best of summer

I am probably in the minority here, but no one could be more excited than me that summer is nearing its close. Facebook was deluged with "first day of school" pictures with accompanying sad face posts lamenting the end of summer, and while I am sure it's only a matter of time before everyone starts talking about pumpkin patches and football and pumpkin spice lattes (OF COURSE), most people actually hate to see summer go.  

Even as a kid, I didn't love summer.  I may have enjoyed the blissful lack of responsibility that comes in the first few weeks without school, but after that I was ready to see my friends again.  Growing up on a ranch was more than a little crippling on one's social life.  I was also one of those ridiculously annoying children who loved every second of school, and didn't even hate homework that much.  I missed crisp white notebooks and pencils and schedules.  

Now that I have a kid of my own, I find the reality of summer daunting.  My little guy thrives on a routine.  I genuinely believe he feels better, mentally and physically, when his life is predictable. There are some aspects of summer that are undeniably lovely-long days stretching into the early evening means lots of light for scooter rides at the park, the (PRACTICALLY DESERT-LIKE) heat that makes swimming so refreshing and exhilarating, weekly trips with Daddy to the ice cream shop.  It's been fun, but the combination of frequent traveling, friends and family being away on vacation, and the general interruption to regularly scheduled programming is tough.  

Despite my overly enthusiastic welcoming of a new season, there were definitely some great highlights to the summer.  Fun beach jaunts, fishing in Colorado, train rides and train museums, water parks and swimming pools.  Of course, there was good entertainment and eats to enjoy, too.  Here are some of the things that made summer a little easier to get through:

best reads:

Stir: My Broken Brain and the Meals that Brought Me Home, Jessica Fechtor-I have a food memoir/food writing problem.  Cannot get enough of these types of books.  I packed my spare copy (the fact that I HAVE a spare copy should tell you something) of A Homemade Life in my shiny new emergency kit (for earthquakes and the zombie apocalypse, of course).  

Americanah, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie-One of our book club's reads for the summer, and I loved it.  I haven't felt so thoughtful during the course of reading a book and after in a long time.  It felt especially relevant to read such a book at this time in our country, too.  

Broken Monsters and The Shining Girls, Lauren Beukes-Terrifying and entirely refreshing. As my dear SIL puts it, "like Stephen King but better."  

In the Unlikely Event, Judy Blume-Oh, Judy Blume!  I loved what Duana, a regular contributing critic at my beloved Lainey Gossip, had to say about it.  "People always say that Judy Blume's books prove she still understands what it was like to be a young person and a teenager.  I agree, of course-that's what got me into her books in the first place-but I feel more as though she's helping me to be an adult." (http://www.laineygossip.com/In-The-Unlikely-Event-by-Judy-Blume-book-review/39743)

The Martian, Andy Weir-Matt Damon and the creative social marketing campaign for the upcoming adaptation of this book intrigued me.  I'm so all over the map with my reading this summer!  Sci fi! Horror! Memoir! Judy Blume! Anyway, it was actually a riveting read, IMHO.  I was genuinely anxious multiple times, and it was especially easy to invest in the main character knowing he'd be played with panache by Matt Damon.  

best tv:

Jane the Virgin-An absolute gem, a DELIGHT.  I adore this show and can't wait for the second season to begin.  Diverse, funny, and heartwarming without being overly sentimental.  Gina Rodriguez (Jane) is wonderful.  

Halt and Catch Fire-A much more serious, but equally strong show about the motivations and machinations of a trio of tech-savvy geeks and entrepreneurs in the "Silicon Prairie"-Dallas in the 1980's.  I haven't seen characters as compelling or been as genuinely invested in a show probably since watching The Wire.  All three of the leads are fantastic (and fairly unknown), but the supporting cast is solid.  Lee Pace, in particular, is infinitely watchable.  It's hard to look away when he's onscreen.  

best treats:

These need no elaboration.  They are all incredibly delicious, and with the exception of mashing crackers up to make a pie crust (in the case of the lemon pie), all quite easy.  Only the exorbitant price of limes could keep me from making the limeade every day, and I have become an utter devotee of the homemade popsicle. 

-SK's frozen coconut limeade and blackberry yogurt popsicles

-Orangette's raspberry yogurt popsicles

-Bill Smith's Atlantic beach lemon pie, courtesy of Food 52. 

best guilty pleasures:

Taylor Swift's Bad Blood-Delightfully over the top and ridiculous, I have watched this video more times than I should mention.  My little guy too. Yikes.  He loves Taylor Swift and is inexplicably drawn to this song.  Side note: I don't mind your friend collecting, T, but you lose points for including Jessica Alba in your star-studded video. 

Entertainment Weekly subscription-I'm supporting the print industry! 

UnREAL-I haven't finished it yet, so I can't offer any final commentary, but so far I am hooked on this take on reality television.  It's a behind-the-scenes look at a faux Bachelor-style show, and not nearly as funny as you might think based on that description.  It's on Lifetime, if you can believe it, and considered a sleeper hit of the summer. 

latest obsessions

Bloodline. Every since the arrival of A almost FOUR years ago, I have struggled when it comes to watching movies.  It takes us no less than three days to watch one movie.  Sitting straight through is almost an impossibility.  Shows, however, have the wonderful joint qualities of brevity and closure-they don't require a big time commitment and are exceptionally entertaining in their own right.  I could go on and on about how impressive television has become-some of the best acting I have ever seen has been on the small screen-but it would be boring and reveal my pop culture nerdiness. Instead, I will tell you to immediately add Bloodline to your Netflix queue.  I was intrigued by the idea of a family drama centered around the unwanted arrival home of the proverbial "black sheep," but it was the presence of Kyle Chandler, of course, that ensured I would be watching.  It's Coach Taylor, y'all!  All FNL references aside, the cast is stellar, the story is twisty, dark and moody, with a Floridian setting that is somehow simultaneously beautiful (it's Islamorada in the Keys, in case you're wondering) and deeply sinister.  Ben Mendelsohn, the Australian actor that plays the damaged, erstwhile brother, puts in a particularly effective performance-half the time you're not sure whether to pity him or be terrified of him.

