Category Archives: Lists

Books Reviewed in 2013

This is a list of the books read in 2013. Links take you to the my review of the book.

1. The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
2. Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver
3. Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain
4. The Shining (audio) by Stephen King
5. The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
6. Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan
7. The Adults by Alison Espach
8. The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories – Volume 2, by Jospeh Gordon-Levitt
9. The Silent Land by Graham Joyce
10.  The End of the Point by Elizabeth Graver
11. This Cake is For the Party by Sarah Selecky
12. Carrie (audio) by Stephen King, Read by Sissy Spacek
13. Survival Skills by Jean Ryan
14. The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan
15. In Between Days by Andrew Porter
16. Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
17. Panorama City by Antoine Wilson
18. Is This Tomorrow by Caroline Leavitt
19. More Than You Know by Nan Rossiter
20. A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash
21. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
22. A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
23. Mr. Peanut by Adam Ross
24. In the Garden of Stone by Susan Tekulve
25. He’s Gone by Deb Caletti
26. Benediction by Kent Haruf
27. Joyland by Stephen King
28. Life Itself by Roger Ebert
29. Big Brother by Lionel Shriver
30. Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut
31. The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison
32. The Slippage by Ben Greenman
33. Heading Out to Wonderful by Robert Goolrick
34. Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight
35. The Never List by Koethi Zan
36. The Curiosity by Stephen Kiernan
37. The Last Summer of the Camperdowns by Elizabeth Kelly
38. Bait by J. Kent Messum
39. Night Film by Marisha Pessl
40. The Asylum by John Harwood
41. After Her by Joyce Maynard
42. Bellman & Black by Diane Setterfield
43. The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
44. Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
45. The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer
46. Cartwheel by Jennifer du Bois
47. This House is Haunted by John Boyne
48. The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes
49. World War Z by Max Brooks
50. Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami
51. The Abominable by Dan Simmons

100 Things That Make Me Happy (or that I love!)

Happiness is...

It’s been awhile since I’ve done a list post like this. I find them oddly interesting when I see these lists on other blogs. Especially if it’s from a blogger who I have been following for a long time. There is always something more to know about them, and for this reason, I am sharing this list with you.  I first saw this on Mari’s blog and thought, why not?

Plus, it’s Friday and a little happiness can’t hurt.

  1. Clean, crisp sheets
  2. Coffee with cinnamon and nutmeg (names of Murakami characters too, BTW)
  3. A hug from my kids
  4. Snuggles from the Otter Pup (Chloe, a Yorkie mix)
  5. A well-organized bookshelf
  6. The smell of star jasmine wafting through the window
  7. Breakfast
  8. A fresh bar of soap
  9. Concerts in the Park
  10. Movie Night at Home (with homemade popcorn)
  11. Haruki Murakami (he could use a personal assistant, no?)
  12. Spotify
  13. The smell of freshly cut grass
  14. Bookmarks (I collect them)
  15. The sounds of summer (splashing, birds chirping, the AC kicking on and off, ice tinkling in a glass)
  16. Thanksgiving with all the trimmings
  17. Opening a notebook for the first time
  18. Pencils (Ticonderoga #2)
  19. Gathering around the fire pit
  20. Green, leafy trees
  21. Laughter
  22. Cold, ripe watermelon
  23. Toasted marshmallows
  24. Swedish Fish (a more chewable version of my fave Jujyfruits)
  25. “Doing” Lunch
  26. Alone time
  27. A clean house
  28. Pinot Grigio
  29. Beach towns
  30. Museums
  31. Vacation
  32. Grilling
  33. Lake or ocean views
  34. The 80’s
  35. Tacos
  36. Reading (Duh! How can I not list it?)
  37. Lobster, cooked correctly and dipped in garlic butter (The Girl used to call them “bugs”)
  38. Anthony Bourdain (rugged, smart, worldly, a professional smart ass)
  39. Keeping in touch with friends
  40. Roasted corn
  41. The smell of Hawaiian Tropic (which smells like the classic Coppertone smell from the 70’s)
  42. Old TV shows (Adam 12, Emergency!, Leave it to Beaver, Mary Tyler Moore, Newhart)
  43. Nostalgia
  44. The pitter-patter of rain on the roof (a rarity in So Cal)
  45. Wimbledon and The Masters
  46. Watching my kids perform (sing, dance, etc.)
  47. Coffee creamer or straight cream (too much but soooo good)
  48. Stir fry (any kind!)
  49. Listening to my iPod
  50. The convenience of my Kindle
  51. Fresh smelling perfumes
  52. Movies featuring the Brat Pack (16 Candles, Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club)
  53. 007 (lately, the Daniel Craig version)
  54. Netflix
  55. Wi-Fi
  56. Watching high school football, under a warm, snugly blanket
  57. Picnics
  58. My numerous face and hand creams
  59. Family time
  60. Community Theater
  61. Lemon (the color, the scent, the fruit)
  62. Andrea Bocelli (mouth opens, sounds come out, I swoon)
  63. Movie themes (JAWS, Star Wars, Legends of the Fall)
  64. Adirondack chairs
  65. Funny, happy people
  66. The arts and crafts my kids have made me over the years
  67. Orange blossoms
  68. Readalongs
  69. Gap Essential Tees
  70. New calendars (full of promise, if you ask me)
  71. Dining by water (dockside, poolside, marina, etc.)
  72. Blue skies
  73. Ginger Ale
  74. Candles (beachy, woody or green like bamboo)
  75. The time between sunset and dusk
  76. The way my dog greets me every time I come through the door
  77. Seeing my kids be successful
  78. Magnolia blossoms
  79. Christmas lights
  80. Mint Juleps
  81. Main Street at Disneyland
  82. Lavender
  83. Staying in
  84. Road Trips
  85. Herbs (basil, rosemary, dill, mint)
  86. Cooking
  87. Long weekends
  88. Changing into my PJ’s the moment I get home from work.
  89. Suburbia in photography (see Bill Owens)
  90. Grilled cheese with tomato soup
  91. PBS (Public Broadcasting Service)
  92. Alfred Hitchcock and Woody Allen movies
  93. Seinfeld (I can quote many episodes word for word)
  94. Being still (usually only happens when I am sick)
  95. Iced coffee in the summer
  96. Spicy food
  97. Burger stands (especially by the beach!)
  98. Reserved seating at the movies
  99. Exploring a new town
  100. Visiting Palm Springs

What makes you happy?