random thoughts on books and reading and pens and paper and all that good stuff

I realized a couple of days ago that nearly everything I've been reading since last fall is either about Paris, set in Paris, or might as well be set in Paris. Also, about art, or artists, or museums, or artistry, or paint - use of paint, creation of paint, colors in paint. Since I've never (alas) been to Paris (alas), and can barely write legibly, let alone paint, I wonder how much my subconscious is telling me about what I ought to be looking at.
Do I want to go to Paris? Yes, yes, yes.
Can I speak French? No, no, no (despite two French courses in college, which left me with only enough vocabulary to order foods I don't eat). 
Since the last painterly book I read (and have not yet reviewed) is about Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife, Margaret Macdonald, I'm tempted to buy one of those Art Nouveau coloring books and break out the colored pencils. Do any of you enjoy coloring? Do tell -- 
(This would be a good time to point out my friend Penny's personal challenge - "conquering perfectionism through doodling."  Some of her photos are here, and I love them!)
Hmmmm.

February is for A Month of Letters, sponsored by Mary Robinette Kowal. The challenge is simple: send 23 pieces of mail during the month of February. My month is going pretty well - I know I'll get to 23 before the 28th - and even if I don't (or, if you don't, if you decide to join late), it's still fun to meet new people, and to find something to say about whatever you like and mail it to someone. Postcard? Fine. Missive? Fine. Just - write!
Alas, I missed the online social hosted by the Letter Writers Alliance - yes, there is such an Alliance, and yes, go visit them now!



The C.S. Literary Jewelry Reading Club is reading Jane Eyre. I love Jane Eyre. I first got a copy at the old Barnes & Noble bookstore on 18th St. and 5th Ave. when I was in elementary school. My parents took me there; while they were looking at art books, I wandered to the used books, and found a lovely hardbound copy, old even then, in a maroon cloth binding. Reader, I read it the next day, and have read it innumerable times since. For this book club, though, I will have to change my method of reading because -- I can no longer see well enough to read the dense, wee font. Yes, I am heartbroken. Has this ever happened to you? Can you make the transition to reading an old literary love on your e-reader? I'm scouting for a paper copy with a readable font... but in the meantime, it's the Nook for me. 

(By the way, Kerry's jewelry -  at C.S. Literary Jewelry on Etsy -  is wonderful!)








What's new in your literary/bookish/papery part of the world?

a month of letters - a challenge

I love letters. I love paper, fountain pens, friends, ink, language, rubber stamps, stickers, and stamps. What's not to love? You get to make so many choices - color, texture, subjects - and you get to share them. Win-win!


Mary Robinette Kowal, puppeteer and author, has created a challenge for February: A Month of Letters. It's easy: each day, send someone a letter, or a card, or a postcard. A real one, with a stamp. Even the post office thinks this is a great idea - check out its blog !


Who can you write to? Make new friends on the forum she has set up, join PostCrossing, send a postcard to a sick child, look up old classmates, re-connect with family and friends, write fan mail to your favorite author... just have fun with it!

• In the month of February, mail at least one item through the post every day it runs. Write a postcard, a letter, send a picture, or a cutting from a newspaper, or a fabric swatch.
• Write back to everyone who writes to you. This can count as one of your mailed items.

You can also join the Facebook page and tweet about the challenge (#LetterMo).

I fell behind in my correspondence last month because of ... stuff ... so if anyone is waiting for a letter from me, check your mailbox.