Read Vicariously: Introducing Me, MyBook & Eye

It’s a win-win situation. I’m starting something new today–actually two things: 1) a book; and 2) a book club, sort of.

That’s me up there with the new book of choice, Bringing Up Geeks.  Author Marybeth Hicks graciously gave me the opportunity to review it for EyeJunkie readers, and I’m very excited to oblige. I’ve heard lots of buzz about this book, and I love Marybeth’s no-nonsense/make-sense writing.  I couldn’t wait to rip open the envelope and flip through it, sharing quick quotes with Hub–one about Target and hell jumped out.  (More about that later.)  I’ve only read about 3 pages into the introduction and already I have a couple of “you tell it, sisters” in the hopper.  I think this one is going to warrant a little more than one post, and more than a few conversations.  Since my reading is most often done in the wee hours, however, I have a feeling that my conversations are going to be with myself, BuddytheCat, and well… you.  Which brings me to item #2.

That’s the solo “book club” I’m starting over there at the left:  MeMyBook&Eye. I’ve always been interested in the concept of book clubs.  It takes me back to my first pseudo-reading club experiences in the elementary and middle school program, “Junior Great Books“.  We read short stories and book excerpts and discussed them in a much smaller “class” environment with desks all pulled into a circle.  I remember reading Flannery O’Connor’s The Lottery in 5th or 6th grade and expressing the jarring effect of her scenario.  Great Books was a place where we were actually encouraged to make notations in our books, to circle words we didn’t understand and to jot questions in the margin. Thus began a thinking girl’s discussion of books.

Unfortunately, the concept of book clubs forces me to read on a schedule, which I’m not good at anymore. It forces me to be able to read and decipher my notes well after writing them–another thing I’m not good at anymore.  Plus, I don’t think they have book clubs at 11pm when I might be willing to take time away from eating and playing with my kids. So, I’ve decided to start my own, sans most of the pesky accountability–if going solo (in the non-virtual sense) can be considered a club.  It’s me, my book of the moment and EyeJunkie in a little reading lovefest.  And, since my lovefest is more of a love/hate kind of thing depending on the current contents of my purse, schedule and brain, the MeMyBook&Eye club is also an entirely self-centered attempt to guilt myself into taking less than three years to read a really good non-fiction book. I said it was sans most of the accountability.

I’m looking at this as a great way to record my thoughts on a book as I’m reading it rather than waiting to the end when the nuances are lost in overview.  And, even if you don’t like to read, you can do it vicariously through me with just a click in your RSS feed [hint!].  It’ll be almost like flipping the pages yourself.

If you’re interested in reading vicariously through me, we make it easy here at EyeJunkie.  No attendance record and no dues required. Just scroll back up and point-clicky to grab the membership card for yourself. Drop it on your blog, email it to yourself or print and carry it in your wallet–just to remind you of me and the book I’m we’re reading.   Oh, and if you want to read with me actually instead of vicariously, pull up a comment and stay awhile.

Coming soon… Bringing Up Geeks, episode 1.