Life of Larisa or LOL

Twenty-five new things, and finally one of those new things is a book.  Throughout this process of involving myself in "new things", I have tried to incorporate "old things" with the "new".  I have been operating from an "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" kind of mentality.  Reading is not a new thing or even a new love, but it has been on the back burner throughout this pandemic and my "new things" journey.  Just in time, I came across this book, this diary of sorts, and renewed my love for stories, story telling, and the extremely personal experience of reading for pleasure.   This week, my "new thing" was diving into this short book that reads like a love letter.  The Rural Diaries by Hilarie Burton Morgan was this weeks fun and self reflective "new thing".  I read the book over the course of a couple of days...that were spread out over the course of a couple of weeks.  I was savoring the experience.  The w...

Only thirty more "new things" to go!  Add carpenter and librarian to that growing list of "new" skills!  My twenty-second "new thing" was building (with tons of help from Isom and Zach) a  Little Free Library .  I have wanted to do this forever.  I remember coming across one years ago and thinking it was so cute, practical, and magical.  FREE BOOKS, such an amazing thing.  Since our weekend wasn't jam packed with activities and Sunday was somewhat cloudy with scattered rain, it was the perfect time to get crafty and do yet another DIY project---Little Free Library!     My two carpentry assistants were unwilling participants at first.  But soon enough they were taking over the project.  At first my plan was to build a box (to house the free books) from scratch.  After looking at a couple of  online examples of what other folks have done, I realized we could recycle something we already had---less work (or so I though...

...you know when I find something good that I like, I always have to share. Here is my latest find via Tobi . Admittedly, I have not used my Kindle as much as I would have thought...still buying books in their natural state. BUT, when I do take a trip or finish reading all the books in my "to read" stack, I do intend to use my Kindle like I eat dessert...so, a lot. Thus, I need a cute Kindle carrying case. Luckily I know just the gal with cute taste and an obsession for reading just like me. Thanks to our friendship that is super techie these days (really does help to bridge the distance gap), I saw another version of my super cute Kindle case on Instagram. I was smitten. I had to order one of my very own right away. So I did. It's a short love story really. Saw it. Loved it. Ordered it. Got it. Still loving it. You too can fall in love at goodnightmoontheshop on Etsy .

I don't know how a man can write books (well) from a woman's perspective. And I don't know how, a white woman can write (very well) the story of black maids in Jackson Mississippi in the 1960s. Kathryn Stockett has unleashed phenomenal characters, written a phenomenal story, published a phenomenal book. The last story of the South I read with this much ooomph was The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy. It's still a book that sticks with me as I know The Help will as well. The movie will be out before I know it, and I do look forward to that, but really I just want to spread the word on what everyone, especially women, if they are literate and have a week to devote to reading, should read. The characters come alive in a way that make you believe you are reading a true story. The characters are not real, but their emotions, relationships, fears---completely real. Living in Hawaii all these years, I haven't given thought to black/white race relations in quite some...

...was the book we read (okay, that I already read and didn't find the time to re-read, so I re-watched the movie instead) for this months book club. You would think we would go with a Christmas theme for our December book club. Instead we chose to go with an Indian theme to correlate with the book. I'm so glad we did. Our hostess with the mostess was Kim and she made several dishes that of course I can't name or spell. They were delicious and vegetarian. We did a little discussing, but mostly eating and laughing. We were in the spirit of the holidays. And I suppose our "white elephant" gift exchange counts as something Christmas-y. I came away with two Ziplock bags of Indian food leftovers (not part of the white elephant exchange) and a new stocking hanger (perfect, now I don't have to share with Isom). As for the book , it is a great read (I remember loving it the first time around...which was over two years ago). I also remember trying to read Gogol...

Thanks to Michelle, book club (although I can't remember what we decided to call ourselves...a side effect of good red wine) is underway again. Just in time for fall. At our recent re-gathering over sweets, pupus, and wine, we decided on our first book we will read together--- The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings . A local, female author. A book about Hawaii (even if it is fiction). I had heard good things about this book from several other people and it was already on my "to read" list. I'm so glad we started book club off again with a good read. It was a page turner. I finished it over the span of a couple of days. I keep thinking about the characters and what I might do if I found myself in their shoes---always a sign of a good book. I found the writers sarcasm, wit, and especially the portrayal of the dad (and main character) to be very well done. I'm always impressed when female writers capture the male train of thought (and vice versa). There were...

