la*

Just got this from the library and can't wait to dive in (especially after watching the Charlie Brown Christmas special recently..)

Congrats on finishing your semester, Kate! I've read both Time Traveler's Wife and the Glass Castle. The Glass Castle is a memoir that can be a bit heavy at times so I don't think it's appropriate for right now. Time Traveler's Wife, on the other hand, would be a perfect treat for you. I loved it and I think you'd enjoy it.

How about The Moviegoer by Walker Percy? Or anything by Tony Earley-- Jim the Boy is great, and I also love Somehow Form a Family: Stories that are Mostly True. But I should clarify that I don't think Tony Earley is much like Larry Brown-- he's less gritty. I am now reading this:

If memory serves, that was "Sovay" from the album "The Mysterious Production of Eggs".

I completely agree, Kate! I'm reading this one now, and it's been making me think a lot of Imperial Life. The author worked for the Coalition as a provincial governor. It's fascinating.

I thought Omnivore's Dilemma was excellent. In the same vein, I thought Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver was very, very powerful. She writes about many of Pollan's topics but in a more immediate way, since she and her family were spending a year eating only food they'd grown or purchased locally. I'd also recommend Marion Nestle's What to Eat. This whole topic fascinates me (and scares me..)

I also loved McEwan's "Saturday". I had my doubts about this one (all the reviews I read made it sound..weird), but I was pleasantly surprised and ended up really liking it:

Congratulations to you and your family, Judes. I can't wait to meet your daughter (when are you bringing her to Chicago?!)

You had to know that the call for voracious readers would catch my attention. Glad you loved "Blood of Strangers"! I know you liked Gawande's "Complications"-- perhaps you already heard that he has a new book called "Better: A Surgeon's Notes On Performance". As for nonfiction books about animals, I loved "A Book of Bees" by Sue Hubbell, and "Beauty of the Beastly: New Views on the Nature of Life" by Natalie Angier.

Donna, would you prefer to stick with fiction? I have a couple nonfiction recommendations if you want them. As for fiction picks, I haven't read this, but I have heard really good things:

I read both of these recently. The Chabon was really good, but didn't come close to Kavalier and Clay caliber for me. I liked the Powers book a lot. I'd not read him before. Next up I'm reading this:

[quote name='pn

Happy, happy Birthday, my friend!

I went to an event last week at the Chicago Public Library last week that featured Salman Rushdie and Jonathan Lethem. They were supposed to be talking about "Process and Place" but they ended up just answering questions and talking about a range of things. It was wonderful. I'd never seen Rushdie speak before and he was very, very funny. Just finished this and really liked it: I'm now reading this and enjoying it thus far:

I wanted to like the new album more than I actually do. I saw her play two small shows last month and it was great to hear the new songs live, yet the album just doesn't feel cohesive nor as powerful as her previous works to me. I'm also in the 'Living with Ghosts is the best album' camp, followed by 1000 Kisses. She has one of my favorite voices ever...

Um, no way. I did correctly predict that one of them would hit the floor before the night was over, though!

I was there! What a fantastic show-- they were so full of energy and the songs sounded great (despite guitar problems). Casey jumped into the audience to dance at one point! I particularly loved hearing "Back of the Lot", which sounds kind of quiet on the record, transformed into something so raucous. I think they said "This'll be our last song" at least six times. They didn't disappoint and I can't wait to see them again.

It was an incredible weekend, so full of energy and joy and friendship and laughter and some really beautiful music. "every day is dreamlike.."

Happy Happy Birthday, my friend!! We will celebrate SO SOON!

I LOVE that book! He is a great writer. Have you read his other memoirs? Quitting the Nairobi Trio is good, and Ruining it For Everybody is wonderful. I would highly recommend it!

I read the new Lethem and liked it a lot, but it hasn't stayed with me the way his previous books have. The main female character reminded me of Mirabelle from Steve Martin's Shopgirl. The music content is interesting and I loved the scene where the band plays their first show. My favorite of his books remains Fortress of Solitude Now reading for school:

Happy, happy Birthday, K! *photo by Kris-- credit where it's due!

I am so happy they're finally coming to Chicago. Thanks again for clueing me in about this band, Tualla!

What did you think of it? I was so eager to read it because it got great reviews, but felt ultimately disappointed in it. Then again, I did find myself thinking about it later, so maybe it did get to me. I just finished this book. The title lured me in when I saw it on the new books shelf at the library. Pretty entertaining and pretty gross too!