sogni d'oro: lists

Showing posts with label lists. Show all posts

past annual favorite book lists:

2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016

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Sharing my favorite books read during the past year is one of my favorite annual traditions. I had a goal to read 30 books in 2023, and ended up reading 36 total during the year. Of my favorites pictured, I read three on my kindle and listened to two on audio (and read print copies of the rest) so I borrowed those five from the library to include in my stack. Also this might be the first year in which I didn't finish reading any poetry collections—usually I read at least a few during the year, but I have gotten held up with one I started and still haven't finished, so I hope to rectify this in the coming year since poetry remains one of my favorite genres.

Usually I don't rank my favorites, but I will note my standout favorites here: T&T&T, Ghosts, Station Eleven, and the Emma M. Lion series (of which I read vol. 2-7 this year; volume 1 was included on last year's favorites list). But, per usual, and in no particular order below—the complete list!

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow // Gabrielle Zevin

Wowowow. This novel was incredibly beautiful and moving. The story follows two friends (and some of the people in their close circle) who meet as children, bonding over playing video games in the children's wing of the hospital, and who grow up to form a creative partnership designing video games. On its face, this is not the usual subject matter that would interest me, but I have my friend Allison to thank for introducing me to the artistic aspect of many games a few years back (notably via the game Firewatch, which Allison correct surmised I might enjoy for its storytelling and gorgeous graphics, as well as subject matter). This novel really taps into those aspects of video games, giving you firsthand insight into the minds of several fictional designers who innovate within the industry in notable ways and create games that reflect their unique vision of the world. The relationships within the story are complex and layered, with many years passing over the course of the book. The title is indeed a reference to the famous Macbeth soliloquy and the way this phrase was woven into the story thematically was so deftly done and gave a gorgeous literary and lyrical bent to the prose and story throughout. The way Zevin also used the imaginative world of games to create scenarios that illuminated the inner lives of the characters was truly incredible, and several parts made me cry because they were so beautifully written (you may know I have long loved William Morris as a craftsman and designer; the strawberry thief chapter made me weep). A secondary theme in the novel was chronic health issues/disability which I found very compelling as well. I don't feel I can say much more without introducing spoilers, so I'll leave it at that. I almost didn't get to this book this year but I am so glad I did.

Ghosts // Dolly Alderton

This was another of my favorite novels of the year. Dolly Alderton is best known for her widely loved "Everything I Know About Love" (which I am absolutely finally going to read this year!!) and Ghosts is her first novel. I loved it a lot and found it to be one of the most apt and accurate depictions of the milieu of dating in your 30s I have ever read. I found myself underlining and marking so many passages that felt like they were pulled straight from my own consciousness and life experiences. Alderton hones in on the too-oft-unspoken reality that women in their 30s face—the pressures of our biological clocks (of preserving a future of possibility and choice that we may not now be ready for but still have to consider and grapple with) and how this complicates ones love life. One of the other major themes of the novel is navigating the reality of aging parents/parental health issues as a young adult, and this secondary theme added dimension and depth to a novel about app dating that I had not expected and which I related a lot to as well.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Volumes 2-7 // Beth Brower

I would not be able to choose a favorite volume if I tried—this year I finally caught up on reading the (so-far-released) rest of the series of The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion. They recount the hilarious and delightful exploits of one Emma M. Lion, newly minted 21-year-old by the end of volume 7, our British heroine ensconced in a garret-attic of her rightful-inheritance-residence in a quirky neighborhood in 1880s London. If I could pick one book/series in the world in which I would like to set foot, it is with no hesitation these ones. Beth Brower has created characters who feel so real and wonderful, and this series feels so real with its blend of humorous mishap, melancholy, heartbreak, joy, and at-times mundane reality. The diary format also recalls something of a literary tradition I loved from a young age (Dear America books, anyone?) and I enjoyed every single installment so thoroughly and fully expect that I will reread them in 2024 (and continue to foist them upon anyone who will listen).

