Penguin Girl

Anne McCaffrey: A Life with Dragons
by Robin A. Roberts
University Press of Mississippi
© 2007
Hardback, 243pp

I have a thing for the name Anne. It’s my middle name, it’s the name of the main character in one of my favourite book series, it’s the name of several mentors I’ve been blessed with over the years. And it’s the name of one of my favourite authors.

This is the biography I thought I was picking up when I took another one home a while back. This one is for adults ;) and I loved every page of it. I think my most favourite quote can be found way back on page 172 where Anne declares “There is not a Cinderella theme. Cinderella was a wimp. My heroines are victims—strong people—who become survivors” and then explains “… my viewpoint characters are women, strong women–role models”.

omein v’omein.

Ms. McCaffrey has done amazing things for women and science-fiction and I thank Ms Roberts for undertaking this biography of such a strong and admirable woman and allowing me to get to know her a little better.

I wonder if the A for Robin A. Roberts is an initial for Anne? ;)

The allergic reaction Friday evening put a large damper on my weekend reading plans. The large amount of editing (and writing) I need to do between now and Wednesday will put a larger block to completing books this coming week.

Prelude to Space by Arthur C. Clarke
Hardback: 209 pages
© 1954, 1970 (first published 1951 according to wikipedia)
Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc. New York
Reading Clarke’s first published novel was my attempt to honour a prolific author and skilled engineer. It’s amazing to me to read a work of this topic that still felt timely and “right” written prior to the launch of sputnik. I know I am relatively young, but reading this reminded me exactly how much the world has changed in the past few decades. I’m not sure what else to write about this other than I enjoyed stepping back and pretending that I was my mother in high school and reading this as science fiction and not truth. Sputnik launched while mum was in high school though she was in college when Armstrong and Aldrin set foot on the moon. Oh and she’s 29 today too! ;) Before life changed the direction I’ve taken, I wanted to be involved in astronautics and hopefully be part of the space program and travel either to the moon or Mars (I’m not picky). These days I’m pretty ignorant of much of the program and the details but still take refuge in lost dreams.

The Modern Vegetarian Kitchen by Peter Berley
Paperback: 464 pages
© 2004
William Morrow Cookbooks
I had a 25 percent discount to a certain book store and the purchase of this over The Flexitarian Kitchen came out to pure cost. Since the majority of what I cook /is/ actually Vegetarian this seemed like a good pick. As a winning factor was that there are some suggested menus included. I’m still poor at mixing things up beyond a main dish and salad. It’s a little silly to be reading a book full of kitniyot this close to pesach, but I do find it inspiring and hope it will provide inspiration as I use up what I can and in the weeks and months after passover.

Not that you could tell from this site, but several people have recently complimented me on my writing and my ideas (as related to writing). This is a very odd feeling as I’ve spent the past decade relearning how to write after a few very disastrous English & Writing courses in both High School and University. I totally relate (though on a drastically smaller scale) to the fear Stephanie feels when a book comes out. That I fail to improve the content here hasn’t helped. We will see what time (and editing) bring. Perhaps this idea will assist in bringing something to fruition sooner rather than later.

Since you’ll ask, we were told this afternoon that they plan do deliver and install the cabinets on Tuesday. In a way we’re ok with it as it’s easier for E to take of Tuesday than Monday. It also means I can keep the stove plugged in for both tonight and tomorrow. Additionally, since I’m not home until quite late the following two nights I could really care less where my stove is. (I still love it though.)

I am starting to plan what I will do in my new kitchen when all is said and done. We do all need to remember that once the cabinets are installed we’ll still need to find and install a sink and countertop. I want stainless for many reasons, but seem to be outvoted. We’ll see what happens.

I’ve been drooling over Corrie’s food boxes and the wonderful things she’s been making. With agricultural delivery being what it is today, I often forget what items are “in season” and which aren’t. To that end I took out two seasonal cookbooks from my local library. Simply in Season by Mary Beth Lind and The Taste of the Season: Inspired Recipes for Fall and Winter by Diane Rossen Worthington. Both are written with different strengths, Lind’s book has a very fresh and appealing layout and Worthington’s photos (by Noel Barnhurst) had me sniffing the pages. They start with a glossary of what is in season and when, Lind’s is more userfriendly and educational (pretty stock photographs), though Worthington’s is much more comprehensive. Lind is a Mennonite and includes Biblical verses at the introduction to each season so if that turns you off, I’ve “warned” you. I didn’t notice these at all (they aren’t large or annoying) until writing up this pathetic review. Both books include menu ideas and also recipes that are useful year-round. I could see a place for each on my bookshelf and hope soon to test drive some of the recipes to form a stronger opinion on the books. I urge you to check them out yourself.

I had The Itty Bitty Kitchen Handbook by Justin Spring on my amazon wishlist for a while and took it off believing it to be a kitsch book and I’d rather a relative bought me something I wanted (such as a volume from the Barbara Walker Treasury). I found it in the library while picking up the other books. It’s cute, it’s funny, I disagreed with much of it (or our kitchen is large by his standards). It does however, contain some good ideas and think that my Uni should install a copy with certain housing options and it would be useful for a first apartment-I’ve-never-done-this situation. For me, however, it was a fun read and left me all the more eager to put everything back together.

