AliThinks

Revisiting Old Friends

Writers need to read. Every writer knows it. I've been absorbing books lately. I'd say I was devouring them, but that seems like a cliché, doesn't it? It's apt, however. I'm ravenous for stories.

I'm in the middle of rereading the Austin Family Chronicles by Madeleine L'Engle, who's one of my favorite authors. I loved her Wrinkle In Time books as a teen, and was comforted by The Summer of The Great-Grandmother when I was a new mother. That sweet child of mine is now fourteen, and the Austin Family books are hers; they were a Christmas gift, and she left them here.

It's been 25 years since I've read these books, and they're still relevant. In fact, these books are 40+ years old, but it doesn't matter. Only a few things seem dated. The interactions and relationships are still fresh, but human nature doesn't change much, does it?

I remember the characters well, and I'm pleased to be spending time with them again. 

Who are you spending time with these days?

Upcoming

Like Polly, I received an e-mail from a kind soul (hi, Kelsey!) at Spiegel & Grau. Like Polly, I got excited. (Then I remembered that my blog has been really boring since I moved back to the States, and my little bubble popped.)

Anyway, my review copy of Catherine Sanderson's Petite Anglaise book arrived this morning. I haven't started reading yet, as it's been A Day. Yes, capitals A and D, and I don't mean the ointment, although I could probably use some where it counts.

Having read Petite Anglaise for years, I'm looking forward to the result of a blogger getting dooced, discovered more widely than she already had been, and landing a book contract. It's like the best kind of karma.

Page 252

The kids are almost in Paris; one hour and twenty minutes until landing. You gotta love flight tracking. After Allan and I got back from the airport and ate dinner, I started reading the latest Harry Potter book. (No link, because really.) I'm thinking of the French word for "the latest," le dernier, which is also the same as "the last." It really is le dernier Harry Potter. And dayum, it's GOOD!

Speaking of good, the four of us saw The Simpsons Movie last night. You have to be impressed by a movie that can make a Nine-Year-Old, a Twelve-Year-Old, a Hurtling-Toward-OMG!-Forty-Year-Old, and an AARP member all laugh. And at the same stuff!

OK. It's 2 am. I've got some wizards to attend to.

Go, Clotilde!

Clotilde's cookbook was released today. She is on a US book tour right now, but unfortunately will not be in any cities near us.

Fortunately, Allan and I got to meet Clotilde a year and a half ago, when she hosted a party to celebrate her blog's 2nd anniversary, as well as her book deal. This is the culmination of nearly two years of work, and after a few minutes perusing the book, I can say that it's one to treasure.

Also, and yes, I know this is pimpin', I interviewed Clotilde for The Parisian. We spoke on the phone at length, and she was so very gracious. I'm grateful for the opportunity to get to know her a bit!

Yeah, Tired.

I've just spent the last four and some hours reading - nay, devouring - Bitter Is The New Black by Jen Lancaster (and hey, why won't Typepad let me turn her name into a link to her website?). Anyway, her site is http://jennsylvania.com, and her book was damn funny. It took me a moment to not be annoyed by the constant footnotes, but other than that, it was a great read. I recommend it, if you enjoy reading snappy commentary, blog-style. (I have to laugh, because I used to write that way. Alas, I no longer do.)

It's now a proven fact that I cannot sleep without chemical enhancement. This is not new, but I suspect my lack of exercise for the past two three months isn't helping either. So, um, yeah. I've got the four a.m. migraine coming on and am not confident in ibuprofen's ability to help.

Random thoughts that come shooting out of my brain, hooray for insomnia! And lack of coherent thought! Or ability to channel synapses! And that last one didn't even make sense!

So. How ya'll are?

Edit: Has anyone out there tried valerian as a sleep aid?