One of my many tragic New Year’s resolutions is to end 2015 with a smaller For Later shelf than I began it with. I'm starting as I mean to go on by shortening For Later to F. L.
The futility of this endeavor was immediately evident when I read Volumes One and Two of a new biography of David Hockney. It's a brilliant and compelling portrait of the artist as a young man and as an older one still as passionate about his work as he ever was. Seemingly two off the shelf, but then a new book came out about Ron Kitaj, a friend and contemporary of Hockney's, so that had to be added to the F. L. shelf.
The whole Zenny Zennishness of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying was thought-provoking, inspiring and amusing. Perhaps more amusing than inspiring - I laughed out loud in some parts, but I did not start talking to my clothes.
It was also satisfying to have this one off the shelf after a long wait on the Holds list. I did learn that photographs are the hardest things to get rid of. And adult children please note - storing stuff at your parents' houses is not tidying. It is transferring. Obviously my life was not changed because I had to add the Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide and Organize & Create Discipline to the F. L. shelf. Hope springs eternal.
33 Artists in 3 Acts was one of my best reads of 2014 and I cannot recommend it highly enough. You don't read writing like this every day. However Sarah Thornton is so good she got me all excited about art again and I had to add at least two books: Jeff Koons and When Marina Abramović Dies.
Then there are the F. L. books I haven't even read yet, just sitting there breeding new items. 10.04 by Ben Lerner has had great reviews. One mentioned that Harriet Lerner is his mother so then I had to add The Dance of Deception, having enjoyed The Dance of Anger years ago. One not off, one on.
Must do better.
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