On Books, knitting and Car Talk

Paul and I are still winding up the Coast of Oregon.  We love this kind of road trip. We go as far as we like, stop wherever we like to look at things and then stop for the night.  Paul drives and I look out the window.  I can not read or do anything in a car.  A few days ago I tried knitting my sock...which lead to an upset stomach and Altoids.  We share a love of the NPR program Car Talk.   We love Prairie Home Companion. I love classical and sacred music...Paul lets me listen to it....for a while.  We listen to contemporary Christian music....until we need a good dose of NPR talk shows.  It all works well for us.
Paul and I share a deep love of used book stores and since we have been back in the US, we have been to many. Our first full weekend in the US, we went to the library book sale at my old high school.  You have to get a number to get in-it's very popular. Books are about $1.00 - $3.00. You can only buy 12 books but the selection was fantastic!  They have side rooms where you can get other, less popular books.  I picked up a few Shakespeare plays and an old copy of the book of Common Prayer.
So here are a few of the books that I have read since we have been back.  Our week at re-entry in Fresno included no internet access in the apartments and lots of free time.  It was wonderful.

The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht.  I picked this up at the airport in Korea.  It was 12 won and I had 12 won that I wanted to spend.  This is the story of a young woman's relationship with her grandfather.  It takes place in a post-war Baltic country (the author fled Yugoslavia)  and is a fantastic mix of reality and fantasy.  The young woman in the story is a doctor serving after the war.  Her grandfather goes on a short trip and dies.  She tries to find out what happened to him and in the process remembers the many stories that he told her.  I loved this book.

The Coffee Trader by David Bliss.  A Portuguese Jew tries to become rich by selling coffee in Holland during the 1600's.  This is a thriller of a different speed-who is good, who is bad, who will deceive, who will win in the end?  The history of the coffee trade is pretty interesting.  I really like this book.

Refraction by Matoko Fujimura.  This is a book about art and culture and faith.  Fujimura is head of the International Arts Movement and an artist himself.  His writing is beautiful and elegant and spare.  I don't want this book to end.