Bookworm Pats Self on Back After Successful Lending Spree

Possible Blog Reader and Often Book Trader Jenny brought a pile of books back to me this week.  She is probably the fastest reader I know, and when I asked her what she thought of the books she said she “liked them all.”  A concise and excellent review that reflects on their owner, don’t you think?  I will write a review of each that will be at least one sentence longer than hers.  Here I go:



Desperate for photo content, I took a picture
of books referenced on my messy desk.



·         South of Broad by Pat Conroy: Richmonders, don’t be fooled.  This is about Broad Street in Charleston, SC not the River City.  This book is not as good as Conroy’s most famous The Prince of Tides or even Beach Music but this guy sure knows how to craft a story.  I think most people would enjoy this one.

·         Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell:  This may have been my favorite of his books, but like with any of Gladwell’s books, you have to be in the mood.  He is a pro at finding out “why” stuff happens, and making it interesting.  In this case, he writes why certain folks are able to be super duper successful.  Fun facts include:  you can be a “pro” at almost anything if you dedicate 10,000 hours to working on it; most professional hockey players in Canada were born in January, February and March.  I am a real hit at cocktail parties as you can imagine.

·         Muriel’s War: An American Woman in the Nazi Resistance by Sheila Isenberg:  Not my favorite WW2 memoir, but I did think it was fascinating that an American woman stuck around so long in Nazi-controlled Austria, especially after admitting to her University that she was Jewish. 

·         The Man from St. Petersburg: Another win for Ken Follett.  This was one of his suspenseful books versus what I call his “epic novels.”  I like the epic pieces the best, but this guy is a genius so who am I to judge?

Pressure is on for me to find books to lend to Jenny for her upcoming production trip to South Africa.  I feel like I have her fate in my hands – a bad book can really ruin a long international flight (cue evil laughter).  But I wouldn’t do that.

You Can Never Be Too Prepared To Lay Around and Do Nothing

A week from today I am going to the Outer Banks for a week, so this weekend I did some prepping. In my world this includes but is not limited to:

·         Buying new flip flops since mine are basically held together by a string the width of dental floss.

·         Replacing the shower curtain liner so the house sitter thinks that we are super clean people who definitely have our act together.  We need her 100% focused on snuggling our dog and not scared for her life in our bathroom.

·         Successfully convincing husband to purchase a second bathing suit.  Coming off of a two year campaign to buy a new pair of jeans, this second victory should inspire wives everywhere.  Don’t give up – you can do it!

·         Casually suggesting (repeatedly, but not too often) that we select our audio book for the car.  This item is still outstanding. 

·         Selecting good books for the trip.  I purchased a few last week from Amazon, and my mom is bringing a couple down as well, so hopefully I’ll have some winners.  I am 100% confident in the pineapple margarita cupcakes she is bringing and 95% confident in the books. 

The real winner in my weeklong beach reading vacation is my blog audience.  I am doing this for you guys.  Both of you.

Picture taken in Duck, NC Aug '10.  Guy in red is Blog Mocker Dave.
This is where I will be thinking of nothing but how to please my blog
readership by regaling them with beach reading tales.

Read This Book, Then Hug Your Mom Unless You Are a Robot Without Emotions

I worked a bit this past weekend, including the Sunday night at 2 a.m. shift, which makes me sound more like a bartender than the Impressive Advertising Professional I want you to think I am.  Either way, I got to head out early on Monday to rest up.  I think in my boss’ mind that meant taking a nap, but to me it meant drinking a caffeinated drink and reading in the yard.  And then napping.

Bookworm & Andrew on a ferry to a Pirates game.
Date: approximately one million years ago.

I grabbed a book of Andrew’s from the shelf with an inscription from his Mom in 2006.  At first I thought One More Day by Mitch Albom was an odd selection for my mother-in-law to gift, knowing that Andrew probably wouldn’t be game for a sentimental read from the author best known for Tuesdays with Morrie.  But after I read it, I realized that it was a really thoughtful choice, since it is about a man who briefly played for the Pittsburgh Pirates (Andrew’s favorite team) and his relationship with his mother.  Of course Andrew hasn’t come to realize this yet, but he has only had the book for five years.  Get off his back!

