Nightingale Wood by Stella Gibbons

Sometimes I just see a book and know I want to read it.  Major Pettigrew's Last Stand comes to mind and most recently Nightingale Wood.  I didn't hesitate for a second when I clicked BUY NOW on the Audible website where there are some books I let linger for months on my wishlist before I can make a decision.

I've decided the commonality between my instant purchases is that I am totally, completely and forevermore an Anglophile.  Set a book, TV show, or movie in the British countryside and I'm there.  You had me at "G'day."  I could read Austen, Dickens, Wilkie Collins, George Eliot, J.K Rowling to the end of my days and never grow weary.  And so, Nightingale Wood was such a treat!  It's a book with lots of characters you've met in so many other books.  Mr. Wither = Mr. Dursley, Phyllis Barlow = Rachel McAdams in Mean Girls and for much of the book nothing seems to really happen, however, just like my life in which nothing ever seems to really happen, I find myself vastly entertained (only joking, my life isn't that boring). 

From what I've read, Nightingale Wood was out of print for many years and just recently Virago republished.  Smart publishers they are.  I'm ready to read Cold Comfort Farm now, also by Stella Gibbons, and wonder how it could be that I haven't read it before!

The Night Circus (by Erin Morgenstern)

I can't help but put both these images on this post because... I like them so much! JUST LIKE I LIKED THIS BOOK! There are so many reasons to too, that can be likened to our beloved Harry Potter: young characters, magic, danger, a duel of talent and wit, and... oh yes... narrated by JIM DALE. As soon as I heard his voice, my heart lept. 

To quote the author herself however, 'I find the JK Rowling comparison hugely flattering but not particularly apt'  ... which I must agree to. This is an entirely different book. I can, however, recommend it truly, madly, deeply as a fantastic audio read. I don't know what more to say other than I got through repairing 3 pairs of jeans, multiple other clothing items, and re-vamped about 6 tshirts on the sewing machine. Magical! Sorry if this post seems so fluffy... the book is not... read/listen and comment away!

iPhones + Books = Glorious

My dear reading friends who have iPhones.  Isn't this the greatest idea ever?  A beautiful iPhone dock that charges your phone! 

If they weren't so expensive I would buy one for all of you!  I promise, I would.  Aren't I nice?

How to Be An American Housewife

I shared this on my main blog, but I think it deserves a spot over here too:

Hello friends.  

An exciting post for you today!  Books!  I recently read How to Be an American Housewife for the BlogHer book club (my favorite!) and upon reading the description was super excited to read it.  It did not disappoint and without further ado I will now declare this a great Fall read!  


For a quick sum up, it tells the story of a Japanese woman, Shoko, who during WWII, who becomes a Japanese war bride and moves to the US for a “better life”.  The story is told through her eyes for most of the book and near the end switches to her American-raised daughter, Sue’s, perspective, which I really liked.  They have a confusing relationship and it is only after Sue visits Japan that she has a better understanding of her mother and all that she went through.  Both of these woman had an incredible story to share and one of my favorite things about the book was the opening of each chapter that had a little paragraph taken from the imaginary book “How to Be An American Housewife”.  I read in the afterword that the author had created this book based on a similar book that her father had given her mother when she moved to the States and I like the way that it framed the book.  I certainly hadn’t thought or read much about the Japanese brides during WWII that came to America, but as far as I can tell this book seems to do a good job and showing the transition from Japan to America and what these women must have experienced.  

If you find yourself in a bookstore soon (or online!) check it out!  

If you read it, can we talk about it?  I'd love to share with someone else! I'll also mail my copy! 

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

About a month ago I got the great idea (some of you may remember a certain email) that we should hike a segment of the Appalachian Trail.  Actually, it's something I'd been thinking about for almost 20 years -- I briefly dated a guy who wanted to hike the AT and I was so inspired by his interest that I bought into it and thought I wanted to do it too (but not with him).  Naturally, as an avid hiker, hiking the AT or even a section of it seems like the pinnacle of cool hiking.

In addition to my email to the Selby girls, I also suggested to Marc that we should hike some of the AT as a family.  Sometimes he's a really good sport about things and he said, "okay".  I figured I needed to do some research after getting agreement from both the Mathewsies family (kids are all for it) and the Selby girls and I came across Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods. 

