Apt. 11D

Gift Guide 2010 #11 - Non-Fiction Books

I'm itching to get my hands on some new non-fiction books this Christmas. These books are on my list:

1. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption (Laura Hillenbrand is a fantastic author. Seabiscuit is one of my all time favorites. I also love her essay about overcoming cronic fatigue syndrome.)
2. Autobiography of Mark Twain, Vol. 1 (Three of you have already ordered this book through one of my links. Thanks!)
3. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
4. The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis (I read this book a few weeks ago. Lewis has the gift of being able explain complicated money stuff, while writing compelling character studies.)
5. Just Kids by Patti Smith (She's just so cool.)
6. Changing My Mind: Occasional Essays by Zadie Smith (I really loved her essay on Facebook this year.) 

Gift Guide #11 - Steve's Book Recommendations

by Steve

It’s that time of year again, when Laura asks me to offer some suggestions to her loyal readers.  These past few months I’ve strayed a bit from the historian’s path, but no harm in that; it probably isn’t healthy to be obsessed with Romans.  We’ve some good ones this holiday season.  The American Revolution, ancient and medieval warfare, modern warfare (sorry, I mean soccer), and our old friend Ignatius J. Reilly.

Bobrick, Benson.  Angel in the Whirlwind: The Triumph of the American Revolution.  I bought this one a long time ago, and it’s a favorite.  Other books on the American Revolution I’ve read tend to focus upon the political developments.  This one gives the military campaign equal time.  The success of the American Revolution is truly an amazing thing.  I can’t think of another fast-paced history of the American Revolution that’s well written, well researched, and is a good survey of the era.  Not too heavy, not too light.  Just right.

Carey, Brian Todd.  Warfare in the Ancient World and Warfare in the Medieval World. Real tours-de-force, these two.  How has the Western way of war evolved over the millennia?  By taking the long view, this book is a good place to find out.  Briskly paced, with plenty of crisp maps and clear descriptions, and nicely balanced between narratives of battle and explanations of their importance.  Again, not to heavy, not too light.

McGinnis, Joe. The Miracle of Castel di Sangro: A Tale of Passion and Folly in the Heart of Italy. Last summer I got totally obsessed with the World Cup.  I obtained an awesome tournament-tracking spreadsheet from some Mexican friends and spent my days at work watching the play-by-play online (and I wasn’t alone; watching the Cup was tolerated firmwide).  I also became a frequent reader of the TNR World Cup blog, and the TNR bloggers strongly recommended this book.  Written by Sarah Palin’s next-door neighbor, this is the story of an unpretentious soccer team in a tiny town in Abruzzo that fought its way up the Italian league tables.  McGinnis, a soccer fanatic, spent close to a year in Castel di Sangro, observed the team and participated in their daily routine.  More than about soccer, this is a book about Italy from someone who deeply loves his subject, a love which in the end breaks his heart.

Toole, John Kennedy. A Confederacy of Dunces . Over the past year the firm has been conducting work-related surveys:  how many hours do you work, how often do you use your blackberry, what is the most important financial innovation, what was the most important event in the firm’s history, etc.  Meh, I never participated.  Ho hum!  Perhaps many of my colleagues felt the same way, because lately the questions have become more light-hearted:  What is your favorite movie?  What is your favorite novel?

Which leads us to our next selection, a surprising option in the firmwide literary survey.   Earning 208 votes (or .78% of total votes cast), it climbed the charts to an eyebrow-raising 38 out of 398.  Apparently some of my colleagues aren’t all that they seem.  (Numbers 1, 2, and 3, you ask?  To Kill a Mockingbird, The Catcher in the Rye, and Of Mice and Men.  I work in a high school!  Har har!  But that’s another tale for another time.)

I can’t really describe this one, so I’ll let it speak for itself.  Because, loyal readers, I know it will speak to you.

 “When a true genius appears, you can know him by this sign: that all the dunces are in a confederacy against him.”

"You could tell by the way he talked, though, that he had gone to school a long time. That was probably what was wrong with him."

 "I am at this moment writing a lengthy indictment against our century. When my brain begins to reel from my literary labors, I make an occasional cheese dip."

 "Apparently I lack some particular perversion which today's employer is seeking."

"Leaving New Orleans also frightened me considerably. Outside of the city limits the heart of darkness, the true wasteland begins."

 "A firm rule must be imposed upon our nation before it destroys itself. The United States needs some theology and geometry, some taste and decency. I suspect that we are teetering on the edge of the abyss."

 "Canned food is a perversion.  I suspect that it is ultimately very damaging to the soul.”

 And of course, "When Fortuna spins you downward, go out to a movie and get more out of life."

 I’ve read this one a couple times over the years and it never gets old.  I am also certain that Ignatius on the spectrum; he is modeled on a college professor with whom Toole once worked.  Furthermore, Ignatius would strongly support the repeal of DADT, although for reasons you and I wouldn’t immediately guess.

 And so another year passes and a new one begins.  I wish all of you a wonderful holiday, and in the coming year may Fortuna’s wheel raise you to great heights!

