In the Nook

The nook is a blister-like architectural detail in the front of our apartment. The design, seen widely on street corners in Park Slope dates back to the 1920's. Some people have boarded them up, others have let them fall into disrepair, and ours has been lovingly painted purple. Its actually not a bad purple, it suits the nook. As reading spots go, its the best there is. Its got a beautiful view due West, great people watching, a nice breeze on the hottest days, and a comfy chair with the slightest rock to it. There's even a place to set your after work glass of wine.

This week in the nook I've been reading Patrick Rothfuss's (Say that Miss Hankes) "In the Name of the Wind". Rothfuss has created another human-like world set back in the day of alchemy and a different way of understanding how the world works. There is an almost karma like connection between the main character and the natural world and when he tries to naively manipulate it, something bad (like a dragon on a PCP high) comes back to haunt him. The author writes the school and the antagonists rather simply but has a good eye for the minor characters like his friends and teachers (Masters, I mean...). I just got to the part where the protagonist realizes that he's not longer a child but a genuine card carrying badass and its a wonderful coming of age transition. We seem to have an abundance of awe-shucks, gee wiz, I'm the next messiah characters in sci fi but the graphic descriptions of injuries, teenage sexual angst, and alchemy make this one enjoyable enough to make me miss my subway stop.

Next up, "Tell Me Where It Hurts" by Nick Trout. Another highly touted NPR book. I almost never like them as much as I like the author talking about them, so prove me wrong Dr. Trout.