I loved this book!  It was hilarious, like the snort-coffee-through-your-nose-from-laughing-while-reading and annoy-the-people-around-you-reading-sections-aloud-to-them kind of funny.  Especially the first half. It also has some thought-provoking insights into the AT, American culture, and the environment.  It also may have saved us all from a miserable experience.  My brief obsession with hiking the AT is now cured.  Thank you Bill Bryson.  Marc read it after me and he agreed: great book, not a place we need to hike.  The AT sounds like a pretty funny place with some interesting people along the way but I think we can skip it for some better options.

Now, anyone want to hike Rim-to-rim in the Grand Canyon?  That I'm still doing for sure! 

And, read the book.  You'll love it. 

I am the Messenger - Markus Zusak

Dear readers/listeners,

while I'm currently getting through Skippy Dies (possibly good, but not the most uplifting thing in the world. I review it as "interesting, but I don't really like it." Jeff is funny, despite), I keep going back to the good feelings I had while listening to my previous book, I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak.

First of all, if any of you have read The Book Thief, and liked it (which I think is the general response), I heavily recommend this. It deals with an individual going through a life change in a series of event that has a detective-do-gooder and "growth as a person" feel to it. You really get to like the 1st person stance of Ed, self-deprecating as Ms. Bossypants, which I believe is only increased when you listen to the audiobook (it takes place in Australia, and the narrator is Australian. (Visitors... we are primarily Americans here and love a good accent.)


I don't want to write a complete review of The Book Thief here too, since I haven't read it that recently, but I also really like the audiobook version since it had a lot of German vocabulary in it, spoken with a (well attempted) German accent. The disadvantage to his audiobooks is that (correct me if I'm wrong!) the actual books tend to have little illustrations on the chapters. I probably would never have liked Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close quite as much if I hadn't had the visual references, but you can't read a book whilst biking and walking to work, however, and thus stay I attached to my ipod.

Some thoughts about a. The Help (the Movie) b. Skippy Dies

Last Friday night, Marc, MR, Christina (aka Bellatrix LeStrange) and I went to go see The Help at the Kentucky.  We gave it two thumbs up for doing the absolute best you could do with such a wonderful book with so many great storylines.  My favorite actor?  Absolutely, the woman play Miss Hilly.  While my mental picture of her from the book was of a much shorter, heavier woman, the actress who played her was outstanding!  She was The Help equivilent of Emily Blunt in Devil Wears Prada. Also, Minnie was terrific and I loved the woman who played Miss Celia.  She looked like a young Julia Roberts -- like Miss Hilly, not what I pictured from the book but she might have been even better than my imagined version of her.  And, I really liked Emma Stone as Skeeter.  I wasn't expecting to like her that much but I did. 

Skippy Dies.  I just finished it.  Has anyone else read or even heard of this book?  It's in the audible library (if you know what I mean).  I selected it based on many, many glowing reviews (much like my purchase of  The Evolution of Bruno Littlemore) including the NY Times.  While it was light years less disturbing than Bruno, still, I find myself somewhat troubled by this book and wondering how it can be classified as a "comic novel" which is how it is referred to by many of the reviews.   I'd love to know what y'all think, my dearest darlings...

Outlander Graphic Novel?

Oh yes... there is one. "The Exile"... and while this may be of little interest to anyone besides Gwennie and I, the need to post it still remains. I'm almost done with the third book, and wondering if I shouldn't hold back on the next one and get some actual work done instead of listening to the books really loudly in trains and whilst vacuuming, or somewhat more quietly as I goldschmied into the night and then realize it's hours past my bedtime.

Also of note, one cannot "hear" a graphic novel. Jesus H. Theodore Roosevelt Christ.

The Kid by Sapphire

I recently reviewed a book for the Blogher Book Club and I wanted to send a quick link out to those of you who might be interested in reading this book.

It's a tough read and I'm really not the best at describing how I felt about it, but the ladies over at Blogher really hit home with their reviews.

If you're interested, please check it out!

Blogher: Book Club, The Kid

I'll share my less eloquent review when they publish it (if they publish it).

HP7, ii

Robyn asked me why I didn't tell her that she had a bump in her hair. I had no response. Whoops!