In more “serious” reading (snort) I completed Alchemy and Academe edited by Anne McCaffrey. This is a collection of short stories on well, alchemy and academia. I forced myself to read all of the entries and many of them are not ones I’d generally gravitate to, but I do not find my time wasted by this. I believe that my two favourite stories are the last two, Keith Laumer’s “The Devil You Don’t” and Peter Tate’s “Mainchance”. Laumer had me laughing as I had just watched for the nteeth trillion time the Futurama episode where Fry makes a deal with the Robot Devil and gets the RD’s hands… they’re not the same story at all, but that connection made me laugh. Mainchance struck a socio-religio-politico chord in me that I’ve not yet fully figured out a few days on. A few of the other stories still have me thinking, though many of them felt uncompleted or missing something, which is why I tend to shy away from writing and reading short stories. Overall it’s a fun collection and it was nice to broaden my circle. [edited to add:] Oy! I forgot the best part (thank you m for making me open it’s covers again!): The collection begins with a poem by John Updike entitled “The Dance of the Solids” which was originally published in Scientific American, January 1969. And I agree with Ms McCaffrey that the line “Textbooks and Heaven are only Ideal”….

I’m still hopping along on all the other readings I’m both obligated to complete and I’m reading for me. I’m also trying to (gasp) purge some books out of our collection so I can either acquire more or store more fibre. [it’s a difficult choice, trust me!] Right now there are some older paperbacks going .. first I’ll offer them at BookOff (the Japanese used bookstore near the office), I forget their policy, otherwise the NYPL will get them. If I have anything I think any of my readers here may enjoy and that I’m willing to part with, you’ll get an email from me or a package. If you do computational genomics or something related or know anyone who does, please let me know. I have a copy of Ott’s Analysis of Human Genetic Linkage which is in almost brand new condition and I want to know if it’s still being used … I see the price is dropping for new copies on Amazon and used prices are even lower. I’m open to trades! Or, even though I do not see myself ever back in that field (not that I was “in it” for very long… though with my life and it’s bizarre connections, who knows?), is it a book I should keep?

ps it sux, the tv (satellite provided by the building in a weird tangled web) is out right now due to the super high winds and attempt at snow. :( I have one finger of E’s mitt’s completed and that would have made them fly by.

First things first.

My kitchen and dining table currently look like this:

It’s being demolished tomorrow at 9:30. Life will be pretty interesting for the next week or so. At least we’ve avoided having to take off additional days for this by doing it tomorrow.

I’m rearranging the posting topic schedule for the next few weeks so perhaps I can keep some sanity and also make it easier.

Today (Sunday) will be about what I’ve read and any thoughts on writing I may have. This makes more sense as I read most of my books over shabbat and return them on Monday. This way I’ll have the books with me if I want them. The remainder of the revised schedule is at the bottom of this post.

I completed quite a few books this past week. Both in anticipation of the semester and because while feeling sick I didn’t want to do much more than that.

Daughters of Abraham: Feminist Thought in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam by Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad and John L. Esposito
This is a very academic book and it’s been over a decade since I’ve looked at the three religions with that viewpoint. I’ve forgotten a good deal and much of it went over my head. However, I found each individual essay quite fascinating and I’d like to learn more about the role of women throughout history in the male-leader dominated religions.

Seed to Harvest by Octavia E Butler
Seed to Harvest is a compilation of the four Patternist novels arranged chronologically: Wild Seed, Mind of My Mind, Clay’s Ark, and Patternmaster. I didn’t bother (yet) to reread Pattnermaster, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. I still think it’s my favourite book with Clay’s Ark the least favourite. It took me a while to get into Wild Seed but once I did I was hooked. I wish greatly that I had grabbed this first, instead of Patternmaster. It’s a fascinating series with interesting themes of gender, race, and power.

Next it was All McCaffrey All the time. I read quite a bit of Anne McCaffrey this past week and am quite frustrated to be out of her books on Sunday with the library closed tomorrow. ;)

First up was the “biography/scrapbook” by her son, Todd, Dragonholder which is written for a younger reader and gives snippets to his mother’s life. It was a fun quick read, but definitely not an intense biography of the sort that’s on my current reading list [Greenspan].

Next I grabbed the entire Harper’s Hall triology, more because all the books were sitting on the shelf and I knew that I’d be taking long hot baths each night. Dragonsong, Dragonsinger, and Dragondrums are each part of this subseries to Pern. It was fun and if you find me talking obsessively about music in the coming days and weeks, I’m sorry. This sort of story does it to me. It’s a fun story with strong females and made my mandatory bathtime even more enjoyable. I definitely wish some days that I’d impressed a fire lizard.

