Christmas Eve falling on a Saturday made it basically just like Christmas. We had a lovely roast beef and Yorkshire pudding dinner with the famed chocolate-peppermint pinwheel cookies for dessert. Yesterday's gifts included a biography of 19th-century Boston by Dark Tide's Stephen Puleo, and Assassin's Creed II.
This morning, we made the kids stay in their rooms until 8:30, opened a few presents (Baldur's Gate, the whole series! I believe I'm about to fall down a rabbit hole for a few months), and now I'm catching up on the world while Lou plays with his magic wand TV remote and gets ready to make pancakes and the boys are playing their new Star Wars Wii game. Veronica's hanging with her Daddy, cuddling her Fur Real panda baby.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
chronicling the gift list
Yes, it's been a quiet little blog for a while. But I think I'll spend the holidays chronicling the gifts I've received.
Firstly, I had a story written for me in a gift exchange. It was a nice story, with my favorite romantic pairing from Dragon Age.
Secondly, I got a big book of stories of restored classic pickups from my wonderful husband.
My middle child gave me the gift of his company for a day in Boston two weeks ago - lunch at Faneuil Hall, an hour's worth of a free performance of Into the Woods, and the Boston Gay Men's Chorus Christmas concert (wasn't quite as fun as their press indicated, but it was a great day with my little boy!).
Tomorrow should bring a few more presents and then some on Christmas Day, and who knows if we'll have finished them all by then! Maybe we'll go into next week.
Firstly, I had a story written for me in a gift exchange. It was a nice story, with my favorite romantic pairing from Dragon Age.
Secondly, I got a big book of stories of restored classic pickups from my wonderful husband.
My middle child gave me the gift of his company for a day in Boston two weeks ago - lunch at Faneuil Hall, an hour's worth of a free performance of Into the Woods, and the Boston Gay Men's Chorus Christmas concert (wasn't quite as fun as their press indicated, but it was a great day with my little boy!).
Tomorrow should bring a few more presents and then some on Christmas Day, and who knows if we'll have finished them all by then! Maybe we'll go into next week.
Monday, December 19, 2011
book reviews
Stephen Puleo, Dark Tide. The most recent in my somewhat morbid obsession with disaster stories, this one is about the Boston molasses flood in 1919. It was definitely an easy read, the story of the molasses grounded in both the larger story of how it fit in the rest of the world and the smaller stories of how it fit into the daily lives of normal Bostonians in the North End. I found it a bit on the short side - some of the details about the legal case and the aftermath were rushed and could have done with more fleshing out - but what was there was gripping and informative.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince. A reread, of course - I just finished reading this aloud to the kids. They enjoyed it, although I think many of the concepts went over their heads. Still, it was special to me to read it to them, and that part I think they got.
Frederick Douglass, A Narrative of the Life ... Another book that was shorter than I expected. William Lloyd Garrison's introduction seemed nearly as long as the narrative itself. Douglass's narrative was well written and well paced and the incidents of his life were vividly described, but he himself seemed missing. The "I" character seemed to have little or no personality, and as such, I found the narrative lacking in intimacy. Worth reading, and worth keeping as reference, but I admit, I would have liked more depth.
Dan McNichol, The Roads that Built America. Really well done book. Following the birth of the American highway system from inception to 'completion', the book provides details and background and description of every step along the way to building the highway system we now enjoy. For a relatively slim volume, it feels very in-depth. Highly recommended.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince. A reread, of course - I just finished reading this aloud to the kids. They enjoyed it, although I think many of the concepts went over their heads. Still, it was special to me to read it to them, and that part I think they got.
Frederick Douglass, A Narrative of the Life ... Another book that was shorter than I expected. William Lloyd Garrison's introduction seemed nearly as long as the narrative itself. Douglass's narrative was well written and well paced and the incidents of his life were vividly described, but he himself seemed missing. The "I" character seemed to have little or no personality, and as such, I found the narrative lacking in intimacy. Worth reading, and worth keeping as reference, but I admit, I would have liked more depth.
Dan McNichol, The Roads that Built America. Really well done book. Following the birth of the American highway system from inception to 'completion', the book provides details and background and description of every step along the way to building the highway system we now enjoy. For a relatively slim volume, it feels very in-depth. Highly recommended.
Friday, December 16, 2011
book reviews
Thomas Lowry, The Story the Soldiers Wouldn't Tell. A very frank look at the seamier sides of the Civil War: sex and the diseases thereof. It's a little on the sparse side - I might have liked a slightly more in-depth look at the issues - but as the author points out, primary sources are rare, as much of the discussion of these things has been cleaned up by ensuing generations. It's a well-organized, highly readable book, and a good addition to the bookshelf.
Jules Verne, Around the World in Eighty Days. I've read this one several times before, but it's always entertaining. Phileas Fogg is truly an enigma, his purposes and desires completely hidden - a fine example of the use of point of view to reveal and obscure and to alter the interpretation of a character or plot point.
Alberto Angela, A Day in the Life of Ancient Rome. Informative, entertaining, highly readable, this long day's journey into Rome brings to life a long-vanished world and makes it accessible to today's reader. Definitely a keeper!
Lord Macaulay, The History of England, vol. 1. Despite its length, I found this book surprisingly interesting. Partly, I admit, for the added historical perspective that comes from it having been written in the nineteenth century, but also because Macaulay's passionate writing carries the reader along, providing an immersion in the lives of people and places. Definitely not a stuffy, dusty recitation of facts and dates - Macaulay had opinions on these events, and wasn't afraid to share them.
Jules Verne, Around the World in Eighty Days. I've read this one several times before, but it's always entertaining. Phileas Fogg is truly an enigma, his purposes and desires completely hidden - a fine example of the use of point of view to reveal and obscure and to alter the interpretation of a character or plot point.
Alberto Angela, A Day in the Life of Ancient Rome. Informative, entertaining, highly readable, this long day's journey into Rome brings to life a long-vanished world and makes it accessible to today's reader. Definitely a keeper!
Lord Macaulay, The History of England, vol. 1. Despite its length, I found this book surprisingly interesting. Partly, I admit, for the added historical perspective that comes from it having been written in the nineteenth century, but also because Macaulay's passionate writing carries the reader along, providing an immersion in the lives of people and places. Definitely not a stuffy, dusty recitation of facts and dates - Macaulay had opinions on these events, and wasn't afraid to share them.
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