That Jolie Girl

Tazo Tea for TEDxConcordiaUPortland Gift Bags

 

At the end of last year, I joined two committees.  I decided that since I wasn't going to sell in 2012, volunteering for organizations that I love would be a great way to stay connected to my community.  Now I'm on the planning team for TEDxConcordiaUPortland!  I'm thrilled to be helping them this year.  I attended their inaugural event last year and I was so impressed with everything.  From the speakers to the organization of the day, everything exceeded my expectations. 

 

 

I opted to help with the gift bags this year, because I figured that would be the best place where I could lend a crafty hand.  One of my friends works for Tazo Tea and helped me get a donation.  They graciously donated enough tea to create a 4 teabag sampler.  I broke down all the individual boxes of tea to create the samplers by wrapping them with hemp twine.  I liked the minimal packaging and the whole 600 tea samplers were pretty fast to make.  I became super adept at tying bows.  

 

 

Registration for the event is still open!  I really hope you get a chance to attend this year.  This year's theme is Becoming Extraordinary and our speaker line up is very impressive.  There will also be much more goodness in the gift bags.  

 

 

The Catalyst Course

 

When my friend, Jen Neitzel, told me that she had created The Maven Circle with Jena Coray of Miss Modish, I was thrilled for her! Jen's face lit up when she talked about all the great ideas they had to help others ignite their spark. I can't think of anyone better to help motivate others to achieve their goals.  

About 6 months ago, Jen made an off-the-cuff comment in passing that hit me to my core.  It helped me change my outlook on crafting and I made a fresh new blog start at the beginning of 2012.  

And now it's February...and I've stalled.  I have lots of excuses and some of them are even pretty darn valid, but the fact remains that I haven't done much towards the goals I set up for myself for this year.  

I'm hoping that this will change soon.  I've signed up for Jen's and Jena's first online class called The Catalyst Course.  Just reading about it makes me feel like I can get back on track.  I know I will find the motivation and support I need to ignite my spark.  

 

 

Watch this video to learn more about this course. You can also find more info here.  The class starts in March and there is still time to register.  I will be blogging about this 6 week class and the changes I make because of it.  I can't wait to start!

 

Wine Cork Ring Holder Tutorial - Glued Version

 

While gearing up for the craft fair season before the holidays, I knew I wanted to make a large ring holder as a display for my felt flower rings.  I created this wine cork tutorial last July.  I knew I didn't have the time needed to make another ring holder like I did previously. Under a time crunch, I opted to use glue. 

 

 

This holder is 2 feet by 8 inches with a total of 104 corks.  I started by putting all of corks into the holder I purchased from Goodwill.  I re-arranged the corks until I had them exactly how I wanted them.

 

 

Then I took out one row at a time, put a line of glue (I used E6000) down the middle of the open space, and gently put the corks back into the holder.  This was a very speedy process and the whole project took about 30 minutes.

 

Here is the finished wine cork ring holder.  It takes 24 hours for the glue to set.  Because of this, you can see how some of the corks shifted making the perfect rows I had started with - not so perfect.

The other issue I had with this holder is that the glue is firmly holding those corks in place.  When corks shifted, it created some spots that were too tight or too loose to hold rings. 

 

 

Gluing the corks is absolutely an option when creating a wine cork ring holder, but I think you would have better luck following the directions from my first wine cork ring holder tutorial that uses no glue.  This version gives you the option to move the corks around. The corks also aren't held too firmly in place, so rings easily fall into place and stay there.  You won't have the issue of spaces between the corks being too tight or too loose. I found that the first version created a better look and much better usability of the holder.

 

How to Make Jump Rings

 

Buying Jump Rings can get expensive really quickly if you use a lot of them in your work.  Making them yourself is fast and easy.  It does require some equipment, but the small investment you pay in tools will save you lots of money in the future.  Besides, these tools are very versatile and you can use them in lots of different crafts.

