Doublememe Palace*

Awhile ago, I signed up to be a ‘weekly geek‘, and take on the challenges put forth on Dewey’s blog. Alas, thus far I have sucked at it. I find that given a subject to write on, I kinda freeze and succumb to writer’s block, which is why I quit my brief stint at a mommy blog that I briefly contributed to quite awhile ago.

Anyway, the prompt this week was pictures, and since it’s mostly book folks participating, it seemed like a good idea to post a picture of a book. However, I’ve already posted pictures of the books around here, twice actually. So I’ve been mulling it over.

Then, handily enough, I was tagged for the 123 meme by Crum! Yay! Why not combine the two? A picture of the book I’m reading, open to page 123, and then the meme. Two birds, one stone.

Here’s the picture
DSCF2409
(Chrissy, I finally found a place to buy Bit-O-Honey around here…Ace Hardware of all places. Yay!)
(Heidi, your postcard is in the picture because it is serving the honor of being my bookmark, and I thought it and the candy livened up the photo more than a picture of a book would.)

I’m supposed to also link to another participant in the Weekly Geek theme, and I chose Debra Durham’s Reading Animals, because I was fascinated by her project, and she took cute pictures to boot.

And here’s the meme:

The nearest book is the one I’m currently reading, My Sister, Guard Your Veil; My Brother, Guard Your Eyes, edited by Lila Azam Zanganeh. I’m enjoying it quite a bit, and most of the essays are much more scholarly than anything I’ve read in quite awhile. It is a collection of essays, written by Iranian authors. Page 123 is in the middle of an essay titled Tehran Underground, by Salar Abdoh.

The Page 123 Rules

  1. Pick up the nearest book
  2. Open it to page 123
  3. Find the fifth sentence.
  4. Post in your blog the next three sentences after that fifth one you have identified (that is to say sentences 6, 7 and 8.)
  5. Tag five or more people, And acknowledge the person who tagged you.

From Tehran Underground, by Salar Amdoh

Then he opened a door and I understood.

Some nifty entrepreneur had created a replica of a Western-style bar in his house. The bar space itself wasn’t very big, but it was surprisingly complete.

I’m only on page 74 of the book right now, in a different essay completely, so I don’t know the full context yet. A few essays have mentioned the Iranian party scene, which is underground and forbidden, but also quite wild. The sentences before these were better, but oh well. Gotta follow them rules, I suppose.

Thanks Crum and Dewey! I wasn’t sure what I was going to post about today. 🙂

UPDATE: I just realized that I forgot to tag anyone!  And you thought you were getting off easy. ;)  I hereby tag:

KarenMEG, KookieJar, Gina, Laura, and Nance.  What are you reading, ladies?

*Extra credit to anyone not living in my house that knows where I got this title…

7 Comments

  • Debra

    J –

    Thanks for stopping by ReadingAnimals. A compliment for “interesting” collection means even more now having seen what you have been up to in challenges (and have listed TBR, of course). Wow!

    The collection of stories from Iranian authors sounds fascinating. A perfect recommendation for one of my book clubs, which is now reading The Boat by Nam Le.

  • Rob

    I know, I know! You got the title from the season six episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer titled “Doublemeat Palace” (written by Jane Espenson). Prizes?

  • Ted

    Boy if I blogged on the sentences on page 123 of the book I am reading, it wouldn’t make sense. And I guess I’m excluded from participating in guessing the title of your blog since you told me what it’s from. 🙂

  • J

    Rob, you win! Unfortunately I have nothing to offer but my profound respect for a classicist who loves Buffy. I majored in Comparative Lit, and focused on Latin and Greek lit. Sigh.

  • Rob

    As a matter of fact, one of my favorite Buffy quotes ever is (in season four) when Giles says, “Xander, don’t speak Latin in front of the books.” Remember that one?

  • Care aka bkclubcare

    Howdy, new here, I’m traveling thru WeeklyGeekLand saying hello. Now I’ll think of you every time I see Bit-O-Honey. I had no idea it’s hard to find. I have another friend I think of when I see Sugarfree BubbleYum which is rare; not sure they make it anymore.

    I’m off to go read more of your posts, -Care