Dave is flying out Thursday to see his parents in NorCal (northern Cali). They plan on having a close friends and family get together on Saturday and to be honest I could not justify in my heart and head the need for 2 roundtrip airplane tickets as well as missed days from work just for a random get together. Birthday, yes. Anniversary, yes. Holiday, yes. Backyard bbq and get together, no. Dave isn't quite pleased with my decision but oh well. It is what it is. It's not like he can exactly argue with my rationale nor am I stopping him from seeing his family.
To celebrate my 4 day mini vacation of doing whatever the want, when I want. I will be spending the upcoming few days doing the following:
* Eating sushi until I can no longer look at another Philadelphia roll. Dave doesn't like sushi but he'll often come with me to eat a bento box or teriyaki. While I do appreciate his effort, I'd rather eat sushi by myself in front of the tv with a glass of red wine by my side.
* Read the rest of the Wideacre trilogy. I must admit that Wideacre deeply disturbed me. To be honest I felt rather filthy after reading it but nonetheless it was a page turner. Now that I know what to expect I am looking forward to spending the weekend in bed and alternately swooning and then going ewww.
* Watching all 4 discs of The Last Emperor on DVD. Dave has no interests in movies (especially lengthy historical epics). After watching the Olympics on tv, I am looking forward to immersing myself in Chinese history. I may not agree with it's politics but I can't help but respect a Country with true history.
* Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning! I love to get in some raggy clothes, turn the rhapsody or sirius up loud and clean until everything is spick and span.
* Option: Working out at the gym and then ruining it all by going to Sunday brunch immediately after.
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
I (heart) Robert Dudley
Besides spending the past week criss-crossing the country and imbibing way too many cocktails, I have been reading books. I read the fourth Twilight installment four times in a week's period. I would have read it four more times but unfortunately it is a 750 page book and lugging that across several plane flights was really not worth the effort. Instead I read two more books over the last week that have left me wanting to read 17 more books. I might have to quit my day job so that I have enough time and energy to turn on the AC, wrap myself in a big blanket, and read all day. Sometimes I think that Dave must get tired of my book wormish ways but then I remember that when I have my nose in a book I turn into the quiet and lenient wife who orders pizza for dinner, does not care what is watched on tv, and wants only for sex at night.
First I read Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict. While it is an easy chick lit read it also delved into the life and times of Jane Austen and what that meant to women. I enjoyed the book but moreover it made me really want to reread all six Jane Austen books.
Next I read The Queen's Fool by Philipa Gregory. I had watched and loved the movie rendition of The Other Boleyn Girl and was recommended to read Gregory's other works. I did and now I think I'm addicted. I desperately want to read her 11 other books that bring the life and times of 16th century England to life. The only thing that is stopping me from spending the whole weekend at the library is that I can't decide which set of books I want to read first. I've read all the Jane Austen novels before but there is only 6 of them. On the other hand I loved the Gregory novel but there are 11 of them and once I start I wont be able to stop. Decisions, decisions ...
First I read Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict. While it is an easy chick lit read it also delved into the life and times of Jane Austen and what that meant to women. I enjoyed the book but moreover it made me really want to reread all six Jane Austen books.
Next I read The Queen's Fool by Philipa Gregory. I had watched and loved the movie rendition of The Other Boleyn Girl and was recommended to read Gregory's other works. I did and now I think I'm addicted. I desperately want to read her 11 other books that bring the life and times of 16th century England to life. The only thing that is stopping me from spending the whole weekend at the library is that I can't decide which set of books I want to read first. I've read all the Jane Austen novels before but there is only 6 of them. On the other hand I loved the Gregory novel but there are 11 of them and once I start I wont be able to stop. Decisions, decisions ...
