There are certain things I love about living near “The City.” And when I say “The City” I mean Naperville, IL. Because Naperville is home to one of the best book stores in the entire country…Anderson’s Bookshop.
Last Friday I went there with my friend Abby to see one of her favorite authors, Mr. John Green. I went along because even though I hadn’t read any of his books yet, he is young and hot and I’m always up for a road trip.
There were probably around 130 people crammed into the store to hear him speak and he bravely stood on a chair the whole time so that those of us in the nosebleed section up near the cash registers could see him. Needless to say he was charming, well spoken, hilarious, complex, intelligent, and emotionally deep. We waited around so he could sign Abby’s book and he was so friendly when we got up there even though he had literally signed 80 books before hers (probably more because some people were clutching all three of his titles). He talked with Abby and then thanked me for coming even though I was just a straggler who hadn’t even bought one of his books.
I don’t remember everything he talked about when he was up there on that chair (I know it was all great) but I do remember he talked about the “in your pants” game. I think it is from his book An Abundance of Katherines, but I am not sure, I am reading that one next. But anyways, the way you play the game is you add “in your pants” to the end of any book title. Mr. Green pointed out that two of his books work very well: Looking for Alaska in your pants and An Abundance of Katherines in your pants. I have been looking at my bookshelves and found some others:
Shel Silverstein’s The MIssing Piece in your pants
Andrew Clement’s Things Hoped For in your pants
Mary Higgins Clark’s Remember Me in your pants
Lesley Blume’s Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters in your pants
Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women in your pants
Oh my, it never gets old! (Have I mentioned I have the maturity level of a fourth grade boy?)
Anyway, John Green is awesome. Period. He won the highest award in YA lit (the Printz) with his first book!!!! And his second book got a Printz Honor (so close). He has a new book out now called Paper Towns that is getting GREAT buzz. Go to his website here and make sure to check out his YouTube channel because he is hilarious! Also go to Abby’s blog to see a pic of her with Mr. John Green himself.
Jen
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