Showing posts with label good read. Show all posts
Showing posts with label good read. Show all posts

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Making progress on resolutions

I'm only making a tiny amount of progress towards my science resolution, but I *am* happy to report that I am slowly making my way towards my life resolution for 2011 (read X books by NYE 2011).

Before I got my e-reader (I went with the nook, since I got it as swag at a conference), I read the following in print:

1.  My Life in France by Julia Child (which I posted about earlier)

2.  The Buccaneers by Edith Wharton.   This was her last novel, and she did not finish it before she died.  Here, Marion Mainwaring completed it.  Surprisingly, it was the first quarter that was tedious, not the last.  One of my favorite quotes, somewhat ironically, came from the first part (p 160, Penguin Books)
Hector Robinson looked curiously at this girl, who might have been pretty in less goddess-like company, and who spoke with such precocious wisdom on subjects delicate to touch.  "By Jove, she's make a good wife for an ambitious man," he thought.  He did not mean himself....

3.  Vector by Robin Cook.  I was at my parents', and I was desperate.  Don't judge.

(but you CAN, however, feel free to judge the various chick lit offerings I pick up for plane flights....more below)

4.  everyone worth knowing by Lauren Weisberger.  Chick lit...  very light chick lit.  (same author as the devil wears prada, so it was actually written fairly well)

5.  Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner.  Takes about three different women's birth stories and the paths they take after they have the little rugrats.  (And contrary to the opinion of my family, NO, my ovaries did not twitch upon reading about all the babies.  Bleah.)  I would recommend this, although it is chick lit.

6.  The Mark of the Angel by Nancy Huston.  She wrote it in French and then translated it herself into English.  It is set in Paris in the 50s, and everyone is still reeling from the war.  A Parisian, a German, and a Hungarian are all....involved.    (from pg 38, Vintage International)

Whether he was acting impulsively or not, whether she had ulterior motives or not, the threads of their destinies are now irrevocably intertwined-- since, though neither knows it yet, the young German woman and her French husband are expecting a child.  A new human being, the genetic mix of these two highly disparate individuals, is already underway....

7.  a sort of homecoming by Robert Cremins.  This is an Irish coming-of-age story.  The main character was appallingly arrogant, and I almost didn't complete it.  But I did.

8.  Summer Sisters by Judy Blume.  NOT for kids.  Another coming-of-age story.


So in 2011, to date I have read eight books in print.  And on the nook?  Several more, so far.  I'll save those for another post.


How are your resolutions going?  Any good book suggestions?

Sunday, January 2, 2011

My Life in France

Thanks to a bit of a hangover and lackluster bowl match-ups,  I've completed my first book of 2011.  I am well on my way to New Year resolution success!

I just finished reading My Life in France by Julia Child (with Alex Prud'homme).  Even if you have seen the movie, it is still a surprising, delightful read.  Her love for her husband is inspirational, and I love how her joy for life is evident in each sentence.

Here is an example, from page 77 of Anchor Book's paperback version:

Usually one's cooking is better than one thinks it is.  And if the food is truly vile, as my ersatz eggs Florentine surely were, then the cook must simply grit her teeth and bear it with a smile-- and learn from her mistakes.

Almost makes me want to get into the kitchen!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

My New Year gift to you

As some of you nurse your hangovers (CPP, I'm looking at you, darlin'), here's something to take the edge off.  I should warn you, however, that if you are prone to high blood pressure, you might want to save this link for another day:  Retraction Watch.


What a depressing year for retractions!  (Or great year, depending on your POV.)



Enjoy.  Time for me to get cracking on my first book of 2011.  I suspect that this first selection will go by quickly.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

My winter break gift to you

I know you have been curious.  "Whatever will UR give us this year?" You wondered.

Here it is, my friends.  My 2010 gift to you: http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/ 


I laugh so hard I cry.  I hope you do the same.

Friday, December 25, 2009

My warm, fuzzy Christmas present to you

(just pretend that it is wrapped with fantastic, non-tacky holiday paper)

My gift to you is a link to this post over at Twice about a conversation with daughter, Curie. The best line? "Mommy, can boys be scientists? Or just girls?"


It made me all warm and fuzzy, like a steaming mug of hot chocolate (or spiked coffee).

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Was Billy Bob Thornton in my class today?

I think Billy Bob Thornton was in my intro-level course today.


Okay, so not really the creepy man himself, but I had a conversation with Undergrad that went something like this:

Me: Undergrad, what time did you start the homework assignment?

Undergrad: I have no idea what you are talking about.


Watch this clip of Billy Bob completely shutting down after a Canadian deejay comments about his acting career.

DJ: When did your band form?

BB: I have no idea what you are talking about.

The first interactions comes around the 1:20 mark. (If you want to watch the meltdown, skip next to around the 7 minute mark or so. (As seen on perezhilton -- yes, I admit I read it; been reading back in his page666 days.)






So...anyone else have some Billy Bobisms from students?

Monday, December 17, 2007

PSA

Attention all graduate students! (and former graduate students and soon-to-be graduate students and you-couldn't-pay-me-to-be-one of those graduate students)

If you haven't already read Psycgirl's awesome 14th Carnival of GRADudal Progress, then click on over!

You can read the old Carnivals here.


So please click on over, tell psycgirl what a great job she did, and maybe discover some new blogs! Enjoy!