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 have been totally enjoying Susan Juby's The Woefield Poultry Collective. Laugh out loud funny with a really great tenacious, young female lead character.
So much fun!
this summer i am enjoying the first summer reading program i signed my five year old granddaughter up for. today we finish her first 50 page book & drop off her reading-slip so we can check her folder at the library.
Ugh, too many classes this summer with plenty of required reading. In my not-so spare time, I've been hooked on Terry Goodkind's books (The Sword of Truth series) along with dozens of preserving and canning books from my local library.
I'm especially excited to find all kinds of potential new reads of your comment list! Great idea...
Hope you had a wonderful birthday! Thanks for sharing your day with us. :)
Happy Birthday to you and welcome to the fabulous 30's! People wondered why I wasn't freaking when I turned 30 last year. It's because it's just a number and I too have always felt alot older than my actual age, like i'm living in the wrong era. At 31, I think the 30's are awesome. I feel comfortable in my own skin, I am happy with myself, my skills that I have honed through my 20's, and open to learning even more and more. Life is good.
I'm getting ready to read Spooner for my upcoming book club. Otherwise, I'm busy reading cooking and canning books for new ideas and recipes all summer long. Plus, I'm reading great kids books to my favorite girl every night.
I love reading about food and traveling, and books that have both are my favorite. I've read a few already this summer, but the best has been "How to Eat a Small Country" by Amy Finley.
I'm currently reading "Animal Dreams" by Barbara Kingsolver. It's so good, I hate having to put it down to do things like work or take care of the house.
I just picked up a book titled Rhapsody. High fantasy. So far it's a lot of fun.
I'm reading the Bible cover to cover and a book called "George Muller - Man of Faith and Miracles." It's about a man who did extraordinary things with very little. I'm also reading all of my husband's grandmother's recipes as I type them up into a book for the family. She was a grand lady and she was the one who got me excited about cooking, baking, and so many other things.
I have two girls, 6 and 3, and reading books has not been a priority for the last couple of years. This summer I have created time for books whenever I can and even joined two book clubs that I can't always make it to. I have been reading Simplicity Parenting, Nourishing Traditions, The Art of Racing in the Rain, 10 Conversations you should have with your children, You Grow Girl, and You are your child's first teacher. I love so many books and want to nurture every part of me..............the mother, the woman, the wife, my soul, a friend, the creative part, the sad part, the need to learn part, etc.......The WHOLE PERSON!
I just finished Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls, I loved it, couldn't put it down. I love reading in the summer! (and I borrowed it from my Culver City library!!) Great giveaway idea.
Happy Birthday! I loved my 30s so much. You know who you are and what you want and people don't treat you like a kid anymore. Your bs tolerance is gone by 30, but that helps you focus on the important things. You find yourself physically and mentally balanced, sharp, alert, and ready for anything. Enjoy this time!
I've been devouring books by my current favorite authors: Janet Evanovitch, Charlaine Harris, and Laurell K. Hamilton.
I read "The Help" and am currently reading "The Sound a Wild Snail Makes While Eating" for our library book discussion group.
I am currently reading "The Women's Murder Club" mysteries, and I've finally broken down and read some books by Debbie Macomber, who is actually really good.
I am reading The Urban Homestead along w/ a ton of canning & pickling books. I just keep going to my library & checking out whatever they have! Happy Birthday & don't worry the 20's are enjoyed even more in hindsight!
I just read and loved "Open City" by Teju Cole!
I have been doing some much needed leisure reading including The Da Vinci Code, The Help, and lots of Jodi Picoult books. I also just received both of the Babycakes baking cookbooks and have been staring at them daily trying to choose a recipe to try!
Happy Birthday, Dear Kate! And how nice to be giving on your birthday, not only once but twice! I love my library and I'm angling for them to get your book. But giving them one might be even easier. Thanks for the chance to win!
I am reading gardening books as I take my new garden step by baby step. Also reading a bunch of sewing books because I am trying to learn better sewing habits than just improvise and it may work.
I just read all three books in The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. Could. Not. Put. Them. Down. I talked my husband into reading them and now he's addicted too. LOL. Now I'm on to non-fiction ... Fair Food by Oran B. Hesterman.
Happy birthday!!! Here's hoping your 30's will be great :)
I am reading Zechariah Sitchin's The 12th Planet, many potty training and other pre-K books, Carrots Love Tomatoes, Getting Started in Permaculture, and more, as well as online videos, podcasts and blogs - more than I really have time for, but even though I'm weeding and watering, you have to take time to read when you can be learning something new that will help your loved ones and nourish your spirit and mind!
I'm reading M.F.K. Fisher's The Art of Eating, The Best Food Writing 2010, and Harold McGee's On Food and Cooking — plus whatever books on cooking or gardening I might find at the library.
Happy birthday! I turned 30 last year. So far, so good.
Just discovered Tana French and am enjoying In The Woods.
Just finished reading A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg and have begun Farm City by Novella Carpenter
Welcome to the 30s (though I've lapped you and in the following decade myself :)
I've been on a bit of a historical fiction kick - thanks to fairly random picks from the new releases section of my public library! - including two different takes with interesting parallel details/characters on the Salem witch trials. Waiting for me in the holds section is Emma Donoghue's Room, which everyone is raving about and I'm excited to read. These are rounded out by a motley crew of magazines and cookbooks of course.
Would love to donate a copy of your book to the SFPL (and gift the second since I already own one!).
I'm a public librarian, so I just want to say thanks for supporting local libraries! Libraries are more important than ever as a gateway to technological and informational literacy, community gathering spaces, and just a free and nonjudgmental place to find a book or movie to escape with for a while.
And I'm reading Susan Beth Pfeffer's absolutely riveting apocalyptic teen books - Life As We Knew It, The Dead and the Gone, and This World We Live In.
Shoot the Moon, by Billie Letts--wonderful story!