Guilty Pleasures

Hullo dear readers,

I've missed you amid all the hubbub of grad school. Today, I want to chat about guilty pleasures, of which I've indulged in rather a few most recently. 

Now, for any book lover this could range to anything from a sultry, grocery store novella to some flighty novel of fancy. Personally, I have eclectic tastes. Lately though, due no doubt to the stress and deadlines of graduate life, I have gravitated toward chick-lit. Chick-lit is really anything and everything that addresses issues of womanhood in a clever and usually comical fashion. More likely than not though, this genre in particular is known for light-hearted tales of love, life and laughter. Plus, they are sumptuously easy reads, which is another glorified bonus.

And, dear readers, since we have no secrets from one another, here is my unabashed list of easy-to-read and deliciously guilty pleasures.

1) The Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella (Madeleine Wickham)

These books are the epitome of chick-lit. Not only are they delightfully funny, but also dripping with romance and swift bouts of sublime awkwardness that make the heroine (Becky Bloomwood) come alive right off the pages. The fact that the author and heroine are both Brits make this must-read series all the more desirable (at least to an accent-loving fool like me). Think of this series as a break from the real world stresses of everyday life. I would also recommend reading these in the bathtub to achieve optimal relaxation (I know I did).

2) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Yeah, go ahead and roll your eyes at me. I simply don't care. This book is beautiful, expertly crafted and a true masterpiece deserving to be read and re-read to the end of time. But really, this guilty pleasure read could be any one of your favorite works, readers. Think of a book that touched you, that seemed effortless to consume and that you could finish quickly. Got it? Then, there you have it. For me, that book is Pride and Prejudice, but for you it could be something entirely different. But . . . Elizabeth Bennet is one kick-ass heroine. Just saying. 

3) Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

This is by far the guiltiest of reads and not just because I'm admitting that I'm on yet another bandwagon book of the moment. Yeah, I know that it's not incredibly well-written or something that will ever be considered a classic, but you know what? Who cares? This is your world and you are entitled to read whatever you want. I, partly out of curiosity, picked up this book and didn't put it down until I was finished with it three and half hours later. Yep, it's one of those. Also, I find it rather sexy, aside from being rather generic in the author's obsession with stereotypical good looks and wealth. In that regard, I can take it or leave it, but the romance that blossoms between the two protagonists is sort of beguiling. It definitely isn't for everyone, but I can't deny that I enjoyed it while it lasted. 

4) True Believer by Nicholas Sparks

Yeah, the author kind of makes me gag, but I have a soft spot for good, old-fashioned Southern love stories. I audiobooked this recently on a long drive home and I, surprisingly, didn't regret it. The characters are deep, affectionate, witty and utterly oozing with Southern charm. It's likely not Sparks' best book, but I can guarantee it a top spot among his others that were made into movies. Half of which aren't really even good, save for The Notebook of course. Still, give this one a go if you find yourself in need of some Southern charm and a good night snuggled up tight with this guilty pleasure read. 

5) The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

A former long-term boyfriend gave this to me one lazy Fall afternoon. I thought he was rather bold in giving me a book about love, so I took it and read it at my leisure. Then, I was surprised when I started to find myself really falling for the characters. Their love was insatiable, otherworldly and somehow something that made me sit up and pay attention. I was astonished that cried at parts and soon found myself reading this book at any free moment I had. When I finished it, I went to him and asked if he had read it. He had. At that moment, readers, I was yet again assured that I was in love with him. It wasn't just because he gave me a book about love, anyone could have done that. Rather, it was the fact that he recognized a beautiful story and wanted to share it with me. Now, if that isn't romantic for us book nerds, then I simply don't know what is.

                         

The 7 Best Apps for Book Lovers

Hello dear readers,

I'm snuggled in bed on a gorgeous Sunday morning. My window is open and letting in a steady breeze that flaps the curtains to-and-fro. I can hear the rumble of cars and rustle of leaves on the neighboring trees. Emma the cat watches on in all her cat glory, while I simply stare and wish that this moment of pure delight could last the whole of the day. It can't, of course, not when there is so much work to be done. But still, a girl can dream.

