Lettergirl

Wednesday Book Club.

When I read Case Histories earlier this year, it really whet my appetite for more mysteries.  As I was finishing up Kate Atkinson's last book about detective Jackson Brodie, my sister-in-law handed me this one:  Still Life by Louise Penny.  And I'm now on my fourth book by the same author.  (I've always read books by the same author all in a row, it's nothing new.)

I'm not sure what's so captivating about these books.  The mysteries themselves are a little bit been-there-done-that.  But the characters are engaging.  And the setting.  And the way they speak French sometimes (which brings me back to high school French...and how I quit French in college and ended up taking a calligraphy class).  But I still know enough French to translate the phrases here...so maybe reading these books makes me feel smart.  Or maybe they just make me feel like I'm traveling to a cozy little village south of Montreal.  Or that I know these people. 

Two more days to take part in the Summer Reading Program.  I'm accepting book reviews through Friday.  I've got a stack of bookplates here...and I'd love to put your name on them!

Wednesday Book Club.

Even if you don't "have to" eat gluten free, the cake pictured on the cover of Gluten-Free Baking Classics may be enough to tempt you into trying a delicious whole-grain cake.  (Yes, really.  Delicious and whole grain.) So many baked goods (or pasta for that matter) made with whole wheat are dry or grainy or imbalanced in flavor.  (I'm not convinced that whole wheat and sugar were ever meant to be together.)

Enter whole grain brown rice flour (extra finely ground, from Authentic Foods, to be precise) and Annalise Roberts' recipe for Lemon Layer Cake (with a lemon curd filling and lemon buttercream frosting).  I have made this cake many times, and all of them before we had our very own celiac in the house.  (It's especially easy if you order the flour blend pre-mixed from Authentic Foods.)  And if the cake seems like too much work, the Vanilla Cupcakes are almost as good -- and maybe the easiest way ever to sneak a little whole grain into a treat.

It's probably a good thing that Annalise Roberts only updates her blog about once a month.  It makes me hunker down with her recipes, rather than rushing on to the next thing.  (But when I do feel like rushing on to the next thing, I have Nicole Hunn's Gluten Free on a Shoestring to fire me up.  Nutella Stuffed Brownies, anyone?)

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Don't forget to send your list for the Summer Reading Program.  I've heard from five readers so far, all of whom I think of as my new BFFs.  Love to read what you're reading!

Summer Reading Program: time to get started on your homework!

It's time to start submitting your reading list for the Summer Reading Program!  When you send me the following info, I'll send you a set of ten handwritten bookplates (2" square):  your choice of two designs and three colors.  You didn't have to sign up in advance, but I sure hope everyone who did is still playing.  Here are the details one more time:

The Details

Read any five books this summer and write a short paragraph review of each (a few sentences will do it).  Your books can be fiction or non-fiction.  (I even count cookbooks!)

The Deadline

Send me your list via email August 15-31st:  lettergirl66 {at} gmail {dot} com.

The Prize

Everyone who sends a book list (complete with mini-reviews) will receive 10 personalized bookplates, handwritten by me.  One prize per reader, please.

Here's what I need to know

*Which bookplates you would like (the leaves design shown at top, or the scroll border shown below)

*Which color you would like (golden yellow shown at top, pool blue shown below, or white)

*The name to be used on the bookplates (two words will fit best, but I can squish in three if you need it)

*Your shipping address

I really, really hate for summer vacation to be winding down...so cheer me up by sending your book reviews!  And please allow about a week for me to write out & mail your bookplates.  Thank you so much for participating!

Wednesday Book Club.

I admit that I'm packing my vacation tote with an uneven proportion of non-fiction:  Imagine (yes, even if he made up the Bob Dylan stuff), The Fire Starter Sessions, and Dinner: a Love Story.  I really can't remember how I stumbled on this one, but if the blog is any indication, it's going to be The Happiness Project all over again (you know, feverishly scribbling notes in the margin and turning back page corners). 

When we first had children, one of the (admittedly few) things we actually discussed in advance is family dinner.  We like it.  We make it a priority.  Often in the summer that has meant dinner at 8:30pm (after baseball) or in the winter at 5:30 pm (before play rehearsal).  And it doesn't always happen every single night, but we make it happen most nights.  I'm looking forward to reading someone else's strategies and recipes.  Now if it could just plan my menu for me, I'd be really happy!