Station Eleven // Emily St. John Mandel

I would categorize this among my favorite novels I read this year, but it is typically catalogued as sci-fi which is a fair assessment. I have not read much sci-fi, but I am fully on board the Emily St. John Mandel train and will read anything that she writes (Sea of Tranquility is patiently waiting on my bookshelves). I read this early in the year and at the time was grateful I had not read it sooner, its eerie resonance with our recent CoVID-19 pandemic looming large during my reading. There is a line in it about the protagonist adding a bouquet of daffodils to a grocery store run at the onset of the pandemic in the story, and I remembered doing the same thing when I made a grocery store visit in mid-March 2020, unsure of what was to come but seeking consolation through small acts of beauty. This imagery (and how it has stuck with me months later) feels like the best in-brief summation of a novel that was about the staying power of art and creativity, and how these are essential parts of what makes us human and what connects us to each other. Also maybe 2024 will be the year I finally read King Lear (my friend Sam's favorite Shakespeare play so it has been on my list for that reason and it's about three sisters so it feels like a personal prerequisite [although I realize that the inter-sister politics of King Lear may not be totally accurate to my own sisters-three])? Also Emily St. John Mandel's run-on sentences are masterful.

Under the Tuscan Sun // Frances Mayes

This is a book that transports you, and I read it during the winter months at the beginning of the year and found the escape to sunny Toscana the perfect antidote to a long, snowy Utah winter. I adore the film (it has so many good one-liners and a wry humor that feels slightly different than the rest of the 90s romcoms I love but resonates just as much) and the book was just as delightful.

"In my next life, when I am an architect, I always will design houses with kitchens that open to the outdoors. I love stepping out to head and tail my beans while sitting on the stone wall. I set dirty pots out to soak, dry my dishcloths on the wall, empty excess clean water on the arugula, thyme, and rosemary right outside the door. Since the double door is open day and night in summer, the kitchen fills with light and air. A wasp—is it the same one?—flies in every day and drinks from the faucet, then flies right out."

"The first morning train takes me through fields of red poppies in bloom, olive groves, and by now familiar stony villages. Haystacks, nuns in white four abreast, bed linens flung out the window, sheepfold, oleander, Italy! I stare out the window the whole way."

How to Keep House While Drowning // KC Davis

This book came highly recommended by several friends and it resonated with me so much. Davis reframes the banal, tedious, repetitive chores of daily life as “care tasks,” removing the moral value we/our society has ascribed to them and instead thinking of them as kindnesses we perform for our future selves or our loved ones (if you are a parent or caretaker or partner). The book is for everyone but especially geared toward anyone who is going through a challenging period, deals with any debilitating effects of mental health, or is neurodivergent, with the recognition that any of these things can create barriers or obstacles to handling care tasks without becoming overwhelmed. The layout of the book lends itself to quick bouts of reading or skimming and makes it easy to quickly identify the key points without a huge time investment.

Davis outlines a clear and simple path with a low barrier to entry of navigating care tasks during a state of overwhelm and how to make your space function for you (rather than the other way around). I also think she does this in a very thoughtful way so you can take what serves you and leave what doesn’t; it’s a bunch of ideas along a continuum, not an all-or-nothing approach. Davis’ mindset has been so helpful to me as I have been a bit overwhelmed by life since starting grad school a few months ago. She also reframes rest in ways that were really eye-opening to me and helpful as I continue trying to practice self-kindness around rest and recovery from stress and school and life. She also discusses the gender politics of labor in ways that I could see being very helpful for many of my friends who shoulder the majority of the unpaid caretaking labor in their domestic partnerships—there are several chapters dealing with the quantifying of unpaid or emotional labor and how even those not performing paid work outside the home are as deserving and in need of rest as the wage-earners in a family. Anyway, it’s a quick read and I highly recommend it!

Emma // Alexander McCall Smith

I found this book a few years ago at DI and bought it because I love Jane Austen. This was my first introduction to Alexander McCall Smith's writing—he is best known for his No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, which I hope to read eventually. This was a clever little novel that was an easy read and low time commitment, so all said I enjoyed it immensely. There were so many understated humorous moments that had me laughing. This retelling is set in 1990s England, essentially just a couple centuries removed from its original inspiration, situated in the same locales. Emma is a university student studying interior decorating and she is trying to find an eligible guy to fund Harriet Smith's gap year [of Emma's projected dreams]. My only complaint is that I felt the friendship/relationship between Emma and Knightley to be a bit underdeveloped. But I thought Smith's cultural positioning to be very aptly rendered, with the Woodhouses occupying the upper class social echelon in their country town with its 90s equivalents of the usual Austenian foibles.

