Fare thee well my dear 20's
I’ve always been a birthday person. I immodestly anticipate them and celebrate with enthusiasm.
This blog isn’t supposed to be about my personal life so much as my adventures in mastering stuff around the house (and being excited about it), but today marks the first day of my 30’s. It sometimes feels like I was born 80-years-old. I appreciate old things and I enjoy conversing with old(er) people. I even choose to listen to Garrison Keillor’s radio show. I have a nostalgia for times I am far from being a part of.
Well, I’ll keep this short and sweet. Thank you 20’s for every success and more so the things I botched, because I’ve patched together a fine foundation for future pursuits in my 30’s. Thank you 20’s for bringing me to this seat.
The newly-instituted Author’s Chair at Austin’s own Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders, where I did a talk with 6-8th grade girls about what it takes to write a book.
I thank you all for being a part of this day and every day with me.
So, my birthday wish? Do something nice for your public library, a haven that provides endless hours of enjoyment in books, for free. Mine offers the option to either donate books or money.
While I have an exciting HGGH set o’ books giveaway planned for next month, I can’t have such a big day pass without giving away something, so how about I send to one commenter below, two copies of my book. One for you to keep and the other for you to donate to the library or school of your choice.
To enter: Leave a comment telling us what you’re enjoying reading this summer, food, literature or any kinds of books welcome. Winner will be selected via random.org. Please don’t forget to leave your email address in the designated box that asks for it (or I can’t email to tell you you’ve won). I’m closing the giveaway on July 28 at midnight, CST.
p.s. Vive le Bastille!
Kate
Congrats to our winner, Debbie from Batavia, IL!
Thanks all for entering and sharing your summer reading lists.
Birthdays, Book Process, Giveaways 
Reader Comments (111)
I've really been enjoying the recipes from the Moosewood Cookbook. I'm also trying to read The Omnivore's Dilemma, but with a toddler, a full time job and an obessession with canning fruit, it's a bit challenging to find the time.
Happy Birthday! Thirty are awesome! (So sad mine are almost over.)
I'm on a bigoraphy kick right now, blazing through books like crazy! I love the idea for this contest. In fact, I just got my first library card (at least since I moved to TN almost ten years ago) the other day! I spend an enormous amount of money on books and I have a whole bedroom in my house that I converted into a library to hold them all. Our local library is rather small with a limited selection, and I even mentioned to my husband, that if I were to die prematurely (let's hope not!) that I wanted him to donate all of my books to them. I think this is a wonderful giveaway and hopefully some little library will benefit from it!
Just read Small Island with my library's book club and found it very interesting!
I am enjoying reading an array of books this summer! Just finished up some murder-mystery's by Lisa Gardner. Just started, The Untold Story of Raw Milk which I am really enjoying. Also getting through the Nourishing Tradtions cookbook slowly, and hoping to get Hip Girl's Guide :) :) Thanks for the opportunity!
I just finished reading The Help, and loved it. Next on my list is Treatment Kind and Fair: Letters to a Young Doctor. I'm in the middle of medical school applications, and hear this is an inspiring read.
I am busily reading different pregnancy books that friends are loaning, as I will be welcoming a baby into the world as I enter my 30's come 02/12!
I read everything. I just finished Little Men and Nourishing Traditions. I'm getting ready to start Flatland and Nourished by Love. I'm reading Standing for Something and the Dear America series out loud to my daughter. I really must get back to my books now...
While I have not gotten into any books yet this summer, I do plan to read the graphic novel Anita Blake Vampire Hunter, as well as The Game of Thrones books! I would like to mention that this blog is a new thing for me, as of May, and I've been reading it faithfully since! :)
I am reading The Paris Wife (about Hemingway's first wife), Cleopatra, and of course The Hip Girl's Guide to Homemaking (picked up at the book signing at Book Woman!).
I started out the summer reading "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver, which was an exciting way to dive into the summer season and all it has to offer. I then devoured Ann Patchett's new book. Now I'm looking forward to reading Hip Girl's Guide! I haven't gotten my own copy yet because I havent gotten out to an independent bookstore. But I was so eager to read it that I borrowed my friend's copy!
I always participate in my library's Summer Reading initiative...even though I have yet to read 5 books in 6 weeks! I've been reading the Wallander mysteries by Henning Mankell, but right now I'm reading Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein.
