Books Just Make the Greatest Present

I'm a big fan of birthdays. The last few months have seen a lot of friends and family members birthdays come and go, so I've got them on my mind. I may not always remember whose is on what actual date (I'm getting better... right?), but I think they're a pretty big deal. I don't why people want to pretend they're not happening. If you're going to stand up and celebrate anything, you should celebrate the day you were born. It's a celebration of the fact that you're alive. On what other day do you get to sip wine with the people who love you and have them rejoice in the fact that you are, well, you?

I'm also a big fan of giving books as presents. Yes, they're generally heavy and you can't guarantee that the person will like/not have read a particular book, but I can't think of a gift that is more personal. Personal, you say? Really? Yes, really.

I never give books that I haven't read. I only give books I've loved. By doing so, I'm giving that person something that has moved me, brightened me, inspired me, even shaped me. That book says a lot about me, about who and where I was when I loved that particular story. It is a window into my life and my passions, given in the hopes that it will serve the same service for them as it did for me. It also says a lot about my relationship with that person, because for me a book I've loved is a way to strengthen the bond between me and the friend I'm giving it to. It's me saying, "This book illuminated my life. I want to share that light with you."

There are people from my past who have given me books that have turned into beautiful keepsakes, more treasured than some of my oldest pictures and cards. When I open The Sheltering Sky and Catch-22, I remember the teachers who believed that I was something special. When I flick through Into The Woods and Dandelion Wine, I remember the good friends who love and have loved me. When I look at The Fledgling, Mom feels less far away.

Books own a special kind of magic. They're a great way to tell someone you're glad that they're alive.

Being Crafty: Decoupage

These days, it feels like all my creativity is channeled towards a computer screen. Writing, reading, keeping in touch: it's all accomplished through my pretty little Macbook. So much so that I am developing intimate feelings for my laptop that no one- NO one- should feel towards a lump of wires and screen. Sometimes, I need to take a break and do something creative that doesn't depend on a plug-in battery. Thus my love of being crafty.

When I graduated from grad school last year, I decided I wanted to make something for my friend Lyndsey, who graduated alongside me. She was my rock, my drinking buddy, my us-against-the-world partner in crime: I wanted to make her something special. She is a list/I-need-to-write-down-my-thoughts-on-this-subject person, like me, so I decided to make her some personalized notebooks using decoupage.

This is one of the easiest, most versatile decorating methods in the world. It hearkens back to the days when you used to smear glue over your family's furniture with your chubby, unattended little fingers. There are about a million and one different "looks" you can achieve, but the method remains insanely easy no matter what look you're going for. You don't need many supplies to do it: just a surface to work on (this can be anything from a notebook cover to a tabletop, canvas, glass, a jewelry/shoebox... you name it, as long as it's smooth), some cut-outs that you want to put onto said surface and some decoupage glue. I've been told that you can use regular Elmer's glue in decoupage, but I've never been brave enough to try it as a substitute. Just make sure that whatever surface you're using in clean and dry.

First, I wanted to cover the front and back covers of three spiral-bound black notebooks with

different panels of sturdy wrapping paper. I measured out each panel and cut it to the size I wanted. Then I whipped out my handy sponge-on-a-stick tool (you can also use a paint brush or a Popsicle stick if you're feeling reckless), covered the notebook with a not-too-thick layer of glue, and smoothed the wrapping paper over it.

I rolled a pencil from one end of the now-papered surface to the other to try and scare out any air bubbles hiding underneath the fabric. Wrinkling is the trickiest part of decoupage: if you lay on the glue too thick or if you lay your fabric down sloppily, you end up with air bubbles that look like little warts in your work. No good.

Next, I cut out all the little bits and pieces I wanted to use in my design. That included some bits of decorative paper, cut-outs from the front of a greeting card, some black satin ribbonand some stickers. Keep in mind when choosing things to decoupage that they generally need to be flat and lightweight, or else you risk them falling off your medium over time. You can put things like coins or beads onto your medium, but you'll probably want to superglue them instead of using the decoupage glue. Also, try to stay away from super-fragile or transparent tissue paper and the like. I used a gauzy paper on Notebook #1 and found it difficult to work with (I ended up liking the result, but it was a close call). Take it from me, they rip and change color when you coat them with glue, and they end up getting wrinkled when saturated. Again, the warts. Photos, ticket stubs, stickers, stamps, some kinds of ribbon and sturdy paper work best for this. If you end up using markers, make sure they're permanent, or they'll run when you put glue over them. I find that Sharpies work best.

