Another book -

I just finished Empire Falls by Richard Russo. I had never heard of him or the book - but it won the Pulitzer prize - since the LA Times did away with their book section, I have not kept up with much.

A colleague at school saw me reading it and said it was great. I won't say great, particularly, but it was a good read - and a page turner there at the end - kept me awake way past my bedtime anyway!

He had a good style, a good story line, a lot like John Updike actually. But the language got dicey sometimes and I'm getting less and less tolerant of that. I do skim, but I hate having to skim.

In Defense of Food

I just finished reading In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan. Loved it! It might make you sad about your horrible eating habits (not that I'm saying you all have horrible eating habits; he just makes you feel that way), but it's so enlightening and well-written. I'll probably post a review on my blog soon because it's been rolling around in my head for a few weeks now.

Latest read -

So, I finished A Mercy by Toni Morrison in record time - for me anyway - usually Toni Morrison books take me forever - the stream of consciousness motif can be difficult to decipher.

The plot here was more direct and didn't have so many offshoots - basically it was one story with some interconnecting. It was a fascinating look at the South before the Revolutionary War.

As usual, I loved the complex characters that are painted for the reader - and the use of dialogue to help you fix the characters in your mind. It did not seem to be as detailed as Beloved was - but it's a less complex story too.

I recommend it - even if you've never read her before.

Jobs I have had!!

Maybe I have posted this shot before - it's from a job I worked at my first summer home from college. My sister Joan worked there and got me the job. I was grateful, but I wondered how these women could be working at the same job for so many years and not just die of boredom!

Joan had been there 2 or 3 years, but the other women - who were perfectly nice - had been there for over 10 years! The work was tedious and repetitive - I could barely stand doing it for one summer.

Other summers I also worked at another blueprint factory. I also worked at a cosmetic factory. For two summers I worked as a playground leader for LAUSD. That job was pretty fun. Dealing with people, rather than papers and machines, is always my preference.

Maybe that's why - even though retirement sounds mighty appealing some days - I don't mind going to work most days. Teachers get days off pretty regularly, we see new faces every year, and there's a lot of "real life" to the job.

Beats printing and folding blueprints all day - do they even still do that??

Latest read -

Just finished These is My Words - Phoebe gave it to me for Christmas. It was a good read - informative, suspenseful enough to keep you reading, well-written, and there was a sad part where I could cry - I love that in a book!

I would recommend it!

I don't quite agree with the cover though that it's a love story to rival Scarlett and Rhett!! Sarah and Jack communicate, after all!

Now I'm reading Mercy by Toni Morrison - she is always tough to read - may take awhile.

Another good one -

Just finished People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks.

It was a good read. It's the choice for the high school book club - which I usually end up missing because they change their dates around and I usually have a conflict.

But I hope I get to this one. And I hope we have a good discussion.

It's a good read - moves along - it's historical fiction. I like the way it moves back and forth between now and the past.

I get most of my info from historical novels. This one covers Bosnia, the Holocaust, the Inquistion, slave trading, Muslims. A vast store of data to uncover.

Not a bad way to go!

A curious film

We went and saw "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" this week. It is based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald - which I read last night. You can get it on the computer - I urge you to read it - and if you've read it and seen the movie, let me know what you think.

I felt that the movie was indeed true to the "spirit" of F. Scott Fitzgerald - which the LA Times critic had asserted was the case. The beginning of the movie is very different from the beginning of the story - but it works.

The endings are similar - let me know - re the book, movie or both - what you thought Scotty boy was trying to say.

Maybe "life happens!"