Bookish Acquisitions

I have been quite the good, responsible girl lately: I have abstained--and that is surely the only word for it--from purchasing scads of books. I realize that, if I followed my natural bent, I would need a separate building--and a large one--to house my collection. Oh, and I would be parlously close to bankruptcy. As such, I try to tether the passion as best I can. Yet, sometimes a book-addict must let loose. These are some recent acquisitions.

Deciding the order in which to read a new crop of books is almost more fun than choosing which ones to buy. It is a delicate, delicious process of anticipation; often it is also one of elimination. It helps to know which one to save for last. In this case, Simon Callow's Orson Welles Volume 2 Hello Americans, is the clear winner: it will be the last unread, sitting alluringly on my night-stand, impatiently awaiting its turn. The others will be read in rotation, constantly giving way one right after the other, a few chapters at a time. Perhaps, after a certain exciting or thoughtful passage, one will surge past the rest in my affections. For now, as I am in the early, heart-thumping stages of discovering all three, that shall remain to be seen.

Top Left: Proust at the Majestic The Last Days of the Author Whose Book Changed Paris by Richard Davenport-Hines (BLOOMSBURY)-Proust remains the King of pliant, serpentine, evocative language.

Top Center: She & Him Volume One-Zooey Deschanel's quirky, folky voice and thoughtful, simple and literary lyrics are my ideal accompaniment to reading.

Top Right: The Mammoth Book of Private Lives Edited by John E. Lewis (CARROLL & GRAF)-I have an insatiable curiosity about the inner drives of creatives and intellectuals.

Front Middle: Orson Welles Volume 2 Hello Americans by Simon Callow (PENGUIN BOOKS)- Volume 1 was superb.

Front Bottom: The Queen Mother The Official Biography by William Shawcross (ALFRED A. KNOPF)-Although I was sent this by mistake, it has already proven itself a keeper.

I Have This Fancy-Writer Fantasy Knocking Around in My Head. In it, I am Dressed Something Like This.

Fancy Writer Fantasy by amisslis featuring Miu Miu shoes

Words From the Mouths of Those With Wisdom

"Beauty is whatever gives joy."-Edna St. Vincent Millay

"Be happy. It's one way of being wise."-Colette

"It is never safe to look into the future with eyes of fear."-Edward H. Harriman

"As you grow older, you'll find the only things you regret are the things you didn't do."-Zachary Scott

"Total absence of humor renders life impossible."-Colette

Waiting Music

Coming Back (For Real).....

I am quite ashamed of my long absence. Sigh. However, I have not been resting on my artistic, writerly laurels. I have simply had too, too many creative irons in the fire. Learning how to capture them, and manage them, has been something of a perilous, though exhilarating, process.
In the coming days, I will be easing back into the blogging routine. I promise to catch you up on what I have been doing lo, these last 5 months. I will also be introducing you to all of my newest artistic offspring.
Until then, I promise to post a few goodies!!

BE BACK SOON!!

EMMY AWARDS-Liveblog-Hour 3

10:03-Jimmy Fallon funny business.

10:04-I did not realize that there was an Original Lyrics category. Really? Really? Did they create this category just so that Flight of the Conchords could win something? Justin Timberlake is on 2 of the nominated skits but, alas, the Academy Awards telecast won.

10:08-Any time Ricky Gervais is on any program, ever, for any reason, is a very good thing. He is still funny as shit. 'The Daily Show'(which I love) won for something. Exactly what, I wasn't paying attention to. I was too busy listening to Ricky's funny spiel.

10:17-The final category is up: Drama.

10:21-As you have probably noticed, I am not blogging about any of the categories or winners that I do not care about. How is it, you ask, that I do not care about any of the Supporting Actor/Actress Nominees or their shows. Well, you see, I do not watch any of the shows that any of these performers are on. So, the results mean nothing to me. So sorry. The only other thing I can say is that, for some reason, the acceptance speech that the guy from 'Lost' made really annoyed me.

10:24-Proving what we have always known, Sarah MacLachlan is a sad sack. Yes, she is singing as they show the In Memoriam scroll. So many wonderfully talented people have passed in the past year. Henry Gibson, Karl Malden, Eartha Kitt, Dom DeLuise, Robert Prosky, Ron Silver, Natasha Richardson, David Carradine, Beatrice Arthur, Ricardo Montalban, Ed McMahon, Larry Gelbart, PAUL NEWMAN, Michael Jackson, Patrick Swayze, Don Hewitt, Farrah Fawcett, Walter Cronkite...to name just some of them.

10:34-David Boreanaz. Excuse me while I gape. Oh, yeah, guest actor/actress in a Drama. Ahem. Ellen Burstyn and Michael J. Fox. She always looks so regal in her drapey dresses.

10:40-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama is kind of dominated by Oscar winning,movie star refugees. I mean, Glenn Close, Sally Field, Holly Hunter....proving that film and television really are not separate realms.

10:42-Insert overly earnest speech by Glenn Close. I really loathe acceptance speeches.

10:49-I am growing weary. They need to pick up the pace so that this baby ends on time.

10:53-Now we are getting somewhere. 2 to go. Bob Newhart is on. It is always a good sign when they bring out the big guns. He is presenting the Outstanding Comedy Series. 6 minutes and counting. Come on people. Funny joke about 'Weeds'. There are excellent nominees this year but, of course, '30 Rock' strikes again. I'm sorry but I just don't think that it is that funny. Funny, yes. THAT FUNNY, no. But that is just me.

11:01-FINAL AWARD-Outstanding Drama Series. The only nominated show that I watch is 'House' so this is a pretty unexciting category for me this year. 'Mad Men' has won for the 2nd year. Meh.