so many aurelianos

This afternoon I finished One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. What can I even say about this book? It is magical realism. It is extraordinary. I think it will become part of the mythology that I live with, understand life through. Every page has sentences that amaze. It is like reading Spanish poetry. Perhaps because it is Spanish poetry. I would love to read it again. But oh man, when 20 characters share the name Aureliano, and about 7 other characters share the name Jose Arcadio....well comrades, it does get confusing here and there. 383 pages.

two more before we move in 5 hours!

The Billionaire's Vinegar: The Mystery of the World's Most Expensive Bottle of Wine by Benjamin Wallace

Nonfiction -- interesting. (but I kept over-using the word "vintage" in normal, un-wine related conversation. 282 pages

#105 The Rain Before It Falls by Jonathan Coe
Interesting story about 3 generations of women set largely in England. 240 pages.

Buffy in Denver

This month's Sun

...made me want to find a local bank.

48 pages.

By the way, we are moving tomorrow and I'm not sure if we will have internet access anymore or not. So if you don't see me around much; that's why.

~Buffy in Denver

The Condition

The Condition by Jennifer Haigh

Good stuff -- at the beginning it was "just a story" to me (though that phrase sort of makes me cringe as I find value in story) but still interesting and good. But at the end it was one of those books that makes me think, "Hey, I'm an okay person, life is good, embrace life, embrace others, be more loving, be more open about your love, it's okay to start over, just keep trying, other people are flawed but good, be good to them, be good to yourself. Life is both short and long, treasure both aspects." Mind, I'm not promising you that it would affect everyone this way.

I'd say more, but Fiona is desperate for a sandwich.

390 pages

Buffy in Denver

The Lady Elizabeth

The Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir
The author is a historian who has written several historical biographies -- I believe this is her second novel, I read the one about Jane Grey recently. I think I've finally hit the point where I've read enough novels and non-fiction about British royalty that I'm (just) starting to be able remember who they all are and how they relate to each other.... 477 pages

Buffy in Denver

girl meets god

I have been reading this book for weeks. It's called Girl Meets God, and it's by Lauren Winner, whom I met at a conference in June. It's about how she converted to Orthodox Judaism, and then she converted to Christianity. It's about God and loss and sorrow and redemption. To be honest, I found the book kind of boring much of the time. But when I got to the last few chapters I was so moved that suddenly, unexpectedly, the whole book was worth reading. I'm really glad I stuck it out. 296 pages.

Yay for fun mysteries!

A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King

Another of the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes mysteries -- the second in the series. I am really enjoying these -- they're quite intelligent -- and it's fun to know that there are several more before I run out. 336 pages.

Buffy

pieces & portions

Okay, here's my reading total for the moment:

July issue of the Sun. Oh man. David James Duncan has a piece in there that cuts straight to the heart. To the soul. To the bone. 48 pages.

When God is Silent, by Barbara Brown Taylor. It's 3 essays, about the silence of God. If you are interested in God's abandonment or the silence of God, I definitely recommend this book. 121 pages.

And now: pieces. I often read one chapter/essay from a book, but don't read the whole book. So I've decided to start keeping track of that kind of reading. :)

"Homosexuality and the Bible" by Walter Wink. 16 pages.
"Her Last Hours" by Nora Gallagher. 9 pages.
"Leaving Myself Behind" by Barabara Brown Taylor. 6 pages.