Citizen Beta

January 10, 2012

Spring?

Filed under: Books — admin @ 8:39 pm

This week the college where I teach started the spring term.  Day days in and so far so good. I also started teaching a weekly 1 hour class to high school students and because I am nuts am teaching one morning a week at a preschool.  I am finding time to review but haven’t done any interviews in a while.  And, the blog has been quite neglected.  As has the housework but who cares?! And, now I am a teeny bit hooked on Pinterest so there is that to distract me from the things I should be doing now.

Some recent reviews:

Clementine and the Family Meeting.  I really dig these Clementine books.  Clementine is funny and charming and odd and the stories are always honest and interesting.

Another kids chapter book I reviewed this winter is The Ghosts of Rockville.  I was pretty stoked to get my hands on this one as it is hard to keep my 7.5 year old stocked with age appropriate ghost stories.  She liked it more than I did. By the same author and using the same lenticular technology is The Spirit Glass which is a book of riddles and spooky poems with hidden images. I think the whole MagicView thing worked better in this format. 

I reviewed a couple non-fiction works for adults as well.

The controversial Rome.  I think I liked it better than many…yes there were historical inconsistancies but it was hard not to get caught up in Hughes’ excitement for the city.

Man Seeks God was good but not great but I tend to be fairly critical of literature dealing with religion because my real job is teaching Religious Studies at a college…

I have squeezed in a few for fun books lately as well.  I read The Finkler Question last month and I wish I had liked it more. It was really thoughtful and smart and I am always interested in books about Jewish identity and anti-Semitism but I just couldn’t stand the main character.  That is not always a deal-breaker for me but for some reason it was problematic in this novel.  Right now I am reading The Magicians  a book I have had on my list for some time.  I have had to put it down for a couple of days so that I can review some stuff but am looking forward to getting back to it.  I don’t like it as much as I had hoped but more on that soon. I think I am in a grumpy book mood….Any recommendations for something that will blow my socks off?  I am ready for something amazing.

December 19, 2011

Like!

Filed under: Uncategorized — admin @ 8:53 pm

You can “like” CitizenBeta on Facebook!
What fun!

December 1, 2011

Scarves

Filed under: Knitting — admin @ 2:57 pm

Dear Knitters and Crocheters (crochet-ers?),

This seems like a great idea…only two weeks left to send your red scarf in.

 

November 29, 2011

Cityscape 43

Filed under: Cityscapes, Images — admin @ 8:23 am

In the wintery desert you take green where you can find it:

phppVNxHs

November 21, 2011

Free

Filed under: Books, Business — admin @ 5:39 pm

Here is a review I wrote of Dennis Cooper’s latest, The Marbled Swarm.

Here is a review by someone who knew what the hell they were talking about.

Interested?  I have a copy of the book to give away.  Leave me a comment…perhaps about the strangest book you read recently…and maybe you will be the lucky winner of this gruesome novel.

And, here is my review of Joyce Carol Oates’ latest collection of short stories.

November 8, 2011

Misc.

Filed under: Books, Business — admin @ 3:20 pm

I was pretty excited to get to review The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides. Here is what I thought about it the book.

Other recent reviews:

Death in the City of Light by David King is about the most prolific serial killer you have never heard of. 

Ravenwood is a pretty inventive kid’s book.

And With the Might of Angels is the latest from the fantastic kid’s chapter book historical fiction series “Dear America.”  My 7 year old loves these books. 

Right now I am reading the much-hyped The Night Circus .  I am not sure I love it so much yet but I will let you know.  

Also you should totally check out the amazing Rachel Popowcer’s new website.  And also the Rokoko Art website…My kids were admiring a piece of their work at a festival this last weekend and after I told the girls they didn’t have enough money, they came after me to give a print of the picture to the kids.  It was so sweet and generous and thanks to them!!! 