I didn’t want to like this book for some reason – I wanted to think it was cheesy and Nicolas Sparks-y, but it wasn’t.  But it actually made me feel sentimental and want to give my Mom a hug, which I think is exactly what Albom was going for.  Damn you for playing with my emotions, Mitch!  It’s a short book that could be read in one long afternoon on the beach. 

(Side note: Why do people always turn books into beach reads?  I read plenty of other places!  Like in my garden, or in First Class on a plane, or in Economy Class on a plane, or while driving.)

Bookworm rating: 3.5 beach balls out of 5.

A Clever Scheme to Avoid Grumpiness, Prolong Marriage

In honor of Andrew and my two year wedding anniversary today, I’d like to blog about the only book we’ve ever read – okay listened to – together.  This weekend we finally finished Ken Follett’s A Dangerous Fortune, an audio book we purchased right after Christmas to listen to on the scenic drive back home from Andrew’s parents in Pittsburgh.  Also, that drive is not scenic at all.  It is all highway, punctured with a few mountain views most notable for their lack of radio stations.

But Follett never disappoints, and what could have been a pretty grumpy ride home in inclement weather was a ride full of mystery, intrigue and still the not-so-good weather.  Follett was a perfect choice for us, since I think he is one of few authors that appeals to almost everyone.  I cannot even imagine how his brain comes up with such complex and interesting stories – I think he is a genius.  I highly recommend this book as a great read or listen.  I’m not sure how we’ll ever face I-68 through Frostburg, Maryland again without a British man doing 77 different voices.

This is how we felt after finishing our audiobook.  And also on our wedding day.
Love you, Andrew!  (You better be reading this blog.)

Tina Fey Wins at Life; Bookworm a Distant Second (If Only Two Parties Are Racing)

This week, I took a day trip to NYC and read a book by one of my favorite New Yorkers – Tina Fey.  Her new book Bossypants is awesomely hilarious and entertaining.  I have been a fan of Saturday Night Live since high school, and can even admit to owning SNL Trivial Pursuit, which I know makes me very cool.  Therefore it is no surprise that I would purchase and fall in love with this book which made me laugh out loud.

Now I will highlight the parallels in Tina’s life and mine:

·         Tina: Went to the University of Virginia.  Me:  From Virginia, but likely not smart enough to attend UVA.  But I was smart enough not to apply and find out.

·         Tina:  Moved to Chicago after college.  ME TOO! 

My Tina Fey impression is not as good as her Sarah Palin.

·         Tina: Was a member of the famous and cool Second City Theater improv troupe.  Me:  Was a non-contributing member of an unsuccessful college sketch comedy group.

·         Tina:  Stars in and produces an Emmy Award winning TV show.  Me: Is a cog in a machine that makes TV commercials.  We are both in “the business.”

·         Tina:  Defined Geek Chic with her librarian glasses look.  Me:  Convinced my mom and an optometrist at the mall that I needed glasses in ’01 because I got headaches from reading.  I do not need glasses.  I think I was either reading in the dark or hungover.  Tricked you again, science!

So far, Tina is beating me in life.  But I have perfect vision – so I can see she is beating me.  I bet she doesn’t even know.

Sex Scenes & Laundry

I just finished a book lent to me by Loyal Reader Mom – A Reliable Wife  by Rovert Goolrick.  It was, um, kinda smutty actually.  It’s been no easy task to review books without giving the story away, since I think even the backs of books give away too much.  But if we were going to have a conversation about this book, here is how it would go.

You:  Give me the 90 second outline of the story – I probably won’t read it anyway.

Bookworm:  (Does so.)

You:  Wow, what an interesting a suspenseful tale you have spun, Bookworm / Robert Goolrick.  Tell me more about it for say, another 90 seconds.

Bookworm:  Ok.  (Proceeds to describe dramatic sexual fantasies of a repressed soul as well as from one or more prostitutes.)

You:  Oh wow.  This conversation is now a bit uncomfortable.

So, all in all it was a great story line, but written in a pretty weird way.  I played the squeaky clean version of a Reliable Wife in my home this week and did my husband’s laundry for the first time ever.  And by do his laundry, I mean that I washed and folded one load, and a second load has been sitting in the dryer for two days.  I am who I am.

Photo reference is of laundry, not sex scene.  Looks like you lose on this one, reader!

I Just Think This Is Funny



Credit: http://www.bookshelfporn.com/

 And it just so happens to be true.