Taking A Little Tumble

While Cleo stalks Katie's food, let's talk about unlike a graceful feline I am.

Photo by Terri

Um... I went for a run tonight. I got almost to my turnaround point, and then a tree root reached up and grabbed my ankle and threw me to the ground, where I landed on my hands and knees and shoulder and turned a somersault on the sidewalk. And then the front door of the house I was in front of opened and people came out to see if I was okay. Why does that always happen?

So, ouch. No blood, but I am hurting right now. I took some anti-inflammatories and iced my shoulder and knee, but I think I'm going to be really sore tomorrow. Ugh.

And now, like a kitty who has fallen off the bed and then composes herself by washing her face, I make a comforting list. Here is a fun reader's meme I got from a book blog (whose name I have forgotten! Sorry!)

Which book do you irrationally cringe away from reading, despite seeing only positive reviews?

Hmm. I can't think of any off the top of my head. Probably something like Sister Of My Heart, which I've only heard good things about, but just haven't gotten around to reading. Sometimes some of those newer 'must-reads' turn me off for some reason. I know they're supposed to be great, and I'm sure I'd love them, but I just haven't got around the 'must-read' thing.


If you could bring three characters to life for a social event (afternoon tea, a night of clubbing, perhaps a world cruise), who would they be and what would the event be?

OK, let's see. I'd like to go on a whirlwind European city tour with Lucy Honeychurch from A Room With A View. I'd like to go to a library or bookstore, with lunch by a fireplace afterwards, with Jo March from Little Women. And... hmm, I know I have other favorite characters. How about afternoon tea and gossip with Penelope Keeling, from The Shell Seekers.


You are told you can’t die until you read the most boring novel on the planet. While this immortality is great for awhile, eventually you realise it’s past time to die. Which book would you expect to get you a nice grave?

Oh man. There are many that would send me to the grave. I couldn't get through Ivanhoe. I'm sure there were others but now I'm starting to hurt more so moving on to the next...

Come on, we’ve all been there. Which book have you pretended, or at least hinted, that you’ve read, when in fact you’ve been nowhere near it?

Truth time: I've never read One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. How did I get away with that? I've never even seen the movie. But I knew enough to get along in conversation... but no more. I guess I have to read it now!

As an addition to the last question, has there been a book that you really thought you had read, only to realise when you read a review about it/go to ‘reread’ it that you haven’t? Which book?

Speaking of Ken Kesey, I thought I'd read Sometimes A Great Notion. I always mixed it up with The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, which I did read. They could not be more different, even though one was written by Ken Kesey and one was about him. Don't ask. Anyway, I just got it at the library so I can now rectify that!

You’re interviewing for the post of Official Book Advisor to some VIP (who’s not a big reader). What’s the first book you’d recommend and why? (if you feel like you’d have to know the person, go ahead of personalise the VIP)

One of the best books I've ever read was The Poisonwood Bible. It was long, yes, but it was so interesting and really moved along. I don't know that it's for everyone, but if someone wanted to start reading good books, I'd start there.

A good fairy comes and grants you one wish: you will have perfect reading comprehension in the foreign language of your choice. Which language do you go with?

French. Definitely. Lots of good books in French. (what the heck do I know? Any language would be fine. Maybe Italian too)

A mischievious fairy comes and says that you must choose one book that you will reread once a year for the rest of your life (you can read other books as well). Which book would you pick?

I already know that one. Little Women. Everything I need is in that book. Deep friendships, great family, romance, morality, adventure, heartbreak, redemption... I love that book so much. Can you believe they didn't have it at the library? What is up with that?

That good fairy is back for one final visit. Now, she’s granting you your dream library! Describe it. Is everything leatherbound? Is it full of first edition hardcovers? Pristine trade paperbacks? Perhaps a few favourite authors have inscribed their works? Go ahead-let your imagination run free.

Ooh, love this one. OK. Definitely dark wood panels, with a wall of windows overlooking some beautiful scenery. A couple of big squishy overstuffed chairs, the kind you can drape yourself over. Big ottomans. With perfectly sized little tables for tea and cookies. Maybe a sandwich. I think there should be a little kitchenette. A pretty one. With lots of tea. Walls of books, of course, floor to ceiling. I'd like one of those ladders that roll along the wall. A big dictionary on a stand. I'd like a full set of classics, old editions, with that yummy old-book smell. Maybe with some notes in the margins from previous readers. I prefer used books anyway. And then best of all, some little elf would come and rotate the books often so that I'd always have something new to read. I could keep a list of books that I'd like to read and this little elf would go and get them for me. It would be like the perfect "new arrivals" shelf at the library.

OK, that was fun. And now I'm hurting too bad to keep typing. 'night, all.