Month: December 2011

Random musings

Popcorn, popcorn, beverage

sashikaufman

When my daughter was a newborn my Mom stayed with us and did a lot of care-taking and cooking. I discovered that years of living without a microwave had not dampened her spirit for using one.  When reheating a meal, I asked her what she had done to achieve that perfect temperature.

“Oh,” she said.  “I just hit popcorn, popcorn, beverage!”

Of course she did.  I’m impressed by people who are undaunted by trying new things.  I find that I’m kind of on the cowardly lion side of things when it comes to new adventures or activities.  I want to be brave.  I really do.  But often my doubts and fears get the best of me.  I admire anyone who approaches a new or unfamiliar activity with optimism.

Popcorn, popcorn, beverage.  Sometimes it’s just that simple.

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Reading

Keepers

sashikaufman

Sometimes there comes a point while reading a library book that I realize, “Oh shit, I have to go buy it.”  This usually happens when I read a sentence or passage so unbelievably well written, or so universally truthful, that my hands itch to bend down the corner of the page or underline with the nearest pen.

I have to be selective though, because excessive book-buying, whether new or used, usually elicits a heavy amount of eye-rolling from my loving husband.  Who, truth be told, is the one who’s had to heft those ridiculously heavy boxes of books on each of the five moves I’ve made in the time we’ve been together.

But as the holidays are approaching, and books do make the most wonderful gifts, I thought I’d throw together a short list of some of the Keepers I’ve read this year.

Fiction for Grown Ups

  • State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
  • The Keep by Jennifer Egan
  • A Visit from the Goon  Squad by Jennifer Egan
  • Bossypants by Tina Fey  (Not really fiction, but snort yer milk out the nose funny)
  • The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet by David Mitchell

YA Fiction for Grown Ups or not so Grown Ups

  • On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
  • You Don’t Know Me by David Klass
  • Ball Don’t Lie by Matt De La Pena

Please comment if you have a good one to recommend.  I love to add to my list!