New Year... New Reads!

And now we're talking about 2015. 2015. Are you kidding? Where do our geeky years go? As readers, we have had an incredible 2014 of new books and old favorites to enjoy here at GGBC, and I am really excited to start our soon to be FOURTH YEAR of Geek Girls Book Club.

We can start our own library soon. With coffee, an open bar, and places to nap everywhere. Reading nirvana. We may need a big lottery win for that to happen, but while we wait for that, we ring in a new year, and also get to welcome a new book!

You know we love our geeky authors, but when that author is also an incredibly talented and super Geek Girl herself, we just have to read!

For our first book of 2015, I give you, Blake Northcott's "Arena Mode":

Blake's webpage

Here is the summary via Amazon, and I encourage you to read her webpage and see the story behind this, it is such a cool vision for a series, and has been regarded very highly since its release. And the awesome part? It's a series, so if you love it you can keep going!

"In his twenty-nine years, Matthew Moxon had done virtually nothing with his record-breaking IQ and unparalleled problem solving abilities. Until one morning, after a dangerous fall lands him in the emergency room, he discovers that a tumor is pressing against his brain. 

Unable to afford experimental but potentially life-saving surgery, Moxon takes drastic action; he volunteers for Arena Mode: 2041's most vicious sporting event, where thirteen superhumans fight in an urban combat zone for a multi-billion dollar prize. 

Moxon is forced to battle opponents possessing ungodly speed, strength, and abilities once thought to exist only across the pages of superhero comics – and he’s armed with nothing more than his rapidly-diminishing brain cells. 

With the odds stacked impossibly against him, Moxon fights to not only survive the wrath of the other competitors, but to unlock the mysteries buried within the Arena itself."

You can get the ebook from the links on her website, and also on Amazon.com.

I think ushering in the new year with a new author to GGBC is the perfect way to start the year. I hope that you all join us in this read, spread the word about us to your friends and geeky family, and get ready for all kinds of new adventures ahead. We will start the book on January first, and discuss on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads starting the last Saturday of the month. Can't wait to see you there.

2015 will be full of amazing things. Let's find them together, sweet Geeks. 

We at the Geek Girls Book Club try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.

The Holidays. They are upon us kids, and whether you celebrate, imbibe or hide under the covers...it is that time of year again.

This is our 3rd year of a GGBC Holiday tradition: NOT reading a group book.

This time of year is already stressful enough without adding another "should do" to your list. Instead, we here at GGBC celebrate December in two ways.

Firstly:
Celebrate what YOU want to do. Are you a writer? WRITE. Are you a crafter? Craft the hell out of it, baby. Baker? Cookies for days.

Celebrate by making space during the month to create something you enjoy. Then please share your project and/or a favorite book on the subject at #GGBC or on the Goodreads or Facebook group. It is so amazing to see all the different projects over the month, and to get ideas and inspiration from other Geeks.

To get you started, here's a few of my favorite crafty inspirations:

The Star Wars Craft Book by Bonnie Burton

Amazon Link

World Of Geekcraft by Susan Beal

Amazon Link

And don't forget our sister group on Facebook, those Geeks are posting cool, incredible stuff daily: Geeks United In Crafts.

Secondly, we celebrate by giving books to people who need them:

This year, we are helping a small business in Wisconsin, USA to get their free geeky community library section of their store going. Take a minute and check out the great stuff going on at Uber Dork Cafe: Uber Dork Community, Uber Dork Cafe Facebook page, Local Paper article on Uber Dork Cafe

Natali, the owner and one of the first members of GGBC is an incredible lady who just had a successful Kickstarter campaign to help her dream of this business become a reality. A big part of this Cafe is having it be a safe place for kids and community to come together. She has begun a small, free to use library that kids can use to get and read books. Read, return, repeat. So I thought it would be cool that if you had some favorite kids or Young Adult books you want to donate, to send them with Geeky love to Uber Dork. New or gently used is great, and Geeky is highly encouraged. No one makes any money on these books, they go directly to making the book selection the biggest and geekiest possible. The best way to ensure future readers, is to get them books often and early. Reading is a powerful magic in the world guys, let's help to spread that happy a bit.