October 22, 2011

Ghosts

Filed under: Images, Kids, Rants — admin @ 3:13 pm

My kids are super into ghosts right now. I am not sure if it is a Halloween thing or just a general macabre interest but the elder is reading a bunch of ghost-y chapter books and scaring herself and they “see” ghosts now and then, too. They like to freak themselves out and then have me tell them it’s okay and that I don’t believe in ghosts. Because I don’t. At least not that kind.

In talking about my beloved and now dead cat Bella, the youngest said that she must live in ghost-land or skeleton-land now. I vaguely agreed. She said maybe we could bring her back to life (she is not yet five years old) and I disagreed. And, just to assert my opinion I said I didn’t think she was a ghost and that I don’t believe in ghosts. Yes, my little one said, but she is in our hearts…And, I had to agree with that.

Maybe that is what ghosts are—like the itch of long amputated limbs or how hiccups are kindof the ghosts of the breath you didn’t take. Maybe ghosts are not things at all but our response to the empty spaces where we think things should be.

I have thought about ghosts and what it would be like to be visited by someone I miss terribly. Usually this train of thought leads me to my father or my friend H. Both have been gone for so long. And, in thinking about them, crying about them, missing them I conjure ghosts; the memories of them, the longing for them takes shape like a shadow…there, but not there at all.

When we bought this new house I knew (and I have not told the kids because why fuel that fire?) that the man who moved into it as a brand-new house, died in it a few years back. His widow stayed here on her own for a while and then put the house on the market. As far as I know he died peacefully. I have never really worried about his ghost. I am just glad he kept the house so nice. But, even though the widowed wife is still alive, her presence, almost ghostly, is strong in the house—I keep finding reminders of her here.

phpaFOzpi

First I found two tiny decorative pins. This was actually as we were moving in. I found one in the living room and I can’t remember where I found the other. I immediately assumed they were hers. They were fussy and feminine and delightful. I stuck them in the frame of a mirror. They did disappear for a bit which was creepy because they are in a totally secure place but I found one kid sneaking them back in to the mirror frame so no paranormal activity there! A few weeks ago while in my bedroom closet with the door closed (trying to bar entrance to dog, cat, kids or all of the above) I noticed a name tag she had worn to a meeting. She must have pulled it off her blouse or jacket and stuck it on the back of the door, either as a souvenir or with the intention of throwing it away later. And then just yesterday while putting away some pots and pans I found her writing on the contact paper of a bottom shelf (I hate putting in contact paper and as far as I know it is not something my mom ever did even when we lived in grungy rentals. I put some in a few bathroom and kitchen drawers when we moved in here but stop at that). Seeing her scratchy writing made her very real to me. More real than the other biographical details I learned about her when we bought the house. It made her presence felt.

phpLZ9Cap  phpKsYLJ6  php3p9Yi4

This year for Halloween my kids will be a fairy/princess/ballerina combo and Nancy Drew (not an easy costume and bound to create an evening full of “who are you supposed to be?…Who?” ) and we are all excited for the holiday because we have friends coming to trick or treat with us in our new neighborhood. In our part of the world Dia de los Muertos is an important holiday as well and for me, as I get older, a significant one. I think it is important to think about those who are gone and ancestors but I am coming to see the season as one of general transition and change and transformation as well. I have transformed (am transforming) this house into my home but seeping through the cracks, peeking through the edges are the lives of those who lived here before me. They may not rattle chains or arrange the furniture but those ghosts are more real to me.

September 23, 2011

Falling

Filed under: Books, Images, Rants — admin @ 11:05 am

 

So.

 

Fall is upon us. School has been in session for weeks and mornings we dash out the door grabbing sweaters as well as backpacks and book bags. The days are still sunny and warm but the evenings wonderfully crisp. Chile roasting season has come and gone but the lovely burnt smell lingers just a bit. In the mornings hot air balloons are appearing, ready for the big fiesta.

