LCN's Birthday (observed)

Yesterday, we celebrated LCN's Birthday (observed). Cause today is my real birthday and tonight we have an Improv show. M1 and M2 planned last night's non-surprise surprise. Which is to say, I knew something was happening, but I didn't know where it was or who was involved. M2 made me a twinkie cake. M1 brought me a princess tiara to wear. They topped the cake with an Aquaman figurine that I made M1 buy me in Florida, then subsequently forgot about. Some rainbow candles (in honor of the gays) and Bob the Builder (in honor of the lesbians. Or because I'm a homeowner. Depends on who you ask).

A while back, I was talking to the Ms about something I'd read in O, The Oprah Magazine. Every month they do a feature on a celebrity and some of their favorite books. One month, Gywnth was featured. And she talked about how for Christmas one year, she asked all her friends that if they felt the need to get her a gift, they should get her a book.

So that is what all my friends did for me last night. It was fabulous! So many different books. Representing so many different people. Plus, not a single one I've already read! I am excited to designate a shelf to my friends' library.

Each friend wrote in the front of the book why that book was so important to them. Why they chose it. Some of the inscriptions were so touching. But my favorite book was a gift from my friend V. Descendant, a collection of poetry by Marianne Boruch. I love so many things about it.

First of all, I enjoy reading poetry. Everyone else brought novels, so it was special since it was different. V is the LAST person I would ever guess to buy me a book of poetry. It's not her thing. But this book was the first prose she read that she actually liked and it made her think there was hope. She discovered it while taking a poetry class in college. And because it is out of print, she gave me her personal copy. Complete with notes and everything.

She plans to order another used copy for herself, but she didn't want to chance giving me a used copy that might have ruminants of someone's coffee, or some weird stray hair. I'm not one to pass on my books. Even those I didn't like, couldn't finish or might never read. I keep them all. So for her to give me her personal copy ... It was just really special.

So .... here's a library of my friends, organized alphabetically by author.

The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

Descendant by Marianne Boruch

Dry by Augusten Burroughs

Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

The Pleasure of My Company by Steve Martin

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

And a Tom and Jerry coloring book, from a friend who said "I don't really like to read."