We all need laughs to start 2014

Can you freaking believe it? It is nearly 2014.
I.
Can't.
Believe.
It.

I know that this has been a, to put it nicely, CHALLENGING year for many of us. We are ready to let go of the old, and get the hell going with the new. I cant agree more my dear Geeks. If 2013 was great or not so great, I think the new year shouldn't be about resolutions, or about weight loss or how you will make yourself somehow better. The new year should be started off with some JOY. We need that positive "We-can-laugh-and-get-on-with-it" energy to start of the year in the direction we want it to go, which is, no matter the goal, firmly in the HAPPINESS zone.

So this month, I am taking over GGBC with my own picks for reading joy. (It's my birthday month and we can read what we want to.)

You can read all 3 of these fantastic blues imploding titles, or pick one or two that speak to you...that will fill your joy balloon to damn near bursting.

Option 1:

Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh

If you love her web comics, this will have you rolling on the 

floor, needing Depends, and feeling like you are reading

about yourself sometimes.

Option 2:

Moms Who Drink and Swear by Nicole Knepper

If you are a parent you will love this, and if you're not, you will still

see yourself and need to break out those Depends again.

Option 3:

Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

The Bloggess is bringing the huge laughter and touching feels in this

one, and you are going to feel like you're reading about a dear friend. Bliss.

So there you have it kids, my picks to put some joy in your reading and start our 2014 off the way it should be, laughing so hard you wee a bit, and remembering that we all are just doing our best to live our little, wondrous lives...and we all need a lot of laughter to make it through and tie us all together.

Happy reading my dear Geeks, I hope this year kicks all other year's ass on the happy meter.

(The read begins January 1st and we'll chat about it the last Saturday of the month. Check out my twitter @NikkiSticks for updates, and Twitter links for the authors.)

Walking in a Geeky Wonderland...

Can you believe it? The winter months are upon us, and no matter what or if you celebrate any holiday, we here at GGBC take the month of December every year to kick back, and get geek crafty.

We don't have a book to read in December, everyone is so busy or stressed or intoxicated, so we do the next best thing. Craft. I don't care if you like woodworking, knitting, robotics or origami... Take some time in December to so what YOU like to do.

I think with all the new games and consoles coming out, we should make game cartridge cozies, but I digress...
Here are a couple of books I love and please post in the comments or on twitter or Facebook or goodreads what your favorites are.

Post photos of your creations all month long, so we can enjoy the weird, genius creative people that make up GGBC, and share some joy in the process.

Another December GGBC tradition is to share your favorite children's book. That can mean buying it to donate to your favorite charity, or buying it for a favorite person, or simply reading it to a kid you love (or big kids).
Let us know what book you'll be sharing and why, and maybe it will help us all remember that in the end, we are all stories.
May the holiday season be gentle and good to you dear Geeks, and let's make the wild rumpus start!

Kiss My Assassin.

It's about that time dear Geeks... Time to make the turkey, break out the wine and wait for our latest contract assignment. Like we do. The holidays are a killer, and so are the ladies of Osiris. Indeed, our GGBC read for November is "Uncontrollably Wasted" by Cara Vescio. 

You may remember last year when we read the first book in the Wasted series, "Elegantly Wasted". If you missed it, please read that one first, and I'm sure you'll be on board to continue the wine fueled ride.

 

For those of you who don't know, Cara is also one of the first GGBC members, and is the designer of our awesome logo... Of which we hope you continue to enjoy and share with your book loving people. The first book, which was also her debut novel, was really popular and well received, and the new book has just released, so how can we resist a little murder with our pumpkin pie?

There is a gorgeous website for the books: The Wasted Series that gives you all the information you need on the book formats, where to get them, and info on the books group and the author. Be sure to check that out.

Also, there is a free chapter available at the amazing Luna Station Press, if you'd like a preview: Luna Station Press.

The read begins November 1st, and will start discussing on the last Saturday of the month. 

Are you ready to join us? Then get your assassin in gear girl. I'll bring the merlot.

The old, and the new... Can be terrifying.

It is that time of year my dear Geeks... The cool air is coming in, the leaves they are a-changing, and the candy at the local drug store in heaping with Trick or Treating promise.
It's Halloween time, and that signals the annual GGBC scare fest.

We will be looking to the past and reveling in our present this year with two selections for your ghoulish pleasure.

The first, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving. This is a classic, an incredible tale, and you can get in free online, so it is easy to enjoy for everyone. Do you dare go into the woods alone at night?

And this brings us to our second book, and our third brand new release this year in ggbc. It has been an amazing year to be a Geeky reader for certain. 

We are going to checking on our favorite Outlook Hotel survivor, Danny, in the incredible Mr. Stephen King's new "Doctor Sleep". 

