You read, right, readers? I mean, I just called you readers, and no one can look at glowing rectangles forever. Sometimes you need to curl up with the printed word, printed on a piece of paper, a lot of pieces of paper, actually, that are bound together between two much thicker pieces of paper. Like...a book. And I've got one for you. It's called The Melting Season, and it was written by my friend Jami Attenberg.
It's a novel about a Midwestern girl who decides to leave her unsatisfying life and husband behind and head west to find...something. Like Las Vegas. And a best friend. And maybe a clue. It's a fun read, and I highly recommend you purchase it when it comes out this Thursday. Jami is getting plenty of attention for this, her third book, from O magazine and Glamour and Marie Claire and the Huffington Post and New York magazine...why not you?
We have a copy to give away to two lucky readers. Details on how to win after this excerpt:::
I wished I looked as classy. Valka had loaned me one of her party dresses, a strappy gown that swooped down low on the chest, and was shredded at the bottom and covered with sequins so that it looked like my legs were covered with shiny feathers. On her I was sure the dress would look glamorous, but on me it looked like I was trying to grow up fast. Valka helped me tease out my hair and told me I looked like I could be in a Bon Jovi video. “You’re a vixen,” she said. I did not want to be a vixen. I did not know what I wanted to be, but a vixen did not seem like the kind of thing that would come natural to me. I missed my flip-flops the minute I slipped on Valka’s patent leather high heels. “They’re fuck-me shoes,” said Valka. She scared me sometimes. I stared down and wondered how I was going to last in them all night, and if I really was required to have sex with someone when I was wearing them. Maybe I was a fraud if I wore these shoes. I had been with my husband for so long. And things had never been right in that area anyway. I had thought about what it would be like to have sex with someone else, sure. To see if it could be better. Or different anyway. But to fuck? That was a particular kind of act. Fucking was like howling at the moon, and I was no stray. Or had not been one in my past. I suddenly wanted to rip the shoes off my feet and throw them out of the room. Who knew there could be so much trouble with just one pair of shoes?
So tell me, reader, what have you ever worn that was most out of your comfort zone? Or, tell me what the hell you would wear for a night out in Vegas. I don't know, 'cause I've never been. Or, what is the most outlandish outfit you've ever borrowed from a friend? Just leave a comment, and the winners will be chosen at my whim on Thursday, the day the book comes out.
Also! Jami is doing a book tour. Won't you go say hello to her if she's coming to your city?
8 comments:
What a great passage. Reminds me of having a friend in college who loved to dress me up when we'd go out. She did my makeup - I thought I looked like a drag queen; she didn't listen. There would always be some top from her closet for me that required bralessness... Not my comfort zone!
Alison
alison-adorn.blogspot.com
Way back in high school, our lacrosse team decided that before our first game, we would all wear our (pretty short) kilts with high heels to school. I was 14 and still very much in my tomboy phase--I would never have worn a skirt to school, much less with heels! That was the first time in my life I really felt like I was wearing a costume when it wasn't Halloween.
How you say...."Booook?" I have no idea what you're talking about. :/
Vegas outfit: Sequin tank, mini-skirt, tall boots. Since I can't walk in heels. Haha.
I just wanted to add that I just read Instant Love and really, really loved it. Your friend's a very talented writer with a serious knack for story telling. I can't wait to read this one!
Liz
Yea! I'm definitely getting this book! I have a copy of Deli Life and am excited to read a full-length novel from her.
To answer your question, I think the outfit I've worn that was most out of my comfort zone would be my wedding dress. It was tailored to fit me, of course, but the bustier I wore under it was so uncomfortable. Plus, I felt absurd being the center of attention during the ceremony and was so nervous about tripping on my dress as I walked down the aisle. Ugh. I ended up ditching the bustier during the reception...much better! And by the end of the night, I stopped worrying about keeping my train from dragging the floor. The dress is ruined, but it was worth it to feel a bit of comfort for those few hours.
i think my worse faux pas (there are many) was in college. at that time fur vests were NOT in style, but I had one nonetheless. i also thought it would be cool to wear it out with nothing underneath. granted, it had a zipper up the front so i wasn't just flapping in the wind, but really, someone should have stopped me.
D&D and Joanna: You win! Email me your mailing address at aliensocks at gmail and I'll make sure your copy gets in the mail right away. Thanks for playing!
(Gnome, you would have won for the Deli Life mention alone, but you said you were definitely getting the book, and I can't let my good friend lose a guranteed sale! Hee! Sorry!)
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