At the BART Station
He is walking to work and reading Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol S. Dweck.
March 10, 2019, Sunday afternoon -- Reading Alex Hutchinson
At a cafe in the Mission District
Other running books she's read are Good to Go: What the Athlete in All of Us can Learn from the Strange Science of Recovery, by Christie Aschwanden, and Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory, by Deena Kastor -- who has the American record in the marathon -- and Michelle Hamilton.
She doesn't have a favorite book or author, but she does really like Haruki Murakami.
She is reading Endure: Mind, Body and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance, by Alex Hutchinson. She is a distance runner and while she's down with an injury, she's working on her mental game for endurance running. She ran the 10k and 5k in college.
She doesn't have a favorite book or author, but she does really like Haruki Murakami.
March 1, 2019, Friday evening -- Reading Barbara Kingsolver
On the BART platform
He is reading Pigs in Heaven, by Barbara Kingsolver, which he found in one of those Little Free Library houses in Berkeley. He is a teacher and he teaches his students The Bean Trees, which this book is the sequel of, and he had read everything by Barbara Kingsolver except for this book.
His favorite book is Watership Down, by Richard Adams. His favorite living author is Cormac McCarthy and his favorite deceased author is Carlos Casteneda.
His favorite book is Watership Down, by Richard Adams. His favorite living author is Cormac McCarthy and his favorite deceased author is Carlos Casteneda.
February 24, 2019, Sunday afternoon -- Reading Michael Schiavo
In the Mission District
He is reading Terri: The Truth, by Michael Schiavo. He doesn't have a favorite author, but instead just reads books when they come his way.
February 3, 2019, Sunday afternoon -- Reading Jeffrey Eugenides
At a cafe in the Mission District
She is reading Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides. It was a gift from her sister-in-law, who got everyone books for Christmas. She got lucky that she got a book she wanted to read.
Something good she read recently was Slouching Towards Bethlehem, a book of essays by Joan Didion. She liked it because it was fun to see a portrait of San Francisco.
Something good she read recently was Slouching Towards Bethlehem, a book of essays by Joan Didion. She liked it because it was fun to see a portrait of San Francisco.
February 3, 2019, Sunday afternoon -- Reading Tana French
At a cafe in the Mission District
She is just getting started reading The Witch Elm, by Tana French. It's a murder mystery. She loves this author and is happy to have time to read. It's the first book she's read in a while.
February 3, 2019, Sunday afternoon -- Reading Chris Ying, René Redzepi, Bini Pradhan, Heena Patel, Isabel Caudillo, and others
At a cafe in the Mission District
(The black square on picture of the cover is just to cover up a sticker with library hold information)
She is reading You and I Eat the Same: On the Countless Ways Food and Cooking Connect Us to One Another, by Chris Ying and René Redzepi. It's an anthology of essays and part of a series of books put out by the Danish nonprofit MAD, "intended to inspire, educate, and find creative solutions that make a real and sustainable difference in how the world eats" (from the back flap). Right now she's reading an essay about the San Francisco nonprofit, La Cocina entitled Food as a Gateway, by Bini Pradhan, Heena Patel, and Isabel Caudillo.
Another good food series she likes is called Big City Food Biographies, published by Rowman and Littlefield.
And another good book she's read recently was The Library Book, by Susan Orlean, about the fire at Los Angeles's Central Library in 1986.
She is reading You and I Eat the Same: On the Countless Ways Food and Cooking Connect Us to One Another, by Chris Ying and René Redzepi. It's an anthology of essays and part of a series of books put out by the Danish nonprofit MAD, "intended to inspire, educate, and find creative solutions that make a real and sustainable difference in how the world eats" (from the back flap). Right now she's reading an essay about the San Francisco nonprofit, La Cocina entitled Food as a Gateway, by Bini Pradhan, Heena Patel, and Isabel Caudillo.
Another good food series she likes is called Big City Food Biographies, published by Rowman and Littlefield.
And another good book she's read recently was The Library Book, by Susan Orlean, about the fire at Los Angeles's Central Library in 1986.
January 25, 2019, Friday evening -- Reading John Carreyrou
Near Union Square, walking while reading. Some people have mad skills like that.
She is reading Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup, by John Carreyrou. She said the book is about Elizabeth Holmes, founder and C.E.O. of Theranos, a medical technology company. A movie is being made about it staring Jennifer Lawrence.
Her favorite books are The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown and The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt, both related to art. Her minor in college was Art History.
Her favorite books are The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown and The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt, both related to art. Her minor in college was Art History.
