book/music shopping for April 8 | A Crowded Bookshelf

After brunch with friends for Easter, I went book shopping at Myopic in Bucktown? I recently went to yelp.com the other day and typed in ?Myopic? to see what comes up ? aside from the positive reviews, I saw some folks complaining of the staff members ? particularly the hipsters who make sport of being sullen and rude. I never had that experience ? the employees at Myopic have been nothing but kind and polite.

Anyways, I wandered through the stacks ? I don?t ever have an idea of what I?m looking for ? I just sorta let myself get lost. I got a few books ? because I had some time to wait, I availed myself of Myopic?s many chairs and tables and flipped through a couple cookbooks.

These are the books I picked up this Sunday:

Agatha Christie?s Cards on the Table - recently I watched the A&E version of Cards on the Table and was struck at the homophobia of the film. I know that recent adaptations of Christie?s work include more topical themes such as homosexuality, so I was interested in reading this.

Elliot?Roosevelt?s Murder at Hobcaw Barony - this is an interesting book ? Eleanor Roosevelt is the protagonist of the book. She?s the sleuth, modeled after Christie?s Miss Marple. These books were popular when published, but didn?t really stand the test of time all that much. Still, I thought I?d pick it up.

Editor Cathi?Unsworth?s London Noir ? I love London and I love mysteries. This is a series that focus on various cities popular among thrillers.

Rachel Shukert?s Everything Is Going to Be Great: An Underfunded and Overexposed European Grand Tour: A Memoir?- I love travel books ? this one seems to be a fun one ? Shukert?s?an actress who got a big break going on a tour with a play throughout Europe. Travel narratives are fantastic to read for arm chair vacations ? since I?m too busy to go on holiday, this is the way I get my travel jollies: whether it?s Bill Bryson, Polly Evans or Frances Mayes, I use these books as escapes.

Jamie Oliver?s Jamie?s Food Revolution: Rediscover How to Cook Simple, Delicious, Affordable Meals -??I try to cook healthy meals and I?m looking for great cookbooks that?ll help me make great meals. Jamie Oliver?s a great celebrity chef and his work with the first lady against obesity is pretty fantastic. The pictures are beautiful ? especially because they?re not just of the finished product, but also the various processes of putting together the dishes. There are also testimonials from everyday people who are taught by Oliver on how to make good, healthy meals. I?m excited to try some of these dishes.

I went to Reckless as well and got a buttload of CD?s ? they?ve got great prices, so I was able to get a lot of CD?s for not a whole lot of money.

Peggy Lee Close Enough for Love - I was on a Peggy Lee kick for a little bit. I find her voice incredible and enchanting. This is from her post-peak work when she was doing records that had her singing standards and pop songs. This album isn?t with Lee at her best, but a mediocre Lee is better than most pop singers at their best. ?Come in From the Rain? is a great Melissa Manchester song ? Diana Ross had a minor hit with the song ? and Lee?s version is cool, too.

Michael Jackson Immortal ? I?m a huge Michael Jackson fan ? this is a soundtrack to the Cirque de Soleil show that?s playing in Vegas?Basically it?s a greatest hits record and I was looking to have a Michael Jackson CD that combines his huge 80?s and 90?s hits along with his post-millennium stuff as well. This was released after his death, so there is a bit of grave-robbing involved, but I love Jackson and heard this was a great record.

Prince and the Revolution Music from Purple Rain?- like Jackson, I?m also a huge fan of Prince. I can?t believe I didn?t get this album before. Some of the songs are probably the best pop songs of the 80s ? the title track, the dancey ?Let?s Go Crazy? or the awesome ?I Would Die 4 U.? The production is prime 80s Minneapolis funk. This album makes its way into every ?greatest records? lists and with good reason: the music is incredible; Prince, a virtuoso, handles much of the production and instruments.

June Carter Cash Press On - Johnny Cash?s missus was an incredibly talented singer-songwriter in her own right. In fact Cash?s family was a mine of talent. Her version of ?Ring of Fire? is fantastic. She?s become a legend as well ? a great work.

Jackie DeShannon Classic Masters - DeShannon?was?a member of the Brill Building songwriting team ? she also had some hits of her own ? ?Put a Little Love in Your Heart? and ?What the World Needs Now Is Love? were her two biggest hits ? they are fantastic and her joyful, ebullient performances make them memorable. She?s not the greatest singer, but she makes up for what she lacks with verve and a sunny attitude.

Beastie Boys Solid Gold Hits?- I love the Beastie Boys and have been looking for a compilation ? this goes as far back as ?Fight for Your Right? up to ?Intergalactic? and ?An Open Letter to NYC.? It?s funny hearing how these punk rappers have become institutions.

Sinead O?Connor Am I Not Your Girl? Sinead O?Connor?s one of my favorite singers ? she had an incredibly aching voice with a limitless range. This is her third album, a collection of showtuness?interesting?and pop standards. It?s interesting because as incredible a singer as she is, her songwriting is even more distinct, so it?s neat to hear her singing other people?s words. This record wasn?t well-received by contemporary critics, but it?s great hearing her do covers ? except for the excretable ?Don?t Cry for Me, Argentina.?

Rihanna Rated R?- Not a huge fan of Rihanna but she?s done some great dance-pop and this record was very cheap and some of the hits were pretty fantastic.

Nelly Furtado The Best of Nelly Furtado?- Furtado?s had some great single hits ? I looked for this one because of some cool dance mixes as well.

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