Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 01-31-07

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

A few bookclub housekeeping reminders today and some cool free stuff:

Keep the book club fun. Read guilt-free. If a book isn't a good match for you, simply hit the delete key. Every Monday I feature a new title.

Check out this week's AuthorBuzz. Go to:
http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Miss one of your daily reads? You'll find the Missed Read link at the top of your daily email. Or bookmark it today:
http://www.emailbookclub.com/miss

Want to read some past Dear Reader columns? Go to:
http://dearreader.typepad.com/dear/

Penguin Classics: the link is always after my column. Every month I feature a new classic and give away. This month's book is Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham.

If you have a comment, book suggestion, or need assistance, send me an email. I'm here to help and I answer all of my email everyday.

Free stuff, books and Bozos. Thirty books and three Bozos to give away to readers. Enter and see a photo of Bozo and me at:
http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/clown.html

From my Email Bag:

"Suzanne, my neighbors just formed a 'live' book club, and while I have enjoyed the discussion and the gatherings, the books have not interested me. Last night, as I was slogging through the latest selection, I decided there was nothing for it but to pull my socks up and find my own books to recommend. But how would I find new fiction books that I had not already read? (heel of the hand to the forehead here!) 'Dear Reader', of course. I just signed up for the fiction club."--Eva Y.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

READ THE CLASSICS: Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=3

Dear Reader Column 01-30-07

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

The sign read, "Estate Sale," and perhaps that should have been a clue, but when I looked at the stuff spread out around the yard, it looked like a plain old garage sale to me. Two dressers, dishes, books, a mirror, a clothes rack filled with someone's old favorites, odds and ends and there were more things for sale in the house, too. But the first thing I spotted was a white wicker plant stand.

The plant stand was more than a little worn, but it still had that cute shabby-chic look and I could picture it sitting on my side porch filled with three pots of pink impatiens. What a find and it was only three bucks. But a good price didn't mean anything if it wouldn't fit on my porch. There was already a chair and ottoman and some other plants on the porch, and I wasn't sure if there was room for anything else.

Things tend to look smaller in a wide-open space, so I was concerned that this plant stand might be bigger than I thought when I got it home. I walked around the stand, sizing it up, trying to talk myself out of it--did I really need another place to put plants? But it sure was cute, and after 20 minutes of back and forth, to-buy-or-not-to-buy, I finally decided I couldn't live without it. So I carried the stand up to the check-out card table, laid three dollar bills down in front of the man and started walking back to my house.

"Excuse me lady. Come back here!" I could hear some guy yelling at someone. "Hey lady, I mean you. Bring that plant stand back here."

I turned and looked in the man's direction. "You mean me?"

"I don't need a receipt," I told him as I was walking back towards him. But that wasn't his concern. Now he was practically screaming that I owed him more money and everyone was staring like I was a thief and had just set off the store's security alarm.

"It's three hundred dollars lady, not three bucks! Look at the price on the stand."

Okay, so there wasn't a decimal point in the 300 written on the price tag, but come on, who would ever pay $300 dollars for this rickety piece of junk?

I may be out of the "Estate" sale league, but I'm not out of my mind.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. Congratulations to the winners of last week's giveaway for a book mark: Lillie Rice, Christine Trycieckyj, Elisa Sillery and David Miller.

READ THE CLASSICS: Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=3

Dear Reader Column 01-29-07

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Yesterday I had to write myself out of a funk. Have you ever been there? I sure hope not.

The Land of Funk, it's a magical world--a sort of Disneyland for problems. The tickets are cheap and there are always plenty of rooms, so (unfortunately) there's never a waiting list.

"Welcome to our resort. Would you like a queen or king? Smoking or non? And how many days will you be staying with us?"

That's the real need-to-know question. Just how many days am I going to indulge?

Writing my way out of the Land of Funk isn't simply a prescription for relief, it's functional. In-between the fury of the angry lines, there it is--the reason. And once I've figured out the reason, that's usually enough. I don't need to call someone up and give them "what-for," or beat myself up for what I did or didn't do--instead I feel relieved. I finally understand and I can check out.

Come to think of it, maybe the Land of Funk is a magical world after all.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: Read about terrific new books by these wonderful writers who have signed copies for you to win: Allison Brennan, Speak No Evil; Sherryl Woods, Stealing Home; Laura Ruby, I'm Not Julia Roberts; and Laura Dave, London is the Best City in America. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

READ THE CLASSICS: Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=3

Dear Reader Column 01-26-07

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

If I recall I was a real pain in Home Economics class in high school. I wanted to do things my way, but the teacher always had her own agenda. Home Ec class was one of those love/hate relationships. I loved the fact that we got to eat everything we made--especially the cinnamon rolls (I still use the recipe today), but I hated the corduroy jumper I made in sewing class.

My wide-ribbed, dark green, corduroy jumper was cut from the same pattern as everybody else's. So even if I'd actually liked the jumper, when it was finished, no way could I wear it to school. It would have been a fashion disgrace. Think about it--all twenty girls in my freshman class showing up for school, wearing a rainbow assortment of corduroy jumpers, all cut from the same pattern, on the same day--I don't think so.

