Sunday, July 31, 2011

Get Lit: NEW TO THE BOOKSHELF!


Yesterday afternoon, I ran some of my usual errands. I went to the bank, bought some wine and then stopped at Borders. I'm really sad that Borders is closing. It's one of the last book stores in my area (and I live in a large city). As someone who spent a lot of her childhood in libraries, it pains me to see that there aren't many places left to buy books. I suppose that it's a sign of the times. The internet is changing the way brick and mortar stores are operating. I question how any stores are surviving these days. Between online retailers and the economy, I wonder how much longer traditional malls will survive. But back to the books...

I spent a couple hours inside the store. The sales weren't that great but I wanted to enjoy the experience of just browsing. Being inside a book store is one of my favorite things to do. It's very relaxing to let your mind wander. My favorite section is Metaphysical Studies. As a total weirdo, I love all things New Age. While in my little niche of the store, there was a guy whose phone rang with my favorite ringtone; Jack Horkheimer's Star Gazer theme song (Arabesque No. 1 by Isao Tomita)! It made me smile to be around like-minded individuals but also sad to think that these types of encounters would be far and few between when I'm stuck ordering from Amazon. When Jack Horkheimer passed away last year, I tried for days to try and find that ringtone! I contemplated asking the man where he found the tune but I was too immersed in Coast to Coast Ghosts by Leslie Rule.

There were so many things I wanted but I only picked up a few of the books & magazines that I knew I'd get around to reading right away.

1. Rider Tarot Deck
One of my best friends, Valerie, and I both love tarot. She gave me a check for my 25th birthday to go towards a new deck. I finally got around to getting it!

2. Sydney Omarr's Aquarius (Day-by-Day Astrological Guide for 2012)
For the past few years, I've bought this book. It's a nice little day-by-day guide to the stars. I highly recommend picking up a copy of your sign's forecast.

3. She Walks in Beauty (A Woman's Journey Through Poems) by Caroline Kennedy
The title jumped out at me because I thought it sounded poetic... turns out I was right. It's an interesting book that includes various poems that correspond to a woman's life. I think it's always good to read about other people's life experiences. With age comes wisdom. Caroline Kennedy surely has lived a life worth reading about.

4. Talking to Girls About Duran Duran: One Young Man's Quest for True Love and a Cooler Hair Cut by Rob Sheffield
I love memoirs. It's probably my favorite genre of literature. A book that talks about life and interweaves music into its core is something I will always give a shot. I haven't read Sheffield's first book yet (I probably should have) but I'm sure this will be good.

5. Harvard Review
This magazine/book is full of interesting thoughts from some of the most gifted people in the country. I enjoy reading into the minds of the highly intellectual. Call me an elitist.

6. Life by Keith Richards
I've heard great things about this book. As I mentioned before, I love a good memoir and who better to read about than someone who has seen it all? Fame is such an unnatural thing. Many people want it but if you step back and realize what it implies, I don't think it's something to aspire towards. A little recognition and notoriety are great but fame on such a grand level seems like a very daunting existence. To not know who is interested in you for "the right reasons" and to have no privacy at all sounds like a death sentence to me.

7. Christie's International Real Estate
If you read my blog regularly, you have probably noticed that I'm into architecture and homes. Maybe it's materialistic but I am intrigued by the lifestyles of the uber wealthy (and conversely people who have nothing). It's fascinating to see how people choose to decorate and how it relates back to their personalities and self-expression.

8. Wine Spectator
I love a good bottle of vino. As I get older, I'm trying to be a better cook. It's nice to know what to serve with what at dinner parties. A magazine is a lot easier (and cheaper) than enrolling in a random "extended learning" course.







Now Playing: "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" by Led Zeppelin

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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
I'm living life in beautiful Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I hold a journalism degree from West Virginia University. I have worked in television news, fashion marketing, PR, and cosmetic sales. My love for writing and sharing with the world my various passions is strong. One of my many ambitions is to be published and continue creating in the fields of digital and print media, literature and film. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, going to concerts, reading, following Pittsburgh sports and traveling as often as possible. Some of my favorite things include beauty, style, architecture, books, tarot and astrology, thrifting and my shih-tzu, Ireland. I’m engaged to the love of my lifetimes and we look forward to starting our next chapter together. If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you!