Chattering Crow

If you haven't noticed, I've put a link to the blog Chattering Crow in my blog list.

Louise Plummer writes it and she makes me laugh. Plummer is a YA writer, a writing teacher, and an honest soul who wouldn't judge me if she walked into my house and found grime on the kitchen floor.

If you're looking for a good blog, check it out. Her last few entries have been DEE LIGHT FUL.

What I Eat by Menzel

Every now and then I get a hankering for some good non-fiction documentary-type reading.

This will do it. I heard about What I Eat, by Menzel, in the Food Section of the San Jose Mercury News. Since the food section is really the only non-biased, not-so-liberal place in the Merc, it's the one section that I read and don't call out to Eric, "Hey, Honey . . . Listen to how ridiculous the slant on this article is!" I'm disgressing. The food section. I like it. Heard about this book.

In What I Eat, which is beautifully written with gorgeous pictures, Menzel examines the daily diet of 80 people around the world. An acrobat in China. A housewife in Iran. A trucker in the USA. A lifeguard in Australia. An art restorer in Russia. A baker in Germany. In every selection, Menzel talks about how food "works" in the life of the person who eats it. Fascination. Interesting. It's rare that I want to actually buy, rather than look at, a coffee table book. But Santa might just show up with this book for me. It's one of those books you can go back to. I scanned most of it, read some of it, skipped the essays for later, and marvelled at all of it.

I'd say, find a copy. That's what I'd say.

And if you are wondering about my picture to go with this, the food pictured is just a sampling of food from today's diet in this house. Samoas from the Indian restaurant we got take out from last night, some apples and tomatoes from my parents farm, string cheese from Costco, and the beginnings of my favorite banana shakes (ingredients: frozen bananas, skim milk, and a dash of cocoa).

Audio books and good bloggers

I would love three recommendations from you:

1. What audio books would interest my preschoolers? They love Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little and Dr. Seuss and I am getting sick of all three so I need more ideas. Must have clever dialogue and a good, wholesome, non-violent plot.

2. I would love good bloggers who write write well and are funny. (Because you can write well and not be funny, or you can be funny and not write well.) I'd like some bloggers who are both. Or, if not funny, then witty or charming. Or interesting. The topic isn't as important to me as the quality of writing.

3. Does anyone follow any other book blogs? Because I'd love to find a handful of blogs who have good book recommendations. Requirements: they can't read smut. No smut. And no froof. And If these bloggers tell me that Nicholas Sparks or Jack Weyland is the best author that they've ever read, I will say, "No thank you." I will say it nicely, but I will say no.

Best Way to Find New Books

My favorite way to find new books is to go the bookstore. There they will be, lined up, ready for you to purchase.

I usually don't want to buy books, I'm just looking for a good read. So I make a list and head to the library---or better yet, a list and I get online and request them from the library.

The problem with the library is that they don't want you to buy the books, so they don' t have to market them. In that way, a library is like a secret club, waiting for you to indoctrinate yourself.

The downside of looking for new books at the bookstore is that the bookstore people usually haven't read them. "Is Little Bee any good?" I ask.

"What?" says the minimum wage clerk.

"Little Bee," I say. "It's right here."

"Oh. I haven't read it."

Thanks a lot. That's helpful.

A librarian could tell me more is my guess. So look at the bookstore, find it at the library, and then come back---right here---and tell me if you found anything good.

By the way, Mel, I know you are out there. Dash me a list sometime of the things you like. Long, long ago you were filed in my Hard-to-Get-On list of women with good literary taste. I'd love to hear your suggestions.

The Forgotten Garden

Go find a copy of The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. Sigh before you open it. Relax. Stretch out in down dog if you must to get all limber. Breathe in, open the book, and read to your heart's content.

It's like knowing you like tulips, and sending you to Filoli in April. It's like having you tell me you are craving dark chocolate and guiding you to Ghardelli Square. It's like knowing you are a cupcake fiend, blindfolding you, and landing at Kara's Cupcakes.

It's like The Secret Garden for grown-ups. It will take you back to the first time you read The Secret Garden by Burnett, and the childhood bliss of learning about Mary and Collin and all the rest. You will go back to the bliss, but not to your gangly phase, and that will make you so happy.

Good plot. Lovely writing. Hint of mystery. Madmen. Old castles. Secret keys. Lost loves. Found loves. Wicked Stepmother figures. Fairy tales. Secrets buried. It's got it all.

I do believe Anne with an E would like this book. I certainly did.