 

Materials

• A: 'C' Clamp Vise - I bought mine for under 10 dollars at a swap meet.  I love this beast!  It is so useful.
• B: Hand drill - I bought mine at Michael's with a 40% off coupon.
• C: Jeweler's Saw - I got mine at Ed's House of Gems on 77th and Sandy.  These folks are very nice and a great resource. They will answer all of your questions. I've had my saw for about 15 years and it will last forever.
• D: Wooden Dowel - the outer circumference of your dowel will be the inner circumference of your rings. Pick the size that is right for you.
• E: Wire Cutters
• F: Sterling Silver Wire - I buy mine from Fire Mountain Gems in Grants Pass, OR
• Safety Glasses

 

 

1. Mount the 'C' Clamp Vise to a table or work bench.  I'm using my dining room table for this tutorial because my work space is much too messy to show here.

2. Secure the hand drill in the vise.  Make sure you are able to turn the handle on the drill.

 

 

3. Manually wrap wire around wooden dowel a couple of times.  You can always use base wire to practice with before delving into the more expensive silver wire.

 

 

4. Bend the end of the wire to be parallel with the wooden dowel.

 

 

5. Insert the end of the dowel and the end of the wire into the mouth of the drill.

 

 

6. Tighten the hand drill, so that the dowel and wire are firmly in the mouth and won't fall out.  This takes a little practice because with one hand you  have to hold the handle of the hand drill, so it won't turn while also tightening the mouth of the drill. The other hand holds the wooden dowel in place.

 

 

7. Once the wire and dowel are secure, slowly turn the handle of the drill so the wooden dowel begins to rotate.  I use my pointer finger and thumb to guide the wire to make tight rings.

 

 

8. Cut the wire after you have made all the rings you want.

 

 

9. Remove wire from drill. Manually wrap the end of the wire around the dowel to get a few more rings. No need to waste this wire!

 

 

10. Slide the wire rings down to the end of the dowel.  This can take a bit of maneuvering, but it shouldn't be too hard.

11. Put the wooden dowel back into the hand drill.

12. Position the vise so that the dowel is facing down at about 45 degrees.  You will be sitting in front of the dowel to cut the rings, so make sure you are comfortable and your body mechanics are good. The beauty of the 'C' Clamp Vise is that you can pretty much position it any way you'd like.  Since you will be doing repetitive movements, make sure you aren't working your body too hard.  Take lots of breaks too.

13. Line up the jeweler's saw with the end of the wire and slowly start to saw.  Starting is a little tricky, but it gets easier.

14. Continue sawing until you have all of your rings.  Step back and take a moment to admire your handiwork!

 

 

When I saw my rings, I use my thumb and pointer finger to hold onto the wire and secure it while sawing.  I make a cup with my palm to catch the rings as they fall.  I keep a bowl on my lap so that I can drop the rings from my palm often.  It is a very smooth process and works well.

 

 

If you don't have a jeweler's saw, you can use wire cutters to create your rings.  I do this often when I only need a couple or I'm feeling extra lazy.

 

    


Note: Wire cutters will leave a barb at the end of your wire.  The ring on the left was cut using the saw and the ring on the right was cut using the wire cutters.  I always take the extra step to cut off this barb before using the ring.

 

 

Finally, always remember to wear safety glasses!  The saw will create a very fine silver powder and you don't want that in your eyes.  If you don't have industrial safety glasses, pick up a large pair of lightly tinted glasses at goodwill.  I like the pair on top because they also have side shields for extra protection.

This tutorial was first posted on Handmade in Portland.

Milwaukie Max Line

 

I love living in the Brooklyn Neighborhood.  It's one of the oldest neighborhoods in Portland and it was the downtown city center until the Ross Island Bridge was built.  The additions of the Powell Blvd and McLaughlin Blvd caused our neighborhood to became boxed in by these very busy streets.  Add the Brooklyn Yard to the mix and our neighborhood is sort of stuck like a weird island with not the best access to the neighborhoods next to us. 

That is all going to change soon!  It feels like I've been waiting for the Milwaukie Max Line forever!  We are finally to the point where construction is gearing up to start.  This 7.3 mile track will transform SE Portland.  This new line will start at Portland State University, stop at OHSU in South Waterfront, cross over the brand new bridge (which is being built now), stop at OMSI and the Spring Water corridor, travel down 17th Ave, stop at Bybee (West Moreland), another stop along the Spring Water corridor, stop in downtown Milwaukie and eventually end in Clackamus.  How amazing is that?  Brooklyn will go from almost no access to extreme access and livability.  The new MAX line will also create much better bike and pedestrian paths along the line. 

