also,

reading The Dud Avocado by elaine dundy and thoroughly enjoying it.

have any suggestions for september's book club?

brief book notes

reading A Moveable Feast has me falling fast and hard for hemingway all over again. the man had style. (you still have time - pick up the new edition and meet with us...)

while i'm surprised by it, it looks like i haven't raved about abebooks.com enough. they have hundreds of independent booksellers looking to sell you the book you want in the edition that you want. if you've never been there, try it. quick shipping, good prices and you don't have to shop at a giant like amazon.

i think i may be intrigued enough by the synopsis that i'll have to pick up a copy of this book. those kooky canadians, they get me every time.

bars and books are reading The Dud Avocado for the coming month - while i'm not a huge fan of the huge crowd, i think i'm going to read along with them. if you're more patient than i and can wait your turn, i recommend you go - it is a great crowd and a book i've been meaning to read for some time.

it is entertaining

that the second i get a stable internet connection in the apartment, i stop internet-ing.

i breakfasted out twice this weekend, made me feel very decadent. but, that was also the number of nights that i stayed in; i don't think i spent any more than i would have in a regular weekend. i don't know why i hadn't been there before, but the grand cafe is amazing. please go and order the eggs en cocotte - you will be overwhelmed with how savory and rich and wonderful it is. i also want my someday-when-i-have-a-house kitchen to resemble the interior of this lovely, lovely cafe.

jonathan strange & mr norell is coming along nicely and i'll be at the halfway mark in time for bookclub. i also bought myself a new collection of short stories by pam houston which i cannot wait to devour.

speaking of devouring, work has consumed my life lately - i've been a bit stressed - and i'm taking a well-deserved break this weekend with joe in duluth, staying in the nicest place i've stayed on my own (we booked the olcott suite).

with the cancellation of sunday dinner this week i feel like it's been years and years since i've seen any of you. how is everyone?