Four. I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I have been sucked back into a teen saga. DON'T JUDGE! I loved reading Divergent, despite a less than satisfying end to the trilogy.  When the first movie came out last year, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it.  It's GOOD, well-cast, fast-paced, and a decent representation of the book.  Anyway, when Insurgent came out a few weeks ago I fell right back into the books again, including the short story collection from Four's perspective which I had previously ignored.  So good!  And for me, it was something like the accidental discovery of a whole bar of dark chocolate in the pantry.

Inna Jam's Inna Shrub, Bearss Lime. Shrubs are becoming all the rage in the trendy foodie/bartending world.  A blend of vinegar, sugar, and fruit that has been condensed to a sweet syrup, a shrub can be mixed with sparkling water or alcohol to create refreshing, albeit slightly weird, drinks.  It's a bit of an acquired taste, I think, and I still can't get my SH on board-he cringes when I bring out the bottle.  I'd read about Inna Jam in Whole Grain Mornings (see obsession below) and considering that it's a small, local company I decided to try the shrubs.  Drinking water is not my strong suit-I know I need to, I know it's good for me, but I'm just not a big drinker of anything, really.  I was immediately intrigued by the shrub and thought it might be an inspired choice to brighten up my boring water.  So far, I've tried Royal Blenheim Apricot, Meyer Lemon, and Triple Crown Blackberry-all were good, but nothing as fabulous as Bearrs Lime. Super tart, barely sweet, and delicious! Last season, it was quickly out of stock, being the newest and BEST flavor, so I'm stocking up this time.

Essential oils.  Yes, I'm on the proverbial bandwagon. I can't get enough.  Even my little A kicks his feet out every morning for the "spicy" Thieves oil blend.  I can attest to their effectiveness-we have been exposed to an ungodly amount of bugs this year (including a stomach bug, which is literally my worst nightmare and something that I loathe so much that I even feel like I'm tempting fate by writing about it!!) and have, for the most part, sailed through them.  I am convinced a big part of that is using the oils regularly.  I think the combination of lemon-peppermint-lavender, or "allergy trio", as it's known in the oily world, has been helpful for my SH's crippling allergies.  We went through a period of time a few months ago when naps were getting a bit dicey and a minor application of lavender resulted in the most blissful, peaceful sleep for my little guy at a time when he really needed it.  I've been using homemade all-purpose cleaner, utilizing both oregano and melaleuca (tea tree) oils, and the only cleaner I utilize now that is not chemical-free is dishwasher detergent.  Sadly for me, I got to put the oils to test on not one, but two outbreaks of pesky cold sores, and I am pleased to report that on my last outbreak, the oil I used (YL's Purification blend) stopped my cold sore in its tracks.  Love, love them.  For the most part, I'm using Young Living oils-a cousin I adore is an active distributor-but there are lots of excellent, high-quality oils available.  They are expensive, but ultimately, I think they're going to pay off in the end.

Food 52.  I was introduced to Food 52, a website co-founded by Amanda Hesser and Merril Stubbs, by my favorite Molly Wizenberg when she mentioned writing a column for them.  As I am a seriously nerdy fangirl and would read anything Molly has written, I immediately scoured the website for the column and found myself completely captivated by everything that I found.  It's an excellent, beautifully designed and well-curated site, driven almost exclusively by reader content.  The central idea is one of an online food/cooking community, and it has grown and developed into something really spectacular, abounding with delicious recipes, wonderful ideas, and thoughtful commentary.  There is now an online store, Provisions, which contains so many lovely and unique items that I almost never look through them because I know that I will want to buy all the things.  I signed up for the daily emails, and I never tire of looking at them.  How many things could one say that about? Have you ever heard of a daily email that was actually something to look forward to?  The latest articles to pique my interest include: "4 Messy Kitchen and Home Projects to Embrace This Weekend", ""Too Many Cooks: Who Has Changed the Way You Cook", "6 Things We Learned While Whiskey Testing", and "Joanna Goddard from Cup of Jo's Lunchtime Tricks."  Something for everything!  Check it out-you won't regret it.

Whole Grain Mornings. I've written about Megan Gordon's breakfast cookbook here before, in my rather prideful post about the amazing granola I made.  That post wasn't actually even about Megan's granola, which I have since made many times and adore, but I've basically fallen completely in love with her cookbook, and everything that I've made has been out-of-this-world delicious.  Rather than go into it too much here, I've given myself the lofty goal of writing about one MG recipe a day for the rest of this week.  Gingerbread, pancakes, baked oatmeal-lots to anticipate.  Whether I reach that goal or not, I cannot speak more highly of this book.  Megan's blog, A Sweet Spoonful, is also great.  I plan on making the coconut oatmeal cookies from her latest post this week.

you need to read this: special topics in calamity physics AND night film

                        

There is no doubt that you have seen many mentions of Lainey Gossip here, the gossip blog penned by Elaine Lui.  I affectionately refer to Lui as "my Lainey" in casual conversation, and it's my first web stop every day.  I check the site multiple times a day and thoroughly enjoy every minute of my perusing.  Now, before you inevitably cast judgment on the idea of "celebrity gossip", which does bear a certain negative connotation, I must tell you that Lainey Lui is no Perez Hilton.  She is nothing akin to a reporter for Us Weekly or even People.  She is a legitimate entertainment reporter for a Canadian news show, and began her career in nonprofit fundraising, working for the Covenant House.  Celebrity gossip for Lainey was at first a hobby, but her wit and savvy have purveyed it into a real job.  She writes both scathing commentary and witty, intelligent analyses of the behavior of television and film stars as well as their work.  She loathes the Kardashians (who are never mentioned on the blog), eschews reality television, and has two great weaknesses: Gwyneth Paltrow and Prince Harry.

