Kettles, Bookshelves, and Addictive Literature
How cool is this kettle? I drink about ten cups of tea a day, so this is one of my most treasured Christmas gifts. The past couple days have constisted of reading, writing, editing, and researching literary agents. Since I’ve come down with the first cold I’ve had in years, all of these activities work well while tucked in bed or lounging on the couch.
I’m also thankful to finally have a bookshelf in our living room! We’re packing it with our favorite books and have been on somewhat of a book-buying spree. On Friday we visited Ukazoo Books and took advantage of their “Buy 3 Used Books, Get One Free!” I also picked up a new copy of Cherie Priest’s Boneshaker. Steve found a copy of Margaret Atwood’s book, Negotiating with the Dead: A Writer on Writing. This is yet another example of how well he knows me. Margaret Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale was a huge influence on my novel, so her writing advice is like a goldmine.
On Saturday, we stopped at Atomic Books, since I couldn’t go another day without Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, book 2 of The Hunger Games trilogy. I’ve learned a lot from Collins. Especially: Set the stakes HIGH. The stakes could not be higher for Katniss Everdeen and that’s why I can’t stop reading it. Plus, it seems like there’s no way out of her predicament, so I’m desperate to find out how she manages to survive her conundrum. I’m sure not everyone likes to read stories like this, but I can’t get enough. At least at the moment, if it’s not life or death, I probably won’t get through the book.
What are you reading?
January 4th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Happy New Year! I hope you’re feeling better soon! It’s funny how much a cold can knock you for a loop when you haven’t been sick in a long time.
It is so nice to be surrounded with your favorite books! We put some new bookshelves in the living room, and it just makes me happier when I can see them.
January 4th, 2010 at 8:51 pm
Karen Armstrong’s Buddha. I did not know what to expect but already this book has won my heart and a place on my bookshelf; and I have not finished chapter 1.
Happy New Year.
January 4th, 2010 at 11:41 pm
Happy New Year, Allie & Secundra! Thanks for stopping by:)
January 5th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
I like your kettle.. I drink tons of hot water I need to invest in one.
January 5th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
Thanks, Gelareh! Here’s the company’s link if you’re interested: http://www.adagio.com/
January 12th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
(I am soooo behind on blog-reading!)
I adore your tea kettle! LUST. And I didn’t realize Margaret Atwood had written a writing book! Let us know how it is! Right now I’m reading Germinal by Émile Zola. Never read him before, and the content is definitely HEAVY, but I’m enjoying it quite a bit. I haven’t read many classics since I graduated, but it finally feels like the right time to start picking them up again…
January 12th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Stephanie! So good to see you here:) I hope Paris is wonderful. I will definitely share my thoughts on Margaret Atwood’s book as soon as I’m finished. I’ll never be able to thank you enough for recommending On Writing by Stephen King. CHANGED MY LIFE.