We've been there, now we're going back again...

May 1st will be the one year anniversary of the GGBC. I can hardly believe it. Stay tuned for a full on chock full of thanks and geek love blog about that later, but for now I need to announce the book for such an occasion. We started one year ago with The Hobbit, because according to a certain NY Times journalist, women don't read that. I thought it was appropriate that a year later we dance with the one who brought us, so our read for May is:

We are going back to the shire my precious, oh yes we are. I also have another May Anniversary request. There has been a whole lot of "who's geeky enough to be called a geek" discussion out there. You all know that I believe that we can be geeky about many things;  movies, comics, math, science, ewoks, swords, LARPing... the list goes on and on. What I would like you to do is either here in the comments, at the Goodreads or Facebook group or on twitter with #GGBC, tell us what you really get your geek on about, and a favorite book to go with it. It can be fiction or non-fiction, a graphic novel or whatever. But loud and proud say, "I am a geek about _____, and this book is my favorite about such awesomeness." 

I'll go first. I am a geek about gardening and farming (I KNOW!) and this book is my favorite about such awesomeness: The Fabulous Beekman Boys. If you have seen their TV series you understand my love of these men and taking a historic farm to new, amazing heights. It is the most fun and real account about farming I have ever read, so please check it out if you are so inclined.

Let us all share each others geeky loves, and be inspired to learn more about things to add to our obsessive arsenal. 

There will also be a geeky, sweet surprise from our own @ChefKittie. All will be started and revealed May 1st. Please join us for the interwebby festivities, and let your geek out to play.

National Library Week!

To all of us who love reading and love our local libraries, this is a week to celebrate. I'm so grateful we live in a nation with such incredible libraries and staffed with so many knowledgeable and amazing librarians. To all who work for, volunteer and support our local reading treasures, thank you from all of us at Geek Girls Book Club!

Click here for more information on National Library week.

The Call Sounds Today...

Art by: DeviantArt user DrFaustusAU for TheMarySue.com

     So today begins our dive into the murky, Cthulhu infested waters of H.P. Lovecraft. You can get your free copy right here thanks to cthulhuchick.com Ebook. The copy is free, but please think about donating to her page for being so cool as to put this work out there for all to enjoy. There are also lots of Lovecraft works available at your local library and bookstores, so feel free to choose what works best for you. The discussion starts Saturday, April 28th.

     We really want to get some exposure to this incredibly important author, so read what calls to you, pardon the pun. If you'd like to read more about Lovecraft, the Cthulhu Chick website is full of information. He was a very odd and interesting man, and his work has influenced much of what came after him.

     This month is going to be a wonderfully creepy one. Enjoy the journey dear Geeks.

I'm A Princess And This Is My Tiara

(No clue who made this, but I adore it)

Thank you to Natali, who sent me this awesome art today. It reminds me how it sometimes takes just one little thing  to make us feel special, and there are almost 1,000 of you in GGBC. That makes me feel like my tiara is made of Geeky joy. Thanks to you all for being excellent to each other. (And for those who missed it, here is The Geek GIrls Book Club Tiara post.)

Geek Girls: Posers With Boobs?

Art Credit: Mike Henry aka Zatransis

After the avalanche of negative "geek girls are mostly posers" articles on the internet, (please see Action Chick Flick's article on all the fun) I feel like I need to vent a few thoughts on the subject.

The Geek Girls Book Club was sparked by such an article. Without this gem: New York Times article we would maybe never have come to pass. The anger and sadness I felt about the writer's comments pushed me to make a book club that all Geeks could be proud of. That would show that having lady parts doesn't mean you only like Eat, Pray, Love. Being a female and being a Geek CAN ACTUALLY HAPPEN. And that's okay. In fact, that's awesome.

I was told not many would join or be interested. That it wouldn't have much "staying power". Well, those people would be wrong. We have nearly 1,000 members, and from all over the world. These are women, and men by the way, who are want to wave their inner Geek flag with pride and I am so honored to be among them.

We can be "Geeks" about so many things. Star Wars, Firefly, Anime, Literature, History... the list goes on and on. You don't have to love all things "geeky" to be a geek. You have to have the passion and the heart to learn more and more about what you love. Don't be concerned about how much Geek you are or if someone else is a "poser". Just let your Geeky light shine, and it will spread and spread until we can all feel a bit prouder of whoever we are, all because of the power of the Geek.

April Showers Brings The Rise Of Cthulhu

Can you believe it's March already? Spring is getting ready to jump on us from out of nowhere, and I hope you are enjoying "The Beekeeper's Apprentice". We will start discussing the book March 25th, and the exciting news is the author, Laurie R. King, will be answering GGBC members questions on Twitter!

(@mary_russell)

Be sure to send your questions starting March 24th and use hashtag #GGBC. 

And for April...

We will be reading the works of H.P. Lovecraft. With the April rains comes thoughts of things from deep, dark places. Lovecraft is one of the most influential writers of the horror, suspense genre, and is a fascinating story of his own right. I was thrilled that @CthulhuChick was kind enough to share her website with us and we are going to use her collected works as the jumping off point for our reading. Best news? It is free. Here is the link: Cthulhu Chick ebook. You can read it on your computer, print it, or download to your ereader. She also has a donation button on her page, so you can give a little something if you would like. We will start the madness April 1st, because we are no fools.

Please feel free to pass the word around about Geek Girls Book Club, and don't forget to show your GGBC pride with buttons, stickers, shirts and more from our store. The link is right here on the blog. 

We are getting ever closer to 1,000 members and that is amazing in just a short year. Thank you for all your geeky energy and awesomeness. This club is nothing without excellent folks like you.

(photo: motifake.com)

Sometimes, It Takes a Crazy Straw.

This seems to have been a week filled with anxiety, sadness and illness. I have heard from so many friends and family that are going through an emotional or physical issue, people that are taking care of loved ones in need of them. I also have seen the anger and disbelief over things in our political arena. People are upset, terrible things are said, nothing ever seems to really improve.

It occurred to me today that life is so often a crappy frozen dinner when what we wanted was a feast.

Then I remembered the quote: "Life is what you make it."

I am certainly not saying that we forget we are sick, worried about someone we love, that we don't have enough money, that the world is going to hell in a handbasket... what I am suggesting is to eat your frozen dinner on your best china. And don't forget a drink.

If you are overwhelmed, put down that stack of worry for a minute. Sadly, those things aren't going anywhere. I want you to go to the store and buy a can, bottle, or jug of your favorite beverage. I'm getting orange soda. Yep, orange Crush in the can, baby. Now comes the awesome part: get a crazy straw. Yep, those twirly, goofy straws you loved when you were 5. Insert into beverage. Sip.

Remember that we are not the trouble in our life. We are the crazy straw. We are full of twists and turns and sometimes are ridiculous, making just plain drinks into something wonderful. Once you have your crazy straw in place, help someone else find theirs.

Sometimes all we can do in this life is remember that we can make even the not so great things in life better. But only if we are willing to get a little crazy.