a Monarchist because I don't live in a country with a Monarchy, I am a fan.  (Is fan the right word?)  Anyway, in this year of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee I thought it would be neat to read as many biographies of The Queen and other members of the Royal Family as possible.  And a few books on the jewelry to provide some eye candy.  Final count: 13.  I particularly enjoyed The Real Elizabeth by Andrew Marr,  Tiaras, A History of Splendor by Geoffrey Munn was... well, splendid!

We Need to Talk About This Again?! Stop. Using. The. R-Word.

Ann Coulter's recent uses of the r-word have been in all the mainstream media, twitter users are retweeting, bloggers are posting... and I'm saddened that we still have to have this conversation.

Let's be very clear, using the r-word is hate speech.  It insults an entire group of people, many of whom are unable to speak up for themselves.  It is hate speech just the same way that the n-word is.  It's not acceptable anymore to use racial slurs or pejorative terms about a person's sexuality.  But somehow this one still hangs on.  Why?  John Franklin Stephens is fortunate enough to be a voice for his fellow Special Olympians and responded with An Open Letter to Ann Coulter.  He's also said this.

Maybe you know that my son Paul has Down syndrome.  He also has severe speech delay.  What he is able to express verbally or even with the help of an augmentative device is far far less than what is going on in his thoughts, his emotions, or his cognitive ability.  I know this because I see his frustration when I don't understand what he is telling me.  I see how he plays with his Disney character figures and know that he is telling amazing stories in his head about them (Scar and Cinderella having a picnic?) and I want to know the story too!  I also know, as every mother does, that he does not like being left out and he most certainly does not want to be made fun of.   And since he can't say it for himself, I am here to say it for him.  He'd like to be friends with everyone, even those who give him the side eye.

Our culture has become one of bullying and aggression.  There are campaigns against bullying and everyone is on board.  Absolutely.  Bullying is bad and should be eradicated.  Can you not see that using the r-word is also bullying?  Go back up there and read John Franklin Stephen's words again.

Does our country support free speech?  Yes.  Can Ann Coulter or you or anyone say whatever they like under the First Amendment?  Absolutely.  But that doesn't make hate speech acceptable.  And I am going to use my First Amendment rights to call you on it.

Every. Single. Time.

This Year's Book Goal

Just finished Book #53 so I'm ahead of last year's pace.  Yay me!  Stay tuned for the end-of-year tally and recommended book list!

I Can Speak Bird

Around 4:30 a.m. the birds starts singing their little heads off.  I used to think they were singing "Tweet tweet! Welcome to the new day!  Tweet Tweet!  The sun will be up soon!  Tweet Tweet!" accompanied by cavorting deer and scampering squirrels while tying bows around the trees a la  Disney.

But what they are really saying is "Tweet tweet!  Let's piss off all the menopausal women who are trying to go back to sleep!  Bwahahahahahahaha!  Tweet tweet!" while twirling teeny tiny mustaches.

Random Thoughts in the Middle of the Night

I'm blaming a lot of things on menopause lately (inability to lose weight, eyebrow hairs that decided to migrate to my chin, dry skin, the all-purpose insanity).  But the one thing I really hate is the fact that I wake up at night and can't go back to sleep.  My husband will attest to the fact that I love to sleep and that I get mean when I am tired.  (I can hear him in my head attesting strongly right now.)  So what to do? Once I got a basket of ironing done.  But as nice as that was, the next morning I was tired, mean and had a burn on my finger.  Reading doesn't work because if it's a crap book I feel disappointed and if it's a good book I won't put it down and then there's that tired and mean thing to deal with.  Housework is out.  I don't like doing that when I'm awake so why would I do that when I'm supposed to be sleeping?  So usually I just lie there trying not to wake everyone up. I make a lot of mental to-do lists.  I plan a lot of scrapbook pages, stitching projects, home decor and organization projects. I'm good about the planning and starting, not so good with the finishing. (There goes my husband attesting strongly in my head again.  What is with him?)  I plan a lot of parties that I may or may not have an excuse for.  I make imaginary recipes based on what I have in my cupboards.  I spend the money I'd win in the lottery if I ever bothered to buy a ticket.  I talk to folks in my head - things I need to remember to tell them, things I should have said, things I'd never say but wish I could.

