Marginal Notes

Most recent read: The Joy Diet

Do you write in your books?

This seems to be a topic that people have strong feelings about.

First of all, I am not opposed to writing in books as a rule.  I know some people who consider it to be an act of desecration.  Others are willing to do it, but only in pencil.  I have no such limits (except for my Bible, which has pages too thin for my beloved Pilot G-2s).  I have no moral qualms with scribbling in the leaves of my current read, but the question is whether I really want to, or if I will get anything out of it.

As a student, I always had to read with a pen and/or highlighter in my hand.  I didn't feel like I was studying if I didn't have a pen in my hand.  Holding a pen was a signifier of assigned reading instead of pleasure reading.  I would scribble all over printed articles and books alike.  It was certainly helpful for study purposes, but it seemed to add something to the general reading experience as well.  

When I am doing personal reading, my feelings about writing in books are mixed.  For non-fiction books, I tend to lean towards reading with a writing implement.  If it's a "personal development" book, I often want to note things that to remember or write my own thoughts for later.  That process feels natural to me.

However, I haven't read a novel or a book of poetry with a pen or highlighter since American Literature with Dr. Lucas my senior year of college.  for some books, it breaks up the rhythm of reading a compelling story.  However, there is something intriguing and romantic about writing insightful and witty comments about characters and plot in the margins.  I confess that the possibility of discovering penned thoughts in the margins is the one of the main attractions of used books for me (in addition to the thrifty price, of course!)  Isn't there a love story about a man that falls in love with a woman because of the notes she wrote in book he's reading? 

So what are your rules and habits regarding marginal notes?  Do you?  If so, do you have specifications for genre of book or writing implement?  If not, is it because you are philosophically opposed or simple find no pleasure or use in the practice?  Do tell!!

Books to Make the World a Better Place

I have recently become a part of a fantastic group called "It Starts With Us" or known as "The A-Team".  If you sign up, the founder, Nate, sends you weekly "missions".  These can be just about anything, but are all about small ways to make the world around you a little better.  I can't explain it as well as he does, so go to the website to learn more.  Basically, the concept behind it is getting a large number of people to to small things to make a major impact.  So go to the website, become a member of the A-Team.  It's awesome.  Trust me!  Also, another awesome group, 20 Something Bloggers, has recently teamed up with them.  So if you are a member of 20SB, that'd be an easy way to get involved with the A-Team as well.  

Now, on to the books. Since I've been a member for a few weeks now, following the missions, the blog, the tweets, etc have caused me to focus a little bit more on what I can do to make a difference.  I've tweeted about a couple of cool articles I've come across recently, but my most exciting discovery was some awesome books that are immediately going on my wishlist.  

How to Make the World a Better Place: 116 Ways You Can Make a Difference

The Difference a Day Makes: 365 Ways to Change Your World in Just 24 Hours

What Can I Do?  An Alphabet for Living

All of these titles look fantastic and inspirational.  But now I want to know.  What books inspire you to make a difference?  What are some great websites with ideas for make other people's days brighter?  I want to think about ways that I can make this blog an agent for positive change in the world.  Thanks for being a part of it with me!

(All images from Amazon.com)

30 before 30 cont.

As it turns out, there are books on the topic!!  

Many of them are related to skills you should have before you turn thirty, but others are about things you should do.  Some are more of the "before you die" variety, but they are giving me good ideas!!  My list has 3 spots left, but I might change one of the existing items if I come across 4 fantastic things on my list.

Okay, so here's the book list:

30 Things Everyone Should Know How to Do Before Turning 30

The Expert Guide to 100 Things That Everyone Should Know How to Do

101 Things to Do Before You're 40

 

The Pocket Guide to Adulthood: 29 Things to Know Before You Hit 30

1000 Places to See Before You Die

And finally, I found this fun blog with an old post of 50 things everyone should know.  It has a lot of other fun posts with other lists of things to do and know.  I love lists.  I need to make more for myself.

All images from Amazon.com

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!!