Welcome to the second Armchair BEA! Last year, I participated in this awesome event and am even more excited about it this year. This is where I primarily blog about the books I love - mainly literary fiction titles - and occasionally, it's also the place where I share my bookish thoughts.
The organizers of Armchair BEA want to know more about me and how I armchair! I can rattle on and on, on my blog (do I even know what a full-stop is?) about anything under the sun, but talking about myself. Gulp! Aren't we humans a really grand bunch of modest people? Why would we ever want to talk about ourselves?
Guess what the toughest essay I ever wrote was? Yes, the About Me section of this blog. I wrote it at the beginning of last year and then quietly ignored that portion of the blog where it is nestled. Ignorance is truly bliss! This year, I tackled it once more. Let me tell you the number of coffee cups I had to devour just to get through it. Two... Three... Four... Five... Speaking of which, I am in a mood for some coffee. Where's that pot? What? You wonder what number of coffee cup I am on now? Honestly, I don't know. But that's ok, it's only coffee. You know it's a staple dietary requirement for us. Oh it's not? I'm pretty sure it is - I did read something about that.
So where were we? Oh yes, the About Me section. *Hmm, delicious coffee aroma wafting by* Sorry, I got bog-tracked again. So yes, after many cups of coffee (I don't remember how many, really), I managed to write something respectable about myself. In fact, I'm pretty sure I was rather pleased with it. Just in case you're like me and want it dished out here, I stay in Virginia, working as a software engineer. And I'm a Hokie, so you know where my loyalties lay. I've been blogging for.. *doing a Tom/Jerry-imitation of scratching my head*.. five years, although books became my main topic only a year and a half ago. And yes, I'm a Harry Potter nut.
Can I just say I'll be glad when BEA is over? All those posts and tweets from NYC bound-errrrs can dampen the spirit of people like me, and maybe even crush us hard. During last year's BEA, I was sitting in a coffee shop (yay, coffee even then!), writing or pretending to write my world-class thesis, and following the BEA hashtag on twitter. I certainly won't be doing that this time. It's just BEA after all. Meh. Who cares. (Don't remind me that I said this when I go next year.) Instead, I'll be relaxing at work or at home and reading The Picture of Dorian Gray (you can't help but love Oscar Wilde), The London Train (The British English is just so beautiful) and Jose Saramago's masterpiece of a novel Blindness. In the meantime, I promise to visit all you BEA-abandoned bloggers.
So, what was the question for today's post again? How do I armchair? *Thinking, Thinking* With a Glee playlist running and.. and.. chugging more coffee.. and.. and.. all of the above?
57 comments:
You are so fun! Looking forward to your BEA posts and am so glad I am not the only one who won't be in NYC!
My name is Mary and I'm a coffee addict. Book addict too.
Hey, at least our feet won't be sore from all the walking...
Here's to a great week, Aths :-)
Coffee and books are an amazing combination. As are books and coffee! :) Cannot wait for all the great posts this week.
Hi, nice to meet you. I'm looking forward to armchair BEA. This is my first time and it's a good alternative to the real thing.
Glad to know that you're a Harry Potter nut too :)
It's great that you're enjoying The Picture of Dorian Gray and Blindness;I love both.
Nice to meet you! Always happy to find another Harry Potter fan.
@hcmurdoch:disqus Thanks! :) I am also happy when I have bloggers I know very well with me in any situation. :) Feels less lonely. But let's try to go next year. Or even go to SIBA this year.
I am totally appreciating my feet today. After a lot of car fix-ups yesterday, I'm sore, so I'm glad I'm not walking around in NY (with a big bag to boot)!
Oh you said it perfectly! Coffee & books are a great combo, and books & coffee too!! Thanks for dropping by, Kristi!
Hey Cheree, I'm glad you're doing Armchair BEA this year! This is really fun - I'm sure you'll love it! Can't wait to see all the great posts! Thanks for swinging by!
I didn't realize I'll enjoy Dorian Gray this much, but this book is wonderful!
Me too! I love coming across a Harry Potter fan! Such a wonderful series!
You're new to me! I'm going to have a browse around. Your blog looks really nice!
I am on my second iced coffee and feel similarly. Happy Armchair! Think of how not tired and sore your feet and legs will be tonight though!
I feel ya! And I love that you'll be chilling with Dorian. I've been meaning to read that for ages.
I'm not great at about me either,. I love seeing Her Fearful Symmetry on your list- Loved that book! Following on GFC.
Gosh, you are making me think I need another cup of coffee. Happy ArmchairBEA to you!
Fell in love with your PIE list!! Following :)
Nice to meet you!
-Heidi
so great your going to BeA next year. it never works for me because I go to San Diego Comic Con every year in July so its tough to afford both. Im going to really try for next year though :)
It is a pleasure to meet you. From your post I can see you have a wonderful sense of humor. Have a great week armchairing it.
Oh The London Train looks fabulous... and I see you're "readingalong" Shantaram - hope you're enjoying it.
The Picture of Dorian Gray.....totally different than the movie, shocked me, but I love Oscar Wilde! Just finished Frankenstein last week, so different from the movies that I don't know where to start!
Stop bogarting the coffee!
Thanks Judith!! Thanks for stopping by! Happy armchairing!
