Czech It Out

In one short hour, the Nashville Blogger Bake Sale benefiting Second Harvest of Middle TN will commence. Our very own GBC Kim is contributing kolaches for the event. As I suspect only three of our GBC members know what these are, I decided to do a little research for you. My most entertaining discovery comes in the form of the Prague Kolache Festival which occurred on May 1, 2010. [Warning: This link is not for the faint of heart as it includes heavy polka background music.] The festival includes a Kolache Eating contest as well as other tasty food items, Czech dress and dance. Next year will be the 50th anniversary for the festival, so consider this little gem for a future road trip.

As the Page Turns

It was no surprise for me to see that today's best selling Kindle books included the three books in Larsson's Millennium Trilogy. (The Surgeon: with Bonus Content by Tess Gerritsen is interrupting the one-two-three sweep as it holds a position as third best selling. I am not familiar with this title.) My hand has hovered over the "One-Click" button a few times over the last month, and I am eager to read it. I know that several others of the GBC group are keen as well. So, what will happen? Will all GBC members purchase the book in a mad dash for discussion? Will excitement turn into a paralyzing inaction as we all wait to see who rushes in first? Tune in next month (if not before) for the exciting conclusion.

Gone Fission

With the email reminder that my book is soon due to be returned, I picked up the pace a bit on Possum Living. I am glad that I delved into the "Meat" chapter after lunch, as I am relatively certain that I might have lost a bit of my appetite during the paragraphs which discussed edible game. Freed and I share a similar affection for duck, however I cannot (will not) make a leap to muskrat. The information in the chapter could be quite handy however if I am dropped in the woods and left to survive on my own devices. The "Fish" chapter thus far has left me with similar sentiments. It could be said however that she was ahead of the curve with her support of carp.

Once I scale the "Fish" chapter, the topics turn toward grains and gardening with Chapter 12 addressing the "Necessities of Life" including both a diagram and instructions to construct one's very own "distillation apparatus." The Afterword (yes, I skipped ahead) includes some very good observations such as:

* One needs very few physical things in order to be happy.
* Look carefully at life and your choices.
* Do your research.
* Small steps lead to big goals.
* Hold on to the good, let go of the bad

Not too bad for an eighteen-year-old author with a seventh-grade education turned NASA aerospace engineer.

May Ramble

In addition to this being an exciting week for GBC members, it was a time of recognition for Troubles by J.G. Farrell. The title received the Lost Man Booker Prize on May 19. This award was created to honour books published in 1970 when the rules of award changed. (So many things changed in the seventies.)

The Independent Publisher Book Award winners will be honored this upcoming week as well. A comprehensive list of authors and titles can be found here. I was hoping to report that I had read at least one of them, but I must currently remain silent on this issue.

Finally, to conclude this series of marginally related thoughts, NPR explores Meghan Daum's book Life Would be Perfect if I Lived in that House with this link. An excerpt of the book is also included. As I share Daum's fondness for Little House on the Prairie, this book has now been added to my reading list.

My summer reading will quite certainly carry into autumn. Enjoy the week.