 

 

This line will be completed in September 2015 and it will completely change the way I live my life.  I can't wait!  Watch these two short movies that explain where all the stops will be and the improvements that will happen.  I will have a MAX stop 5 blocks from my house  It's an exciting time!

 

West Side Story

 

Last Saturday, I saw the stage production of West Side Story.  This was a pretty big deal for me.  West Side Story is tied with A Chorus Line (I saw this last year!) as my favorite musical.  I discovered the movie when I was 15 years old by renting it from the Multnomah County Library.  I remember forcing my friends to watch this musical which at 15 in 1990 wasn't the most hip thing and my friends weren't thrilled. I have always loved musicals, but something about this music and dancing just mesmerized me.

 

 

I found the record (as in vinyl) at a garage sale and wore that sucker out.  I was so worried about ruining the record, that I found a back up copy.  The songs are just so fun to sing to.  With music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Steven Sondheim, the songs are incredible. 

 

 

My favorite characters are Riff, played by the very dreamy Russ Tamblyn and Anita, played the incredible Rita Moreno.  For me, these two make the movie.  Especially after I learned that Natalie Wood's voice is dubbed; she's not actually singing. 

 

 

My only experience with this story was the movie, until now.   I knew that the play would be a bit different and I had looked up the lyrics to each song, so I could still sing along to the slight word changes.  The play is much more risque!  While watching, I kept wishing that I could have had the opportunity to see Debbie Allen perform as Anita (this clip is her performing on the Today show in 1980).  The production I saw was very good, but Debbie Allen is a goddess. 

 

 

I left the play last Saturday on a total high.  I've been listening to the album all week! I can't stop. Everything about it makes me happy. 

Dance at the Gym was always going to be my song choice for ice skating in the Olympics.  Yes, I've only ice skated a handful of times in my life and it kind of terrifies me.  Still in my dreams, I skate to this song.  :)

 

Walking Through 2012

 

I decided that in 2012 I'm going to focus more on my walking blog.  I started That Jolie Girl Walks last January as a project to get me walking more.  It worked.  I love the combination of photography and walking. The main goal is walking, so I take pictures as fast as possible.  

 

I  love the simplicity of this blog.  I decided to only use one Hipstamatic setting (Pistil film, John S lens) on my iphone, because I liked that look, I knew how that lens worked, and I wanted to make sure my pictures would turn out.  I don't edit any of the pictures.  I also post pictures in the order of my walk with the exception of the first picture.  I write about pictures if I feel there is something to say.  Other times I'll post pictures with no text.  The number of photos varies with each walk.  Sometimes I happen upon lots of amazing things; other times, not so much.  I always post at least one picture to mark that walk.  

 

The ease of posting really helps make this blog a reality.  Everything about the entire process is fun and I get the benefit of talking long walks.  It's a win-win.  I have a button on my side bar, so you can easily access my walking blog.  I hope you check it out!

 

Vice President of Localization, Simplification and Healthification

 

Almost exactly a year ago, my husband promoted me in the household.  He made me the VP of Localization and Simplification. He thought that since I was working part time I could devote a few of my new found hours to simplifying our lives.  It was a great idea and I loved having a title, but I did nothing with the title for a year.  It sat on the back burner while life continued to be hectic and awesome and just life.  

 

I kept coming back to this title and all of it's possibilities.  I really liked everything about it, but it didn't feel complete.  If I wanted to really create a better life for us, I needed to add one more item to better round out this project.  I am now the Vice President of Localization, Simplification and Healthification.  Now, a new year is here and it's time to fully embrace my vice presidency.  

 

Localization - We are proud Oregonians and Portlanders.  We are also devoted to the local movement.  I firmly believe in the power of voting with our dollars. While we already buy local often, I will work on doing more.  Besides consuming local products, as VP I'll work on getting us more involved in our community as well as taking advantage of the amazing cultural activities Portland has to offer.  

