Gulfside Musing: June 2010

Sunday, June 27, 2010

The Sunday Salon: Summer, finally...

Summer has arrived! Time to kick back, relax, and read by the lake... right? That's what I keep telling myself as I make the list and pile up a huge stack of books. The reality, however, is that I actually read less during the summer months. Even audiobook time dwindles. There are family activities, gardening chores, and usually a few short trips (mostly college visits this summer).

So this year, I'm taking a different approach. It will be a "no pressure summer"... no reading or blogging commitments. I'll still visit Paris in July and possibly start the Japanese Literature Challenge, but beyond that I'll read whatever catches my eye, whenever I have the time. As far as blogging goes, I'll aim for a couple of posts a week here and one at Lakeside Kitchen.

This week I finished Cheri by Colette and loved it! My edition also contains The Last of Cheri, so I will read that soon and review them together.

I started A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg and began recommending it to friends after reading just the introduction. Now, at page 70, I am confident this book will be a keeper! The recipes look wonderful, too.

My week started in New York City. By the time we got home, I'd missed the first couple of days of Audiobook Week at Devourer of Books. There was a catch-up post on Wednesday, a query about earbuds on Thursday, and a list of audio favorites on Friday. The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper is my current audiobook.

Saturday's Weekend Cooking post was at Lakeside Kitchen. I love Wegman's, their Menu magazine, and discovered a couple new products for summer meal shortcuts.

On the home front, yesterday marked Zelda's one month anniversary with the family. After a couple of sleepless nights and a trip to the doggy ER, her transition to life as a pampered pet has been a breeze. We love her sweet, gentle disposition and silly antics. She loves being around us, and insists on following me from room to room. Zelda really enjoys her walks around the village, too, and has made quite a few friends.

My parents and siblings are visiting this afternoon. It will be a hot, muggy day, so we'll definitely get out on the lake before dinner. Later this evening, I'll get back to A Homemade Life. What are you reading today?

Friday, June 25, 2010

Audiobook Week: My Favorites

Audiobook Week draws to a close today. Jen at Devourer of Books has assigned the task of sharing recommendations. I've broken my favorites down into categories, but it was still hard to choose just a few.

Fiction Favorites

The Help by Kathryn Stockett is my top recommendation. It's read by multiple narrators and is, quite simply, fabulous.

Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann - multiple narrators, in the running for my top audiobook of 2010

The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle - read by the author, a favorite of 2008

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri - outstanding collection of short stories

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen - multiple narrators

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult - multiple narrators, the first audiobook that made me cry

Digging to America by Anne Tyler - Tyler has become an 'audio author' for me

The Falls by Joyce Carol Oates

Classics

Recently, I've turned to classics on audio.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, narrated by Ruby Dee became an instant favorite

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, narrated by Frank Muller was also outstanding

Mystery

Maisie Dobbs by Jaqueline Winspeare

(narrated by Rita Barrington)

General Non-Fiction

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (narrated by Scott Brick)

The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan (narrated by Scott Brick)

Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser (narrated by Rick Adamson)

Memoir

My Life in France by Julia Child

Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali (read by the author)

Downtown: My Manhattan by Pete Hamill (read by the author)

Humor

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris (read by the author) Nobody can do David Sedaris like David Sedaris. Don't spend your time reading his books... let him read them to you. They are like nothing you've ever heard!

I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman

by Nora Ephron ( read by the author)

Again, nobody reads Nora Ephron as well as the author. This book was simply hilarious... especially if you are nearing "a certain age".

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Audiobook Week: When Do You Listen?

It's Audiobook Week and Jen at Devourer of Books is offering up this topic today: When do you listen? Yesterday I mentioned that my audiobook habit began when I was spending inordinate amounts of time in my car. The car is still my favorite spot to read an audiobook, but I spend much less time driving around alone these days... especially in the summer.

Last spring I began to use my ipod more frequently - on the treadmill, while doing housework, cooking, or gardening, and now, while walking the dog. Since I listen to CD's in the car, I worried about having two audios in progress simultaneously. That hasn't been a problem at all. The problem is that I don't like the earbuds! They just aren't comfortable for more than 20 minutes. Have you upgraded? Do you have a recommendation for comfortable, reasonably priced earbuds? I'm all ears...

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Celebrating Audiobooks

It's Audiobook Week and Jen at Devourer of Books is leading the celebration! A different topic is up for discussion each day, along with prizes and links to lots of reviews. After a long weekend away, I'm playing catch-up today.

