Careful What You Tweet
I love to read.
That is not news. Nor is the fact that I have been known to be drawn into a story to the exclusion of whatever may be happening around me. So when I looked up from my latest conquest read to find that several hours had passed, I thought I should let the world know.
Cute, I know. Except then the unexpected happened.
Um…oh em gee dash dee. Jennifer Weiner just offered to text PC. Jennifer Weiner. Granted, we’ve had a few lovely Twitter exchanges. But Jennifer is totally SM savvy and, I am sure, has many lovely Twitter and FB exchanges with her vast fanbase. [SM = Social Media. Kippah-tip to ZaydeGiraffe who was worried that I might have fallen in with a bad crowd.]
{phone rings}
True to her word, she did text PC. He actually had no idea who she was and did wonder why some strange woman texted him with the news that things will get back to normal once his wife finished her book. I, on the other hand, have fallen even deeper in author-love.
{{author-love}} – the deep respect and affection that one has towards an author. Unlike it’s cousin, author-infatuation, author-love allows for one to read the works by the author and not love each and every one. There is no gushing, stalking, or obsessing in author-love. True author-love comes after seeing author in person and/or reading interviews and realizing that, although not perfect, the author is someone whose overall qualities are admirable.
I saw Jennifer Weiner give a reading last week at a local synagogue. [BTW, the publicity for the event was nearly non-existent.] She didn’t act as though she was doing us a favour by showing up. She answered each question thoughtfully — even though some of the questions she must have answered a bazillion times at gatherings resembling this one. She was generous with her time and her personality.
Back to the book. Did I love Then Came You? Yeah. I really did. Her characters, though not all lovable, were recognizable. Both in others I’ve known…and in myself. I wanted to keep reading so that I could find out where the story was going while wanting to hold back so that I didn’t have to leave the characters so soon.
Are you in author-love with anyone? Does it matter, when you are reading, how you feel about the author?
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Frume Sarah's World 
Isn’t it the most fabulous epiphany when we get to realize that people we see as “celebrity” are just regular folks? Thanks for sharing this!
In this case, I think what makes Jennifer Weiner a successful writer is that she draws on her own regular experiences and personality and weaves them into her books.
Thanks so much for stopping by!!!
I, too, love Jennifer Weiner’s books. When I was flying back and forth from Hawaii to Kansas City in 2010 because my mother fell suddenly ill and passed away, I read one of her books on each flight. There were four. It was my mother who, many years ago, gave me the first one I read, Good In Bed. But it is In Her Shoes that is my favorite. If Jennifer Weiner wanted to come to Shabbatservices with us in Hawaii I would totally stop reading and let my husband cook dinner so that I could meet her.
I love Alice Hoffman and have read almost every one of her books–even the young adult ones. Turtle Moon was my first of hers. Practical Magic is my favorite.
Recently I have read two books by a local author, Laurie Hanan, who is a friend of mine: Almost Paradise and How Far is Heaven. Now that is a trip. At first it was very hard for me to separate the main character from the friend that I know. But now that I like the main character, Louise Golden, so much, it makes me like my friend Laurie even more.
Aloha.
Welcome!! And thanks for your comments. I haven’t read Alice Hoffman, but I believe in signs. I have had The Dovekeepers recommended to me several times — most recently last week by one of my sisters. So I am now putting it at the top of my (never-ending) list.
An interesting point you raise about having difficulty separating your friend from the protagonist. I’ve never read a novel by someone with whom I had a relationship prior to reading his/her works.
I’m so glad that you shared your thoughts here! And may your mother’s name always be sweet on your lips.
I am in author-love with Madeleine, aka Sophie Kinsella. When reading her books, I find myself saying that she (the author) is just human and that it’s ok if I don’t love all of her books…I still love her 🙂
You know, I’ve never read any of her books. You know me pretty well. Do you think that I would enjoy them??
