3 Books I Read in January

by Marian Schembari on February 3, 2012

For the first time in a long time, I didn’t find myself struggling through books this month. I’ve been reading a lot of crap lately and it’s been at least a year since I read a book I couldn’t put down. Thankfully, the tides are turning!

Here’s what I read in January:

The Art of Fielding by Chad Harback

Pretty good. I was hoping for another book like Wait Till Next Year, which my dad gave to me when I was a kid, but Fielding featured almost too much baseball. This book is the intertwining stories of a college shortstop, his roommate, the school’s president, his daughter and the captain of the team.

I used to date this guy who played college soccer and the team in this book reminded me of the guys on the Davidson soccer team. Entitled and cocky and so completely in love with the sport and each other it’s almost unhealthy. At the same school I took a class that dealt a lot with homo eroticism in sport. See where I’m going with this?

It was a weird book. But I’m really glad I read it. I had to skip over a lot of the baseball stuff but at the end of the day parts of this story moved me and other parts I couldn’t put down. This was definitely a breath of fresh air, albeit a slightly congested one.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Go get this book RIGHT. NOW. Immediately. Stop what you’re doing and go get it. Not since Petty Magic have I wanted so badly to crawl inside a book and live there. I want to eat this book. I want to breathe it.

I can’t even properly explain what it’s about without giving anything away, but it’s very loosely the story of a circus that’s mysterious and beautiful and complex. And it’s the story of two magicians who play out this very elaborate game and the stories of the people around them who are part of the circus, the game, and the main character’s lives. It jumps back and forth in time and told from many perspectives. You’d think it would be complicated and over the top but it just… works.

It’s beautifully written without being flowery. It’s magical without being cliched. Basically, it’s been a very long time since I’ve read a book that I couldn’t wait to read every day. A book I’d tell all my friends about. This, my friends, is that book.

The Girl’s Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank

I’m not sure about this one. On one hand, I sped through it and enjoyed the read. On the other hand, it depressed me a little – and for no meaningful reason. On the other other hand (10,000 points to anyone who can tell me what show that’s from), I both hated and loved the main character.

I remember seeing The Girl’s Guide on my mom’s dresser when I was young and I always thought it was beautiful. I loved the title and the cover and when I asked my mom what it was about she said it was sort of complicated, but a girl’s story of growing up and the relationships she has throughout her life. It may have taken me a decade to actually pick up my own copy, but that’s exactly what this book is about. I couldn’t relate to the character at all, but at the end of the day, sometimes I find myself comparing my own relationships to the one in this book. And if you’re thinking about a book long after you’ve read it, well, then it’s definitely worth a read.

What books did you read last month? Anything you couldn’t put down?

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“You Know the Internet? There’s Some Cool Stuff on There”

by Marian Schembari on January 25, 2012

Quote above said by two of my hilarious coworkers (follow them on Twitter – @izac01 and @joestuart27 – they could use the help).

But… yeah. It’s true. I feel like I’m constantly bookmarking ridiculous things that make my life complete. I like the internets.

For example, this week involved a heated debate about the Oxford comma after seeing this drawing (care of this fine site):

Then I read up on the all-important nerd vs. geek debate and discovered everyone I know is a geek and we’re apparently all cooler than we think.

Afterwards I watched this video on SEO which is one of the funniest things I’ve seen in a long time.

I rediscovered this design*sponge post written by my friends Mel and Alisha on all the fab places to shop, eat and drink in Auckland. A few of the places they mention are some of my favorites (chocolate lamingtons at Agnes Curran, anyone?), but I haven’t been to a shocking number. Good thing my dad’s coming soon. I have heaps of places to take him now.

I read about the most creative way to find a job using Twitter and was blown away by these guys’ brain smarts. (Well, that and the fact that I sort of didn’t understand how it worked.)

I found a bunch of web-based alternatives to Instagram because a) I need to spread my addiction to include more than just my phone and b) I shed a tear for Picnik’s closing.

Then I pretty much died laughing at this post I stumbled across called 16 GIF Reactions to Real-Life Situations (the one about the ice cream truck is my favorite).

