Mr. Fox

 

Dear Reader,

I know you have heard enough from me on the topic of What to Read; especially right now, at the onset of whatever it is that 'Summer Reading" season is.  (Lot of is, in that sentence....)  And for me, it just happened to fall here, this great book.  It happened to fall because I was at my online used book place and the Robot Overlords that run it suggested this book- now, let me clear: they suggest books to me every time I go there.  Mr. Fox is the very first time I have taken their advice:  why?  Two things: the author was not an Old White Man, and the cover was just exactly what I want in a cover.  In other words, I judged this book by its cover and I found it very good!

The cover is a treat, and I send along an image of it, so you can appreciate it, even if you end up with a different edition.  Look at the pale celadon!  The paper-doll type figures!  What could be nicer than that?  But, but, I don't want you to read it because of its cover, and I want you to read it because it is so good, so imaginative, so multivalent.  And no, I don't want to tell you anything about it, because, isn't that why we open a book?  To find a surprise?

However, I am willing to go out on a limb: anyone with a summer reading quota would be delighted with this book:  Give it to all your friends & lovers, your book club pals & your sisters and your cousins and your aunts.

As for me, well, I am going to make a start on the books I hadn't read that are mentioned in Mr. Fox, in my usual non-robotic meta method for finding new titles:

Transformations

From the Beast to the Blonde

The Woman in White

Tess of the d'Ubervilles

Thérèse Raquin

Madame Bovary

In addition to that weighty and academic list, I think I will add Bluebeard's Egg, and White is for Witching, but don't expect a review too soon; I expect to take my sweet time reading all of that.

More June

 

June Carter playing Johnny's wife.

Dear June,

I have more to say to you, on this ennui, and I have a song that is not very jittery:  Here is June Carter, playing guitar and her song, Ring of Fire (also autoharp, if you watch the whole clip).

don't let us get stupid

 

Dear Whomever,

Hear my plea, it's your song of the day!  So short, so sweet: have another.  

More (June Jitters)

 

Barbara Billingsley playing June.

Dear Junes,

It's not always so jittery, June, but this one is.  There is nothing to do; nothing to be done about it.  I read books about being old, older than me, old and waiting.  You practice and practice; trying to wait with patience, with dignity, but it's all just jitteryboredomdoom.

Here is your song for this jittery, jejune day.  

The Museum of Accidental Images

 

Dear Chance,

I don't know about you, but I love these blurry images I get as a bonus with every package that is delivered by my good pals in the brown and gold, the UPS people.  This one, well this one is so good that it inspires me to open a museum to accidental images.  Now, no; it cannot be ALL accidental images, it has to be curated; only the best accidental images will do for the museum!

June Tune Soon (Jitters)

 

Dear June,

Your song is this song, Please Be Still.  It will take some effort- please apply yourself.

31

 

Dear Listener,

How about we finish out May with some music?  Here is Niagara, and here is St Etienne.  Two songs for today!  If you are thinking, huh, I could use a little more of that, well, I played about a dozen Niagara songs looking for the right one, and they were all right.  As for St. Etienne, you cannot go wrong with any of their songs, either!