AUDIOBOOKS: HOW I GOT STARTED

About ten years ago, we undertook a major home renovation project - remodel the kitchen and bathrooms, and add a family room. Our plan was to move in with my parents for the summer and allow the contractors to storm the place to complete the work by Labor Day.

The sad reality: Due to major structural issues, we basically ended up building a new house. I found myself (along with a husband, 3 kids, and the dog) living two towns away with Mom and Dad for 11 months, overseeing the project, doing endless amounts of shopping for everything from doorknobs to roofing materials, and driving the kids to and from school, activities, sports practices and games. I literally spent the year in my car!

My sister, who had recently listened to an audiobook on a long drive, suggested I give them a try. I began with a book on tape from the library - Welcome to the World, Baby Girl! by Fannie Flagg. It was read by the author, with her inimitable southern accent, and I was hooked! The library was my main source of audiobooks for another year, then I discovered aubible.com. I've been a member since 2003 and now have 150 audiobooks in my 'library'. Audible is the best! As a member, I purchase credits each year at a discounted price, have access to free programming, and can sample any book before buying. They also have periodic specials and other great features on their website.

Although much less time is spent in the car these days, I still 'read' most of my audiobooks while driving. Listening has allowed me to fit many more books into my life! At first, it was work to pay attention, but my listening skills improved quickly. Now I listen to everything- fiction and nonfiction, from classics to humor. I love them! If you haven't given audiobooks a try, what are you waiting for?

BUT HOW DO YOU WRITE A REVIEW?

Reviewing audiobooks is tricky, there's no doubt about it. I generally start with a picture of the cover and the title, author, narrator, publisher, and length (in hours and minutes) next to it. A very brief plot outline follows, then my comments with a few lines specifically geared toward the quality of the audio production.

I love using favorite passages in a book review, but that's not always possible with an audiobook. Even spelling names of places and characters can present a challenge. Sometimes I get a hard copy from the library, but with popular new books that's not always possible.

There is a small notebook and pen in the car to jot down my thoughts... I try really hard not to write while driving! My audio reviews are generally shorter than reviews of hard copies.

TODAY'S AUDIOBOOK MEME

Audiobook are you currently reading: The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper - a memoir of her childhood in Liberia

Impressions?: Very good. It's read by the author and took some time to get used to her rather flat delivery, but I love hearing her 'Liberian' English.

How long you’ve been listening to audiobooks: Nearly ten years

First audiobook you ever listened to: Welcome to the World, Baby Girl! by Fannie Flagg

Favorite audiobook title: If I have to choose just one, it would be The Help by Kathryn Stockett.

Favorite narrator: There are several, but Cassandra Campbell is the only one the comes to mind right now.

How do you choose what to listen to versus read? In the past, I usually chose lighter, contemporary fiction. As my listening skills improved, I began to choose nonfiction, mystery, memoirs, and even classics. When memoirs are read by the author (Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, for example) another dimension is added. Humor is great in the audio format. If you have any desire to read David Sedaris, take my advice and try the audio (he narrates his owns books). Sometimes a classic that I haven't been able to concentrate on in the past really captures my attention on audio. I loved Great Expectations read by Frank Muller. Now, I listen to whatever happens to catch my attention.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

The Sunday Salon: My Book Club Meeting

I have a great book club! Although members have come and gone, a core group has been together for about ten years. We meet monthly during the school year, usually in the morning, and have an annual pot luck dinner each summer. We read mostly fiction, but usually choose a classic and a nonfiction title each year, too.

This year we tried something different and subscribed to the Rosamond Gifford Lecture Series. The six-lecture author series provided built-in reading selections and breathed new life into the group. We heard Khaled Hosseini, Geraldine Brooks, Pete Hamill, Richard Russo, Sara Gruen, and Jeffrey Toobin. Pete Hamill was my favorite speaker, and also a new discovery. Two of his books, North River and Downtown: My Manhattan ended up on my favorites list last year.

The last lecture was in May, so we were on our own again for June's book. We settled on The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. One member loved it, and I had recently received a phone call from a former member telling me I had to read it. This friend has very similar reading tastes, even though Corelli's Mandolin has become a standing joke between us - it's one of my favorites and she hated it.

I really enjoyed The Forgotten Garden. It was a perfect summer read - pure plot, and well-written. It takes place in Australia and England, involves writers and illustrators of fairy tales, family secrets, mystery, and wealth, and skips around in time from the present, to the 1970's, to the early 1900's.