Friday, August 01, 2008
Confessional
The 4th book in the Twilight series is being released tonight at midnight and like pre-teen girls all over the country, I plan on being at one of these midnight release parties. And I must confess that I'm not even embarrassed to be waiting amongst all the teenage flesh. In fact I am EXCITED. Beyond excited might be a better descriptor. These books have sucked me in much like the Harry Potter books sucked in others. My only concern is that I wont be able to hang until midnight.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
My Name is Cori and I Endorse this Post
It's summer and I've been in the movie watching mood lately. There is nothing good on the tv, the beaches are crowded, and really there isn't much else to do after work. A few weeks ago I watched the movie Atonement starring Keira Knigtley and James McAvoy. Wait. Let's take a moment to bow our heads and be thankful for the holy hotness that is James McAvoy. Mmmmmm ..... I have a thing for Scottish boys. Mmmmm...... Anyways. I loved the movie but was left with quite a few questions so I decided to check the book out from the local library. I'm so glad I did. The movie follows the book very closely but the book gives so many details that make you appreciate the movie 10 times more. I kinda even want to re-watch the movie again because the book was so good. Two thumbs up.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
J'aime un Petit Oiseau
A little birdie out in the internet land sent me her copy of PS I Love You to read. As soon as I received it in the mail I immediately began reading even though I am still working long arse days. What a sweet little story that has almost made me cry each night (and I never cry). I really recommend it to anyone who has a long term significant other because not only is it a quick read but it also makes me reach across the bed each night and tell my wonderful husband how incredibly thankful I am to have him in my life (stinky morning breath and all). Now I'm just trying to not read the book too quickly. Dave and I have a little Valentine's Day getaway planned and I would like to finish this little love story while sitting by the pool. This will be easier said then done as the book is so cute and heart warming and I want to read it all NOW.PS - (Because what would a post about a book called PS I Love You be without a PS of its own) Dear Person Who Let Me Borrow Their Book - You are one of the evil non-spine book breakers. I am one of the lay diagonally across the bed with the book splayed as far apart while I voraciously read book readers. I am trying as hard as I can to respect your spine non-breaking ways but be forewarned that it is causing restraint on my part which I don't have much of. Merci beaucoup.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Confessions
All in all, I am a pretty normal person. I'm friendly but not that annoying person who follows you around the party chatting in your ear. I'm clean and organized but not to the point of OCD. I'm not flakey and I'm not scatter brained. I don't have self esteem issues and at the same time I'm not overly cocky. I can dress well, read a map, make intellectual conversation, or give speeches in front of audiences. I've never suffered from a mental illness other then the fact that I'm from California (we're born with a natural sense of wackiness).
My one non-normal trait: books effect me so much more then they really should. I've said how much I love reading books and how I often cocoon myself into the author's world. As I read the Twilight Series I can't tell you how many times while at home I ran after Dave yelling "I'm a vampire and you're a werewolf, now RUN!" (as you can imagine this did wonders for our sex life). But on the other end of the spectrum when I'm finished reading a really great read, I often get this sudden overwhelming feeling of melancholy that affects me much more then it should. For a few days or a few weeks after, I often don't want to eat, sleep or go to work. It's almost like I'm mourning the loss of the book and the story that will never be new to me again. Or maybe I'm mourning the loss of this imaginary world that I loved so and am regretting the return back to my mundane real world. The Time Traveler's Wife effected me so much that I refused to read another book for several months after I finished. I just couldn't bare to endure the melancholy I felt for the week or so that followed. I'm almost at that same point after reading Twilight Series. I loved Harry Potter and found Twilight to be the perfect band aid for the ache I felt but now I'm left with an even bigger ache. Whatever the case this is so not normal.
Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to barricade myself in my office while I further instigate my sadness by listening to Coldplay, David Gray, and Damien Rice CDs on repeat.
My one non-normal trait: books effect me so much more then they really should. I've said how much I love reading books and how I often cocoon myself into the author's world. As I read the Twilight Series I can't tell you how many times while at home I ran after Dave yelling "I'm a vampire and you're a werewolf, now RUN!" (as you can imagine this did wonders for our sex life). But on the other end of the spectrum when I'm finished reading a really great read, I often get this sudden overwhelming feeling of melancholy that affects me much more then it should. For a few days or a few weeks after, I often don't want to eat, sleep or go to work. It's almost like I'm mourning the loss of the book and the story that will never be new to me again. Or maybe I'm mourning the loss of this imaginary world that I loved so and am regretting the return back to my mundane real world. The Time Traveler's Wife effected me so much that I refused to read another book for several months after I finished. I just couldn't bare to endure the melancholy I felt for the week or so that followed. I'm almost at that same point after reading Twilight Series. I loved Harry Potter and found Twilight to be the perfect band aid for the ache I felt but now I'm left with an even bigger ache. Whatever the case this is so not normal.
Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to barricade myself in my office while I further instigate my sadness by listening to Coldplay, David Gray, and Damien Rice CDs on repeat.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
My Top 10 Good Reads
Many people look to music as the fuel for their soul. I appreciate music but have always found that reading books is what I need to keep me sane and happy. I am most as ease with life when I am curled on the couch, with a good read, and a green tea. If I was ever exiled to an exotic island, these are the books that I would bring with me to keep me entertained.
Honorable Mention: Epitaph for a Peach by David M. Masumoto – Not on my top 10 list because it is the one book that I wouldn’t recommend for the average reader. The true life tale of a peach farmer in the Central Valley of California as he struggles to survive the first few years of farming. A place and a subject (agriculture) that is dear to my heart.
10. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens – This might be the first great work of fiction that I really truly appreciated. Throughout my schooling I always enjoyed reading the books that were assigned in English, but never became enthralled with a book until I read this one at the age of 18. A true classic that I can always go back to and read with enthusiasm.
9. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway – What is it about Hemingway that attracts me time and again to his stories and style of writing? I don’t know but this is one of my favorite Hemingway novels.
8. The Servant: A Simple Story About the True Essence of Leadership by James C. Hunter – This book changed the way I live my life at work and at home. An entertaining tale of how we should always strive to serve others and give them what they need (which is different from what they want).
7. Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner – I appreciate chick lit just as much as the next person but often find the stories to be mindless reads that occupy my heart but not my brain. Good in Bed is different. A story that made me cry, laugh, and ache. So good that I stayed up all night just to finish the story.
6. East of Eden by John Steinbeck – Gosh I love me some Steinbeck. East of Eden and Grapes of Wrath are a tie in my heart for favorites. Classic tales filled with characters that I fell in love with.
5. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë – It took me a while to get into the grove of the author’s antique speech and cadence, but once I did I fell in love with this tragic tale. I love most Victorian classics but this is far and above my favorite.
4. Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman – A very short book filled with entertaining stories that made me stop and think much more then I ever had.
3. Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer – These books are not higher on my list only because I don’t know how the series will finish. As I said in my post before, a tale that engulfs you in a land filled with romance and mystery.
2. Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling – There is definitely a reason why so many people across the world fell in love with the story of a young wizard.
1. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger – If there was one book that I could go out and force you to read, this would be it. A tale so haunting and memorable that I have never ever re-read this book. To this day (one year after first reading the book) I’m not sure that I could yet go back and re-read. This book is like the tragic tale of a friend you love and enjoy who suddenly is ripped from your life. The reason I have never re-read this book is because I don’t know if I can go through that journey of emotional turmoil yet again.
Honorable Mention: Epitaph for a Peach by David M. Masumoto – Not on my top 10 list because it is the one book that I wouldn’t recommend for the average reader. The true life tale of a peach farmer in the Central Valley of California as he struggles to survive the first few years of farming. A place and a subject (agriculture) that is dear to my heart.
10. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens – This might be the first great work of fiction that I really truly appreciated. Throughout my schooling I always enjoyed reading the books that were assigned in English, but never became enthralled with a book until I read this one at the age of 18. A true classic that I can always go back to and read with enthusiasm.
9. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway – What is it about Hemingway that attracts me time and again to his stories and style of writing? I don’t know but this is one of my favorite Hemingway novels.
8. The Servant: A Simple Story About the True Essence of Leadership by James C. Hunter – This book changed the way I live my life at work and at home. An entertaining tale of how we should always strive to serve others and give them what they need (which is different from what they want).
7. Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner – I appreciate chick lit just as much as the next person but often find the stories to be mindless reads that occupy my heart but not my brain. Good in Bed is different. A story that made me cry, laugh, and ache. So good that I stayed up all night just to finish the story.
6. East of Eden by John Steinbeck – Gosh I love me some Steinbeck. East of Eden and Grapes of Wrath are a tie in my heart for favorites. Classic tales filled with characters that I fell in love with.
5. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë – It took me a while to get into the grove of the author’s antique speech and cadence, but once I did I fell in love with this tragic tale. I love most Victorian classics but this is far and above my favorite.
4. Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman – A very short book filled with entertaining stories that made me stop and think much more then I ever had.
3. Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer – These books are not higher on my list only because I don’t know how the series will finish. As I said in my post before, a tale that engulfs you in a land filled with romance and mystery.
2. Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling – There is definitely a reason why so many people across the world fell in love with the story of a young wizard.
1. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger – If there was one book that I could go out and force you to read, this would be it. A tale so haunting and memorable that I have never ever re-read this book. To this day (one year after first reading the book) I’m not sure that I could yet go back and re-read. This book is like the tragic tale of a friend you love and enjoy who suddenly is ripped from your life. The reason I have never re-read this book is because I don’t know if I can go through that journey of emotional turmoil yet again.
Monday, September 24, 2007
First Sirius, Now Edward
Oh! Yes, hi there. Sorry I've been MIA lately. I tend to do that whenever I find a really good book that I just can't put down. I forget to sleep, I forget to eat, I avoid work and people, and I cocoon myself in a little dream world where all I do is read. In the past 4 days, I've read 3 books that each exceeded 600 pages.
This time my fixation was the Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer. Yes, yes, I know. Technically the Twilight Series are supposed to be for young adults but based on a recommendation by Kerflop I decided to request the books from my local library in an attempt to replace my Harry Potter obsession. It worked.
Even though I'm an avid fan of the literary arts, I tend to suck at books reviews. Royally. So I wont even attempt to give a synopsis of these books. Just believe me, they will suck you in to a land filled with angst, romance, and morality. *SIGH* Just thinking of the books makes me want to re-read them again. Which I'll probably end up doing since my only other option is to pout and write hate mail to the author since the next book in the series wont be coming out until Fall of 2008. I'm not sure I can last that long. *POUT*
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Random-ness Blurb Style
I've finished Harry Potter and just as I expected, I'm extremely sad to have completed the books. I can't express through words how awesome I thought the Harry Potter world and characters were. Next, I'm gonna watch the movies (I've only seen the first) and hope that they draw me out of this funk. Who knew that I would get so addicted to a set of children's books !?!
_______________________________________________________
Dave and I have found 2 new guilty pleasures: The Hills on MTV and Ben & Jerry's Creme Brulee ice cream. Both are yummy.
_______________________________________________________
Secret Revelation Time: For the past year I've suddenly developed the desire to have a baby. Not just any baby but a baby girl. Luckily, my baby lust hasn't gone into overdrive and I'm not in the mood to pop one out any time soon. My long-term plan is to become pregnant sometime after my 30th birthday (2.5 years from now). In my dream world I would have a little girl and she would be a very well privileged only child. We would take family vacations to exotic locations (my form of exotic is Mexico or Hawaii) and she would attend a nice private school as well as be able to speak Spanish fluently. Up until a few weeks I had wanted to name her Ava (a nice old school name but different) until I found out that Ava was the #5 popular girls name in 2006. Who knew that today's parents had such great taste in names? Now my dream name (since I have nothing better to do then name my unborn fictitious child) is to name her Kahlil (after the poet) and use the nickname Lily if it suits her. Unfortunately, I know that my conservative husband would never allow such a funky name so I don't feel bad announcing what I think is the cutest name ever.
_______________________________________________________
Dave and I have found 2 new guilty pleasures: The Hills on MTV and Ben & Jerry's Creme Brulee ice cream. Both are yummy.