 

Simplification - This is all about creating more time by finding ways to organize all aspects of our life. From time savers to space savers, I'll be finding new ways to carve out more precious free time from our busy lives.  

 

Healthification - While looking for a word to describe this third arm of the presidency, Healthification popped up on google searches.  It's defined as: the process of getting your health groove on.  This is the perfect term that I wanted.  Healthification will cover everything from eating healthier to getting more exercise to finding ways to decrease stress.  This will be a conscious shift to improve our health.  

 

Becoming the VP will help me in my quest of crafting a better life.  I hope you join me on this journey and maybe even learn a couple of things that you can incorporate into your own life. 

 

 

New Tagline - Crafting a Better Life.

 2011 blog banner

 

I've had my tagline Crafty, Yet Shy since I started my blog back in April 2005.  It fit me perfectly and I found courage using it.  It became a shield to protect myself as I entered the scary new world of blogging and to let people who visited my blog to get an instant insight into my life.  I'm shy.  It's something I've struggled with all my life.  Owning this trait also empowered me to start working through some of my shy-ness.

 

 2007-2010 blog banner

 

Luckily, we always continue to grow.  Over the years, I started to enter the craft community.  I made friends and went to events.  In 2011, I did many things that were far from my comfort level - and I didn't die.  Probably the biggest accomplishment was participating as a vendor in the Mixer Match in August.  The crafty, yet shy girl of yesteryear would never have attempted this.  And I'm continuing to push that comfort zone.  I've recently joined two committees.  Since I'm not going to sell in 2012, I thought maybe committee work would be an outlet to help me stay in the craft community.  Let me tell you, I am freaked (super freaked!) about being on these committees, but I also know it will be a great learning experience for me.  It will help me to continue to grow.

 

 

2005-2007 blog banner

When I decided to shift the goals of my home life, I knew I wanted to create a brand new blog banner to help make a visual shift too. Very organically, my new tagline emerged.  Crafting a Better Life - encapsulates my change in path.  It has a positive intention and a mandate for me to follow.  My hope is that my blogging will spur me to make these new exciting changes for my household.  What do you think of my new banner?

 

2012 blog banner

 

 

New Path for 2012

 

I've been percolating my thoughts for the last couple months on what direction I want to take in 2012.  That's the wonderful thing about a new year - a fresh start is possible and it's a great time to make adjustments to one's life and to focus on what is really important. 2011 was the year of investigating the life of a professional crafter.  I accomplished most of the goals I had set up for myself.  I was selling my crafts in stores.  I participated in 3 craft fairs over the holiday season.  I even had an online store set up with my wares.  I met great people and stepped out of my comfort zone several times.  

 

I found myself perched on the ledge of finally making it.  I was far from being a financial success, but I was at: The. Next. Step.  I have been at this place before.  I've had the ideal of being a professional crafter for as long as I can remember.  Each time I've found myself at the place where the next leap is required, I've always pulled back. For 2011 - I was determined to finally follow through.  This was my dream, right?  It was time to stop pulling back.  So I gave it all the gusto I had and I found myself on the verge...and I didn't want to make that next step.  

 

Just because you make things, doesn't  mean you have to sell.  

This was said by a good friend in passing to someone else.  I happened to catch this sentence and it just felt right.  I started to tell people that I wasn't going to sell in 2012.  Hard!  This was a hard decision to make and I waffled on it almost everyday.  It has little to do with making money.  This is a paradigm shift to my core identity. I've always identified as a crafter or creative.  If I am not actively working towards the goal of professional crafter - who am I?  

 

 

I am a crafter.  I like to make things - and I will continue to do so.  But I'm going to hang up my hat of professional crafter, at least, for 2012. While soul searching these past couple of months, I figured out a few things about myself.  Well, I've always known these things, but now I'm at the point where I can embrace them.  I like my day job.  I work 30 hours a week and it gives me everything I need to survive (pay, health care, bus pass, etc).  I like the structure of a day job.  I like being able to leave work at work and not think of it again until I return.  I like that taxes and such are handled for me; I like having holidays and time off.  My job is one mile (3 bus stops) from my house, I'm off work at 2:30pm, and I have Fridays off.  It's a dream schedule.  I have finally decided to stop fighting a job that is such a good fit for me.  