Court Street Regal Cinema, Downtown Brooklyn

Robyn and I also made our way to the last Harry Potter last night.. or this morning... and now I am very sleepy. But it was worth it!

Also, as I was walking out the door (at 9:15) David asked if I had gotten him a ticket.
This is after I asked him if he wanted to go with me a week ago and he laughed and said noooooo. I took him for his word! Anyway, he didn't come but Robyn and I did have a delightful time. We LOVED it and had perfect seats unlike last time.

Too tired to type anymore... good night...

Harry Potter Part II

Dearest Readers,

While Harry Potter Movie 7, Part 2 (not movie 8) is not a book, I would like to nonetheless open up a place for comments. Feel free to edit in (or newly post) any more exciting pictures of movie theater goings. 

For the record, nobody where I was dressed up and I missed the first two minutes because I had been so excited about the USA WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM WINNING and then realized I could still make a show and not go to bed too late for work the next day. I rode my broomstick (er bike) as fast as I could and even got a center seat, two thirds up the rows (PERFECT!)... because I was alone. Potter Solidarity!

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

I'm in love with Major Pettigrew. Or, maybe I'm in love with Edgecomb-St. Mary's. Or, maybe I'm just an Anglophile.

Last spring break, we (Mere, MR and I) picked this book up at the Mt. Pleasant Barnes and Noble and decided that it would be our next "Williamson Girl Book Club" selection. I recall liking the cover art and the brief back cover write-up. Then, we put the book down, Mere deciding she'd buy it on Kindle (did you?) and I decided I'd buy that fifth Outlander book (really, when am I going to stop reading those!!) instead and that I'd get Major Pettigrew's Last Stand as an audiobook later.

I am confident, CONFIDENT I must say in all caps, that you all will love this book, too. It's sharp, funny, peaceful, and sweet. A well-written little gem with lots of little conversations and sentiments that make me wish I had the paper version so I could dog ear the corners of the pages that I really like. But alas, the narrator is wonderful. So wonderful, in fact, that I keep losing my place in the audiobook and find myself going back and having to relisten to whole chapters of the book and not really minding a bit.

And remember, you're never too old to fall in love with an unsuitable person. xoxo

By the Lion, Patrick Stewart!

First of all, I would like to salute the good Capt. Picard for doing an amazing job at narrating "The Last Battle." Sure, the female voices could be... more female, but I really don't see anyway of getting around that (likewise to all the male voices by Kate Reading (Mistress of the Art of Death (Mom, did you ever finish it?) and weirdly Shopaholics as well). Harrrrrryyyyyy!)


I find that, once into a book, I really start to forget whether or not I like the narrator, as long as the book is good. Sometimes the narration is helped by having appropriate accents for the narrators (Life of Pi) or additional voices (Broadway Nights). I was continuously appreciative of several things about Patrick Stewart, including his definably different character voices and his ability to speak quickly in extreme situations while still dictating/annunciating well (he also just has a really nice voice)!

As for the book, I really love most all things Narnia and this is no exception. Having gone through the audio books lately, however, it has been interesting to re-gauge my reaction to them with my somewhat more feminist and analytic eye/ear. It is always frustrating to listen to anything I idolized as a kid, and then realize as an adult that the girls are sometimes really treated as 'little delicate things...' I disagree, however, that Lewis was completely sexist. I don't want to defend his treatment or old-school thinking, but the fact remains that Aslan appears most to Lucy and there is ne'er a book where an important (if non-fighting) female is opposite a male. I seriously wonder if the girl characters would be written differently if Lewis was writing today. I also am a supporter of girls and boys being different and better at certain things than the other in some cases, which also come into play often. I, after all, feel a little surer of showing a bike problem to a Dad or guy friend, but I would just as soon show it to Capers if she is around! I don't really feel like addressing the Christian analogies right now, but I like them, and maybe it's something for the comments.

Hope I haven't lost anyone here. My personal opinion (of which there are plenty in the various book blogs/reviews found simply in searching for a picture for this blog) is that I still love the book and find its metaphors good, but there are somethings I don't like. The good outweighs the bad, however, and I don't feel like I'm compromising my standards to say that.

