I was at a technology conference today and sat about 12 feet from America Ferrera. Made eye contact with her. Had her walk past me right. Twice. Don’t be jealous.
This post originally appeared on Kate’s Point of View. © Kate. All rights reserved.
Month: September 2010 Page 2 of 3
I got interviewed recently by a travel writer and the story just went online. That’s right, I’m famous: “How to Travel Without a Plan” by Andy Hayes.
This post originally appeared on Kate’s Point of View. © Kate. All rights reserved.
I just returned a few days ago from a weeklong vacation with my family (parents, siblings and their significant others). My dad scored us a great house right on the beach and the weather was beyond perfect, especially for September. Every day was in the high 80s or low 90s and it only rained on our first day – the travel day that no one cared about.
My goals for the trip were simple: lay out and soak up sun, read, sleep.
Prior to the trip, Wonder Boy and I created an emergency word that we could use if we needed alone time. If I uttered this word in his presence he was committed to getting me to someone place quiet, and vice versa. I only fell back on this once and Wonder Boy never did, not surprising since I tend to like to hole away and having 10 people in one house doesn’t give you a ton of opportunities for that.
The fact that I read 6 books and started a 7th was probably my saving grace. It achieved one of my goals (read) and let me zone out a little. The books I read were really all pretty good:
- Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil by Deborah Rodriguez
- 4 out of 5 stars … I learned a ton about Afghanistan but did not find the narrator very likable.
- Things I’ve Been Silent About by Azar Nafisi
- 3 out of 5 stars … This book was meandering and hard to read but very informational’
- The Whole Truth by Nancy Pickard
- 2 out of 5 stars, at best … Pickard just seemed like a Picoult wannabe in this book.
- All Together Dead Harris by Charlaine Harris
- 5 out of 5 stars
- From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris
- 5 out of 5 stars
- Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris
- 5 out of 5 stars
- Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris
- 5 out of 5 stars … Aaaack — now I’m done with the Sookie Stackhouse novels! What will I do?!?
One aspect of the trip that went really well was the tradition we have around our dinners. For the sake of saving time and money, each couple cooks one meal. After that, you don’t have to cook anymore. Pretty fabulous, right? This year people tried to step it up and do theme nights. We had a Gilligan’s Island theme, with prize for best costume, a Jersey Shore theme with assigned roles and a Mexican night. Wonder Boy and I threw a classic party complete with invitations and lots of glow jewelry. It looked like an old school rave in the dining room!
Now I am at home, tanned, mildly better-rested and definitely experiencing some post-vacation blues. If this isn’t motivation to start planning the next trip for Wonder Boy and I, I don’t know what is!
This post originally appeared on Kate’s Point of View. © Kate. All rights reserved.
A Book Review of “The Book Thief” by Mark Zusak
I’ve read books with narrators of all sorts, but I think reading a tale about a little girl as seen by the Angel of Death is a new one for me. You’d think that the Angel of Death might bring some nasty, dark twist to the whole thing, but he doesn’t. He’s absolutely lovely in his descriptions of things. He sees the world and people as colors and is saddened by the fact the more of us don’t see all of the colors the world has to offer. It is for that reason that he likes children. Only from the mouth of a child will you hear an innocent, colorful description that may or may not be grounded in reality.
“The Book Thief” centers on Liesel Meminger during World War II. Her father is a communist and she and her mother and brother must flee for safety. In the end, she is the only one we know to end up in a safe place. Her brother passes away and as the Angel of Death comes to retrieve his light soul, he becomes enamored by Liesel. Against all protocol for an angel of death, the Angel of Death keeps tabs on Liesel and her life.
What Zusak illustrates is how hard life was in small German towns during World War II beyond the death camps of which we know. In this story there is a duality of someone who is protecting a Jewish man but also becoming a Nazi soldier to save his family and trying to reconcile those differences, a girl who is seeing racism right up close and experiencing the lower-class families all around her watch their lives dissipate.
Liesel’s salvation is words. She is taught to read and thrives on reading. She helps others survive through her love of literature and it’s no coincidence on Zusak’s part that that the Angel of Death is so good with words himself.
“The Book Thief” is a wonderful book and a thought provoking read.
This post originally appeared on Kate’s Point of View. © Kate. All rights reserved.
A Book Review of “The Virgin Suicides” by Jeffrey Eugenides
It’s been so many years that I can’t describe exactly why, but when I read the Pulitzer Prize-winning book “Middlesex” by Jeffrey Eugenides I feel in love with it. He described the emotions, the anguish of the main character so poignantly that it was hard to believe that the author could have not shared experiences that his character endured.
A recent subscriber of http://www.goodreads.com/, the site suggested I read more books by Eugenides. First I attempted to read “My Mistress’ Sparrow is Dead: Great Love Stories from Chekhov to Munro” but I only made it through the first short story before returning the book to the library. So instead I decided to read “The Virgin Suicides.”
I watched Sofia Coppola’s version of “The Virgin Suicides” when it came out but don’t remember much about my reaction to the film. In looking up details now, I realize that it starred a ton of famous people. (My guess is having the last name Coppola helps when you are casting your first movie. Not trying to be catty … just is very talented … but still.) I do distinctly recall not really getting the film because it was depressing and I couldn’t see why you would want to see a depressing movie.
Enter, the book.
If you’ve not read “The Virgin Suicides,” this is only a slight spoiler alert because the ending is revealed on the first page or two of the book. The four sisters central to the story commit suicide. From there, if you can believe this, it is all downhill. Downhill from suicide!
The thing is, Eugenides is an artist in the way he uses words to express himself. I wish I could be eloquent. And because of this “The Virgin Suicides” was a very worthwhile read. Just don’t read it while you’re in a bad mood!
This post originally appeared on Kate’s Point of View. © Kate. All rights reserved.
