Bookworm Attends First Book Club As Does Magician

I attended my first book club this week.  Andrew has always said I am too bossy to be in such an organization and perhaps our founder who admitted I was “back seat driving” the whole thing can see his point.  But bottom line, Blog Reader Liz did an excellent job hosting, and I think all of the attendees enjoyed discussing Rules of Civility by Amor Towels.  Even those that didn’t read the book. 

One Non-Reader was able to successfully one-up the book talk by performing card tricks he had been learning since Monday.  Every book club should have 10 ladies and one male Brazilian Magician.  You just can’t make this stuff up.  Especially if you are me.

Suggestions for our next title are due this week.  I submitted five before 9:30 AM.  (In the non-advertising world, that’s like getting it done before 8.  Be impressed.)

Book readers bond over meat platters.
Ok, and some veggies.

Seriously, it was an awesome spread.
One of the few things I love more than books is food.
Specifically, meats.

Ladies are captivated by card tricks.
Except Jessica who solved every trick like a genius.

I am visibly - though blearily - tickled by the Resident Magician.

Photo credit & meat plate credit: Blog Reader Liz

Ranking Exercise Proves Dangerous for Fledgling Book Blogger

This weekend my reading travels took me to exotic Sarasota, Florida for Good Friend and Surprising Blog Reader Matt’s wedding.  Fun fact for all of you followers:  Matt introduced me to my Husband and Personal Carrot Grower, Andrew.  So I was excited to celebrate Matt & Krystal with some of my favorite people.

I used to be pretty down on Florida, grouping it with the likes of Ohio as bottom-ranking states.  But this weekend I discovered that Summer Shandys were already available in the Sunshine state, making me question my ranking of states altogether.  Why can’t it be as clear-cut as condiments?  (in order: sour cream, mustard, barbecue sauce)

The pre-season Summer Shandy was a lovely poolside companion for enjoying The Buffalo Soldier by Chris Bohjalian.   And while we are ranking things, let’s go ahead and rank some of Bohjalian’s work shall we:

1. Midwives

2. Trans-Sister Radio

3. The Buffalo Solider

4. Before You Know Kindness

This was a good book that really came together for me at the end.  Not in a sour cream way, but in a barbecue sauce way – the vinegary kind.

Have I secured my place as the worst book blogger on the internet yet?  I think the vinegar comment might have sealed the deal.

Hanging with college buddies ranks as #1 best activity.

Specific Instructions Include: Do Not Follow Book’s Instructions

A perfect combo for a good book is one that I borrow from my mom and is written by Jodi Picoult.  Enter Sing Me Home, a great book in Picoult’s typical style – tears and complex ethical issues.  A good time for all!

This book was unique from any book I have ever read in that it included a soundtrack.  There were actual songs you could listen to (for free, available on the interwebz) to go with different sections in the book.  The tracks were meant to convey how the characters were feeling, and I thought it was a cool idea since I often listen to music while I read.

I listened to 1.2 of these songs, and can say with certainty that these were the 1.2 worst songs ever created.  I mean, oh boy.  Perhaps my sample size wasn’t big enough, but I couldn’t handle trying any more.  The music was so bad that it actually made the book hard to concentrate on because it felt like hundreds of cats were mewing into my ear buds.  I much prefer songs like Happy Birthday and 99 Bottles of Beer On the Wall to these songs.  Ok, I think I have made myself clear.

Don’t let the auditory description of felines deter you from reading this book sans recommended soundtrack.  Some of us are just dog people!

Book blogger sadly overdue in posting
gratuitous photos of World's Best Dog Norman.
Narrowly finds excuse here.

Local Bookstore Comes Off a Little Desperate

Fountain Bookstore on Cary Street targets single males
that like purple posters and sense of humor.
And me.

This chick has always been more into guys that smell like beer.  Boy do I love that smell.  Of course, I am not the most girly of girls, as my brother loves to point out.  And despite my severe lack of athletic prowess, I think my inner tomboy may just rear its preppy head in the occasional fashion choice.  But it’s been almost two weeks since a guy at work told me he had the same outfit in the seventh grade, so maybe I am headed into a girly spring.

Sophomore Year Of Blogging Off To Rocky Start

Loyal readers have probably noticed my last few blogs have been a bit fluffy.  Or rather, the kind my brother likes.  I’ve been busy hammering Blog Reader Susan on the tennis courts.  (Note: this is a bold faced lie.  Susan pelts balls of fire my way and I curl up into the fetal position on the court and cover my face.)  My athletic prowess combined with gorgeous weather has been distracting me from literary pursuits.  It certainly has not been Dexter season 5.  I am too smart for TV.    And too beautiful.  Also, poised.

Nevertheless I finally finished Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann.  I love when seemingly random characters unwittingly come together in one story comprised of both tragedy and feel goodery.  This book checked those boxes, but was a fairly slow read for me and I don’t know why.  It started to pick up towards the end, unlike this blog post.

A Self Indulgent Post; Bookworm Congratulates Self On Less Than Mediocre Results

Dearest readers, please indulge me in a celebratory post.  No, it is not for receiving my one millionth hit, or announcing a TV series to be made about the Riveting Life of a Bookworm.  Rather, it is my One Year Blogging Anniversary!  I don’t even want to know what surprises and celebrations are in store for me today.

Over the past year I have:

• Kept the same job
• Read books at the same pace as usual
• Maintained a fairly steady readership (thanks Mom!)
• Garnered no book deals
• Earned zero advertising dollars
• Gotten zilch from Amazon book deals

Oh what a year it has been.  Fortunately – as those who know me are very aware – I can entertain myself endlessly. And as long as I continue to do so, I will keep polluting the web with withering book reviews and friendly jabs at friends and family.

Level of anticipated celebration.
Actually, this is me as a statuesque bridesmaid in Loyal Reader Kiley's wedding.
Moments later, I demanded my Mom make me a grilled cheese.  It was delicious.

Avoiding A Hunger Pun In The Title Is Not Easy

I knew Facebook had hit it big when my Granddad joined (which I think is super cool.  Let’s just hope he has some Botswana check-ins later this month).  Hunger Games mania is officially here – my brother bought the book this weekend while visiting.  

As much as I loved the book and am excited for the movie, I think a bridal shower / wedding theme is a bit far.  Sure, there’s a love story in the book, but it is still essentially about murdering other people for survival.  Not the most romantic How We Met story.

Or the most appetizing.  That’s right – the Hunger Games money train is apparently going full force with a cookbook prominently for sale in my local bookstore this weekend.  This seems like pretty bad idea.  The back-up idea was a book called I Just Want to Make Money But Have No Ideas.  The cookbook won narrowly.

Bandwagon cookbook gets prominent placement at bookstore.
Giada is pissed.