Five Questions Meme

The lovely Claire of kiss a cloud sent me five interview questions. This is a meme that's been traveling around the book blogs for a little while. If you'd like to be interviewed, leave me a comment and your email address and I'll come up with five for you.

I'll just jump right in.

1. If you were to choose any fictitious world in any piece of literature, which place or book would you live in and why?

This is more difficult than I imagined. I considered some of the time periods that fascinate me, such as Europe during the Renaissance or the turn of the 20th century in America. But life was so difficult, especially for women, back in those times. Plus, not very clean! So I think I'd have to pick something in the future. I don't read much futuristic lit; but I can see me in Starhawk's The Fifth Sacred Thing or Marge Piercy's Woman on the Edge of Time. Both of these books involve some dystopia in alternate worlds, but in the primary stories, women are respected, strong and equal to men in decision making. People have achieved sane and sustainable ways of using resources, and they respect the Earth and Her other inhabitants. Mostly, it's how I'd like our planet to be in 100 years. Really, it's how I'd like it to be today, but I'm trying to be realistic.


2. What was your favourite 2008 moment?

Well, it's between the election of President Barack Obama and my retirement, both of which happened in the same week. (What a week!!!) In the larger picture, I would have to give that one to Obama! It will be one of the most unforgettable and exciting moments of my life.

3. If you were fluent in any other language, what would it be and why?

Spanish. I love the sound of the language, and it makes sense! No unnecessary vowels or consonants thrown in. The vowels always have the same pronunciation in every word. Plus, I'd be able to communicate with so many more people. The male/female nouns are a bit weird though.

4. In a fantasy world, what would your library be like?

I actually think I have my fantasy library! I have a wall of books in my cottage/studio - mostly books I haven't read yet. Rather than feeling stressed about a big TBR stack, I feel so fortunate to have 200+ books at my fingertips at any given moment. I'm not big into first editions or even hard copies (I find trade paperbacks so much easier to manage!) - nothing showy. I'm all about the contents.

This is the main branch Terri Library. We have many areas in our home where we have books.

5. Name five things that make your world go round.

• My wonderful partner Laurie. That's us in the photo, getting committed.
  
• My family and friends (friends count as chosen family)
  
• Photography - my newest passion
  
• Music. I've met such wonderful people through music. My buddy Gwenlyn and I have been singing together for 14 years and it's just the best! I've very recently joined Aurora Chorus, an amazing choir of women, so I get to sing a lot now.
  
• Books. Reading them, talking about them, blogging about them, acquiring them.

So now you know much more about me! Leave a comment and your email addy if you'd like five interview questions. I'll grill ya.

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A Few of My Favorite E Things

I have some catching up to do on some memes, an interview and an award or two. I’ve been so obsessive passionate about taking photos and posting to my photo blog lately that I’ve neglected this blog, which is still so important to me – it’s like the older sibling who doesn’t require quite as much attention as the new baby. The older sibling will turn one next month though, which is cause for celebrating and bringing her up to date. I will likely acknowledge the blogaversary with a book giveaway, so check back often!

First off, a meme: Lisa tagged me (ok, I asked for it) with the letter E – and I am supposed to name ten things I love that begin with E. My sarcasm caught up with me when I told her I wanted to buy a vowel. So, I’m stuck with E. Here are a few of my favorite E things, in no particular order.

• Elephants. I think they are incredible animals - very intelligent and wise. It breaks my heart to see the way some of them are treated. There's a remarkable sanctuary in Tennessee that takes them in when they're abused/neglected/abandoned. You may have seen the video of the dog and elephant chums.

• Earth. What an amazing place this is. Just look around. Wow. I wish we were taking better care of Her.

• Erdrich, Louise. One of my very favorite authors.

• Ex Libris by Anne Fadiman. A fantastic book of essays.

• Evergreens. I live in a region that is green year-round. We have lots of fir trees, cedars, pines and evergreen shrubs. I couldn't live in an area that wasn't green.

• Ellipses … which I find very useful in writing. I have lots of trailing thoughts. And hope my readers will fill in what suits them. Maybe....