In addition to being equal parts insightful and entertaining when it comes to celebs, Lainey is also a big reader.  She loves everything related to Harry Potter (all books, the author herself, all stars of the films, particularly the big three) and was early on the Hunger Games bandwagon, but her taste is certainly more nuanced and interesting than simply YA or fantasy fiction.  There is a tab on the main blog devoted to articles about her book recommendations and news of film adaptations, which I  never gave much attention until Lainey happened to mention Divergent in one of her daily posts. Granted, Divergent falls squarely in the Young Adult category, but it was reading Lainey's original thoughts on it that sent me to her other book recommendations, and I have been more than pleased with everything I have found.

Special Topics in Calamity Physics is Marisha Pessl's first book.  Though I read it after finishing STCP, I can say with confidence that it was unquestionably influenced by Donna Tartt's The Secret History.  I might have enjoyed it more, however.  Both are stories of a group of young students who play at being highly intellectual but are rather a mess when it comes right down to it.  Each novel focuses on a scandal involving one of the more enigmatic characters, the background and unfolding of which make up the story.

I have discovered that no matter how much I might have to say about a book or film, I have a hard time actually writing deep and meaningful thoughts or analyses about them.  I blame the huge block of brain space that is taken over by my precious toddler :)  Thus, I've included a few gems from the text itself, just to give you a glimpse of Pessl's talents.

--I was aware too how strange adults were, how their lives were vaster than they wanted anyone to realize, that they actually stretched on and on like deserts, dry and desolate, with an unpredictable, shifting sea of dunes.

--Dad said it was imperative to avoid people's fervent confidences and confessions. "Tell the person you must leave the room," he instructed, "that you ate something, that you're ill, that your father has scarlet fever, that you feel the end of the world is imminent and you must rush to the grocery store to stock up on bottled water and gas masks. Or simply fake a seizure. Anything, sweet, anything at all to rid yourself of that intimacy they plan to lay on you like a slab of cement."

Night Film is quite a bit different from Special Topics. For one, it's darker, scarier, and an entirely new kind of novel than I've read in some time.  It is centered around the disappearance of a young woman that happens to be the daughter of a reclusive, world-renowned director of horror films.  I can't even begin to provide a plot summary that would sufficiently explain the book, but I will tell you that the thrills aren't cheap and that the story, which is massive and chock-full of eccentric and fascinating characters, is meticulously crafted and organized.

description of Nora Halliday, sidekick to Scott McGrath, Night Film's protagonist:

On one side of her were two giant Duane Reade shopping bags, on the other a brown paper Whole Foods bag and a large grey leather purse, unzipped and sagging open like a gutted reef shark, inside of which you could see all it had ingested that morning: Vogue, a green sweater still attached to knitting needles, a sneaker, a pair of white Apple earphones wrapped around not an iPod but a Discman.  It might as well have been a gramophone.

She didn't notice us walking toward her because her eyes were closed and she was whispering to herself-apparently trying to memorize the block of highlighted text from the play in her hands.  On the table in front of her was a plate of half-finished French toast floating like a houseboat on the Mississippi in a pool of syrup.  

Neither of these books are prize-winning material or examples of fine literature, but both are thoroughly enjoyable, riveting, well-written, and worthy of your time.  Lainey's taste in books is as excellent as in gossip.   

you need to read this: Eleanor and Park

My generally poor efforts at blogging as of late aren't exactly a result of a lack of time.  It is true that the vast majority of my day is spent tending to the needs and desires of a handsome toddler, but he has not yet gone the way of his comrades towards that dreadfully anticipated day, "the dropping of the nap."  Like many many other mothers before me, I have vowed that even when that day shall come, there will still be "quiet time," which I envision (naively I'm sure) as a peaceful hour of solitude. He will "read" quietly in his room and I'll be the queen bee of productivity, making all my calls and washing all the dishes and cleaning all the things....this is a fantasy that I shall choose to perpetuate.

Thankfully, I have not had to put "quiet time" in action, as my little guy still needs and benefits tremendously from his daily nap.  When I'm not tiptoeing about the kitchen planning for dinner or putting toys away in the play room, I often sit down with a cup of coffee (reheated from the morning, of course) and spend a few minutes reading.  

While I haven't read as voraciously as I did before children, I am increasingly finding it to be such a comfort, a more useful and productive thing to do instead of wallowing in the onslaught of social media and the Internet.  Even if I'm reading for pleasure, I don't feel the least bit of guilt that I am wasting my time, which is a lot more than I can say about the half hour I spent looking at swimsuits I won't buy at Modcloth.com.  