Even though I'd never made a corduroy jumper or done any sewing in my life, my way of doing things always seemed to take less time than my teacher's way. And of course I never let a day go by without telling her. I can't remember my teacher's name, but I'm so glad the woman put up with me, because I just finished sewing six quilts for Paul, my new grandson, and wherever my teacher is now, I hope she reads this:

"I couldn't have done it without everything you taught me!"

If you'd like to see my new grandson and a baby quilt fashion show, go to:

http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/quilt4.html

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. If you'd like to see my new writing desk and enter a drawing for a colorful, wear-it-around-your-neck bookmark, (I have four to give away) go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/desk2.html

READ THE CLASSICS: Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=3

Dear Reader Column 01-25-07

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

I bought a new writing desk this past weekend. Not exactly earth shattering news, or perhaps even column-worthy, but I absolutely love my new antique desk. And the bonus is--I got a great price because I asked the magic question, "Is that your best price?"

The "magic question," some days I'm just not up to asking. I don't really get any particular thrill out of haggling, but if I don't ask, I'll always wonder. Some people are insulted when I ask, or maybe just uncomfortable coming up with a reply. Perhaps they don't enjoy haggling either. But usually when I ask the magic question, the reply is: "I could give you 10, 15, sometimes 20 percent off," or "What price were you thinking?"

What price was I thinking? Smart cookie--put the haggling back in my lap.

My husband is uncomfortable asking the magic question, so he took me along to the store when he wanted to buy a new bass guitar. He knew exactly which one he wanted, so I volunteered to do the deal. The price tag read: "List Price $550--Now Only $359.99 Save: $190."

I'm never comfortable starting the conversation with "Is that your best price?" I like to ease into it, telling a story about why I'm buying the guitar, anything, so the salesperson and I get to know each other before I pop the question. Secretly I always take a deep breath before I ask. It's not really as effortless as I make it out to be.

But finally I did ask, "Is that your best price?"

The salesperson looked at me, was silent--for what felt like hours--and finally he replied, "What price were you thinking?"

Oh no, I hate it when that happens. 'Think Suzanne, think.' And the first thing that popped into my mind was, "How about an extra 20 percent off?"

And to my surprise he countered with, "You seem nice, how about $259.99?"

I'm not a math whiz, but a quick mental calculation suggested the price he quoted was better than my 20 percent, and indeed it was.

Happy salesperson, happy Suzanne, really happy husband. I'm so glad I asked the magic question.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. If you'd like to see my new writing desk and enter a drawing for a colorful, wear-it-around-your-neck bookmark, (I have four to give away) go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/desk2.html

AUTHORBUZZ: Don't miss a chance to find out about these great books (and win free copies) from these wonderful writers: John Lescroart, The Suspect; Kris Radish, The Sunday List of Dreams; Marilynn Griffith, Tangerine; Linda Lael Miller, McKettrick's Luck; and Kathleen Givens, On a Highland Shore. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

READ THE CLASSICS: Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=3

Dear Reader Column 01-24-07

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

When I was visiting my friend Linda, I noticed a small wooden plaque on her wall:

"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful."--William Morris.

Where has this William Morris guy been all my life? I like his way of thinking. How many times have I bought something--can't return it--but I keep using it even though it doesn't fit or it's driving me crazy.

After I looked William Morris up on the Internet I realized his name was probably in one of my high school textbooks and I wasn't paying attention. But I should have been, because I could have saved myself a lot of misery over the years.

I was instantly inspired by his words, went home and walked around my house throwing things into a big box to give to charity. The "not-so-cherished" things aren't broken--they'll work perfectly fine for someone else, just not for me. They're cumbersome to use, or in my eyes, far from beautiful.

My heating pad was the first thing into the box--it drives me crazy. The old plastic cover, it's not square and isn't comfortable to my touch. I bought a new one yesterday and I absolutely think it's the most beautiful heating pad I've ever seen--can't wait until I pull a muscle so I can spend a little time with it.

There's a light blue bowl in my cupboard and I don't like it. Can't really say why, after all it does the basic job, it doesn't leak. But I just don't like it. I bought it on sale four years ago, used it once and have never used it again. Every time I reach for it I change my mind. But not today--goodbye bowl!

It's a quaint, antique nightstand, even has two drawers in the front for storage. I've had it for ten years, but it's never really lived up to my expectations. I wanted something handy and big enough to hold water, a couple of books, eyeglasses and maybe a box of tissue, yet slender enough to slide into a small space. I live in a historical home and the look of the nightstand fits right in, but the stuff I'd planned to keep on it: the tissues, glasses, books and water, at least twice a week I knock everything off the stand because it's too narrow. Goodbye nightstand!

I've always hung onto things that drive me crazy or things I don't like because they weren't broken, so what would be my reason for getting rid of them?

Inspiration from my old friend Linda and my new friend William Morris: "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful."

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

READ THE CLASSICS: Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=3

Dear Reader Column 01-23-07

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Emails are tricky things--kind of like that "lost sock in the washer." You know you put two in, but only one came out. Or sometimes your computer just "eats" all of your book club reads.

