I Love to Read

One great thing about being out of college is that I have the energy and time to read books that are not textbooks. Many have heard me complain about not having as much time as I thought I would once graduating, but I still have more time to read. It’s a little bit easier to sit down for a few minutes and read a book for enjoyment rather than having a guilty conscious for not doing homework. With that being said, I still don’t read as much I would like to, and my reading usually happens right before I go to bed or while I’m on the bicycle or elliptical at the gym. STILL…I’m reading so much more than I have in years.

In preparation for Steve and my trip to Phoenix, I went and bought a new book. I did feel a little guilty going and buying a new book because I have several bookshelves of books that I have not read. However, I fell in love with Laurie Notaro a few months ago and have been craving to read another one of her books.

About five years ago, during my first year of college, I stayed with one of my aunts for a weekend. At the time, she was reading The Idiot Girls’ Action-Adventure Club by Laurie Notaro. She briefly mentioned about how the book was funny and that when she was done she would let me borrow it. I didn’t think too much of it, but a few weeks later, we saw each other again, and she handed me the book to read. I intended to read it…eventually. It sat on my bookshelf for five years, until this past summer, when I decided that it was time to start reading all my unread books. I really don’t know why I picked The Idiot Girls’ Action-Adventure Club, but I did, and I don’t regret it. After figuring out that this was not an average book with consistent characters and a mind-dwelling plot, I became sucked into it. I could not wait until bedtime so that I could read several more chapters of Laurie’s adventures.

So what is The Idiot Girls’ Action-Adventure Club about? Well, it’s about Laurie Notaro – her crazy situations, stupid activities, and awkward moments. She writes about herself, constantly making fun of herself along with several other people in her life. From the way she portrays herself in the book, she seems like a pretty klutzy and blunt woman. One thing that I really love about her is how she is far from perfect and she makes fun of it. So in a way, I can totally relate to her.

I laughed so much while reading this book. Poor Steve. There would be times when I was reading in bed and Steve would be trying to fall asleep. However, I think I may have kept him up several nights because I would start laughing out loud. There were several times I know I did wake him up because I would start talking about why I was laughing.

All that to say, I loved The Idiot Girls’ Action-Adventure Club, and I was really happy when I found out that Laurie Notaro has five other books that I can read. That was when I was faced with a dilemma. Remember my bookshelf of unread books? Well, I still need to read them, and I would feel horrible going out and buying five new books to read with all those unread books already there. So, I made a deal with myself. I will alternate books – I’ll read one of my unread books and then go buy a Laurie Notaro book. I think this works out great. I get my Notaro fix and continue reading my unread books.

Today, I jumped the gun a little bit. I’m not exactly done with one my unread books, but I’m on the last chapter, and I needed to make sure I had the proper reading material when Steve and I leave to Phoenix tomorrow. So, I went and purchased Autobiography of a Fat Bride. Supposedly, Laurie gets married in this book. I’m really looking forward to reading this book. There’s a chance that I will read most of the book by the time Steve and I get back from Phoenix.

This Thanksgiving holiday, if you need a little laughter in your life, I highly recommend reading The Idiot Girls’ Action-Adventure Club. I’ll let you know how this other book is.

Happy Thanksgiving!

~Carmelita