 

We are finally really getting settled in the new house. It felt like home right away but we are mostly unpacked now and a few major projects are completed. We also have filled the house with feline-life. A couple weeks ago we adopted a cat from the pound. Little Bear (and, I gave the kids a chance to re-name her because as I explained, she is a cat so will either come when you want her to or not so it doesn’t matter what you call her) was picked up as a pregnant stray in June with an eye infection and a bad cold. She is tiny and charcoal (A calls her a shadow), gets along well with the dog, hates to wear a collar, has yet to bite anyone and is just plain great to have around. Since she is only about a year old, it is like having a kitten but one that is litter-boxed train and very independent.

phpwI3ovQ

 

The two biggest accomplishments are the new bookshelves are finally installed. I will spare you the details of the frustration I dealt with for weeks and weeks about getting these damn things finally built and installed and just say that they are here now and perfect. Well, almost perfect. Though beautiful, they provide a lot less shelf space than we had in the old house. As I was packing to move I gave away a ton of books. It felt good to purge. Then, unpacking I gave away a bunch more. Still there was not enough room. So, within the past week or I brought a few more boxes to Goodwill. I was ruthless. And, honestly there is at least a whole other box of books in the garage ready to be unpacked. To that end we are repainting an old bookshelf left by the previous owners and that will be it! Any books that don’t fit on the shelves cannot stay. And, despite the fact that there are about 12 or 16 books on my bedside table right now and I get about a new book every week in the mail to review I will continue to be RUTHLESS! I will have no ruth for these cluttersome books. Except the ones I love very much…or use for work…or have some sort-of hoarder-esque emotional attachment to…Anyhoo.

 

Also to that end, I bought a Kindle. I am not sure why this felt like selling out. Like a betrayal of bookworm credibility but it did. But, you know what? I like the Kindle. I quickly downloaded Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children which was short and interesting. Then I read a few in-the-hand books and so it wasn’t until last night that I downloaded two more books on the Kindle. Two of those recent reads were really good. First I read Freedom by Jonathan Franzen and totally loved it. This is such a huge book but it never lags at all, never gets bogged down; the pace is quick despite the vastness of the story. I thought it was such an interesting take on love and lust, marriage and partnership, parenting and suburbia. And, I thought Franzen’s manipulation of perspective was brilliant. Because Freedom was so long and meaty and enjoyable, I was worried that any follow-up book would seem dull by comparison. But a friend lent me The History of Love by Nicole Krauss and though it was a very short novel it also packed an emotional punch. The story of the eccentric and compelling elderly Leo Gursky and the teenage girl named for a character in his book, Alma, this novel is so emotional and beautiful! It is about loneliness and identity and true love and creativity. It is already one of my favorite stories and it is going to be hard to give it back. I want my own copy so I can read it again! Hence the bookshelf problem really. Both of these books are just filled with the kind of observations and statements that make you pause in your reading to really digest what is being said. I highly recommend both.

 

The other big project is that the new chicken coop is done. This is something D worked on whenever he had spare time for like months! It looks amazing! And, a friend of ours plasma cut this sign for us. Like the old coop this one is made of a lot of re-used material. The metal roof is from a shed that was in the back yard that we didn’t want. A lot of the wood was scrap wood. And, the blue paint was left over from when we painted a wooden shed at the old house. Now that there is a roomier, more permanent chicken structure we plan on getting a few more laying hens. Our three old biddies aren’t laying like they used to.

phpK5HzOg

 

Today a new fridge was supposed to be delivered. As our dishwasher is stainless steel and the stove and range are the original 70’s avocado green and the cabinets are dark brown stain with black hardware we decided a huge black appliance would complete the look (neo-insanity I’ll call it) we are going for. I am already calling it Darth Vader. It was supposed to be delivered today but of course the truck broke down and so until as late as Sunday we may be without a fridge sans the small white one we have already moved into the garage (R2-D2). School lunches were super fun to make running between the kitchen and garage this morning! But no delivery means a few hours unscheduled….since I had planned to be waiting for the delivery (between 8 am and 1 pm was the estimated arrival) all morning I didn’t plan to do anything else. Here I am now with free time on my hands. That never happens. It is hard to decide whether I should clean the house (okay, let’s quickly rule that one out), read, go drool over antiques and crap at the shops I used to walk to before we moved…or….maybe just stare into space. Staring into space is highly underrated. Seems like a good choice for a nice fall day.