Just when I was in a reading slump. Thank you Tobi for recommending I check this young adult series out . The one positive thing about my back "going out"---an excuse to lounge around reading this trilogy. I was able to let my imagination whisk me away to Panem. I bought the last of the books at Borders. Literally. The last one they had. They had sold out of a series I hadn't even heard of before walking in to browse. I chatted briefly with the sales girl---had she read it? What did she think? She, an adult like me, loved the first book and was hungry for more. Hmm, two people who love reading recommending the books, sold out (except for one lone pack). The decision was made. I had to have them. Worst case scenario, it was bad and I would give it to someone else, sell it, donate it. No harm done. Well, I won't be giving it to anyone...if you're nice, you can borrow it. Suzanne Collins found a way to incorporate books and t.v. that I love into one...

It's not me. It's not Gabe. It's not Isom . Breathe your sigh of relief. I just finished reading this book. I hope if she is Googling herself, she comes across my blog. I already thought Sarah Silverman was a riot, but after reading her book, I find her even more endearing. Yes, the same woman who loves potty humor. I find my six year old endearing, why not her too? I'm lending this book out to anyone who wants a laugh (Sorry S. Silverman ...you won't be making those extra sales...but that's okay, your dad hates rich people anyway). I'm glad that celebrity books aren't being limited to reality stars. This was a very good first book. The sequel? "I Finally Got Diapers!". Looking forward to it. And the movies based on both.

In between Nicholas Sparks sobfests , I read this jewel. I read "Julie and Julia"...around the same time I started this blog (coincidence?). During one of my many trips through Borders I scooped up the second novel by Julie Powell, which you should be aware, is a COMPLETE departure from her first book. Thank goodness. I enjoyed both the book and movie of "Julie and Julia". But, in "Cleaving" we meet the real Julie Powell...at least I think...and I was happy to have met her--a rogue, lost, butcher . This book is yet another journey to find herself. I feel bad for her. Two books of soul searching through cooking, traveling, and butchering and her search for meaning (of her reality) is sadly still incomplete. In "Cleaving", bravely, she takes a step back from married life and the riches I'm sure publishing a successful novel can bring. She finds herself in upstate New York as a butcher's apprentice. Small in stature and big on cra...

I read this book four years ago. I never imagined it would be a movie. I liked it. It was different than other books I had read. It was disturbing. Well written, but very disturbing. And now, I have the same thoughts on the movie. I enjoyed the storytelling in pictures. It was a cinematographers dream project. The story is a parent's worst nightmare. It is sad, frightening, spirit crushing. Why read or watch this? It's a good story, a journey and an interesting take on life, death, and the in between. I also read "Lucky", the author's true life story of another horrific experience---rape. I think the author worked her way through trauma by writing both of these novels. So, if by reading her thoughts and take on the darkest parts of people, I somehow contributed to her healing, then I'm glad. After both putting down the book and walking out of the theater, I had to wonder what parts of "The Lovely Bones" were based in truth. I know that t...

"My Castle" Written and Illustrated by Gabriel Majors January 27, 2010 I built a castle. The castle is camouflage. I live in the castle with my friends. I am the king of the castle. I have guards at the castle. My castle is in the desert. We eat good food in the castle. The castle has a draw bridge. I love living in the castle. The End I'm adding this to my favorites list. Available in paperback...Majors and Majors Booksellers... Mililani location.

I won't be making the same mistake twice by reading this book again. Trust (that's Nene lingo)---I love "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" and I was super excited to see that one of them had already wormed their way into a book deal, but I'm always leery of a book that takes two people to write---especially when it is a biography. I mean, can't you write your own story? And Nene , if you're reading this (she says...many times...in her book that "the bloggers " are full of *%@t!), I love watching you, but I think the team at Touchstone publishing could have helped you out some more with your book. I think everyone has a story to tell, and Nene has loads of interesting and scandalous stories to tell---I just hope for her next book (I'm sure there will be a second), her ghostwriter does a better job. And possibly the editors, jacket cover artists, chapter decor advisers ...it was all a bit---cheesy. So, as Nene is so famous for saying--...

I just finished reading Stephenie Meyer's "New Moon" . This would be read number three...in less than a year's time. She is an average writer telling an old story...you would think there wouldn't be so much hype. But there is. And I'm part of it. I love these books. Despite having read it twice before, this morning I woke up early (6 a.m.) to squeeze in some chapters before the day started...I was worried I might not get the chance to read about the Bella, Jacob, and Edward love triangle. After dropping Gabe off at school and before meeting Mai Ly and Cara for a morning walk---I read. After meeting Isom for lunch and before picking Gabe up from school---I read. After picking up Gabe from school---I read. I knew the story, the characters, the ending, but still I carried the book with me everywhere over the past week---hoping to be delayed somewhere---so I could read. I do consider myself an avid reader. But, the great thing about the "Twili...

