Reading List

Tis the season to read and read and read. A few weeks ago, RadioWest has their Summer Book Show. Many of the recommendations sound really great. I especially want to read Isabel Allende's Island Beneath the Sea, maybe even in Spanish if I'm feeling ambitious. I always love book recommendations, even if I don't end up liking the book that was recommended. I think the books people like says more about them than the tv shows or movies they watch, or the music they listen to. They require more effort to enjoy. So, here is what I've been reading since the semester ended:

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 1-3 - Ann Brashares

Bet you didn't expect those on my list, did you? But they are there. I think these are great, and the perfect way to rest your mind after ariting stacks of anthropology papers.

Eat, Pray, Love - Elizabeth Gilbert

Wah wah wah. Oh, Elizabeth. Thank goodness you had a $200,000 book deal so that you could travel to three countries and do absolutely whatever you want, while eating, AND praying, AND loving. Otherwise you NEVER would have found yourself. :) This book is so silly. She is a good writer, but her protagonist (i.e. herself) is so self-absorbed. I actually kind of liked the Italy section, to be honest, but it was all downhill from there. Not recommended. I imagine you will be better off watching the Julia Roberts adaptation that will be in theaters soon.

Committed- Elizabeth Gilbert

Same author, totally different book. It is written more like a textbook than a novel, which is probably why I liked it more than the above. The book isn't totally about the author, it's more of an examination on marriage, culture, etc.

Hmmm. Now that I have it written down, my list thus far seems pretty pathetic. But I have big plans for the rest of the summer! Hopefully I will get to read these books!

To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee

July 10th is the 50th anniversary 50th of this novel. So I will be reading it again for the first time since 6th grade.

I Capture the Castle - Dodie Smith

This is the perfect summer book. It is just lovely. "Dreamy", "funny", and an "utter delight". I've read it a few times. "I Capture the Castle is the classic tale, told in diary form, of six months in the life of Cassandra Mortmain, a perceptive young lady who lives with her poor, socially outcast family in a crumbling castle in the English countryside.By the time she pens her final entry, she has captured the castle-- and the heart of the reader-- in one of literature's most enchanting entertainments." - Powells

Special Topics in Calamity Physics - Marisha Pessl.

Picked this up on a whim several years ago, and I am so glad I did. A grown up Nancy Drew with a great/horrible end.

"What begins as an innocent (if quirky) adolescent tale swiftly transforms into an absorbing high school whodunit. If I had to compare it to a few recent films, it manages to come across both as gritty as Brick and as refreshing as Juno, but with a healthy amount of vintage Gothic inspiration threading its way through the story as well. That tightrope walk of pathos and preciousness has never been navigated so confidently." - Powells.com

The Kingdom of Ohio - Matthew Flaming

I really just want to read this one because I like the look of the cover. :)

The Prince of Mist - Ruiz Zafon

I always gravitate towards young adult fiction. I guess I just don't want to be a grown-up yet. It is always better to be a kid.

So, there is my list so far. I found this that looks like a great resource; I haven't even begun to look through it. Please tell me if you have any suggestions!

Happy Reading!

Uruguay wins: 1-0 :)

Sun Stand Still

It's the summer solstice! The trip to the spiral jetty was not realized, but surely will be at a later date. In honor of the beginning of summer, I attempted to get a tan. Attempt being the operative word. I am too impatient and fussy to lay out for long. I will have to work on it little by little. I hope you enjoyed the sun.

Things that enchant

I appreciate what the act of translation has done for my thought process. In Spanish, you don't say that you "love" something (the actual verb "to love" is left for only the closest of relationships). Instead you say that something enchants you. Example: "Me encanta tu manera de ser" literally translates to "Your way of being enchants me," but is understood as "I love the way you are". Beautiful, right? So here is a lengthy compilation of things that enchant me:



Remember this day? It was last Sunday I believe; close to sunset. Light like this doesn't happen often. This is the definition of enchanting. When I think of the phrase "witching hour," I think of this sky.







It was under this sky that we drove my dad to the airport. On the way back, the sky darkened as we listened to Willy Mason. His song "Simple Town" perfectly encapsulated the moody heavens, I think. Check him out on his myspace.

Another thing that enchants me is PERFUME.



This one is particularly delicious. I love it I love it I love it. I think it might even be THE ONE. You know, the perfume you wear everyday. The perfume that people identify you by. MY SIGNATURE SCENT. Well, at least for the summer. ha! You can try it out at the Apothica in Gateway. I stop by every time I'm there to steal a squirt! One day, it will be mine.

I also love everything perfume related. This article in the New York Times. Although my idea of perfume making has been tainted since I read the novel Perfume. Ew.

I would love to be a perfumer though. Especially since our garden is in full bloom now! I have to share what I have found in it with you.



