Yes. I do read fiction for grown-ups on occasion. Haha. I am happy that one of my soulsisters Charlene (a resident of San Bruno) brought me back to my favorite place in San Francisco. And here is my new set of goodies from Green Apple.
Ever since Foucault’s Pendulum and In the Name of the Rose, I’ve always been in love with Umberto Eco. While heavy reading, it is something that my soul craves at times. I’ve heard about The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society for quite a while now (seems to be in the same genre as Sisterhood of Traveling Pants, am I right? I haven’t read the latter too), so might as well give it a whirl. I am also unsure whether Fats has written a review of this that’s why it seems so familiar. With all the books we write about here, I honestly can’t keep track any longer. And at 5 USD, it seems like a fair enough price. The first Marilynne Robinson I read was Housekeeping and I was just blown away by its subtlety. I decided to buy her Winner of the Orange Prize book entitled Home this time around. I am looking forward to reading this.
I’ve always been tickled by Salman Rushdie’s prose. I’ve read rave reviews about his new book Luka and the Fire of Life and while it is not 5 USD (a little more expensive, since it’s hardbound), I know that I can’t let go of it the moment that I found it. His other book The Enchantress of Florence is likewise as promising. Hmm.. If only I could have six months in silence with just these books for company, I know I’d live with just bread, water, and sunshine. When I saw this Daniyal Mueenuddin book, I also felt that I had to get it, primarily because one of our Guest Contributors, Libby Cohen has reviewed it here in GatheringBooks several months back.
So yes, I can not resist Gaiman any longer. Meet The Kindly Ones, Endless Nights and Preludes and Nocturnes.
After a lovely morning at Green Apple, my friend brought me to de Young Museum where they are currently showcasing original masterpieces from Musee D’Orsay in Paris France until January 2011. How wonderful for me! Since we are not allowed to take photos of the originals, I decided to just buy this thick book so that I can share it with my little one. So yes, I was intimate with Van Gogh’s Starry Starry Night, Renoir’s Young Girls at the Piano, Monet’s Storm (with the wind-whipped rocks according to my audio-guide), Cezanne’s Kitchen Table, Toulouse-Lautrec’s Redhead Bathing and one of my favorites Gauguin’s Portrait of the Artist with The Yellow Christ. So yesterday was truly enriching for me. Great Coffee, lovely conversation with a soulsister, luscious books, and visual feast for the senses. How can I not fall in love with San Francisco?
The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana by Umberto Eco
Amazon | Book Depository
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
Amazon | Book Depository
Home by Marilynne Robinson
Amazon | Book Depository
The Bob Dylan Companion by Carl Benson
Amazon | Book Depository
Demons in the Spring by Joe Meno
Amazon | Book Depository
The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie
Amazon | Book Depository
In other rooms, Other wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin
Amazon | Book Depository
Luka and the Fire of Life by Salman Rushdie
Amazon | Book Depository
Arabian Nights and Days by Naguib Mahfouz
Amazon | Book Depository
The Gathering by Anne Enright
Amazon | Book Depository
The Sandman Trilogy: Endless Nights by Neil Gaiman
Amazon | Book Depository
The Sandman Trilogy: Preludes & Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman
Amazon | Book Depository
The Sandman Trilogy: The Kindly Ones by Neil Gaiman
Amazon | Book Depository
Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne, and Beyond by Guy Cogeval
Amazon | Book Depository
Gathering Books 
Oooo, I have both Umberto Eco and Mary Ann Shaffer. Shaffer’s is a nice book. Maybe we should make a theme where books are written as letter entries this time around. =) Why does Anais Nin sound so familiar?? Anyway, glad you got Preludes & Nocturnes. Scratch what I said in my previous reply. You need 17 more Sandman, since Endless Nights is one of its spinoffs. It’s a nice one, though, because it describes each of the Endless. Enjoy your books. Good luck with our reading. Haha. =)
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Yes. I was thinking about the Letter theme for our February special. We might as well make it a January-February theme since I do feel that one month is not nearly enough for us to review the books that we wish. Yes, that’s a good thought for the incoming year.
Anais Nin, my dear, I have reviewed in our restricted Multiply accounts previously. Not suitable for children. Strictly R-18. A Spy in the House of Love. Ring a bell? Hahaha.
Regarding the 17 more Sandman graphic novels, I am more than happy with my current set of four, thankyouverymuch. Hahaha. They are quite pricey despite the fact that I got them in one of the cheapest gently-used bookstore that I can find in SFO. I am sure there are several more bookstores I can find that specialize on this. We do have to meet up in that bookstore in San Diego that you messaged me about, but I would suggest that you come pick me up in the place where we’re staying, how does that sound? See you soon, baby girl. We travel tomorrow after lunch to San Diego.
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Another visit to Green Apple!!! Amazing.
I love Umberto Eco. I’ve only read In The Name of the Rose and I was blown away. I was like “move away dan brown, learn from the master.” Haha. Rushdie, Rushdie….He is one of those authors I’m dying to read but fail to purchase. Hopefully next year I can get a start in reading his novels. I’m drooling over the sandman collection. I have digital copies of some of the sandman volumes and other neil gaiman graphic novels, but one of these days i’m going to get myself hard copies.
What luck you get to see the actual work of the artists. Sigh. San Francisco sounds so great!
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Hey Mary, I think I also read The Island of the Day Before by Eco. Thing is after reading one novel, your head is swimming full of ideas I can hardly remember what the entire book is about after several months or so. Bad I know.
I’m not sure how digital copies of the Sandman would do. I mean, come on. A graphic novel in digital format? Let me know how that goes. Hahaha.
Yes, you have to visit San Francisco soon. =)
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