Late Summer Books

 The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
My coworker recommended this book to me and I got it from the library on CD.  I listened to it and found myself fond of the flawed and relatable characters and driving slow.  I really liked the story once it got going but it could have started in the middle.

Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan
I took another recommendation from the same coworker and I listened to a library copy on CD.  I liked it but I didn't love it.  The Kelleher family certainly has cornered the market on family guilt and obligation with a side of serious drinking.

Ali in Wonderland by Ali Wentworth and Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?(And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling

I like laughing so I got these books from the library.  They were both fast, funny reads.  I don't watch the show Kaling's on but I still thought it was funny.  Actually, the same coworker recommended that book also.  I might be in a book club of two.

Four of a Kind by Valerie Frankel 
A light and fluffy book that would be good to toss in your beach bag.  I enjoyed her nonfiction book Thin is the New Happy so much that I wanted to pick this up too.  A library book for sure.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
I don't really read thrillers very much but I really liked this one.  I bought it for my Kindle and could hardly put it down.  The less you know about the story, the better. Just pick it up and read.

How I Know I'm A Grown Up #49

When I see teenagers driving cars covered in cool band stickers, I don't recognize any of the bands.

Today I am grateful for waking up before the alarm, reading a sad book while Babyface slept in (a rare occurence!), having a nice chat with my sister, going for a late summer walk, getting Babyface's photo taken at JCP, sharing two dishes from my favorite restaurant with a friend, chatting up the proverbial storm, salty oat chocolate chip cookies, a quick talk with my dad while is is overseas, Babyface's long nap, finishing an episode of The Newsroom, and plans to go to Trader Joe's tonight.

Fall!

I am ready for fall! crisp apples, chilly mornings and evenings, sweaters, colorful leaves, warm socks, fires in the fireplace, and flannel pajamas.

Today I am grateful for the big umbrella I keep in my car, ocean sounds to listen to at work, Pad Thai, Babyface's smile, my friends who are moms or moms-to-be, Google Documents, breezy summer books, everything I learned at school, clean sheets, the weekend ahead, feeling close to people who live far, and my mentor.

Here's Looking at Euclid

I'm the kind of person that asks people at parties: What are you reading and is it good?  Which is how I found out about Here's Looking at Euclid by Alex Bellows.  No imagination is wild enough to believe that I am a math person.  I am the opposite of a math person.  So imagine my surprise when I find myself so interested in this book. 

The author has both a math and journalistic background, so it helps non-mathy people such as myself fascinated by this book.  A mere history of numbers and mathematical concepts it is not.  This book explores math from indigenous cultures in the Amazon rain forest to the concept of zero to pi to math games to gambling and much, much more in between. 

Today I am grateful for light summer traffic, nice coworkers, a backup meal when my slow cooker dinner was a disaster, Kindle library books, peach season, Post-Its, the smell of Babyface's hair, and sleeping in my own bed.