My husband has a habit of picking up books off the sidewalk in our urban neighborhood. Mostly I don't read them, and quietly send them to new homes. TMy husband has a habit of picking up books off the sidewalk in our urban neighborhood. Mostly I don't read them, and quietly send them to new homes. This one, I read in a single evening, and it was mentally palate cleansing.
I reviewed the first Humans of New York collection, and noted that the design was terrible, with photographs spread across two pages so that often people's faces were sunk in the gutter between them. That problem was mercifully not repeated in this book. It's kind of interesting that this second installment actually has more ratings here on goodreads than the first.
Anyway, sometimes it's useful to be reminded that most everyone's life is complicated in one way or another....more
I live near this cemetery, and thirty years ago when my husband and I were cash-strapped and had no car, we'd often spend days out strolling around itI live near this cemetery, and thirty years ago when my husband and I were cash-strapped and had no car, we'd often spend days out strolling around it, so this was fun for us to page through....more
This 1930s self-help book for single women was a lot of fun, and not as dated as you might expect. Lots of the advice would be great today for "extra"This 1930s self-help book for single women was a lot of fun, and not as dated as you might expect. Lots of the advice would be great today for "extra" people of both sexes! However, the parts about how delightful it is to have really nice bed jackets for reading the paper in bed, ideally while waited on by a maid who knows the finer points of arranging a breakfast tray remind us that the past is a foreign country.
I alarmed my husband (slightly) by telling him how much I enjoyed this....more
This book is an appreciation of seven classic works of children's fiction, written from the refreshing viewpoint of someone who encountered them as a This book is an appreciation of seven classic works of children's fiction, written from the refreshing viewpoint of someone who encountered them as a child of Bengali speaking immigrants. With this subject, and the lovely title and an even lovelier jacket design, it seemed tailor-made to appeal to me. I love reading about children's books, and Steeped in Stories focuses on seven that I know pretty well, and for the most part love just as much as the author does (the one possible exception is Heidi, which I'm not actually sure if I've read, but feel as though I have as I'm familiar with the story).
So I expected to just sink into this book with a sigh of happiness, but that didn't quite happen. I thought the book would be a collection of essays, and to an extent it is, but it also feels like a textbook about how to appreciate children's literature (not something I need to learn) a parenting book about how to discuss problematic aspects of older books (racism, glorification of colonialism, etc.) with children, and a self help book with a spiritual slant. Perkins tells us that each of the seven texts demonstrates a particular virtue that hopefully will enrich the character of the reader. I was put off by reflection and discussion questions at the end of each chapter, and surprised by frequent references to biblical scriptures.
Here's a list of the books and a list of the virtues. Can you match them up correctly? Answers in the spoiler space.
Courage Faith Hope Justice Love Prudence Temperance
(view spoiler)[Courage/Hobbit Faith/Heidi Hope/Emily of Deep Valley Justice/Little Princess Love/Anne of Green Gables Prudence/The Silver Chair Temperance/Little Women (hide spoiler)]...more
There's nothing like spending an afternoon at the beach, and then coming home tired but glowing with modest pride and satisfaction at having built a rThere's nothing like spending an afternoon at the beach, and then coming home tired but glowing with modest pride and satisfaction at having built a rather nice castle, and then pulling this book off the shelf and feeling inadequate....more
An early collection of Thurber's humor pieces, many (or perhaps all?) from the first decade of The New Yorker. The book comprises three sections; my fAn early collection of Thurber's humor pieces, many (or perhaps all?) from the first decade of The New Yorker. The book comprises three sections; my favorite was "The Pet Department," which I loved:
Q. My husband's seal will not juggle, although we have tried everything. Grace H.
A. Most seals will not juggle; I think I have never known one that juggled. Seals balance things, and sometimes toss objects (such as the large ball in your sketch) from one to another. This last will be difficult if your husband has but one seal. I'd try him in plain balancing , beginning with a billiard cue or something. It may be, of course, that he is a non-balancing seal.
This is of course, a lot more amusing if you can visualize a Thurber sketch of a seal gazing sadly at a ball in the accompanying illustration. The pet department, is alas, much the shortest part of the book. I disliked the cynical not very pleasant stories about Mr. and Mrs. Monroe in the first section, and was bored by the spoofs of Fowler's English Usage that make up the third....more
A tiny little gift book with illustrations of hares from all periods of time, and accompanying literary excerpts. I learned: 1. Hares do not have tailsA tiny little gift book with illustrations of hares from all periods of time, and accompanying literary excerpts. I learned: 1. Hares do not have tails, or at least not in the way rabbits do. 2. In Olden Times, people would, when feeling affectionate, refer to a hare as "Puss." 3. Samuel Pepys thought the hare's foot he carried around helped with his digestion. 4. Some medieval artists thought that a hare might like to bang on a tambor, if given the chance.
Too bad I don't know anybody who's really really into hares, but if I did, I sure would know what to give them....more
Loading...