Book Lovers // Emily Henry

This year I joined the ranks of the Emily Henry fangirls. I rarely read from the romance genre, but enough of my friends and trusted readers raved about Henry's work that I delved into the genre a little more this year. I think Book Lovers was a great introduction to Henry's work for me—she taps into a topic I (and most readers I daresay) love—books—and uses this in a great way to connect the two protagonists, Nora and Charlie, who both work in the book biz. Henry also takes some of the most common romance tropes and turns them on end, using them to explore a new side of the genre in a way I really enjoyed (again, not having read much in the genre, but knowing at least a little from past exposure, movies, etc.). I also just really enjoyed her writing and characters.

Tokyo Ever After // Emiko Jean

This YA novel was delightful and a fun, quick read (along with the sequel Tokyo Dreaming). I think the best description of it is "Princess Diaries" meets "Crazy Rich Asians" with a dose of Japanese imperial history and dreamy security detail. I also think the book explored some interesting themes relating to the Japanese diaspora and race, as through the course of the story the main character Izumi has very different experiences in her Washington-state hometown versus those she has in Tokyo, Japan.

The Peregrine // J.A. Baker

This book by British author J.A. Baker first came on my radar through the memoir H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald (one of my favorite reads in 2017) and the writings of Robert Macfarlane. The Peregrine is considered a classic of British nature writing, and I completely understand why. I listened to an audio production during my cross-country drive this summer and was delighted to find that it was narrated by David Attenborough. His narration was excellent and I felt it added a lot to my enjoyment and experience of the book, which is Baker's account of trailing and observing a pair of peregrine falcons near his home in the Essex countryside.

Baker's descriptions of the British countryside through its different seasons are striking and lovely. Most of my favorite moments of these books described these encounters with weather and landscape during his romps and excursions watching and tracking the falcons. One particularly gorgeous section describes Baker's encounter with an owl. I also loved the delightful quirks of British prose and Attenborough's delivery—"anti clockwise" instead of counter-clockwise, Attenborough's pronunciation of the word "turquoise." The peregrine falcons are also rendered in incredible detail—my favorite part about the falcons was Baker's painstaking description of their eyes, of their incredible power of vision and sight, the impressive size of their ocular system in proportion to their slight feathered bodies.

"December 3rd. All day the low clouds lay above the marshes and thin rain drifted in from the sea. Mud was deep in the lanes and along the sea-wall; thick ochre mud, like paint; oozing glutinous mud that seemed to sprout on the marsh, like fungus; octopus mud that clutched and clung and squelched and sucked; slippery mud, smooth and treacherous as oil; mud stagnant; mud evil; mud in the clothes, in the hair, in the eyes; mud to the bone. On the east coast in winter, above or below the tide-line, man walks in water or in mud; there is no dry land. Mud is another element. One comes to love it, to be like a wading bird, happy only at the edges of the world where land and water meet, where there is no shade and nowhere for fear to hide."

Anywhere you open the book, open to any page, and it is rife with this prose, never repetitive or dull for a moment in its many intimations of earth, heaven, ground underfoot, birds trailing through the sky. I highly recommend the audio, but I intend to find a secondhand (or kindle) copy so I can reread and further savor the prose.

Spare // Prince Harry
I listened to the audio version of this highly anticipated memoir by Prince Harry. Lots has already been said on the book but I included it on my favorites list as I thought it was very well done and I enjoyed the audio version narrated by Prince Harry himself. Monarchy and its trappings have their own problematic history and present, still I am sympathetic to the Sussexes' plight and think they deserve safety and security just as much as anyone else. In his memoir, Harry really delves into his experiences with the British media and his grief following his mother's tragic death, among other things, and I found these parts of the book especially poignant and heartbreaking.

