May 30, 2002
The Goober Book Club

Hello, and welcome to the Goober Book Club. I bet you thought I’d never get tired of talking about myself, but you know what? This month I am tired of telling you what I’m doing and what I’m thinking about, and I feel that someone has to step into the void left by Oprah’s decision to discontinue her famous book club, so I am going to tell you what to read. Ready? Let’s go!

The first book of the month is actually three books. That’s right, three books in one! His Dark Materials is the name of the series, and the individual books are called The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass. The series is based loosely on Milton’s Paradise Lost, and it’s a really fun adventure that reminds me of the kinds of books I loved when I was in middle school and high school. I have spent quite a lot of time since I finished these books thinking about them, particularly as regards the question of what my daemon might be. (No idea what I’m talking about? Read and find out!) Young Adult fiction gets a bad rap, and it’s such a shame because there’s so much truly great writing to be found on those shelves. The credit for my discovery of these books goes to Kelley Yearout of Karma Lingo, who wins the first Goober Book Club prize of the month – his own song, written by me! I’m sure he’s very excited.

Our second book for May is called Seabiscuit: An American Legend and was written by Laura Hillenbrand. I think it won a bunch of prizes, all of which it richly deserves. I’m really not that interested in the world of horse racing, but Hillenbrand is really good at pulling you right into the middle of that world and letting you look around at all the weird idiosyncracies that make people (never mind the horses) such fascinating creatures. When you consider that she’s writing about real people and actual events, it makes her talent for making those people and events so compelling even more impressive. Honestly, I probably wouldn’t give the slightest thought to any of these people – or to the horse, for that matter – if I knew them in real life, but I can’t put this book down. Yesterday I was so engrossed in it that I actually missed my bus stop and had to walk half a mile back to my apartment. I’m so invested in finding out what happens that I’m carrying around this vague resentment whenever I have to do something besides read (which is most of the time, really. Perhaps that’s not healthy, actually. Perhaps I should re-think this whole reading hobby). This book comes to me courtesy of my mother, Connie Smith, who actually reviewed this book for the Fredericksburg paper. She already has her own song and will be receiving instead a complimentary ticket to my first arena show. Should be right around the corner.

I live to borrow books, so if anyone has anything to recommend for future Goober Book Club installments, by all means let me know. I have plenty more fabulous prizes!

Even though I’m being a bookworm this month, I’m still playing out and stuff; check the schedule for upcoming dates.

And it’s not as though I don’t have anything to tell you about, either. My life is full and exciting. I just got back from the first ever Smith Family Reunion, which is good for a whole entry in and of itself. Hopefully by next month I’ll have pictures so that I can write it up properly. In the meantime, go read a good book.

What’s in my stereo at home: