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'm trying to finish the Sookie Stackhouse books. I'm on number 6. trouble is I'm super slow as I started over a year ago.
Reading some new bread cookbooks...gearing up for the fall weather. I like to bake in between air conditioning and turning on the furnace season...easier on my electric and gas bills! I then freeze the breads to enjoy during the winter!
I just finished reading the new Laurell K. Hamilton book Hit List. Mostly I'm reading books to my little guys and not too much for myself :) Life is sweet.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
The Cookbook Collector
The Girl Who Played with Fire
Happy Birthday!
I'm reading Anna Karenina (Tolstoy). I've never read it before, but now that I am reading it I agree with all those women who say it is a must-read, at least once in your lifetime.
Hi! and Happy Birthday!
Today actually, I just finished "The haunted Bookshop" by Christopher Morley. It turned out a lot better than I expected.
This Summer I will be reading whatever Librivox has available.
It seems like the only time I have to read now is when I am working, I put on audio books!
Happy happy birthday!
And I'm reading your book, a book on Urban Homesteading and a couple of books about chickens. But that's just this week!
If I win though, I'd like both copies of this book to go to a library since I already have one :)
What a great idea! The library has always been an inspirational place for me. here is my email: ejs7288@gmail.com
Happy Birthday!
Just starting Karin Slaughter's newest. I'm already upset I'll have to wait until next summer for the another one.
Thanks for the plug for libraries! I'm a children's librarian so I've been enjoying children's lit...reading The Friendship Doll now.
Welcome to the fabulous 30's! A wonderful decade for a woman.
I've been reading Lester Brown's World on the Edge. Quite serious and not for the feignt of heart. More than just a treatise on the sorry state of the world, the book offers important challenging solutions.
My reading this summer has been books that are/about to be realeased to movies. I've finished Water for Elephants and the Help. I've also been reading a lot of sewing books and photography books. Without my library I would hardly ever read due to the expense of buying books, and having a due date actually forces me (to a tune of 10 cents/day) to finish books up.
Whoa, Happy Birthday! You share it with one of my favorite peeps- my hubby.
I actually just checked out your book from the library.
Welcome to your thirties, I just turned 31 and I love it so far.
I don't know if overseas readers may enter your lucky draw, but just in case, I'd be delighed to! I just finished Kate Walbert's Gardens of Kyoto (which is not about Kyoto or gardens) and although it is sad it was great!
This summer I have discovered the (geeky) joy of homemade fruit leather! (you definitely need air conditioning for this one though) I've been buying up strawberries and mixing them with whatever other fruits look good - so far strawberry-peach is my favorite.
Happy birthday! I'm about to hit the big 30 next month myself! i'm currently reading "The Meaning of Wife."
I've been really getting into home decor books about making my home more comfy and visitor friendly!
I've been reading the comic book series The Unwritten by Mike Carey & Peter Gross - an awesome series for adults who love Harry Potter! & yay for libraries!
I read Michael Pollans' Food Rules. It was a quick read. I felt very accomplished to finish a book in one night The Berkeley Public Library would welcome this addition to their collection, it is very popular these days to DIY and homestead. I have really been into making my own stuff, from food to beauty care products!
I just started Anthony Bourdain's Medium Raw, which I'm tearing through as quickly as I did Kitchen Confidential. I've also been hunting down free reads for my Kindle, so I'm rediscovering my love for Poe, classic fairy tales, Greek epics - and finding the time to start those books that people always said I "should" read.
Happy Birthday! The 30s are SO much better than the 20s! :)
I've been reading Cormac McCarthy's All the Pretty Horses and Blood Meridian. Fabulous books! I had to throw in some Naked by David Sedaris to keep it light. :)
Hello 30's!
I just started reading 'Man with a Pan,' a series of essays about men who cook. It's absolutely delightful and, honestly, I'm very attracted to them already ;)
I have a friend who works for the Library Foundation here in Portland -- so my favorite nice thing to do for the library is to do nice things for her. I figure it relieves her stress so she can focus on getting that next big grant... (also, I'm very good at being late to return books, and so I can pay the library lovely late fees)
My Summer with Ernest
Ernest Hemingway was my summer reading companion. Having given the man short shrift in high school (so dull, that old man and the sea), I had written him off as too testosterone-induced to inspire me. Wrong I was! A Farewell to Arms, For Whom the Bell Tolls, and The Sun Also Rises were fast and brilliant reads. Without even leaving my patio (or changing out of my pajamas), I saw Italy and Spain in new light and I no longer think of this writer as too much of a "manly man."
My $2.00 used copy of The Herb Bible by Peter McHoy just arrived in the mail and I'm looking forward to taking a deep dive into that. This is my first year to do an herb garden, which is suffering from an apparently fatal case of "failure to thrive." When I took my 5 grandchildren to the library last week, I picked up a Newberry Honor novel, Lily's Crossing. This children's novel set in the 1940's made me cry. It's a lovely story. On my desk at work is Stephen Covey's book, The Speed of Trust, and on my bedside table is Let Nothing Disturb You, a stirring devotional collection based on the writing of Teresa of Avila. (I read The Help this past winter and and am looking forward to the movie release next month.) Happy Birthday Kate from a 50-year-old grandmommy who sure is glad to be finished with my 30s and 40s. :0)
I love the Jan Karon series. I am reading her latest book. It is so relaxing. You would never think a series about an Episcopal priest could be so entertaining and relaxing. If you haven't read her books, try them. I would love to win this book for my beautiful 21 year old daughter, who will make a beautiful homemaker and I love supporting our local library. Good luck to all.