Books and a New CD

My plan was to show you a project Stef (over to Distracted Muse) and I did together. But I didn't manage to get pictures of one of the pieces, so instead I will give you a tiny taste:

Obviously, it involved sewing. Also some swearing (though not nearly as much as my buttonhole adventure, but that is also a tale for another day).

I finished Animal, Vegetable, Miracle some time ago. I enjoyed most of it (especially the tomato and turkey sections), but felt it got a bit preachy in the end. I suppose that was to be expected, since it was a summation of the arguments she had been making throughout. I do think it is very worth reading, especially if you like food and are interested in where it comes from.

Once I finished, I was onto Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. I love Austen and have read most of her books at least twice, but hadn't gotten to this one. Northanger was her first completed novel, but was published posthumously (it had been bought by a publisher but allowed to languish for many years). What an adorable book! Her voice was still very young, but she was already playing around with her major themes (class, marriage, stupid people). It is very funny, though not as biting a satire as Pride and Prejudice, and very exuberant.

Now I'm onto The Great Gatsby, which I haven't read since high school. I remember that my teacher loved this book -- which goes a long way to making required reading a better experience -- but I'm not sure I really understood it, and I've been wanting to read it again for a while.

A new CD. If you are a pop culture nerd, as Len and I are, you may know who Zooey Deschanel is. If not, she is Will Ferrell's love interest in Elf? No? Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy? Trust me, she is adorable and in Len-Lee speak, she is also known as "That google-eyed girl". Anyway, the point is that she put out an album recently with M. Ward (who I've never heard of) under the name of "She & Him". Unlike some other actor-"singer" projects (i. e. Bruce Willis, Eddie Murphy, Don Johnson), this one is really quite good. She has a quirky voice and a vintage 1960's girl-pop sensibility. It is such a sweet album: download "Sentimental Heart" and "I Should Have Known Better" (a goofy, hula version of the Beatles song) to see what I mean.

I just got a 40% off of CDs coupon and will use it to check out the Wailin' Jennies. Sharon has recommended them a few times so I think I better give them a listen. Plus, what a great name! I am a linear notes junkie -- I like to see who plays with who, who's producing, and even geekier, who the band thanks -- so I tend to buy albums rather than downloading (unless I own the LP already).