Gift Guide #7 -- Earthy Crunchy Edition

Over the past year, Steve and I  became WAY more crunchy. Steve pickled twenty jars of jalapenos this fall, and right now, he's making his own sauerkraut from cabbages that we picked up from the CSA. The sauerkraut is fermenting in a bowl in the back of a cupboard right now. Not sure that I approve.

1. Gardening Gloves (Poison ivy hates me, and I hates it.)
2. The New Enchanted Broccoli Forest or any Molly Katzen cooking book (Great for lentil soup or quiche. Just remember to add a little bit of ham or bacon to all her recipes.)
3. Membership in a CSA
4. Fagor 9 Piece Pressure Canning Set
5. Gold Complete Beer Equipment Kit (After you get going with the brewing, Steve suggests actually going to a beer supply store and talking shop with the owner. He says you have to be part of the "beer community." OK, Geek!)

Gift Guide 2010 #6 -- The Video Game Collection

Video games are a big part of the holidays around here. Happy Dysfunctional Christmas, everyone! I'm still looking for a game for Steve in the Rome/Age of Empires sort of genre. Any suggestions would be welcome.

1. Kirby's Epic Yarn
2. Raving Rabbids Travel in Time
3. Kinect Sports (The boys wish they were getting an Xbox 360 4GB Console with Kinect, but not this year. I have to admit that Dance Central looks like a lot of fun.)
4. Disney Epic Mickey (I think that Art-boy might like this. Another art-based game -- Super Scribblenauts )
5. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4

 

Gift Guide 2010 #5 - The Bad Neck Edition

Gotta get a gift for that someone special who looks remarkably great for her years, except for her neck, which sags like the Thanksgiving turkey? Here are some ideas:

1. Glittery earrings (Because bling blinds. Scientifically proven.)
2. Big scarf (The cover up approach.)
3. I Feel Bad About My Neck (She can commisserate with others.)
4. A Victoria Secret bra (People will look at her boobs, rather than her neck)
5. Kiehl's firming cream  (Good luck with that.)

 

 

 

Gift Guide 2010 #4 - Tech Toys

1. Tivoli Audio (Incredible design. And it sounds great, too. Steve has one on his desk and wants one for the kitchen, too.)
2. Apple iPad (I need this. Really. It will make me a better person, I'm sure.)
3. Ion USB Turntable (Steve spent two months going through his old record collection and created .mp3 files for his iPod. It was a bigger deal before Apple and the Beatles agreed to be friends.) 
4. Kate Spade Phone Case (I need a new one. Badly. It's urgent.)
5. Nikon D40 (This is my camera. It's tempermental, but it takes great shots.)

 

 

Gift Guide 2010 #2 - Girlie Stuff

1. Cleopatra: A Life (NYT book Review)
2. Dishes from Fishs Eddy (Warning: these dishes are HIGHLY addictive. I have their vintage plates, their NYC themed tea cups, blue egg cups, and more.)
3. J. Crew Knit Trapper Hat (cute, cute, cute)
4. Pandora beads
5. TOMS Women's Glitter Slip-On (Pioneer Woman reviewed these shoes. I'm not sure that I really like them, but I have a crush on the guy who runs the company.)

 

Gift Guide 2010 #1 - Advent Calendars

Jonah has been bugging me for the Lego Advent calendar for years. Maybe I'll be organized enough to get it in time. How many days do I have again?

1. LEGO City Advent Calendar
2. Pottery Barn's Burlap Sack Advent Calendar
3. Fontanini Nativity Set
4. L. L. Bean's Woodland Advent Calendar
5. German Chocolate Advent Calendar (These German chocolate calendars were a big part of Steve's Mid-Western childhood, even though his family isn't religious.)

 

Scouting New York

Yesterday, I got a "Get Out of Jail Suburbs Free" card. I ditched the family and roamed around the West Village with some friends. We looked in some stores and gazed in the windows of some stately brownstone apartments in the section of the city where the streets curve and have names instead of numbers. We sighed and wistfully said, "when we win the lottery..."

I made my friends walk for ages, because I wanted to check out the Spotted Pig that was so lovingly described in the New Yorker. But we were hungry and tired and couldn't walk another block, so we settled for the White Horse tavern instead. The White Horse is a dive, but you gotta love the place just because that's where Dylan Thomas drank himself to death.

Wendy just sent me a link to a fabulous blog, Scouting New York, which has tons of pictures of hidden corners of the city as found by a movie location scout. It's eye candy to amuse me in the grey burbs. Check out the abandoned castle on 5 Beekman.

Pandora Meets Fashion

Macaroni sent me a link to a fun new site developed by Google. Boutiques.com creates a shopping list for you based on a quick survey of your tastes. You can continue to fine tune your selections as you "like" or "hate" their various selections.

Boutiques.com said I like a classic silhouette paired with vintage or boho accessories. Probably true.

There should be a price tag component to the algorithm. As much as I love the grey Alexander Wang mini-skirt that they picked out for me, there's no way that I would spend $425 on a skirt.

It's a fun time suck for the afternoon.