Amid the throes of grad school, I've been rather neglectful and for that I apologize. However, that doesn't mean I haven't stopped reading or, indeed, reading a lot. Yet, I find myself relying a certain selection of apps that have made my reading life much more organized and collected.

Evidence: My stack of current reads and library loans.

Although I will never be a wholehearted proponent of reading or living too much in the digital realm, I confess that the following apps have truly won me over. Here's my list of time-saving, mind-easing apps for the disadvantaged book lover:

1) Goodreads

 Your one-stop shop for all things book-related. Not only are you able to track all of your books that you've read, but also you're able to keep a "To-Read" list that I find exceptionally helpful. My favorite part: using my iPad or phone I can scan the barcode of whatever book I'm longing to explore and it will add it to my list automatically.

 2)   Longform

This app is simply fantastic. Not only does it aggregate all the best long-form stories from the top magazines and newspapers, but it places them all in an easy-to-read format that is addictive to the avid reader. A truly terrific way to find fantastic nonfiction writing.

3) Shakespeare

An app devoted to all things Shakespeare. This freebie includes dozens of works by Shakespeare, Shakespeare quotes, biographic info and even some of the bard's portraits. Clearly, this app was designed for the English nerd in us all.

4) Small Jane Austen Collection

For the Austenites out there, need I say more? 

5) Readability

Similar to the Longform app, Readability allows readers to save desired articles from the Web into an easier-to-read platform. Moreover, the site also curates some of the Internet's "Top-Reads," so that users can discover even more reads that might pique their interest.

6) Oyster

The self-proclaimed "Netflix of Books," Oyster is the newest app designed for the modern bibliophile. With over 100,000 titles available, this app provides (almost) unlimited access to the books you've been dying to read.

7) Book Wall

Aside from the fact that this looks pretty damn cool, Book Wall is also a fantastic way to discover new books and appreciate book art. How many apps can do that? 

5 Top Shelf Reads

Hello dear readers,

I can only hope you are reading this from as cozy a spot as I am writing to you. I'm nestled in bed with a cat at my feet, clad in my usual mismatched nightly attire (black shorts from Target and my high school softball sweatshirt). My freshly cut hair is twisted in a messy chignon and a mug of piping hot English Breakfast sits at the ready. All in all, I'm rather snug.

So, all books provide a service, right? Most simply serve to entertain, but the best books either teach us something new or remind us of something we'd forgotten about ourselves. I call these Top-Shelf Reads, because they are the Champagne cocktails (my favorite fancy adult beverage) of the literary landscape.

Champagne cocktail deliciousness.

Now, what I like about this idea is that any book can move you, no matter how pedestrian or high brow. So, while I would consider Janet Evanovich books a tepid Coors Light (probably the grossest cheap beer ever in existence), others might consider it their Champagne cocktail. Therein lies the beauty of the Top-Shelf read.

This week I have 5 reads that made my Top Shelf list. 

1. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

(Admission: I listened to the audiobook. But hey that counts, right? Anywho, I've been traveling a lot and it seems the only natural way to pass time in a car for 7 plus hours without wanting to go mad*.)

2. Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

3. Warrior of the Light: A Manual by Paulo Coelho 

4. Austenland by Shannon Hale 

5. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Review: A Walk in the Woods

Hello dear readers. Why haven't I written in so long you ask? Well, because I've been doing what book borrowers do best: reading.

I was in my mom's car with her and my step-dad when I finished my latest book, A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson. It was early Saturday morning and I was stretched out on the back seat languidly, coffee tumbler in one hand and book in the other. There were only a few pages left and I was scrambling to finish as if I were reading a whodunit rather than a travel memoir of Bryson's attempt to hike the AT. When I finished, I sat up straight and sighed, feeling every ounce of that good-book-afterglow wash over me like a hot shower. I relish those moments afterward too; those seconds or maybe minutes before your mind begins to completely process how you feel about what you've read. Lingering questions, doubts or abstract ponderings come forth, but then eventually it vanishes. The sanctity of the glow is behind you and now you've already moved on to the next thing.

