Cleaning Spree

It's almost as if Spring Cleaning is already here, except that I've been on a kick to reorganize the house since the new year. I think the new year/new decade was part of it, but also the fact that Alex and I have now lived in our flat for an entire year now--and some things are still shoved in corners and are in need of dusting.

Well, the number of things shoved in corners are definitely dwindling. Dusting is another story, but a more perpetual task rather than something really not having a home at all. It was a complete revelation tonight that I could push the books on our shelves all the way to the BACK of the shelf. For some reason both of us had it stuck that the books should be all the way the front. Now: more space, better energy, brighter room. Somehow magnificently.

It is off to bed after a full week's work so far (still getting used to this) and I am a happy girl with clean dishes and organized bookshelves. It doesn't take much.

Books to Read on this Holiday

• A Death in the Family, James Agee
• Coraline, Neil Gaiman (Next--Finished 7 Sept)
  
• In Praise of Falling, Cheryl Dumesnil (Started! And now available fresh off the press!)
  
• Balzac and the Little Chinese Mistress, Dai Sijie and Ina Rilke (Finished)
  
• Oranges Aren't the Only Fruit, Jeanette Winterson

Update:

• Cradle to Cradle,William McDonough
  
• Holes, Louis Sachar (Again)
  
• The Cellist of Sarajevo, Steven Galloway
• Angela's Ashes, Frank McCourt