Happy Birthday, Mr. Poe!!!

Let us raise our glasses today to Edgar Allan Poe, who is 202 years old today!!! I lurves me some Poe, who today remains the master of gothic poetry and prose, and is considered the father of the detective story and the grandfather of Science Fiction.  Cheers, Mr. Poe!!!!

Some Poe Trivia....

The Baltimore Ravens are named after Poe's famous poem, The Raven.  (I had to memorize The Raven in the 8th Grade, and I still remember the first two stanzas-even when drunk.  Mr. Poe would be proud.)

While attending West Point, Poe told his classmates that he was the grandson of Benedict Arnold.  Not even close to the truth.

For 60 years, from 1949 thru 2009, on the eve of Poe' birthday, the infamous Poe Toaster has a bottle of cognac and three roses at Poe's grave.

Just Finished: Hawaii by James Michener

Hawaii... For as long as I can remember, my best dreams are the ones that had me landing on one of the islands, and heading straight for the sandy beaches, the beautiful water and the warmth of the sun.  When we were deciding our honeymoon location, there was no doubt where I wanted to go, and was thrilled when Jason booked a condo at Ka'anapali Beach on Maui.   When our plane touched down at Kahului Airport, it was like we were landing on another planet.  I know I'm doing nothing but holding you hostage and giving you a verbal slide show, so I'll spare you the rest.  But we loved our little bit of paradise, and even though we are glad to be back at home with friends and family, it's hard not to daydream and wish for every day to feel like Hawaii.

Lahaina Harbor at Sunset

Four months later, on the cold and miserable weekend leading up to Thanksgiving, I was feeling those winter blues coming on full force. I was wandering through Borders with a steamy latte, trying to warm up, when a single word, bold and white, jumped out from the shelves: HAWAII.   

The novel itself is sizable, and is divided into five books, but it's the second book, "From the Sun Swept Lagoon", where the action truly begins. A power struggle between the King and the High Priest divides the people of ancient Bora Bora, and the King and his brother lead a group of people by boat  to the fabled islands beneath the Seven Little Eyes to begin anew. They bring with them only the Gods who don't require a blood sacrifice, and you guessed it, these people became the first inhabitants of  Hawaii.

The next book, "From the Farm of Bitterness", flashes forward to the early 1800's, when a group of missionaries from Yale Divinity School journey to Hawaii to civilize the "heathens".  Aboard their ship, the Thetis, the missionaries and their wives find an eager leader in Abner Hale, a pious, self righteous man that you'd love to smack across the chops, a total Dwight Schrute. Abner's beautiful wife, Jerusha, comes from a more secular family, and while Abner is busy trying to protect and guide her gentle soul, Jerusha tries to soften the brimstone and fire of his message, to redeem him with his fellow men.  Ultimately, the Hales, along with the Hoxworth, Whipple, and Janders families that begin a dynasty in Hawaii that lasts several generations.

The fourth and fifth books chronicle not only the leading families descended from the missionaries, but the Kee family, from China, and the Sakagawa family, from Japan.  Michener's guide to Hawaiian history through the eyes of his characters is stunning, and his attention to detail and phenomenal storytelling make this a must read. This book was published in the obviously pre-internet 1959, so Michener must have spent years researching Hawaii, poring over books and articles, in museums, libraries and archives.

This wasn't my first rodeo with James Michener.  In high school, I picked up Alaska at the used book store near my house (my hometown is in the sticks, I have no idea how this place is still in business!), but Hawaii is a much grander epic.  I can't wait to get back to Maui- hmmm.... I think a trip to Hawaii may be in my future... paying bills with the tax return is no fun!!!

LOVE IT: Bookshelf Porn!!!!

OK kids, I know not everyone likes to live their life in the shelves like I do (hahaha, funny, I know) but for those of you who get a thrill from books and books and books, check out Bookshelf Porn.   Pics of the coolest libraries, bookshops, shelves and stacks, this is definitely for those who can't get enough!!!  Don't hate, just click.