 

In my free time, I am going to use my crafty skills to make my home life better - all of the duties I had shirked while working on my craft business.  I'm looking forward to embracing more domestic duties and crafting a better life for me and my husband.  2012 will be a great year!

 

3 Circuses in 2 Weeks

 

During the first part of December, I attended 3 circuses in 2 weeks.  I hadn't planned for this to happen, but it was so wonderful to experience three completely different circuses in such a sort period of time.

 

 

The first circus was Michael Jackson's The Immortal World Tour put on by Cirque du Soleil.  My husband bought tickets 18 months ago and I had forgotten all about this until just a few days before.  One reviewer said that the show was quite bizarre, so I had no expectations.  The energy in the packed Rose Garden was infectious.  So many people were dressed in sequins and I was super excited.  

 

 

It was a huge production and some aspects of it were amazing.  The dancers were all very talented and it had the Cirque du Soleil feel that is so wonderful.  It was also completely strange.  There were parts to the show that were just weird and I couldn't figure out why they were part of the show.  But overall, it was great fun and I'm so glad we went.

 

 

While waiting for the Cirque du Soleil circus to start, my husband got a text from a friend asking if we wanted to be on the guest list to a circus at Imago.  Our friend was one of the musicians in the production.  Of course, we said yes!  So 2 days later, we were at Imago to see Charvari - An Adventurous Circus about the Journey of Immigration.  

 

 

This very small production had 7 cast members and 4 musicians.  I really loved being able to see them perform so close.  One lady did aerial work with chains that was so impressive and kind of scary.  I was always afraid she would be hit by the heavy chains, but of course she performed perfectly.  This production was mostly in Spanish with some English thrown in.  It was night and day from the Cirque du Soleil performance, but I liked it just as much.

 

 

A week later, we were at the Portland Art Museum to see The Circus Project.  I had been a backer for their Kickstarter campaign and I received two tickets to their gala performance.  The Circus Project headed by Jenn Cohen is a program that takes at risk homeless youth and teaches them to be professional circus performers in less than one year.  You can read more about the program here.

 

 

 

Again, I really had no idea what to expect with this production.  We were seated at round tables with candles and it had a nightclub feel to it.  Odysseus came out on his segway boat and was the narrator of the show.  He was the perfect MC to keep things light and to fill time during performance set up.  Almost the entire show was done in the audience.  I was so impressed by this!  We were able to see the performers very close and the audience felt like part of the show. Odysseus even let me fondle his nipple at one point.

 

 

The performers were amazing!  Each played a different god or goddess keeping with the Odysseus theme of the show.  It's really crazy to think that they had been performing for such a short period of time.  They were definitely pros.

 

 

Out of the three performances, I think I like the Circus Project the best probably because the audience felt so included and it was fun to see these kids doing such amazing feats. 

 

 

This is a great short film about the performance that we saw and the kids in the performance.  It will give you a sense of what the Circus Project is about.

 

 

Capitol Hill Holiday Market 2011

 

This Friday and Saturday, my sis and I will be sharing a booth at the Capitol Hill Holiday Market.  This is the first year that Capitol Hill school has held a craft fair and my sis is one of the organizers. This craft fair will be much smaller than Crafty Wonderland (which was fab and I hope to blog about it soon!) which I think will be nice change of pace.  This the last craft fair of the season that I will be participating in.  I hope you get a chance to check it out and help support Capitol Hill school.

I can't believe Christmas is in 10 days!  Are you ready?  I'm about 75% ready.  :)

 

Crafty Wonderland - I think I'm ready!

 

Tomorrow is the big show and I think I'm ready!  I got up first thing this morning and made a list of the last minute things I still need to do.  Luckily, it's not a very long list.  One of the nice things about being a bit (ok, a lot) panicked is that I'm definitely prepared.  My stuff has been packed for a week.  

 

  

We belong - postcard from Little Canoe, Cat ornament - Stubborn, Spring Vine hoodie - Anna Joyce - A few things that might I might buy for myself!

