Book #s 26 and 27

Book number 26:  After going to see Eat, Pray, Love, I had to re-listen to the book which is read by the author Elizabeth Gilbert.  If you have not read this book, you must.  It is a true must read.  Book number 27 was Silas Mariner by George Elliot.  I love Elliot, and this was a sweet story, but I did not get any great philosophical insights out of it.  Maybe it was just me.  I start school on Saturday so from now on it will be all Victorian Literature.  Sorry, but that is what I am taking so that is what I will be reading.

Hopefully later this week I will have a new crafty project.  I designed a messenger/book bag yesterday and have started cutting it out.  I really want to have it ready for class on Saturday, but we will see what the week brings.  I will give you a hint, the main color is green.  If I like it, I will offer the pattern at www.hippieista.etsy.com .

Peace,

Laura

Add a comment August 24, 2010

Kimberly Wilson Sighting and Book #25

Last night I attended Kimberly Wilson’s talk and book signing at Barns and Nobles.  It was so much fun.  Kimberly, a lifestyle, entrepreneur, read from her current book, Tranquilista, and instructed us on how to build a lifestyle business.  What is a lifestyle business you may ask?  It is building a life that just happens to include how you make a living, how you are creative, and how to be a “do-gooder” (give back).  I started following Kimberly’s empire building several years ago through her podcast, Tranquility de jour, when I searched for yoga on iTunes.  Her first business was the well known yoga studio Tranquil Space in Washington DC and she has since branched out into an eco-fashion line, TranquiliT, writing books, Hip Tranquil Chick and Tranquilista to date, and a non-profit foundation, Tranquil Space Foundation.  She coaches, teaches, holds retreats, offers e-courses and seasonal telechats to help all who are interested in getting their creativity flowing.  I am sure that I will be blogging more about her in the future, but here is a picture of her in the scarf that I knit for her as a reminder of her Texas Book Tour.  Check her out at www.kimberlywilson.com.

On the 52 books in a year front:  I finished book 25, Laced with Magic by Barbara Bretton.  This is a serial magical mystery that is centered around knitting.  This is the second book, Casting Spells is the first, in this series about a small, hidden town in Vermont where all of the residents either have magical powers or are from a realm us mere humans cannot enter.  The sorceress heroine owns a knit shop and there are loads of modern knitting references, think Ravelry, Noro and so on.  I love it.

Peace,

Laura

1 comment August 12, 2010

Book #24

Well I may not be able to do yoga everyday for 365 days, I did not practice yesterday and I have not practiced today, but I am going to read 52 books in 52 weeks by the end of this year.  I finished my 24th book this evening, What Diantha Did by Charlotte Perkins-Gillman.  I listened to it via www.librivox.org .  I enjoyed the reader very much.  This book should be required reading.  It is one of the best femist books I have read.  What Diantha Did was written in 1910 and all working women are still Dianthas and more than a few husbands still hold Ross’s beliefs.  I just don’t understand how we went from women not working and having cooks and servants to clean that house and do the laundry to women having careers and having to keep house as well.  Where did the disconnect happen?  Maybe I will research that one day.  I just know that I think a business like Diantha’s would do great today.  I will say no more, you must read or listen to the book to find out what I mean.

Peace,

Laura

1 comment July 31, 2010

Have I read 52 books this year

Instead of joining one of the 52 books in 52 weeks groups, I decided that I would just start listing the books that I have read/listened to this year and see what it adds up to so far.  So here I go:

1. The Help
2. Herland
3. Mennonite In a Little Black Dress
4. The Key Lime Pie Murder
5. Bless Me, Ultima
6. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano…the African
7. The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave
8. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
9. Song of Solomon
10. Black Elk Speaks
11. Love Medicine
12. Woman Hollering Creek
13. The Best Little Boy in the World
14. Brave New World
15. Strawberry Shortcake Murder
16. Cherry Cheesecake Murder
17. Dead Until Dark
18. Rework
19. Hidden Empire
20. Dracula
21. Dracula the Un-Dead
22. Kindred
23. Casting Spells

Ok, that is less than I thought.  I have spent too much time listening to podcasts instead of literature.  If you notice all of the minority books, I took a graduate seminar in American Minority Literature.  If you have a chance to take a similar course, I recommend it.  Although I have given up on my hopes of a Masters in Literature at this time, I still want to read and listen to the good stuff.  If you don’t know about it already, you need to check out www.librivox.org to download classics read by volunteers and they are all free.  It is like endless free enjoyment.  Well from the looks of this list, I need to stop blogging and start reading.

Peace,

Laura

Add a comment July 28, 2010