books and self

I finished reading Truck: A Love Story. Off hand there are a few different people I would suggest this to. I think kitchenwitch would appreciate it a lot. I may have to give my Mother a copy. There is a whole bit in the book where he talks about his situation as a stoic Norwegian bachelor and that if there were some kind of latin motto for his people it would be, "I'm Fine." That made me snort as it reminded me of my Mother's family. Scandinavians who abide by that particular motto with such devotion it might be seen as evangelical at times. (it isn't that we aren't feeling things -far from it. We just tend to put some hot dish and another bar cookie on top of that feeling. We also tend to keep most of our arguing within the family. Makes life more civilized that way. Now who wants some more hot dish?)
The book meanders over a period of a year or so. (essentially following a calendar year but actually covered a period of a little over a year.) He talks about his so-so failures with gardening, love, fixing up his ancient truck with his brother inlaw, (hopefully in time for deer-hunting season) various activities that go on in his town, people he knows and comes to know and just the general business of living. As always he is very funny, quietly heart-breaking and self-deprecating. He writes with fondness for where he lives without being twee. He is honest; equally at home with nerdy love for NPR anchors and dirt-track races. A good book to read on a rainy labor day weekend.

Next I might read some fiction. Maybe. I need to look at the pile.

( and then there is the everyday of my life )