_______________________________________________________
Secret Revelation Time: For the past year I've suddenly developed the desire to have a baby. Not just any baby but a baby girl. Luckily, my baby lust hasn't gone into overdrive and I'm not in the mood to pop one out any time soon. My long-term plan is to become pregnant sometime after my 30th birthday (2.5 years from now). In my dream world I would have a little girl and she would be a very well privileged only child. We would take family vacations to exotic locations (my form of exotic is Mexico or Hawaii) and she would attend a nice private school as well as be able to speak Spanish fluently. Up until a few weeks I had wanted to name her Ava (a nice old school name but different) until I found out that Ava was the #5 popular girls name in 2006. Who knew that today's parents had such great taste in names? Now my dream name (since I have nothing better to do then name my unborn fictitious child) is to name her Kahlil (after the poet) and use the nickname Lily if it suits her. Unfortunately, I know that my conservative husband would never allow such a funky name so I don't feel bad announcing what I think is the cutest name ever.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Sirius + Cori = True Love
Oh. Yes. Hi. Ummmm ... I've been MIA for awhile. I'd like to say that I've been busy at work or traveling the country but unfortunately that's not the truth. In all honestly I've been spending every available free minute reading Harry Potter.
I've never been too good at self control. In college whenever it was my turn to be the designated driver, my friends would always find me 30 minutes later doing beer bongs and slurring "lets call a taxi!". That's how I am with Harry Potter. I know that there are only 20 more chapters between me and the end of this book. And I know that I will be extremely sad when the book ends and I no longer can read about Harry, Lupin, James, Hermoine, or Sirius. Yet, I just can't stop myself from reading late into the night to find out what happens next.
Now if you'll excuse me. I have this horrible feeling in my tummy like I am wasting time typing when I could be reading. I have a woman doctor appointment later this morning and I plan on reading through the exam. You think I kid?
I've never been too good at self control. In college whenever it was my turn to be the designated driver, my friends would always find me 30 minutes later doing beer bongs and slurring "lets call a taxi!". That's how I am with Harry Potter. I know that there are only 20 more chapters between me and the end of this book. And I know that I will be extremely sad when the book ends and I no longer can read about Harry, Lupin, James, Hermoine, or Sirius. Yet, I just can't stop myself from reading late into the night to find out what happens next.
Now if you'll excuse me. I have this horrible feeling in my tummy like I am wasting time typing when I could be reading. I have a woman doctor appointment later this morning and I plan on reading through the exam. You think I kid?
Thursday, August 02, 2007
More Bummed Then I Should Be
I just got back from the library where I picked up the Harry Potter books 3, 5, and 6 as well as added my name to the holding list for book 7. Much to my disappointment I am number 47 on that list!
Before last week I had never gotten into the whole Harry Potter thing, had never read any of the books, and had only watched movie #1. For the past few weeks Harry Potter mania has been at full tilt and curiosity got the best of me. I figured that I would check the books out at the library and over the next seven weeks read the whole series (I usually read one book per week and sometimes two books a week if the books are quick reads). What I didn't account for was how addictive these books are. I started on Monday at lunch and by that night had finished book #1. Book #2 took me Tuesday and Wednesday. Today I picked up book #3 and am hoping that it at least lasts me until Friday.
At this rate I'm confident that I will be ready for book #7 by the middle of next week. If the library doesn't have a book available for me by then I might get desperate for a fix and actually go out and buy the book which is something I never do. Even worse, I'm worried what will happen when I have finished all seven books. Although I've only read two books, I've sorta become attached to Harry, Ron, Hermoine, and Ginny. What will happen when there are no more books to feed my new addiction???
Before last week I had never gotten into the whole Harry Potter thing, had never read any of the books, and had only watched movie #1. For the past few weeks Harry Potter mania has been at full tilt and curiosity got the best of me. I figured that I would check the books out at the library and over the next seven weeks read the whole series (I usually read one book per week and sometimes two books a week if the books are quick reads). What I didn't account for was how addictive these books are. I started on Monday at lunch and by that night had finished book #1. Book #2 took me Tuesday and Wednesday. Today I picked up book #3 and am hoping that it at least lasts me until Friday.
