Happy Sunday everybody!
It’s hard to believe it’s the last day of January. I swear Christmas was just yesterday. Although for a month that flew by, I did seem to read an awful lot of books. 18 of ‘em! And there were some fantastic reads in there. I read 4 non-fiction, and Keeping the Feast stands out in that crowd. For the fiction, The Unnamed, East of Eden, Wench, Year of Wonders, Astrid and Veronika and Bloodroot were all fantastic. It was a good reading month. 
And I only have 5 reviews that need to be written, so I’m not even as behind as I usually am.
In February I’ll be joining a read-along for The Catcher in the Rye (see Melissa’s post at Book Nut for details). Can you believe I made it through high school without reading this book? I can’t, which is why I was happy to see Melissa’s post this morning.
Yesterday I had lunch with Danielle from There’s A Book. As far as we know, we are the entire contingent of Central Coast book bloggers. We had a wonderful time, and spent 1 1/2 hours gabbing about blogging and books and living on the Central Coast and BEA and the upcoming LA Times Festival of Books and many other things. It was great…you all should join us next time!
Speaking of the Central Coast, we are having an extraordinarily wet winter. It’s still not a lot of rain, but it’s enough to mess with my workday walking schedule (walk at lunch and afternoon break). Consequently, my walking totals for the 100 Mile Fitness Challenge are a little lower than I would like. And okay, yesterday I quit early. Hamburger drove by just as I was about to walk up the Really Steep Hill that leads to our house (some days it sucks to know the only way to get home is walk uphill), and I took him up on his offer of a ride. Today I’m waiting for him too get home from surfing before I leave for my walk, so I won’t be tempting to wimp out again.
This week I’ll be going to Santa Barbara on Wednesday night to see Neil Gaiman talk. I adore his books, and I’ve heard he’s a fantastic speaker, so I’m really looking forward to this. It’ll be a late night (the talk starts at 8pm), and it’s a 2 hour drive back home, so I’m spending the night in Santa Barbara. I took Thursday as a vacation day, so I can hang out in Santa Barbara for a little bit before heading home. I’m sure that there will be some shopping involved.
Last week I wrote about my new love, Calliope. The relationship continues to improve, mainly because I’m now reading the user’s manual. I’ve discovered all sorts of useful info, such as you’re not supposed to power down the nook unless it’s going to be unused for more than a week. This means that it will remember where you stopped reading! So my earlier complaints about the length of time it takes to power up, and the fact that I couldn’t get Cal to remember where I left off in my book…yeah, forget I said those things. The nook continues to rock, and although it might have a goofy name, anything is better than iPad.
Today looks to be a fun-filled day of walking, grocery shopping and laundry. Of course, I will manage to fill in the gaps with plenty of reading. How about you? Any fun Sunday plans?
Wow 18 books – you put me to shame
Nice work!
Up here in SF we’ve been drenched as well. I walk to work and back and I had to buy a new umbrella so I feel you there!
Happy February!
Amused´s last blog ..Dark Humor
Ooohh…you get to see Neil Gaiman. I’m so jealous. It’s hard to feel bad for you with the rain and all. Over here in the Midwest, we have snow and wind chills that actually freeze your eyeball juice.
Trisha´s last blog ..Ancient World : Egypt
You did fit in a lot of reading this past month! I think I managed to read four books. Not the greatest start to the new year, but it’ll have to be good enough for me.
I hope you will enjoy The Catcher in the Rye. I read it back in high school and really liked it. I know it’s not a favorite of everyone’s though.
How exciting that you’ll be seeing Neil Gaiman! Enjoy!
I am glad you are enjoying Calliope. Apple really did choose a bad name for the iPad.
I hope you have a great week, Jill!
Literary Feline´s last blog ..Sunday Salon: What I Plan to Read Next
Neil . . . Gaiman . . . ? ? ! !
I am so jealous, grr. I hope it is absolutely amazing.
She´s last blog ..The Unfinished Angel – Sharon Creech
You did have an awesome month and you have gotten me interested in a number of your 18 books! Here’s to a great Feb.
Beth F´s last blog ..Let the BLOB Game Begin!