Recently, after FINALLY FINISHING The Luminaries, a great book that is perhaps just a bit too old-fashioned for my current stage in life (when my mind is dominated almost completely by thoughts about my child), I decided to take Lainey's (Elaine Lui, of Laineygossip.com, of course we are on a first-name basis) recommendation to heart and read Eleanor and Park.  Lainey's recommendations have been 100% solid so far (or at least the ones I have read), but at first glance I didn't expect to love Eleanor and Park.  I'm all about YA fiction, but somehow thought I might be immune to a story that had neither a dystopian future or tragic background to bolster it.  

First of all, I could not have been more wrong.  Eleanor and Park is wonderful.  It's unconventional in a few ways, but that only lends it charm.  There is plenty of emotional heft on its pages, and the eponymous protagonists are both refreshingly unique and infinitely relatable.  I read the whole book on a flight back to San Francisco from Texas, and I've since been admonishing most of the people I know to read it.  While I wouldn't necessarily call it deep and insightful (though it's not without depth and meaning), there is something so warm and familiar about the story that it lingers in your mind long after you've put it down.

A few teases:

--There was something about the music on that tape.  It felt different.  Like, it set her lungs and her stomach on edge.  There was something exciting about it, and something nervous.  It made Eleanor feel like everything, like the world, wasn't what she thought it was.  And that was a good thing.  That was the greatest thing.  

--"And you look like a protagonist."  She was talking as fast as she could think.  "You look like the person who wins in the end.  You're so pretty, and so good." 

daily wisdom

That which befits us, embosomed in beauty and wonder as we are, is cheerfulness, and courage, and the endeavor to realize our aspirations.  Shall not the heart which has received so much, trust the Power by which it lives?  May it not quit other leadings, and listen to the Soul that has guided it so gently, and taught it so much, secure that the future will be worthy of the past?
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Just one of the many treasures that abound in Daily Strength for Daily Needs.  I highly, highly recommend it.  

Delancey!

I could have included this in my latest "browsing history" post, which, I PROMISE, is forthcoming. However, Molly's book trailer truly deserves its own post.  I am ridiculously excited about Delancey.  A Homemade Life is one of my favorite books in general (outside of the cookbook category, even!)-I've read it over and over, and I feel about it the same way one might feel about a warm, familiar blanket.  There is something intimate and welcoming about Molly's writing-she is funny and wry to be sure, but also emotional.  You feel as if you know her personally once you've read even a chapter or two.  Sometimes I will stop in the midst of a page (or blog post) and wish that I could just talk to her.  As though she is my old friend.

Needless to say, Delancey was long ago pre-ordered for me. I'm pretty sure I placed my order on the day that it became an option.  There wasn't even any cover art at the time.  I know, I might have a problem.

If you haven't read A Homemade Life, I highly recommend it (obviously).  It happens to be a Kindle Monthly 100 Pick for February, which means that it's only $1.99.  Far more exciting than the price is the fact that if you do order it as an ebook now, you'll receive a bonus chapter of Delancey.  I'm jealous (it should not surprise you that I own the book in both print and ebook formats).

lessons from the snowy day

Ezra Jack Keats pictured with Madeline L'Engle-they won the Newbery and Caldecott awards in 1963.  What an auspicious year! 

I'll be the first one to tell you that the joys and pleasures obtained from reading a good book are not exclusive to that age of adulthood when you can truly comprehend its value.  I've written before on my mother's tendency to hold back certain books from me until I was deemed "ready" to read them.  Most of the time, this had little or nothing to do with the book's more mature content, but rather my mother's desire that I be at a point in my life when I could really appreciate it.  Of course, she was right, 100% of the time.  I am quite sure that I would not have given Lonesome Dove the proper respect had I devoured it when I first heard about it, for example, and I'm certainly glad that I never met Pat Conroy's novels until I was an actual adult.

Though books and literature hold great significance in my life, and I happily tout the importance of exposing children to good books at a young age, I never dwelled much on the idea of being "ready" for a children's book.  I am well-versed on the classics, and I can probably list at least forty Caldecott and/or Newbery winners from the last century.  There is no elementary classroom library in which I wouldn't feel completely comfortable.  Yet, I have neglected to consider some of these wonderful books as instructive and meaningful to me now, in my current state of life as a youngish mom of a boisterous toddler.  It took, of all things, a special anniversary edition of The Snowy Day to inspire me to pay a bit more attention when I am reading to my little one.

Granted, the story itself, with its beguiling, simple watercolor illustrations was not in and of itself what inspired this post.  It was this quote, which appeared in the special section at the end of the book, that really captured my attention.

I realize now that we have so many levels of experience that even when we are despairing and we feel cut off and alone, other, life-saving forces are working through the sadness.  Like strata of water in hard rock.  Where do they come from?  Sometimes I would feel that life was one vast desert, relentless, remorseless, and I could pick up a stone and water would spurt out.  Hidden fountains of feeling we carry inside us, and we don't know it.  I wonder what ripples of laughter and joy and love are buried-to surface one day just as the meaning of Peter's pictures had finally emerged for me.

Isn't that beautiful?  I loved the notion of "hidden fountains of feeling" and the idea that hope and joy and wonder are present even in the midst of the harder times of our lives that will inevitably come.  I suppose it's that idea of wonder that comes across so eloquently in The Snowy Day, which  depicts Peter's day in a slow, quiet fashion, yet never strays from giving the reader the strong sensation of how each little moment of his day, even something as simple as tapping a snow-covered tree with a stick, filled him with awe.

what I'm reading now

Lest you all think I've abandoned my own reading habits, I've decided to post a few of the great books I've devoured this year.  My list should come with a disclaimer: with one exception, all of these books were read for what I like to call "pure entertainment value."  There is no East of Eden here, in other words.  In the midst of working on my thesis, I've taken to reading lighter fare-I'll often sit with my book or Kindle (which I have taught A to call "mommy's book") while my little guy plays, a pastime that wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable or successful if I were reading something that required a bit more attention.

