Book #1 Done

I finished reading Island Girls (and Boys) last weekend and it was exactly what the cover led me to think it was - bubblegum sweet and kinda corny - perfect for reading on the beach or in the middle of winter when you just wish it was time for beach reading. :)

I know this is only my second post, but after I wrote the first one I got to thinking about this idea of "judging a book by its cover." In reality, this idea influences a lot of different parts of life. I know I've misjudged people, restaurants, all sorts of things - only to be pleasantly surprised (or disappointed) in the long run.

Case in point....the Lawrence Fish Market (LFM). Dan, a friend from grad school, does a lot of yelp reviews and I recently read his review of the sushi at LFM. Rave rave reviews. A sushi fan myself, I decided to give it a whirl and order takeout last friday. I'm usually pretty cautious about sushi places - you never know with fish. I like going to places that friends recommend.

So I place my order and drive to Albany Park to pick it up. From the outside I never would have guessed that such a treat was inside. A nondescript storefront on a crowded street, LFM is a hidden jem. Two fish counters line the walls, with one round table in the center of the room, and a bench seat from a van pushed up against the cash register for those who have to wait. As I was leaving all I could think was, "What have I gotten myself into? Am I just asking for food poisoning?" The resounding answer to that question is NO!

Ready for a quiet night of movies and my sushi I was BLOWN AWAY by how good the food was!! Super fresh fish, crisp veggies, great wasabi and ginger. The best part was that I paid $15 for 4 rolls - 4 rolls!! At any of the uber-trendy places around Chicago you would pay $15 for 2 and the fish is nowhere near as fresh.

Imagine if I would have let the outward appearance of the Lawrence Fish Market keep me from enjoying this sushi wonderland?!?! What I would have missed!

So you see, my idea isn't just limited to books. Kinda neat. Can't wait to see what I come across next! Until then, I'm introducing my friend, Kari, to my new favorite sushi place tonight.

Start of Something New

Its funny how a random conversation can turn into a new endeavour. That's exactly how I wound up here.....writing my own blog.

Everyone who knows me knows I love to read, can spend lots of time rummaging through the shelves at used book stores, and that one of my favorite festivals in Chicago is the Printer Row Book Fair. I love it and can't seem to get enough! To be perfectly honest, when picking out new reading material I am totally guilting of doing something I try not to do in any other part of my life..... judging a book by its cover.

What can I say. I always pick up books with catchy (read: cheesy) titles, bright colors, cool patterns, and fun pictures. You would think I was selecting fabric. Books with dark covers, historical painting pictures, and ugly fonts make me cringe. Occassionally I'll look at one of these boring covered books, but I can't make myself buy them. It just doesn't work.

While talking with my 2 roommates the other night about my recent Half Price Book purchases (3 clearance books for $1 each!), we found ourselves laughing at the ridiculousness of their titles (and the beauty of their covers) and my roommate suggested I write about my finds. So here I am! A fun new project!


Up first: Island Girls (and Boys) by Rachel Hawthorne
One of my $1 clearance purchases, I'm 20 pages into this one and it already has me cracking up. Can't wait to share it with you!