Once I'd cut out all the things I wanted to use, I coated their bottoms with glue (except for the stickers, which stick themselves) and laid them down carefully. I usually do the roll-with-a-pencil technique as I go to prevent air bubbles while drying. Once I had done that, I used a black Sharpie to write quotes on the front of the notebooks that I thought Lyndsey would find inspirational. Once you've stuck on everything you want, it's good to let it dry for half a day/overnight.

The last step in to coat the whole project in a thin layer of glue. Just take your brush or sponge tool and paint the glue over the collage as a varnish. I'll usually let this coat dry for a few hours and then apply another coat. This will make your collage all shiny-like and will protect it from peeling/future damage. This is some of what I ended up with:

Front of Notebook #1

Back of Notebook #1

Notebook #2, still drying. See the air bubbles underneath the light golden paper? I like to think they ended up looking like a stylistic choice, but they suck nonetheless.

I was really pleased with the way the notebooks turned out (though not pleased to have mysteriously misplaced half my pictures of them when they were finished: sorry).

I made Manfriend a decoupage collage of our trip around the States for his birthday. Working with photos and a canvas make this one of the dead easiest crafty projects in the world.

Everyone likes a hand-made gift, and I've found that these are cost-efficient and fun. This is the craft for "I'm not crafty" people. Go ahead, give it a try. The six-year-old (and the technologically over-baked adult) in you will thank you.

Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?

Good old V-Day... one of the silliest holidays of the year. If I have to see one more add in which some dude gives his girlfriend some shiny piece of jewelry that makes her cry, I might start twitching. I have to say, though, that this holiday does serve a purpose in that it reminds you to tell the people you love that... well... you still love them. People like to be reminded of these things.

So, here's to some of the people I love:

My family, because even if I didn't 'have' to love them, I would love them. Because they're great.

Eve, for being an amazing and constant friend. I can't wait to read your new blog about Japan!

Aliya, for designing this blog and for being an inspiringly creative and fabulous friend. Check out her design blog and her regular(ly awesome) blog.

Lauren, for making me laugh (and for making me look super fly). Check out her makeup business and blog.

My camp friends, because they each brighten my life more than they know.

Kaitlin (my oldest) and Lyndsey (my newest) besties, for always being there.

My Manfriend, for holding my hand through life.

I hope you all enjoy your Valentine's Day, no matter who you're with or what you're doing. Do something splurgy. Indulge in yourself.

Top 12 Books of 2009

I'm staring at my virtual bookshelf and realizing that this year has been, might I say, an eclectic reading year for me. My thesis- or, more accurately, the frustratingly fixed and brittle process of writing my thesis- led me in all sorts of literary directions, in search of escape. For that, Thesis Beast, I thank you. I must also thank my favorite indie, Northshire Bookstore, which I was lucky enough to skulk through (in a half-drunken state of nerdy euphoria) TWICE this year and which led me to some of the best books I've read in a long time.

(Excitement Overload.)

So, without further ado, my top 12 reads of 2009:

Mudbound by Hilary Jordan

It is: A story about a farming family trying to carve a life out in the Delta after WWII. A captivating historical drama told through the voices of a confused farmer, a haunted brother, a struggling wife, and a rebellious black man and his family. A story about justice and connection.

I would give it to: Anyone who likes historical narratives. Anyone who likes good narratives, period. My Mom.

What made it special: The narrative swept me up like a tidal wave; it was that beautiful, that intriguing. I was repeatedly arrested by the eloquence of Jordan's language. The multiple characters through which the tale is told are engagingly, complex, and completely edible. This is one of those books that I was truly sorry to get to the end of.

Coal Black Horse by Robert Olmstead

It is: An American Civil War story about a young boy who is sent off into the fray on a coal black horse to find his father. A beautiful portrayal of exploration and love found and sustained amidst savage violence. A portrait of a young, thoughtful boy trying to hold on to his goodness, using his connection to his horse to help guide him.

