Bookworm Casually Dismisses Great American Writer; Has Audacity to Use the Term “Fellow Writer”

As everyone enjoys Cyber Monday, I’m sure top of mind for as many as three people is – “what did the Bookworm read over the holiday?  Also, how did she gain that much weight so fast?”  Whoa, let’s ease up on the second question.  There’s a baby in there playing my ribs like a harp – it’s not just mashed potatoes.  But yes, a disturbing amount of mashed potatoes is also involved because I am deeply thankful for carbs.

The first question is more relevant to this blog.  While spending quality time at my in-laws shopping, eating, visiting, snoozing and designated driving I also managed to finish There Will Be Blood by Tom Wolfe.   

I have often raved about Wolfe’s work, but often disliked it too.  (I’m looking at you Hooking Up.)  His latest book – which I bought the week it came out in October – was closer to the “eh” side of the scale.  Parts of it were downright raunchy – disturbingly so – but it was still an interesting story overall. Certainly not a “I’ve read that before.”  But it’s a Big Thick Book so to be worth the time commitment, it’s gotta be pretty damn good and this one just isn’t.  I hate to betray a fellow Richmond writer, but I strive for honesty in this obscure book blog.  (I find “obscure” to be more flattering than say, “ignored” or “disliked” or “unnoticed.”)

Family still fits on couch before mashed potatoes are served.

The full Oxenreiter crew.
Yes, I'm serious.

Perhaps the Least Informed Posting Ever Despite Much Competition for that Honor

This is not a bird house.

As Loyal Readers know, I am committed to doing very little research for this blog.  I mean, hell, it’s a book blog – I either read the book or I didn’t, right?  This entry is an exception, since I spent as much as 3-4 minutes on research, coming up with very little in the way tangible answers, thus reinforcing my tried-and-true policy.

But I had to look into a curious little thing I saw in my neighborhood – The Little Free Library.  Actually, Andrew spotted it while on a Family Walk with World’s Best Dog Norman over the weekend and demanded this make its way to the blog. I think he wanted to avoid the 3-4 minutes worth of research to learn more.

Having gone to the website, I know almost as much as I did when I first saw this thing.  I think it is just an honor system library, which looks to have taken off across the country despite a pretty crappy site. (.org, really?) I should note that this Little Free Library is about 5 blocks from the local library (also free) but with better hours and of course, less selection.  I have more questions than answers – do people use this?  Are books ever returned?  Should I stuff 5 huge copies of Ayn Rand books into this thing? 

If anyone knows more about this program, there is actually a comments area on this blog that works about 20% of the time.  Give it a try!

Bookworm Breaks Hearts

Guys, I have been avoiding this post for a while but I know it must happen.

The pickles were a failure.  This is hard to write, and clearly my most emotional post to date.  Here are the reasons the pickles are a failure.

Cute Cukes Betray Bookworm.

1. Taste – You can eat one of these pickles.  However, it will be tough to finish.  And you will make an um, expressive, face as you swallow it.  There may be some moments in the chewing process where you think “ok, I can do this” and then immediately you think about how vinegar is also used to clean floors. 

I blame this squarely on the recipe, which didn’t allow enough vinegar to cover the cukes, so I added more.  Perhaps I should have added more of the other ingredients as well, but I needed guidance from the cookbook since that is why you buy them.  This was a major strike against following a recipe in a book versus a recipe online with community feedback and handy-dandy performance stars.

2. Texture – I like my pickles crispy.  Super crispy.  These were soft and there are a few possible reasons for this.  It could be that we couldn’t find Pickling Cucumbers and went with two other kinds, one of which I chose based on cuteness. It could be that we didn’t read the “read this section first before you start anything” section, which included a section on “firming agents.”

Mama Bookworm was really counting on these pickles, and is now really struggling to come up with ideas for Christmas gifts.  I just assumed that this small-batch-local-pickle-venture would be on the wish list of everyone I know.  Perhaps next time I try a new recipe I won’t do it with 12 pounds of vegetables.

Bookworm Showered (Before the Event & Also With Gifts)

Bookworm receives flowers from doting husband;
likely due to constant reminders of what she is going through.

This past weekend I was reminded of what a lucky lady I am – I had the most awesome baby shower with (almost) all of my favorite ladies there.  (Missed you Erin #3 & #1 Reader Ki, and not only because I want some of my books back.)  Wonderful friends and family came in from California, Pennsylvania, DC and around VA to bestow gifts relating to bowel movements, sleeping, monitoring and of course – Baby Literature for Baby Ox.

Baby Ox bookshelf stocked
with classics.

Because of this once-in-a lifetime-event, I am bringing you a Bookworm First ®.  Below is a copy of a first edition book, as written by Loyal Blog Readers Katherine & Kristen.  I’m sure this breaks all kinds of copyright laws, and am mildly concerned about the litigious nature – most notably of Katherine – but my risk assessment team says to go for it.  Please enjoy.

Don't let the innocent cover art fool you.

Legalese - standard.

My friends seem to have a keen understanding
of my level of childcare knowledge.

...And in the end are loyal to the almighty registry.

I love these drunken fools.

*Please note that the infuriating formatting issues in this post are due to my friends at Blogspot, not the careful eye of The Bookworm, whose relentless attention to detail would not let this slide if given a choice.