It will be released September 24th, and yes, I'm terrified in the best way, to read it. This is a sequel to King's incredible "The Shining", so get ready to get scary. If you are planning on getting this from the library, get on the list now. It will be scooped up quickly.

We normally discuss our books the last Saturday of the month, but for October, we make an exception. We will break out the ghost story chat on October 30th, and continue through Halloween, just so you are sure to be in the spirit. 

Enjoy your frightful pages my sweet, ghoulish Geeks. We will gather soon to share our frightful fun. 

Also, please check out and support Neil Gaiman's All Hallows' Read, it is a wonderful tradition to be a part of, www.allhallowsread.com

Neil explains All Hallows' Read

Dinner and a Movie

As a lot of you know I had an accident and shattered my elbow and had to have surgery the very end of June. This has put me on the sidelines for most of my summer and left me more than a little bit crabby. It has been hard to hold books to read with one hand I can't knit because that takes two hands and even doing what I love gardening wise, I have not been able to do. This makes for a very unhappy geek lady.

I was very stressed out about picking a great book for September, and I was just so frustrated and feeling sorry for myself and overwhelmed and I realized something. Maybe September would be great month for us to all just hang out together. Maybe September will be a great time for us to all just relax and not be so stressed out about everything and maybe take a little time for ourselves. I know it's hard for us to take time for ourselves, sometimes it even makes us feel guilty. But I think if we all hang out the last Saturday of September even if it's just knowing there are other people out there doing what we're doing all virtually together we'll feel a little better.

That's what I propose. That all day the last Saturday of September we are all going to watch Star Wars. That's right Star Wars. You've probably watched it 4000 times if you're anything like me,but there's something about familiarity that brings comfort. We are going to sit down and tweet, Facebook, goodreads, whatever you want about watching Star Wars and eating your very favorite food. I don't care if it's not on your diet or you only save for a special occasion I want you to use the last Saturday to watch a classic geek movie, eat some great food, and know that you're surrounded all over the world with great friends who are enjoying the day with you. Invite your kids, spouse, partner, pets... Post your photos and use the whole month to post your perfect food and drink ideas. Let's have some time to remember how amazing, huge and fun this group is and just take some time to meet some new friends, spend time with old buddies and have a good time, just because we can. And we deserve it. I adore you geeks, and I hope you'll join in and spread the word.
(Photo via guys nation.com)


The geek force is strong with us. Come to the dork side, we have snacks.

Play The Misty for Me...

What would summer be without some romance? Well, we at GGBC are going to go medieval on your heart in August, with our amazing read:

A classic, a beloved read for many, and I hope, a new discovery for a lot of you as well.
It has a little bit of everything, and it is the perfect way to round out your summer reading. I hope that you fall in love with this story, and you'll share your thoughts on it the last Saturday of August. The read begins on the 1st.

It's time for a dip in The Ocean At The End Of The Lane...

(follow @neilhimself on Twitter)

Nothing is better in the hot July days than a swim in the ocean, and this July dear Geeks, we are going to swim in the divine words of Mr. Neil Gaiman.

The July GGBC read is "The Ocean At The End Of The Lane". 

The book releases on June 18, 2013, and I would not wait to get your copy, if you need to reserve it from your local library, because I'm sure the wait times will be very long very soon.

This has been an amazing summer to be a reader, with Joe Hill's new novel, Joe's dad's amazing "Joyland", and now Neil will have his next novel unleashed on the world in just a few short days. This is going to be a story to remember, and I hope you can join us.

The official read start is July 1st, with the discussion starting on the last Saturday of the month. 

So get your sunscreen and your favorite pool toys, and I'l meet you in the depths.

Schooools IN for summer! Schoooools in FOREVER!

Okay, I know that when it comes to summer, we think of kicking back, letting the brain go a bit mushy in the middle. What if you could read about something you really were passionate about? Something that maybe you have always wanted to know more about but really don't have the time to devote to it?

Well June is all about you, my dear learned Geeks, and you are going to be one happy little scholar.

Your assignment for June is to pick a book about something that you have always wanted to know more about. Like psychology? Batman? Than think about this one:

Batman ans Psychology by: Travis Langley

If you, like me, are a total gardening freak, then something like this might just fertilize your thoughts with Geeky garden joy:

Gardening For Geeks by: Christy Wilhelmi

Anything and everything is fair game. History, sharks, how to crochet, Doctor Who, cooking, it's ALL good. The only requirement is that at the end of June you report back here on the blog, on twitter at #ggbc on Facebook or on the Goodreads page. Let us know what you read, and what you really loved about what you learned. Who knows? You might inspire someone else to start a garden, to learn the ukulele or adore geology. 