I'm just so thankful that my feet aren't going to suffer! I have a lot of walking to do this weekend, so I'm just glad to be home!
I'm just loving the book so far! I'm glad that I gave it a try!
I really enjoyed Her Fearful Symmetry - I thought it was wild, unconventional and exciting! Glad that you loved it!
Yum coffee... you should have more!
Thank you so much! :)
Thanks for stopping by, Heidi! :)
Well, I'm hoping to go next year. I've wanted to go to the Comic Con, but that's the other coast for me, so BEA it is. :) I hope you can make it too, it would be fun to meet!
:blushing: Thanks! I try to be funny - I hope I'm not overdoing. :) Have a great week armchairing!
I'll be starting Shantaram next month. Terrified of the size but looking forward to it! London Train is turning out to be interesting. Thanks for stopping by!
Noooo.. I don't share coffee!! I absolutely cannot. I'm going to patent the practice of drinking it. :)
Dorian Gray book is amazing. I'm going to follow it up with the movie and see how it goes!
Well this is like the third Dorian Grey reference this week. Must read this book! Saw the old B&W movie and it was fantastic.
Very mice to meet you and I adore coffee too! Right now I am enjoying some from Kona, HI , and it is delish. The About Me section can be pretty tough, especially if you want to keep some things rpivate. Very hard line to draw.
Have a great week and see you around :)
I love Dorian Gray! One of my faves. And yeah, those BEA tweets can be quite depressing. :(
I love Dorian Gray as well :) I am totally bummed I won't be at BEA this year, but oh well, such is life! I'm really excited to participate ArmChair style :)
-Kate the Book Buff
The Book Buff: Book Reviews for Regular People
Keep drinking that coffee hehe! I think I might love you a little bit... is that too forward?! I also love love love Dorian Gray, and am trying really hard not to look at BEA tweets, because I don't deal very well with jealousy- if I knew someone irl who was there, I'd probably kick them when they came back. And then feel bad. hehe
I adore Dorian Gray! I actually taught it this past year in my Introduction to Literature course so I am thrilled to hear about people reading it! Nice to meet you! I hope you stop by eclectic / eccentric and say hi!
I'm rather jealous about not getting to go as well. I was planning to this year, but finances and the job thing just didn't come together as they would have needed to. I agree with you, though - writing about myself is the hardest thing ever!
Oh you simply must read Dorian Gray. It's pretty enlightening and thought-provoking! Great to meet a fellow coffee-lover!
I'm glad to hear Dorian Gray is one of your favorites! Everyone has been raving about it as well!
Armchair BEA is certainly the greatest invention in the blogging world. LOL! I'm glad we don't just have to listen to the BEA stories. We can have our fun too!
I was just telling this to another friend today - but if someone I knew really well was at BEA, I would never ever speak to that person again. LOL!
I'm excited to hear that you taught Dorian Gray! I will most likely be bothering you for any clarifications! JK! :) Happy armchairing!
I was planning to go this year too initially, but my brother's illness and then having used up a lot of vacation all colluded to keep me out this time. Maybe next year!
LOL! We have something else in common besides loving Literary novels - COFFEE!!! I can't wake up until I've had at least 3 cups :) Re: BEA - I had a great time last year, I am a little bummed I couldn't go this year...but, I am now kind of enjoying this armchair thing :)
I agree! I tend to go back to sleep in the morning if I don't have my requisite cup of coffee! That's the greatest find of humanity! I'm glad you're enjoying armchair BEA! Makes it worth missing the real one!
Oh! I really liked Dorian Gray. And Blindness is the next Saramago on my list! And I'd be doing your Shantaram readalong, except that I just listened to it a couple of months back. I guess we have some common reading tastes! I'm not a coffee drinker (I go for tea), but I did hate writing my About Me page. Anyway, really nice to "meet" you!
Your post sounds so like 'home'. I have so many friend who chatter along happily very much in this vein. It was a fun read!:D Am looking forward to following more posts on your blog.
And yes...who can resist Wilde!
P.S. I prefer tea!:D
wow, five years is a looong time to be blogging! good for you. hilarious post, btw!
Ooh, I would have loved to have you on the Shantaram readalong!! It must have taken long to listen through it, right? And yay, you're also going to read Blindness! I can't wait to hear your thoughts. You're right - we do have common interests. And I love tea! In fact I prefer it. Coffee is only for the times when the eyes are droopy and the head is assaulted. Tea is for peace!
I admire how you post every day! It's something I strive to do but never get there.
Thanks so much! :D
I love tea as well! Evenings, I never take coffee. Just tea - makes me feel so refreshed!
Thanks! :) I didn't realize that it had been five years. I was looking at the date of my first ever blog post and it was 5 years ago.
Ha! Another rambler! :) It's nice to meet you and thanks for the visit on Monday. I'm trying not to be jealous of all the folks at BEA this year and I keep telling myself that I probably wouldn't read any of the books I picked up for years anyway. Who needs more books (thinking to self when I might be able to go to Half Price Books this weekend for their 20% off sale).
Enjoy Picture of Dorian Gray.
Don't worry, Trish - I'll cover up for you while you loot Half Price Books. I'll give you a list of books I need while you're at it. *wink* Aah, BEA is overrated - don't worry. (psst: let's try to go next year.)
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