These smell so lovely. I think my Tia Hortensia uses this kind when she makes her rose jam. mmmmmm.





My friend Tiana would call these colors yummy. I would agree with her.





I didn't know that we had peonies in our garden! What a pleasant surprise.



These roses smell like grapefruit. Really, they do!



Baby strawberry! Sorry little guy; one day, I will eat you.



Another thing I love. The farmers market. I found my Aunt Tami there on Saturday. She is "My Dough Girl" cookies. Try "Lily" if you get the chance. She is the lemon one. I also found Bramble there. Check'em out.

That's enough for now.

Toodles.

Write the Future

Even for those of you who told me you don't appreciate soccer, you have to love this.



First game is on Friday! See you there!

A new edition to our family...

CHIA OBAMA!



He was born on the 20th of May, in the year 2010. This is how he came to be part of our family.

A simple trip to D.I. led us to Chia Obama. And now, with a little loving care, he is flourishing in his new home. It was a bit of a rough start though.



He took a bath, while I prepared the chia seeds, which for some reason, were really fascinating.



The seeds needed a soak too. They became a sort of jelly that resembled frog eggs.







Did you know that chia seeds are a trendy new health food?



Now Chia Obama has a respected place in our family:



...right next to the Queen Mother.

Well, fancy that!

I love it when Salt Lake is appreciated by outsiders. This article helps reaffirm what this city has to offer, and they're really only skimming the surface. Three cheers for the S.L.C.!

June Mix - "Here we go, here we go, here we go."

In case you didn't know, I like to listen to music. I also like to share music I like with other people. For some reason we do not have a CD burner for this computer, so all 14,000 of our songs remain entrapped in a digital domain. If you talk to Allison, she will tell you that I am very picky about the "best" way to listen and own music (live>records>cds>digitally) but I try to give make people cds whenever I can.

Because of my current situation, I decided to compromise, which in the end, will be better for all of us involved. Until I get a burner, you'll just have to put the cd's together yourself. I present my mix for the month of May, created in the atmosphere of May, to be listened to at any time of the year; but specifically those springy/summery times. A key is provided for your understanding.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
I don't really know how to link mp3's onto here, so if someone would like to tell me, that would be great. Also, you will probably be able to find the majority of these songs on Hype Machine. If you are not addicted to this site, you will be. Enjoy.


1. Wavin' Flag (The Celebration Remix) - K'naan
2. As We Enter - Nas And Damian Marley
3. The Kids (ft. Janelle Monae) - B.O.B.
4. Bloodbuzz Ohio - The National
5. Velvet - The Big Pink
6. Jesus Etc. (Wilco cover) - Norah Jones
7. Cold Summer - Seabear
8. Tom Cruz - Plants And Animals
9. She Wolf (Shakira Cover) - Hot Chip
10. We No Speak Americano - Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP
11. Don't Break My Heart - B.O.B
12. Month Of May - Arcade Fire
13. Whole Wide World - The Proclaimers
14. I and Love and You - The Avett Brothers
15. Poprocks And Coke - Green Day
16. All Over You - Live
17. Cello Song - The Books featuring Jose Gonzalez
18. The Perpetual Self, Or "What Would Saul Alinsky Do?" - Sufjan Stevens

So there you go!
Now a bit of an explanation:

1. 2 words. World Cup. First game is on the 11th. Are you ready?
2. Katie showed this one to me. Loved it right away. I hope people consider me "comfy and decent" like Nas and Damien Marley.
3. You can't even listen to the Vampire Weekend song anymore after that. This tops it. That Bobby is so clev.
4. Man oh man. You need to listen to this song loud. I love his voice. Love it. This album came out a couple weeks ago. Buy it.
5. Another one you have to listen to loud. They came to Salt Lake to do a show, and did a little dj set at Graywhale. A total of probably 10 people were in the store. Crazy. They were friendly and chatted with us a bit after. Kind of a weird duo if you look at a picture of them. I hope they felt welcome in SLC.
6. Love the original and this cover. "You were right about the stars, each one is a setting sun."
7. Because we had freaking SNOW in may. :)
8. They played at Kilby, but I missed it. :(
9. Good for a laugh. Especially the wolf howl.
10. Supposedly, this is the club hit of the summer...well...I don't know about that. But I like anything with a bit of Italian thrown in.
11. Another B.O.B. tune. I like him. I bet you he's a stand up guy, and he appreciates girls who pay their taxes.
12. Do not like this song. It reminds me too much of Billy Idol's "White Wedding". But finally we get some new stuff by arcade fire and it had the word "may" in the title.
13. <3 14. They are coming in September!!!! Are you going with me? Buy your tickets here.
15. cute
16. Doesn't matter what you say. The 90's are always in style.
17. This song sneaks up on you. In the first 10 seconds you're not to impressed, but it is a shape shifter.
18. BABIES!