I realize it's been a while since I divulged what my nook and I are paging through.  To name a few I'll give a quick book review of my current favorites.

After being highly advised by my editor to "immediately stop the use of semicolons," he followed his harsh words with a strong recommendation to read Madame Bovary.  "It's the most perfect piece ever written." 

Apparently Flaubert was such a perfectionist that he could be heard shouting each line out loud until it was flawless.  I began reading this for the editorial aspects but fell in love with the story line as well.  It transcends decades, centuries, and I find many hints of myself in Emma Bovary.

As a side note, the column I submitted to Dennis this week received this comment: "I love this column. It's my favorite you've written so far. I think it's the "ideal" column beause it's conversational, it's personal, it's gently funny, it's full of great visuals and it makes points everyone can relate to. It's also the perfect length. Love it! I can guarantee you readers will enjoy the hell out of it."

Those comments don't come free, or ever.  Let's hope the publisher feels the same way and runs it this week.  I'll send a link when possible.

A super quick read.  Man runs his car into girl on a bicycle.  Man lives to deal with the fallout.  It's very real, very "what if" and very "no turning back."  I admire this piece and the courage he has to tell it, just the way he wants, in a short but powerful memoir.

I chose this book for my new book club this month.  Gustavus, my alma mater chose it as well for their "reading in common" program this fall.  I was interested in Nerburn as a Minnesota author and for his unbelievable storytelling skills.  A beautiful read, a wonderful journey, and one you won't put down.

For good measure I threw in Jane Eyre.  It's maybe the fifth time I've read this one and have never fallen out of love with her.  Here's to the classics!

It's a bird, it's a plane, NO...it's Axel finally on a bike of his own (or rather a gratefully accepted hand-me-down). Several garage sales and two sporting goods stores later, the only helmet and training wheels we were able to procure are, yup, "kinda pink".  No big deal to this stop and smell the flowers kind of rider, he's not so much interested in his gear, speed or other users of the road...he's in it for the "neighborhood puppy tour".

So while we're busy teaching our son to ride a bike and painting the house in it's entirety, we did hire just one thing out...NEW CARPET!  It's a beautiful thing when you finally throw in the do-it-yourself towel and HIRE SOMETHING OUT!!!

I've discovered two new things this week, Lily of the Valley (which Nana pointed out in my yard and said they remind her of her mother...and smell exquisite), and one banned piece of literature.  The book being "Fanny Hill", which was written in 1748 (yes, the 18th century) and banned until 1963 for obscenity.  Although considered a profane piece of fiction, it's like profanity with a side of 1749...the verbiage is descriptively tasteful and quite often hilarious.  It's known that I am a fan of the written word...much more so of anything kept off the shelves for over two centuries!  I recommend the read for...historical purposes.

So, both physically and mentally, Axel and I are off to the races this week, new floor coverings and all. 

Happy Memorial Day to all those remembering people from our past, and on the flip side honoring those carrying us into the future.

new carpet...no furniture

lily of the valley, sweet and oh-so-fragrant

fanny hill...see above

You know you're a stay at home mom when your "to read" list can seem overwhelming.  You strategize a way to pack in your "words per day," to keep your mind fresh, to check books off your "life reading list" and to most importantly feel connected with the world.

I have really scored big lately on the book front (meaning everything I pick up feels like gold to the last page); reading both "trendy" and of course, my favorite, non-fiction.  Here are a few I recommend for 2011.

...nothing like the classics.  A haunting tale of life and death.  Follow this up with...

If you're not in the mood to get the creeps, but are slightly curious as to the inner workings of circus life, I recommend...

My personal favorite, non-fiction, read by me in 2010...(Jeannette's other best-seller "Glass Castle" is wonderful as well)...

...and because I have re-discovered my LOVE of 10th grade writing exercises, this book has given me something to write about...not that its going anywhere...literally, Ms. Goldberg pushes your envelope with mind exercises!

There you have it, my last couple months worth of reading.  I've squeezed in the "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" series, along with "Great Expectations" and a few others that weren't as remarkable.  Currently on my Nook is "A New Earth," by Eckhart Tolle.  I wasn't quite ready for it when Oprah jumped on the band-wagon a few years ago, but an older and wiser me is ready to slow down for a soul-searching (rather ego abolishing) read.