 

August 13, 2011

Cityscape 42

Filed under: Cityscapes, Images — admin @ 10:23 am

phpzoweZN   phpFHqirV

August 1, 2011

Bump

Filed under: Books — admin @ 4:26 pm

Hey! 

I write book reviews!

Here’s one!

(as finals approach I prefer to focus on this job over the other…) 

July 14, 2011

Readerly

Filed under: Books — admin @ 9:37 am

Besides working an insane amount this summer and doing all kinds of summery things like swimming…and, well, that’s about it….  The heat here has been crazy and earlier this week we had the first rain in months.  For weeks it has been almost too hot to do anything at all.  So that leaves summer reading.  The theme this summer, for me, seems to be creepy.  A few of the books I’ve reviewed as well as some of my own choosing have been creepy….luckily, creepy I like!

Here are some recent reviews:

Sunset Bridgeokay, there is nothing creepy about this book and it is not one I would normally read but hey!  I like getting paid and it was surprisingly entertaining.  It felt very much like a summer beach read and I also got to interview the author, Emilie Richards and that is always a lot of fun.

The Beginners is truly creepy and I am not sure I even totally got it or that there was anything to get.  I would say that overused term “atmospheric” applies.  If anyone has read it please tell me what you think!  I sent it to my sister so maybe she will have an idea. I found it compelling and icky and beautifully written and totally strange.

Another recent creepy read is Don’t Breathe a Word which was less literary than The Beginners and more plot driven but a bit more fun as well. 

Father of the Rain  is another kind of creepy altogether…the creepy of an alcoholic and nutso father and the havoc he creates in his daughters life.  A very sad book about a messed up family.

I recently read The Passage by Justin Cronin and all I can say is I don’t think I can wait until the second book of this trilogy comes out!  In fact, I didn’t even know it was a trilogy until I got to the last page and it said the next book was due out in 2012.  2012!  This is a fantastic read especially if you are into post-apocalyptic stuff which I so am!  Though I think more than creepy, Cronin’s book is scary.

Beyond creepy and totally unique is House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski.  Wow!  What the heck!  It is about a house (perhaps a true metaphysical abyss) that is bigger on the inside than on the outside and a set of people, a family, an old man, a young man, who encounter or experience it.  It is post-modern and experimental to say the least and even when though it got tiresome now and then it still blew me away! Check out the wikipedia page just to get a sense of it.

Enough about me and my creepy reading habits!  What are YOU reading this summer?  Do you have a favorite creepy book?

July 5, 2011

Cityscape 41

Filed under: Cityscapes, Images — admin @ 5:52 pm

php5anz80

phpTiil8g

phpA5AWNA

June 14, 2011

More

Filed under: Images — admin @ 1:44 pm

php605nD5  phpHx6wWg  php1jVkzs

pictures of the new pad: horrible use of mirrors reflect the horrible use of wood paneling; kids must make do with rooms full of boxes; some things are awesome such as this hallway light fixture—there are two of them!

Spammed

Filed under: Business — admin @ 1:42 pm

At this moment there are 3393 comments awaiting moderation on this blog.  I would wager a large sum of money at at least 3392 are spam.  In fact, lately there is so much spam to wade through and delete that I have been ignoring the site altogether.  

But it is summertime!  And summertime is filled with good (and not-so-good) books, adventures and daydreams.  I hope to get back into the swing of things posting here to share all the books I am reading and writing about, all the news as we settle into our new home (see photos below), and all the adventures we find here in the hot high desert.  