If you're interested in sending a book, here's the shipping information:

Uber Dork Cafe

N89 W16750 Appleton Avenue
Suite A

Menomonee Falls, WI 53051

If you send a book, please feel free to share what you sent at #GGBC, and if you want to be a secret giver Geek, then let me say thank you right now. You are my favorite part of this season, giving to make the world a little brighter.

So there you have it. Make time for you, help the GeekGirls Book Club make a little library, and if you're so inclined, have a very, happy holidays.

I'll be over here, singing loud for all to hear. Hope you are too. <3

It's November? Inconceivable!

Can you believe that it is almost time for Thanksgiving here is the US? Autumn is flying by and writing "Surrender Dorothy" in the sky while we get ready to hunker down for winter's imminent arrival.

I think the best way to handle the shorter, colder days to come is with a good story. One of my favorite books and movies has always been "The Princess Bride". We all can practically recite the film word for word, and it is like comfort food on your screen. To me, it is the perfect story, and I know there are many who feel the same way.

The only thing better than a good movie, is the stories behind the movie. What was it like to make? Did the actors get along? Hate each other? Become lifelong buds and form a fellowship? In my brain, the cast of The Princess Bride were all best friends and also all rode off into the sunset on white horses. You wish you knew the stories within our favorite tale? As you wish.

I give you, dear Geeks, our November Geek Girls Book Club book:

Yes! A book by our favorite Dread Pirate and gentleman, Cary Elwes. Now this is a brand new release. Brand new, as in releasing today. Get on those library waiting lists, get to your bookstore, share a copy with a friend and find the audiobook. OH MY GOSH IS THAT A THING? Cary Elwes telling me a story seems like the best plan ever. I shall scale the Cliffs Of Insanity to find such a thing.

If you want to join in on this reading adventure, we set off November the first, and we'll gather to share tales of our journeys on the last Saturday of the month. So I will meet you in the fire swamp on that day. Anybody want a peanut?

He's just a Poe boy, from a Poe family...

Available just about anywhere there are books.

It's nearly here sweet Geeks...October. A favorite among us here at the Geeks Girls Book Club because we get to be a little darker, and also marks the return of Neil Gaiman's fabulous All Hallow's Read, which GGBC has participated in every year, and this will be no different! New to All Hallow's Read? Let Mr. Gaiman explain:

Neil explains it all. Go Neil!

All Hallow's Read

So October is so easy to enjoy it's scary. Just read some Edgar Allen Poe. Whatever you want, or if you're like me, nearly all of it. Let us know what stories and poems you're reading, and what you think. We will be posting about Mr. Poe starting the last Saturday of the month, at #GGBC on twitter, also in our Goodreads group and in our Facebook group. Links are on the side of this very blog! 

As a bonus, let us know through the month if you are celebrating All Hallow's read. Tell us what you're doing to kick up some graveyard fun and dig up some books to give to the readers in your life. I think a haunted themed trip to the library is in order, don't you? Extra skeleton keys to those who post pictures of their festivities. 

So whether you're tricking or treating, I hope you join us this month to read, enjoy a classic author with terrifying tales, and give the people in your life the best kind of scare... Having too many books to read! I'll see you this October Geeky ghouls, I'll be the lady with the raven. 

September: We've got Movie Sign!

Fall is about to collide with us dear Geeks... The days of summer are flying past and soon it will be school for some, and thinking of all the upcoming business for all.

A year ago this month, we did a wonderful thing. We had a Geek Girls Book Club movie night. I think this very popular event should be a tradition. A little fun before the madness of the season befalls us. 

Last year, we watched Star Wars as our collective cinematic journey. This year it is partially for you to decide, because we are taking a trip. To space again, but this time to The Satellite of Love, to meet a  group of unlikely explorers as they watch a horrible movie. For SCIENCE.

Dear Geeks, we have Movie Sign. Your task, via the mad scientists which hold us captive, is to pick an episode (or in my case 12 episodes),  of the cult classic show "Mystery Science Theater 3000". 

We are going to meet on the Satellite of Love the last Saturday of September and tweet, Facebook, goodreads, whatever you like about what movie or movies you choose. Extra cool Geek points if you can share some cool themed decorations, recipes or cosplay during the month, so we can all get ready together for the big night. All the points if you post photos of your prep, ideas, and of course, the big movie day!

