Bookworm Loses All Sense of Reality

Now that I am famous, it will be a real struggle to stay grounded and keep it real.  For those of you who haven’t heard, today my charming little blog is showcased in the Kittling: Books feature Scene of the Blog.  Please check out Cathy’s awesome post about your favorite Bookworm and see where I pound out these genius entries for your reading pleasure/ridicule. 

Bookworm Outsmarted By West Coast Baby

I am in Chapel Hill, NC visiting my Baby Friend Asher.  As many of you know, he hails from San Francisco, but since he was on my coast I drove three hours down to see him while enjoying Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks.

This was a good book, but it dragged at times – particularly at the beginning and at the end.  This was not as good as her books Year of Wonders (awesome) or People of the Book (above average).  But it was an interesting story about one of the first few Native Americans to attend Harvard in the late 1600’s.  If given the choice, I would rather attend Indiana University in the early 2000’s when their basketball team goes to the National Championship. 

I checked out this audio book from the library online.  After several attempts and 90 minutes of pure fury, I figured out how to do it.  Here’s a tip:  just read the directions.  Trust me, I know there is nothing worse than reading a few simple steps and then following them, but please believe me here.

This, I might add is the polar opposite advice I would give you for keeping Baby Asher alive for a few hours.  His Mom and Blog Reader Kate gave me all kinds of Choose Your Own Adventure-type scenarios with potential solutions, but when it came down to it, I just let Baby Asher do whatever the hell he wanted.  Sure, let’s chew on a bag of toiletries!  Now let’s dump peas on Allison’s skirt!  If his (wise) parents had left their credit card, we would have been in real trouble.

Inner baby monologue:
"This chick will do whatever I want.
I said PEARS not SWEET POTATOES.
Ugh, grown-ups"

Be Impressed By Me Based On Me Knowing People Who Do Cool Things

Have I ever mentioned that I know a real life fiction writer?  Meaning, I am one degree from this person versus, say three degrees from Kevin Bacon*. 

A producer I worked with on an advertising campaign also wrote an entire freaking book.  I knew she had gone to grad school for creative writing, but I didn’t know that in addition to putting in 18 hour days while pregnant she had a side gig in the works too.

When Everything Lovely, Effortless, Safe by Jenny Hollowell came out, I was first in line to get it.  Perhaps because 1% of me thought that there would be at least one paragraph about my total mismanagement of our joint project.  (Due to copious amounts of editing on your behalf dear reader, I do not delve into frustrations of that 4 year old project here.  This commentary would have had no reflection on the wonderful work of Jenny and everything to do with Corporate America.)

You know I love a book with great character development, so this book is IT.  Buy it and read it.  

*

One Might Ask “Who’s the Boss?” But That Has Been Taken

Since yesterday was a particularly light workday, Blog Reader and Also My Boss Liz and I decided to knock off early and enjoy the beautiful weather.  And what better way to do so than going to the stuffy upstairs of a used bookstore followed by champagne cocktails?

Liz is my Boss, but I think we can all agree I am the Puppet Master.  I can, on occasion, be a bit “bossy” but most people don’t listen to my logical and gently issued directives.  Luckily Liz does, and I pushed her into purchasing the following books:

• Year of Wonders  by Geraldine Brooks -  A great book.  Liz asked what it was about, and as soon as I said the word “plague” she was in.  Perhaps books on The Plague is the WW2 memoir for some?  You can never figure out people from Texas, so don’t even try.  And whatever you do do not bring up Mexican food.
• The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri – A classic favorite from my Books About People From India Phase, which was followed by a broader Books From Asia Phase.   A great time in my mid-20s, and much clearer to me than than say, my 25^th birthday.  Still a lot of question marks surrounding that evening.
• I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb – A bizarre but awesome read, particularly when paired with Guster’s Lost & Gone Forever album on repeat.  The two are inseparable in my mind.
• The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon – Okay, the one she chose herself, but this is a Win for me since I haven’t read it and will get to borrow it.

Even Mundane Occasions Require Celebration Including Heavy Dinner

I saw the Hunger Games movie this weekend with a group of friends that gave the film mixed reviews.  I think I only liked the movie because I liked the book so much – I definitely didn’t love it, and I doubt I would have even watched it if not for the book.  I also appreciated that it wasn’t as gory as it could have been for a movie about kids killing each other for food.  I think Quentin Tarantino’s take on the story would have been a bit different.

What can I say, I am a sucker for creating occasions so going to see this highly anticipated book nerd movie followed by a dinner of shrimp and grits was fun.  And slightly more notable than say, the Tots Party I attended for the DVD release of Napoleon Dynamite. 

Everyone is annoyed about this photo being taken.
Even Jed, who is buying a fountain drink.

Just because you won't look at me
doesn't mean the picture isn't being taken.

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.