Library Basket

This morning, we had that rare library trip where the kids were actually quiet and well-behaved, and I got to browse. (My trick: I took them for a walk through the woods first.)

Want to see what I got? There is no way these will all end up on my Books Read list.

• Childhood's End--I picked up this one in the children's section, where it had been mistakenly shelved. I assume because it has "childhood" in the title. I decided this was as good a time to read it as any.
• The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen--A novel purporting to tell the tale of Jane Austen's secret love affair. I don't have high expectations, but I'll give it a chance.
• Waiting on a Train--The abysmal state of America's rail system is a favorite rant of Michael's, so I had to get this book for him when I saw it. I'll probably give it a skim as well.
  
• The Well-Tended Perennial Garden--The flowerbeds around the inn are getting overgrown and need some sort of drastic revival, but I'm a bit flummoxed about where to begin and how to proceed. I'm hoping to get a pointer or two from this book, which promises "planting and pruning techniques."
• Losing Moses on the Freeway: The 10 Commandments in America--I'm partway through the first chapter and beginning to think that the title is the best part of the book.
• Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography--I've seen video clips of Crossan speak and read quotations from him in other books, but I've never read one of his books. It should be an interesting juxtaposition with A Marginal Jew, which I read during Lent.
• The Town that Food Saved: How One Community Found Vitality in Local Food--I'm pretty sure I'll finish this one. It's a quick read about a favorite subject.
• Full Moon Feast--I should have looked at this one a bit more. I was hoping for lots of seasonal recipes (I need some new pot-luck recipes for the fall), but this has more musings on food and fewer recipes than I wanted. I haven't yet determined if the musings are interesting.
• bon appetit (August edition)--I was seduced by the blackberry, lemon, and gingersnap cheesecake pudding on the cover. Since I haven't been responsible for day-to-day cooking in almost seven years, this falls under the category Michael and I call "food porn," much like my Food Network viewing. (Just so no one gets the wrong idea--Michael is an excellent cook and spends a lot of time serving up tasty meals. I just really like to eat and like to pretend to myself that I like to cook.)

The kids also loaded up on books, and as I type this, everyone has his or her nose in a book.