dual personalities

It was a very busy week but I managed to sneak in some pleasurable reading, watching, and listening that eased my way. I started reading Jussi Adler-Olsen’s, The Absent One, which I like a lot and would recommend. He takes ‘cat and mouse’ to knew levels.

I like the irascible detective, Carl Mørck, and his sidekick, Assad. The plots are never just about solving a murder; they are much more complex and often involve saving a victim from the perpetrator(s). Worth a read.

I also watched Ex Machina, which I thought was extremely well done and quite disturbing. Domhnall Gleason plays a young programmer who wins a trip to visit his strange, reclusive boss, Oscar Isaac. Upon arrival at the remote estate, he discovers that he is to administer a Turing test to Isaac’s newest ‘robot’, Alicia Vikander. Mayhem ensues.

with Oscar Isaac, Alicia Vikander, and Domhnall Gleason

The film is certainly a strong argument against the development of AI (not that I needed one). However, I’m on the fence about recommending the movie, since it isn’t something I will ever want to watch again, but the performances — especially Vikander’s — are excellent.

We also managed to fit in some live music with a Tuesday night visit (weeknight high-jinks!) to a local landmark, the Buccaneer Lounge, where our very own Reverend Mike performed on the guitar and they serve $4 cocktails. A fun time was had by all, as they say.

As you slog through your week, driving hither and yon, try listening to one of my favorite Lord Huron songs, The Ghost on the Shore:

It’s really good, isn’t it? There’s nothing quite like a mournful song to lift the spirits.

*Jussi Adler-Olsen

Yesterday, I took a ‘reading day’. Sure, I also did errands — to the bank, the bookstore, the pharmacy, the car wash — but in between outings I sat and read. It was delightful and refreshing. While I thoroughly enjoyed my book (The Silkworm by R. Galbraith, aka J.K. Rowling), I took just as much pleasure in my surroundings. I would even go so far as to say that a pleasant environment is essential to a good reading experience. Thus, I got thinking about what my ideal home library would be like. A library should NOT be organized to effect a color scheme.

Pretty though they be, both those pictures proclaim the fact that the owners are more interested in visual effect than in reading. [And I can’t stand the use of dogs, especially yucky pugs, as fashion accessories — just saying]

Libraries should be comfortable, aesthetically pleasing, and utilitarian. They can be whole rooms

or they can fill in nooks and crannies like this passageway-room

or this cool window-seated nook:

I love the window seat, but it certainly needs more cushions. A rug and a throw would be nice, too!

Libraries can also contain important material collections — as long as one doesn’t overdo it.

Don’t you love those Greek vases and especially the wooden chair in the front left of the picture? The room is crying out for an oriental rug, but it’s still nice.

All of these photos, which I found on Google image, have inspired me to start planning a library redo. That is, a redo of my book cases in our family room. I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime remember, as E.B. White once wrote in a letter:

“A library is a good place to go when you feel unhappy, for there, in a book, you may find encouragement and comfort. A library is a good place to go when you feel bewildered or undecided, for there, in a book, you may have your question answered. Books are good company, in sad times and happy times, for books are people – people who have managed to stay alive by hiding between the covers of a book.”

Have a great weekend!