Everybody else loved it, too.... but there was really nothing to discuss! We grasped at a few topics, but didn't want to spoil it for the member who hadn't finished. That lasted all of ten minutes before we turned to other books we've read and summer plans. This served as a perfect reminder that good books don't always lead to good discussions!

What's up next? We chose A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg for our summer read, and are encouraging members to try recipes from the book for the annual pot luck dinner (I'm hosting). We'll hope for a better discussion, but this is usually more of a social meeting anyway. I'm really looking forward to this one. Have you read it?

Today is Father's Day and we are in New York City visiting Daughter #1. There won't be much reading (again!), but we're hoping to take one of the boat tours around Manhattan if the rain holds off. If not, there's always a bookstore (or two) or a museum we could visit....

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Attention Wordpress Bloggers

Dear Wordpress Bloggers,

I'm not ignoring you this week... honest. For whatever reason, Wordpress has decided I'm a spammer. Any comments I leave are vanishing into thin air or ending up in your spam folders (Word Lily figured that out!).

Restarting the computer helped a couple of times, but today nothing seems to be working. Violet suggested I remove all cookies and empty the cache, but still no luck. My computer skills are limited, but I'd appreciate any other suggestions.

At least I can still read your blogs...

Thanks in advance,

JoAnn

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Wuthering Heights Wednesday: It's a Wrap!

And so all good things must come to an end....

This is the final installment of our Wuthering Heights Wednesday read-along hosted by Jill at Fizzy Thoughts. Surprisingly, I was not the only one who hadn't read the book prior to this little adventure. Several other WH virgins read along with the seasoned veterans who 'held our hands' as we made our way through.

So, what did I think? First and foremost, this was not at all what I was expecting.

EXPECTATION: Wuthering Heights is one of the world's great love stories.

REALITY: People consider this a love story??? It seems more like obsession, revenge, and misery to me... although this was a great quote from Cathy I:

My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods: time will change it, I'm well aware, as winter changes the trees. My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath: a source of little visible delight, but necessary. Nelly, I AM Heathcliff! He's always in my mind: not as a pleasure to myself, but as my own being. (page 83)

EXPECTATION: A tall, dark, and handsome hero captures the young girl's heart.

REALITY: An boy of questionable origin, taken in and raised by a family, grows to be a man of questionable mental health bent on seeking revenge against the family's son who mistreated him, while acting on an obsession with the daughter that lasts beyond her life.

EXPECTATION: An atmospheric tale, where the setting is an integral part of the story.

REALITY: I was one for three!

What have I learned?

Although I have long suspected this was true, I learned that I do not need to like or identify with any character in order to enjoy a novel. Until now, I have never been able to point to a specific title where I disliked everyone. Wuthering Heights has changed that.

Although there may have been passing sympathy for Hareton, this was a pretty despicable lot. It's hard to say whether I disliked Heathcliff or Linton more. And, oh that Nelly! So many times she could have stepped in and changed the course of events, but the one time she feels even a slight twinge of guilt, it is quickly discounted. Who knows about Joseph... I didn't understand much of what he had to say, but what I did catch wasn't very favorable. At least Cathy I was interesting, poor Cathy II didn't even have that going for her!

I love classics and Wuthering Heights did not disappoint. It will not go down as one of my favorite books of 2010, but I am very glad to have finally read it. The read-along, however, will definitely be among my favorite blogging 'activities' of the year. The group made what was ultimately a pretty creepy book loaded with loathsome characters into an enjoyable, memorable read. And best of all, I have a some new friends whose blogs I will continue to visit regularly.

Thanks so much for hosting, Jill!

The WHW Group:

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Teaser Tuesdays: Cheri and The Last of Cheri

"They had known each other for twenty five years. Theirs was the hostile intimacy of light women, enriched and then cast aside by one man, ruined by another: the tetchy affection of rivals stalking one another's first wrinkle or white hair. Theirs was a friendship of two practical women of the world, both adepts at the money game; but one of them a miser, and the other a sybarite. These bonds count. Rather late in their day, a stronger bond had come to link them more closely: Cheri." (page 21)

Cheri and The Last of Cheri

by Colette

This was going to be part of my Paris in July reading, but the travel bug hit early. How about if I save the review for next month?

Teaser Tuesdays is sponsored by MizB at Should Be Reading.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

The Sunday Salon: Hurry Up Summer

It's been quiet at Lakeside Musing lately. A new dog in the house requires a huge time commitment, and if that dogs gets sick, it becomes even greater. Zelda arrived just over a week before our trip to the 'doggy ER' last Sunday. Four hours, $400, and a few tests later, we were back home. Zelda, freshly pumped up with fluids, received a diagnosis of hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, a week's worth of antibiotics and dietary supplements, and I began boiling chicken and rice for her next meal!