I've also finished researching the vendors.  I've have a list off 33 vendors with their website, the item I'm interested in, the price, and who I'm buying that item for.  Granted, at this time, it's a broad list which will be narrowed down when I'm making my purchases.  I'm leaving ample room for the items I found online not being at the fair as well as new items that I haven't seen yet.  I like having a bit of spontaneity while making my purchases, but having a list ahead of time lets me focus and takes some of the guesswork/indecisiveness out of the mix.  

I'll be in booth 35 this weekend!  Come say 'Hi' if you get the chance!

 

Crafty Wonderland - This weekend, Dec 10th and 11th

My craft bucket list is a mile long, but this weekend I get to check a huge item off of this list.  I will be selling my felt flower rings, barrettes, and earrings this weekend at Crafty Wonderland!

Ever since the very first Crafty Wonderland in the basement of The Doug Fir, I have wanted to participate in this amazing event.  I've applied many times and this year I was finally accepted!  They receive so many applications from amazing artists that I am truly grateful that I was selected this year.  In fact, I was so prepared to not be accepted that I was pretty much in shock for a few weeks after getting the acceptance email. 

That shock has now worn off and now I'm walking that fine line of utter excitement and sheer panic.  I know I'm ready.  I know I've done everything I can to prepare.  I know that I will have an amazing time this weekend. 

 

I do hope you get a chance to attend this weekend at the convention center.  Stop by and say Hi.  The first 150 people in the door each day will receive a great goodie bag.  It's also an easy way to get all of your holiday shopping done.  I will be looking up each vendor this week and making a plan of what presents I want to buy for friends and family.  I've found that doing this research ahead of time really helps me.  In the moment of the huge sale with thousands of others around, it's hard to make decisions.  Especially if you are as indecisive as I am.  But having a game plan, I find I actually buy more things and get more checked off my list. 

 

That time of year in blog land

 

It's been a little quiet on my blog for the past month or so.  It's that time of year when my focus is completely on the holiday season.  I'm blessed to be in 3 craft fairs in December and I've been working like mad to prepare.  I was tempted to take a formal blogging hiatus until Jan 1st, but I know I'll have a few things to share between now and then.  

Just in case time gets away from me, as it's so easy can at this time of year,  I wish you a wonderful (and sane) holiday season.

 

Felt Flower Rings - Now at Knack!

 

I have such exciting news!  My felt flower rings are now for sale at Knack!  I couldn't be happier.  This is the first brick and mortar store to carry my rings.  What a great store to start in. 

 

 

If you haven't been to Knack, definitely take the time to check out this amazing store located in Multnomah Village.  Leigh, the owner, showcases beautiful work from over 90 local artists.  This is a great place to get your Christmas shopping done; I drool a lot when I'm here and can always find a million things I'd like to take home for myself...and as gifts.

 

 

 

It's also very exciting that my rings sit right next to my sister's beautiful fused glass necklaces.  

 

 

Wedding in Missoula

 

Last Saturday, I got to see two friends get married.  You can read more about my adventures in Montana on my walking blog.   I was thrilled that I got to be part of their celebration.  It's obvious that these two were meant for each other and it was easy to toast to their future happiness. 

 

 

My friends married at a vineyard outside of Missoula.  The grounds were gorgeous.  The ceremony was quirky, but filled with love.  I especially liked the part where the groom told the bride that it was so easy to love her and because of that, he knew they would spend the rest of their lives together.  At the end of the ceremony, they jumped over a broom together.  

 

 

This is what the sky looked like as we were waiting for the bride to walk down the aisle.  The forecast said that there was a 90% chance of rain this day.  It had poured all morning long, but luckily it was dry and beautiful for this outdoor wedding.  

 

We had many wedding crashers.  4 deer were very tame and knew that good food was close by.  They kept wandering closer and closer.  I loved seeing them and spent some time trying to take their pictures.  

 

This distraction was also perfect for me during all of the mingling time before and after the wedding.  Those situations can be hard for me, so whenever I felt like I had enough, I would wander off to find the deer.  It kept me from getting overwhelmed.   

 

The food was delicious!  They served cassoulet from a wheelbarrow and we also had duck and salad.   It was down home gourmet and the grapes on the tables were beautiful.

