Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune (Evening Edition, Community Read)
Some particularly awful quotes:
[Jeanine Rowder's diabolical plot "Imagine having an endless reservoir of magic at the govenment's command. Why continue to fight the good fight when we can just as easily place our will upon the world with a gentle hand and a well-placed threat to the Devil himself? Never again will we be questioned for our actions, not when every magical being is under government control through the Antichrist." (p. 284) [Honestly, this doesn't seem that far off from what's currently happening with US government, I wouldn't be surprised if some of these people have sold their souls to the Devil.]
[Linus] "'I think that's quite enough. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but we might need to consider removing all Bibles from the island. Too many things in its pages children should not have access to.' Lucy's eyes filled with red as he pulled his head away. 'We could have a good old-fashioned book burning.' 'Something to consider,' Linus agreed." (p. 349)
Tidying Up: 100 ways to infuse order and joy into every area of your home by Meg Delong and Ea Fuqua
This is a quick read full of helpful tips about organizing every aspect of your home. The book's chapters cover areas instead of rooms - pantry, where you get ready, where you sleep, etc. Each chapter has an introduction about that space and what's important, then several more specific tips. I like that at the end of each chapter there is a page with a "level up" tip for if you have a larger space and a "square footage problem" for if space is an issue in your home. I definitely liked that this wasn't some magazine spread of huge, curated spaces but the tips could work in any space. I did not agree with their tip of 2 sets of sheets per bed - that seemed ridiculously low to me - and keeping the extra set of sheets in the bedroom. I'm thankful for a linen closet but I know not everyone has that. Overall, there wasn't anything earth shattering in here, but lots of good tips in well organized chapters. I would recommend checking it out.
My Southern Journey: true stories from the heart of the South by Rick Bragg
My Southern Journey is a collection of stories by Rick Bragg from several different publications, compiled together in this book. The stories are divided into the categories of home, table, place, craft, and spirit. Bragg is the perfect mix of humor, self-deprecation, and love of the South. He is someone you would want to sit beside at a family reunion or porch or dock so you could hear his observations or just enjoy the view together in silence. He does such a good job of really capturing the spirit of the South in his writing. He, among many other things, makes me proud to be a Southerner.
Some of my favorite quotes:
"The South, like chiggers and divinity candy, is everlasting. It will always be, though it will not always be as we remember...Preachers who thrust ragged Bibles at bare rafters now shout politics from the pulpit. Civility, towards even those with whom we do not agree, is an heirloom. Quilts, the kind made for warmth instead of cash, are a thing of antiquity, their patterns a mystery slowly fading in an old woman's eyes. Young men can play 5,000 video games but cannot sharpen a pocket knife...Then I see my brother Mark in his garden, and know that not everything must fade away." (p. 22-23)
"I try not to repeat Southern cliches. No one, for instance, should eat a hamburger in a bun made from Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. But grease is good. It has shortened many lives, probably my own, but is a life of rice cakes really life, or just passing time?" (p. 43)
"I know, nostalgia is a veil, a piece of colored glass. I know. But I had a fried grouper sandwich and onion rings for breakfast. Other people were staring at shredded wheat, and hoping to live forever. But I bet forever is a long time with shredded wheat." (p. 98)
"You see, I have always been just a little ashamed of being a writer. To my people, it is not serious work, not something a real man would do. On airplanes, it seemed I always sat next to an oil driller, or a welder on the pipeline. When I told them I was a writer, they looked at me like I cut out paper dolls for a living." (p. 114)
"I knew, the day I saw my first pair of skinny jeans on a man, that I no longer have any place in this world, and should probably just go live by myself in a hole in the ground." (p. 124)
"I know that the world of reading has forever changed, that, in this cold winter, many people who love a good book will embrace one that runs on batteries. I know that many of you woke up Christmas morning to find that Santa graced your house with an iPad, or a Kindle, or a Nook or some other plastic thing that will hold a whole library on a doodad the size of a guitar pick. Some of you may be reading one of my books or stories on one today, which is, of course, perfectly all right, and even a sign of high intelligence. Someday, I may have to read The Grapes of Wrath on the side of a toaster myself. I am hopeful when young people say, 'I read you on the Kindle,' because it means they are at least reading, and reading me, which means my writing life is somehow welcome in whatever frightening future awaits." (p. 168-169)
The article "Long Time Coming" on pages 238 - 247 about the first African-American head football coach in the Southeastern Conference at Mississippi State was amazing and probably the best chapter/story in this whole book.
