Even in the summer heat, there's always a few good (and often air conditioned) places to curl up with a good book - lounging at the beach, relaxing in the cafe, or stealing a few moments before bedtime. Of course, I can find an excuse to read during any time of year...Lately, I've been drawn to books on the mindfulness of my simple-green-frugal journey and I have another great one for you later this week. But what about you bookworms? What's in your book bag?
12 comments:
I just finished In Defense of Food now starting Sleeping Naked is Green.
I'm reading Bill Bryson's "A Walk In the Woods". Very, very funny, but it also has a lot of excellent information about evironmental issues along the Appalachian Trail. It's his memoir of hiking the trail, and is an unusual combination of nature guide and picaresque humor. I think it makes great summer reading!
Hi -- I haven't been doing much reading except for flying visits to various gardening and preserving books but what is August without a book? My assistant lent me Amy Tan's Saving Fish From Drowning, which is not a green or eco book per se. It's about a bunch of American tourists (with an accompanying ghost)who are touring China and Burma/Myanmar. The title comes from a nice little fable about a fisherman who is saving fish from drowning (and making some nice money at market) -- and there are lots of insights (darkly humorous) into tourism, art world, politics of the region, development and western lifestyle that would make it a enjoyable summer read for someone who wants to digress a bit from explicitly greener reads and is interested in this region.
Joan - Didn't you just LOVE it? Of course, Michael Pollan's books are all good, but that's definitely my top choice. I'm looking forward to hearing how you like "Sleeping naked is green."
Joyce - Very cool. I'll have to check that one out!
SusanB - I'm with you. Digression is a must. "Eco" reads are heavy and I think it's important to give ourselves time between books to really absorb the messages. I break up my eco-reads with lots of goofy mystery novels. With the seriousness of the environmental movement, we need to remember to laugh often. Sounds like you've found a nice balance as well!
Two books, one is an eco read "Recipe for America" by Jill Richardson who I know and hang out with so I feel especially cool. The other is the Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson, a science fiction book. Just to balance out the eco-heaviness of Jill's book.
Beany - I'm impressed :) I'm not very good at the two books at a time thing. But when a book is heavy, it's good to break it up with something lighter. Enjoy!
I just finished Reading "Edible Estates: Attack on the Front Lawn By Fritz Haeg and reviewed it here
Robj - Just went over to read your fabulous review. I'm all about getting rid of the lawn. It's nothing but a constant maintenance issue. Water so it doesn't die, then you have to cut it so the neighborhood association doesn't complain, which just means you have to cut it again now that it's grown from all the water, we've dumped on it. No thanks! :) Gardens are the way to go!
I was reading Farm City: Education of an Urban Farmer based on Katrina's rec but I had to return it to the library. I enjoyed the first part so I'll have to put it back on my hold list. Also, just picked up Deeply Rooted which someone recommended. Was it you? Anyway, it looks good.
Green Bean - Ahh. The library due dates will get you every time. Especially from interlibrary loan. I've gotten books through ILL that were due within a week. Even I'm not that fast... :)
Sounds like two good books though!
The audio version of Bill Bryson's book is hilarious, too. That was the first Bryson book we read/heard and we both ended up fans. I've picked up most of his other books from used bookstores.
I am still trying to get through Plan C, the book I mentioned a while back.
You know, I've never really listened to an audio book before....
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