Bookworm Hosts Gathering Loosely Defined as Book Club

We had our second book club meeting which has been rebranded as the Golden Mermaid Book Club of Virginia (like us on Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/goldenmermaidbc).

As usual this gathering had almost nothing to do with books.  Only two of us had finished the book in its entirety and the rest of the members quizzed us on it.  They seemed so interested in the book that maybe they will go ahead and read it post-club.  

We spent the rest of the time listening to the antics of our club “dictator” and sole male member Mauricio, while eating a medley of salads (chicken, pasta, green bean, fruit, tomato) and laughing our asses off.

Bookworm somehow executes this on a Tuesday evening
after spending the day in Philadelphia with clients.

Club Dictator has low opinion of my home decor.
Brings office photography of (sometimes) President Paige into the mix.

Bookworm Chooses Pickles Over Fashion; Would Do It Again

I know you probably think I look too young to have a 28 year-old younger brother, but alas, it is true.  He reads this blog twice per year, usually right in front of me with running commentary.

Innocent looking family goes on to shock fellow diners
with carb intake in the name of celebration.
Mom had salad.

I digress.  This weekend Andrew and I went up to DC with the fam to celebrate my bro turning 28.  The weekend included a trip to Eastern Market, where we happened upon handbags made of books, a topic covered by this blog before.  These were cool to look at, since the - Artist? Bag Maker Lady?  - used beautiful books to create these glamorous cell phone and wallet holders.  Prices started at $120, which was a little steep for this Bookworm.  My handbag budget = one new purse for Christmas every five years. 

Instead, I bought pickles and peaches.  No regrets!

Purse/Book selection was impressive.
But we've seen it before.

If I did own this purse, I would probably fill it with pickles.

Hitting All Kinds of Blogging Repeats Year Two; Bookworm Makes No Effort to Keep Content Fresh

Last year’s recipe for Memorial Day weekend success was repeated this year:  friends gather at Rappahannock River; Bookworm reads depressing book. 

Doesn't get much better than a sunset on the Rappahannock.
But you could make a decent agreement the cupcakes succeeded.

While my friends were off expending energy kayaking (they literally did this for fun), I was wrapped up in Incendiary by Chris Cleave.  I was so excited to find this book on a Barnes & Noble run with Bookworm & Blog Mocker Erin, since I was a huge fan of Cleave’s Little Bee.  Expectations were high for the book and the weekend.

Both delivered.  Ok, that was a line written for blogging convenience.  The time with friends at the river was perfect, and the book was good but it was no Little Bee.  Though it was just as disturbing, and I have to give the author credit – he definitely doesn’t tell stories I feel like I have heard 100 times before.  The bombing of a London soccer stadium was a new one for me.  As was sailing on the vessel of Captain Cabell.  I am happy to report the entire crew survived, and went on to read quietly on the pier for hours.  What a perfect weekend.

Insane friends entertain themselves by making arms tired.

Instagram App turns every idiot into a decent photographer.
A&A head to river; continue slugging through longest audiobook ever.

Captain Cabell & First Mate Brian.
Most notably, no one lost at sea.

Terrible Books Lambasted By Largely Unread Blog

Here is a picture of terrible literature that I traded in at the local used bookstore today.  I always feel a bit bad trading in books I don’t want people to read, but my inner cheapness won out since I got three new books for $4.  Apparently my concern for other bookworms can be forgotten for a few measley singles.  I am the worst.

Husband Out of Town; Bookworm Goes Wild

Last night I finished Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult while simultaneously crushing Words With Friends.  My life is so wild it’s amazing I make it in to work.

Bookworm Mom said this is her favorite Picoult book ever, to which I say, “I am getting bored of this chick.”  Her books are getting a bit formulaic for me and if you could roll your eyes and read at the same time, then I may have done that last night.  Sure, it was an interesting story and an easy read but I am getting bored even writing this post (so I can’t imagine how both of my readers are feeling). 

I need a good book for Memorial Day weekend pronto.

Tap Dancing So You Don’t Notice Lack of Reading Product

This is what it looks like to make excuses for not reading.

I know what you are thinking.  “I have like 10 seconds to kill – where is that Bookworm?”  I’m here but been busy celebrating the nuptials of my sister-in-law, which involves lots of time on the road, and lots of audiobook time.  Unfortunately it would ruin my “big reveal” (eye roll) if I fill you in on this little (but long) gem before we finish it. 

So instead, I will delight you with a list of the Most Well Read Cities in America, courtesy of Amazon.  I’d like to think that I have done my part to secure Richmond, Va. as #20 on the list despite our small size.  Also, where the hell is NYC?  Has no one alerted New York to the wonder of Amazon?

1.  Alexandria, Va.

2.  Cambridge, Mass.

3.  Berkeley, Calif.

4.  Ann Arbor, Mich.

5.  Boulder, Colo.

6.  Miami

7.  Arlington, Va.

8.  Gainesville, Fla.

9.  Washington, D.C.

10.  Salt Lake City

11.  Pittsburgh

12.  Knoxville, Tenn.

13.  Seattle

14.  Orlando, Fla.

15.  Columbia, S.C.

16.  Bellevue, Wash.

17.  Cincinnati

18.  St. Louis

19.  Atlanta

20.  Richmond, Va.

Sobriety Is Key In Book Selection

Say You’re One of Them by Uwem Akpan is not my type of book, so I bailed on it after about 100 pages.  I bought this book after one too many cocktails with Bookworm Senior last summer and have no idea what I was thinking since I don’t really like short stories in the first place, and these I could barely follow.  Who gets a buzz on and goes shopping for used books?  My mom and me.

On a barely related note, I celebrated Mothers Day with 3 generations of bookworms, and managed to cook for them all without killing anyone.  So, book was a fail but meal was a success.  Happy (belated) Mothers Day, readers!

Sibling chefs pair up to not-kill dining family members.