In other words, normal stuff.

But more often my thinking goes like this:

• You know that picture of Sissy Spacek that Amy Leibovitz took of her standing near a river with her husband on the horse?  The one where you can't see any of her husband except his leg?  Well, I sure hope that Sissy Spacek has a picture like that in her house where you can see the rest of her husband.  Because she'd like to see him, I'm sure.  And at Annie Leibovitz prices, you should have the whole person or at least get a heavy discount.  Why I care about the state of Sissy Spacek's picture frames is your guess as good as mine.
• But Annie Leibovitz does take a good picture.  Except for some of those Disney ads, they were a bit creepy.  But those ones she took of the Queen were nice.  Except she wanted the Queen to take off her tiara to make it "less fancy."  How can the Queen be less fancy?  She's the Queen.  I think it's in her DNA.  There's a fanciness chromosome, I'm pretty sure.  Why not just take her photo in her pajamas if you're going for less fancy.  Just shoot the mystique right in the foot and be done with it.  Though if I was the Queen I'd probably wear the tiara with my pajamas.  Because, you know, why not?
• I saw a documentary once where Queen Elizabeth was chatting with a painter as she sat for a portrait.  They got to talking about the corgis and she mentioned that they bite.  Do they really bite or is she just using that excuse to keep people from getting too close?  Because, you know, she's the Queen.  They probably don't get that close unless she wants them to.  And if so, presumably the corgis would think "well ok, this one can be trusted."  Does she just say that to wind people up?  "Oh ho, you should watch it, Prime Minister, or I'll have to set the corgis on you. Ha ha!"  What's the protocol if HM's corgi bites you?  Do you still have to call her M'aam while you're screaming and shaking off a corgi?  Swearing is probably right out of the question.
• Maybe the Queen has plastic bags and dog biscuits in her purse.  I'm sure she doesn't have half the crap I have in mine.  No wonder I need chiropractic care.  But every time I try to pare down, I end up putting all that crap back in.  But at least my cell phone is little now.  Remember when they were new and were the size of a brick?  And getting service was a surprise every time?  And the phone company would just change your phone number whenever they wanted to?  Without telling you?  And you were getting a complex about no one calling you?  I bet my grandchildren will just have cell phones hardwired into their heads at birth.  They'll just pop out with all kinds of technology built right in.  
• Grandchildren?!  Where the hell did that come from?  I've got a good 15 years before I have to think about those.  I better have that long or those grandchildren will be orphans.  But that would mean I'd have to raise them.  And then my back will still hurt because I'll still be carrying spare underwear and crayons and Happy Meal toys in my purse.  Ok, enough about the grandchildren.  Not thinking about them anymore.
• Though a girl would be nice... and what would my grandma name be...

Is it any wonder that I don't get any sleep?

Life With Boys III

Overheard at the bus stop:

"I can too do the shoulder!"
"You're nuts, that's impossible."
"I can do the back of the knee."
"You're as nuts as he is."
"Bet mine is the loudest though."
"Bet it's not!"
"Bet it is!"

Armpit farts.

Ten Celebrations for Ten Years

We certainly didn't set out to celebrate in this way, but it could become a trend... (not really!)

1. Cake & ice cream with the local relatives.
2. K. takes them to SkyZone!
3. Actual birthday - wake up to balloons, birthday treats at school, then special dinner & presents with Mom & Dad
4. Dinner out with Grandma
5. Visit to Strong Museum with our friends the C's and we celebrate S.'s birthday too.
6. MagicQuest with the NJ & PA cousins.
7. Cake & ice cream with the rest of the NJ relatives.
8. Dinner at Friendly's (free coupons!) with our friend J. It's her birthday too!
9. Treat (more free coupons!) at Barnes & Noble.
10. And to round it out... the all-important spending of the birthday gift cards!