Krakauer

Remember back when Gwennie posted this about Jon Krakauer? Well, the spell has taken me in as well. However, I'm going in a bit of a different order. I listened to Into Thin Air, just finished Under the Banner of Heaven and am now listening to Into The Wild.

I've seen the movie of Into the Wild so I have a good idea of the storyline, but I think his writing really does pull you in more than even a visual story can. Thoughts?

I'm also thinking that Under the Banner of Heaven will be my least favorite. I don't hate it persay.. and it definitely made me think... it's just... depressing. I realize that might be a funny thing to say since the other two also involve death, but it's in a totally different way. Murder vs. Extreme outdoors. I also have been telling people about Under the Banner and for some reason they always tell me to stop. Hmm.. Did anyone else read/listen to this?

By the way, is anyone buying an AT&T accessory anytime soon? I have a 25% off coupon and will mail it to you...

“Jesus, Mary, Muhammad and Vishnu, how good to see you Richard Parker!”

"The Life of Pi" by Yann Martel is one of Auntie G's absolute most favorite books, with good reason.


I like bragging that I read it (starting with a couple chapters at JoBeth because I was waiting for my nerd friends to come back from the graphic novels) a waaaay long time ago. This has, however, lost effect since I didn't really seem to remember why I liked it so much. 


For one (1), it is simply a great story, with stories in stories.

Two (2), the way in which it is written has a very old timey feel, I find, of explaining things so well that you can truely see them. This book is full of things for the senses.

Three (3), with all the tragedy that goes on, it still manages to be uplifting. I was constantly amazed at the voice of the narrator (i.e. Pi) and his outlook on all that he went through.

Four (4) it is the very best when reading it. Holding on to the feeling it gives you is so wonderful. When it ends... it just ends.


Lastly (no number), and this is not really positive or important, but rather a peeve... I don't think any illustrations fit that of the boat. It was bigger. That bugs me, but I still love the cover (which drew me to it in JoBeth) and I recommend it. Am I preaching to the choir here? Do you guys have anything more constructive to say about it?

Dear Tina Fey,

Thank you for Bossypants, the audiobook.  I was listening to you this morning while I was running, started laughing, couldn't catch my breath and almost ran into a mailbox.  Perhaps I should not have interrupted my reading/listening of the Evolution of Bruno Littlemore, a novel narrated by a chimpanzee which has yet to make me laugh, to start Bossypants.  Clearly, I should think twice about driving whilst listening.  I haven't had this much fun since Broadway Nights.  Now, if I can just figure out how to download the .pdf so that I can see the white denim suit.   

Sincerely,

G. Mathews

Baby's First Audiobook

I finally did it!

At long last! Success!! I conquered an audiobook AND Everest!

I knew that I had to be a Williamson girl deep down and have felt so out of the loop with my non-audiobook-listening. Poor Isabug downloading audiobooks, but never actually listening to them. What a loser. Anyway, can I join the club now?

Onto the details. How? Why? When?

After entering the Frankfurt airport at an early (Claire even drove me!) 9:45am I proceeded to my gate where they basically lock you in with no options of food or drink and one TV. I parked myself in front of the TV that had no sound and watched some news while debating how I could bide my time. As it turns out I was a little tired of Wicked, having listened to it repeatedly for the past month with no break while I was in Germany, so scrolled through my boring music selection. Finally I decided to check out the audiobooks and lo and behold but I saw Into Thin Air. "Smart thinking, Isabug." I said to myself. I have always wanted to read it and this was my chance. I quickly pressed the play button and my journey began. I listened and listened and listened. I listened while I watched the Royal Wedding that appeared on the TV shortly after.. I listened as we boarded the plane.. I listened as the man in front of me obnoxiously sang along with his iPod on the phone (WHO DOES THAT?!?!)... and I listened in spite of having over 20 movie selections, most of which I had been waiting to see (King's Speech anyone?). Thankfully, I had a 7.5 hour flight so it was pretty much over by the time we landed. Maybe that's the key to my audiobook plight - listening all at once?

