New Year Possibilities

What I'm reading right now:

I'm rereading Kaminoff's Yoga Anatomy (but then, I'm almost always rereading my yoga books) and rereading Sharon Lovejoy's Toad Cottages & Shooting Stars (a wonderful book for parents and grandparents--so many great ideas).  These are both nonfiction and are good for rereading in short periods of time then coming back to later.

Also reading Except for the Queen by Jane Yolen and Midori Snyder.  When I started it yesterday, I wasn't thrilled with the beginning and almost put it aside, but I'm so glad I didn't because when it got good, it got really good!

I've not been reading as much in the first couple of weeks of this new year because I've been so busy with other things.  You know, those new year things that seem to take precedence with the advent of a new year...cleaning, organizing, catching up with reviews, emptying book shelves and closets and drawers and purging the clutter.  It feels good to have a fresh start and a clean slate even when one knows it won't last long.

I do have a couple of books to review that I'll be getting around to soon.

This past year is not a reading year that I was particularly proud of as most of it was escape fiction; although there were some excellent books, most were not especially memorable.

I'm going to be making an effort to have a better, more varied mix of books in 2011.  I've ordered another copy of The Vigorous Mind  because I loaned my copy to someone who asked about it, and although I emphasized that I did want it back because I was using it as a reference, I've realized it isn't going to be returned.  I'm a little disappointed because I'd highlighted so many things in it including book titles and authors, but highlighting can be done again.

Some of my posts about The Vigorous Mind can be found here, here, and here.  It was a book that truly had an impact on my life and on my reading; I'm looking forward to reading this one again.  I was proud of my 2009 reading year, not so much in 2010.

Two books that I'm looking forward to reading:

Damage by John Lescroart - I love Lescroart's series and his characters.
Three Seconds by Roslund & Hellstrom, a series that I read about first in the paper and then saw that Nicole (Linus's Blanket) has it in her stacks.

Friday Miscellaneous

Here are some gorgeous photos. Scott Stulberg's photography is marvelous.

Have two books almost finished, and although I have a nice stack of books left to read, most are nonfiction, and I'm craving some good fiction. So...

today, I'm planning on taking a list to the library and seeing what kind of entertainment is on hand. Amazon is off my radar right now. Borrowing is more appealing than buying according to my checkbook which records some serious dents.

I want fantasy, mystery, science fiction, gothic thrillers. A good dose of non-reality.

The Abandoned Books topic on Booking Through Thursday has been fun to read; I've quite agreed on several of those that have been abandoned. Two that have been abandoned here are Puccini's Ghosts by Morag Joss (too much tension when the characters are so unlikable) and The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolano (this was an NPR rec that was a rare mistake for me).

Larkitechture

Unusual bird house by a man who makes interesting bookshelves and bookcases. It reminds me of Roger Mifflin's painting all the books on his dog's kennel--the titles all had to do with dogs and many were made up. (The Haunted Bookshop by Morley)


Here is a list of The Modern Library's 100 Best Novels list. Actually, two lists, the board's list and the reader's list.

I've been sidelined with sinus woes for the last two days. Have read a little, but have mostly slept and whined, and slept. Much better now. Time to go to bed.