The MST3K movies are easily available on Netflix streaming, Amazon and even YouTube and the like. For those new to the series, might I suggest Pod People, Manos or The MST3K movie. Ask any nerdy friend, and I'm quite sure there will be a barrage of suggestions thrown at you. We MST3K lovers tend to be very passionate about this show, and we will be happy to give you suggestions and sing you songs about Canada and A Very Patrick Swayze Christmas. 

You in? Then join me, Joel/Mike the Mads and the Bots for the best kind of movies ever. The kind that fill that joy meter all the way up. See you on the Satellite kids. I'll be the one sitting with Tom Servo.

Summer and wonderful Geeks in love...

It is soon to be August, and the summer is whizzing by us at an alarming rate. I hope that you have been enjoying these warm days and our GGBC reads.
It was suggested that this month we find a story with a splash of romance, but among the geekier folk, and I think this book will deliver like Domino's on that.

Our August 2014 GGBC is a story of how even when life is hard, and we are still finding our way, we can also find each other. Dear Geeks, I give you Eleanor and Park:

Don"t be fooled by the "YA" genre label, it will bring you to many different parts of your life, and some of your current life status no matter your age. This is a story about finding a connection in a world that can be quite unkind, and that is hope that we all want and need. It is a little like what we all at GGBC are about. I am excited to read along with you, and discover some bits of our past, some knowledge about our present, and hopefulness about our future.

We will discuss this one the last Saturday in August. I'll meet you at the Park.

Beautiful Armor

John Green Makeup Video

Oh John Green, how I adore you, and this made me think of my own relationship with makeup. Confession: I love it. Not lots of it, not over the top Baywatch babe makeup, but I think it is wonderful stuff. 

My mom has severe rheumatoid arthritis, and she feels pain most of the time. She has had nearly 40 surgeries, countless hospital stays and had to endure things no one should have to. My mom puts on makeup everyday. Every day. She has put it on while in a wheelchair, while both hands are bandaged from surgery, she never goes without it. She doesn't do this to satiate some vain standard of beauty, she does it because it makes HER feel good. In a life with many things out of her control, she has made this a ritual to remember and bring forward the woman without arthritis, the woman who simply is her, standing strong and fully in herself.

After an accident left me recovering in many ways over the last year, I have found myself doing the same thing. I feel terrible, I'm not going anywhere, but I need to remember that there is still a me in there that is more than all that, the me that wants to feel well and whole and happy. Makeup doesn't cure disease of body or pain in our mind or hearts, but sometimes doing something that makes you feel even a little better, something you can choose and do for yourself is worth everything. Feeling happier IS everything. 

Never forget to do the even small things you do to lighten your load, and never be ashamed to wear your beautiful armor, no matter what it is.

Nothing but blue skies do I see...

It's soon to be July, the weather is hot, the Popsicles are dripping into your hands, and the apocolypse is coming. It's okay dear Geeks, it's all Good Omens if it comes from Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.

We are going to turn up the summer heat with a classic that will having you enjoying the end of times like nobody's business:

Who's side are you on? Are you chaos or peace? Are you just having a drink and letting it all pass by like  a marvelous play? 

Only you can know, and only you can decide to read along with us starting July 1st. We will discuss this treasure of a tale starting the last Saturday of the month on #GGBC on Twitter, on our Facebook group and on Goodreads. 

Get ready to go for the journey of a lifetime, will you take the highway to hell or the stairway to heaven? I'll see you there sweet Geeks, I'll be the one with the angel.

A relaxing summer trip to The Park...

Can you believe it's Time to talk about our first summer 2014 read?

I wanted us to have a relaxing time, go somewhere fun, like back when we want to that charming town by the sea and met Jaws. You know, a trip we could all enjoy and just unwind. Leave our cares behind. No worries, and no cares.

So this year, I thought a trip to an animal Park would be fun! Like sea world, but on land. Like a zoo, but more you know, hands on. I researched and I think I found our perfect GGBC summer destination.

Welcome my dear Geeks, to Jurassic Park.

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Just what we need to kick summer off right. I'll drive the jeep, and you go look reeeaalllly close to the fences, I hear it's a much better view that way. Our trip begins June 1st, and we'll all meet back in the gift shop on the last Saturday of June to share our experiences and selfies with the animals. Get packed, I can't wait, we've spared no expense for this trip!

