Reading & Books - grace grits and gardening

Dancing with Myself

July 16, 2015 By Talya Tate Boerner

I’ve felt a bit lost this week, like I’m dancing with myself. Maybe it’s just a normal feeling for me after returning home from a weekend on the farm. Maybe it’s the smothering humidity that makes doing most anything outside a miserable chore. Maybe it’s just something I need to feel.

For those of you who think I live a perfect life 24-7, I’m here to tell you it ain’t always a bed of roses. I spent the good part of Monday fighting over payment of a $125 freelance article. Finally, after being treated like I was an idiot, I chalked the whole thing up to a waste of time. I’ll admit for a while the sour experience made me wonder why I ever left my day job at the bank. Oh how nice those regular pay checks were that showed up every two weeks no matter how successful my week had been.

Of course it’s about the writing, not the money. I have nothing to prove, but still, no matter the industry, appreciation is appreciated, right? Plus. It’s about being honest and doing what you say.

I know I’m rambling and mine are first world problems.

Good things happened this week, too. Lots of good things, and it’s only Thursday. Many of my readers took the time to comment on blog posts. You have no idea how that alone keeps me going some days. I had another adventure with Lucy and Annabelle (coming soon!), and I went to a release party at Nightbird Books for the new Harper Lee book, Go Set a Watchman.

Go Set a Watchman party, Nightbird Books

@ Nightbird Books with a high school friend and my sis-in-law. Photo credit Yellow Gecko Productions.

Although I’m barely into the book, I will say it’s jarring to be thrown fast forward into a time when Scout is 26 and Atticus is 72.

Maybe in forty years someone will find one of my manuscripts and clammer to publish it? I can hope.

Here’s to a great, productive weekend ahead!

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis]I feel like I’m dancing with myself. Ever have one of those weeks? [/tweetthis]

Musical Pairing:

Billy Idol, Dancing with Myself

#RandomLoveLetter Bookmarks

July 1, 2015 By Talya Tate Boerner

My friend Sarah, who blogs at Random Love Letter to Adventure, has been participating in a #RandomLoveLetter Instagram Challenge during the month of June. The idea behind this IG micro-challenge is to leave a note, a “random love letter”, in a public place for someone to find. Something unexpected to brighten someone’s day. As usual, I’m extremely late to the party, but on Sunday I became inspired to create #RandomLoveLetter Bookmarks to leave in each of the books in my Little Free Library.

This was a simple craft project especially since I had this incredible notepad from SugarBoo Designs purchased at Shindig Paperie in Fayetteville. There’s an inspirational saying or quote at the bottom of each page.

Not only is each page already perforated, there’s also a hole on one end begging for a ribbon. (If you don’t want to buy such a notepad, you could type up your own, right?)

This project is justification for saving every scrap of ribbon you happen upon all the live-long year. Not that I do that:) And the packages of vintage rick-rack you weren’t sure how you would use? Bingo.

Those ink stamps? Use them!

For a completely spur of the moment project, this turned out to be really fun. I made enough bookmarks for every book in my Little Free Library plus a few for later.

Speaking of books...I’m doing pretty well working my way through my “not so typical” summer reading list. If you missed my summer reading list click HERE.

So far I’ve finished The Girl on the Train (★★★★), The Deep Green Sea (★★★★), The Pleasure of My Company (★★★★), Hold Still Sally Mann (★★★), The Life and Adventures of an Arkansaw Doctor (★★★). I’ve also read a few that weren’t on my list including The Vacationers (★★★), Biography of Marilyn Monroe (★★★), and Stoning the Devil (★★★★).

What’s everyone reading?

Happy July 1! (Can you believe it’s July?)