Beach Read // Emily Henry
This was my second Emily Henry read of the year, and while I didn't love it quite as much as Book Lovers, I would still consider it a favorite from the year and I did really enjoy it. I will say I think the title is a little misleading, as the beach in question is actually more of a lakeshore (rather than the ocean, which is always 100% what I conjure in my mind at the word "beach" as an ocean-loving coastal/Jersey girl), but I will forgive Henry the word choice as I think it is a cute title and I believe the name is meant to conjure another common trope and turn it on its head—"beach reads" is often used as a synonym for "chick lit," another phrase too often used to malign women's interests and the things women like. The protagonist in Beach Read is a writer of the romance genre and I think Henry explored some interesting themes in the book as through the story she explores the things we ascribe with literary merit and as good writing versus those that we don't. Again, not having read much in the romance genre, I appreciate the between-the-lines argument Henry makes to legitimize and normalize the things many women love and enjoy and to give us permission to do the same. Again, as with Book Lovers, I enjoyed Henry's writing and characters a lot. I'm looking forward to her new release to come out this year, and to get caught up on her other books in the meantime.

Trick Mirror: reflections on self-delusion // Jia Tolentino
favorite essays (top favorites*)
The I in Internet*
Always Be Optimizing
Pure Heroines*
The Story of a Generation in Seven Scams*
The Cult of the Difficult Woman*
I Thee Dread

Trick Mirror was the last book I finished reading in 2023 and another that has been on my list for several years at the recommendation of several friends (notably Ynna). Tolentino describes the collection: "These essays are about the spheres of public imagination that have shaped my understanding of myself, of this country, and of this era." Her musings are erudite, personal, and meticulously researched, ranging on topics from the internet and reality TV to the Greek system at her alma mater and the pomp and circumstance of modern weddings. Her writing is incredible and she has such a strong voice and perspective; I look forward to reading more by her.

What are your reading goals for 2024? I am hoping to make a dent in reading more of the books I already own and want to read 25 books this year (a goal moderated by the realities of grad school life). Happy reading!

• My dad recycled my homework accidentally when I was in first grade (recycled it, then he had dropped off our recycling at the dump). I remember him writing a note to my teacher Mrs. Hargus—on recycled scratch paper, no less.

• I rode my bike or walked (via a shortcut through the woods partway down our street) to my first paying jobs, baby-sitting for a family in our neighborhood and tutoring.

• One of my favorite features of my childhood home is our patio. Our street is named for its plentiful, grand oak trees and our yard was full of them. The family which built our house in the 1970s built the patio with section cut out around an oak tree that had grown there first. Every few years, my dad would saw the opening an inch or two wider to allow the tree room to grow as it slowly gained girth. I can think of so many other situations and circumstances under which such a tree would have been downed to make way for suburban living, but in my rural south Jersey community, the previous homeowners had shared this sense of reverence for living, growing things.

• During the spring and summer months, we'd often eat outside at our picnic table on said patio. Due to the nature of the slatted wood for the patio decking, it was easy to lose objects between the cracks. My parents had a wicker container holding the plasticware we used outside, rather than our indoors cutlery, as it was not concerning if we lost a plastic fork or knife to the abyss below (decomposing leaves and a secret trapdoor unearthing the cover to our septic tank, oh my!). Since we ate on the patio regularly, though, we washed the plastic silverware. I grew up thinking everyone washed and reused their plastic silverware! My mom taught me the best way to cut brownies is with a plastic knife, so I still utilize the wash-and-reuse method for leftover takeout cutlery.

• Growing up in south Jersey, my home town is composed of a large amount of preserved farmland, as are the neighboring communities. At work earlier this year, when a committee was discussing agricultural preservation in my current hometown of Provo, UT, I was spurred into action looking up and reading about the agricultural preservation programs and systems of New Jersey. Proud to be from the Garden State. <3

• Due to our towering oak trees, gardening was mildly difficult, but my dad got us started on several iterations of gardening projects throughout the years. I remember vividly checking on our carrots every day in the tiny flower bed next to our brick chimney. But then it was almost time to harvest and we found the squirrels got to them first.

