So this week’s bookish thoughts (brought to you by Christine at Bookishly Boisterous) are slightly skewed towards the romantic side of things. Somehow it seems appropriate that my first point is titled insta-bullshit. I’m only kidding. I’m totally romantic. The first person to show up at my door on Friday with coal-fired pizza and Pretty in Pink wins my utter devotion for a year (two years if you bring the new Much Ado About Nothing). Do remember that we’ll have to shut it off ten minutes before it ends – because #TeamDuckie. Although Clueless or 10 Things I Hate About You could be substituted if you’re anti-’80s (as I don’t really remember the ’80s, I have no idea why I am so devoted to that decade’s romantic comedies).
In honor of Valentine’s Day:
10. Insta-bullshit. Yeah, this is pretty true.
09. Not only is Denver among the most well-read cities, but the city’s residents have more sex than anyone else in the US – both statistics are surprising.
08. For my giveaway, the question I wanted people to answer was “What was your least favorite book?”. I thought I would get a lot of cop out answers like Twilight or 50 Shades or Grey, but people took it seriously. Oddly enough, some people really hate books I quite enjoyed. The Marriage Plot made the list of most hated, as did Of Human Bondage, The Art of Fielding, and Naked Lunch.
07. It seems like there are a million of these quizzes going around, but I had to share this one because it’s wholly unsurprising. I am Sherlock on the “What Sherlock Holmes Character Are You?” quiz.
06. I guest posted over on Annabel Smith’s Friday Fave. Also, my monthly contribution to Pop Culture Nerd went up last week.
05. This list wouldn’t be complete without something weather related. The last few weeks have been miserable, it was -15 (-26C) and snowy last week. This weekend it is going to be sunny and 65 (19C). I am so excited. I’ll be working all day (both days), but still…
04. Rodarte + Star Wars = Couture Gowns. I don’t know what to say. Well, I would really like to see one of those gowns at this year’s Oscars.
03. Did anyone else love Punky Brewster as a kid? Soleil Moon Frye just had a baby boy. His name is Lyric Sonny Roads (Goldman).
As I’ve said before, I am fascinated by baby names. I don’t care to see pictures of the baby, I don’t care about its nursery, and I really don’t care about toddler fashion, but please tell me the name. I would say it’s a girl thing, but I now know otherwise. I once wrote an entire post about naming children after literary characters, it remains one of my most popular lists.
02. The prettiest wedding I’ve ever seen. This is what I would do.
01. 50 Books About Love For People Who Hate Romantic Comedies. I don’t hate romantic comedies, but if you’ve seen 5 or so, you’ve seen them all. However, Raymond Carver’s What We Talk About When We Talk About Love is on there. Win. As they both got a mention in my last post, I’ll point out that Bukowksi (Love is a Dog From Hell, which I’ve not read) and Roth (Goodbye, Columbus) are on there as well.
(Side note: One of the books on there suggests drawing a constellation from someone’s freckles as a way to fall more in love with them. What am I supposed to do!? I haven’t got any freckles anywhere!)
In case I’m in danger of becoming too sentimental, researchers found that the high number of early deaths in Russia is mainly due to people drinking too much alcohol, particularly vodka.
Happy Valentine’s Day (on Friday). What are you doing for the holiday? Anything fun? Anyone shocked that some of the Russians who are dying young drink too much vodka?
flannel and folklore 
ehh no I am totally not shocked that Russians die drinking Vodka. I am surprised though it is the number one cause of early deaths. You should see how they drive!
For Valentines I gave my Valentine the night of by going out with a group of ladies to see a musical 😉 He totally agreed and planned some serious gaming for the night.
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I’ve not had the pleasure of visiting Russia, but I have heard that the food is surprisingly good.
That’s very sweet of you. I don’t know if I could manage. I don’t need a gift, but I’d probably force the issue of hanging out with me.
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People hate The Art of Fielding? I give up.
I kind of want to name my future child Flannery, but my husband is having none of it. I think I have several years to work on him.
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I know, right?
I’ve always felt that the person who carries the child should get 80% naming rights. And I fully support Flannery. I’d consider it, but I think that would be a bit much.
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Thanks for the links to your reviews on Friday Fave and Pop Culture Nerd – both were great! I’ve never read that Irving novel, although I’ve liked most of the ones I have read. And I read your list of baby names. I just have to say that, when I was younger, Blythe used to be on all my name lists! None of my kids are named Blythe, however. Not Anne or Gilbert either.
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Thanks!
Oddly enough, particularly with the girls, what I’d actually name a daughter is not on the list. Well, if I had my way and if I gave birth tomorrow – neither of which is going to happen.
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Leonard! Leonard!
I’m a huge WSM fan, but Of Human Bondage is indeed tough to take. Too autobiographical.
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I figured I would break up the Bob Dylan devotion.
It’s not my favorite either, that would be The Razor’s Edge and The Painted Veil.
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Me too!
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I just opened so many new tabs because of this post!
The Insta Bullshit one made me laugh. “I am high” – yup.
How did I miss your baby names post? I probably didn’t know about you yet. Henry is a family name but sometimes I pretend he’s named for Henry James.
Oh my god. I love what you wrote about Hotel New Hampshire, which is also far and away my fav Irving book. Also read at a young age. I used to be obsessed with visiting Vienna (never did.) I’ve written about what I call “literary earworms” before and this book is full of them: “Sorrow floats” and “keep passing the open windows” and I can’t quite remember the words, but Franny says something about “they can’t get the me in me” about her rape…
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It’s an old one, but I still get a lot of searches for it. It makes me feel a little hope about the future of baby naming (don’t get me started on some of the names my family has chosen…ahem, Neveah).
I’ve not visited Vienna either, we’ll have to go. THNH and Owen Meany are probably my favorites, but I think THNH wins out. I do still love the idea of happy fatalism.
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Omg! I love duckie!! It is a travesty she ends up the bland preppy guy over him! When they get divorced ten years later when she finds him boinking his secretary she will regret not picking duckie!
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Duckie forever. Blane – and what kind of name is that – would totally cheat. He was not enough for Andie.
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Team Duckie all the way! I think all those 80s movies made you feel good. Do you have any other favourites from that time?
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I love The Breakfast Club and Flashdance! I also really enjoy Say Anything, When Harry Met Sally, and The Princess Bride. I am a total sucker for the ’80s.
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That wedding dress is beautiful! And their wedding is quite lovely 🙂
Yay on your guest posts! I still have yet to get around to John Irving’s books; I think after your recommendation in one of the Top Ten Tuesday lists, I added The Hotel New Hampshire to my want-to-read list xD
Happy weekend 😀
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Isn’t it? I’m not a wedding person, but I could see doing something like that.
John Irving is an absolute must.
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#9- Reading and sex? What more can you ask for?
#4- Wedding consideration? Hmmmm…
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I know that’s about all I do for fun.
(Thank god that a. no one reads the comments and b. no one takes them seriously.)
I still maintain my anti-wedding stance, but I do like that one quite a bit. The best part of weddings for me is making fun of wedding music. I don’t do sentimental well, I’d like to think I do heartfelt well…
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