Happy Anniversary Geek Girls Book Club!

Three years. Can you believe it? Three years since we started our reading mayhem together, all because of a terrible, sexist review of the then new series, Game of Thrones. The reading Geeks of the internet assembled, and it has become a group that is more than I could ever have wished for.

Like a lot of you, I was the quiet girl in elementary school who loved to read. I mean LOVED. As soon as I was home from school I was reading something. I crushed the competition in the RAH program at my school (Reading At Home), and I felt a huge sense of accomplishment and happiness being rewarded for reading.  Through good times and bad, reading has helped me escape, helped me dream bigger and expand my world view. It has made me unspeakably happy, brought tears to my eyes, and sometimes scared the crap out of me. Books are a wonderful place to find yourself.

Being able to start a group like this is a dream to me. I have met through the miracle of technology, thousands of geeky readers who shared the passions I have. Friendships have been made all over the world, and the GGBC numbers continue to grow. I cannot thank you all enough for that, for taking the time to dream big and geeky with me. To lose yourself in the magic of books, and share that magic with others. Thank you for making a difference in the world, and making a difference to me. You are all spectacular in too many ways to count.

I wondered what the book should be for such an occasion, so I, a bit selfishly, chose the first in a series of books that have meant so much to me, by an author that changed my life in high school. May 2014's book will be, The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger, by Stephen King.

My favorite series of all time, my first literary crush, Roland. This series is why I loved reading so much, why it is a friend to turn to when life is hard, and makes you believe that someday, you will be absolutely and utterly wrapped up in your own magical adventure.

Thank you Mr. King for  all your work that saved me and shook me. Thank you to all of you wonderful Geeks for being on this journey with me. To there and back again. 

Our Dark Tower journey begins May 1st.

We're going to the bookstore!

Spring has sprung, we pasty Geeks are emerging from our blanket forts and seeing the sun. I think it's time for a nice group outing, and where better for a book club to go but the bookstore! A very specail bookstore.

I present our April 2014 GGBC read:

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

@robinsloan

This book is the winner of the Alex Award, and was named Best Book of the Year by NPR, the LA Times and the SF Chronicle. A man starts working at a bookstore and soon finds all is NOT what it seems... 

This will be a great way to break into warmer weather, and it is widely available at booksellers and libraries, also on ebook format. I think that we are long overdue for a trip together so let's head out, and I'll meet you with a big glass of iced tea in the fiction section. Bring friends, this will be a trip to remember.

We will talk about our bookstore finds on the last Saturday of April on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads and feel free to comment below! Happy Spring reading sweet Geeks.

March can be so Odd...

We are almost to March! Spring! No more cold! And fighting off supernatural foes that only you can see!

What? Well kids, you are Odd Thomas, and things are about to get weird.

If you are new to the series, Odd will be a foray into a whole new cast of characters that you will most likely identify with and simultaneously be weirded out by. In the best possible way.

Starting March 1st, we are taking a trip to the quaint town of Pico Mundo, and be sure to order the pancakes.

I give you the GGBC March 2014 read:

Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

We will chat about Mr. Thomas the last Saturday of the month, and you can do that at Twitter with #ggbc, on our Facebook group, or on Goodreads, the links are on the sidebar of the blog. 

I hope that this gets your spring started with some adventure, and the movie is coming out soon too, so you can experience the book before all the hype happens.

Stay cool sweet Geeks, and I'll meet you at Oddie's place.

Romance can be a killer.

February. The time of hearts, flowers, romance...and the slaying of werewolves, vampires and all kinds of creatures of the night in the GGBC February read.
My dear Geeks, I give you:

Link to amazon info

You knew I wouldn't make you read something too sweet and sugary... but this has some romance, but the kind every one of us can get behind. Plus, this lady is most certainly kick ass. No matter what your feelings on these monster/classic mash ups are, I thought it would be fun to throw one in here and see what we think. Because a book club that slays together STAYS together kids.

And so you know, you are all my geeky, geeky valentines... and that is the almost better than chocolates and Star Wars. 

The read begins February 1st and we chat about it the last Saturday of the month.