My goal was to read 8 or 10 books (down from everything I did last month) but I ended up reading 17. Sigh.
Amanda´s last blog ..Sunday Salon – Graphic Novels
Neil Gaiman should be really good; I am not going and I live in SB! If you have time on Thursday, come by the San Marcos High School Library (corner of Hollister and Turnpike) to meet me and say hello!
Actually, I am considering coming up to SLO with my daughter over the 4-day. If we train it, is the train station in town so we can just walk around?
Helen´s last blog ..Review: Persepolis 2 (Satrapi)
18 – very impressive! Can’t wait to hear about the Neil Gaiman talk!
rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..Review of “The Adoration of Jenna Fox” by Mary E. Pearson
Isn’t the stuff you find in an owner’s manual amazing?! You’ve had a great month.
JoAnn´s last blog ..TSS: A Woolfish Weekend
So jealous you get to see Neil Gaiman talk! I’ve only ever heard nice things about him as a speaker. Have a wonderful time (& then come back & tell us all about it).
Jenny´s last blog ..Angela Johnson
It does help to read the user’s manual, doesn’t it? My husband is such a stickler for that … it drives hims nuts that I don’t. I just bumble around and then 2 year later look something up and find out I’ve been missing tons of cool features.
Jenners´s last blog ..Show Me 5 Saturday: "Black Out" by Lisa Unger
18 books! That’s amazing. I got 5 read and that’s a record for me. I can’t quite keep up with all you out there in the book blogging world, but I’ll just go at my own pace. That is so fun that you had lunch with another book blogger! Great idea! I hope you have a great Feb!
Julie´s last blog ..January In Review
I’m so glad you’re enjoying your nook! I just got an iPhone and have to admit it was love at first sight too. You’ve have been reading like crazy! You should join The Reagan Arthur Books Challenge since you loved The Unnamed. It’s a perpetual challenge so you can’t fail!
Kathy´s last blog ..Our Life in France – banking, money and numbers
Awesome job in January. I hope to read Bloodroot in February; I keep hearing rave reviews.
diane´s last blog ..Sunday Salon – 1-31-2010 – January in Review
Congrats on all of the reading you got done in January! Don’t worry, you’re not the only one who hasn’t read Catcher in the Rye. I haven’t decided whether or not to do the read-along yet. I’m still waiting to see how much time I have.
Alyce´s last blog ..The Sunday Salon and Monthly Wrap Up
I really did have so much fun at lunch yesterday! Thank you so much! We definitely have to do it again. And I’m seriously thinking I should drive down to see Gaiman…it’s so close! Ugh.
If you’re ever in town walking around let me know, because speaking of 100 miles, I should be walking a bit more too! Have a fabulous February and I will see you around!
The1stdaughter´s last blog ..State of Things
18 books is quite a feat!
Stephanie´s last blog ..Book Review: New Orleans Cemeteries
Wow! You did have a great month. I managed to read 10 or 11 books, but that’s sort of misleading since a whole heap of them were Valentine’s picture books.
I’m glad your relationship with Callipoe continues to blossom. I need to get back to the user’s manual and discover some more goodies.
Finally, cool about the Catcher read-along! I’m doing a buddy read of Franny and Zooey and opened it up to a potential read-along on my blog.
Andi´s last blog ..Article: "The Man in the Glass House"
I barely managed 3 books in January. I’d like to think that means my numbers have nowhere to go but up.
I think Neil Gaiman will be at UCLA too. I kicked around seeing him either there or at UCSB, but I don’t think I’ll do it. I’ll look forward to your report, though!
And I always like an excuse to drive up the coast – let me know when you have another one of those Central Coast meet-ups!
Florinda´s last blog ..There goes my girl: Gypsy, 1997(?) – 2010
I may have to join you in reading Catcher. That is one of my all-time fave books. If I can find it easily on my bookshelf then I will take that as a sign and join in.
I am still trying to get through Moby. Nuff’ said.
I am envious of your day in Santa Barbara. There is a cool used bookstore called The Book Den. It keeps downsizing but it’s still there. Right across the street from the museum. They have a website. http://www.bookden.com/
Ti´s last blog ..Review: The Things That Keep Us Here