Sourdough: A Novel by Robin Sloan is a deeply entertaining story of hope, curiosity, food, and community. Set in San Francisco, Sourdough is reminiscent of Sloan’s first novel, “Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore”, and tells the tale of Lois Clary, a mid-western transplant to the Bay Area working as a programmer for General Dexterity, a cutting-edge … Continue reading Sourdough: A Novel by Robin Sloan
The Boerne Books & Arts Festival is coming back to our little town on Oct. 5 from 10 AM - 5 PM at the Main Plaza. I attended the first one last year and was impressed by the various book dealers, university presses, and authors in attendance. Many of the books like The Cedar Choppers … Continue reading Boerne Book & Arts Festival, Boerne, TX Oct. 5, 2019
The Twig Book Shop, San Antonio, TX Yesterday we visited one of my favorite indie bookstores, The Twig Book Shop in the heart of The Pearl in San Antonio, TX. Like all good indie bookstores, The Twig has a broad selection of local authors and topics that you won’t find in most other places. The … Continue reading The Twig Book Shop, San Antonio, TX
I’ve written before about my affinity for books produced by Lost Art Press. Almost without exception, the subject doesn’t matter to me. The books themselves are as much an example of craftsmanship as the content. Well written, well edited, bound in the US on excellent paper with rich photographs. If you love books like I … Continue reading The Difference Makers: 30 Contemporary Makers, 30 Remarkable Stories by Marc Adams
How cool is that sign?!? It’s no secret. I love bookstores. Big ones, small ones, chain bookstores, funky independent ones, and most definitely, used bookstores. I love the smell, the stacks, and the ability to browse unmolested. I’m fairly indiscriminate in my affection for bookstores, but each type serves a different purpose. The Bookshop For … Continue reading The Bookshop Under the Windmill, Boerne, TX
I’ve been traveling quite a bit over the last several weeks and haven’t written much. I have read several books and spent lots of road miles thinking about what I read. Among those books was The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google by Scott Galloway. On its surface this is a … Continue reading The Four by Scott Galloway
In 1969 Fr. Robert Farrar Capon, an Episcopal priest in the Diocese of Long Island, published The Supper of the Lamb: A Culinary Reflection, a work which has remained in print ever since. The book is an engaging mix of cooking philosophy, recipes, hospitality, and theology and I am truly grateful to have encountered it. … Continue reading The Supper of the Lamb: A Culinary Reflection, by Fr. Robert Farrar Capon
I'm at an interesting place in my life. At 44 years old I suppose I am, in fact, if not in "middle age" then at least in my middle years. In a year my oldest child will leave for college. In 10 years we'll be empty nesters. I've had a more than reasonable amount of … Continue reading Spiritual Direction by Henri Nouwen
One of the great debates among readers is, paper or plastic? That is to say, “real” books or e-readers such as the Kindle? I absolutely love books. I love their weight, their bindings, and the feel and smell of the paper. I love different printings and dust jacket art. I love to hold and sometimes … Continue reading Paper or Plastic?
Books, bookstores, secret societies, and fun characters...what's not to like? Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan is a fun read that is initially set in a 24-hour bookstore in San Francisco, that seems to do very little actual book selling, but that is quickly revealed to be beside the point. That said, through the … Continue reading Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
