Monday Roundup

Hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Halloween! Life was crazy at our house as we witnessed more than 700 kids trick-or-treating as well as enjoyed the evening with good food and friends.

Despite the craziness of the season (and it's only going to get crazier, isn't it?), I have a couple great reviews for you this week, one of which I believe should be on the "must-read" list for those new to the world of sustainable food consumption.

What books have you read that you consider "must-reads" for newbies to sustainable food?

Wednesday Roundup

It seems as if I need to follow suit with another "Wednesday Roundup" for comments and suggestions as another Wormer did last week. I'm a bit behind with birthdays, fall and the upcoming sugar attack Saturday known as Halloween. We are also out enjoying the last bit of warm weather where we can roam, explore, and do things like (as pictured above) lay on our backs in the grass and imagine what may be in the clouds. Is it a bird? A laughing donkey?

Do you have any good titles or reviews to suggest for this week? Any hot reads to give us guidance and nurture our own curiosity? What is in your cloud of suggestions. Leave some comment love if you have suggestions or thoughts.

Tomorrow and Friday I will be doing a little smatter of reviews for books I've been skimming to see if I can make something out of my clouds of titles swirling in my head.

Wednesday Roundup

Here in Oregon the trees are turning, the pumpkins are ripening and the mornings are getting awfully dark. It's a great time to curl up with a cup of something hot and a good book.

Sadly, I've been so busy that I haven't had time to pick up from the library any of the books I've placed on hold! They have all most certainly been returned to the shelves or passed on to the next reader in line. Life for us is going to get crazier before it gets better. We've sold our house (again) and will very soon be packing to move. We still haven't found our new place, so in between we'll probably have to live somewhere else. With our 4-year-old. Who loves to get into other people's stuff. But other than that little stress, life is good and I'm going to try a new recipe tonight with the butternut squash we got in the CSA box.

What about you? Read any good books lately? Also, if you're a new reader to this blog, please drop us a comment and we'll add you to the list on the sidebar.

Monday Round Up

We weren't exactly lost, but we also didn't know where we were when we came across Florence Street in Sebastopol. Each yard has a sculpture made from discarded metal, the Organic Farmer being only one of many. It is seriously the happiest street I've ever been on.

None of which has a thing to do with books, or reading books, or reviewing books but diversions are sometimes good. I finished Righteous Porkchop - Finding a Life and Good Food Beyond Factory Farms last night. It was a good one; not for the thin skinned however. The realities of factory farming definitely got under my skin and into my dreams too. And I'd read it again in a second. I didn't want to put it down.

First I'm going to read Tracy Kidder's new book I picked up from the library, Strength In What Remains. I loved his last book, Mountains Beyond Mountains, so much I may be setting myself up for disappointment though.

What's up in the world of diversions and books at your house? Any new ones or old ones you want to share? Let us know.

And if you find yourself in Sebastopol, California, don't miss Florence Street. It's happy.

Monday Roundup

Fall is in the air and I have a good book in hand. Does it really get any better than that?

As the weather continues to cool off here in Central Texas, I'm finding my favorite times of the day are sitting on the front porch with a book, waving at the neighbors as they pass. It's a slower paced life than the usual American household, but it's one I love.

Where is your favorite place to read? Any good books capturing your interest this October?

Monday Roundup: Welcome Fall!

Right about now I start looking for signs of change in the winds, leaves and natural elements. Fall seems to come quickly here in the North/Midwest, and blusters in with quick winds and playful colors in the leaves. This weekend we took several nature walks to collect items for our home nature table and look for signs that change is upon us.

Right now I'm reading several titles that will help promote positive change in our lives. Stay tuned for a review or two this week as I've found books of interest as fall brings about fresh rounds of newly published books. Ah, we lovers of books like fall for the fresh releases - - and new opportunities to explore "leaves" of all types.

What are you reading this week? Anything you would care to share with other Wormers? Are the winds of change blowing through your house?