• When possible, my dad would mow our lawn around any tiny saplings that grew. We planted several pine trees when I was a little girl that have grown to enormous size—it is exciting to see that change just within my lifetime. The heavily forested areas of our yard would boast lots of sassafras saplings, and our front yard would always be littered with germinating acorns.

• We do not have garbage pickup in my hometown, so taking our own trash and sorted recycling to the dump was routine from a young age. Imagine my horror upon moving to the dorms at BYU in Utah, where recycling was scant, if the options existed at all! I'm pleased to say Utah has made great strides in my near-decade of on-and-off living here, but I always roll my eyes when people complain about how recycling is a pain. It's not a pain if you make a habit of it!

• My mom had several canvas tote bags from her medical school years and they were the coolest (one of them had a graphic pattern with environmental statistics about trees, no less!). We always used these for the library, so using reusable bags for the grocery store is second nature.

I read a whole stack of books in 2016 (52 to be exact—my most ambitious goal yet!) and wanted to share the highlights: my top ten favorite reads of 2016. (only nine pictured; the tenth is in transit between NJ and UT)

1. Upstream // Mary Oliver
Mary Oliver is my favorite poet and one of my favorite writers in general. It turns out her prose is just as wonderful as her poetry (only to be expected), and this volume contains so many gems. Her view of the natural world and internal life are one and she expresses her observations of the world with such knowing wonder. I feel so blessed to live in a world where she is still producing and publishing her beautiful words. A couple of favorite passages here and here.

2. When Women Were Birds // Terry Tempest Williams
This may be my favorite memoir to date. Terry Tempest Williams explores variations on the theme of one's voice and this small volume contains many perspectives on what that means—for women, for oneself, and for others. I was in awe of her interpretations of this theme and this is a book I will revisit again and again.

3. Far From the Madding Crowd // Thomas Hardy
I love classics and am slowly getting up to speed on some of the great ones. This was my first exposure to Thomas Hardy and quickly became one of my favorite novels. I loved Hardy's writing and his cast of characters, namely Bathsheba Everdene, Gabriel Oak, Sergeant Troy, and Mr. Boldwood. Each character is portrayed with such depth and complexity, and I was riveted to their intersecting worlds. I particularly loved Hardy's Biblical allusion, from the names of the two protagonists, to Oak's occupation as shepherd, to the themes of redemption and love (and so on).

4. My Brilliant Friend // Elena Ferrante
This has been on my list for some time. As a student studying Italian, all I longed for was a modern Italian writer whose works were ones I would connect with and could experience as a modern reader, rather than a scholar of historic Italian literature (which I should note, I also love as its own distinct experience). Thus when I first saw reviews circulating of Ms. Ferrante's works, I was delighted. I had hoped for a long time to track down a copy in its native language, but as I had assumed, that is hard ($$$) to come by in the States. I am planning to purchase some of her books when I am in Italy in the spring, and will happily lend them to any of my fellow Italophile readers! I read the first installment of the Neapolitan novels just a few weeks ago and I am hooked. Enough about why I was excited about this book—below is my review from Goodreads which actually addresses the novel itself.

I loved the first installment of the Neapolitan novels, following the friendship of Raffaela (Lila) Cerullo and Elena (Lenù) Greco in 1950s Napoli. Elena Ferrante illustrates the story of this friendship with many contrasts—between the rough-and-tumble neighborhood where the girls grow up and the world outside it; the wealth and ostentation of the Camorra with the city's poverty; the formal Italian of Lenù's schooling with harsh, crass epithets delivered in napoletano dialect; abiding love and its shallow counterfeits; and the stark differences between the girls which draw them together and push them apart in turn. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series and I am also hoping to get my hands on a copy of this book in Italian; throughout my reading I could hear/envision the dialogue delivered in the rapidity and clarity of its native tongue. I am always in awe of translators and their ability to capture both the essence and fiber of a work without leaving it stilted, awkward, or flat, and this book is no exception.

5. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life // Anne Lamott
This book is a favorite of my mom's and she gave me a copy for Christmas last year. I love Anne Lamott's frank tone and humorous anecdotes, and indeed her instructions and advice for writing and life hold true. The title originates with a family story—her brother had procrastinated a bird project for school until the night before and was faced with the daunting task. Her dad advised that the only way to do the project was bird by bird—one step at a time. It's a simple motto, but an effective reminder. As part of the Girls Gone Oscar Wilde writing group, I've passed on a copy to a fellow member as I've found Anne's advice to be sound.

6. Grace Notes // Brian Doyle
I love Brian Doyle and this essay collection is wonderful. I love essays, as reading them is not such an endeavor or commitment as other types of reading can be at times. I usually like to include at least one collection of essays or poetry in my rotation at any given time for this very reason. Most of these essays are several pages each, and best enjoyed in snippets. Doyle's unconventional writing style may grate on some, but I love his mode of expression and quick wit. Favorites include "The Next Eleven Minutes," "Advice to My Son," and "[Silence]." If you have never read "The Wet Engine," by Doyle, I'd recommend that to start (another favorite).

7. Where'd You Go, Bernadette // Maria Semple
This novel was released several years ago and I recall Emily reading it one day when we were at the pool together (ah simpler times). I had heard mixed reviews and wondered whether it was worth my time, but during our camping trip in the Canadian Rockies, Laura recommended I read the novel. It's a quick read, epistolary in fashion (like other favorites—Guernsey! 84, Charing Cross Road!—though set in modern-day Seattle), and quippy. I think I loved it all the more working as I do in local government; Bernadette is a retired architect and has major zoning issues arise with her neighbors—all part of the daily grind in my previous department.

8. Cold Comfort Farm // Stella Gibbons
Published in 1932, I only recently discovered this gem thanks to a recommendation from my friend Allison. This is a bizarre description, but hear me out: Cold Comfort Farm is like Jane Austen and Joe vs. the Volcano met up for a wild weekend in 1930s U.K. It's a bizarre and brilliant comedic satire, and I loved it. Like Joe vs. the Volcano, this might be a love-it-or-hate-it situation, but I say it's a risk worth taking. Plus, the copy I obtained from the library included an introduction by Lynne Truss, which is always a good sign.

9. Between the World & Me // Ta-Nehisi Coates
In a day and age where trending hashtags all too frequently include names of our fellow Americans, Ta-Nehisi Coates' book Between the World and Me is an important work granting insight and an account of his experiences in his black body. Most vivid in my memory are stories about his son—a recollection of his young son in tears following news of Tamir Rice's death, a boy his own age; and an experience Coates recounts of riding an escalator with his son, with other passengers shoving past and not thinking twice, and the symbolic message embodied in such a quotidian experience.

10. When Breath Becomes Air // Paul Kalanithi
I have been a longtime reader of the blog A Cup of Jo, and was so shocked and saddened to hear of Mr. Kalanithi's death from lung cancer; he and his wife Lucy, blogger Joanna Goddard's twin sister, had been occasional figures making an appearance now and again on Joanna's blog. With this connection in mind, I loved reading Paul Kalanithi's memoir; it was beautiful and moving and I cried and cried. I was particularly drawn to his path to neurosurgery; he was fascinated by the human mind and psyche and for much of his life had sought to better understand it through literature. He then pursued neurosurgery as a means of understanding the physical entity which bore such metaphysical influence. I am reminded of my physician mother, whose interests of science and art are interwoven and have been a major influence in my upbringing.

Honorable mentions
• Walk Two Moons // Sharon Creech: reread this childhood favorite and it holds up marvelously.
• Harry Potter series // J.K. Rowling: it was about time for a revisit. These are forever favorites.
• The Truth According to Us // Annie Barrows: Barrows is one of the brilliant aunt-niece pair behind The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and her solo novel was wonderful.
• Daring Greatly // Brené Brown: one of my friends calls her "Saint Brené" and I think that says it all.

What did you enjoy reading in 2016? Did you discover any new favorites to recommend? Happy reading in 2017!

