30 before 30

26.  

Today I turn 26 years old.  I kind of sounds old in my head, but it doesn't really bother me that much.  I am hopeful that 26 will turn out to be a joyful and productive year.  Recently, I came across a lovely blog, 30 Before 30 List by Suz.  I was inspired by her ambitious list to create my own.  I've had it for a few months now, but have yet to finalize the items.  I have 30 things now, but I want to replace a few of them.  They seem kind of silly.  But now that today is my birthday, and I have exactly 4 years to complete my goals, I want to start to finalize it.  

As I have thought about my 30 list, I've begun to realize that many of these goals are micro-steps towards greater goals I have for my life and who I want to be.  Here are a few of my life-time goals.  I think they might help explain some of my 30 items (these are in no particular order):

-Visit all 50 states (I'm at 27)

-Be well-read

-Be well-traveled (domestically and abroad-visit at least 2 more continents)

-Raise a family and be close with the family that raised me

-Write a book

-Speak Spanish fluently

-Have an individual and distinctive sense of style

-Be a wonderful friend and nurture many meaningful friendships

-Be creative, crafty, musical and artistic

Those are just a few of my life-time goals.  Here are a handful of my 30 before 30 list.

-Visit at least 3 more states (which will make 30 states in 30 years-although I won't stop at 3 if I have additional opportunities)

-Use my passport again

-Learn Spanish

-Learn to sight-read piano pieces and be able to play at least 5 songs from memory

-Learn to play guitar well from tabs

-Reconnect with at least 5 friends

-Join a choir

-Find a church home

-Take at least one big risk

-Read at least 12 "classic" books

-Establish a yoga practice

-Create a piece of art

-Be financially stable

-Learn to ballroom dance

-Learn to sew and knit

-Learn to drive a standard car

-Learn to find the constellations

-Learn a new sport (probably tennis)

-Have a book plan/proposal or draft

-Finish my family tree

That's 20 things.  I have a few more I'm considering.  Many of these are hard to quantify.  But the end of the week, I'd like to have my list complete.  

Does anyone else keep "life lists", "bucket lists", etc?  Anyone else done a 30 before 30 or something like that?  Anyone have some awesome goals that I can steal?  I like the idea of having a few off the wall things on my list.  Do share!!!

The Author of Wicked

This morning I was driving back to San Antonio from a fun-filled weekend in Austin.  It's a drive I've been making a lot lately, and my Sirius Satellite radio makes things go much quicker.  This time, I was listening to Radio Times with Marty Moss-Coane on NPR (which is a fantastic show out of the Philadelphia area).  Today she was speaking with Gregory Maguire.  Don't know who he is?  I didn't by name alone, but surely everyone has heard of his book, Wicked, and its musical adaptation!  I haven't read the book or seen the show, but I've been wanting to.  And listening to this man for an hour has only increased that desire.  

He was compassionate, funny, deeply thoughtful and supremely intelligent.  He has written dozens of books for adults and children that I was unaware of.  Many of his books and stories are reworkings of classic fairy tales and myths.  Click on the link by his name and read his answer to the question about his inspiration for Wicked.  It is deeply moving and profound.  He made me want to read old fairy tales again--the Grimm's/Andersen version though, but the Disney-fied stuff.  (not that I don't love Disney).  Oh, he's also written a book about Maurice Sendak!  

Have you read Wicked?  What did you think?  Seen the show?  What versions of fairy tales should I read??

Reflections and A Reader's Wishlist

Most recent read: Latino in America by Soledad O'Brien

I've been MIA from this blog for over a month.  I'm still trying to sort out why...

This fall has been a struggle for me in many ways.  Still being unemployed has been difficult, and I find myself lacking motivation.  Plus, I've moved, and am still hopelessly unorganized.  Now even more of my books are pack up in boxes on far away shelves and so I've been reading less, much to my own dismay.  This lack of reading, and lack of motivation in general has meant silence in my corner of the blogosphere.

I've found that starting up the momentum again is the hardest, so here I go.  Sometimes, I wish I could blog about things not entirely related to books and reading.  After all, reading is about life, so this blog should be about life as well.  It will still be focused on reading, words, books, and other literary endeavors, but I'm going to share more daily thoughts as well, in an effort to help the writer within me blossom.  