In any case, I loved it. Loved it. Loved it. I want to listen to it again and again.. although now that I'm back in New York I'm afraid that my audiobook listening days may be limited. Darn you loud subway riders and the need for no distraction so that you get off at the right subway stop. Yes, that happened this morning. I walked from 53rd and 5th to work...surprisingly for the first time ever! I don't know if I'm actually a changed person yet, but at least I have conquered one audiobook. Hello Williamson girls, I'm here!

ibooks...

Ok, while I realise we blur the lines of "reading" a lot on this blog in favor of listening, I'm still not sure if an ibook really counts more than an audio book, especially if you are reading it off something the size of your palm (David would have the advantage there... huge mitten wearer)... and I'm off on a tangent already. The point I wanted to get out here is that I know many of you dear readers have handy...cell phones ;) and most classics are available FO FREE!

I'm probably preaching to the choir here, but COOL. Jane Austens, Jane Eyre, Huck Finn, etc! I haven't read a full book per se, but rather SHERLOCK HOLMES which is FREE/awesome. I recommend it for everybody.

This example even contains an ibook ihave (Winnie the Pooh) and one I've listened to but not "read"... (House Rules)!

I am going to look for more Sherlock Holmes now. I like them because they're not so long, so you're not looking at that little screen forever, and because they're great.


EDIT: speaking of blurring the lines, I have not found more Sherlock Holmes yet because "The Warblers" apparently have an album!!!!@!@$#@$Q

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

I finished a book!!!  Okay, it's an audiobook but still I am in fact making a blog post about a book*.  And, it's a Simon and Schuster book.  Isabug, have you met Kathleen Grissom?  Can you get us all invited to her house?

I picked up the Kitchen House based on a recommendation that said, "if you liked The Help, you'll like The Kitchen House."  I did, in fact, love The Help and I really liked the The Kitchen House but I have to say the comparison would be that a.  they are both historical novels about "domestic help", b. one of the Kitchen House narrators is a narrator from The Help audiobook.   But, really the comparison for me pretty much ends there.  Very different theme, very different writing style and The Kitchen House isn't remotely funny.  What the Kitchen House does have for it, is a good story line about an indentured servant, Lavinia, living in Virginia at the turn of the 19th century. 

Dancealot and I have both read it and agreed that we liked it a lot but poor Lavinia has really rotten luck.  In fact, I think she might have been quite at home in The Series of Unfortunate Events books.  But, try it...it's on audible, if you know what I mean.






*I read a paperback Jodi Picoult book in February but I'm not sure that counts and I finished another Outlander series book which took me most of January and February.

March (book?) Madness...

I'm actually checking on this one (though I have not officially filled out a bracket, I have still partaken in the voting up till now ;)

What I Want 2 Read Next...

Yum. I think I could handle a book like this. Easy, comfortable, minimal and ohhh sooo good-looking!

The Help (movie!!!!... help?)

Has anyone else seen this?!?!?!

I can't help feeling that the cover design is not how I imagined it (though the color is)...

I mean, I can't help being excited a leeeetle bit excited about this because even though we, book lovers, know that normally no good can come out of a movie based on a fantastic book... I really love that Emma Stone* is going to be "Skeeter." I just hope justice will be done to the characters.

...she does look awfully cute with Skeetersque hair treatment...

Abileen (Viola Davis**) looks a little young and Hilly is not thin at all (BAD), but we will see... we will see...

*I loved Stone in "Easy A" after all, which is a bit more fun that reading "The Scarlet Letter"...

** Davis is also going to be in "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," for which I may make another post like this one. We will see...

Charleston Girl...

Anyone else know about this coming out from under my radar? I saw it in "Kaufland" (buy-country)... what the what?

In other news, I finally got around to listening to "The Help" and am almost done......... so good to have a good book. SO GOOD!!!!!!!
In other other news, I rate "The Alchymist" at lower than Twilight, Hunger Games, Percy Jackson, whatever our current scale is. Not really even interested in listening to the rest of them.

Happy Valentine's Day Lovelies!

A fitting question for today, I think...

What is your favorite love story?

Romeo & Juliet, Sense & Sensibility? Or do you prefer no ampersands, like Bridget Jones's Diary? Or how about Wuthering Heights? (which I still need to read!!) It's actually a quite difficult question, but for today I will give a shout out to Pride and Prejudice. Hello, Mr. Darcy!