Finally, The Bloggess linked to a great cartoon strip about how we’re all freaking weird. I love it so hard I could cry.

What cool shit has the internet helped you discover recently?

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12 Important Aspects of Life That Are Hugely Overrated

by Marian Schembari on January 18, 2012

Do you ever feel like you’re just totally not in on something? Ever since I started going to concerts I’ve been writing this list of things that I feel like I should enjoy, but just really, really don’t. Just go with it…

Live concerts – All the hipsters in the world might shoot me, but I have yet to go to a gig that didn’t involve crowds of people, having beer spilled on me and not being able to hear any voices over an off-balance sound system. I adored seeing Mumford & Sons but only because I knew all the words and totally sang over them. Otherwise, the thought of music festivals makes me hyperventilate a little bit. Plus, the photos you take always have a blue tinge to them and generally look like crap:

High heels – Yes, everyone looks good in heels, but I also think very few women know how to actually walk in them. Most ladies sound like rather large horses stomping down the street/hallway/house and they end up taking off said shoes after a few hours anyway. So tell me what exactly is wrong with my comfy Chucks?

Cookie add-ins – Unless you’re a chocolate chip or a very delicious walnut, I don’t want you anywhere near my fucking cookie. This means you macadamia/raisin/dried fruit/coconut/oat/sprinkles/m&ms. GET OUT OF MY COOKIE. YOU ARE RUINING MY DOUGH EXPERIENCE.

Smartphones – I got a hand-me-down iPhone back in August and while it makes my ability to answer work emails from the road infinitely easier and now I know where I’m going all the time, my new instagr.am obsession hasn’t changed my life or anything. I still don’t really understand the hype and would (don’t quote me on this) be perfectly happy going back to my 10 year old Nokia with no camera or predictive text.

Texting – And on that note, I still don’t understand people’s issue with picking up the phone and calling someone. I hate texting. I hate text speak. I hate trying to schedule something in 50 message when it can easily be solved during a 2 minute conversation. I hate staring at my little screen typing and accidentally saying something is “book” instead of “cool”. I hate those little keys. I hate waiting days for a reply. I miss the phone. Does anyone use that thing anymore?

Cat photos – I don’t get them. I don’t really get cats either, but photos of cats doing “cute” things makes me want to die a little. Give me a video of a penguin being tickled any day.

Blue cheese – I once had a blue cheese pizza that blew my freaking mind, but usually? I can take it or leave it. It’s mold and it tastes like mold.

The Beatles – Ha! I’m just kidding. Don’t be absurd.

Seth Godin – Really guys? He writes blog posts that are only a few sentences long and feature regurgitated cliches with slightly better vocabulary. They sound like horoscopes or something you’d find in a fortune cookie, i.e. “Pain is part of work.” Or, “Whenever you start a project, you should have a plan for finishing it.” Really guys? THIS is the guy you call your god?

British humor – Toilet jokes and men dressed up as women. Give me a break. (Note: This does not include Monty Python which, for whatever reason, is genius. See below.)

Wine and cheese – I love wine. And I love me some cheese. But is it just me or does the wine totally overpower the cheese? I can’t taste that lovely medley everyone talks about. I want to drink my wine THEN eat my cheese. Or vice versa. But not together because then they both taste weird. Is it odd that this is my second cheese reference?

Jim Carrey – Okay, so he was epic in Liar, Liar (which I’ve seen 50 million times), but does no one else think he acts like he’s gone of the deep end? He actually scares me a little bit.

Things that are not even remotely overrated:

1. Johnny Depp/Ryan Gosling/Robert Downey Jr

2. Judd Apatow movies

3. Driving fast

4. Pizza from Two Boots, cupcakes from Buttercup, chocolate chip cookies from Levain

5. Monty Python

What else is totally overrated? What’s totally underrated?

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5 (More) Examples of Absurdly Well-Written Twitter Bios

by Marian Schembari on January 16, 2012

It’s shocking how rarely I come across a Twitter bio that inspires me. Most are blank, bland, irrelevant or say almost verbatim what I’ve seen a million other times on the interwebs. But sometimes I come across bios that are snappy, witty, laugh out loud funny and make me immediately want to follow said tweeter (and be their Bestie 4 Life).

