The Campfire Library

The campfire library is full of my favorite books. Books that are so good that you can’t put them down, even though it’s after dark and the stars are in the sky. Books so good you would build a campfire just so can read one more chapter.

[campfirelibrary]

Leo's library haul. #librarysaregreat #litkid #raisingareader

[theclassicsreader]

It is June. I am tired of being brave.

Anne Sexton, from “The Truth the Dead Know” (via theclassicsreader)

[whitneymuseum]

“If you could say it in words, there would be no reason to paint.” —Edward Hopper, born on this day in 1882. 

Installation view of America Is Hard to See (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, May 1-September 27, 2015). Photography by Ronald Amstutz

[campfirelibrary]

"Of all of them at the bar that night, the bartender was the one who survived the longest. He died three weeks later on the road out of the city" Well, that's a hell of a hook.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

[theparisreview]

“I’ve only spent ten percent of my energies on writing. The other ninety went to keeping my head above water.”

Katherine Anne Porter (via theparisreview)

[otherwild]

[skylightbooks]

"I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass."

—Maya Angelou

[campfirelibrary]

Some creeks you simply loved, and seeing the railroad sign with the craggy gorge reminded me that we can proceed in our lives just as easily from love to love as from loss to loss. A good thing to remember in the middle of the night when you're not sure how you will get through the next three breaths.

The Painter by Peter Heller

[campfirelibrary]

Timing! was our code word for anything that didn't quite work out. We would say it under our breath, a catchphrase for anyone who meant well and couldn't help fucking up. Seemed to sum up most of the world

The Painter, By Peter Heller

[campfirelibrary]

Recent Reads

1. Americanah: I want to say something smart about Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, because the book itself was so smart and funny and wise and filled with empathy. The main character is so fully realized and alive in these pages. She's vulnerable but prickly and the observations about race in America, especially the way it's dealt with by liberal arts-educated professionals is super interesting. Ughhh, this book is so good. I have nothing smart enough to say about it.

2. On Such a Full Sea:  This one is hard to describe to other people when they ask you, what's it about. On Such a Full Sea by Chang-re Lee  is speculative, future fiction about the quest of our young hero (who we are constantly told is special). I got wrapped up in the writing often and the plot occasionally. The biggest flaw I think, is that our super special hero never really does anything heroic, and just sort of floats from one episode to the next, biding her time and observing the scenery & characters (beautifully rendered). It's interesting and surprising, a little scary and a lot sad. 

3. Sex Criminals: A comic about a couple whose orgasms stop time, decide to be bank robbers to save a library. What's not to love? Sex Criminals by Matt Fraction & Chip Zdarsky is weird in the best ways.  

[signedmotion]

Where do Peeps come from?

[mee-ag-han]

So very excited about this print we picked up this afternoon. (at Lockwood Shop)

[campfirelibrary]

My good friend and very talented artist made this! You've got good taste and Erin makes cool prints

[whitneymuseum]

Happy first day of spring!

Edward Hopper (1882–1967), Le Pavillon de Flore in the Spring, 1907. Oil on canvas. Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Josephine N. Hopper Bequest. © Heirs of Josephine N. Hopper, licensed by Whitney Museum of American Art

[campfirelibrary]

“My Saturday Night. My Saturday night is like a microwave burrito. Very tough to ruin something that starts out so bad to begin with.”

I'm re-reading the Yiddish Policeman's Union and I forgot how funny it is.

[lilyandtherabbit-deactivated201]

Poets and their homes 

[wellesleybooks]

LOVE THIS, especially Emily.

[housingworksbookstore]

"very big"

[campfirelibrary]

Michigan, you're the best. It's been a great week. 

[campfirelibrary]

Favorite Books of 2013

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Mara

I want this book and this young author to win all the prizes. This book, set in Chechnya during the war is so, so, sad. It's a tapestry of suffering and heartbreak but whimsy is threaded into that tapestry as well. It's powerful, but delicate too. It feels immediate and urgent, but also ephemeral and dreamy. Really great stuff. 

Where Did You Go Bernadette? by Maria Semple

This book was pure fun. I was charmed by the precocious narrator, the sarcastic and difficult (but ultimately lovable) titular Bernadette.

This is a witty gem of a book. It's funny and heartwarming, a little sad, and very smart.

Take it on all your vacations in 2014. It's a complete delight. 

Claire DeWitt and the Bohemian Highway by Sara Gran

It's so exciting to have a new detective series develop. Especially one that is as clever and slippery and genre-bending as this one. 

The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner

I think I've talked about this book enough here. But I really did love it. It's seductive and powerful. Something about the way Kushner described what it's like to be young and passionate and dazzled (by New York, by a man, by art and artists, by politics, by activism, by life) really struck a chord with me. Anyway, I loved it and I can't wait to re-read it in 2014.

Tampa by Alissa Nutting

This book was nuts. I read it in one sitting because I could not bear to sleep more than one night on it for fear of the weirdo dreams it would give me. 

Nutting totally commits in this book. To her premise. To her heroine. To her writing. To her description of teenage boys burgeoning sexuality. The tension just keeps ratcheting up in every scene to the point where I really wanted to look away, but couldn't.

It's like watching the pamchenko! It's way too dangerous, but Nutting was in the mood to kick a little ass, and she stuck the landing. (yes, I just made a Cutting Edge reference). Anyway, this is a tough book to recommend to other people (It's hard to say, I just loved this novel about a creepy sociopath pedophile) but I want more people to read it because it really was excellent and I need more people to talk to about it. 

[offonatangent]

Since some folks asked, here’s my list. It was an excellent year for crime novels by women, and based on my reading of 2014 galleys so far, next year will be as well.

The Best, in Alphabetical Order

Save Yourself, Kelly Braffet: I’m not certain why this novel didn’t merit more attention...

[campfirelibrary]

Sarah Weinman has excellent taste in Crime Fiction and her recommendations should be followed.