Also, do you find it as interesting as I do that Penguin decided to make most of their beautiful cloth bound books, that you can find at Anthropologie among other places, by Jane Austen? They obviously know their readership. And yes, I want all of them.

Dreaming in French

Update on Isabug:

I'm currently reading Dreaming in French and watching Law & Order:SVU and Bones. What does this say about me?

__________________________________
Dreaming in French by Megan McAndrew review:

I haven't actually finished it yet, but I picked it up because of the title and the cover as I am experiencing some extreme Europe lust. Aka: I need to be there. Alas...
The book is about a teenage girl growing up in Paris in the 70's(her mother and father are both American) and it's starting to confuse me because every book I pick up now focuses on a young girl in Paris. I guess I'm an easy target. It's really much more than just a book about a young girl in Paris but you don't really find that out until half way through. She is the daughter of a wealthy Connecticut man and her mother is a flamboyant and beautiful gal from Kentucky. (Kentucky!) Her mother goes out a lot, paints the house elaborately, etc. etc. and it's all going well until something happens involving Poland. (Poland - 1970s - get it?) I don't want to give everything away.

It's a good read, especially for the subway ride, and because I'm feeling super generous today - YOU'RE ALL GETTING ONE! Well, except Claire. Sorry Badbear.

"McAndrew's novel brings an original sensibility as well as a plot that takes satisfying, unexpected turns." New York Times Book Review

Lost...

We haven't talked TV shows in a while and I want to share with you all how addicted the Mathewsies have become to "Lost".  Yes, Lost (The TV series from ABC) is over after six seasons of which I had watched approximately zero episodes prior to the series ending.  But, lo and behold, with the advent of Netflix in our lives (credit to Isabug...in fact, I think I might start referring in future to Netflix as Isaflix just so she can be fully aware of how much we appreciate her connection with Netflix) we have discovered Lost.  I just want to write Lost in big bold letters or something...LOST!!!

Every night, we hurry through dinner and all of our evening chores so that like families of old gathered around the radio, we can watch episodes of Lost.  We are now on Season 3, Episode 2.  We talk about Lost.  We talk about who our favorite character is, we talk about who The Others are, we talk about the Island, what the button is for, why the plane crashed, who's creepy, who's not, we talk about how when the Wii Fit says "visualize your ideal body" and I immediately think I want to look like Evengaline Lilly...

If you, dearest schwester and neicies (and other blog readers) have not watched Lost, you must.  I repeat:  you must start watching Lost on Isaflix (or the full episodes which are on line on ABC.com)!

Sadly, one day Lost will end and what then, I ask, will we watch next?

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

Hello my darling readers! Have you all been reading with the new year?  I read a couple of books from Isabug's parcel that arrived the day after everyone's departure including the A.J. Jacobs book (as written about on other blogs) and Little Princes.  I really liked them both.  Also, I just finished Laura Hillenbrand's (Seabiscuit) new book Unbroken --it's in the Audible library for those of you who are authorized with the secret code.  I recommend it for a wonderful change up from fiction.  Also, I recommend it highly as a "manly book" and I'd put it into the Jon Krakauer company.  It's a very flat, level, detail-rich true story of Louis Zamperini -- who is still alive by the way -- a juvenile delinquent, Olympic runner, WW II airmen, Japanese POW, and all-around inspiration!  Reading it took me back to Mere's and my little visit to the WWII memorial in Washington D.C with Grandpa and filled me with such affection for men like him and their ilk.  Truly, they maybe are the "Greatest Generation" and tough beyond measure.

If you read Seabiscuit, you may remember the journalistic, dry quality of that book.  And, while the story was about Seabiscuit there were a multitude of side roads into the lives of the people who intersected with that horse as well as the horse industry of the day.  Unbroken is much the same -- rich with interesting facts, colorful people and the nature of the war in the Pacific.  The story telling is dry but like a good wine, sometimes dry is just the perfect thing. Plus,  I don't know about you, but while I feel pretty well-educated about WWII and the war in Europe, I'm not particularly informed about the War in the Pacific other than Pearl Harbor and maybe the Burmese Death March.   I now feel so much smarter.

So...Unbroken -- great for long runs in the cold (or on the treadmill).  Try it, you'll like it.