Reading Again: Back to Basics

For years and years I read eight books per month, no more and no less. Then the kids came along.

It was a sustainable plan for a while when Edith was an infant, but then she got more mobile and I began freelancing. Free time went out the window. Suddenly I could go weeks without finishing a book.

When a neighbor emailed a message to the residents of our block to gauge interest about starting a book club, I was skeptical. Not of the book club -- no reason that couldn't be a success. But I was skeptical that I would be able to keep up. And if I was only reading a book or so a month, did I really want that one to be chosen by someone else?

So my first instinct was to say no. But I spoke to a few of my neighbors who were joining, and I changed my mind. What the heck. The worst that could happen is that I would nibble on some cheese while my neighbors discussed a book I hadn't found time to read.

The book club's second meeting is coming up soon, and a surprising thing has happened. I'm not only finding the time to read the chosen books, but  I'm getting them done a week or more before I need to. And finding the time to read the books I "have" to made me realize that I really can find the time to read once again if I just change my habits. I'm reserving multiple books from the library at the same rate I used to a few years ago. It's refreshing.

I'm nowhere near reading eight books each month again. But all of a sudden two or three a month seems doable. I hope I can keep it up.

Dylan's Candy Bar: Photos This Time!

My book club again met at Dylan's Candy Bar, and I again devoured a delicious s'mores cupcake. The only difference this time is that I remembered to get out my camera!

I still can't decide if the stairway has real candy in it.

A Literal Candy Bar

The first meeting of my NYC book club met last night, and Jannette chose a wonderful location: Dylan's Candy Bar.

The basement and first floor are filled with all types of chocolates and sweets imaginable, in addition to gift baskets and clothing stamped with Dylan's logo. The second floor is a large cafe with ice cream, brownies, malts and other goodies.

All of the tables had glass tops with big bright gumballs underneath, and Jannette said the wallpaper looked like the lickable kind from Willy Wonka. The speakers blasted songs only with lyrics that had something to do with sugar, candy or sweets.

After much deliberation, I settled on a Smores cupcake- a chocolate cupcake as large as my fist, with chocolate frosting on top and filled with vanilla frosting in the middle. I'm already craving another.

After I left, I realized I forgot to take photos. Next time.

The book we discussed was "Manchild in the Promised Land." It's an account of the author's childhood in Harlem in the '50s and '60s and mostly about gangs and drugs. I think we couldn't have found a topic further from lollipops!