9/27/08

Lesbian Personals: ISO a Sexy Librarian

Reading is sexy. No doubt.

I've been a "book worm" as far as I can remember. From the book fairs at school to watching episodes of "Reading Rainbow" in my twenties. Yes, you read that correctly. One of my hobbies as a kid was reading Encyclopedias, when they were still actually in BOOK form. I envied people that had what I would consider an adequate row of encyclopedias on their shelves. What a marvelous sight that was to me. This is how I obtained the wonderful plethora of useless "Jeopardy" knowledge I am to this day endowed with. Now if I can only find my glasses...



So,I must say that by far one of my biggest turn-offs in dating really smart, educated women are ones that don't actually read. Or don't find a need for it once they are done with their studies. When I learn this I'm pretty much like *GASP* "Um, what? I don't understand. What do you mean you don't.....wha??" After that revelation, I think to myself, "Yep, this isn't gonna work. Hell if I'm gonna be stuck being forced into watching a marathon of 'American Idol' or 'America's Next Top Model' again...."

Growing up as a kid in the 80's, with MTV, Atari, and slasher movies, part of me feels it's a miracle our Generation X is literate at all. I figure at some point, communication will break down so severely, we'll be talking in clicks, whistles and grunts soon. People are worried about a recession, I'm worried about a REGRESSION.

I'd love to have a U.S map and pushpin every place in the country that has a little book store. "THE LITTLE BOOK STORE TOUR". Now that would be a life long process. I've already started on it. There are a couple of other similiar maps too...I'd like to create, but I'll get into those another time. There's nothing like the little independent bookstore. The type you walk in and can smell the old books...or coffee, or pot (just kidding), whichever scent smacks you first. The people seem to be so much more relaxed and mellow and genuine, like they really WANT to be there. Not just some uniform with a name tag offering you a double-mega-mocha-valium-latte or whatever. Not that I really have anything against the big stores, everybody's got their niche. I just don't want to see the little guys disappear like everything else.

The big shops come in handy to hold book club meetings, especially when you start opening it up to strangers. I've started my own about a couple of months ago. Just a once a month thing. It's called "THE BOOK SLUT CLUB". Not to be confused with the book reviewing website. This is just a little, local, gathering of book lovers/readers pretty much just for women. Just hangin' out, talking about what we're reading. Very simple. I'll shamelessly plug this more next time. There will be a myspace page for it very soon.

Anyways, even though I consider myself somewhat of an authority on other topics such as art, politics, and sex...among other things, being the designated "Resident Bookworm and Book Reviewer Extraordinaire" here at Lesbiatopia, I choose to focus my energies here on my undying love affair with the written word. It feels safe to me. Books can't hurt you, like women can. My ultimate goal is to spark some (or more) interest in books, in reading and writing, people joining or starting their own book clubs, discuss, debate, have a cup o' coffee, sit down, talk about it.

I'm trying to say it nicely, because what I REALLY wanna say is "Bitch, step away from the motha fuckin' remote and pick up a goddamn book!"

Have a lovely day.



11 comments:

Sublimefemme said...

You need to visit BiblioFemme!
http://bibliofemme-rockstarlibrarian.blogspot.com/

And after you get your sexy librarian fix,
stop by and see me at Sublimefemme Unbound. I'm all about beauty + brains!

BOOK_REVIEWER_EXTRAORDINAIRE said...

Sounds good to me Sublime! I'll stop by and check it out...

Janet said...

So what are you reading - read any Pam Houston?

janet (who has no tv and reads...often)

BOOK_REVIEWER_EXTRAORDINAIRE said...

I have a whole smorgasboard of stuff I'm reading. My tastes in books, as in everything else are very eclectic. Just look out for my reviews here. Everybody will always know what I'm reading or what I've read.

and no, I haven't read any Pam Houston...but I'm open to suggestions, I'll check her out.

One thing I love about doing this, (it's been only about a month or so) is I get alot of cool recommendations on what to read, or look up, and so on...

Sei said...

I have to admit that I haven't been reading as much as I normally do lately. For some reason, it gets in the way of my writing.

BOOK_REVIEWER_EXTRAORDINAIRE said...

Gets in the way of your writing Sei? That's interesting.

Somehow, I manage to keep both things very separated. Unless it's a book review, then that's different, because they're directly connected, if that makes any sense.

I loved your last poem, btw.

Sei said...

Cynthia-

A lot of it has to do with my ability to concentrate lately. I just tend to find that reading fiction when I'm writing fiction gets me off track, and reading non-fiction when I'm writing non-fiction does the same.

And thank you very much. I still have a ton of poems snuck away somewhere.

ReneeG said...

I'm also one of those people that likes to tag-team a few books at once. I'm currently reading "Survivor" by Chuck Palahniuk for those days when I'm feeling witty, sarcastic and dark.

I'm also reading "Nim Chimpsky: The Chimp Who Would Be Human" by Elizabeth Hess for my nonfiction needs and desires.

Then, of course, there's my book on photography to hone in on those creative photographic skills.

Mmmm I love me some books.

J said...

I'm a devourer of nonfiction, personally. Your article reminded me of the following post from "Stuff White People Like":

“It’s Not you, it’s Your Books”
by Rachel Donadio
The New York Times, March 30th, 2008

“We’ve all been there. Or some of us have. Anyone who cares about books has at some point confronted the Pushkin problem: when a missed — or misguided — literary reference makes it chillingly clear that a romance is going nowhere fast. At least since Dante’s Paolo and Francesca fell in love over tales of Lancelot, literary taste has been a good shorthand for gauging compatibility.”

Stuff White People Like examines the issue: Can you date someone who is not well read?

Yes:

Dating someone who is not as well read as you is a good idea since these type of people are more easily manipulated in terms of both actions and future tastes in books. The ability to entirely craft the literary tastes of your partner is highly desirable as it reinforces your own impeccable taste and allows you to play a literary version of Henry Higgins.

No:

In social situations there is a good chance that a poorly read person will admit to not having read Nabokov beyond Lolita or that they are unfamiliar with Umberto Eco’s essays on reading. Of course, there is the off-chance that they might commit intellectual and social suicide by asking your friends if they “loved The Da Vinci Code as much I did?” This is extremely embarrassing and reflects poorly on them. Ultimately, their actions are more of a statement about you and your inability to date someone of adequate literary experience.

Final Call:

It is recommended that you date and then subsequently dump someone who is considered “poorly read,” simply for the story. It will show your commitment to the importance of books and reading. But beyond that singular experience it is unacceptable to seriously date anyone who has not read the right books.

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/04/07/white-problems-poorly-read-partners/

Sei said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sei said...

I screwed that one up, let's try again.

I really should point out that I am reading three books right now. Those being The Black Rose by Thomas Costain, Souru Myuzushiku (Soul Music in Japanese) by Terry Pratchett, and Geothe's Faust in the original. The non-English novels take me a long time to read though.