Monday Roundup

Happy Monday, fellow bookworms! I hope everyone's life is less crazy than mine at the moment, although we did sell our house last Friday and so I can check that item off of my to-do list. I haven't had time for much reading, lately, but I did start The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. It's not particularly green, at least the part I read, but it's well done. The book is a first novel for author Mary Ann Shaffer, which impresses me since my first novel has sold maybe 30 copies. :)

Anyway, The Guernsey etc. is a story entirely told through letters from one character to another. If it wasn't so well written, a reader could become hopelessly lost,. I'm keeping oodles of details straight in my brain right now and I didn't have enough space left to keep track of the characters, but that is not an indictment on the book. It actually makes a lot of sense and I'll read the rest of it some time when I'm more relaxed. Can't give it a rating since I've not finished the book, but it seems to be very good. Anyone else read it and want to comment?

Knowing I'm swamped right now, Green Bean generously offered to post a review later this week. Look for it soon and drop us a line if you've anything to share!

Monday Roundup

My hairdresser said, Mercury is in retrograde. Communications may be skewed." I'm sure that explains the reason I can't make it all the way through a book lately.

I started Blue Gold, The Battle Against Corporate Theft of the World's Water. Very interesting. Depressing. I lost all hope for future civilizations. For some reason I never considered all the water we'll ever on the planet is already here. I thought God renewed it every few years. Or something. It's embarrassing. I returned the book to the library.

Next I checked out Eugenia Bone's book, Well Preserved, Recipes and Techniques for Putting Up Small Batches of Seasonal Food. Nice pictures. The recipes were mostly not food I would eat though. Fresh asparagus and squash blossoms are great; but canned? I did however make two of her recipes from the newspaper; brandied peaches (I used rum) and poached pears. Not my usual fare but they were easy to make. And good. The asparagus are probably good too. I returned the book the next day.

Two weeks later I'm 36 pages into Cheap, The High Cost of Discount Culture. So far it's about the history of retail. I'm sticking with it. I read a mean spirited review of it in an LA newspaper that stunned me. The writer justified the destruction that went along with cheap, claimed it as our American right to pay less. I lost all hope for future civilizations. Again.

My lapses in hope are short lived however. The fact that authors devote their time to study, research and lifting the veil on the myths that surround us is cause for hope. Regardless of how the planets are aligned.

Have you read anything hopeful? Helpful? Despairing? Let us know.

Monday Roundup

Summer has drawn to a close and a beautiful fall awaits. For some of us that means admiring the fall colors and for others, we're just happy to lose those 100 degree temps (or the constant threat of heat stroke). Either way, it's a new season with new fresh local foods and some exciting new reads - don't forget No Impact Man's book just came out...

I enjoyed a couple wonderful books this past month to share with you this week. But what about you? Any good books to share?

Monday Roundup

Happy Monday, everyone. I've spent the past couple weeks camping in Montana and then returned home to a whirl of activity while we get our house ready to sell. Whew! What a change of pace!

While at Glacier National Park, I started reading Farm City. I was really enjoying it and was going to renew it from the library when I got home, but it turns out that someone else requested it. It wasn't going to get read any time soon with major projects and contractors buzzing around like bees, so I returned it. I guess I'll have to find out what happens when she gets the rabbits when my turn comes up again.

So anyway, no review this week. I'm swamped. And I'm supposed to be on vacation! How about you? If you've read a good book or written a review, please drop in a comment!

Monday Roundup

It's been awhile since I've looked at the Bookworm list of reviews. There's a million of them. Really. Check it out.

The next review will be the one millionth one. Is it you?

It won't be me. I've only five page into Blue Gold: The Fight to Stop The Corporate Theft of the Worlds' Water, which Theresa at Pondering the Myriad Things reviewed here last year. Already I consider water wildly more precious than before.

The sailor at my house is reading A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World - cod, which means I'm getting a daily outline of it. And happily so. Did you know that the guy who first marketed frozen food was named Birdseye? And back in the day it wasn't unusual to hook a cod the size of a man. The ocean was a different place than today. I may read cod for myself when he's done.

What are you reading at your house? Anything good? Bad? Anything new?

Whatever you're reading I hope you're enjoying the time spent doing so.

Monday Roundup

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?

Monday Roundup

Welcome Monday! Just thought I would see if there were any new books "rolling around" inside of you that you might like to share. Anybody want to "recycle" a suggestion, so we can "reuse" your knowledge? You can "reduce" our efforts at looking for books if you share ideas!

