Many of the notable events in our lives are ones that can be
charted predictably, almost scheduled. During our youth: first steps, first words, the first day of school, etc. During our young adulthood, we experience
the rites of passage that let us move on to the next phase of life: high school
graduation, college graduation, first job, etc.
But every once in a while, the momentous episodes sneak up on us…watershed events of undeniable significance that alter one’s very worldview. My evening with Babes in Bookland (BIB)—the gold standard for San Francisco book clubs—may have been such an event.
Even before our meeting, the portents for the evening were good. Natali, the main proponent of ANECDOTAL within the club, informed me that my novel had edged out The Kite Runner as the group’s July selection. The Kite Runner may control 99.999% of the literary world, but on this night ANECDOTAL would hold sway over the remaining 0.001% (for more information on the unique connection between The Kite Runner and my little novel, please see Running Neck and Neck).
Since ANECDOTAL is told from the viewpoint of a 30-something guy in turn of the millennium San Francisco, a number of the Babes decided to come to book club dressed in stereotypical male attire—if those stereotypical males were the Beastie Boyz or auto mechanics. Ball caps abounded, but were askew in just manner all men wear them these days. Additionally, they nailed the wife-beater look, emphasizing this season’s more narrow cut and ribbed fabric selections.
The “theme night” also extended to our dinner. BIB members laid out an amazing spread of
“typical guy food”: a bucket of Original Recipe KFC, bags of Taco Bell, heaping
plates of nachos, platters of Sloppy Joes and cases of Bud Light. Very interesting selections, given the only
food and drinks mentioned in the book included Stilton bleu cheese, filet
mignon, fresh yellow tail sushi and Cabernet Franc…well, those and Hot Pockets.
Oh, and the book? Of course we talked about the book. The ladies of BIB were incredibly engaged and inquisitive—I barely had time to sample the eight varieties of hot wings members brought to the event. Since a great deal of the novel’s action takes place in the milieu of the San Francisco social circuit, the conversation eventually moved toward dating and relationships in the Bay Area. As the discussion intensified around stumbling blocks to new relationships in this post- Sex and the City kind of world, BIB member Liza interjected, “Y’know, there are a ton of guys out there with a lot of package, too…”
(And that’s when I finally remembered to take notes on this particular literary discussion)
“Wait…I meant ‘baggage’…”
* * *
The Babes in Bookland were an incredibly welcoming group and
an amazingly dynamic and accomplished group of women. As a matter of fact, I think I might scrap this whole novelist
thing and pitch them on a new BIB line of merchandise that would take the
nation by storm. BIB trading cards
would kick Pokemon’s animated ass. “Collect all 25!” Anyway, just a
thought…let’s do lunch.
I wanted to thank Alma who hosted the evening’s festivities. Of course, a whole pile of thanks go to Natali, who rallied the whole group and convinced them to spend many, many hours reading a book no one had ever heard of. And a special thanks to Nathalee, who took most of the pics to capture the evening’s action. And I also wanted to express my appreciation to Natalie, Natalia and Natasha and the others who make Bookland an amazing place.
* * *
But, it’s not all peaches and cream in Bookland. These ladies have a competitive, and—dare I say it—nasty streak that’s on display for all to see. They are very protective of their position as the Alpha Females of the Bay Area literary scene. Come back in a couple of days and we’ll expose how these women seek to utterly dominate the mean streets of Bookland.
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