A New Writing Idol

Tonight, Clarice and I went to a book reading at the Coolidge Corner Theatre sponsored by the Brookline Booksmith. As you may recall, the Booksmith sponsored the fall John Irving reading where I got to see my favorite author live and in person. But this time, I wasn't all that familiar with the writer and Clarice wasn't either.

We saw Anne Lamott, a novelist and columnist with an impressive body of work. While I hadn't read her work before, one of my best friends, Erin (aka The Mouse), recently recommended Lamott's book, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Life and Writing. As the title suggests, the book is on writing and everything else that goes with it. Erin said the book was insightful and very funny and just a few weeks after she told me about it, I saw that Lamott was coming to the Booksmith for a free reading. I picked up two tickets and downloaded Bird by Bird to my Kindle--which I just started a few days ago.

Clarice and I were so impressed with Lamott, even though we had no idea what her new book was about and didn't know all that much about her. She was funny, authentic, a beautiful speaker/reader (I love hearing writers and poets read their own words) and such a talented writer. We both left the reading inspired by her and two converted Lamott fans.

The Booksmith hosted a book signing after the reading and we headed over to the store. Clarice had bought Bird by Bird in anticipation of the big event. While we were waiting in line, I was kind of bummed that I didn't have a copy of Lamott's book. (It's a downside of owning an e-reader that had never occurred to me!) So, being the nerd that I am and being encouraged by my fellow nerd C, I asked Anne to sign a Booksmith bookmark for me. That's right-- a bookmark! (By the way, I did explain that I was reading Bird by Bird on my Kindle.)

So Clarice and I now have an autograph and a new writing idol. I would definitely recommend checking out Lamott's work and seeing her in person!

Top image from Amazon; bottom image is me being a geek