Thursday, August 28, 2008

Things I like.

I don't often recommend books unless someone specifically asks me to, but I just finished The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, and I have to say: if you have not read this book, read this book. It is absolutely stunning.

The other day, someone at work expressed surprise that I seemed to enjoy reading so much: "So, you just... read? For fun?" Um, yeah. I actually sort of look forward to my 30-minute commute, because rather than fighting traffic and getting stressed, I get to sit and read. (And maybe occasionally end up in Queens.) Which is all to say, I need more book recs. So if you can think of something I should read, let me know. I'll probably stop by a bookstore after work tomorrow (partial day, woohoo!).

Apropos of nothing, I recently got Quicken and started using it for the first time in my life, and it is like my new favorite thing. It takes my love of spreadsheets (no seriously, I love spreadsheets) and planning to the next level. It puts your expenses into a pie chart! It downloads information straight from your bank account! It tells you when to pay your bills! I am going to budget the crap out of EVERYTHING.

13 comments:

  1. Things you should read...oh this has got to be one of my favorite posts of yours.

    Ok and I invited you to goodreads before...which you totally didn't accept....whatever.

    Ok, so I mostly like fantasy and what not. Reality can be such a bore... no, i don't know....

    Okay don't know if you've read them before but....drumroll please...


    -The Goose Girl series by Shannon Hale and pretty much any book by her, except I did not enjoy Book of a Thousand Days as much. Austenland is really great.
    -Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer
    -Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld
    -Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith. (If you like Goose Girl, then you might like this book)
    -The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper...I hear it's good...though I haven't read it yet.
    -City of Bones by Cassandra Clare....very weird um relationship in there. I think you'd like. Actually you should read this!

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  2. hi, i just stumbled onto your blog with the next blog button, and started reading because I lived in NYC this summer and am hoping to go back permanently, and thought it'd be nice to read the blog of another young woman moving to / living in NYC. I hope you don't mind! Anyways, if you haven't read it yet, I very much enjoyed Water for Elephants :)

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  3. Go to the library and get Tropic of Cancer, by Miller - just don't forget to return it.

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  4. LOVED Glass Castle, it was one of those books that stays with you - in your thoughts and in your heart. Fiction, I recommend: East of Eden; Mutant Message Down Under. Non-fiction, I recommend: Leadership and Self-Deception; Blink.

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  5. ew, you read? hahaha. it astounds me that some people don't read for leisure. what do they do? at the very least, what do they do in the bathroom, or on an airplane? i am going to have to read this book now. did I tell you I have VASTLY improved my job bc our county library has every book as an ebook, on pdf? so I just read books on my computer all day. I was pretty excited, anyway.

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  6. i don't know if you're into classics, but The Audacity of Hope is a great one.

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  7. oh and i'm so glad you found me in the blogosphere!

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  8. I never knew you had a love for spreadsheets. You're in the wrong business then, I've spent the last 3 hours making charts from pivot tables on the semiconductor industry, fun!!! You can make excel download your bank info too, FYI, as well as SEC filings! If I moved to NY, we'd have too much fun.

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  9. How about "The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder" by Vince Bugliosi.

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  10. If you haven't already, give the Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon a go. It's got depression-era NYC drama, thrilling escapes in Prague (one of the coolest cities ever), and comic books. Very cool? Pretty much, yeah.

    If you like historical fiction at all, and feel the need to fall in love with a roguish Scotsman with a penchant for witty repartee and obfuscation, look at anything by Dorothy Dunnett, specifically Game of Kings.

    Something heavier? Tackle Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke. It'll take you a few (hours, days, weeks. Not sure what your consumption speed is) more than usual, but it's well worth the crick in your back, trust me.

    Three is a nice round number.
    I'm planning a foray to the library tomorrow, and I'll see if I can't hunt down The Glass Castle. It sounds pretty neat.

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  11. i have heard of the glass castle. i am going to read it now because you suggested it. hmm.. now i just need to go the the book store.

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  12. Hey Laura, I'm catching up on your blog. You HAVE to read "Hunger Games" it's AMAZING. . .by the way I'm so jealous of your New York life. It's making me miss my mission very much. How did you land this licensing deal?

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  13. Hey Laura, I'm catching up on your blog. You HAVE to read "Hunger Games" it's AMAZING. . .by the way I'm so jealous of your New York life. It's making me miss my mission very much. How did you land this licensing deal?

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