October post

My book group met Monday night to discuss A Paris Wife. Good discussion and my friend leading the discussion was really organized, had lots of information and had also read A Moveable Feast written by EH. Very interesting. And being Halloween (or close to it) the host had some Halloween themed goodies and decorations.

Here I am borrowing her bat tiara! Our next book is Let The Great World Spin by Colum McCann. I have put in a request at the library so hoping it comes in soon. Meanwhile I am reading a book by David Hosp a somewhat local author. Set in Boston about the Irish Mob- a very exciting, murder/mystery. The fall this year was especially pretty with lots of color. Just a couple of pics taken one of the last times I played golf.

The pictures really don't do justice to the beauty.

Libraries

I have always loved libraries. Not sure why. But I do remember the excitement and fun of borrowing a book or books. I guess I grew up in a family that encouraged reading and learning but we didn't spend our money on buying books. And of course there was no internet and shopping was a big deal- you didn't run out to buy something just because you could or you wanted that item. Shopping malls weren't as plentiful- we had shopping plazas- strips of stores. Pretty ugly by today's standards. Anyway, I loved spending time in libraries. And still do. And I think I have instilled the love of reading in my two children who love to spend my / their money on buying books. One of the criteria when looking at colleges was checking out the library and was it any good, was the building beautiful (both inside and outside). Pictured is the library at Vassar College when my son was a student. Beautiful right? While today's libraries offer many new and different services from those of my childhood they are still a place of refuge, and learning and excitement. Books on tape, videos, computer services, inter-library loaning, online ordering and reserving and renewal ( I LOVE online searches and renewals!). This article that appeared in The Guardian by Neil Gaiman really resonated with me. Hopefully you will be able to open it. He gets libraries. http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/15/neil-gaiman-future-libraries-reading-daydreaming

It's been a long, long time

Well it has been a long time since I last blogged- almost a month. I have been reading- The Double Bind. Really good read- still trying to figure out the ending. Started The Paris Wife which is my book club's selection for October. Pictured is Hadley and Ernest early in their marriage.

It is a book that I have walked by in the store, past it in the library - just couldn't muster interest in it. Surprisingly I am liking it although I don't think I like Ernest Hemingway. Anyway, so far it is interesting and I have read a couple of reviews and learned a bit more about Hadley and Ernest. I did get around to organizing some of the piles and bags of books that have cluttered in the bedroom. I have a habit of collecting books and then either stacking them by the bed or putting them in bags where they collect dust until I go through the bag and pull out a couple to read. I removed a chair where I put things- because I just didn't bother to put them away. There was also a lamp. The original idea was I would sit and read in front of the fire place in the cooler months. HA! Never happened. So I took out the chair and the lamp and my husband put together a bookcase that we had gotten for my son for his dorm room (but then didn't need). I emptied two bags and pulled a few books off the floor.

I am enjoying the "less cluttered" look.