Ooooooooo!
This morning my husband burst through the front door, yanked the tiny earphones out of his ears and, flushed from his post-run endorphin rush, declared: The Death Of Bees, we must own it!
The Death Of Bees, by Lisa O’Donnell (check out NPR for an interview with the author). Help, Thanks, Wow: Three Essential Prayers, by Anne Lamott. And Where’d You Go, Bernadette, by Maria Semple. I just happened to stumble across Semple’s book through a little madcap Amazon link-clicking episode. Know what I mean? I wish I’d stumbled across the book literally (and it would have been literally, just ask my son) in the Topanga Canyon mall Barnes & Noble, but it’s closing. Dammit.
Currently reading on the kindle: Easy To Love, Difficult To Discipline: The Seven Basic Skills For Turning Conflict. You know how sometimes you ask for a certain kind of help from a certain kind of book and suddenly the book not only arrives but is so timely it makes you sit up and pay attention like never before? I don’t like time outs. I don’t want to make him sit in a corner. I don’t want to battle or (heaven forbid) break his magnificent spirit. I do want to talk to him, with him, not at him. Thank you, Becky A. Bailey, for writing this book. Teaching is learning. So true. What I’m learning, I hope to teach well.
Still reading Bel Canto, Ann Patchett, probably giving up on Hologram For The King, Dave Eggers (don’t hate me), gave away Bossy Pants, Tina Fey, without completing the read (don’t hate me–or, you know, go ahead), and three quarters finished with—what the he** is it called. You know. That really important, amazingly beautifully written book that became a classic the second it was published…Oh, PB…Really?…hang on…Am tired mother!…do dee do dee do…just keep swimming, just keep swimming…The Known World, Edward P. Jones, of course…blrrrrrrrgh…
Also looking forward to second books from the YA Muses. Happy 2013, Muses!
Happy reading to you this year! Feel free to leave recommendations at any time in the comments section. And maybe check my “Library” page if you fancy more suggestions–fiction, YA and MG.
Yours in February poetry readings, future unicycle rides and quiet time alone with a book,
P (juggling 3 oranges) B.
PB Rippey Writes 
I finally read Bel Canto after carting it through at least three moves. I liked it. Didn;t love it. Creative story, would make a good movie? You loaned me Hologram for the King and I pretty much hated all ten pages I read. Bossypants was good – I liked the insight into her influences and process. She works way too much. How does she have 2 kids? Curious to hear your thoughts on Help Thanks Wow and the Known World. Currently on kindle is The Paris Wife. So far so great, am rationing to have some left for beach reading in Hawaii. After that is Life of Pi. Am behind. I will loan you WInter’s Tale. Must read. Over and out.
Aloha, Susan! Happy beach reading on the Kindle. Will be interested to hear about The Paris Wife. Have a mai tai for me!
PS. Life of Pi–prepare yourself.
Am definitely going to find Easy to Love etc. Not only do I not like time-outs, but they are not working. It’s a lose-lose. I’ve got Help Thanks Wow on deck – someone very cool sent me a copy for Christmas. Oh, and I don’t know how many pages of beta reads. But those are also pleasurable. Aren’t we blessed to live in a world with so much great reading?
We are blessed indeed!!!