January 20, 2019, Sunday afternoon -- Reading Jack London
At a laundromat in the Mission District
He is reading White Fang, by Jack London. He had the book when he was a kid. He has a resolution this year to read more books and from different genres. When he was a kid, he said he read lots of books but recently hasn't been reading as much. In keeping with his resolution, before this he read Breakfast of Champions, by Kurt Vonnegut and Dharma Bums, by Jack Kerouac. Next up is I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer, by Michelle McNamara and Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes.
His favorite book is the Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas, which he likes for the build up and long, drawn-out revenge.
One good thing, he said, about having a broken washing machine (or was it dryer?) is that sitting in a laundromat is good for reading.
His favorite book is the Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas, which he likes for the build up and long, drawn-out revenge.
One good thing, he said, about having a broken washing machine (or was it dryer?) is that sitting in a laundromat is good for reading.
December 26, 2018, Wednesday afternoon -- Reading Colson Whitehead
On (or next to) the Thai island, Koh Lipe
She is reading The Underground Railroad, by Colson Whitehead. She picked it up because of the subject matter, it won a Pulitzer Prize, and Barack Obama said it was "terrific." Her favorite author is John Grisham. She just finished reading The Partner. She loves how crazy detailed Grisham's writing is, which makes her feel like she's watching a movie. Her favorite Danish author (she's Danish, but usually reads in English) is Jussi Adler-Olsen. He also writes thrillers, but she said, Grisham is better.
Two years ago I also visited this island. On this visit I happened to look up and, sitting under a tiki bar (with a book) was someone I'd photographed two years ago.
December 19, 2018, Wednesday afternoon -- Reading Ilya Ehrenberg
At Adobe Bookstore in the Mission District, looking at Meditation for Beginners, by Jack Kornfield, a book that he just purchased for the store.
What he is actually reading right now is The Fall of Paris, by Ilya Ehrenberg. It's about why the French republic fell to Nazi invasion. They were horrified by World War I and didn't want to become a battleground.
He reads a lot of history. I asked him who his favorite author is and he said he sees so many books he doesn't know what to fall in love with. He said he likes Willa Cather, and his favorite book of hers is My Ántonia.
While I sat talking to Andrew so many people came in and out of the store and a few people bought things, including The Hidden Life of Dogs, by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, and a book on tiki art. Bookstores are not dead.
He reads a lot of history. I asked him who his favorite author is and he said he sees so many books he doesn't know what to fall in love with. He said he likes Willa Cather, and his favorite book of hers is My Ántonia.
While I sat talking to Andrew so many people came in and out of the store and a few people bought things, including The Hidden Life of Dogs, by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, and a book on tiki art. Bookstores are not dead.
December 19, 2018, Wednesday afternooon -- Reading Elyssa Friedland
In the Financial District
She is reading The Intermission, by Elyssa Friedland. Someone left it next to her while she was sleeping. Recently she read You Will Pay, by Lisa Jackson and The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother, an autobiography by James McBride, which she really enjoyed and left with someone who works near where she sleeps sometimes.
December 15, 2018, Saturday night -- Reading N.A. Diaman
Reading aloud a segment of the book that is set in Paris while accompanied by a cellist
He is reading Portraits, a gay love story and novel by N.A. Diaman, who was also at the party and is actually the person holding the book in the picture above. When I asked permission to photograph the reader, he told me I should ask the author. I was a little taken aback because no one has ever said that before. Usually the author is not present.
The author has written 11 books, including Ed Dean Is Queer, The Fourth Wall, Second Crossing, Reunion, Castro Street Memories, Private Nation, and The City. He grew up in San Francisco, about a 5 minute walk from where the party was.
The reader's favorite book is The Glass Bead Game, by Hermann Hesse, which he read about 20 years ago. He liked it for its ability to find connections between things, on which the surface seem to have nothing in common.
The author has written 11 books, including Ed Dean Is Queer, The Fourth Wall, Second Crossing, Reunion, Castro Street Memories, Private Nation, and The City. He grew up in San Francisco, about a 5 minute walk from where the party was.
The reader's favorite book is The Glass Bead Game, by Hermann Hesse, which he read about 20 years ago. He liked it for its ability to find connections between things, on which the surface seem to have nothing in common.
The cellist also accompanied other readers and I also heard her play beautiful piece by Vivaldi. I've lived most of my life without hearing literature being read without musical accompaniment, but earlier this month during a MAPP event at the Red Poppy Art House, I heard a man recite Emily Dickinson while accompanied by piano music.
December 7, 2018, Friday afternoon -- Reading John Green
Enjoying the sunshine
She is reading Turtles All the Way Down, by John Green on her public library Libby app. She just started it and she's not sure if she'll continue with it or not. It was recommended by Amazon because of another book that she read.
Something good she read lately was Children of Blood and Bone, a young adult fantasy novel by Tomi Adeyemi. It's a page turner and socially relevant because of the racial tensions in the book.
