The book reading and signing went fine. I worked myself up into a tizzy, and prepped in all kinds of ways, but Josh, the talented interlocutor, was lovely and very conversational and I was able to be myself and tell stories. I might even let family come to the next one! We sold a bunch of books and I signed all the remaining copies at the store (apparently signed copies sell better). Also, Nicole tipped me off that the old discount code didn't work for her. The publisher has given me a new one, it is FORM20.
I took the next day off. Like really off. If I owed anyone a text or a phone call or an email it just wasn't happening.
I've been spending all my time on summer reading... Finished the new Elizabeth Strout, then finished the new Ann Patchett. Both were lovely. I'd love to read The Things We Never Say with one of my bookclubs where so many are teachers. I'm currently almost through Maggie O'Farrell's Land. I get the charm the comfortable familiarity of stories like those of Strout and Patchett exercise. But give me the excitement of something like Land any day. I'm loving the anti-colonial intrigue, the imaginative recreation of bog people, the random snippet that pirates wore gold earrings so they could be used to pay for their funerals...
I spent a lot of time at the garden center. Also a lot of cash. But it's ok--I shop exclusively in my closet, and have no expensive habits or memberships--I can indulge myself. It was mostly flowers, but if the veggies take off, we/the deer will be grateful.
I had a long and lovely dream about my Amma, sis, and me. We were visiting a fabulous desert palace. (we were supposed to go to Turkey together this year.) We were sitting on a bench holding hands and I was playing a new-to-me song (Niall Horan “Heaven” I bet the title is not a coincidence) because it has some surprising melodic changes in the chorus I thought my mom would like (she did). Then I offered to get my sister ice cream, and my mom said the most her thing possible! "What, Kanna? You’re going to eat ice cream without me?" That's when I woke up.
Pic: I found this hasty scribble from my mom I'd saved. It had been on something she'd sent me via someone who was visiting. A box of sweets, I think. I took it as a good sign for the week.
14 comments:
What a beautiful update this was, Maya. I knew your book signing would go well! You know I am here to enable your garden centre spending! We are the same!
I have your book downloaded to my Kobo, but I have 8 library books I haaave to get through, so I will be reading it in snippets.
I loved the Patchett and Strout SO much. Reading them is like coming home.
Good Luck
I'm glad the book signing went well. Buying plants and reading sounds therapeutic to me. I am currently reading four books at once and I managed to dip into each of them yesterday.
A few nights ago I dreamt about my father, which doesn't happen often. He had just moved into a new house and was showing me around it. I would say it was about him moving on, except he's been dead for 16 years and change. Anyway, it was a pretty house and I told him he had good taste in houses (he did). When I thought about the dream later in the day, I felt happy, almost as if I'd really seen him.
What a lovely dream to have! (And ice cream--even better!)
I'm moments away from finishing Whistler, already finished The Things We Never Say, and Land is waiting in my book cellar. It's been such a busy time with babysitting and yard stuff.
Your book signing--I knew it would be great. I'm ordering your book today; thanks for the updated code. (I thought it was just me!)
So, so glad you're taking some major Me Time. That's what summers are for!
They are always there. We just can't see us, but still, they visit. I love your dream -- and the note. Whistler is on my birthday list (at the moment, it is the only thing on my birthday list.) I'm also hoping to read Land soon. till on the fence about "The Things..." I think buying plants always feeling healing. Living things that continue to grow and offer us so much. Sometimes I can't stop. Finally, three cheers on the book signing. I knew it would go well, but also that it can be nerve wracking until you realize "I've got this!" You did have it and we all knew you would.
I love dream visits with my loved ones, be they gone from this world or laying next to me. I love your mom’s response, ‘you’re going to eat ice cream without me?’ HA! So perfect. I’m glad you had that lovely dream.
I’m so glad that your reading went so well, and that you took some down time to just CHILL. Often life does not afford us that opportunity, so when it does, we should embrace it mightily.
I’m about 80% through Whistler (how come Nance can make it italics and I cannot? Did she use html?) and have already decided that I am going to treat myself and read it again. I finished The Things We Never Say (Let’s see if that worked) and immediately started it over again. I’m looking forward to Land, but I’m 141st in line. Unless they get more copies, it’s 13 weeks. That’s OK, something to look forward to. Oh, now I see that I have Whistler on hold to listen to (5 week wait), which I definitely will do. Maybe I won’t reread the physical copy, and will move on to a new book. Decisions decisions!
I am so glad your book signing went so well - but I am not at all surprised. You are such a lovely, warm person. I knew you'd do great.
I love that your sweet Amma visited you in a dream. I am sure it was very sad and hard to wake up from the dream, though. :(
Thanks, Nicole. Yes! The Strout and Patchett have something very familiar about them!
Thank you!
I hope your dream felt as comforting as mine did, Steph. A new house sounds pretty significant and symbolic. Hugs!
Four books! How do you manage that?!!?
I would love to talk about our summer book list some time, Nance!
Nurturing (babysitting + yard) is lovely but tiring, I'm sure... XO
Thank you for the vote of confidence, Jeanie :)! Plants always do feel healing. And they're somewhat clutter-free. I rarely regret those purchases.
Do you hold things people did in dreams against them? lol I think I sometimes do?
_Whistler_ is read by Ann Patchett herself, so that should be fun! (How did you html?)
This is so kind of you, Lisa! But that's so characteristic of you :) <3
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