Shopgirl by Steve Martin

On a random trip to the second hand bookstore across the road, I picked up a copy of Steve Martin's "Shopgirl". I only paid $1 for it but I was, again, drawn to the cover and the size. It is small -- a novella -- but it powerful.

It is about Mirabella Buttersfield, a budding artist who works in the glove department at Neiman's. Mirabella is a conflicted young woman, quite complex. She catches the eye of Ray Porter, an "older" gentleman of great wealth, also conflicted and complex.

They fall into a relationship -- selfless for one and self-serving for the other. As the story unfolds, the characters grow in their emotions and understanding of those emotions and emerge far different individuals than they began.

The book is flawless -- it flows smoothly from one relationship to another, it unpeels Mirabella's conflicts like an onion, and you can actually feel the emotions as they are presented. It is easy to read, very straightforward and draws you in.

The book is comedic, also. How could it not be, given the author. Even if the reader was unaware that it was penned by Steve Martin, you can "hear" him in the narration as he has been heard in many movies. This book is very much the author.

As I read the book, my moods changed to mirror Mirabella's. At the conclusion of the book I have to say I was tired, emotionally spent. I would say that as good as this book is, it isn't for anyone who tends toward depression. It ends well, with a twist, but the process is a struggle in places. I have to mention that the book is rather graphic, also, so this wouldn't be for a young person.

All in all, I enjoyed it even though it was sad, depressing and bittersweet. It ended well but I have to say that I felt a bit like Anne Sullivan with Helen Keller in the dining room scene, emotionally speaking.

I would recommend "Shopgirl". It is short, a quick read, definitely holds one's interest -- just don't read it on a gloomy day!

Booking Through Thursday -- Manual Labor Redux

Again, for some reason, can't cut and paste topic so I will just go with it.

Uh, manuals -- yes, I do read them but generally not until something happens to the "gadget" and I have to figure out what I did wrong. And then I generally only read the section that involves what I did wrong. I usually leave the manual reading to A who does a much better job of it than me.

Self help books -- Oh no. There is no help for me by my self or anybody else, I fear.

How-to books -- Well, if cookbooks fit in this catagory then I would have to say yes. I read cookbooks. Now, that doesn't mean I actually do anything with the information once I read it but I do read cookbooks.

I would have to say that I do read needlework books. All the time and they are sort of how-to books with patterns and all and definitely self help books because needlework is the best therapy I know of.

A Pocket for Corduroy

by Don Freeman
Viking Press, NY
1978

A Pocket for Corduroy brings us back to our little bear friend, Corduroy who is living happily with Lisa. Again, a classic story containing all the elements that make it timeless. The artwork is great, the story is logical and has more text that Corduroy did. More of a story but still a great bedtime story that a parent would enjoy reading.

Corduroy

by Don Freeman
Published 1968
Viking Press, NY

I have chosen Corduroy by Don Freeman as my next book for the Young Readers Challenge.

What can I say about a classic? The story, while simply told, is not simplistic. It possess all the elements of a classic story -- a plot, protagonist, antagonist, a problem, a solution and an ending. The art work is timeless as is the story -- any generation can identify with it. A parent can read this to a child and not be mind numbingly bored yet even a young child can be entertained by it. It is long enough to get the story told yet short enough to make a good bedtime story. All in all, a very good little book.

Booking Through Thursday -- Manual Labor

"Writing guides, grammar books, punctuation how-to's....do you read them? Not read them? How many writing books, grammar books, dictionaries--if any--do you have in your library?"

I have a dictionary and a thesaurus. I HAD a Strunk and White but my daughter confiscated that. I have a number, maybe six, writing guides from a creative writing course I took a number of years ago. I still have some texts from college, also.

Do I read them? No. I reference them, from time to time, but I don't sit down and read them. I have been known to read encyclopedias for pleasure, however.

