Good Reads
Ok, clearly what I'm going for in this photo is not being achieved.
So, let's talk more about good books and focus less on the shaggy dog.
It's been a fantastic Spring for reading. I started with The Nesting Place by Myquillan Smith. Not only do you get to try out various pronunciations of this author's name when you read this book, but you will finish reading with a real inspiration to make your house how you like it. Smith discusses the many, many moves she has made (13 in 18 years of marriage), but her main point is this: it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful. Most of us don't live in perfectly appointed homes, and instead of apologizing for it or ignoring the house utterly ("If I can't have it all, then I just won't bother.") you do the best you can with what you've got, and it will be fine. Really. There is a lot of permission and good ideas in this book. You can also check out her blog: www.thenester.com
Next up is Lauren Winner's Wearing God. I really like Lauren Winner. On my list of 3 people I would like to have dinner with, she's always on the list. Along with Kristen Chenowith, Stephen Colbert, and Clinton Kelly. Yes, that is 4 people, but someone always cancels at the last moment, and if they all showed up, I would pull up an extra chair, no big deal. My Nana always said, "Where there's room in the heart, there's room in the home," but I digress. Anyway, Lauren Winner (I debated whether to call her Winner, like in scholarly papers, or Lauren, like we're friends, but we're not, I don't think I'm smart enough to be her friend, so I'm going with her full name) discusses less familiar metaphors for God, God as Clothing, God as Laboring Woman, God as Laughter. I love her writing because it's super smart, insightful, and thought-provoking, and her phrasing, while not LOL, is very clever.
I have been meaning to read Liane Moriarty for a long while, and then my best friend from college called, said I must, must read Big Little Lies right now. And now, Gentle Readers, is when I confess my terrible, horrible habit of reading the ending first. I don't always do this, only when I sense an awful foreboding. The first chapter of this book is utterly delightful with super quick and clever dialog, but something terrible is going to happen, and I needed to know just how bad it was going to be. My husband theorizes I do this because I'm determining if it's worth it to read the book, like if the ending is too awful, I won't waste my time. Sounds like a good theory to me. So, just in case you are bent like me, DO NOT read ahead in this book. It is excellent and is not leading you to the dread-filled, nightmarish ending I feared it might be. Just read and enjoy.
Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe is charming. Besides being British and about baking (2 of my favorite things!!!) it also includes recipes! In fact, all of Jenny Colgan's books have recipes. It makes me want to bake (yay!) and talk in a British accent (boo - please, spare us).
Currently, I'm reading Carl Hiaasen's Skinny Dip. I adore this author. This book about a poor woman shoved overboard a cruise ship by her assholic husband is hilarious. I just finished reading one of his YA books with my boys, and it was hilarious. All of his books are hilarious. I wonder if this author is really funny in person, or if he's super somber like Steve Martin.
Finally, I want to recommend a blog to you. CaveManCritic is a restaurant critic who rates Houston eateries based on his paleo diet. He gives great suggestions as to what to order as well as a good critique of the restaurant. I'm waiting for him to find a paleo acceptable bakery...
Happy Reading!
**** Ok, I've linked all of these good reads to Amazon. So, so easy for you.
