books

[jfb]

Most of the books are going straight to the Friends of Some Library, but there are some I really like, that I'd like to see in good hands, and there are others that I just think someone here would enjoy. If you want some, let me know.


Jon McGregor, If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things. Things happen one day on a block in London. For the Mrs. Dalloway/The Hours fans; breathtaking.
Geoff Dyer, But Beautiful. I know of two books about jazz that are worth reading. This is one.
Jeffrey Eugenides, Middlesex. A hermaphrodite narrates the epic story of his forebears and childhood. Pulitzer winner, and I agree. (B)
Todd Haynes, Velvet Goldmine. The screenplay. Really good. Foreword by Michael Stipe, and an interview with Haynes.

Bruno Maddox, My Little Blue Dress. Fake memoir, bizarre and postmodern and very funny.
Kate Walbert, Our Kind. Stories of a group of well-off women with empty nests. Notable for its first-person plural voice, and its observation.
John R. Stilgoe, Outside Lies Magic: Regaining History and Awareness in Everyday Places. What lies behind what we pass every day; a guide to exploring. Uneven, but capable of changing the way one sees things. (B)
Kate DiCamillo, Because of Winn-Dixie. A girl finds a dog and meets some people. Lovely, though. A Newbery Honor book. (talking_sock)

Jonathan Lethem and Carter Scholz, Kafka Americana. Stories inspired by Kafka. I didn't really like this one, but I know there are Lethem fans on my friends lists.
Alex Garland, The Coma. A man tries to wake up. Dreamy.
Lowell Handler, Twitch and Shout: A Touretter's Tale. Tourette's syndrome from the inside. A bit too memoiry for me, but if you're interested in the topic, well. (B)
Donald A. Norman, The Psychology of Everyday Things. Why are designed things so bad? (dougo)
Larry McMurtry, Roads: Driving America's Great Highways. Interstates, mostly. Good company on some road trip. (talking_sock)


This'll be ongoing.

Also, I am thinking once again that I may buy a microwave. Any recommendations? My criteria are (1) cheap and (b) works.

Comments

[dougo.livejournal.com]

I'd like the Don Norman book! Thanks!

[dougo.livejournal.com]

It arrived today! You rock!

[jfb.livejournal.com]

Hooray! You got the CDs and the Laurel book too, right?

[dougo.livejournal.com]

It's like Christmas, the first box of CDs just showed up! I guess the main carrier made two trips, or else I didn't notice it out there the first time. No Laurel book yet.

[jfb.livejournal.com]

Uh, hm, I thought the Laurel book was in the box with the CDs. Maybe I sent it separately. Anyway, happy Hanukkah.

[dougo.livejournal.com]

Nope, but it did include a box of acoustic guitar strings. Is the acoustic guitar coming later?

[jfb.livejournal.com]

Ha, weird. I remember those strings--I can't use them and I was looking for some way to get rid of them--but I had no idea I'd sent them to you. Maybe it was an accident.

[perci.livejournal.com]

I bought a little Westinghouse WST3504 for under $40 about 8 months ago. It heats food, it doesn't take up the whole kitchen, and it doesn't weigh much more than the toaster (yep, I have a normal toaster). I can just fit a dinner plate in it (my dinner plates are 11 inches across). It's not super high powered; sometimes I have to add a minute to the suggested time for frozen dinners. I wouldn't try to cook chicken or bake bread something in it, but then I've never really wanted to do that in a microwave. The clock loses time, but I wasn't buying a clock anyhow. The beeps are remarkably loud, which is startling but sort of good if you're as likely as I am to put something in the microwave and then wander off and forget you did it. Bonus: it has a setting for "taking the chill off fruit." I know that's something you've always wanted!

I've seen these things for as much as $70. I don't think it's a $70 microwave, but I'm satisfied with it as a $40 microwave. It's also probably not better than many other $40 microwaves, but it's the $40 microwave I know.

[helloreplace.livejournal.com]

I can say Sharp microwaves are remarkably reliable and work great, the proces are fair, and they tend to look pretty decent as well.

[(Anonymous)]

John R. Stilgoe, Outside Lies Magic: Regaining History and Awareness in Everyday Places.
Lowell Handler, Twitch and Shout: A Touretter's Tale.

Middlesex, if no one else wants it, and rats, missed the Don Norman book.

-B

[artname.livejournal.com]

I want it. You pick, jfb ..

[jfb.livejournal.com]

Too late--those books are sent. You can still have The Coma or K is for Kafka, though.

Books

[talking-sock.livejournal.com]

I'd like Because of Winn-Dixie and Roads, if you still have them.

Thanks!

Re: Books

[jfb.livejournal.com]

I don't think I have your mailing address--email me (mailto:eostrom@drowning.org).