At this rate I'm confident that I will be ready for book #7 by the middle of next week. If the library doesn't have a book available for me by then I might get desperate for a fix and actually go out and buy the book which is something I never do. Even worse, I'm worried what will happen when I have finished all seven books. Although I've only read two books, I've sorta become attached to Harry, Ron, Hermoine, and Ginny. What will happen when there are no more books to feed my new addiction???
Monday, December 11, 2006
Read This
Over a period of 48 hours I read all 518 pages of Audrey Niffenegger's Time Traveler's Wife. It has been a long time since I've found a book that completely consumes me with its characters and story. Even after I had finished the book, the tale haunted me with its interesting thoughts and theories. I highly encourage reading this book. Not only is it a unique and thought-provoking book but also an AMAZING love story. It made me laugh and cry and then cry some more (which is rare for me). Just posting about the book makes me want to re-read it again!
From Publishers Weekly
This highly original first novel won the largest advance San Francisco-based MacAdam/Cage had ever paid, and it was money well spent. Niffenegger has written a soaring love story illuminated by dozens of finely observed details and scenes, and one that skates nimbly around a huge conundrum at the heart of the book: Henry De Tamble, a rather dashing librarian at the famous Newberry Library in Chicago, finds himself unavoidably whisked around in time. He disappears from a scene in, say, 1998 to find himself suddenly, usually without his clothes, which mysteriously disappear in transit, at an entirely different place 10 years earlier-or later. During one of these migrations, he drops in on beautiful teenage Clare Abshire, an heiress in a large house on the nearby Michigan peninsula, and a lifelong passion is born. The problem is that while Henry's age darts back and forth according to his location in time, Clare's moves forward in the normal manner, so the pair are often out of sync. But such is the author's tenderness with the characters, and the determinedly ungimmicky way in which she writes of their predicament (only once do they make use of Henry's foreknowledge of events to make money, and then it seems to Clare like cheating) that the book is much more love story than fantasy. It also has a splendidly drawn cast, from Henry's violinist father, ruined by the loss of his wife in an accident from which Henry time-traveled as a child, to Clare's odd family and a multitude of Chicago bohemian friends. The couple's daughter, Alba, inherits her father's strange abilities, but this is again handled with a light touch; there's no Disney cuteness here. Henry's foreordained end is agonizing, but Niffenegger has another card up her sleeve, and plays it with poignant grace. It is a fair tribute to her skill and sensibility to say that the book leaves a reader with an impression of life's riches and strangeness rather than of easy thrills.
From Publishers Weekly
This highly original first novel won the largest advance San Francisco-based MacAdam/Cage had ever paid, and it was money well spent. Niffenegger has written a soaring love story illuminated by dozens of finely observed details and scenes, and one that skates nimbly around a huge conundrum at the heart of the book: Henry De Tamble, a rather dashing librarian at the famous Newberry Library in Chicago, finds himself unavoidably whisked around in time. He disappears from a scene in, say, 1998 to find himself suddenly, usually without his clothes, which mysteriously disappear in transit, at an entirely different place 10 years earlier-or later. During one of these migrations, he drops in on beautiful teenage Clare Abshire, an heiress in a large house on the nearby Michigan peninsula, and a lifelong passion is born. The problem is that while Henry's age darts back and forth according to his location in time, Clare's moves forward in the normal manner, so the pair are often out of sync. But such is the author's tenderness with the characters, and the determinedly ungimmicky way in which she writes of their predicament (only once do they make use of Henry's foreknowledge of events to make money, and then it seems to Clare like cheating) that the book is much more love story than fantasy. It also has a splendidly drawn cast, from Henry's violinist father, ruined by the loss of his wife in an accident from which Henry time-traveled as a child, to Clare's odd family and a multitude of Chicago bohemian friends. The couple's daughter, Alba, inherits her father's strange abilities, but this is again handled with a light touch; there's no Disney cuteness here. Henry's foreordained end is agonizing, but Niffenegger has another card up her sleeve, and plays it with poignant grace. It is a fair tribute to her skill and sensibility to say that the book leaves a reader with an impression of life's riches and strangeness rather than of easy thrills.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)