For today's posting I'd like to introduce you to my latest vinyl toy: a very buttery Omen. Be patient... As I was while I waited for this Omen to arrive. I ordered him back in February, I think. I was so excited when I got the email telling me he had shipped from Hong King. Coarse loves to make us wait! (A little about Omen and Coarse's Souls Gone Mad: http://www.cluttermagazine.com/news/2013/02/courses-amazing-souls-gone-mad-vinyl-sets)
 |
| All the packaging was perfect Coarse. |
 |
| Out of the wrapping paper and to the box. |
 |
| The inner box... A promise of what's to come. |
 |
| My first Coarse Family & Friends card. When I got Noop & Paw (False Friends Blackout) it was through eBay, so no card for that acquisition. |
 |
| Peak-a-boo. |
 |
| Coarse footsies! |
 |
| Hello, my little buttery loveliness and welcome home! |
Aside from new toys, I just finished reading Ann Patchett's latest book, State of Wonder. I haven't read anything by her since I read Bel Canto years ago - a fantastic novel, by the way, and on my list of favorite books. I started reading State of Wonder a few nights ago, even though I'm also in the process of reading Barbara Kingsolver's Flight Behavior (excellent so far) and Lawrence Osborne's The Forgiven (not sure on this one yet, though I think I'm liking it - it's something about the tone of the book that throws me off, as if it was written in the 40's or 50's even though it is a present day novel). Anyway, State of Wonder drew me right in and I couldn't put it down. I'm glad I was stuck with jury duty as I could read with impunity. A an early bit I read struck me:
The scene: our main character, Marina, has been taken to a beach along the Amazon. After the heat nearly overcomes her, one of her companions (her driver, Milton) takes her into the water, which she has previously described as opaque.
"It's better, isn't it," he said, though it wasn't a question.
She nodded. Jackie had been right to make Barbara go in. It was lifesaving. When Marina looked down she saw nothing, just a line where her torso vanished into the water. All around them children kicked their rafts and jumped off one another's shoulders. "How do you know what's under there?" she asked him.
"You don't," Milton said. "You don't want to."
That exchange speaks volumes to me about the Amazon. That terrifying unknown lurking under the water or in the deep, primeval jungle. I'm fascinated by the idea of the Amazon, but it's one place I have no desire to visit. Very large bugs and the promise of heavy, muggy heat deters me. Yeah, no, I'll read about it instead. All through the book I wondered how it might end. For me, at least, I was completely surprised and pleased with how she wrapped it up. I recommend the book highly.
