Isn't this like looking at a nice juicy steak? I mean, if you eat meat that is. Are y'all reading anything good? Today is my birthday, and this seems to be the year for book gifts. Really I bought The Annotated Christmas Carol for myself, and I borrowed Serena from my parents. So not actually gifts. I wanted to show you Serena, though, because I finished it last night, and it is amazing. How have I never heard of this author? Serena is set in western North Carolina in the 1930's, at a logging camp. Note to self: never get a job cutting timber in the 1930's. Anyway, if Lady MacBeth and Cormac McCarthy had a love child, that offspring would be the title character. I loved the book for its sense of place and also its style that doesn't announce itself as STYLE, you know? It's funny, too, and gothic, and suspenseful. A good yarn.
We had cake and a little celebration on Friday night with Kelly and Jane and their husbands, who I can't link to because they don't have blogs. I hate it when I can't link to someone. Cosmos were consumed, and Lego Rock Band (my gift from the kids) was played.
This morning I told Matt that I'd had a realization. "When you're turning 37," I said, "all the bullshit that was okay in your twenties and that you got away with even into your thirties is officially no longer cute." He replied, "Hmmm." He was in the shower and not that talkative, which is too bad because I always like to stand in the steamy bathroom and chat. Anyway, I guess I need to figure out which parts of my whole act need to get the ax. Maybe the part of me that tends to make bold, categorical pronouncements. Food for thought.
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19 comments:
Don't go go changin' to try and please us.
Happy Birthday, sweetie.
Ooooh, I love a good book. I expect reviews.
Happy Birthday!
I love me a good book. Might I recommend "The 19th Wife" by David Ebershoff? It was fantastic!
Happy Birthday!! Have a great one!
Books. Best gifts ever!
Happy Birthday!
Ooh, Mad Woman, I'm looking at that on Amazon right now. I think I'll order it. One of the negative reviews says it's "full of cussing and sex, two things polygamy is not." So that's a selling point, for me!
Happy Birthday!
I have a stack of books I want to read. But by the time I read 27 children's books, I fall asleep. I plan to read lots more when I am rested. You know, when they go to college.
Happy Birthday, girl! Didn't know your bday was coming up. Yay, books! I loved Genesis by Bernard Beckett and am reading Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks right now. Both excellent. I also have a ton of non-fiction in progress: recently finished NurtureShock, if you are into reading parenting stuff. This one is brilliant. Also reading Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture and You Are Here: WHy We Can Find Our Way to the Moon, but Get Lost at the Mall. I know, I've got way too many going. I'm asking for a Nook for my bday next week! :-)
Thanks for those recs, Beth! My mom also said Year of Wonders was great.
I do like nonfiction, but I worry that if I read a book on parenting, it will tell me that I'm doing something wrong.
Okay, I'm mostly kidding about that. Actually I just read Queen Bees and Wanna-Be's, because those girl years are coming up fast.
Happy Birthday!!
Happy birthday! I love me a good yarn. I must pick up that Serena.
Also, don't change THAT part of yourself. That would make you boring. :)
Happy birthday! And keep up the bold, sweeping pronouncements--they are the most awesome things ever. (See?)
Damn, damn, damn. I knew it was your birthday because Facebook told me it was, but I totally forgot to wish you a Happy Birthday because I'm a loser. So...Happy Birthday!
And yes, that pile of books kind of made my heart pitty patter.
Don't worry. At 38 you decide you don't care about what other people think so you only have one year to be concerned about the "bullshit" you engaged in.
Happy Birthday!
As your loving aunt I can say that there is nothing about you that needs changing!! You are 37 years worth of fabness and we love ya
thanks for sharing. I'm going to get the serena book for my mother to read at the cabin in Ashe County.
Thanks for the book suggestion on Serena. Back in my 30's I used to camp by an old logging road in Robbinsville, NC near where there's still has a CCC camp that was created after that book took place.
I hope you had a really great birthday!
When I have a great proclamation like that I just open the shower door to make sure my Hubs hears me.
Happy Belated Birthday!
Looks like a juicy steak to me. It's getting to be time for afgans and tea and book reading by lamp light. Yay!
Happy belated birthday, Becky! XOXO
Ooooh... I loved The Girl Who Played with Fire. Enjoy and Happy Birthday!
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