• Ears. The better to hear Mozart and choirs and guitars, babies giggling, sweet nothings, friends laughing, ocean waves, the wind through the cedars.

• Ex-president W. Extra Emphasis on EX. I’m lovin’ the EX.

• Essays. I do love a well written essay. See above, Ex Libris.
  

• Echinacea aka cone flowers, in all seasons. (Enlarge photo by clicking on it.)
  

Honorable mention goes to: E-mail, ESP, eggnog, extraterrestrials, echoes, eclipses, estuaries, eggs Benedict, and Edward Scissorhands.

Now, here's the deal. If you want to play this meme, leave me a comment requesting a letter. I will assign you a letter, then you blog about it and on and on ad infinitum. See! It's EEEEEasy!

I will catch up with the interview and award bestowing in the next couple of days. And now, I will Exit.

Photos: elephants and Earth from Google Images; goofy laughing pals and echinacea collage by me.

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The Sunday Salon - Memelet

Here's a little mini-meme, which is about all I have energy for this weekend! Retiring is exhausting!


What books did you read in October?

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson
The Shiniest Jewel by Marian Henley (graphic novel)
The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff
The Secret River by Kate Grenville
As We Are Now by May Sarton
The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton
We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg
The English Major by Jim Harrison

What was your favorite? The Secret River by Kate Grenville Why? This is a very powerful novel about the colonization of Australia. Beautiful writing and character development.

What was your least favorite? The English Major by Jim Harrison Why? This book started out OK; I figured it would score about a 3 1/2; about a quarter of the way in, it had degraded to a 3; then 2 1/2 and by the time I finished it was barely a 2 of 5. Repetitive and boring boring boring story of a 60 year old horny man, divorced, on a road trip. Same scenario, different town. Repeat. Repeat. There wasn't one character I liked. I didn't like the way he thought about women. Or that he constantly thought about his penis. Not recommended, unless you're a 60 year old horny guy who fantasizes about hitting the road.

Hopefully after Tuesday and the election here in the States, I'll have a bit more focus and energy.


For now, I'm reading Peony in Love by Lisa See, taking a bit of a break from blogging and taking lots of naps.

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The Sunday Salon - Self-Survey

Last week I was inspired by Katrina to do a little survey of my reading shoulds and desires. Thanks, Katrina! I made a few changes to it and added some of my own:

1. Author/s I've always wanted to read but haven't yet: Iris Murdoch; Kurt Vonnegut; Ray Bradbury (this could be a very long list, but I'm for brevity today)
   


2. Author/s I'd like to read more of: Charles Dickens; John Steinbeck; Kazuo Ishiguro; Sarah Waters
   


3. Author/s I think I should read but have no interest in (true confessions): James Joyce; John Updike; Joyce Carol Oates


4. Book/s I think I should read but have no interest in: Moby Dick
   


5. Authors I love that I've recently discovered (thanks to LibraryThing!): Kazuo Ishiguro; Robertson Davies; Elizabeth Taylor; Anita Shreve; Jhumpa Lahiri; Per Petterson.
   


6. The genre/s I've wanted to read more of: sci-fi; mystery


7. The book/s on my TBR pile I always mean to read next: Brave New World; 1984 (that fits in with #6!)


8. Book/s I want to try again:
   Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood - I've started this 3 or 4 times and couldn't get past the first 20 pages or so. I'm still curious about it though and haven't given up yet.
   
   The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy - I quit this one at about 50 pages; I've heard so many raves about this book, and I think so much of her as an activist that I want to give it another go.
   


9. Books I want to re-read:
   
   To see if I love them as much as I did the first time: House of the Spirits (Isabel Allende); Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood); Ishmael and My Ishmael (Daniel Quinn); The River Why (David James Duncan).
   
   To see if I can change my poor opinion of it: Prodigal Summer (Barbara Kingsolver). This is on my book group list for this year, so I'll get my chance.
   


10. Books I will never, ever read: anything by Danielle Steele; The Secret. Never.
    

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I'm about 3/4 of the way through The Blind Assassin and am thoroughly enjoying it. Atwood is such a stunning writer. Next up: Probably The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox, which awaits me at the library.

Until next time, Sunday readers! Have a great week. Read More!