Blog A Go-Go

In which we snoop through bookshelves

My friend Kristen sent this link to a fascinating blog entry about books. The author maintains that you can judge--if not a book by its cover, then a man by his books. I suspect this is entirely true. I am always darting surreptitious glances at people's bookshelves and assessing their character accordingly. And like one of the commenters on her blog, I also find that I identify with readers in a way that I simply never do with non-readers. With non-readers, it's like one of you is American and the other French, and you're trying to communicate by speaking Swedish. Something is always lost in the translation. (I once had a doctor proudly tell me he NEVER read anything. It was only after I left his office that I wondered if that included medical journals. I was darkly suspicious of him from that moment on, and he did end up being one of the worst doctors I've ever had. Coincidence? I wonder...)

In which women tell all

I have made no secret of my affection for Men's Health magazine. It's deep and it's real. The editorial style reminds me of the instructions on a box of condoms--straightforward and unvarnished, without unnecessary fuss or drama. Just what you need to know, delivered with brevity and clarity. They spend a lot of time demystifying each gender to the other, and they do a very fine job of it. If you are a woman and men puzzle you, the editor of Men's Health, Dave Zinczenko, tells all in Men, Love and Sex. Go forth and get it now. If you are a man and women are still an enigma, try reading What Women Want From Men Not every single entry applies to every woman, but all of them will get you in the ballpark. Except for #22. NO HOODIES. EVER.

In which we are voyeurs

My friend Adrienne passed along the link to Relationship Obits the website where you can, yes, that's right, WRITE AN OBITUARY for your relationship. I couldn't make this up.

On a completely unrelated note, this past Tuesday I signed at The Fountain in Richmond. If you've never been, GO. I seriously cannot say enough fabulous things about the store, the ever-so-hip and intellectual proprietress Kelly, or the adorably enthusiastic Heather and Tess. (My favorite part of The Fountain is that the shelves are full of unexpected discoveries. There are mainstream novels, to be sure, but there are plenty of quirky, delicious books I've never seen anywhere else. I have never left The Fountain without buying, and Tuesday I picked up this bit of gorgeousness, Simply Irresistible I can't WAIT to settle in with the last of my Valentine Godiva and this beautiful book.)

My favorite moment Tuesday was when a breathless, bright-eyed reader rushed in just to tell me how much she loved my books. She couldn't stay for the signing because it was her 25th wedding anniversary and she was late for dinner with her husband! Absolutely made my night--as did a lovely visit I had with a charming reader from Charlottesville. (Hi, Joan!) And the evening was capped with some luscious dessert from The Tobacco Company--live music, leopard couches, and a lovely Pinot Noir. In all, a VERY good night!

In which we give equal time to guys

As I've said several times before, Men's Health magazine does a great job of telling men what we women wish they knew about us. Now they've turned the tables and here's a list of fifty things they wish we knew about them. Print it out, pass it around, post it in the ladies' room--it's good stuff. Men's Health 50 Things Men Wished Women Knew