The watched-pot theory prevails: I went out yesterday for a half-hour and, naturally, that's when the flowers came. After staring anxiously at the mailbox for a week, I should've known to just look away for a minute. So yay! Everything on its way out now!
On another note, and now that I'm ready to sit down and relax, does anyone have any recommendations for some fun, light reading? Novels, but nothing heavy? Something for spring? Romance? Villages? Mystery? Humor? Help. My nightstand is groaning under the depressing reads I've got going — none of it intentional, but still. I need some froth. Got anything for me?
A beautiful book that has you imagining the garden and home where this is set is Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen. A wonderful fast read.
Ooh! Ooh! Try "Angry Housewives Eating Bonbons" by Lorna Landvik. The title sounds a bit irritating, but the book is great. A fast read but not so fluffy that you feel annoyed by it! And one of the characters is a seamstress!
I've been on a Jane Austin kick. Read a book. Order movie on Netflix. Repeat.
For the not so heavy but inspiring, the all very prevalent "Eat, Pray, Love" is great; For knitting Humor, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's new book just came out http://www.amazon.com/Things-Learned-Knitting-Whether-Wanted/dp/1603420622/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207677276&sr=1-1; for Spring/children's memories I always love to read "A Cricket in Times Suqare"; and my all-time favorite, "Haroun and the Sea of Stories" http://www.amazon.com/Things-Learned-Knitting-Whether-Wanted/dp/1603420622/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207677276&sr=1-1
I hope this helps!!
Can't wait to see the girls in the mail box: but I won't wait for the pot to boil, promise.
I can't wait for the sun, but I keep singing "Yay to April Showers in our Portland, may it bring MANY May flowers!"
AustEn
AustEn
::hides face in shame::
Sorry wrong link to Haroun! Here is the right one:
http://www.amazon.com/Haroun-Sea-Stories-Salman-Rushdie/dp/0670886580/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2MWO44X4U4K3&colid=K9QLXOENDYYP
Mmmmm-- Eat Cake by Jeanne Ray. Light and fun but not annoying.
The Mrs. Polifax series by Dorothy Gilman is one of my favorites for light reading. She's a wonderful older woman who becomes a spy. It may sound strange, but it's so cute and witty. And it's a series - love that! I've also seen a few on audio at the library.
The Big Book of Bright Ideas by Sandra Kring. A little less light but another really good book.
Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani! It's a series, but don't read it too fast (even though you'll want to). The book is so perfect for a "cleanse your palate and feel good" read - it will touch on many of your loves and you will flip over the characters!
I loved "Eat, Pray, Love" and "Eat Cake" as mentioned. Also love anything by Maeve Binchy, try 'Scarlet Feather". Or Barbara Kingsolver's "Prodigal Summer".
My favorite for that kind of reading is YA fantasy (giant geek here...). Tamora Pierce's Circle of Magic series is fantastic since it is about people with crafting magic. Any of her books are great though - very girl power-y in a nice way.
Any of the three Gerald Durrell Corfu trilogy but if you can begin with My Family and Other Animals. Funny, magical, innocent, hilarious, beautifully descriptive and lots of animals.
Oh yes Susan's recoomendation of My Family and Other Animals is a must, I confess to reading it alomst yearly, but I would guess that you too have read it. For a light /fun mystery you can't really beat Agatha Raisen by Beaton.
The "Mitford" series of books by Jan Karon....one of those series where nothing in particular goes on, but you care so much about the characters that you're totally involved. Very sweet without being saccharine, too. Or, any of the "Aunt Dimity" mysteries!
Michele H.
These are fast and fun but quite literary, too: "Case Histories," by Kate Atkinson. (A series of mysteries, set in England.) Also, quirky but sucked me in: "Origins," another mystery of sorts, by Diana Abu-Jabar.
Have you read the short story collection, "Kissing in Manhattan," by David Schickler (sp?). Very much like Laurie Colwin, I think you'd like that a lot.
Oh - I just saw my first suggestion in the previous post! Jan Karon. How about the Mrs. 'Arris series by Paul Gallico- or you could always (re)read Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot!
It isn't froth but it's sweetness and light - The Wind and the Willows.
I second the recommendation for Jan Karon's books. The Mitford series is tender, inspiring and easy reading.
I really love the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. The series is about a woman who loses her job and takes up bounty hunting! They are light and will have you rolling with laughter!
I also second "Prodigal Summer" by Barbara Kingsolver. Good book!
I just finished reading "Standing in the Rainbow" by Fannie Flagg,involving a 1950s homemaker radio show; also her "Welcome to the World, Baby Girl" and really anything she has written is warm, cozy and funny with some hard times, but mostly just down home everyday living. I'm now reading "World of Pies" by Karen Stolz - Mom makes lots of pies, girl likes baseball but has to bake with Mom, Dad owns a ladies undergarment store, much to girl's embarassment..good, light read. Tina
For a good, quick read, try something by Jasper Fforde. Happy Reading, C. Hodge
the Tuesday Next series are fun light reads. She inhabits and polices classic english literature. I believe the author is Jasper Fforde?
I posted that and realized that someone had posted the exact same thing just above. Well, add my vote for Mr. Fforde!
"A Natural History of the Senses" by Diane Ackerman. You'll get lost it!
this isn't frothy, but it's a beautiful book. i recommend Mangoes and Curry Leaves. sure, it's technically a cookbook, but it's more a travelogue through the indian subcontinent, paired with incredible photography. i haven't been able to put it down lately.