Just call us the great composter of books.........creating new soil for the Green scene. Share your book goodness!

Monday Roundup

The pic is from an interesting wall hanging made from sticks, twigs, rope and leaves. Just a beautiful piece of art from nature's scraps! Taken at Brookfield Zoo.

It's that time again! Time for Monday postings about what we are working on, or what we would like to read. Please drop a line in the comment section if you would like to tell us about a title - and hint - we *heart* guest reviews! Let me know if you've recently reviewed a title and would like to share on the Worm.

Round it up for Roundup Monday!

Monday Roundup

Ahem. Seems I'm lollygagging on the job. I've only now realized it's my turn to post the Monday call for new books, old books, reviews. I seriously looked at the blog and thought, someone must be on vacation and forgot to post.

But it's still barely Monday and I've got a couple of books around the house I pick up periodically. The first is Coop: A Year of Poultry, Parenting and something else I can't quite remember. It may be a great book but I'm not that into it. If I pick it up fine, but if not that's okay too.

The other book is Salon.com's Wanderlust. I bought it at the library for $2. Reading the introduction by Pico Iyer on travel was worth many times more than what I paid. Then I found a contribution to it by Taras Grescoe, the author of Bottomfeeder. What a great find! The travel stories are exactly the length of my attention span this time of year too - short.

What kind of summer vacation reading are you doing? Any new green stories or books we haven't about out there? Any opinions on the books we have heard about?

Whatever your reading status I hope you're finding plenty of time for summer lollygagging. It's way fun.

Monday Roundup

Welcome July! While we're broiling here in the Texas heat, I'm "escaping" through my old photo albums (that's a photo from my house-sitting adventure in southern France) and a few new books.

What do you do to escape the summer heat? Any good books keeping you company?

Monday Roundup

Do you have any fantastic new books tucked away in your bag for the holiday? Planning on a three day weekend as you vacation, or even stay-cation? Let us know what is on your bookshelf or traveling along with you as we have other readers that may be interested.

Please post a comment to recommend a title, or let us know if you have reviewed a title that you would like to share. I hope everybody has a nice weekend planned!

Monday Roundup

Good Monday evening, everyone! School's out and summer has officially started here in Oregon. In the spirit of lazy days, my review later this week will be pure fluff! I've just finished a nice little read that's perfect for an hour in a lawnchair (if your kids will let you get away with that!). Also, a little more seriously, I'll share an environmentally friendly way to publish a book.

What about you? Read any fluff lately? Or something more challenging? Leave a comment and let us know! Also, if you would like to be included on the list of bookworms and are not already there, please leave your request in a comment and we'll add you in.

Monday Roundup

It's nearly officially summer and time for summer vacation. Or not. We're usually winter vacation people but are heading out this week for North Carolina and Nashville to visit family. And I have a couple of farm books already sitting next to the door.

Just released this week, Farm City, The Education of An Urban Farmer by Novella Carpeter is my first read. She's local, in Oakland, a former student of Michael Pollan's, and from the reviews and first sentence of the book, "I have a farm on a dead-end street in the ghetto," she's already a hero. I can't wait to get on the plane, plant myself in a window seat and eat this book up.

The second book is from a friend, Apples and Oranges by Marie Brenner. It's a memoir more about sibling rivalry than farming but the brother, the apple or the orange, I'm not sure which, is a farmer in Washington. What is it about farmers' these days? I can't get enough of them.

I hope to get to an independent book store while traveling too and bring home at least one new title.

How about you? Are you heading out for a family camp out, reunion, or time away from the family? Where to? And our favorite question, what are you reading?

Wherever you find yourself, be safe and be well.

Monday Roundup

It's rare to find a book that actually changes your life and inspires a new way of thinking. But isn't that why we read and share these eco-book reviews? This week's review is a gem, in fact I think it just might be THE gem - A book to challenge our thinking; a book to inspire us and give us hope; a book to live by. I'll be sharing it with you a little later this week. In the meantime, I'd love to hear more about what your reading now? Also, what's your favorite eco read of all time?