I would give it to: Anybody. Everybody.

What made it Special: I picked this up while researching my civil war short story, finding myself drawn to the beautiful cover. This is a story that succeeds in being both brutally heart-breaking and incredibly heart-warming, often in the same paragraph. It is one of the most unique coming of age tales I've ever had the privilege to read. This is a magical book.

Sharp Objects by Gilian Flynn

It is: A deliciously disturbing story of a woman journalist (a cutter who carves words into her own skin) who is forced to return home to cover a creepy series of child murders. It is about what happens when this damaged, damaging woman falls back into the laps of her manipulative mother, her destructive younger sister, and the haunting memories from her past. A story of female power, female violence.

I would give it to: Anyone who is into mysteries, or crime series, and to people like me, who aren't. Anyone who likes Stephen King-type horror stuff.

What made it Special: I don't usually do creepy. I'm not into reading about violence, especially towards women. This book was all of these things... and I LOVED it. I would have eaten it for every meal if I wasn't afraid of ink poisoning. It was that good. The writing is powerful, seductive, witty. The characters are wickedly addictive. Flynn's unique take on what happens when women use violence to gain control is riveting. It kept me up into the wee hours, wanting (and not wanting) to find out what would happen next.

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

It is: This probably doesn't need explanation, but I'll give it anyway: It's a vampire mystery/romance/adventure story about what happens when a twenty-something telepath sees a vampire walk into her bar.

I would give it to: All of my lady friends who like a romance with a little bite. Spec fiction fans. Anyone who finds Southern culture interesting and sometimes a little bit absurd.

What made it Special: This series was sort of instrumental in getting me through my thesis, so I have a special fondness for everything Sookie. One of the reasons I loved it is because it doesn't take itself very seriously (no offense, Twilight); it is a tongue-in-cheek exploration of Southern life and small-town prejudice. Harris uses her sassy, wonderful leading lady to explore themes of intolerance and hatred while seducing us with whodunit mysteries (and-let's face it- some pretty glorious sex scenes. Ooooh, Eric!). Go ahead. Just try it.

Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz

It is: A non-fiction piece of investigative/travel journalism in which the author, Tony Horwitz, travels through the Civil War South of today to try and find out what kinds of remnants it has left behind. He finds all sorts of things: monk-like reenactors, bar brawls, memory keepers, racists and abolitionists- every crazy Southern character you could dream of- written about with wit, sensitivity, and complete hilarity. This is a book about the unique and fascinating place that is the American South.

I would give it to: Anyone interested in the Civil War. Anyone interested in American culture and identity. Anyone who needs a few laughs. Anyone who loves some good non-fiction. Anyone who I can force to read it.

What made it Special: I don't read a lot of nonfiction. I try, but it's rare that one will engage and capture me the same way that good fiction does. This book was the MOTHER of all exceptions. It surprised me by making me laugh until I almost peed myself. It asked me, subtly and in stages, to think about my relationship with the South, REthink my perspective on the Confederate flag, and completely reexamine my American identity. It touched and moved and enraptured me. In short, I fell in love with it. This is a book that I will read again and again, just for the joy of it.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

It is: A YA werewolf love story, and SO much more. A story about a girl who has spent years watching the wolf that lives behind her house, only to find out that he isn't just a wolf and that he's been watching her, too. What's unique is that THIS werewolf is a boy who turns into a wolf when it gets cold.

I would give it to: Any female between the ages of 12 and... I don't know, 50? Do we ever get too old for good love stories?

What made it Special: I am a great lover of this author's blog, and I love good urban fantasy/mysticism, so I figured that I would like this book, but I didn't know I'd end up loving it. Stiefvater's writing is lyrical, a pleasure to experience. She captures so many of the unique and wonderful qualities of teenage love and feeling. Her descriptions of nature and the enrapturing pains of first love are a joy to read. The pace, the characters, the uniqueness of her take on werewolves all added up to a wonderful page-turner of a story.