Last of the completed reading this past week is Restoree. Honestly the cover turns me off. It looks like one of the romance novels my mom likes to read. Inside however, is a very different sort of tale and while there is a bit of romance, it is anything but. Some research now (I like to read books without being preprejudiced to the story) indicates this was her first published book and a response to how women were portrayed in SciFi. I agree with the reviews that it is very refreshing to read of a strong woman and this novel does not disappoint. I am saddened that it receives lesser attention than her other works and I’m happy I finally looked past the cover painting to the gem of a story inside.

- - -
Revised schedule, 20080120 (we’ll see how this goes)
Sunday - Books & Writing
Monday - Fibre/Create
Tues/Weds - Off (I have class and am running out of things to write)
Thurs - Tools/Work/Project Management
Friday - Jewish Learning
Saturday Evening - Food

First: It’s probably my fault that the weather was 56 °F / 13 °C today in NYC. I spent the weekend knitting my Veste, with luck I’ll finish the back by Spring. (I’ve done most of the decreases for the armholes). Ok, as it’s not Wednesday….

Three books were finished this past week:

The Gluten-Free Vegan: 150 Delicious Gluten-Free, Animal-Free Recipes by Susan O’Brien
This was the last of the cookbooks my inlaws gave me for Chanukah. It’s a fun nice easy to follow cookbook.. I hope soon to get all the ingredients together to try some vege burgers and a quinoa coffee cake. The layout of the pages are simple and sparse leaving plenty of room for notes and thoughts on the recipes. Yes, I do write in my cookbooks. I couldn’t imagine not. My MIL made a cabbage and ginger saute from it which was absolutely delightful. I have tons of tabs throughout the book of recipes I wish to try.

The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan.
I have a gift certificate to a certain big chain book store. It has taken all my energy today not to purchase the next several books so I can find out what happens*. I found the ending of this volume a little odd and almost disappointing but not too surprising. I’m enjoying it thus far and we’ll see what will happen in the future. I’m not sure why I didn’t start this series years ago when I first was eying thick paperbacks in the scifi-fantasy section but the pattern weaves what the pattern will.

Emma by Jane Austen.
I can no longer say I’ve never read any Jane Austen novels. But what a start! *HAH*! I’m not sure where to begin but say that it was a fun bizarre ride. I also need to say that today’s post was delayed so I could finish the final two chapters. I listened to much of the book by librivox (which was an odd experience as well). I have a feeling I’ll have to mull over this novel some more, read some commentaries on it, then see what happens. At times I wanted to shake Emma but I was often laughing too hard to have the ability to do so.

What do I hope to read this year? I’m not entirely sure. I hope to continue to find new friends and spend some time rereading old favourites.

* I really want to purchase Cat Bordhi’s new New Pathways for Sock Knitters, Book One [based strongly on GrumperIna’s review] but as it isn’t yet carried by this store have found that this gift card is being spent on magazines which I don’t subscribe to but seem unable to resist. I also seem to have determined a-simply-stupid-method-which-I’m-sure-everyone-knows-but-I-never-connected-the-dots-for to stick to my budget: gift cards! D’oh! Lastly, I’d like to support a local/indie supplier when I purchase this book. I’d like to when I purchase the magazines too, but I have to purchase *something*. ;)

How do people come up with such witty titles? *sigh*

I have been meaning to write about this for weeks now. NYPL has finally launched their new website. The main index page is now more portal "start page" like. This is a wonderful new version, though I have configured my main web browsers with tool bar short cuts to the parts of the library’s site I most frequently visit.

What have I completed this past week?

Pattern Master by Octavia E Butler
I’ve been meaning to read at least one of her works for quite some time. I was at the library the other day looking for a short entertaining read and found it in this slender book. I wasn’t sure if she wrote it as part of series but the book cover and the blurb seemed to indicate it was a self sufficient title. I got lucky in choosing something that indeed can stand alone. I find comfort in the reviews that the plot devices and writing style improve as Butler matures and develops as a novelist. Despite its faults, I find the theme fascinating and some may criticise me for it reassuring in that super isn’t necessarily better and that simple can hold powerful value. I found other themes and social commentary those I wish I had the chutzpah and confidence to write publicly on. I see now that I may have read the last in the series first, but do not find it too troubling except that I picked up the compilation to save myself further difficulty.

Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley
Hmm… where to begin. I toyed with titling this post “O World O time O Life!” but that’s the wrong Shelley and doesn’t really cover much. I have craftlit to thank for pushing me to finally read this work. Wow. Considering my only experience prior to listening to some of the chapters and reading most of the others was the Bugs Bunny cartoons, I have long denied myself a remarkable work and had considerable confusion at the start with the current trend of naming the creature Frankenstein, something that is not necessarily done by the creator(s) [Shelley and Victor]. I feel I should specify that I read an edition that presents the 1831 text. I haven’t read all of the critical essays included in my volume, nor do I intend to, at least not from this reading.

Since it’s 31 December, I feel I should do some sort of “year end” review of my reading this past year. Overall I’m pleased with what I’ve read. I’ve pushed myself to try things I haven’t read before or didn’t think I’d like. I have quite a bit further to go until I feel “well read” but will I ever? May 2008 bring more bookshelves and pleasant reading time. ;)