Did I mention I am taking another yoga class? I look forward to Tuesday nights as an evening of relaxation and an opportunity to de-stress. I will know when my yoga practice will be kicking in as a state of being/calmness when I can block out those small daily annoyances that drive me mad. It might, however, be forever a 'work in progress' as I still find myself being short-tempered impatient at times (more often than I'd like anyway). Wednesdays, then, are iffy days for blog posts, but I had a few things to share, so here are some links and other bookishness for your entertainment.
Do you know Shelf Awareness? You can subscribe like I do, and get a daily newsletter in your email inbox. I have signed up via an online bookstore, so I think it is somewhat tailored to the store, but Shelf Awareness has lots of book reviews and lists and links and opportunities to win books and other swag. I look forward to getting it every day and try and time my morning cup of coffee with the newsletter's arrival.
One of yesterday's giveaways is the chance to enter and win a copy of Merissa Alink's Little House Living, which I am going to have to get my hands on in any case, if only to just enjoy browsing through. I am still reading the Little House books. Okay, not at the moment Actively reading the books, but the next one (By the Shores of Silver Lake) is hovering in the background. Maybe I will try and coincide the reading with Thanksgiving (can you believe it is just a little over two months away?!). It seems an appropriately autumnal/holiday read.
I recently read my first H.P. Lovecraft story (and liked it very much) and somewhere or other I came across this article about renting a room in his former home. I wonder if it is haunted?!
I've always wanted to stay in Dashiell Hammett's house in San Francisco, which is now a vacation rental. It looks pretty cozy (as in teeny tiny), but it's in Nob Hill (and yes, those are serious hills in that area) with a rooftop deck and perfect for just one or two people. Someday.
How did I miss that the second (second here in the US, but the fourth in the UK) season of the Great British Baking Show is airing right now on Sunday nights? The first season was in January of this year so I assumed the second would be next January. I'm three episodes behind, but thank goodness for streaming so I can catch up quickly. I am not especially fond of cooking, but I do enjoy baking (though unless I have an 'audience' don't do much of it these days). It doesn't matter, I just like the drama of it all and find it hugely addicting to watch the creation of all those divine looking sweets. I can not, however, imagine baking under those stressful conditions, but I like watching others attempt it!
Earlier in the year I read and wrote about Sayed Kashua's Second Person Singular, which I was very impressed with. It is one of a number of novels I read for a couple of Israeli Literature classes I took last fall and this past spring. Kashua is an Arab-Israeli author who now lives in Illinois. A film adaptation of his work called A Borrowed Identity will be screened locally in October and the author will be part of a panel discussion after the film, so I am excited to go and see both the film and the author. There was also an interesting article about Kashua in the New Yorker, which you can read online. I'm going to try and read his novel Dancing Arabs before the film screening. I'm in the mood to read more Israeli literature, so maybe I will start there.
Many thanks for all the helpful suggestions on recommended contemporary literary novels. I am definitely going to have to pick up Animal Dreams very soon. I'm starting with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Americanah. After much dithering back and forth and not being able to choose from my little pile, I picked up the Adichie purely on impulse. It is proving to be quite engrossing right from the first few pages, so I hope to keep up the momentum. Of course you know me, I always have one eye turned towards the next book in anticipation, so feel free to continue leaving suggestions!