The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney

It is: This one isn't really about wolves, Were or otherwise. It is about a young woman in the harsh Canadian wilderness who discovers a dead body that is blamed on her only son. She goes off into the wilderness with a solemn tracker to prove his innocence, finding out things about the world, and herself, that she never imagined. It is about family secrets coming back to haunt us and about going in search of one thing only to find something else entirely.

I would give it to: Anyone who likes dramatic, pioneer-type fiction. My Canadian friend Lyndsey (not so much because she's Canadian, but because she'd love it).

What made it Special: The story is immediately engaging, the setting unique and captivating, and the characters both frightening and fragile. This is a murder mystery that compels you to read greedily forward to find out what happens in the end. Between end and beginning, I discovered a beauty I hadn't expected, and a book that I thought about long after it had ended.

Giants of the Frost by Kim Wilkins

It is: A speculative fiction-type book about a young female who takes a job on a tiny island and falls in love with a mysterious man who ends up being from another world entirely. This story takes its cue from Nordic myth, transforming some of its most famed characters into unique living, breathing characters. This is a suspenseful tale about lost love, family ties, and the twisting of fate.

I would give it to: My best friend, who loves this stuff.

What made it Special: I should say that I'm a little biased towards this author. She was a teacher of mine in grad school, and if every would-be writer has a literary crush, she is one of mine. That aside, I loved this book to pieces. The way she interprets Nordic myths and themes is fascinating, the narrative fast-paced and completely spellbinding. I found myself literally grabbing at the pages- I devoured this book. Kim knows how to tell a kick ass story.

Goldengrove by Francine Prose

It is: A story about a young girl who loses her older sister in a mysterious boating accident and the effect that event has on her and her family's lives. The narrative, told from the perspective of the surviving sister, encompasses the summer after the older sister's death- the summer that changes her forever. It is about the acute pain of teenage-hood and the strange paths that grief takes us down.

I would give it to: Pretty much anyone.

What made it Special: This book is so beautifully written that the language alone makes it worth reading. But it has so much more to offer than that. The point of view is so incredibly convincing that I had to stop and marvel at the author's ability to so fully illustrate the mind of a young, grieving teenager. Reading this book felt like a gift.

In The Woods by Tana French

It is: Three kids go into the woods that border their small Irish town: only one comes out, and he has no idea what's happened. Many years later, that boy has become a cop who is drawn back to the scene of his childhood trauma by the murder of a young girl. This is an enjoyably creepy story about old wounds that come back to bite you and the blurry line between the real and the imagined.

I would give it to: Anyone who likes a good mystery/police drama with a psychological twist.

What made it Special: This book sucked me in with its lyrical language and beautiful plot exposition. The author brings the life of a murder detective to life in such a masterful and convincing way. I wanted to throttle the main character, and yet, I loved him. The story is masterfully well-woven; it will keep you up until 3 in the morning, wanting- no, needing- to figure it all out.

The River King by Alice Hoffman

It is: About a mysterious drowning at a small-town New England prep school, and the people who set out to investigate it. This is a book about first love and finding ways to belong in a small town that doesn't like to (can't seem to) change.

I would give it to: Anyone who digs books that blur the line between reality and magic.

What made it Special: After falling in love with Practical Magic, I was hoping that this book would be as good, and in many ways, it was. Hoffman throws a healthy dose of her magical realism into her story, along with an interesting cast of characters and a beautifully described backdrop. I absolutely love the way she finds ways to tell an ordinary story in very extraordinary ways.

Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan

It is: How can I describe this book?... It's a kind of cruel, twisted fairy tale that stretches back and forth between two words. After suffering abuse of many kinds, the main character escapes to a world where nobody hurts and raises her two daughters there. There are men who turn into bears, and magic coins, and... all sorts of stuff.

I would give it to: Any of my fantasy-loving friends.

What made it Special: It's funny- I'm still not sure if I actually liked this book. It was disturbing and strange... so why include it? Because it was just so good. The story is brought to life in such a beautiful, forceful way. I have never read anything so inventive or tactile. The details are so luscious that you can almost taste them. The story is fresh and just... so haunting (and not at all in a bad way). It stayed with me long after I finished the last chapter, revisiting the amazing world that Lanagan described.