In February, my mom came out to Utah whence we roadtripped to southern California for President's Day/Lauren's birthday weekend for the purpose of Lauren's visiting some film graduate schools in LA. I came along for the ride and to spend time with my mom and California relatives. I had hoped to escape the cold and with it, the stressors of my life in Provo, but alas, I didn't feel quite myself during our trip. But it was beyond wonderful to get a break from the dreary winter weather and enjoy the sun in California. It is always really special to be able to spend time with my mom in the area where she grew up; even though it has changed so much from when she was a little girl, and even from when I was little, it is a place that holds so much history for me and for my family. I know the names and geography of the southern California beach towns as well as I know those of the Delaware & Jersey shore, and it is always feels like home to be there.

southern California essentials, pictured and a few unpictured:

• Balboa Island beach house and plenty of bougainvillea, naturally

• classic chocolate-dipped frozen bananas and hippo cookies from Dad's & pigeon- and dog-watching from the stroller with baby cousin-nieces

• rubbing in the perfect weather while everyone else was stuck in wintry locales (sorrynotsorry)

• dinner at tender greens with my dear friend Brooke <3

• ice cream at Carmela's in LA (recommendation from my friend James, who also gave me some of their ice cream recipes back in the day!!) (pictured: cara cara [orange] sorbet and mint chip—both of them, amazing)

• the cutest little library in LA

• sockerbit—all the Scandinavian berry & licorice candies you could possibly imagine

• LACMA landmarks & my favorite monumental Matisse mosaic

• my dearest Layne & baby Heidi! (Arguably the happiest, most darling child I've ever met)

• a quick stop at the ocean to dip my toes in the sea foam and take away the smell of the ocean infused in my hair

• Souplantation with our cousins, lots of laughter, and sharing of family stories both familiar and new

-What are the historic designations for a city like Siena, where everyday buildings are over well 500 years old?
The architectural studio where I interned in Siena specialized in historic restoration with a modern flair. The photos above show the interior and exterior of the façade of the Museo di Tartuca that was under construction when I was an intern. I got to walk around the completed portion and see the areas under construction and talk with the architect Andrea on the project site. I only recently discovered their new website with photos of the completed project (!!!); now with insight from my current job and work experiences, I am so curious about the process for approving a project like this in a historic city. Also, how stunning, right? I could write several more posts about the studio's projects I toured/saw and learned about and their design inspiration and innovations.

-What is a day-in-the-life of the Chief Building Official of Venezia? In order to assess whether buildings are structurally sound, must they don full scuba gear?

-What is zoning code enforcement like in the city of Napoli? (referring to this scene, which I understand is common)

-What is the typical construction process in Roma? (I love this photo of construction of the metropolitana.)
Before I left to go to Italy four years ago, I met up with my friend Danielle (formerly an au pair in Rome), told me where her favorite gelaterie were located and what I should eat at a pasticceria. She also explained to me the metro system: two lines (A and B) that make an X through the city; with nearly everything set atop ancient ruins, any construction is infinitely more difficult.

These are the kinds of things that my job brings to mind and next time I go to Italy (I don't have any trips planned currently; magari!) I plan to do some more research in the field. You're invited.

sources: Tartuca Museo del Palio e del Costume - René Riller via Studio Andrea Milani; edificio veneziano - my photo; costruzione della metropolitana romana - via Roma Sparita

the low hesitant grumblings of faraway thunder, not quite loud enough or close enough to echo back from the mountains

the hollow thunk of the first bisecting cut of a perfectly ripe watermelon

raindrops falling slowly on the leaves of trees

one cricket, louder than all the rest due to proximity

a symphony of the neighbor's sprinklers running

chocolate for breakfast. and for a bedtime snack...
dinner on the patio. two patios. pizza for both dinners, incidentally.
to read or to reread, that is the question.
watermelon + mint simple syrup. a match made in heaven and again in our kitchen.
books and running clothes indefinitely strewn about the perimeter of my living space.
lots of little X's and edits to my Ragnar miles.
the season of outdoor movies (pictured: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty).
an ever growing list of ice cream recipes that I want to try (jeni's beet ice cream, meet beets in my garden).

oh summer. (the best)

I have a number of book related things that I have come across lately(ish) and now that they have reached a critical mass, I give you this list:

A. I love this book mural which is located in an alley/courtyard just behind a used bookstore in Salt Lake. I'm so curious about who selected the books (likely the artist) and why they did so. Did they pick their personal favorites? Have they read all of these books? I'm so intrigued, as I have only read a handful of the pictured titles and there were a number of books that I was not familiar with at all. Which books have you read? I can claim The Grapes of Wrath (obscured by a tree), Brave New World, The Wizard of Oz, Winnie the Pooh, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, The Cat in the Hat. Children's literature for the win.