Some of my favorite quotes:
"The South, like chiggers and divinity candy, is everlasting. It will always be, though it will not always be as we remember...Preachers who thrust ragged Bibles at bare rafters now shout politics from the pulpit. Civility, towards even those with whom we do not agree, is an heirloom. Quilts, the kind made for warmth instead of cash, are a thing of antiquity, their patterns a mystery slowly fading in an old woman's eyes. Young men can play 5,000 video games but cannot sharpen a pocket knife...Then I see my brother Mark in his garden, and know that not everything must fade away." (p. 22-23)
"I try not to repeat Southern cliches. No one, for instance, should eat a hamburger in a bun made from Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. But grease is good. It has shortened many lives, probably my own, but is a life of rice cakes really life, or just passing time?" (p. 43)
"I know, nostalgia is a veil, a piece of colored glass. I know. But I had a fried grouper sandwich and onion rings for breakfast. Other people were staring at shredded wheat, and hoping to live forever. But I bet forever is a long time with shredded wheat." (p. 98)
"You see, I have always been just a little ashamed of being a writer. To my people, it is not serious work, not something a real man would do. On airplanes, it seemed I always sat next to an oil driller, or a welder on the pipeline. When I told them I was a writer, they looked at me like I cut out paper dolls for a living." (p. 114)
"I knew, the day I saw my first pair of skinny jeans on a man, that I no longer have any place in this world, and should probably just go live by myself in a hole in the ground." (p. 124)
"I know that the world of reading has forever changed, that, in this cold winter, many people who love a good book will embrace one that runs on batteries. I know that many of you woke up Christmas morning to find that Santa graced your house with an iPad, or a Kindle, or a Nook or some other plastic thing that will hold a whole library on a doodad the size of a guitar pick. Some of you may be reading one of my books or stories on one today, which is, of course, perfectly all right, and even a sign of high intelligence. Someday, I may have to read The Grapes of Wrath on the side of a toaster myself. I am hopeful when young people say, 'I read you on the Kindle,' because it means they are at least reading, and reading me, which means my writing life is somehow welcome in whatever frightening future awaits." (p. 168-169)
The article "Long Time Coming" on pages 238 - 247 about the first African-American head football coach in the Southeastern Conference at Mississippi State was amazing and probably the best chapter/story in this whole book.
What Do People Do All Day? by Richard Scarry
I'm a librarian, so of course I'm very familiar with Richard Scarry and the characters of Busytown. I recently found a 100 pack of Richard Scarry stickers and in looking through them decided I needed to revisit Busytown and remind myself of the characters. In What Do People Do All Day?, Scarry covers many of the jobs and tasks that the average person would have in real life. Is it a completely accurate description of every job/work imaginable? No. But, it's a very cute book that covers everything from a stay-at-home pig mom to police officers, farmers, and home builders and electricians. There is a LOT of information and illustrations on every page and in reading it again as an adult I'm reminded why kids love these books. I enjoyed my trip down memory lane with What Do People Do All Day? even if it didn't include a librarian in here!
The Heart-Shaped Tin: love, loss, and kitchen objects by Bee Wilson
Shortly after an unexpected divorce, Bee Wilson stumbled on the heart shaped cake mold she used to make her wedding cake. Just seeing the tin brought up so many emotions and Wilson began to wonder about other people's attachment to kitchen objects. In this collection of essays she explores sentimental kitchen objects in her own life and in the lives of others. The people and objects she covers range from historical items to common, everyday items used in the current day. Some of the stories I enjoyed more than others. I personally enjoyed the ones with current people because Wilson could interview them and talk to them about their object and the memories attached. Some of the stories/objects she included seemed a little bit of a stretch as far as the theme of the book goes. And the overall tone was more bittersweet/painful than happy memories. Overall, I didn't like it as much as I thought I would, but the topic is still interesting.
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