Do you like to laugh?? 😉
I am also author-in-love with Jennifer Weiner! I fell in love after reading her first book, “Good in Bed” and have subsequently read each of her books as soon as they come out! I’ve seen her speak and she is hilarious! I also follow her on Twitter (that’s how I found this post – she tweeted about it!) Isn’t she the coolest?
Yep. She really is!!!
I too swooned after hearing her speak the first time — just after Good in Bed was released. A friend of mine and I drove up to Pasadena to hear her speak and she was so delightful that it would have taken a heart of ice not to fall in “author-love” with her.
I’m so glad that you found your way here…and hope you stay for a while.
I have been a fan of Jennifer Weiner since my bookstore-working friend gave me a galley copy of “Good In Bed.” Her blog is one of the first I followed, and when I met mutual friends of hers, I secretly began hoping our paths would cross at an event some day. I’d go beyond author love and call it what it really is for me – a girl crush. Glad I’m not alone. 🙂
You are SO not alone, Cheryl!!! As evidenced by her tremendous following. She really is a down-to-earth, genuine sweetheart.
Thanks so much for joining the conversation!
What a great post! And yes I ❤ Jennifer Weiner, I must admit. Like her characters, I feel like she could be my neighbor or one of my old college roommates. I mean we practically watch the bachelor together. HA
My other author-love is Beth Hoffman. Just the coolest, most supportive person, I have never met! Next book tour I might have semi-stalk her though. 😉
That is so great to hear, Kristin. A friend of mine gave me Saving Cee-Cee Honeycut because she thought that I’d love it. I was sceptical…and then realized that my friend knew me well. Because I LOVED that book and am anxious for her to release her next one.
…we practically watch the bachelor together.
I don’t watch the show, but feel somewhat left out because that is the sole focus of her tweets on Monday nights, i think it is.
I had just described Jennifer as “someone who seems like the college roommate who becomes a lifelong friend.” Yay!!
Dang, Stephen King and JRR Tolkien have both ignored my tweets, well Tolkien has an excuse but…
Actually, how totally cool would it be if you DID get a response from Tolkien?!?!?
That is so cool!! She sounds so down to earth and humble.
She SO is. Feel free to peruse the Jennifer Weiner section of my library any time 🙂
Not to be competitive BUT, step aside baby, I’m Jennifer’s biggest fan. 😉 (I really think I might be though.)
Loved Then Came You. Maybe my favorite of hers. Though I’m a fan of them all, and her tweets, and blog posts.
See! Über fan! I’ve loved following your tweets back and forth. Since I’m a Frume Sarah fan too!
So sweet. Because you know that I am a huge supporter of yours!!!
And we don’t need to reduce this to a petty competition. You can feel secure in your position as #1 fan.
🙂
Its amazing that people don’t think before they post
It is…although I am a bit unclear how your comment relates to this particular post. I had certainly thought through my tweet prior to hitting the send button. I just never dreamed that anything so cool would come of it.
You have inspired me to put Jennifer at the top of my never-ending list. Thanks! (–Lisa Harney)
Hi Lisa!!!!!
I’m so glad. I’ve enjoyed all of Jennifer’s books, but something about these characters really resonated with me. Hope you check back and let me know what you think of her book(s).
I am in “author-love” with SO MANY authors that it’s hard to choose who tops my list! I was honored to meet John Collins (“Jewish Apocalyptic Literature”) when I was in graduate school as well as Elaine Pagels. I love Erik Larson’s work (“In the Garden of the Beast,” “Thunderstruck,” “The Devil in the White City”) and have read everything Stephen King has ever written.
My favorite book of all time is “Wuthering Heights.” Emily Bronte was 30 when she died and although she wrote numerous volumes of poetry, “Wuthering Heights” was her only novel.
Um…wow.
I am always nervous that meeting an author whose work I really like/respect will not live up to my expectations. [Another topic for another post…]
I’ve always wondered if Emily Brönte would have written another novel had she not died so young or if she only had one in her?
Total side note: Has anyone ever told you your profile pic reminds them of Bewitched?
Jennifer Weiner??? OMG!!!!! I’ m so impressed! I remember listening to her with you in Pasadena years ago!