Mea culpa...

MI have been a horrible blogger, but I have been reading! And since I have been stuck on the couch thanks to a nasty Boxing Day ankle sprain, it's about time I wrote about it!  Here's a list of the books I read in the last three months of 2010:

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley. This book is my Number One, Super-rific, Hallelujah Book of 2010. Set in England just after WWII, it's the story of eleven year old Flavia deLuce, aspiring chemist, detective and foil to her older sisters. Flavia has quickly become one of my favorite characters, and I even named my new Schwinn after her trusty bike, Gladys. If you only read one book in 2011, read this one.


Blue Highways by William Least Heat Moon. This is a fantastic travelogue. I started reading it on the flight to Maui, and finished it on one of our post-honeymoon fishing trips.  Got me itching for a good road trip... maybe next weekend when we have our mini trip with the Bakers, Mr.Smith and Ang,   I'll document it, Least Heat Moon style, since we'll be taking one of those Blue Highways up the Peninsula.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.  Oooooohhh, who knew that the Scots could be so sexy?  A little bit of time travel, a smattering of romance, and a whole lot of Scottish history makes for one heck of a novel.  One of the best books I read in 2010,  the story of Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser is really enchanting.  Oh, and did I mention the sex?

Still Life with Woodpecker by Tom Robbins.  Just after coming home from Maui, I was missing Ka'anapali and Lahaina so much, I googled books set in Maui.  I was excited to discover that Tom Robbins had a book set in both Seattle and Lahaina; it was like coming full circle.  You can always count on Robbins to write wonderful characters (I can never look at a Can of Beans the same way again), and Woodpecker is no exception.


A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg.  A mishmash of meals and memories, it's an ultimate read for the Seattle Foodie Crowd. The recipes are amazing!!! I made Bouchons au Thon  for Jason, and it has quickly become a family favorite, served with linguine and asparagus.  Check out Molly Wizenberg's blog, if you get a chance.

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris.  I wasn't really hip to the whole True Blood craze, but this first book in the Sookie Sackhouse mysteries was so highly recommended by several friends, I had to give it a try.  It is the ultimate in Guilty Pleasure Summer Reading, and I can't wait to start reading the next book in the series.  I'm just waiting for a warm sunny day.  May have to wait awhile.

The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry.  So intriguing!!! I don't even know where to begin, and I hate to give too much away.  The story of Towner Whitney and her eccentric family, set in Salem, Massachusetts, is sometimes magical, and sometimes terrifying.  A true mind bender, I couldn't put it down!

Squirrel Meets Chipmunk by David Sedaris.  A modern take on Aesop's Fables, these animal stories are not for the morally superior!  I absolutely ADORE David Sedaris, and this is one of the few books that made it into the Doty Family Book Club.  Although I was far more impressed than Jason by Sedaris' subversive wit, we both chuckled out loud more than once. And the illustrations are delightful. 

Bite Me by Christopher Moore. The third installment of the Bloodsucking Fiends books brings back my favorite vampires, Jody and C. Thomas Flood, but the real reason I heart this series are the pot smoking Safeway night crew nicknamed The Animals.  I worked on a night crew at Safeway in college, and no one believed me about turkey bowling, naps in the cages, and ice skating behind the floor waxer until Christopher Moore introduced us to The Animals.

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger.  This book, for me anyways, was like seeing a horrible accident unfold before your eyes, and you are unable to do anything about it.  Elspeth, the main character, passes away after a bout with cancer, and finds herself haunting her London flat.  When her twin nieces move into the flat per Elspeth's will, she finds herself doing everything she can to get their attention.  The book, which is already very dark, has some horrifying twists and turns, and it felt very awkward in some places.  It made me wonder if the author had to edit quite a bit out of the story for publishing, because the end left me quite cold.  But maybe it was supposed to?

Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote.  Ashamed to say, I hadn't read Breakfast at Tiffany's before last fall.  I had heard that the book was a bit different than the movie, and I was afraid I would be disappointed by the discrepancies, and would wind up hating either the book or the movie.  I am glad to report that I still love the movie; but the book is so beautifully written, it reads exactly as it should, a love letter to the enigmatic Holly Golightly.  I had always thought, growing up, that if I could have the traits of any fictional character, it would be Scarlett O'Hara, and her fiery will to survive.  But Holly Golightly's survival instincts are much more subtle, and so much more innocent and kind, I think I'd rather be a Holly than a Scarlett.

Just Finished: The Girl With No Shadow by Joanne Harris

I actually finished this post several months ago, but forgot to publish it!!! This much awaited sequel to Joanne Harris' breakout Chocolat, finds Vianne and Anouk in the neighborhood of Montmartre in Paris.  If you haven't read Chocolat,  go and buy a copy.  Although the movie adaptation is great, please don't think you can skip reading the novel and jump right into the sequel.   Even though The Girl With No Shadow can be enjoyed as a stand alone book, you really need to see where Vianne has been, to appreciate how the story unfolds.

Joanne Harris, as usual, delivers a novel that delights the senses, full of magic and subtle playfulness, and of course, chocolate.  If you haven't read Chocolat, don't read further, because the end of Chocolat truly influences the tone and direction of Girl.  

At the beginning of Girl, Vianne has reinvented herself as the widow Yanne Charbonnau, and runs a small chocolate shop in Paris.  It seems that Vianne has truly given up her old life, giving up her old identity and practices to ensure the safety of her children, Anouk and Rosette.  Vianne truly believes her life is on the right track, but the deliciously bohemian Zozie D'Alba pushes into their life like a force of nature, and Vianne is drawn slowly back to the old ways.

The Girl with No Shadow is an interesting continuation of Chocolat, but I'm still not sure how I feel about it.   It lacks some of the obvious sparkle and fun of Chocolat, but it has a dark, almost sinister charm to it.   The tone of the book seems to directly reflect not just the inward changes in Vianne, but also the change of setting, from a small village to a bustling neighborhood in Paris. Not my favorite of Joanne Harris' books, (that goes, hands down, to Coastliners) but a good read, overall. 

 

Summer Reading List!!!

I have been super busy the past few months, and will be until the wedding in July, but that hasn't stopped me from buying books.   I have nearly a WHOLE shelf of books to catch up!  No worries, though... after the honeymoon, I will have the entire month of August with nothing to do but read!
In no particular order, my summer reading list is as follows:

1. Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith (I've actually read the first third of this one, but haven't had time to finish it!)

2. House Rules by Jodi Picoult (Love Jodi Picoult!!!)

3. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger (Looks sooo creepy!)

4. Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris  (mmmm, Vampire soft-core porn!)
5. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest (Steampunk, post-Civil War Seattle? With Zombies? AWESOME!!!)
6. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (I know, I know, it's been out FOREVER!!!)
7. The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver ($5 at Costco... we'll see how it goes...)
8. Passing by Nella Larsen (Recommended on the NPR Books podcast, sounds like an oldie but goodie)
9. Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee ($3.99 on clearance at Borders...)
10. The Third Angel by Alice Hoffman (I love Alice Hoffman, but I am skeptical about this one)
11. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (looks intriguing...)
12. Beloved by Toni Morrison (Have never read anything by Toni Morrison before, looking forward to it)
13. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (recommended by several friends)
14. The Bible Salesman by Clyde Edgerton (If David Sedaris says to read a book, I read it.)
15. Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier (mmmm, gothic gloom and doom)
16. Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse by Robert Rankin (Jason bought it, and I've been meaning to read it for over a year, but it keeps getting pushed further and further down the list...)

I'll try keeping up with the postings.  Hopefully I will find some time to finish the Lincoln book, I'll keep ya posted!

Hiatus from the blog...

Been UBER busy with wedding planning, I haven't had much time to read or post, but I have a huge pile of books at home waiting to be read.  Hopefully I can post more soon!