Books for the Road

Along with crafting, I'm rediscovering my love of books. Maybe I've just been too busy. Maybe the enormous number of unread books in my house in Pittsburgh has been stressing me out. Maybe the television was eating my soul. But I hadn't been entertaining myself with literature or non fiction for quite a while.  The idea of e-books is growing on me, but moving away from your wireless router or out of cellphone range will never be a problem with the bound paper version.

The kids love to know they aren't alone in getting dragged around the country and Are We There Yet is a favorite with both the kids and the adults. The elephant who ate the hated hat is Havoc's hero, and I'd love to surf on sandstone cliffs at the Australian Bight.

I've been cultivating our habit of breaking up our long drives by stopping a interesting spots along the way. It's better to find places that aren't marked on the signs sometimes. So we've been using The Geology of Australia as a bit of an off the path travel guide. This book is amazing in that it provides an intelligent explanation of geology and it's terms for a beginner, but also goes in depth into new information and nitty gritty science. I admit it, I've never taken a course in geology, and considering how much I love stones, this is unbelievable. I may rectify that problem when I get back, because this book is fascinating!

I miss my jewelry books, and the internet has supplied me with the information I need, but sometimes the best part of a book it's lack of distractions- No people! I was lucky enough to find a great bead shop and though I've finally reached the point where I feel I have enough beads. (Yes, I said it, it's possible to have enough beads.) They had a lovely rack of instructional books. There are hundreds of books on basic wireworking and bead work out there, the unusual thing is a book about more advanced technique. Wirework, and Illustrated Guide to the Art of Wire Wrapping was just the right thing, taking basic technique to the next step with inspiring and beautiful projects. There is no substitute for time in the studio with an experienced teacher, but when it's hard to find the time, books are great for self teaching.

And for entertainment, I'm reading the long long awaited final volume of the Wheel of Time series, The Gathering Storm. I love a good fantasy novel, especially one you can get your teeth into, and at almost 800 pages, these books will not leave you unsatisfied. The death of the Author was quite a blow to the fantasy world, but he left behind a testament to the care he took in writing. After committing to novels and a series of this epic proportion, he had carefully planned and plotted so much that it was possible to finish his work. Brian Sanderson is doing a great job bringing me the story I've been wanting to read since the early nineties in college.

What are you reading?

Comments

[nytesong]

I've got the WOT book too. I was all in a flurry to get it in my possession but now that I have it I haven't cracked it open. I read too fast even when I'm trying to read slowly and I devour the book and then it's gone. =( So my way of savoring it is to simply own it...and delay reading it until I can't hold out any longer. (I can usually make it 5-7 days)

[Intentional Stones]

I'm enjoying it slowly, especially with NaNoWriMo. But Adam has finished already. I had it hidden under my giant pile of laundry so I would not be tempted the other night and he found a copy online and started reading! Cheater. He read so fast I bet he doesn't remember 3/4ths of it.