BTT: Clubbing

A combo of two suggestions by: Heidi and by litlove

Have you ever been a member of a book club? How did your group choose (ot, if you haven’t been, what do you think is the best way to choose) the next book and who would lead discussion?

Do you feel more or less likely to appreciate books if you are obliged to read them for book groups rather than choosing them of your own free will? Does knowing they are going to be read as part of a group affect the reading experience?

I have never been a member of a book club. I just don't have the time for one. I also think I'm too selfish since I tend to read books I like and frequently pause my reading or switch when a book is getting boring. (I find that my reading moods change often.) I do however enjoy discussing books with others as I often find different insights and perspectives. One aspect of book clubs that deters me is the idea that the group is telling me how to feel about a book. I'm not interested in , for example, Oprah telling me the reasons why I should relish her latest book choice.
I don't think I would appreciate books if I was obliged to read them. I'm thinking about my English courses in college and how I loathed having to read certain books because they were required. I'd much rather read a book because I wanted to as it makes reading it more enjoyable.

Sexing the Cherry

I have wanted to read this book for years. I bought it in 2000 after reading Winterson's The Passion, which I love. However, I don't get Sexing the Cherry. I read it carefully, as I do with all of Winterson's writing, because she tends to hide themes and play with words. Her style fascinates and challenges me as a reader. But as I finished this one I felt empty. I suppose this is ok since I'm not bound to enjoy every book I read, but after seeing this book on the 1001 books you should read before death I couldn't help but be disappointed. The story is somewhat post-modern, with aspects of magical realism however I wouldn't label it that. Oh well, at least it's off my To Be Read in 2008 list.

FF 192

Appetizer

When you drink soda/pop/coke, do you prefer to drink it from the bottle, a can, or after pouring it into a cup?

Pouring into a glass with ice. I prefer glass to plastic if offered plastic I usually turn it down.

Soup

What television show are you willing to stay up late to watch?

We don't watch tv unless the show is posted online. Sorry, but no tv in our house.

Salad

Name one person, place, or thing you think of as brilliant.

Brilliant? I think the way Walt Disney World was built one story above ground is genius. I think the movie Amelie is pretty darn close. I think Farmer Ted can act like a genius some days. But brilliant? I'd have to say my dogs. They are brilliant at begging and getting to sleep on the bed--which is hard since one is a Great Dane and the other a Lab.

Main Course

Would you be willing to work 4 10-hour days instead of 5 8-hour days in order to save gas?

Yes. When I worked for the State I wasn't allowed to and Farmer Ted isn't allowed to either which sucks. I don't work very far from home so in the long run I really wouldn't save much gas. We probably drive ten miles total in an average day.

Dessert

If you were a superhero, what would you call yourself?

I was just explaining to Farmer Ted that I had a boyfriend who would wear a superhero cape around. His superhero name was "Scirocco Danger" and he was 25 when we dated. He was a true child at heart. I couldn't think of anything, so I asked Farmer Ted. He suggested General Disarray. I'm not going to ask why, but I do know that it's a South Park character. I think I like my mild attempt of "Dancing Queen" much better. I'll admit that my robot dance is really coming together. Street performers beware!

BTT: Trends

Have your book-tastes changed over the years? More fiction? Less? Books that are darker and more serious? Lighter and more frivolous? Challenging? Easy? How-to books over novels? Mysteries over Romance?

Oh my goodness yes! I used to only read non-fiction and memoirs. Now I read a lot more fiction. I also read more than I did ten years ago. I would say that the books I've been reading are more challenging since I've been reading more classic literature. I still don't read many grocery-store novels, mysteries, romance, etc but that doesn't mean that I won't start someday. I've been enjoying my time with fiction but I usually read a non-fiction book alongside the fiction. I think this keeps me a little grounded in my reading. In general, I just don't know what I would do without a good book.

Those two...

Today would have been my parent's 30th wedding anniversary and of course, I called to remind them of it. My mother, eh...she remembered. My father's response was was, "Oh. So I could have been out of jail by now if I had just shot her."

Thanks Dad. You always know how to redneck things up for us.

A presented challenge

School is out which means I'm on to new odds and ends jobs this summer before I begin law school. One is as a math tutor. On Friday Farmer Ted and I headed over to the home where I'll tutor for a fine feast of food, friends and fun. The house is stunning. The yard is fabulous and the homemade sangria was heavenly.
I've known this family for the past year and they have been absolutely wonderful to me. So when they asked if I would tutor their daughter I had no reservations. I had been told that Mr. S is a wine connoisseur and Mrs. S an excellent chef. I was and am excited to spend two evenings each week with them. Especially now that Farmer Ted is studying for the Nevada bar exam.

However a new challenge presented itself to me.

Mr. S was telling us wine stories and I briefly mentioned that I grew up in Washington's wine country. I told him about my aversion toward some wines due to a childhood of drinking diluted wine since we couldn't afford juice. Yep. My mother would dilute the wine we received from the wineries we sold our grapes to and serve it for dinner. My parents really don't drink and in the 80's there was a lot of shitty wine. It worked well as a juice substitute and I'm positive us kids willingly went to sleep on our own.

So Mr. S presented me with a challenge; to learn to enjoy wine. Was he serious? Yes. I start my wine appreciation course tomorrow with a man who knows way too much about wine. It will be interesting to see if I can tutor while wine-ing. I still can't believe they're going to pay me to do this.

Blast From the Past #5

Sept. 28, 1993

Dear K,

How's it goin? Buenos Dias? Como esta? Muy Bien. I learned that in Spanish. We won our first game. We won 20-6 against Interlake. We play Newport next. There is going to be a retreat Oct. 8-10 at Lazy F! I'll send you a copy. Come if you can. Cale will be there. My picture is wierd. The guy said here look this way, and my eyes are totally off. I'm getting new songs for my drums: Jeremy, Would, Stairway to Heaven, D'ver Maker, and For Whom the Bell Tolls. Sorry so short!

Love,
J

P.S. Don't care for looks. I wanna have control. I want a perfect body. I want a perfect soul. I want you to notice when I'm not around. So fuckin special. I wish I were special, but I'm a creep. I'm a riddle. What the hell am I doin here. I don't belong here.