Happy summer of knowledge dear Geeks!

Did you get that guy's plate number?

@Joe_Hill wants you to meet someone... 

May is almost upon us, and it's time to take a road trip. Just us, my dear GGBC and our new friend Charlie. 

We have certainly read Mr. Hill's work before with "Horns" and "Heart Shaped Box", but this new story, which will be released April 30, 2013, is going to be one hell of a ride.

Be sure to go to Joe Hill's website and check out the video intro, and most certainly get on your library waiting list NOW if you have any hope of getting it in the next 6 months. Joe Hill Fiction site As always, we will discuss the book starting the last Saturday of the month.

We are doing two very new releases this year, and this one promises to be just the chill in the air we need as the weather gets warmer, and as the days get longer. 

Are you going with us on this trip to Christmasland? The transportation is second to none.

See you there.

Get a clue.

Spring is very nearly afoot, and it is time to announce the April 2013 read for GGBC. We have some new happenings this year, and I thought it would be fun to go old school for April. We need some adventure, some mystery. We need Sherlock Holmes. 

The wonderful news is you can get 

THE COMPLETE SHERLOCK HOLMES and THE COMPLETE TALES OF TERROR AND MYSTERY

for free. Just click the title, and it will take you there. Also, there are free versions on many ereaders, on PDF's and the title is readily available at your local library. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is waiting, and we mustn't keep him.

Read all of the tales, read old favorites or read only a few, but I promise that you will walk away with a new appreciation of all the modern incarnations of the character by looking at his origins. They are spectacular reads, and the short story format keeps them manageable and leaves you wanting more, like any good read should.

I mentioned new happenings earlier, and I wanted you to know that this year we are adding 2 new releases to the GGBC lineup. I am letting you know these early, so you are able to get a copy from your library by getting on the list EARLY. Also, we are going to try something new, the GGBC library exchange. If you can't get a copy of a book (any book) you can go onto the facebook group, on the Goodreads group, or tweet with #ggbc and let us know what you're looking for. If someone is willing to share, they'll send you their copy, and you have 30 days to read and send it back. I am also hoping that we will have "donated copies" of books that can just be passed on and on, our very own lending library of good booky mojo. The only rules are 30 days, treat the books well, and keep the love going, return to the sender or pass it on. If you have a book to donate or are willing to share, let us know, and post for all to see. 

What are these new titles for 2013 you may ask? Well, it's no shock that we here at GGBC are huge Joe Hill and Neil Gaiman fans, so our new release titles will be Joe Hills' 'NOS4A2' in May, and Neil Gaiman's 'The Ocean At The End of The Lane' for our July read. So start your geeky engines, it's gonna be a hell of a good ride.

March into Nerdfighters!

MARCH? Already? Yep, as we creep ever closer to the 2nd birthday of GGBC, I was thinking about March. March is when people begin to think of spring, of change, of new things, of a lighter state of mind perhaps. One thing we have not really read in GGBC is young adult fiction, which gets a bad rap, but we all know can be pretty darn wonderful. I thought we'd get to open our spring with a read from the Nerdfighting, poofy haired wonderful half of Nerdfighters, John Green. Geek Girls, I give you Paper Towns:

More info at Paper Towns

Follow John Green @RealJohnGreen

If you have no idea what I'm talking about when I say "Nerdfighters" please go immediately to Vlogbrothers and see what all the doobly-doo is about. These are amazing brothers, who have made a whole lot of good and amazing things happen in this world. French the llama* they are fantastic.

We will start our journey to Paper Towns on March 1st, and start talking about it the last Saturday of the month. I hope that you enjoy it, and share it with a young reader that would enjoy it too. The more we can bring us all together with the power of words, shared experiences and positive nerdery, the better the world will be for it.

Oh and DFTBA* Geek Girls (and Boys).

*Nerdfighters, you get it.

I got your Valentine right here.

February! The month of romance, the month of Valentines and flowers and candy...

Here at Geek Girls Book Club, here we are so into Valentine's Day it's scary.

For February, here is your Heart Shaped Box, thanks to Joe Hill.

(follow Joe at @joe_hill on Twitter)

We have visited the work of Mr. Hill before in the wonderful novel "Horns", and we are back for more  with a story that will change how you feel about those innocuous heart shaped boxes forever. 

If you are new to GGBC, you can find out more about Joe Hill at his website: Joe Hill fiction.

I hope that your Valentine's Day is full of love, especially love of reading, and candy enough to fill your homes... and I hope that you enjoy a story that will make you love being frightened in fiction all over again.

We'll discuss this confection starting the last Saturday of February.