Organic Mama

I thought I might get 'round to posting something about something today, but I spent all my free time catching up on reading blogs. The kid is up now, and upon further reflection I've realized I don't have a damn thing to talk about because I haven't knitted two stitches since we moved in, I haven't started another book after Garlic and Sapphires, and I barely get two minutes free a day to think about something other than what to cook for dinner. Boring life right now, really. Maybe that's why I'm losing my temper rather frequently of late.

My memory jogged a bit: I had started Gilead by Marilyn Robinson, but that thread got lost in the grips of moving hell. I haven't gotten through a third of it's pages, and it isn't a long book, so I am unsure as to whether I'll really reopen it. On first impression, I'd say either I'm missing something really subtle, or it's a bit boring. I don't recall Housekeeping being as slow, but I read that for a class @ UW which makes for an altogether different and more challenging context.

I bought Garlic and Sapphires at Borders the other day along with Kitchen Confidential and The Last Days of Dogtown. Having finished Ruth Reichl's most recent memoir in a very short few days I think I might have liked it. Reading about RR's physical and emotional transformations as she takes on disguises is a fascinating journey. This third book is much more polished and has a clearer plot than the first two, and RR's job as a New York Times restaurant critic is surprisingly exciting. The lead-in to the job at Gourmet magazine seemed a little too pat, but then I already knew where she was anyway.

I also polished off the parts of Barrel Fever that I could stand to read. I positively adore David Sedaris and his work - he's felt the pain of exile to Raleigh, how could I not love him. Even his darker work hasn't been bothersome, but this book is different. The short stories that I attempted made me want to gag! The one that really did me in was about a small town housewife freaking out and drowning her own grandson in a washing machine and it was written from the woman's perspective to her friends in a christmas letter. Yikes! The essays were funny, as usual, but then I found that I had heard most of them on the radio. Ho hum.

As far as books go, I've been in a bit of a sweet patch. Right after we set up shop at my mom's place in Seattle, one of my current Fantasy fav authors (Jacqueline Carey) did a reading at the Beaverton Powell's for her latest (Kushiel's Scion). I bothered to buy the book hardback and I got my first taste of the novelty of no sales tax. (Hey, it's the little things, right?) After the signing it took me only a couple days to finish the book. While Carey's style isn't exactly literary, I really enjoy her story lines and the geographical overlay of her fantasy universe on mediaveal Western Europe. I've read plenty of Fantasy where the author creates their own "map", which feels a little bit like reinventing the wheel and takes away from the reading experience. Carey is also exceptional at inventing mythology that helps to guide the plot as well as provide a richer backstory. Kushiel's Scion has the added benefit of the entire first series, Kushiel's Legacy, as setup, although Carey could've gone a little ligther on the references to previous adventures as the hero in the new series isn't even a flicker in somebody's eye in the first. All in all, I'm looking forward to the publication of the second book of the series.

I can't remember exaclty what I read next. Life has been a haze since May, so you'll excuse me if I don't recall all the details. It must not have been that interesting a book for me to completely forget.

After the grueling experience of unloading not one, but two twenty-six foot moving trucks (okay, one was my mother's and we hired two people to help out) in 100 degree weather, I was ready for the quiet and the dark. I dug out one of my boxes of books and cracked Atonement by Ian McEwan. By the way, how cool a name is McEwan? This is my first venture into one of Mr IM's books, and I was pleasantly thrilled. Without giving away too much, I have to say my favorite part is the layering of authorship that has a definite postmodern flavor to it. After doing some research about his other work, it looks like I won't be delving backward into previous works (too scary, too sad, just too fucked up), but I am looking forward to being able to order Saturday.

Finally, just a few days ago, I tried to get a start on The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton. I stopped only a few pages in because, well, Ms. Wharton is a bit of a bitch. I've seen the movie, and the critical introduction in my Modern Library Classic edition wasn't shy about details, so I know how the whole thing ends. That isn't the issue, though I don't really enjoy the ending. My beef with EW is how classist and bigotted her writing is. I think there was a way to write what she wrote and examine the nuances of New York "society" without being a total wack. But hey, these are my prejudices coming through. I will probably hold onto the book and try again later, because I actually enjoyed Ethan Frome. As a total side note, the painting chosen for the cover of this edition really struck me - the bare neck and sholder of the subject reflects the tenderness and vulnerability of Ms. Bart.

I haven't chosen another volume as of yet, but I did recently procure my first library card as an adult, so I anticipate having a few more options for reading material. I don't know if that will make it harder to choose, or if I'll even be able to finish things in a timely manner. Little J is having the time of his life in the children's section, though, so I may not even make it upstairs to peruse for myself.

...but it doesn't include a fully functioning router, so my internet connection is a bit spotty. And the whole place is overwhelmed with boxes. Nothing like moving from a 1600 sq ft. house to a 900 sq ft two-bedroom apartment. Bit of scariness for ya - we pay more for the apartment than we did for the house. Yipes. But other than all that, we're actually living in Oregon now, have been for a couple weeks, and life is pretty good.

Looking around the ole blog, I'm thinking I need to check in with my template for a few updates and maybe my blog profile for a little sprucing up. I don't have a plan as of yet for posting on a regular basis, or blogging about anything that resembles thematic subject material. This is very normal for me, but not altogether intersting if you're actually bothering to read this post. Sorry.

So, from the looks of it, I will be back on. Finally.