In the Woods, Tana French. A totally riveting Irish detective thriller that I could not put down.  It's like a better version of The Lovely Bones, and much more complex than most average titles in the genre.  Tana French has several other titles to her name, but I've heard from a very reputable source (sister-in-law H) that it's the best.

The End of Your Life Book Club, Will Schwalbe. The subject is certainly sad, but I found the reading of this memoir therapeutic, given my own life experiences.  Will Schwalbe writes of the informal "book club" formed between himself and his mother Mary Ann as she goes through treatment for stage iv pancreatic cancer.  They read everything from Herman Wouk's Marjorie Morningstar to Mohsin Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist to Stieg Larson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  Every chapter is based on one central book, neatly interwoven with the conversation between mother and son.  Usually, the subject matter of one book leads to discussion about others, and in the midst of it all, Will Schwalbe is the recipient of a wonderful gift-the opportunity to spend time with his mother, unobstructed by the inevitable stresses and hustle and bustle of daily life.  There are several books that I became intrigued about reading after finishing the book, and I took it upon myself to find an appropriately old copy of Daily Strength for Daily Needs, the devotional that Mary Ann clings to throughout her treatment. In the preface to Mary Ann's 1934 edition, bishop William Lawrence wrote "Since this little book was published empires have fallen, theologies have been rewritten, wars have been fought and standards of life have changed, but men are still men, their yearning in times of disaster for comfort is still keen and the call for courage strong..." Gems like this one from the selected novels in  the book club are scattered throughout the memoir.

The Stand, Stephen King.  I've figured out that I am a sucker for end-of-the-world, dystopian futures, plague-infested type novels.  See The Passage, The Twelve, Divergent trilogy, World War Z, etc.  The Stand is probably the grandfather of all these other works.  A massive tome, particularly when you choose the uncut version, which includes some hundreds of pages not part of its original publication, I was in a funk for days when I finished it.  There is definitely some meandering, which is not unusual given the sheer volume of the work, but for the most part, I was completely intrigued from start to finish.  I've only read a few of Stephen King's books (Misery and The Shining), but they pale in comparison.  Even though I know it won't be the same, I'm going to start Under the Dome soon, if only to recover from finishing The Stand.

Life after Life, Kate Atkinson. My gossip guru, Lainey Gossip, is not only the source of infinite knowledge regarding celebrities but is also quite well-versed in compelling fiction. She wrote about Life After Life and described how she read through it in one busy traveling weekend, taking it with her everywhere, from elevators to press conferences.  It is the never-ending story of Ursula Todd, who seems fated for death throughout her life.  My beloved sister-in-law H likened it to A.S. Byatt's The Children's Book-naturally I immediately purchased that one too.

The Twelve, Justin Cronin.  I waited with baited breath for The Twelve, the second book in Justin Cronin's trilogy.  I've written about the first title, The Passage, in passing, and while it would be useless to provide a decent plot summary that would not make me sound crazy (search for the cure for cancer/eternal life leads to disastrous consequences, turning vast majority of the population into zombie/vampire hybrids), I can say that yet again, I am in a state of anxious anticipation for the eventual release of the third and final book.

Every day occurrence

This is how we start our day.

Books, always books.

- Posted from my iPhone

loving lately

Chronicle.  SH found this gem one recent evening, singing its potential praises via his newfound appreciation for Rotten Tomatoes.  I was disdainful at first, certain that the fact I'd never heard of it boded poorly for the little film.  Granted, our movie nights aren't exactly what they used to be, and I'm clearly off my pop culture game because a quick perusal of my trusty entertainment sites revealed that critics adored the movie.  Full of unknowns (with the exception of Michael B. Jordan, of The Wire and Friday Night Lights), it's an interesting story, with old-school special effects that are actually quite compelling.  

Divergent trilogy.  I know I'm not alone in always keeping an eye out for the next YA (young adult) series that will capture hearts and imaginations.  While this is no Twilight saga (alas, my wounded heart mourns the impending breakup of our real-life Edward and Bella!!) or Hunger Games, it's still a compelling, well-written set of books.  Like the Hunger Games, the books are set in a dystopian future, though there are no messy love triangles and the concept (division into various factions based on character traits) is somewhat less violent.  I was especially lucky to come across the books right after the publication of Insurgent, which meant I had two to look forward to reading.  Now I'm just like the rest of the fans, eagerly awaiting the third installment.  

Heartless Bastards, Arrow.  I've always loved "All This Time," a totally addictive Heartless Bastards tune that was a part of an Austin City Limits sampler a few years ago, but I never sought them out.  [Full disclosure: my love affair with "All This Time" was really ignited when it was used on a FNL episode that prominently featured Tim Riggins.]  A few weeks ago, one of my fave blogs, Dinner A Love Story, had a great post about the best things about the summer, essentially, and co-author Andy claimed "Arrow" as the Best Album to Cook To.  It's good, people.  Really good.  Even Baby A, who is also obsessed with "All This Time," agrees.

