May 2009

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Part of my New Year’s Resolution is Completed

May 15, 2009 in Uncategorized by Kim | 5 comments

As I’ve mentioned before, my goal is to read an essay-a-day the first third of the year, short stories the second third, and poems the last third.  A day is defined esssay1as Monday through Friday and holidays or vacation days don’t count.  Well, I’ve completed the essay third (78 essays) and updated the Essay Challenge page!  Please check out the page.  I’d love to hear your thoughts on an essay you loved, just leave a comment.  If you want to delve into essays  yourself, join the essay challenge sponsored by Books and Movies.

I liked reading essays before I started this lark, but now I have fallen in love with the genre.  The gift of a good essay that draws the reader in and shows her the author’s perspective on life, all in relatively few words, is a treasure.  Some of the essays were fun (Nick Hornby’s essays from the Believer), others were very challenging (Lionel Trilling, I wish that I had him as a professor) and my favorites are cozy–I have a serious reader crush on E.B. White.  I read current writers (my favorite living essayist is Anne Fadiman) and lots of classic essays. 

What comes through in the essays, as with good literature, is the universiality of human emotions regardless of where geographically or in time the author is from.  I found I agreed with Seneca’s “On Noise” as much as I agreed with Anna Quindlen’s essay last week in “Newsweek.” 

I learned that everyone loves Charles Lamb.  Really.  And while he has a fascinating back story, I’m not in love with him.  E.B. White, yes.  George Orwell, yes.  Charles Lamb, not so much.  I had a similar reaction with Virginia Woolf, I always think I’m going to like her much better than I do.  I start out so expectant when I read her works and am usually left flat.  However, I’ll never look at a moth the same way.

Now I’m “resolved” to move to short stories.  I have short story books that I’ve been stacking up and while I’m looking forward to it, I’ll miss my essays.  In fact, I just bought a new collection last week, Seven Pleasures by Willard Spiegelman, I’m sure I’ll be able to squeeze it in.

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Another Argument for TV

May 13, 2009 in autism, classics, film, television by Claire | No comments

But it all starts with the books

I was close to tears.

It had happened twice.   The first time I sat down to watch the premiere episode of the Masterpiece Theater version of Charles Dickens’ “Little Dorrit,” I discovered it hadn’t recorded.  I was starting to panic when my daughter suggested I see if it was playing again.  Sure enough, I found it on another channel later that week and set the recorder.  But when I went to watch that recording, a different show appeared–and there were no more showing.  Twice thwarted in something I had been looking forward to, I had to struggle not to cry about a stupid TV show in front of my daughter.  What kind of example would that be for her?

It’s just . . .  my life is busy these days, which is nice, but sometimes overwhelming.  It’s so hard to find something that makes me purely and entirely happy, that doesn’t drain me or make me think of the ten thousand million other things I should be doing.   Sadly, I have so much obligatory reading these days–my daughter’s school book club, manuscripts people have asked me to blurb or review, novels my editors have suggested I read for inspiration, etc–and while much of it can be enjoyable, I still feel pressure to push through everything quickly.  And when I’m tired, sometimes I just want to stare at a screen. Read the rest of this entry »

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We Love Marc Fitten!

May 12, 2009 in bookstore by Kim | 1 comment

9781596916203Marc Fitten’s first novel, Valeria’s Last Stand, just hit the bookstores.  It’s a late in life love story that just moved to the top of my reading pile due to his marketing plan.  As part of an extensive book tour, Marc is going to 100 independent bookstores.  He is living my dream!  Marc blogs about his experience with a post about each bookstore.  Right now he seems to be moving up the Eastern seaboard.  He’s up to his 13th, but he’s moving fast so jump on and keep up to learn about wonderful stores across the country.  I’m going to be looking for him in Los Angeles.  If Marc is heading towards your area, stop by, meet him, and buy his book!

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Portrait of a Bookstore

May 11, 2009 in bookstore by Kim | 1 comment

patiosmLast winter, NPR interviewed various bookstores around the nation asking for book recommendations for holiday gifts.  One of the stores was Portrait of a Bookstore in Studio City, right over the hill from me.  I asked around and people raved about this tiny bookstore attached to Aroma Cafe.  Finally, I was able to visit and the store is a gem.  Yes, it is small, maybe one of the smallest bookstores I’ve ever been into, but it packs a punch.

What most impressed me about the store was the employees’ passion for books.  When I was there almost every book was handsold.  I walked through before I ate lunch at the cafe and eavesdropped on the owner, Julie von Zerneck, discussing books with a customer, who then left with several selections.  As I was loitering, the person next to me picked up The Elegance of the Hedgehog, I said it was the best book in years.  The owner overheard me, I guess I wasn’t the only one eavesdropping, and highly recommended The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa because both books have the same atmosphere and enchantment.

When I returned and the manager talked to me about books, another employee peeled off my girlfriend, Leslie, and suggested several books new to her (and let me tell you, this is a difficult accomplishment).  When I mentioned that I was reading essays, the manager found At Large and At Small by Anne Fadiman, now one of my favorite essayists, probably my favorite living essayist.  A third customer was discussing The Story of Marriage by Andrew Sean Greer with the cashier, left, then immediately returned and bought it for a friend.  Every staff person I came across wanted to discuss books and find a perfect fit for the customer.

Portrait of a Bookstore is tiny but not squished.  It consists of two Read the rest of this entry »

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The Complete Guide to Organizing your Records for Estate Planning

May 9, 2009 in recommended reading by Kim | No comments

9781601382351This was a little bit of a combination of the old and the new for me.  Through HARO (Help A Reporter), I answered a query John N. Peragine, Jr., the author of The Complete Guide for Organizing your Records for Estate Planning, concerning insight on estate planning issues.  I was an estate planning attorney for 18 years, so I answered his questionnaire.   A few weeks later John and the publisher asked if I would write the forward for The Complete Guide to Organizing Your Records for Estate Planning, and I did.  It was a fun combination of my former law career and new endeavor to write. 

Enough about me, you should buy the book, really.  I can’t tell you how angry people get with their loved ones when they leave their estate a mess.  Having your finances and wishes in order is more than a responsibility, it is a gift that you give to the ones you love.  This book describes in a manageable step-by-step process how to organize your accounts, important documents, estate planning papers, final letters to family members, health issues, burial issues and much more.  A CD is included with the book that provides forms and checklists to simplify the process. At your incapacity or death, it will be much simpler for your family to carry out your wishes.  Read the rest of this entry »

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