Even Cowgirls Get the Blues

Jonah got me Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins -and what a book that is! It's funny, weird and complex. I read it over Winter Quarter, and I absolutely loved it. If you've never read it, go out and pick it up. About a week ago, I was in dire need of new books to read. In a fit of "end of school year" enthusiasm, I packed my books. All of them. I still have a week of classes left.

I called Jonah from the bookstore, crouched before a row of Tom Robbins books, asking for his advice on which one to pick up. There were a few he recommended, but we finally settled on Even Cowgirls Get the Blues. I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again -he has good taste in books. He got me Ubik by Philip K. Dick, too. He knows me too well. :)

Even Cowgirls Get the Blues

Even Cowgirls Get the Blues is, like Jitterbug Perfume, funny, weird and complex. There's the Countess -a man. There's Julian -a full-blooded Indian who paints watercolors and is subject to horrible fits of asthma. There's the Rubber Rose Ranch, which was overthrown by women, and where those women wrangle whooping cranes. And, of course, there is Sissy Hankshaw and her incredible thumbs. Sissy is a hitchhiker by nature, because of her enormous thumbs, and it is around her that the story revolves.

I'm not too far into the book just yet, because I had a 3-day interlude from reading (Memorial Day weekend consisted of canoeing, climbing and a huge number of naps), but I plan on getting back into it today. Robbins is too good to pass up.

The Bell Jar

Sylvia Plath's only novel is next on my reading list. This is simply an anecdote to let you all know what a bookstore addict I am. I went out on Saturday morning to get a copy of the paper so I could finish a project I was working on. The student center where the papers usually are was closed for Memorial Day weekend, so I walked down to one of the many campus bookstores to look for a copy.

Bad idea.

15 minutes later, I left with the last copy of an an out-of-print limited edition version of The Bell Jar. I also remembered to get the paper.

Bookstores awaken my inner shopaholic. I cannot leave a bookstore without a book. Woe betide me (and my budget) if ever I get an ereader! I do at least read all of my purchases, so I wouldn't make purchases in vain...but my oh my would I make purchases. My wallet is cowering in terror right now.

Leaves & Flowers

Last but not least, I have announcement about Leaves & Flowers! Last night, I hired an assistant editor named Liz. She's going to be helping with promotion and some of the editing work for the journal. I am very excited to have her on board. She's on Twitter and runs a blog, and the Leaves & Flowers website always has updates and information. There will be a post about Liz up sometime later this week. Give her a shout and welcome her aboard!