Trader Joe's Coconut Milk Ice Cream, Chocolate. Not too long ago our beloved Joey came for a visit with his lovely girlfriend.  Times have changed, OBVIOUSLY, since the days of yore when Joey, SH and I would prepare elaborate and delicious meals together and relish the cool California evening, sitting in the backyard for hours and rising late the next day only to repeat the whole process.  There is  a bit more rushing involved to our dinners now, and I hardly act as the sous chef I once was.  We usually eat inside, often on paper plates, and there aren't quite as many Jules glasses, but we continue to enjoy our time together.  I can always count on Joey finding little gems at TJ's (chocolate-covered frozen bananas, seasoned mahi-mahi, etc.) which I have yet to discover, and on this trip, he brought the best one yet.  I literally cannot get enough of this coconut milk ice cream, and I am not alone, as it's practically cleaned out of the freezer EVERY time I go shopping.  It is indescribably good, creamy and delicious without feeling the least bit heavy.  I am in love.  Purchase some immediately, if you're lucky enough to find it.  

Baby Gap pajamas.  As Baby A steadily approached his first year, it became increasingly difficult to find pajamas that would fit him. Apparently, most one-pieces are only made up until about 9 months.  At first, I bemoaned this discovery, feeling that he could never possibly be as adorable in two pieces as he was in the snug zippered one-piece footie pjs.  Turns out, my sadness was completely unwarranted, both because my little baby looks precious in EVERYTHING and also because these Gap pjs are so great.  Functional, high-quality, and super cute.  It pains me to admit that he does look a bit more like a little boy and less like a baby when he's wearing them, but I need to be reminded every once and a while that this new, exciting toddler stage is going to be great fun too.  

what we're reading now...july 15 (a belated post)

Inch by Inch.  For some reason, I had the idea that all of the Leo Lionni books were rather lengthy.  I only owned An Extraordinary Egg before Baby A was born, and I knew it would be years before he'd be able to enjoy it.  I could not have been more wrong, and I could not be more in love with the simple titles I have lately discovered.  Inch by Inch is rapidly becoming a new favorite.

Little Gorilla.  I had my eye on this little board book for months before finally succumbing to its 1970's charm.  It's incredibly simple, just a story about a beloved baby gorilla and the jungle animals that watch him grow up.  It felt appropriate, considering Baby A's momentous first birthday was July 5 (tear).

Boy + Bot.  I found this at our local bookstore a few months ago and snatched it up for A's first birthday.  Its greatest features are the illustrations, which are brightly colored but almost vintage in style.  A doesn't appreciate the electronic voice effects SH and I both use for the bot, but some day he'll find them quite humorous.

What Pet to Get?  Like last month's The Cow Who Clucked, this is a book that I might not have paid much attention to had A not yanked it from the shelf.  Yes, he has now taken to joyfully pulling piles of books off the shelves.  It's become a daily morning activity, and when his dad comes in to take over, he'll find A wedged in the space between our reading chair and the bookshelf, the floor covered with books.  As I was haphazardly replacing the books in a spare moment, What Pet to Get? caught my eye.  We've been reading it ever since.  The illustrations are bright and oversized, the pages a pleasing, slick texture, and the story of a boy who has a more "exotic" taste in animals adorable.

The Odd Egg.  My love affair with Emily Gravett continues.  This particular book is probably more notable for its illustrations than the story, which is merely the progression of an assortment of birds waiting for their eggs to hatch.  I'm sure Baby A will howl with glee at the surprise ending when he's a bit older.  For now, I think he enjoys the "flipboard" effect of the pages as each egg hatches.

what we're reading now...june

I deleted my partially written introduction, mostly because I wrote it oh, a MONTH ago.  That's about par with my blog style, correct?  Instead, I will just cheerfully present our favorites from the whole month of June, no introduction necessary.

Green.  I had the good fortune to go on a lunch date with our dear librarian friend recently, and we made a trip to our local children's bookstore (it's truly wonderful, and I feel incredibly lucky to live in such close proximity).  She lit upon this book immediately, which is a good thing, because I certainly never would have picked it up.  It's a stunning concept book, each page a depiction of the various shades of green throughout the world.  My favorite is "sea green," showcasing a giant sea turtle drifting through blueish-green water, though "shaded green," a gorgeous portrait of a boy sitting under a tree with a book, is a close second.  There are few words in the book, but it provides a great opportunity for talking to your child about what they see on each page.

Pouch.  Another gift from our dear friend, Pouch is the story of a shy joey, who wants to explore the world, but isn't quite comfortable being too many hops away from his mama.  I'm pretty sure Baby A can relate.  We have the board book version, which somehow makes the story even more endearing, probably because Baby A can more easily actively participate in the reading.

source: http://36pages.com/the-quiet-book/

The Quiet Book.  For the record, this book didn't capture Baby A's attention the way it did mine, though I'm sure some day he will admire the illustrations.  I can feel my entire body relaxing and my heart warming as I read the incredibly poignant and thoughtful pages.  There is a companion book, The Loud Book, but I think that I'll stick with this one, reading things like "best friends don't have to talk quiet" and "first look at your new haircut quiet."

The Cow Who Clucked.  This was a book fair purchase that I never paid much attention to until one day when Baby A plucked it off the shelf.  About a cow who has lost her moo, who sets off on a day-long journey encountering not just the typical farm animal but also a bee, snake, and squirrel, it's another great example of how even very young children are captivated by patterns and predictable text. Baby A doesn't often sit still through other books of this length, but he seems to thoroughly enjoy hearing the animal sounds and gazing upon the splashy illustrations.

Old Bear.  Words cannot express how much I love this dear book.  That Kevin Henkes is a man of many talents.  To think that the mind behind such characters as Lilly and Chrysanthemum (side note: does anyone besides me remember how to spell "chrysanthemum" as a direct result of watching Anne of Green Gables 100's of times?) could create such an appealing vision of the seasons, as seen through the eyes of an old bear dreaming he was young again...it's a wonder.