Stay tuned…  

June 2, 2011

Moved

Filed under: Adventures, Images — admin @ 3:42 pm

Okay so we finally moved.  After about eight months of real estate wranglings we managed to sell our old house and buy a new house in the same week!  Yahoo!

We lived in the old house for about eight years.  It was in my favorite part of the city, Nob Hill.  Our new house is in a newer, quieter neighborhood but still close by to the places and people we like the most.  And, this house is almost twice as big as the old one.  And, people, we needed more room!  The kids have thier own rooms now with space leftover for my home office, etc etc etc.  We have been here a month and it feels quite heymish already though there is work to be done including building some bookshelves (oh how i miss my wall of books!), getting a fridge that holds enough food for all of us (L calls the little one here the “motel fridge”) and most fun of all, getting a new couch.  We have painted all of one kids’ room and half of the other kids’ room and I have sewn one of the three curtains I plan to. Now I am resting from all the painting and sewing for goodness sake!

This New House was built in 1971 and time seems to have stood still in it.  Here are some of the charming (or ugly, depending on your perspective) details:

                   phpsrFEVu  phpWwqgNo  phpVz6a06  phpw7T7kn  phpDRg0Ku

We have a fireplace surround that takes up half a whole wall and is made out of petrified wood…PETRIFIED WOOD!  That cabinet I found on craigslist for $40.00 and it is huge and odd and holds a ton of cds, dvds and almost all my yarn and knitting crap!

March 30, 2011

Atomic

Filed under: Adventures, Images — admin @ 3:50 pm

We went here and saw this stuff:

phpjiMuQ7  phpkfV2NJ  phpuQEThb  phpTyLG2y  phpxTVCpR  phpHR3cRC php9pMUOs

 

March 23, 2011

Reviews

Filed under: Books — admin @ 2:05 pm

Here are some recent reviews plus an interview/article about an Israeli dance production.

Numbers:The Chaos    by Rachel Ward is a fast-paced, look at the near future…

Emily, Alone is another great novel from Stewart O’Nan…

The Gospel of Anarchy by Justin Taylor is short novel with an interesting premise…

I really am enjoying Maryrose Ward’s series “The Incorrigles.”  Here is the review for the second installation.

And…dancing slinkies on page 7!

I have a stack of lovely books right now which I am lucky enough to get to review but am reading, in between those, The Hunger Games  and they are great fun.  I am almost done with the third but so far the first has been my favorite by far.

March 1, 2011

Knitterly

Filed under: Knitting — admin @ 3:06 pm

Now that I am an unabashed knitting nerd here are some nerdy-knitterly links for you to enjoy.

Elitist oligarchy of knitting?

Periodic Table of Fibers

(both links borrowed from Martinimade where I always find fun stuff)

postscript: whoever recently left a comment starting with “I love it…” please repost or email me the comment so I can post…I am having problems with the spam filter… 

Winners

Filed under: Books, Business — admin @ 3:03 pm

I mean you are ALL winners of course but here are the three lovely people who won some books from me:

The two larger boxes go to Kara and Karla!

Kara,  email me your address so I can get these to you!  I am sure I have it somewhere but who knows where…   Karla, I will drop them by soon!

The smaller box goes to Jean…again, I will deliver soon!

Thanks everyone for playing along…I hope to do this again soon but in the meantime don’t be a stranger—come by and leave me a comment so I don’t feel ever so lonely here.

By the way, yes, we are moving but I have no idea when.  Our house is still (still!) on the market but perhaps not for much longer.  If we don’t get a good offer soon we may decide to stay in this house for another couple years and try again then.  We love our house and neighborhood but have outgrown the house and that is why we are looking for something just a bit roomier; a place where the kids can have thier own rooms and I can still have a home office. 

February 16, 2011

Cityscape 40

Filed under: Cityscapes, Images — admin @ 9:51 am

Winners to be announced shortly! 

In the meantime here is the sad view of the back of a university frat house that I see at the drive-thru while procuring my fave breakfast burrito:

phpOqdDdo

Newer Posts »

Powered by WordPress