Like these five…

I clearly have a thing for writers, but they obviously know how to clearly and cleverly talk about themselves. The bio of @akharlamova just so perfectly describes the life of an author in so few words. And it also does a great job showing that she’s dedicated, consumed and in love with what she does. Nicely done, Arina.

It would have been so easy for @showmethesun to have written, “Book lover. Works in Publishing. From Melbourne.” Instead, she eats books for breakfast! She’s a curator instead of just a blogger. She doesn’t just work in publishing, she loves it. She doesn’t just live in Melbourne, she’s happy there. I feel like I know her already.

I love it when a major corporation isn’t afraid to add a little humor in their bio. What @Staples does is genius in that they quickly sum up what they do, then tap into the joys of every office worker on the planet. Like starch.

@KatjaPresnal clearly has a lot going for her. She tells us why she’s great, what she’s up to, what she does for living, then throws her personality at us in full force. This is a girl I could be friends with. And “carpe the shit out of diem” obviously needs to be my life motto. (Thanks to @aodt for sending this bio my way!)

I’m in love with @IsaChandra and think her loud and clear voice on this bio coupled with such simplicity is pretty unique. Sometimes (aka “all the time”) you just don’t need to over-explain. For Isa, four words is all she needs. I like her style and for those of you who eat more than just meat and potatoes can also appreciate her location quip.

Takeaways

1. A few choice words can make all the difference. Take a page out of Steph’s half-eaten book (see what I did there? I crack myself up) and stay away from over-used descriptions when talking about yourself.

2. What’s a really obvious stereotype about your industry/job/passion? Are you an accountant? Poke fun at the fact that you’re not absurdly boring. Social media strategist? Mention you’re sure as hell not a guru/ninja. Make like Staples and stand out from the crowd by being good-natured about the judgments surrounding what you do.

3. Do you have a specific writing style? Do you swear a lot? Have a rad vocabulary skills? Write poetry? Translate that strong style à la Isa Chandra so that voice shines in your bio!

Want more Twitter love? Read parts 1 and 2 here. And if you’ve seen any great bios lately, please share them in the comments!

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LinkedIn: You Can Do Better

by Marian Schembari on January 12, 2012

This is a brilliant guest post from my friend David. It’s the email he wish he’d sent to a to a generic LinkedIn connection request. Hope this guy learns his lesson.

Dear Guy-who-sent-me-a-generic=LinkedIn-request,

You sent me an invitation to connect on LinkedIn, even though you don’t really know me. Of course, I know you, or at least know who you are. With about 7,000 Twitter followers, blog, Facebook profile and fan page, YouTube channel and Flickr account, you’re kind of a big deal in the Chicago social media scene. People I interact with regularly know you or have heard of you. You come up in conversations. I’ve run into you at networking events and even tried to introduce myself. You were too busy being social with friends instead to talk to me (instead of actually, you know, networking).

Your LinkedIn invitation consisted of the generic text provided by the network: “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.” How lazy and impersonal. Why don’t you send me an auto DM on Twitter while you’re at it? I thought everyone who knows anything about LinkedIn knows this is the ultimate faux pas. Perhaps I’m wrong though. You list “Social Media” among your specialties.

The invitation also says you’ve indicated I am “a Friend.” I recognize “Friend” is a relatively loose term when it comes to social media. People who have never met in person are Facebook friends. If you have no other connection and want to get around having to look up an email address, “Friend” is the viable only option on LinkedIn. But aside from knowing the same people, we aren’t really that chummy. Perhaps you’re using the term “Friend” just a bit too loosely in this case.

Your LinkedIn invite would have been more effective if you had said something like this:

Hi David,

We seem to operate in similar circles.  Why don’t we connect?  Perhaps we’ll meet in person sometime soon.

Regards,
________

That probably would have resulted an acceptance of your invitation. For the time being, though, my response is, “You can do better.”

David Salkover works in the Meeting and Events industry. He’s passionate about tradeshows and conventions, and is never without a good book to read.  Far from being a social media guru/ninja/expert, he’s more of a social media nerd. David tweets about whatever happens to be on his mind at twitter.com/dbsalk. 

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