And now for the titles that Baby A and I indulged in during our late-night reading hours, both trying to recover from SERIOUSLY TERRIBLE jet lag after our European adventure (post-travel post soon to come!)

Swimmy.  Our dear librarian friend came through once more by initiating Baby A's Leo Lionni collection with this especially adorable book.  She knows that we've taken several trips already to the Monterey Bay Aquarium (Baby A has loved these trips from the very beginning, and seems to take it in more there than at the zoo), and felt it would be appropriate.  I love the sparse, only faintly colored illustrations and am especially enamored of the description of brave Swimmy as "black as a mussel shell."

Tikki Tikki Tembo.  Funnily enough, Baby A has never once wriggled out of my lap during a reading of this classic tale, which even a four- or five-year old might not tolerate. I partially attribute this to my feet tapping and knee raising to the beat of Tikki Tikki Tembo's monstrously long name, but perhaps also to the simple, blue-toned illustrations and the relatively quick way I read the text.  It's one of those books that I vividly remember from childhood (in fact, one of my lifelong friends is visiting this weekend, and if she reads this post she will be sure to chant out the beloved moniker wistfully) and probably contributed to my fearful fascination with wells.  I'm sure that Baby A will love it for many years to come.

Blue Chameleon. I'd only seen a few Emily Gravett titles before I happened to pick this one up at the library, and I hadn't quite caught the spark yet.  I'll admit to being inordinately drawn to flash and bold color.  Having a baby of my own has inspired me to make the effort to appreciate books that are slightly more subtle, but often just as wonderful, and perhaps more so, than a Llama Llama or even a Seuss.  Blue Chameleon is a perfect example of such a treasure.  Calm, sweet, and simple, it's a great choice for young children, both for teaching about colors but also to talk about the feeling of loneliness and the longing for friendship.  (In case you're wondering, Baby A and I do NOT have deep conversations about such topics...YET).

The Three Bears.  I have already gone on about my newfound appreciation for the Paul Galdone  classics.  Though I love the humorous turn that emerges in modern-day versions, particularly for its appeal to the adults reading the story, the extremely traditional Galdone approach seems especially appropriate for very young children.  They aren't going to get the humor anyway, and even at Baby A's tender age, I think there is a vague comprehension that comes with the methodical, orderly "The porridge was neither too hot, nor too cold, but just right," semantics.  It's on the long side, I'll warn you-if I didn't use it as a pre-nap read, I am not sure we'd get through it every time.

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish.  Yes, I know I've written about this one before, but considering how often we've read it in the past two weeks, I felt it would be pure dishonesty not to include it in our June list.  Even though its monumental length will probably be grating in a few years, I find it extremely satisfying to read it in a rhythmic, quick pace.  Weirdly enough, it seems to soothe Baby A, and is the perfect final book just before a nap.  Sort of like a glass of warm milk.

Godwinian philosophy

Just a few words of wisdom from my new buddy, William Godwin.  I'll be reading a lot of him in upcoming months.  

my personal favorite of the various portraits of William Godwin

There is a numerous class of individuals who, though rich, have neither brilliant talents nor sublime virtues; and, however highly they may prize their education, their affability, their superior polish and the elegance of their manners, have a secret consciousness that they possess nothing by which they can so securely assert their preeminence and keep their inferiors at a distance as the splendor of their equipage, the magnificence of their retinue and the sumptuousness of their entertainments.  The poor man is struck with this exhibition; he feels his own miseries; he knows how unwearied are his efforts to obtain a slender pittance of this prodigal waste; and he mistakes opulence for felicity.  He cannot persuade himself that an embroidered garment may frequently cover an aching heart. 

-Enquiry Concerning Political Justice

At first reading, I was tempted to post this accompanied by a picture of Kim Kardashien.  Then I worried that I might call too much attention to her potentially "aching" heart.

whoa.

Well, it's very clearly a Baz Luhrmann production.  Still makes me want to reread the book again.  Leo looks goooood, a perfect Gatsby in appearance at least.  There are certainly glints of Daisy in Carey Mulligan-I especially liked her "You always look so cool," sound bite.  We shall have to see.

what we're reading now...may 18

You might notice that our recent reads are, ahem, lacking in substance. This is totally justified because baby A has truly begun to take notice of his multi-sensory books.  Granted, I probably have not spent enough time with turn-the-flap, touch-and-feel, scratch-and-sniff, etc.  Instead, I often select the books that I personally love.  Hopefully, this is not completely to A's detriment.  I am beginning to rectify the problem!

Tails.  I read about this book on a message board when I was trying to assuage my growing panic about our upcoming transatlantic flight to Europe and in search of any good "entertaining the baby without medicating them" ideas.  As it turns out, I think it's a bit bulky and unwieldy for travel, but it was a completely inspired purchase.  Baby A LOVES it.  He's not so much into touching the furry tails, but he likes opening the flaps, which are extra large and easy for him to manage.  Lately, he's been wriggling all around in our arms and craning his little neck towards the shelf where we keep this book, and it's the only one that calms him down immediately.

Inside Freight Train. I feel a pang of bittersweet nostalgia when I think of Freight Train, Donald Crew's 1979 Caldecott-honored book.  It was a beloved former student's favorite book, and every time I see it, I can still hear him chanting the simple text boldly and exuberantly, "...a black tender and a black steam engine!"  The aforementioned dear librarian friend purchased both Freight Train and this companion book for baby A shortly after he was born, and we are really enjoying them now.  Inside Freight Train is a sliding board book-open the partitions and the contents of each car are revealed.  Baby A laughs every time I slide open the paper "doors."  He's always enjoyed the original Freight Train, and I carried it in my diaper bag for emergency entertainment for months.  Now that he's so interested, however, I've put it back into our regular library rotation.  I usually read one or the other every few days.

