Tell Your Friends About This Blog But You Should Probably Wait For a More Inspired Posting

Bookfriend Who Likely Doesn’t Read This Blog Colleen lent me The History of Love by Nicole Krauss.  It was delivered to my desk by our Book Club Dictator (with an inexplicably bizarre note), so I never actually discussed the book with Colleen prior to reading it.

This was a very unusual book.  At times, it was practically a sleeping pill.  I took many naps while reading this book. Not as many as World’s Best Dog Norman, but more than usual.  (Thanks to Columbus for finding America and giving me a Monday off to indulge in naps/reading/reluctant bathroom cleaning.)  But in the end, it really came together.  It was one of those books with a few storylines that don’t seem to have a clear direction, but then BAM! it all makes sense.  Still, I wouldn’t really recommend this one.  Please see my recently updated Current Favorites List on the right side of your screen for a list of five books better than this one.

Pretty Embarrassing Display of Author Fawning Here

Let me just say that there is no way that Ken Follett was as excited as me for Winter of the World to come out – the second book in his century trilogy.  (The first book is the wonderful Fall of Giants which has been sitting on Blog Readers Kristen and Jed’s bookshelf for over a year.  They even moved houses, and moved the book with them.  Multiple bookshelves, still unopened.  Sheesh.)  I have been looking forward to this past September for longer than I care to admit and, even more shocking for loyal blog readers - I didn’t even dread flying across the country on Delta this week.  That’s right.  I love Ken Follett more than I hate (hate, hate) flying Delta Airlines.

So, that’s kind of a lot of hype.  But, when you are a literary genius your books deserve and live up to the hype.  As always, the story was exciting, suspenseful, interesting and fast-moving.  I devoured 940 pages in a week and a half – during which time I had a four day mini-vacation in San Francisco with my college buddy and Not Consistent Blog Reader Kate.  Excessive photo postings below.

And now, the difficult period of waiting begins for book #3.  How will Follett wrap up a 100-year story of 5 families from around the world?  Hopefully with less gushing and less italics than this blog post.

Even foggy San Fran is my happy place.

Half Moon Bay, CA.
Most notably known as the site of my first pre-natal massage.

Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl.
Please do not be offended by the non-alcoholic beer.

Baby Friend Asher and owner of most kissable cheeks in history.

Asher is a swing enthusiast.
Less enthusiastic about naps, vegetables.

Bookworm Takes Advice From a Brazillian And Also Avoids Obvious Tip Pun in Title

Blog Mocker Though Seemingly Loyal Reader Mauricio is always giving me books to read.  He tends to position these sort of as a dare, as in “you won’t read this.”  He is an Art Director, and points out that I only read “regular” books.  You know – the kind with a beginning, middle and end.  He likes books with pictures.  Turns out, that’s not just kids books, or as I often tell him – coloring books.

One of the books that has been sitting on my desk for months is Taxi Driver Wisdom by Risa Mickenberg.  It is about a 30 minute read, with a picture in every spread and big chunky type.  But I have to admit, it was an insightful little book full of great quotes from cab drivers.  Unfortunately most of my cab drivers must be saying these quotes in a foreign language to someone on their cell phone.  The only pearls of wisdom I ever get is “which airline?”  The last quote of the book addresses this experience, but I won’t spoil it for you.  Consider this a cliff-hanging post.

Snap!

Audience Never Saw This One Coming

Contrary to popular belief – or unpopular belief based on readership numbers last month – I am still reading books and care about you, dear readers.  I am especially motivated when I learn about people that read this blog that I don’t even know.  I know you are out there, Guy Who Used To Be My Old Boss’ Boss, and I am flattered.

My main excuse is that I have been busy reading Big Thick Books, but I should also mention a new activity for this blog and for me as a human – a DIY project.  That’s right, I did something myself.  I normally highly prefer PSETDI projects – Pay Someone Else To Do It – but now that I am this sober Mama-To-Be I am a whole different person who does stuff like paint.

I went with a couple of my top Blog Mockers to an antique store and found an unfinished bookcase.

Then, I painted it. 

Another photo bomb from World's Best Dog Norman.

Now, I realize this sounds like no big deal to most of you.  But I don’t know how to do anything.  At all. So a two-tone bookshelf for my nursery is a big freaking deal.  I can’t emphasize this enough. 

So, to recap for those of you Pinterest-Loving DIYers. 

 1.  Buy Bookshelf.

 2.  Paint it.

Then take massive amounts of credit for it whenever anyone will listen.  Also, tell them about this blog since even total strangers get a kick out of it.