I do it, too; everyone does. For me, on that Saturday, what interrupted my afterglow was the end of the car ride with my parents.  As serendipity would have it, we were about to set off on our own hike in the woods.

Now, just to be clear, my family isn't exactly what you would call outdoorsy. Sure, we shop at REI and own a Subaru, but my mom also believes in comfort and would usually rather experience nature from the comfort of her favorite chair with a margarita in hand. Still, she loves a good walk and showing off her schmancy hiking boots, so we set off to make a good morning of walking.

Similar to us Deans, Bryson was no outdoorsman before he began his ambitious pledge to hike the AT. In fact, he makes much out of the fact that he was much more out-of-shape and perhaps even less motivated. However, once he had the idea in his head to walk the 2,000 plus miles and record his journey, that was that. But his best decision wasn't simply to complete the great trek across 14 states, but rather to enlist the companionship of a man named Stephen Katz (to whom the book is dedicated). Katz is even more gloriously unfit that Bryson, bombastic and addicted to Twinkies; yet, his one talent is in concocting rather colorful and largely offensive turns of phrase. Even if Bryson wasn't as clever a writer or as funny a human being, A Walk in the Woods would still be an enjoyable read just because you would have experienced the hilarity that ensues whenever Katz is around.

But, lucky for us, Bryson has an innate ability to craft gorgeous sentences that also have a natural authenticity about them. He never fakes anything. Sometimes he writes how he loathes nature, the idea of bear attacks or always smelling like an old wet garbage after a long day's hike. Other times, he is overwhelmed by the beauty of his surroundings and the fact that so few Americans experience the AT. Either way, what he feels you also feel as the reader. Every step and decision of his journey become yours as well. By the end of the book, you almost believe that you've walked the trail alongside Bryson and Katz. The details, imagery and sheer comedy embedded within each chapter could hardly leave any reader feeling anything less.

Most importantly though, Bryson allows the reader to develop a keen understanding of his most important character: the Appalachian Trail, itself. Never again will you feel the same way about a stretch of American land as you will after thumbing through the final pages of Bryson's field guide. Although Bryson and Katz decide not to finish walking the trail, that isn't critical to one's experience about the book. Bryson makes clear that the point was never just to finish hiking the AT, but to begin hiking it at all. The journey they did complete was what mattered to both Katz and Bryson and what, in the end, will matter most to readers.

We hiked only about three miles the day I finished this book. During the walk, as short as it was, I couldn't help but be pleased with myself. The irony of the situation was ideal and the time my family spent together was nothing short of spectacular. Together, we grunted and groaned up steep hills, squealed whenever we caught sight of a particularly colorful mushroom and laughed while mocking those hikers or runners who were in annoyingly good shape. All in all, it was a perfect day.

What I continue to discover is that there are few things in life more satisfying than an unpretentious book; its simple comfort and unspoiled purity run through it like sap in an old birch tree. Bryson's A Walk in the Woods is just such a book. So, go ahead and give Bryson's travel writing a try, dear readers; you won't be disappointed. 

A Bookmark and Five Great Literary Knockoffs

Hola dear readers,

Well, the boy and I are back on the road after four adventurous, yet rainy days in Alabama. Gee and Joe Joe (my grandparents) were fantastic hosts, as was their gloriously squished-face pug, Winston (apologies for not providing a picture). 

Today is a bright, sunny day with good prospects. We're now traveling to Atlanta to visit the boy's family and play the role of tourists. The Beatles are playing in the background, while bright beams of sunshine mirror my image onto the iPad. I see my black, oversized sunglasses peering back at me. I see my long brown hair braided back and neatly tucked behind my right shoulder. I feel like a child discovering her reflection for the first time. 

Before I began writing, I was reading Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods: Discovering America on the Appalachian Trail (review to come later). When turning a page, my grandmother's bookmark fell out. I stared at it for at least a minute, my heart heavy and eyes beginning to well.

The bookmark.

