Ten Books My Valentine Could Gift Me on Valentine's Day
There are numerous books on my Amazon wishlist, and on special occasions my husband has chosen some as gifts. For example, for Christmas, he picked out four books. However, the list keeps growing. So here are ten books from my wishlist that I am wishing for...
1. That Hideous Strength by C. S. Lewis One of Lewis' books I have yet to read.
2. Wonderland Avenue by Danny Sugerman I read this in the 90s. I had checked it out of the library and kept it for ten years and finally returned it when I grew a conscience. I need to get a copy of this. It is about the author and his time with Jim Morrison and the Doors, and it was wild.
3. Alone by Richard Evelyn Byrd This is a story about the author and his time alone at the South Pole, in the 1930s. It is a difficult book to find.
4. Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah Someone recommended this book, and I was compelled to put it on my wishlist.
5. A Namesake for Nathan by F. N. Monjo Another difficult book to find, but it's out there. I read this to my kids and then I gave it away, regretfully. It is an historical fiction about Nathan Hale.
Speaking of artists, I have been craving excellent art since we moved away from California to Florida. Central Florida does not specialize in good art. Everything is modern, and I loathe modern/contemporary art because it is ugly and pointless. I miss going to the Getty and the Huntington to see the Masters. So lately I have been looking to own collections of my favorite artists that I may pursue their works whenever I need good art.
7. Bruegel The Complete Paintings by Jurgen Muller
8. Vermeer The Complete Works by Karl Schultz
Sidenote: My family and I got to see this painting, Girl with a Pearl Earring, at a museum in San Francisco. It was on loan. Much smaller than I had expected, with onlookers huddled about it, discussing it like a life or death decision.
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| Obviously, not the actual painting. I wish we were able to get this close. |
OR Vincent Van Gogh His Arts and Words by S. J. Seferi
10. Monet The Triumph of Impressionism by Daniel Wildenstein
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It's interesting to see how you've pursued a wide-ranging taste for greatness in these masters of art. I enjoyed visiting an "immersive" Van Gogh experience with some of the family last fall and not too far from home. Turning to rock, I have listened to good autobiographies on Audible of John Densmore and Chris Hillman in recent years. I expect the stories of these musicians would pale in comparison with that of the flamboyant "Lizard King" when it comes to the aspect of wildness. Up and Down With the Rolling Stones, focusing mainly on Keith might even be somewhat tame, and that's saying something, what do you think?
ReplyDeleteI have seen the VG experience advertised, but I've never gone. Looks cool. Yeah, Jim Morrison was pretty wild. All those rock legends have their stories. Even the guys from the Eagles could tear up a hotel room. All thanks to drugs and liquor. Good ol' liquor!
DeleteSpeaking of hotel rooms, Keith Moon, formerly of the Who, and the earth, is the one who asked Mr. Lennon, to help him nail his bed to the ceiling of one of those chambers. As for liquor, in his song Tennessee Whiskey, George Jones tells us that liquor was the only love he'd known. He also extols the virtues of strawberry wine and a warm glass of brandy in comparison to a woman he admires. No stranger to all kinds of drugs either, you have to respect the Possum. (At least for his heartfelt music.)
ReplyDeleteHave you read Alone before? I'm interested in all things Antarctica. Also, have you heard of the comic series Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales? The first in the series is about Nathan Hale and all the following stories are told by Nathan Hale as he is on the gallows. It's a great series.
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