So remember, if you don't receive one of your daily book club emails, you can get a copy immediately by going to:

http://www.emailbookclub.com/miss/

And if you still don't receive your read, of course you can always contact me and I'll get one right out to you.

Thanks so much for taking the time to write. I love to read your mail and I appreciate your suggestions, complaints, compliments--send them my way.

From my Email Bag:

"Well, thanks a lot, Suzanne! I am at work and have had to close my office door and just have a good old fashioned cry! That was the sweetest thing I have ever read (your answer to the mother with lung cancer). I too have read with you for a long time. You have inspired me to do so many things:

Get back to gardening
Bake cookies for other people
Be sweeter to my family
Get out my Mom's old recipes and cook something just for "old time's sake"
Read books that I wouldn't normally think I would like

Isn't it funny that the last thing I thought of was the purpose of your book club? So, you see.....you have no idea how much good you do us readers each day. I feel like you are my sister and if I saw you in the grocery store, I think I would just start talking to you like we just saw each other yesterday.

Thanks for being a positive. (My mother used to say, 'be a positive, we've got too many negatives running around.')"--Jayne D.

If you missed last Friday's column you'll find it at:
http://dearreader.typepad.com/dear/2007/01/dear_reader_col_14.html

Thanks for reading with me, "sis." It's so good to read with friends.

Warmest regards,
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

READ THE CLASSICS: Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=3

Dear Reader Column 01-22-07

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Sometimes I'm quick to judge. It came with the original Suzanne model and even though I've spent a lot of time through the years making improvements, I've never been able to completely get rid of the nasty trait. But at least I don't indulge as much as I used to because I've discovered "middle ground."

I grew up in a black and white household, people and the situations they found themselves in were labeled good or bad. There wasn't any in-between.

But when I'd been out on my own for awhile, I noticed that other people seemed to have more tolerance than I did. They weren't as quick to judge someone or a situation, and oh, how I wished I'd experienced that kind of grace in my life. So I decided on a different approach. Instead of labeling good or bad, the first place I'd head for in my mind was "middle ground." It wasn't easy, but every time I started thinking judgmental thoughts, I'd catch myself and interrupt with a "perhaps" instead.

Perhaps the woman was so rude because she's worried about her son. Perhaps the guy in front of me is driving 15 miles an hour, in a 40 mile an hour zone, because he's on his way to his grandson's birthday party and he's balancing a 3-layer cake on the seat beside him.

Yes, I got to thinking that it might be an easier life for me and the people around me, if I dropped the good and bad characterizations all together and realized that most of the time, people are traveling in the "perhaps" lane of life.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: Don't miss a chance to find out about these great books (and win free copies) from these wonderful writers: John Lescroart, The Suspect; Kris Radish, The Sunday List of Dreams; Marilynn Griffith, Tangerine; Linda Lael Miller, McKettrick's Luck; and Kathleen Givens, On a Highland Shore. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

READ THE CLASSICS: Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=3

Dear Reader Column 01-19-07

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Today I'd like to share a letter from Priscilla who's been reading with me for a number of years. It's a letter that I'll never forget and neither will you.

To read Priscilla's letter and my response, go to:

http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/love.html

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. I'm baking my chocolate chip cookies for a lucky reader. It could be you. Simply email a friend about the book club, or if you're reading at a library's book club, email and let them know that you enjoy the club. To get your name in the drawing, send a copy of the email to: [email protected]

READ THE CLASSICS: Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=3

Dear Reader Column 01-18-07

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

There's a horn in our car, but my husband doesn't like to use it. No worries about getting a worn spot on the old tooter, nope instead of beeping at someone to let them know they're cutting him off, my husband tries to talk the other driver through it.

"Oh no. Don't, don't, do that! You aren't really coming into my lane are you? Stop, stop, can't you see me here?"

Of course they don't, and thankfully my husband's a real good swerver, so he always manages to get out of their way.

On occasion my husband will resort to beeping the horn, but his version is a slight tap, tap, in the vicinity of where the horn should be on the steering wheel. In fact his first tap doesn't even make any noise, the second tap is merely a trace of a toot, perhaps a passing mosquito might move out of the way, and, if and when my husband does manage to finally blow the horn, so another driver could hear it--it's never heard by the offending driver. No, that car is long gone--four blocks up ahead. So now the other drivers around us hear my husband's "beep", can clearly see there's no need for anyone to blow a horn, they assume we know them and everyone waves as we drive by.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. I'm baking my chocolate chip cookies for a lucky reader. It could be you. Simply email a friend about the book club, or if you're reading at a library's book club, email and let them know that you enjoy the club. To get your name in the drawing, send a copy of the email to: [email protected]

AUTHORBUZZ: These great writers are giving away dozens and dozens of great reads this week: John Lescroart, The Suspect; Linda Fairstein, Bad Blood; Tom Sullivan, Adventures in Darkness; Pamela Samuels-Young, In Firm Pursuit; and Mark A. Michaels and Patricia Johnson, The Essence of Tantric Sexuality. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

READ THE CLASSICS: Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=3