Comments for On My Wishlist: April 30, 2011

On My Wishlist: April 30, 2011: 04/29/11

The spring semester is winding down. I'm done with most of my reading, including for those two huge (and sometimes frustrating) projects. I will have about three weeks in May free from school work before the summer session begins.

With things calming down, I have managed to get back to my wishlist. I am currently reading The Stainless Steel Rat Returns by Harry Harrison, one of the funniest books in the series I've read in years. I plan to finish it this weekend.

I did manage to finish Everything But the Horse, Holly Hobbie's picture book memoir of moving to a farm. As a child I was a huge fan of her artwork so I had to read the book. OK... I'm still a fan.

Upcoming wishlist reads include (they are in my hands waiting to be read):

• The Kingdom of Ohio by Matthew Flaming
• Wesley the Owl by Stacy O'Brien (Recommended by At Home with Books)
• The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips by Michael Morpurgo
• The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer
• Tales From Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan
• Rebecca's World by Terry Nation
• Treasure Hunt by John Lescroart
• Glimmering by Elizabeth Hand

The Featured Wish for April 30, 2010:

A State of Change: Forgotten Landscapes of California by Laura Cunningham (recommended by Bookalicious Pam)

"Vernal pools, protected lagoons, grassy hills rich in bunchgrasses and,where the San Francisco Bay is today, ancient bison and mammoths roaming a vast grassland. Through the use of historical ecology, Laura Cunningham walks through these forgotten landscapes to uncover secrets about the past, explore what our future will hold, and experience the ever-changing landscape of California.

"Combining the skill of an accomplished artist with a passion for landscapes and training as a naturalist, Cunningham has spent over two decades pouring over historical accounts, paleontology findings, and archaeological data. Traveling with paintbox in hand, she tracked the remaining vestiges of semi-pristine landscape like a detective, seeking clues that revealed the California of past centuries. She traveled to other regions as well, to sketch grizzly bears, wolves, and other magnificent creatures that are gone from California landscapes. In her studio, Cunningham created paintings of vast landscapes and wildlife from the raw data she had collected, observations in the wild, and knowledge of ecological laws and processes.

"Through A State of Change, readers are given the pure pleasure of wandering through these wondrous and seemingly exotic scenes of Old California and understanding the possibilities for both change and conservation in our present-day landscape. A State of Change is as vital as it is visionary."

The book was an NCIBA honor book for 2010.

On My Wishlist

Comments (16)

Permalink

Comment #1: Saturday, April, 30, 2011 at 10:30:36

J. Rosemary Moss

I hadn't heard of 'A State of Change,' but it looks like a fascinating glimpse of what California was once like.

Comment #2: Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 19:45:03

Pussreboots

I hadn't heard of it either until it won the award.

Comment #3: Saturday, April, 30, 2011 at 11:04:31

Heidi@heaven is a bookstore

OH please tell me what you thought of Wesley the Owl and Tales from Outer Suburbia.

Comment #4: Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 19:46:10

Pussreboots

I will get both books reviewed once I finish reading them.

Comment #5: Saturday, April, 30, 2011 at 18:12:13

Melissa (Books and things)

I like books that let you "see" what it was like long before it was changed. Great choice.

Comment #6: Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 19:48:21

Pussreboots

Thank you! I hope my library has a copy.

Comment #7: Saturday, April, 30, 2011 at 18:40:13

Jennifer B

Thanks for stopping by my book..Ill have to check out your list they sound interesting..

Comment #8: Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 19:49:24

Pussreboots

You're welcome. Happy reading.

Comment #9: Saturday, April, 30, 2011 at 20:29:40

Amy S.

Thanks for stopping by! Sorry I haven't been around in a while! Interesting looking TBR pile!

Comment #10: Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 19:50:02

Pussreboots

Welcome back. I'm glad you like my current selection of books.

Comment #11: Sunday, May, 1, 2011 at 01:15:22

кєяo

A non-fiction? I'm very bad at reading non-fiction.

Comment #12: Monday, May 2, 2011 at 13:23:11

Pussreboots

Yes, a non-fiction. Not all non-fictions are created equally. There are some fun, goofy, delightful ones out there. This one appeals to me because it's about local history and it promises pretty pictures.

Comment #13: Sunday, May, 1, 2011 at 04:58:45

Linds @ Extraordinary books blog

Great picks in books! I generally pick PNR, Urban Fantasy, or Horror books it is refreshing to see people read great literature.

Comment #14: Monday, May 2, 2011 at 13:26:45

Pussreboots

I like urban fantasy and horror too but I'm a sucker for local history and quirky non-fiction.

Comment #15: Sunday, May, 1, 2011 at 09:26:27

Kris

Enjoy that brief break! My semester is done and I have until May 30th to get my 'want to reads" done before I start back!

Comment #16: Monday, May 2, 2011 at 13:27:32

Pussreboots

Thanks. I will have from May 11th until June 6th. I will be doing some free lance writing during that time too but it will be nice to have a break.