Thankfully, Zelda bounced back just as quickly as she became ill. A couple of days later, we began reintroducing dog food along with the chicken and rice. The last chicken will be fed tonight.... we'll see how she feels about a breakfast of just dog food tomorrow! Aside from the digestive issues, she has adjusted seamlessly into the household.

This is the final week of school and Regent's Exams for Twin B. Summer at the lake officially begins Friday afternoon. We can't wait!

As far as reading goes, I finally finished a book! The last 50 pages of The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton were turned while sipping my morning coffee. This was a very entertaining, plot-driven novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. My book club meets for discussion on Thursday, but I'm not quite sure what we're going to talk about. Will need to give this a little thought...

The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper is my current audio book. Cooper was born into a privileged Liberian family and enjoyed what seemed to be an idyllic childhood before civil war forced her family's exile to America. The book is read by the author. It took a couple disks to get used to her flat delivery, but I really enjoy when she speaks in the Liberian dialect.

This week also mark the conclusion of our Wuthering Heights Wednesday read-along hosted by Jill at Fizzy Thoughts. I've really enjoyed this experience, probably even more than the book, and will post my final thoughts on Wednesday.

As for my next book... we'll see what strikes my fancy later this evening. What are you reading today?

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Wuthering Heights Wednesday: Week 10

It's week 10 of the Wuthering Heights Wednesday read-along hosted by Jill at Fizzy Thoughts and we're coming in the home stretch! But I have a confession to make: I finished the book. I couldn't stop at the end of chapter 30, so just kept going. Yes, there was a surprise or two. If you're sticking to the schedule though, I'm not going to spoil it for you.

Summary

Cathy and Linton are married.
Edgar, realizing Cathy is being mistreated, tries unsuccessfully to change his will. He dies before the lawyer (under Heathcliff's control) arrives.
Linton dies - at last!
Heathcliff gains control of Thrushcross Grange and insists Cathy return to Wuthering Heights.
Heathcliff digs up Cathy I's grave.

My thoughts

I'll save this for next week. Now that I know the outcome, it's hard to comment on just this section. The end is near...

Reading Along

Jill at Fizzy Thoughts

Literate Housewife

Vivienne( Serendipity)

Dar@ Peeking Between the Pages

J.C. Montgomery (The Biblio Blogazine)

Whitney

JoAnn (Lakeside Musing)

Amy at New Century Reading

Geri at One More Foggy Notion

Rob at Books are Like Candy Corn

Trish at Love, Laughter and a Touch of Insanity

Carina at Reading Through Life

Sunday, June 6, 2010

TSS: Japanese Literature Challenge IV

It's time to peruse the stacks and gather your Japanese Literature. The 4th annual Japanese Literature Challenge is underway! According to our gracious hostess, Bellezza, the sole requirement is to read one work of Japanese Literature between now and January 30, 2011. She has created this lovely button, put together an extensive list of reading possibilities, and set up a review site. Now it's time to get started.

Last year I discovered Banana Yoshimoto through her novel Kitchen. This year, I'm looking forward to Goodbye Tsugumi and Hardboiled & Hard Luck.

Also in my stack is After Dark by Haruki Murakami. Murakami has many devotees among challenge participants, and the title has been recommended as a good starting point. I'm anxious to see what this author is all about.

Junichiro Tanizaki's 1948 classic, The Makioka Sisters, is on top of the pile. It had been on my wish list for a few years, and I finally picked up a copy last winter in anticipation of the challenge. So, these are the four title I have on hand, but I'm still considering several others. Have you made your list?

Thursday, June 3, 2010

poetry speaks who i am

I don't read poetry. And to tell you the truth, it intimidates me. I know that's an odd opening for a book review, but lately I've been thinking it's time to give poetry another chance. It's time to forget about those horrible middle school/high school English classes and take a fresh look.... maybe even learn to appreciate it.

The perfect opportunity presented itself when I won poetry speaks who i am, a collection of 100 poems aimed at teens, edited by Elise Paschen from Bellezza at Dolce Bellezza. It includes everything from classics by Robert Frost, Walt Whitman, Maya Angelou, and John Keats, to fresh young contemporary voices that speak to experiences from baseball to bra shopping, from mowing the lawn to eating a bowl of oatmeal. Best of all, it includes a 47 track audio CD of poets reading their own work.