Summer Reading Program update:  I'll start accepting your books lists in just two weeks (August 15-31).  So excited to see what everyone else has been reading!

Wednesday Book Club.

One of my favorite things, as you probably know, is reading aloud with my family.  (You can even read a post about that here.)  This summer we have our usual three-books-at-a-time thing going:  The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict is our family book, the kids and I are reading (very slowly) The Serpent's Shadow, and Forest and I are on book 8 of the Ranger's Apprentice series, The Kings of Clonmel.  Meanwhile, the kids have been listening to audiobooks on their own, and just finished the Underland Chronicles series by Suzanne Collins.  (Yes, that Suzanne Collins.  This is her series for younger readers.)  Actually, Forest listened to it once on his own, and enjoyed it so much that he listened to it again with Juliet (who, incidentally, reads about five books for every one I read).  Then Forest agreed that when we're done with our current book, I can read Gregor the Overlander aloud with him. And I'm looking forward to that!

Quotation Friday.

A silly start to Friday...but it's true, right?  If you haven't read Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon, pop over to the library and get yourself a copy.  (It's perfect if you're behind on the Summer Reading Program, since you can read the whole thing in about 30 minutes, and still have no trouble coming up with content for a review.)  It's fairly simple stuff, but I dare you to read the whole thing and not find something that resonates with you.  For me, I'd been thinking about how much time I spend on the computer these days vs. how much time I used to spend doing hands-on art.  Kleon suggests having a digital workspace and an analog workspace.  Perfect and timely advice for me, as I'm in the giddy stage of planning a **new** studio, daydreaming about where and how I want to work.  (And a big thank you here to Susanna, for getting the ball rolling with a scale drawing of my new digs!)

Wednesday Book Club.

A whole book full of pattern eye candy from the Print & Pattern blog, Print & Pattern 2 is now on my must-have list.  (Not to mention, Print & Pattern 1!)  This book is a celebration of surface design and pattern -- on everything from gift wrap to textiles to wallpaper.

And what are you reading this summer?  The Summer Reading Program ends next month, and I can't wait to see all your lists!

Wednesday Book Club.

Have I already raved about Kate Atkinson?  

I started with Case Histories, first recommended by a customer of mine 5-6-7 years ago.  Picked it up at a used book sale and couldn't put it down.  Then read another of her books.  And another.  Now I'm at four in a row and finding it hard to move on since no one else writes quite like her -- and I love the way she writes, especially her use of allusion (which, admittedly, I don't always get...but I like knowing it's there anyway).

Read a review of Started Early, Took My Dog here.

Read an interview with Kate Atkinson here. 

Wednesday Book Club.

Last summer, I re-read Twyla Tharp's The Creative Habit while I was on vacation and realized that vacation is the perfect time to read about creativity (especially that vacation, since we go to the same place every August).  This year I'm looking forward to reading Jonah Lehrer's new book, Imagine. 

I heard an interview with the author on public radio a couple of months ago that was so intriguing I immediately put myself on the reserve list at the library.  (I'm only number 42 so far...so I may just have to break down & buy a copy come August.)  In the interview, Lehrer was so engaging as he talked about the importance of embracing a rut and  daydreaming, as well as why creativity isn't a singular gift bestowed to a lucky few. 

Link to the NPR interview here.

Link to a video promo for the book here.

Wednesday Book Club.

On my nightstand:  The Fire Starter Sessions by Danielle LaPorte.  You may remember that one of my favorite books of the past five years is Style Statement, a workbook for giving yourself yet another (but, so useful) label. 

I picked up The Fire Starter Sessions at the library, based on a recommendation from a fellow business owner in my networking group, the Magic Wand Collective.  I didn't know at the time that it was written by one of the co-authors of Style Statement, but my heart started racing (in a good way) when I figured that out.  My first impression is that this new book is fluffier, lots of you-go-girl.  But sometimes I need a little kick start for my mojo, another way of looking at things, and, yes, a worksheet or two.  (Okay, I love a worksheet or two.) 

Now the question is, is this the book I bring on vacation at the end of the month?  Seems like good airplane reading (a page or two now, a little more later).  Not to mention, vacation is the time to imagine that anything is possible.

If you've read this book -- or Style Statement -- I'd love to know what you think about either.  Please share!