My love affair with the idea of traveling abroad has been tarnished July 12, 2010

Summer Reading Update:

Last night I finished ‘Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven‘ by the great Susan Jane Gilman.  A great and yet terrifying story about traveling to Asia.  It is the true story of Susan’s travels with her college friend Claire.  They decide to travel around the world after finishing college, starting with Asia, specifically China.  When I started reading, I immediately thought to myself, “I sure wish Jane and I had done something like this right out of college.”  Then I read a couple more chapters and decided “Thank goodness that Jane and I never did anything like this right out of college.”  China sounds like a horrible place.  Of course one has to remember that the story takes place in 1986.  But still.  I am curious to know what life is like for people who live there, especially now in the era of the internet.  I wonder if they know they are being kept from reading things (see the Google drama).  Do they know that in other countries, one doesn’t immediately get scared when seeing soldiers or government officials?  Do they know that in some countries, no one reads your postcards and letters and decides if you get to send them?  Or do they just not miss what they’ve never had?  I don’t know.

I hate to give too many details about the book away.  I’ll just say that I hope Claire is happy, wherever she may be.  It’s a really great read and I highly recommend it.

Next up is ‘29‘ by Adena Halpern.

Summer Reading List – Update June 22, 2010

I went on a book buying spree this weekend.  I had a coupon for 40% off one item at Borders, so on Friday I picked up Jennifer Weiner’s ‘Best Friends Forever’ from my list.  Then I took a peek at the bargain section, which is usually dangerous territory for my budget.  On this day however, I found only one book but it was a good one.  So I am adding to my Summer Reading List:

Secrets of a Shoe Addict by Beth Harbison.  A couple of years ago, I read a fun book called Shoe Addicts Anonymous by Beth.  I loved it because as you may have guessed, I love shoes.  Sometime after, I saw ‘Secrets of a Shoe Addict’ in the bookstore.  I don’t know why I hadn’t picked it up, but I’m glad I waited because I ended up paying only $3.99.

On Saturday, I headed out to find a new printer for my computer.  Wouldn’t you know it, Barnes & Noble is right there.  So, I went in.  There I picked up Susan Jane Gilman’s ‘Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven.’  In their bargain section, I found something that I have been wanting for a long, long time.  So, adding to the list:

I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence by Amy Sedaris.  My love for the Sedaris family will be covered in a future post I’m sure, but for now I will just say that Amy Sedaris is cute and hilarious and I want to hang out with her and go to her parties. 

Also, while I was there, I saw that another of my favorite authors has a new book out.

29: A Novel by Adena Halpern.  I love her books.  The first one I read was Target Underwear and a Vera Wang Gown.  There she discussed the various articles of clothing that represent moments in her life.  After that came The Ten Best Days of My Life.  I love this book more than I can say.  It is about a 20-something girl and her dog who end up in heaven.  She is then given the assignment to come up with a list of the ten best days of her life (surprise!).  I have given this book as a gift many times.  You will laugh, you will sob, you will begin to wonder what your house in heaven is going to look like.  So, I was very excited to see that Adena has written a new book and I will be buying it as soon as possible.

In more book news, I read today that Amazon has dropped the price of the Kindle from $259 to $189.  My credit card is begging to come out and buy this.  However I will be strong and wait another couple of months to see if the price decreases even more.  Though I have to say, that will probably happen a week after I finally purchase a Kindle.  Like how the price of gas goes down the day after I fill up, every single time.