 

I love weddings because there is always time to reflect on my own life and my own wedding.  My wedding was really the best day of my life and it's fun to think about all the things we did and the friends and family we had to celebrate with us.   

 

 

After dinner, there was a large bonfire.  This was so nice because the temperature dropped pretty quickly and the fire was perfect.  

 

 

 After awhile, the fire kept growing and growing.  I love taking pictures of it and caught some really weird images such as this picture that looks like a man of fire.  

 

 After the wedding, we all headed downtown to watch the groom play bass with his band.  It was the perfect way to end this wonderful day.

 

Sirens of Titan

 

Yay!  I finally made it to the end of my summer long book project!  I actually did finish reading the 10 books by Labor Day, but it's taken me awhile to blog about them all.  I didn't really have an order in which to read the books on this list.  I made that decision when it was time to start a new book.  But, I reserved Sirens of Titan, by Kurt Vonnegut for last.  I am a huge Vonnegut fan and this is the 9th novel I've read of his.  I wanted to have a little reward at the end of my reading and this was just perfect.

 

 

It's hard to sum any book of Vonnegut's because there is always so much detail and so many different things going on which is why Hollywood can't seem to make a cohesive movie from any of his books.  This book has space travel and takes place during different times, and so on.  The end is mind blowing and you don't see it coming.  

 

 

 If you haven't read Vonnegut, you should.  His unique perspective on life and fiction is refreshing.  Every book I've read is wildly funny, but also touches on real social issues that make you think.  His less than subtle comedic touches are everywhere.  In the picture above has the standard clause about how nothing in the book is based on real life.  

 

 

Yet, on the dedication page, Vonnegut states that everything in the book is real.  

 

 

This book furthered my appreciation of his genius and makes me want to finish reading his entire bibliography as soon as possible.

 

 

 I'm so glad I ended this series on a less than serious note.  Out of the 10 books I read, most were very heavy and dealt with serious concerns.  I immensely enjoyed 4 out of the 10 books and will keep those on my bookshelf to re-read in the future.  5 were good and I'm glad I read them.  Of Human Bondage stands out as the only book I didn't like.  I think this was a great project, but I've been so glad to get back to reading whatever happens to fall in my hands at that moment in time.

Of Human Bondage

 

I had mistakenly thought that Atlas Shrugged was the 9th book in my summer book project, only to realize that it was actually my 8th book.  I should have taken that as an omen then.  I also didn't realize that my copy of Of Human Bondage was abridged - something I adamantly try to avoid.  That should have been my second sign.  But I was fully committed to my book project and dived into Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham

 

 

To be quite frank, I didn't not find this book to be "the greatest novel of our time".  When I told a friend that I was reading this, she instantly made a funny face and said she didn't like to read whiny books.  Yep, another sign.  But I mustered through and finished this book even though I knew early on that I didn't like it.  It was the tale of one very whiny man making weird choices.  The kind of decisions that have you screaming at the TV, don't go in that dark basement! 

 

 I'm glad this book had a therapeutic quality for the author which was loosely based on his life.  I'm also glad I didn't have to read the unabridged version which would have prolonged my misery.

 

Written in 1915, I can understand that this book would have created a sensation when first published and again when my edition was published since the narrator often interacts with prostitutes, starving artists, and other unsavory characters.

 

 

When I first discovered that the last page was torn, I had grandiose ideas of seeking out another copy to read the last few words.  But when I got the end, I was so over this book that I just didn't want to make the effort.  

National Book Award Finalists - Announced in Oregon

  


I've always had a strong love for the National Book Award.  Being an English major, I try to read award winning literature as much as I can.  While I've had some luck with the Pulitzer, Man Booker, etc winners I find, more often than not, that I'm disappointed with those books.  The National Book Award winners almost never let me down. 

 

I made a personal goal a few years ago to read every National Book Award for Fiction winners and finalists.  I keep a spreadsheet of these books in my purse and I'm constantly on the hunt when I'm at Goodwill.  I get a small jolt of excitement when I stumble across their emblem.

 

The 2011 National Book Award Finalists were announced today.  And they were announced in Portland, OR on Oregon Public Broadcasting.  Hurrah!  They have never been announced in Oregon before.  How exciting!