B. I read this fascinating article in Forbes last week, "Kids Don't Read Books Because Parents Don't Read Books." The author Shapiro examines the oft-touted argument that kids don't read because they are inundated by technology. While there is certainly some truth to that, he posits that kids don't read because the adults in their lives do not read; children model behaviors they see in adults and if adults don't read, why would they? I thought this was such an interesting view and definitely something I would have taken for granted, as I grew up with parents who read in a home full of brimming bookcases.

C. I love love love this blog post written by one of my professors at BYU. I completely identify with this level of book-loving.

D. I came across this (one of 5 bajillion) list of "books to read in your 20s." Mostly I like to look at these lists and then pick and choose from them the books that strike my fancy. This list I liked, however, because the author picked really great book covers to accompany each of the titles (example). Fellow book-lovers will recognize the importance of books with good covers. Despite the adage which advises against judging by a cover and metaphorical implications aside, I frequently do judge books by their covers. (M and I agree this is the best cover of A Passage to India)

E. Speaking of books with good covers: Rifle Paper Company meets several books that I love. Yes please.

. . . .

I didn't realize until partway through writing this list that I had started ordering it with ABC as opposed to a numbered list. How literary.

EDIT: I forgot one: F. Chipotle just announced some new packaging as part of their "Cultivating Thought" series—they will print quotes and words by well-known contemporary authors on their cups and bags. As someone who usually reads whatever is in front of me when seated at a table in a restaurant, I love this.

• tomorrow is Friday!
• an Alfred Hitchcock film series
• a T.S. Eliot childhood connection that explains my apparently unknown knowledge of his other works that I haven't read
• sushi - specifically avocado rolls
• the Pomelo-scented candle burning a few feet away
• bees buzzing outside my window (bees not pictured)
• bee leads
• books.
• new running clothes as a reward for my first run of Ragnar training. uffa
• pink sunset clouds
• mountains for a horizon
• reading about ice cream shops in cities I hope to visit someday
• the First Presidency message
• expected mail and unexpected mail (but not the mail from the IRS)
• finding out that April is National Poetry Month after I decided this week that I should read more poetry

I used to write such lists all the time; it has been much too long.

I went to Seattle a few weekends ago where Amy & Brian were married in the Seattle Temple! I love them so much and that weekend was really the happiest. Amy was radiant, Brian was handsome, their families so happy, our friends ecstatic.

I love these girls so very much.

these cupcakes were every bit as delicious as they look. (maybe we tried all the kinds)

during the wedding weekend we:
• told secrets in our hotel room
• struggled to turn off the AC in our hotel room [and almost called the front desk to ask how to do so. we figured it out before making fools of ourselves]
• went swimming at the hotel
• took naps at the hotel [and were apprehended by the bride and groom themselves]
• accompanied the bride to nail & hair appointments [the best.]
• waited outside of the temple and pinned on boutonnieres and gave lots of hugs
• took lots of photos
• took off our shoes
• babysat Amy's darling niece
• ate fortune cookies and several delicious meals
• waited out the rain
• played our playlists
• danced our hearts out [unofficially; there was not official dancing]
• ate lots of cupcakes
• jumped on the trampoline [yes, in our bridesmaids dresses]
• climbed into the treehouse [also in our bridesmaids dresses]
• told Amy "go long!" when she threw the bouquet but were happier when Julie caught it
• were appalled with Brian's choice of departure outfit... the Hawaiian shorts? really? [they were in fact going to Hawaii, so we will give him that much]

The reception was magical and it was simply the best way to celebrate the day. Larsens, I love you.