I have a few more books to write about, but as last night was yoga night and I never get in much computer time on those nights (and that is a good thing in my opinion--everyone needs away time from the computer), just some random (mostly) bookish miscellanea to start the weekend with.
Can I say again (or maybe I haven't here?) how much I love my yoga class? I look forward to it from the minute I start work on Monday mornings. It feels like Thursday night is so far away, but then it is really the perfect time since not only is the work week nearly over, but by Thursday I am in need of a little mental and physical mindfulness.
This year is sort of a milestone year for me in the birthday department and I was thinking I really deserve a treat of some kind. A good treat, more than just a special book. A friend mentioned she was thinking she might try and find a yoga retreat to attend and I like that idea. That would be the perfect way to celebrate the year. If anyone has done anything like that, please do tell me about it as I will be on the look out for something affordable and manageable (for someone more or less on a budget).
I've started listening to and visiting the website of On Being, hosted by Krista Tippett (who has also written books, I shall soon be acquiring) as it is a program that my yoga instructor has referred to. It is filled with all sorts of good things and I heartily recommend it. The latest show (she interviews a variety of people) is an interview with Robin Wall Kimmerer who is a bryologist and talks about mosses and strange as it sounds, she makes them sound so incredibly interesting that I am going to do a little research this weekend and see if I can find a book about them.
Now some odds and ends that I took note of this week (I think I might get too many bookish emails and alerts, or is that possible?).
I would love this Excellent Women mug that Virago created. I'm not a mom, but I could give one to my mom for Mother's Day (and maybe get one for me, too).
This is a list for me. It's not that I think I don't like science fiction, but I never seem to reach for it. I have read a couple of books on this list and it might be worth investigating the others, too.
So, I've sort of discovered Instagram. Should I sign up for it, or will it be a huge time suck and I already don't have enough time. It have found some really interesting things on it, however, (via Twitter, which is also really addictive and I try and ration my visits).
I'm always curious about new books others are excited about, and here are twenty-three more! I'm most interested in the book at the top of the list by a new-to-me Israeli author, and it is even short stories! Which reminds me I really do need to pick up another of my unread books.
Here's an aside . . . I still miss my cats and wish I had one now. This makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.
Check out these bookish ice sculptures! I especially like the nod in Tove Jansson's direction with the Moomins at the end of the list!
I really liked Jojo Moyes's novel Me Before You when I read it a couple of years ago. And now it has been adapted to the big screen and while the actors playing the roles are not quite what I had in mind (not sure what I had in mind to be honest) I am very much looking forward to seeing the movie this summer! You can see the trailer here. I sobbed at the end of the book, I can only imagine what will happen when I see the movie. And I have yet to read the sequel, but now I think I might have to add it to my already-too-long list of books I want to read sooner than later.
And speaking of film adaptations, next month is a TV version of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, which was a great read. I wonder how the film will compare. You can see the trailer here. It looks rather scary to me!
Filmmakers seem to rely heavily on books for their subject matter, but there seems to be an inordinately large number of forthcoming movies based on books, have you noticed? There are a number I would like to see (must read books quickly--I hate watching a movie adaptation first and then reading the book later).
Oh, one more. I have never read J.G. Ballard, but I plan to now (I do have his Empire of the Sun). Isn't this a great cover design, and I usually don't like movie tie-in versions of books. Another movie to add to the list that I want to see this year. And, another book to read first.
The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction longlist was just announced, so of course I have to investigate the contenders for the prize. I already have two on my own reading piles (the Boyd and the Quinn) and a few others look quite promising at first glance.
I cheated and looked (there is always an ad in the NYRB) and the March book for my NYRB Classics subscription is going to be (as hoped for by me!) one of the forthcoming novels by Patrick Modiano (hooray), In the Café of Lost Youth. I have finished reading (and will hopefully tell you about it next week) the January book, and am now reading February. I am hoping I might be able to finish it before March arrives and fingers crossed March actually will arrive!
It's forecast to be a really lovely, mild weekend here and I hope the weather will cooperate where you are, too. I will be going to see this this weekend, and will spend a few hours in the museum. Whatever time left over will hopefully be filled with reading/finishing a couple of books and the usual short story reading, too. Time to start a new short story collection.
And I will end on a 'duck-ish' note. I so want one of these!