Something good she read lately was Children of Blood and Bone, a young adult fantasy novel by Tomi Adeyemi. It's a page turner and socially relevant because of the racial tensions in the book.
December 3, 2018, Monday morning -- Reading Kelly Thompson, Stacey Lee, Jenn St-Onge, and Jen Hickman
Waiting for the train
She is reading Jem and the Holograms: Infinite, written by Kelly Thompson, and illustrated by Stacey Lee, Jenn St-Onge, and Jen Hickman. She's an 80's kid, she said.
Something good she's read recently is Into the Drowning Deep, by Mira Grant. She described it as an inventive, realistic horror story. It's about an ocean voyage to the Mariana Trench.
Something good she's read recently is Into the Drowning Deep, by Mira Grant. She described it as an inventive, realistic horror story. It's about an ocean voyage to the Mariana Trench.
No reader to post this week
I walked through Potrero Hill and the Mission District today, looking for a reader but didn't find one. Through a coffee shop's windows I saw a woman studying a text book, but that's not really what I like to take pictures of. I'm more interested in what we read when we're not obligated to read. While I walked I listened to an audio book on my newish headphones. Audiobooks and walks are two of my favorite things these days. I usually listen to books from the public library on their app called Libby. Right now I'm listening to Killing Commendatore, Haruki Murakami's latest novel. It's about 28 hours long and the reader has a deep, soothing voice. I find Murakami's books very soothing even when they aren't read aloud. This one is about an artist who paints portraits and is just as good as his other books that I've enjoyed over the years.
November 25, 2018, Sunday morning -- Reading Robert Galbraith
In the Mission District
He is reading Lethal White, by Robert Galbraith. The author is British and he enjoys reading British authors. He said they use words that he doesn't usually encounter, such as crenelated (having spaces that guns, cannons, etc. can be shot through), pusillanimous (timid), and eponymous (of, relating to, or being what is named).
When I asked him about his favorite books and authors he said he's a sucker for David Baldacci and he also told me about a book called Night of Camp David, by Fletcher Knebel, which is about a Senator who discovers the president is unstable and needs to alert the country. Although it was written in 1965, he feels it has some parallels with today. He is not alone in his opinion. I just read an online review that said the title could easily be changed to Night of Mar-a-Lago. In November 2018 Penguin Random House announced it would be re-releasing the book.
When I asked him about his favorite books and authors he said he's a sucker for David Baldacci and he also told me about a book called Night of Camp David, by Fletcher Knebel, which is about a Senator who discovers the president is unstable and needs to alert the country. Although it was written in 1965, he feels it has some parallels with today. He is not alone in his opinion. I just read an online review that said the title could easily be changed to Night of Mar-a-Lago. In November 2018 Penguin Random House announced it would be re-releasing the book.
October 31, 2018, Wednesday afternoon -- Reading Trevor Noah
Working at the door, in the Mission District
She is reading Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood, an autobiography by Trevor Noah, the host of the Daily Show. She gave it to a friend and the friend said it was so good, she had to read it, too. She likes reading about race, humans in general, poetry, and what her friends write.
October 27, 2018, Saturday afternoon -- Reading Edinburgh
At PianFrancisco, my new favorite San Francisco thing -- a view of the city, a piano, and people singing (the pianist was amazing)
She is reading Edinburgh, a novel by Alexander Chee. She said that it is devastatingly sad. It's about a Korean American boy being sexually abused by a choir director, and it is an important Asian American novel, as well as an important LGBTQ novel.
Like many people when I ask them about their favorite books/authors, she was overcome by the difficulty of naming her favorites and not leaving anyone out. She has so many favorite authors, including Elena Ferrante, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Yiyun Li.
Like many people when I ask them about their favorite books/authors, she was overcome by the difficulty of naming her favorites and not leaving anyone out. She has so many favorite authors, including Elena Ferrante, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Yiyun Li.
Yes, that is a bear giving a bear hug in the background. It was just a few days before Halloween.
October 26, 2018, Friday evening -- Reading Zadie Smith
At Vesuvio in North Beach
He is reading White Teeth, by Zadie Smith. He's been meaning to read it for ages, and has read the first 140 pages today. While he was carrying it around town (he's visiting here from the UK) he said that lots of people came up to him and wanted to talk to him about the book. He said the book reminds him of Santanic Verses, by Salman Rushdie, because of the way the books deal with integration.
His favorite author is Salman Rushdie, and Midnight's Children is his favorite Salman Rushdie novel. He read it for the first time while he was living in India. Another favorite book is The Unbearable Lightness of Being, by Milan Kundera.
His favorite author is Salman Rushdie, and Midnight's Children is his favorite Salman Rushdie novel. He read it for the first time while he was living in India. Another favorite book is The Unbearable Lightness of Being, by Milan Kundera.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