I have found that as I am reading more and blogging more that my need for such material is, once again, more viable. However, I am finding a new resource for that -- my daughter, who is a communication/journalism major, comes in most handy for that sort of thing. In fact, she has told me that I am entirely too liberal with commas which is evidenced in the previous sentence. So, while, I don't read these sorts of books, I probably should.

Friday Fill In's

1. Two of my favorite ingredients in a drink are water and a tea bag.

2. Life often amazes me.

3. You can keep doing that forever, the dog is watching tv.

4. Cookie mix, egg and water, mix it together and, voila! you have instant gratification for your chocolate chip/oatmeal cookie addiction.

5. If I had a yard with a garden, I would love to grow fern.

6. Water is best au natural. (not what you were expecting, right?)

7. As for the weekend, tonight I WAS looking forward to a simple supper, a good movie and a big dose of benadryl (not happening by the way), tomorrow my plans include absolutely nothing -- haven't really thought about tomorrow but maybe a trip to Costco, and Sunday I want to go to church and have a VERY quiet afternoon and evening. Please.

Booking Through Thursday: Mayday!

Ok, for some reason my computer won't let me cut and paste the description of the challenge so I will just go ahead with it.

Cell phone ringing in the grocery store -- hmmm -- well, if it is at the bottom of my purse I won't hear it and if I DO hear it, the person will have already hung up.

If it is a family emergency, I won't be thinking about reading.

If it is a family emergency like in the DC area, I would have to get on a plane and be worried out of my mind about the family so I wouldn't be able to concentrate anyway -- I mean, really -- how can one try to help drive the plane and go into severe family emergency crisis mode AND read? Get real.

Of course, if the emergency were in DC, M would be saying "no, don't come, I have it covered. We are fine".
Fine, right. How could they be fine without me? Well, ok, they HAVE been fine without me but, well, you know.

So, if it were a local family emergency I would be involved in dealing with the emergency and therefore, would not be reading. In the DFW area, it isn't advisable to drive on one of our many congested, fast paced highways and read simultaneously. Texting, however, seems to be perfectly acceptable.

So, in my case, reading and family emergencies don't go well together.

So, I wouldn't take anything.

Friday Fill-Ins

This looks like fun so here goes!

l. When I fell in love I was a mere child!

2. I sneeze when the flowers boom and it heat up outside.

3. Oh no! The internet is down, what do I do now?

4. I have no idea what is the craziest tv show ever -- maybe Mork and Mindy.

5. Cheese and crackers make a great meal.

6. I don't need a garden.

7. As for this weekened, tonight I am looking forward to going to sleep, tomorrow my plans include houseework and Sunday I want to go to church.

I *Heart* Kohl's

Remember the days when we looked so forward to getting a new straw bag for spring? Well, it has been years since I have had one -- probably high school. So, I went out looking for one and found one that works perfectly for me! I am so proud of it -- plus, it was on sale so even MORE perfect.

I am now participating in several reading challenges -- Young Readers, Romance Readers, Miss Read and my own personal goal to see how many books I can read that aren't on either of the above lists! And, of course, the Ultimate Challenge -- to finish "London" sometime in my lifetime.

So, I just thought I would take a break from all this reading to show you the Perfect Spring Straw Bag!

Romance Readers Challenge

On April 1, 2008, The Bookworm officially began the Romance Readers Challenge. The only rules are that you have to read five books in 2008 and they can be of any time period or style -- Harlequin, historical romance, modern romance, Jane Austen, chicklit, as long as there is a romance between the two main characters.

This sounds like a light-hearted challenge and one I could take on -- five books doesn't seem to be much.

So, I signed up and will start soon -- however, I don't think "London" will count in this challenge.

Typical Texas Evening

It was a beautiful day here but, as usual, a line of thunderstorms -- with rotation-- fired up late in the afternoon. This is what blew through from the west and pounded our house. I guess I will be making an appointment with the insurance adjuster tomorrow because this was bigger than a quarter. However, it isn't baseball sized like it was when it hit the areas before us.

All is quiet now.