Despite this small shift, books are still on the forefront of my mind, so I am going to conclude today's discombobulated post with a wishlist:

On That Day, Everybody Ate: One Woman's Story of Hope and Possibility in Haiti by Margaret Trost

Cornflakes with John Lennon: And Other Tales from a Rock 'n' Roll Life by Robert Hilburn

The Finishing Touches by Hester Browne

The Gentle Art of Domesticity: Stitching, Baking, Nature, Art, and the Comforts of Home by Jane Brocket 

Street Saints: Renewing America's Cities by Barbara J. Elliott

Let the Great World Spin: A Novel by Colum McCann

The Backyard Homestead: Produce All The Food You Need on Just a Quarter of an Acre! by Carleen Madigan

The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner's Semester and America's Holiest University by Kevin Roose

My taste in books, as is the rest of my life, is highly eclectic and contradictory.

Lovely Passages from the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Most recent read: City Dharma

I promised Katie that I wouldn't write about the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society until she finished reading it because it is our online reading group pick for this month.  However, I could wait to share these little gems from the book in the meantime.  I promise it doesn't give away the plot.  Only meant to tempt you into reading the book as well because it is splendid.  Thanks again to Carolyn for the recommendation.  

These passages are all from letters written by the central character, Juliet:

"I wonder how the book got to Guernsey?  Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.  How delightful if that were true." (p.10)

"That's what I love about reading: one tiny thing will interest you in a book, and that tiny thing will lead you onto another book, and another bit there will lead you onto a third book.  It's geometrically progressive--all with no end in sight, and for not other reason than sheer enjoyment." (p. 12)

I adore these quotations about reading.  They speak directly from one book lover to another.  The first quotation is in response to a letter Juliet receives from a gentleman who bought a book of hers second-hand and found her address inscribed on the inside cover.  After loving the book, he decides to reach out to its previous owner.  Letters and friendships are then exchanged by a wide array of colorful characters because of that one second-hand book. 

I love when I purchase used books with inscriptions.  I love to imagine the previous life of my books.  I recently started labeling my own books with a little sticker that has my name and e-mail address.  It was meant to keep track of books I lend out, but what if it could be a means of communication between myself and the future owners of books that I part with.  How delightful!  Do you ever think of the past or future existence of books you collect second-hand or donate?

I also delight in the idea that certain books are almost destined for certain people.  I love Juliet's thought that books find the right people, instead of the other way around.  Have you ever accidently stumbled upon a book at exactly the right moment in your life?  If so, please share your story.  I plan to write down a few experiences of my own, and would love to make it a bit of a series.  Share in the comments, if you like, or it might be fun to feature a few on the blog itself.  

This also makes me think of Christine Mason Miller's fabulous 100 Books Project.  If you aren't familiar with it, get thee to her delightful blog immediately.  She is giving away 100 copies of her recent book, and documenting each place that they are deposited, and inviting the recipients to contact her.  This has given me some ideas for a little (MUCH smaller) book project of my own.  More details later.  

American Wife

Last month I read American Wife, by Curtis Sittenfield (a woman) with my a couple of friends from college.  We concocted the idea to have a virtual book group and it was our first success!

The book is a novel, but loosely (and not so loosely in places) follows the life of Former First Lady Laura Bush.  Certain liberties are taken, naturally, but most of the major life events are present.  

It is the story of Alice Lindgren Blackwell.  She is an only child who must endure a series of unspeakable tragedies early in life.  Later, she meets Charlie Blackwell, the youngest son of a prominent political family, and they wed after a whirlwind romance.  

The story is written in four blocks, identified by her addresses.  First her childhood home, then her apartment as a single thirty-something, next the home she shares with Charlie and their daughter in the suburbs, and finally, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.   A series of flashbacks fills in the gaps between those locations, but a large number of years passes between each installment.  

I enjoyed the book.  I more or less knew what was going to happen (or so I thought), because I was vaguely familiar with the events of Laura Bush's life, but it was still shocking in parts.  The writing was powerful, and the characterization vivid.  I found myself with much more sympathy and interest for real-life political figures that I never previously care for after reading this book.  I feel like I know Laura Bush better after reading this book, although that's probably a false impression.  I am dying to know if she's read it, and what her reaction is.  Although it shares raw moments and emotions, overall, I think it portrays Alice in a very positive, yet honest, light.  

Our online chat about American Wife was delightful!  The discussion covered a number of topics and included a little friendly disagreement.  My fellow readers helped me to see how much this book is about relationships.  Friendships, marriages, siblings, parents and children...they are all in this novel, and they are all complicated.  We also had an interesting conversation about whether or not Charlie would have ascended to such high political office if he had not married Alice.  I'm quite certain he wouldn't have. 