Finishing anything is bitter sweet. The last day of school. The last sip of Starbucks, the last bite of cupcake, the last word in the last sentence on the last page of the book. The journey has been so nice, you just don't want it to end. This morning, instead of putting away the rest of the laundry (which I swear multiplies hourly), I finished reading this month's book club selection: "Waiter Rant" . I am already eager to read "the waiter's" next rant. Coming in at just under 300 pages, this memoir of sorts, was one of the better books I've read. It proves you don't have to be an English major, young, or Ivy League to contribute something fantastic to the literary world. Since I've been trying my hand at blogging over the past couple of months, my reading interests have taken on yet another genre---"the blogoir " (that's blog and memoir put together for those who don't speak Larisaese). These days everyone has a st...

I just closed this book and put it back on the shelf between "The Measure of a Man" and " Jesusland " ( alphabetized by author last name ). I'm thinking---why can't I find this movie playing anywhere and why aren't more people talking about this book? It's been awhile since reading a heavy book like this. It definitely has parallels to "The Color Purple" and "The Bluest Eye" ---two really important books as well. Everyone won't like this book. It is written in broken English---written from the perspective of the narrator. After the first few pages you get past that (it's actually not much different than the broken English text messages we call communication or the six year old writings I read weekly). I enjoyed the book because it was candid. Because it didn't sugar coat one bad thing that happened to the main character Precious Jones. Sometimes, sitting in our plushly furnished, obsessively clean suburbia townhous...

I just finished reading this true story today. I read it pretty quickly over the span of a few days...the last few days of Grandma's visit---in between baking cupcakes, rice crispy treats, vog madness, taco dinner with The Pommerenks , and a crazy Tiger Scout Meeting held in our garage. Most folks might not care to read about the story of a woman diagnosed with cancer. Seems sad right? Why bother? But, not long ago I read "My Sister's Keeper" ---another cancer story. I cried my eyes out. I also thought it was an incredible book (don't get me started on the movie, however). I am a Glamour magazine reader and I remembered reading the column that Erin Zammett wrote about getting and living with CML cancer at 23. I had made a mental note to pick up the book (always thirsting for more). That was several years ago. Then, as luck would have it, I was in the library picking up books on weddings (slim pickings at the Mililani Library by the way) and I had...

When you're a stay at home mom, and your kid is in school for part of the day, you have to get creative with how to fill your time. This week started off with baking! It's no mystery that I love cupcakes. It shows in my blog, it shows in my choices of favorite places and foods to eat, and oh yeah---it shows in my hips. But I wouldn't have it any other way. I drove to town in record time (I'm nevere late for a cupcake date) and met up with my friends Mari and Lehua . Lehua has the very coveted "Martha Stewart's Cupcakes" book http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/martha-stewarts-cupcakes . As I entered the apartment I noticed she had already flipped to the desired cupcake recipe for the morning: chocolate peanut butter. Yum! In between chit chatting and Louis Vuitton e-dreaming, the three of us (and little Sean too) baked cupcakes. Warm and gooey out of the oven, they tasted great...despite the muffin top portion flaking off a bit. Lehua ...

I'm so happy I saw a great movie today. My book club is reading "My Life in France" by Julia Child with Alex Prud'homme so of course when I learned of the movie based on Julia Child and the Julie/Julia blog project coming out, I knew I would be interested for a variety of reasons: 1. I love biographies/memoirs 2. I love food 3. I love movies 4. I love books 5. I love blogging This movie combined all of these! It could only be better if I had viewed the movie in Starbucks! Since my dance card hasn't been too full lately, I realized that I had time to make the early showing of a movie today. Opportunity knocks, I answer. Since I hadn't had lunch yet, I decided to kill two birds with one stone and eat my lunch at the movies---the kids pack! Popcorn, Reeses Pieces, and a Sprunch (for you non Hawaii residents---Sprite and Fruit Punch). As I made my way up the steps in the theater I noticed that my fellow matinee movie patrons were all women like me. H...

Did I mention I am in a book club? This is my second one. Well, third if you count the online one that was but wasn't. Anyway, I love to read. The book that was selected for this month was " Unaccustomed Earth" by Jhumpa Lahiri . I have previously read "The Namesake" and "Interpreter of Maladies" by this same author. I am eagerly awaiting her next book. The style of this collection of eight short stories is captivating. I continued to want to know what was going on with the characters after the stories were over. I felt that the author could have taken any one of her stories and made them into an entire book. The stories are connected because they all follow a theme of family, love, and choices. The reader can see how each character is pulled by what they want and what is expected of them from their culture. The push/pull of following your heart and following your destiny is something I related to. My favorite of the eight stories was the first---th...