Also, I work at the library, so you know I LOVE your birthday wish!! Viva la biblioteca!
I am just starting World Without End after a hiatus from Pillars of the Earth which I loved. With my son I am reading Old Yeller - he's 3. I wrote a letter to my local library telling them how much I appreciated their library services, so I would love to donate this book to them. They seemed appreciative - each time I come in they say hello :) I am helping start a food swap in Olympia, WA and would love this reference book.
Happy Birthday!
When I turned 30 last year, instead of binge drinking at the local pub, I read "Siddhartha" by Herman Hesse. It was an excellent book to begin my Thirties....
I am reading "Plains of Passage" by Jean Auel and "Kinship with All Life" by J. Boone.
I love your blog, found it on Crunchy Betty. Keep up the good work!
They just opened an east-side branch of our library, so I am reading anything - and everything - I can get my hands on. At 2 books a week, (104 books a year) and an average life expectancy of 72, I only have 2,496 books left to read in a lifetime. SCARY, isn't it. :(
Our local grocer Hannaford is doing a fund-raiser by selling donated books, so I have been reading whatever catches my eye. Of course my husband always comments that its the best fund-raiser idea ever as many people admit to buying books, and bringing some to donate, buying more, bringing some of them back to donate, etc. Its the revolving door of fund-raisers.
The current queue includes:
Medium Raw, by Anthony Bourdain
The Know-It-All, by AJ Jacobs
Bluebeard, by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
Scar (and probably Iron Council too), by China Mieville
and bunches of stuff I've found for free or exceedingly cheap on Pixel of Ink's ebook blog
As for my public libraries - I donate books to them all the time. I also buy books from their bookstore - the books pulled from circulation or donations that don't go into circulation, which are sold to raise money for the library. I've also donated stuffed animals and toys for the kids' section, and I periodically drop off tote bags and plastic shopping bags I've acquired - library patrons often need them to take all their literary loot home!
I'm spending my summer enjoying books by or about strong, bossy, flawed, and passionate women. Just read Tina Fey's "Bossypants" -- hilarious -- and am in the middle of Elizabeth Strout's "Olive Kitteridge." (Both of which I got at the library, by the way!)
I'm on young adult kick - reading some old favorites and new bestsellers. Pippi Longstocking and Hunger Games are both definitely on the list. Oh, and The Giver - so good!
Ok, so reading is my "escape" and I love to ready chic lit. So, please forgive the fact that I've just finished "The 19th Wife," and am now on Jennifer Weiner's "Fly Away Home". Next will be "A Homemade Life", by Molly Wizenberg. (A very thoughtful gift from a dear friend)
Truth be told, I'm addicted to canning lately, and can't seem to put down my Complete Book of Home Preserving, Complete Book of Small Batch Canning, and oh yes, the All New Square Foot Gardening.
Would love a copy of your book, and love to donate to the local library!
Happy Birthday!
I've been a big supporter of public libraries for decades. Right now I'm reading Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, and The Last Girls by Lee Smith. On my request list at our regional library are The Help and Bossypants. I love seeing what other people are reading.
Enjoy your 30's!
Happy Birthday, Kate! (Remember when 30 seemed like an unreachable "really old" age?) I'm reading The Lonely Polygamist right now, which is okay but recently read Siddhartha, which I really enjoyed.
I have been reading some pretty unsual things lately. Our family is moving in two weeks so lately I have been googling / reading "packing tips" and trying to read the newspaper as I crumple it into boxes to protect some of my fragile items. This was how I happened to come across an article in the St. Petersburg Times (FL Newspaper) about your new book. Needless to say I didnt crumple that section of the paper. I took it to the bookstore with me for a coffee run & they didnt have the book in stock. :( But the section of the newspapers also had an article on plumeria flowers (which I thought only grew in Hawaii) so now I am planning on getting one of those & a copy of your book after I settle into the new place. :o)
Happy Birthday! as someone new to my 30's they are not as bad as your think, I am actually quite enjoying mine! I have been reading "The Importance of Being Earnest", it is so ridiculous and I love it.
I've been reading the Hunger Games trilogy -- I can't put them down!
Right now I'm finishing "The Knights Next Door," and also reading "The Gardener's Bible" (in anticipation of finally having my own garden). I also have "Naptime is the New Happy Hour" awaiting my attention.