How 'bout some Josh Ritter

Saturday Snapshot: evidence

Kicking back with a book sometime in 1960-61

Here it is, evidence I was born with a love for books. Perhaps it was inevitable that I'd one day own a bookstore even if it was a somewhat crazy venture.

Note: Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Alyce of At Home With Books.

snow on wild mountain

Stormy weather here in the Sierra foothills. The good news is that unlike last year, we have not lost power. That's a big deal.
In other news, it's book club time tonight. Our book is The Girl Who Played with Fire. I'm just about to finish it. These are not my favorite books but I can get through them. Oddly, I always start wanting to go to Ikea. Has this happened to you, assuming you've read at least one these extremely popular novels?

change is good

Hmmm, maybe I'll keep this new blog template a while.

Top Five Fiction 2010

My favorite five fiction books read in 2010:

One Day by David Nicholls

Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by  Muriel Barbery

The Financial Lives of the Poets by Jess Walter

Blame by Michelle Huneven

Other books of distinction:

Best book of short stories 

Both Ways is the Only Way I Want It by Maile Meloy

Best graphic work 

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

in remembrance

My mother in law passed away recently and I made this video from family photos in tribute to her long, full life.

Top Five Nonfiction 2010

My favorite five nonfiction books read in 2010:

Let's Take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell

The Suicide Index by Joan Wickersham

Stuff - Complusive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things by Prof. Gail Steketee Ph.D. and Prof. Randy Frost Ph.D.

Finding Iris Chang by Paula Kamen

Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking has Undermined America by Barbara Ehrenreich

Honorable Mention:

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

a new year...a new soul

Here's to a great new year!