My grandmother (my father's mother) died in September of this past year. Her name was Verla and she was an avid reader. No one could devour a book with more speed or excitement than her. Each turn of the page was sheer delight. She wasn't a picky reader either; she would read cheap grocery store romance novels; murder mysteries and thrillers; or works of nonfiction that inspired her. Almost always though (at least as far as I can remember), she would use the same bookmark to seal her place. 

I have that bookmark now and I treasure it. It is made of golden string and skillfully woven into a Gothic-esque cross. It is light to the touch and simple but beautiful.

This bookmark is one reason I prefer physical books to digital ones. There's no anticipation or excitement in simply running your finger across a glass screen (cool, yes, but not exciting). But don't we all love the feel of a page in our fingers? Or the soft swish as it turns? I do and I love marking my place with her bookmark. 

Bookmarks are essential to me, but so is the idea of honoring something old with something new. In keeping with this idea, I want to recommend five books I love (and I think my grandmother would too) inspired by literary classics. 

1. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

Drawing from Bram Stoker's Dracula, this novel is adventurous read brimming with the supernatural, romance and some (albeit) far-flung conjectures about the real Dracula (Vlad the Impaler). I loved it and The New York Times hated it. Whatever. Bite me, Henry Alford.

 2.  The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood

Beautiful. Engrossing. Classic Margaret Atwood. Read if you're a fan of Greek myth or in the mood for something short and sweet.

3. Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist by Tim Federle

Any literary geek or English major's dream come true. Yes, indeed dear readers—literature, puns and hard liqueur all in one book. I've also provided and example recipe, just to tantalize your inner nerd. 

An instant classic.

Too good to be true.

4. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahme-Smith

OK, we all know this one. But hey, I love Jane Austen. Why not add some zombies into the mix?

5. Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee by Charles J. Shields.

A non-fiction read, Mockingbird is a book I'm currently reading and adoring. It's like drinking sweet tea on the porch during a rainstorm: refreshing and tranquil. As always, review to come shortly.

A Road Trip and Mindfulness

Hullo readers,

I'm writing to you from the passenger seat of my boy's 2010 black Mazda. We're driving through Alabama and I'm balancing my iPad on the open glove box, while typing on my wireless keyboard. For me dear readers, this is technology at its finest. 

As I look out the window, I see swaths of green. Lite tinkles of raindrops amass on the windshield before slowly forming rows of water that resemble shooting stars. There's also something lovely and delicate about the grey of the sky that makes me smile. Who knows, maybe it's just because I love road trips?

For me, there's something magical about being a traveler. It happens only every once and a while, but is the perfect time to escape into a new book or magazine. I've just finished July's Wired and wanted to share an article with you (for Guilfordians or fans of Eric Mortensen, this should be particularly intriguing).

July's Wired cover.

"Enlightenment Engineers" by Noah Shachtman brings Zen Buddhist philosophies like mindfulness into practice inside the infamous technological hub that is Silicon Valley. Big business names like Google and Facebook now offer meditation classes and rooms to their employees. Here, individuals can practice breathing exercises and other techniques that help to eliminate smaller, insubstantial stresses to increase overall productivity and happiness. And, as well all know, happy workers make happy companies.

When I first read this article, all I could think about was a class I took my senior year of college called Zen and the Art of Zen. It doubled as a Religious Studies and Art class, and was one of the most interesting classes that I've ever taken. Not only did we learn all about Zen Buddhism, but the practices that can inspire mindfulness in everyday life. I couldn't help but think that it doesn't take big whig companies with gazillions of dollars to inspire their employees. Mindfulness encourages empathy and compassion. Who doesn't need more of that in their life?

I used to meditate more often. It wasn't easy and for a long time I faked that I could feel "something" happening. Then, one day, I did. I felt at ease and time seemed to slow down. Small annoyances melted  away and a weight was lifted. I haven't meditated in almost a year, but this article reminded me of the good that can come from taking chances. 

I'll leave you with a quote from one of my favorite TV characters: Ms. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus. As she would say, let's all take chances, get messy and make mistakes.

Ms. Frizzle and Liz the Lizard.

 Until next time dear readers, adieu. 