Dear Zoo.  Here is a classic turn-the-flap book. It's one that I'd often seen in classrooms and libraries but never read.  A shame I missed it, because it's absolutely adorable and truly a perfect beginning for showing babies and small children how to turn flaps.  I must warn you, should you purchase your own new copy, that the flaps are quite secure and also constructed of fairly thin stiff paper.  You'll need to go through the book first and open all of the flaps, because they'll be impossible for baby to manipulate when the book is brand new.  Sadly, baby A experienced his first paper cut when he enthusiastically attempted to open one of the crisp, new flaps.  I am pleased to say it has not affected his interest in the book.

Moongame.  There is a whole series of "Moonbear" books by Frank Asch, but this is the only one with which I'm familiar.  It was a random find in my set of classroom books, probably from a book fair or an extra copy shared by my mother.  I pulled it out on a whim a few days ago, and we've both enjoyed reading it.  I can imagine it will become even more interesting as A gets older.  The illustrations are simple, but bright and sweet, and the story is relatable.

The Lorax.  To be fair, baby A's attention span does not allow for a complete reading of The Lorax in one sitting.  We usually break it up over about three sessions.  I did not fully appreciate the wonder of this book when I was young.  It really warms my heart to think that I sort of "discovered" it again while reading with my baby.  I am confident it won't be the last time, either.

We had our weekly visit to the library yesterday, and I'm really excited about some of the things we (okay, I) picked out.  Maybe a few of them will make the next list?

Happy reading!

what we're reading now...May 1

So when I dreamed up the idea for posting about our reading, I was imagining a bi-monthly post.  Ha!  Is it any surprise that I'm starting the month of May with my second post, having allowed the rest of April to pass me by? I'm saying my mantra out loud now, BLOG MORE OFTEN.

The Bunny Book.  I mentioned I Am a Bunny in my last post, which is a treasure of a book, recently recommended to me by my wonderful SIL.  This book is in the same vein, written by Patsy Scarry and also illustrated by Richard Scarry.  Similarly adorable bunnies grace its pages, but rather than a quick dash through the seasons, this book is about the aspirations of one baby bunny.  His family has all kinds of ideas for what he might be, from the exotic to the quotidian, but he already knows what he wants to be.  I won't spoil it, but you will keel over from the sweetness of the conclusion.  I promise.  

Caps for Sale. A beloved classic, I plucked it out to read to baby A a few weeks ago mainly because of its enduring value.  It's not an especially exciting story, but I thought he might like the scenes with the monkeys.  As it turns out, it's a great book to read with a young child.  We practice shaking our fingers and fists at the monkeys, and eventually we'll get to stamping our feet. I know A is truly indiscriminate now when it comes to our books, but I shall claim that he does indeed show preference for some books, and this is one of them.  As an adult, I especially love the lovely vintage illustrations.  

Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See.  I'll be the first to admit that I did not appropriately appreciate the beloved Bill Martin/Eric Carle series.  I always found it a bit tedious, and even though the students seemed to adore the repetitive "Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see?" questions, I just felt that the books lacked substance.  A bit ridiculous on my part, really, considering that all of these books (there are 4 total: the original Brown Bear, Brown Bear, Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear, and our personal favorite, Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See) are excellent for small children-patterns to identify for the emerging reader, bright colors (both for aesthetic appeal and for educational value) and a pleasing rhythm.  We checked this particular title out at the library, and I like it so much that I purchased the board book version for A's birthday.  It's based on endangered species, and the pictures are some of the most beautiful of the series.  While the other books conclude with a teacher, zookeeper, and mama bear, respectively, this one finishes with a "dreaming child."  Love it.  

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish.  Something strange happened the very first time that A and I made it through an entire reading of this book (it's long, people!).  At the time I purchased it, I simply wanted to add a Seussian title to our collection.  I didn't read them much as a child (or so I thought!) but I felt that A needed to have it.  As I read to my precious little mooshie, however, a vague, completely pleasant familiarity settled over me.  I felt that there was a fond memory that I couldn't quite grasp.  While I still can't exactly remember having read the book as a child, I am now certain that it was a part of my mother's repertoire.  The wild pictures and crazy Nooks, Yings, and Zans opening cans weren't new to me, and somehow I realized that I had looked through the pages of the book many, many times.  I hope that A has a similar epiphany some day, as he reads to his own baby.  

Henny Penny.  I am still on the fairy/folk tale train, still on a Paul Galdone kick.  We have another variation of the same tale, the raucous, busily illustrated Chicken Little, by Steven Kellogg, and I had been reading it quite a bit to baby A before I found Galdone's Henny Penny at the library.  It's a simpler, much more old school version of the story.  In the Kellogg version, the mischievous Foxy Loxy is caught and sent to prison, banned to a diet of vegetable juice for life.  The much darker Henny Penny sees its innocent fowl heading straight into Foxy Loxy's cave never to be seen again.  These words are actually printed on a single black page.  Shudder :)  Tradition is good, I say!  Fairy tales are supposed to contain a bit of the sinister.  Besides the inherent value of being a traditional tale, this version also sticks to a clear pattern which a child might readily identify.  More modern versions are a bit messier, with extra added details.  That's great for older children, but when you're attempting to reinforce basic early reading skills, it's good to have simple, predictable texts.

I can hear a certain adorable baby waking up from his morning nap! Victory!  Post accomplished!