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis]A great reason to break out the #craft supplies! @Sarahdshotts @LtlFreeLibrary #RandomLoveLetter #summer #read [/tweetthis]

Musical Pairing:

Love Letter, Bangin’ Rackettes

not your typical SUMMER READING LIST

May 15, 2015 By Talya Tate Boerner

This is NOT your typical Summer Reading List. This is a list of books I personally plan to read this summer. I expect that most summer reading lists include actual recommendations based upon personal reviews of the books. Not mine. I haven’t read any of these books. If you wish to read along with me, do so at your own risk, because I can’t vouch for a single title. I can tell you how I chose these particular books. Some are obvious (#NewYorkBestSellers). Some, not so much. But, don’t we believe fabulous “older” books are waiting to be read too?

The Girl on the Train (Paula Hawkins). There’s lots of buzz about this book which has been referred to as the next Gone Girl. Am I the only person who hasn’t read it? Probably. Sometimes I’m slow that way.
All the Light We Cannot See (Anthony Doerr). A friend recommended this book to me just last weekend. She had that oh-my-God-drop-everything-and-read-this-immediately look in her eye. I went right out and bought it.
Hold Still Sally Mann (a memoir by photographer Sally Mann). I bought this book specifically because of a BookPeople Instagram post. See? Social media really works.
Words Fail Me (Patricia T. O’Conner). I typically have a book on the ‘craft of writing’ beside my bedside table, and I read paragraphs here and there before I go to bed. Since I love to write, I find these sort of books motivating, and this is the next one I plan to read.
The Life and Times of an Arkansaw Doctor (David Rattlehead, edited by W. K. McNeil). I’ve had this book on my shelf for quite some time. This book, written in 1851 (reprinted in 1989), was “the first volume solely devoted to Arkansas folk humor” and “provides a generally correct account of folklife on the Arkansas frontier in the 1850s”. I love reading about Arkansas history and consider it research for future writing.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (Robert Pirsig). This is one of those wildly popular, forward-thinking, cult-ish books I’ve never read. I’m gonna change that.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking (Susan Cain). Since I am an introvert, and I think people in general talk too much, this book grabbed my attention.
The Pleasure of my Company (Steve Martin). Well, who doesn’t love Steve Martin? I enjoyed his book Shopgirl, and this one sounded quick and easy and something that could be read on a plane ride, not that I’m going anywhere. His protagonist wins “Most Average American” award, which has already made me laugh.
The Deep Green Sea (Robert Olen Butler). I absolutely love Robert Olen Butler’s writing style, and this book, published in 1998, is one I missed. I can’t wait to read it.
Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant (Anne Tyler). This book dates back to the 1980s. I read somewhere that this book is possibly Anne Tyler’s best work and since I haven’t read it, I snapped it up at the Dickson Street Bookshop. Score.
Tales of the South Pacific (James A. Michener). This classic, published in 1947, inspired the Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical South Pacific. This is also that book that (according to my Daddy) inspired my odd first name. For years, I’ve planned to read this book and find my name inside it, but I never have. I have Daddy’s original copy, but it’s brittle and fragile and I think the pages might disintegrate if I handle it, so I found this more recently printed paperback at a yard sale. Wish me luck, it’s Michener… (#wordy)

IN OTHER BOOK RELATED NEWS…

Saturday, May 16, is WORLDWIDE LITTLE FREE LIBRARY BOOK DRIVE DAY. Bring new or gently-used children’s and young adult books to your friendly neighborhood Little Free Libraries. Snap a photo of yourself dropping off books and post it in social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram) using the hashtag #givebooks. Random participants will be selected to receive goodies. Read more about this HERE.

Our Little Free Library has been a big hit in our neighborhood. The books constantly change as neighbors take and leave books. As I read the books on my “not your typical” Summer Reading List, I plan to add them to the library so others can enjoy them. Thanks to all who are supporting our library!

For you Fayetteville book lovers, on Sunday, May 17, 2015, from Noon-6pm, Nightbird Books is having an Overstock Sale as part of the 5th Annual Block Street Block Party. Also, The Curious Book Shoppe on Block Street is having a Gigantic Spring Used Book Sale from 10am-7pm. What a great way to pick up a few good books for your summer reading! (Rain, rain, stay away…)