Down Home Goodness

Hullo dear readers,

As I write this to you, I'm sitting on my mother's front porch in a rocking chair the color of honey mustard. The air smells of rain and some lingering drops fall deftly onto the blooming hydrangeas and lantanas. There's nothing better than a good summer storm; the claps of thunder and gentle lull of rain provide an almost perfect ambiance to read and write.

Now, anyone who knows me know that I love the South. I wear the pearls, I say my "y'alls' and "oh, Lords" and I mind my manners (most of the time, anyway). But what I love most about the South is Southern food, especially desserts. Well, it being the 4th of July and all, my mom decided that we just had to have a dessert to go with our lunch. The problem quickly became that between my petite mom and diabetic stepfather, realistically no one would touch whatever it was after I left tomorrow for Alabama. 

Marcus (my boy), then slyly suggested that Rice Krispy Treats would be the perfect solution (being easily portable and his favorite). My mom (wanting to please my boy and wanting to create a more festive dessert) suggested a spin on the classic.

Instead, of Rice Krispies, she used Fruity Pebbles. I was appalled and Marcus was elated. 

Needless to say, my worst fears were confirmed about an hour later. We had created an abomination; it looked like a bad acid trip and tasted like diabetic nightmare. 

The abomination.

However, a bit of good luck fell into my lap when our neighbor Ms. June came a-knockin'. A few days before I had brought her some zucchini and yellow squash from my dad's garden, along with two pints of the most beautiful blackberries I had ever seen.

In return, Ms. June brought over homemade blackberry cobbler for each of us. It was heaven by the spoonful and, more importantly, it saved me from the monster my mother had created.

The best blackberry cobbler.

Spoonfuls of sugar and Minnie the (bitch) cat.

Ironically, my reading today was also all about food. I recently purchased a cookbook titled The Southern Vegetarian Cookbook: 100 Down-Home Recipes for the Modern Table. It's brimming with Southern fried vegetarian goodness that I've craved ever since moving to Missouri. The married and adorable co-authors, Amy Lawrence and Justin Fox Burks, are also the creators of the food blog, The Chubby Vegetarian.  

The cookbook.

I haven't quite cooked enough recipes from it to give it a thorough review, but damn does it all look fantastic. The book features everything from Fried Green Tomato Po' Boys to Dry Rub Memphis BBQ Tofu. For veg heads like me, it doesn't get much better than that.

'Til the cooking commences, take a gander at The New York Times glowing review.

Now dear readers, I'm off for a margarita and some fireworks. Good night and happy dreaming.

An Homage to Tom

Good morning, readers! It's 6 a.m. in Tennessee and I can't fall back asleep. I blame Emma the Cat. You see, she was rather noisily running up and down the halls, which on wood floors make my nine pound cat sound like Bagheera.

But readers, I also blame Tom Junod. In the June/July Esquire, he wrote a profile on Brad Pitt that I can't get out of my head. Yeah, I know it's Brad Pitt—boring celebrity vagabond extraordinaire, blah blah blah. Yet, my oohs and ahhs had little to do with the story of Pitt's life and loves, but instead with the manner in which it was so effectively executed.

The Tom Junod.

 Here's a sample of Junod's description of Pitt that gave me goosebumps:

His hair, surfer-blond at the ends, is pulled back into a short ponytail, and his whiskers, gray as an old dog's muzzle, cover a face resolutely golden in color and grainy in texture. He's wearing large sunglasses. When he takes them off, he reveals eyes that are blue and tired and wary, animated by alternating currents of curiosity and self-regard, and each bracketed by wrinkles that resemble a child's drawing of the sun. He has a neck full of gold chains, tokens of his aesthetic alliance to the seventies. He is bigger than you might think, and his ears are smaller, almost decorative. He is slightly pigeon-toed, with a rolling production of a walk suitable to a man who wears spurs.

I mean, damn, right? Goosebumps, again. What I love most about Junod is his penetrating eye and keen sense of his surroundings. Not only does he nail the sensory details, but also delves deep into the college drop-out from Springfield, Mo. Junod finds the father, the dork, the artist, the lover, the humanitarian and motorcycle fiend hidden behind the fog of the celebrity limelight.