From Powells Books:

"The power of spoken poetry is at the heart of Poetry Speaks. Poetry is a vocal art, an art meant to be read aloud. Listening to a poem read aloud can be a transforming experience. Poetry Speaks not only introduces the finest work from some of the greatest poets who ever lived, it reintroduces the oral tradition of poetry, of poetry performed."

Why hadn't I thought to experience poetry in this way? What a joy it was to listen to authors read their work. Their tone and inflection added much, and gave me the courage to read the classics in the collection for myself.

A personal revelation followed:

I don't have to like, or understand, every single poem. Every poem will not speak to me.

From there, it was very a short stretch to:

Just because I do not like every poem, it does not mean that I don't like poetry.

This sounds so elementary. Why have I not looked at it this way before? Of course it would be ridiculous to say I don't like novels because of a few I didn't like or understand, yet that is exactly what I've been doing with poetry for decades!

So now, my question... Where do I go from here? Is there a particular poet or anthology you would recommend? Or perhaps one of those "how to" read/understand poetry books? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Finally, I'll leave you with one of the poems that "spoke" to me. It's about the kitchen table -

Perhaps the World Ends Here
by Joy Harjo

The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what, we
must eat to live.

The gifts of earth are brought and prepared, set on the table.
So it has been since creation, and it will go on.

We chase chickens or dogs away from it. Babies teethe at the
corners. They scrape their knees under it.

It is here that children are given instructions on what it
means to be human. We make men at it, we make women.

At this table we gossip, recall enemies and the ghosts of lovers.

Our dreams drink coffee with us as they put their arms
around our children. They laugh with us at our poor falling-
down selves and as we put ourselves back together once
again at the table.

This table has been a house in the rain, an umbrella
in the sun.

Wars have begun and ended at this table. It is a
place to hide in the shadow of terror. A place to
celebrate the terrible victory.

We have given birth on this table, and have prepared
our parents for burial here.

At this table we sing with joy, with sorrow. We
pray of suffering and remorse. We give thanks.

Perhaps the world will end at the kitchen table,
while we are laughing and crying, eating of the last
sweet bite.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Wuthering Heights Wednesday: Week 9

It's Wednesday again and you know what that means! We're at week 9 and coming in the home stretch of our Wuthering Heights read-along hosted by Jill at Fizzy Thoughts. Chapters 25 - 27 or Volume II chapters 11 - 13 are up for discussion this week. We've ended with a cliffhanger (sort of), so let's get right to it...

Summary

The time frame is finally put into perspective as Mrs. Dean tells Lockwood the preceding events occurred just one winter ago!
Mrs. Dean wonders if Lockwood might love Cathy.
Edgar agrees to let Cathy and Nellie meet Linton - but not at Wuthering Heights.
At the meeting, Linton - disinterested, inattentive, and looking like hell (although claiming to feel better) - becomes quite agitated when Cathy and Nellie threaten to leave. He's obviously afraid of Heathcliff's anger if perceived as "silent and stupid".
While Edgar's condition continues to deteriorate, a second meeting occurs the following week. Linton is a little more animated, but that seems motivated by fear of his father.
Heathcliff appears and manages to get Cathy and Nellie to Wuthering Heights, takes them both prisoner, and knocks Cathy around when she tries to escape.
Heathcliff says Cathy and Linton must be married before she is released... and it turns out Linton is in on this little scheme!
Cathy is taken away the next morning, but Nellie is kept for 5 nights and 4 days with Hareton as jailer.

Quotes

Mrs. Dean to Lockwood:

"You're too young to rest always contented, living by yourself; and I some way fancy no one could see Catherine Linton and not love her. You smile; but why do you look so lively and interested when I talk about her? and why have you asked me to hang her picture over your fireplace? and why-? (page 247)

Linton to Cathy:

'Oh!' he sobbed, 'I cannot bear it! Catherine, Catherine, I'm a traitor, too, and I dare not tell you! But leave me, and I shall be killed! Dear Catherine, my life is in your hands; and you have said you loved me, and if you did, it wouldn't harm you. You'll not go then? kind, sweet, good Catherine! And perhaps you will consent - and he'll let me die with you!' (page 258)

Heathcliff to Cathy:

"I give you what I have: the present is hardly worth accepting; but I have nothing else to offer. It is Linton, I mean. How she does stare! It's odd what a savage feeling I have to anything that seems afraid of me! Had I been born where laws are less strict and tastes less dainty, I should treat myself to a slow vivisection of those two, as an evening's amusement." (page 260 - 261)