Reading: January & February
- Paul Auster's Book of Illusions: Just wow. Auster's Timbuktu was so much more than a "dog book," and this book managed to communicate so much about art and grief I know I'll be picking it up again to learn and see more than I did this first pass through. Auster's characters really live for me, which usually makes his books that much more heartbreaking.
- Jeanette Winterson's Art & Lies: Strangely blogged about earlier this month, this is one of my favorite books of all time. Winterson's mastery of language impresses, surprises, and makes my spirit soar. Recommended most highly.
- Mark Waid's Kingdom Come (painted by Alex Ross): Dramatic story of the DC superhero universe, a bit overdone on the Biblical front, but filled with nerdy in-jokes and beautifully painted by Ross.
- Warren Ellis's Transmetropolitan (art by Darick Robertson): I had read through most of the series, except the final two books, previously. This past week, I started mortoring through them again, intent to see the thing through. I was well-rewarded and consider this among my favorite comic series.
- James Patterson's Hide & Seek: Guilty pleasure, Patterson's books. Borrowed this one from my in-law's library and, honestly, I mainly read it last night in order to clear more space on our bookshelves for the TEN Discworld novels I brought home yesterday. Really, after the last four books, this was almost shameful to read.
- Several artsy crafty magazines leading up to February/Thingaday, including Somerset Workshop, Somerset Studio, Cloth Paper Scissors, Adorn and this month's ReadyMade and Domino. I absolutely LOVE the Somerset publications and CPS, always learn something fun and inspiring via Adorn and RM, but I hated Domino. I picked up their green issue, which may have made the spendy designer things all the more infuriating. I clearly am not anywhere near their target demographic: According to Domino, the easy ways to green your home were $28/yard wallpaper, $1700 coffee tables, $350 tablecloths, $700 blankets, $165 jeans...The not-so-easy things? Joining a CSA, using cloth napkins, reading books (!!!), turning down your themostat, buying in bulk, and shutting off the firkin' faucet while you brush your teeth. I AM NOT KIDDING.
Whew. Toomuchcoffeewoman, mayhaps?
Anyway, next up is Howard Norman's The Museum Guard. I know nothing of the book or the author, except that I found it on my bookshelf; I may blame my stint volunteering at The Book Thing of Baltimore for this. All I know is that it is on my shelf and mine to read. :)
Comments
And I realize now that I may have gone too comic book nerdy in your comments right here.
Interesting to think that's the future their heading for. I don't know enough about the other Elsewheres plots and alternate universes, but it's hard to imagine another story arc/future with so much power.