Has anyone else read this book?  It's long, but reads pretty fast, and I would definitely recommend it.  As a work of fiction, it is entertaining and thought-provoking.  However, it's link to reality makes it all the more fascinating.  Katie, please share your thoughts if you like!! 

Poetry and "April Rain Song"

Currently reading: The Know-It-All by AJ Jacobs

Apparently there is a crazy cold front heading for South Texas.  The weather on the evening news said it was 55 in Amarillo and 85 or something in Abilene and everything south of it.  You could literally see the front coming on the map.  So all that by way of saying that we're to expect rain tomorrow.  We seem to be making up for a season's worth of rain in a few weeks.  

I was flipping through my current favorite children's poetry book (A Family of Poems by Caroline Kennedy) and found this lovely poem by Langston Hughes. 

April Rain Song

Let the rain kiss you.

Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops.

Let the rain sing you a lullaby.

The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk.

The rain makes running pools in the gutter.

The rain plays a little sleep-song on our roof at night--

And I love the rain.

And I love this poem!  My 7-year-old nephew wrote a Haiku about the rain the other day.  My sister read it to me and it was really good!!  I've never been very good at writing poetry.  I'd like to be though, but I've simply always been more comfortable with prose.  When I was cleaning out the garage, I found an old book by Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge that I never read: poemcrazy.  I love the subtitle: "freeing your life with words".  Anne Lamott, one of my favorite writers, writes of it "You're going to love it, and love writing poetry more for having read it." 

And finally, while I am in a poetic mood, you should all read my darling Katie's latest post.  She shares her favorite 11 poems and they are gems!  (At least the ones I've read--there are several I need to read.  But as a dedicated English major, Katie's poetic taste can surely be trusted.)

Upcoming posts:

The Journey That Saved Curious George

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

American Wife

A Walk with Jane Austen

And several others that I promised weeks ago...

Absent again...

I seem to have had a mental block when it comes to my blogs in the last month.  I have thought about so many awesome ideas for blog posts.  I was excited about them.  More than once I sat up late into the night scribbling a blog idea onto an index card so it wouldn't float away before morning.  I've read some fantastic books!  I've been dying to share them with you all.  So why haven't I been writing?  

I suppose you could say I have a touch of the writer's block.  I also think I might be a bit paralyzed by the volume of things I want to say.  I sit down to write a post, and I can't decide where to begin.

I have this trouble sometimes when choosing a book.  I literally have dangerously teetering stacks of books on my night-stand--begging to be read.  But I stare with no direction.  Then, when I finally do take action--what a relief!  The past two books I have finished have been complete delights.  I adored them and could hardly put them down.  When I feel that way about a book-I know I need to share.  

I'm hoping the same feeling applies for blogging.  Perhaps once I get back into a rhythm, I'll be compelled to continue.  My blogging experience over the last 9 months or so has been immensely rewarding.  I've been in touch with some fantastic and amazing people.  The writing has just been in fits and starts.  Every time I get on a roll, I seem to get knocked off again.  

This last month has been great.  It has been very special, and although I haven't been writing on the blog, my reading and literary life has been active.  I'd like to think of that period as one of absorption.  I've been reading great books and writing reflections in my commonplace book.  I've been devouring favorite blogs--both new and old--and reaping great inspiration from them.  I've been making notes and writing pages in my notebooks.  Maybe I needed a time for filling up before I starting blogging again.  At least that's what I'm going with for now.

So, I'm back--for the time being anyway--and quite excited.  A deluge of backlogged posts may be coming your way!

A Quotation and a Poem

Most recent read: Little Men, by Louisa May Alcott 

Today I was flipping through a new book I recently purchased by Sarah Ban Breathnach called Moving On.  She is the author of Simple Abundance, which I thoroughly enjoyed and still refer to often.  I haven't really begun to read this other book, but at the very beginning a lovely quotation and poem caught my eye and I was moved to share them with you all.  

"If a reader cannot create a book along with the writer, the book will never come to life."

-Madeline L'Engle

Isn't that so true?  Sometimes when they are collecting dust on a shelf or in a box, books began to seem like such static things, which really, I believe they were meant to be dynamic and full of life.  The best books are ever-changing conversations between the author, the reader, and sometimes all the readers that have come before or will come after.  These are usually the books that we revisit and find in them new meaning and delight.

And now the poem by David Whyte:

This the bright home

in which I live,

this is where

I ask

my friends

to come,

This is where I want

to love all the things

it has taken me so long

to learn to love...

There is no house

like the house of belonging.

Where is your "house of belonging"?

Image from Amazon.com