The June/July Esquire cover.

It's a long piece, but every word is expertly placed. Do give it a read, dear readers. You won't regret it.

Plus, here is a piece detailing Junod's experience writing the article. Another excellent read to pair with your morning coffee.

Summer Reading Woes

Hullo dear readers,

Apologies for not writing sooner. You see, I replaced you with a two-day retreat to my family's lake house in the middle of nowhere Tennessee. No Internet, no phone service, etc. Instead of reading (GASP), I spent my days fishing, riding in a boat and helping my dad rearrange some of the lake house duds. 

 

A view from the most comfortable couch in the world.

But no fear, this Book Borrower has found WiFi at last and in no better place than my mother's front porch. Have I ever mentioned that our house shares a yard with the Robertson County library? Fret none, readers; I've attached photos to verify my tale. 

Library on left and our house on the right.

Another view. 

Yet, even with these fantastic locales, I find myself facing the one problem all readers face this time of year: the summer reading list. The guilt that comes from making a list that you know you'll never finish; the fear of starting a book only to loathe it 10 pages in; or the overwhelming sensation of simply not knowing where to start. Well, in the past 45 minutes of attempting to compose my own list, I've experienced them all. It's a yucky feeling. 

Here's my work-in-progress reading list:

1. The Passage by Justin Cronin (recommended by my mom, plus who doesn't love a vampire lore)

2. Middlemarch by George Eliot (recommended by the most interesting man in the world, Jeff Jeske)

3. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (that I borrowed from a friend over a year ago)

4. The Kings and Queens of Roam by Daniel Wallace (you know, the guy that wrote Big Fish)

5. The Memory of Old Jack by Wendell Berry (because Berry is a fabulous hippie)

6. IQ84 by Haruki Murakami (apparently it's beautifully written and compelling)

7. Southern Cross the Dog: A Novel by Bill Cheng (recommended by Ann Patchett and I have an autographed copy)

Here's the problem: these are all novels. I need some non-fiction and poetry in my life. Do send me your suggestions, recommendations and methods of avoiding the summer-reading-list woes.

Fifty Shades of Greyhound

Hullo dear readers,

Well, it's been a while, but this Book Borrower is back in action (with semi-loyal cat, Emma, in tow). Quite a bit has changed in the last year, but here's the short version: I'm now a grad student at the Missouri School of Journalism; I've decided I want to be a magazine editor when I grow up; and Emma the Cat has gained 3 pounds and a new found love of laundry baskets.

But some things have yet to change. 

For one, this Book Borrower still believes that books, articles, short stories and poetry of all genres should be read, shared and discussed; hence, the purpose of this blog. Each day I will post something   I've read, happened upon or was intrigued by. 

Today, I want to share an article from one of my favorite magazines, the Oxford American. Now, to fully appreciate the wondrous and twisted tale written by S.C.A.D. professor and occasional columnist, Harrison Scott Key, first there's something I should confess. 

I've been considering riding a Greyhound bus. I'm sure the first question and/ or statement is either one of disgust or a stifled "why"? But hey, it can't be that bad, I thought. I went to a hippie college, I've seen things and totally experienced enough at age 24 to make this trek, right? 

According to Key, wrong. Did that stop him?

No. Should it have? Hell yes.

You see, the idea of traveling across the country is idyllic, dare I say old-school-Americana cool. Key wanted to see mountains, but (God help him) he saw so much more. Not just the stereotypical filthy toilets and deranged cannibalistic mountain men; nope, I'm talking Greyhound crazy. One notable was a woman who appeared to be balancing a bologna sandwich on her head, while also donning a blue Snuggie. I won't give too much away, but it's one of those articles that had me nodding my head in agreement in between bouts of gut-busting laughter. Think an irreverent Bill Bryson and you've conjured an image of Key in your mind's eye.

Yet, this still leaves me with a question. To bus or not to bus? Read "Fifty Shades of Greyhound" by Key and let me know what you think.

 http://www.oxfordamerican.org/articles/2013/may/27/issue-81-fifty-shades-greyhound/

'Til then dear readers,

Good night and happy reading.