The Cult of Wilkie is branching out into other authors (I KNOW!) and Laura over at Devouring Texts is hosting and I am, as per usual, late to the party even though I have been anticipating this read-a-long for weeks and Laura and Alice have been reminding me via Twitter that I need to buy the book.
Which I did! And only at the Best Bookstore Ever, thankyouverymuch.
And while at that bookstore I also bought some other cool stuff like more books and a blank notebook with a snarky quote by Oscar Wilde (is there any other kind?) which I then crammed into my suitcase and squished the dress I wore to my cousin's wedding, which I then had to IRON!
But it's okay because some guy at the wedding said I looked amazing in polka dots (I was wearing stripes) and then stared at my boobs the entire time we danced, which was most of the night because everyone else was already married.
Clearly the ironing was worth it.
Anyway, this post is supposed to be about how we feel about STEINBECK!* I'm hedging mightily because it turns out I managed to avoid Steinbeck in both high school and college, and so my opinions can mostly be summed up as "I went to Cannery Row in Monterey once and got drunk with my best friend."
It was a positive experience and I have a soft spot for Monterey because my mom lived in a teeeeeeny tiny red house there when she was "my age" (meaning before she married my dad and had kids, which means around 22. I am no longer 22).
Laura has promised that this book will rock my world. My hooks: they are tentered.
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| Tenterhooks! |
*I was originally going to read all the rest of your posts and then poach from them, but I thought that would be lame and make my post late(r). Also, I just got back from the aforementioned wedding and had 500 meetings to schedule instead of blogging at work. Don't they understand I have a blogging calendar to maintain? RUDE!
WHY HAS EVERYONE BEEN TO MONTEREY AND I HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN TO CALIFORNIA?!
ReplyDeleteAhem... *tucks away seething resentment* its cool not to have any Steinbeck feels yet, cause that's what Readalongs are for- ALL THE FEELS!
Nice work ironing your dress. Must try that sometime and see what happens! Haha
I have to confess that when I saw your link to The Best Bookstore Ever I clicked on it with a fair amount of disdain, because that is a Lofty Claim, you know? But then it was Powell's and I felt ashamed for ever doubting your bookstore-judging abilities. Because Powell's is AWESOME and when I was in Oregon last year I dragged my family to it and wanted to spend hours getting lost in its maze of knowledge. But apparently people have different interests and I only got to stay for about 40 minutes.
ReplyDeleteI am SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS READALONG. I MAY JUST TYPE IN CAPS FOR THE NEXT MONTH.
It's ok, I understand your suspicion completely! But Powell's is in a category all its own. It really DOES make me feel peaceful and fuzzy and also a leeeeetle anxious for all the books I'll never read.
DeleteTHIS READALONG IS ALREADY GREAT! And my work keyboard has an extra-large Caps Lock button, so it's like THEY KNEW IN ADVANCE THAT I'D NEED IT!!
OMG that manatee picture. That is the best. I didn't even read the post yet. I saw that and had to share the emotion.
ReplyDeleteDid you point out to the guy that you were actually not wearing polka dots? Or maybe compliment him on his orange (actually blue) tie or something?
This readalong is going to be amazing, even if it is Wilkie-less
I love the manatee!
DeleteAnd yes, I replied with, "I'm wearing stripes, and I look amazing in those, too! DON'T I?!?" Tequila brings out the sass (more than normal).
I read the first 3 chapters last night and they. are. gorgeous.
Ha! Tenterhooks!
ReplyDeleteThey're a real thing! I was surprised.
DeleteHAHAHAHAHA that manatee is hilarious!
ReplyDeleteFun to see that I'm not the only one who didn't experience Steinbeck in school. Woo-hoo!
I went to Cannery Row too! But I didn't get drunk there...did I? I don't think I did.
ReplyDelete*asks husband*
I DID, in fact, get drunk there. And I inappropriately touched a wax figure of Steinbeck. Odd that I don't remember any of that...
We clearly need to do another trip to Cannery Row together. I'm pretty sure I inappropriately touched the same statue.
DeleteEchoes of Wilkie and Charles follow us even to Steinbeck territory...