I have become a turned chair, a chair that sits pretty in the corner, a piece of furniture, ignored. I am somebody’s ghost, haunting preferred to a holding, I am no longer tactile, invisible. I am a headless flower, dried out in a scum filled vase; I have become next week’s mulch, unbelievable. What has become of me? more »

It’s a brand new world out there every day, considering how quickly technology is advancing.  One of the most universal of human dealings has been radically transformed by the electronic endeavors of man.  Millions of people the world over have subscribed to one website or another, and by doing so, have forsaken traditional face-to-face interactions.  Hedging your bets, one might say, is best before committing to an appointment which may prove successful.  I speak of course, ladies and gents, of the pursuit of love.

I’ve always been a romantic at heart.  I take great pride in not only my wooing skills, but my history as a partner attentive to his lady.  My prodigious talents were often wasted on women that were either emotionally unattainable, or in a few cases, mentally unstable.  Even after watching one of my finer choices in a girlfriend get arrested on my front lawn following her pitching an alarm clock at my head, I was undeterred.

One of the most prominent of weapons in my accoutrement was a ballpoint pen.  There were few things I did better than craft a good love letter.  The Internet was just becoming a tangible reality when I reached my teenage years in... more »

Aren’t we all, Buddy?

Okay, maybe not everyone is looking for romance, but some of us are and it’s not easy. I mean, it’s not like scores of available, big-hearted, and agreeable lords and ladies are moving into the neighborhood and hosting balls.* Diners, drive-ins, and dives are all great places to meet and mingle, but any romantic comedy will tell you that they’re just breeding grounds for shenanigans and hijinks.

Then where? The Internet, of course! There is no shortage of dating sites to help out: eHarmony, OKCupid, the Gaga-approved Plenty of Fish, andthelistgoeson. Each has set up scores of dates and begun many relationships, each with its own method.

Alikewise.com is the new kid on the block. matching people up based on the books that they share. The idea, as the About Us page conveniently states, is ‘to find an area of passionate interest, and let you take it from there.’ Before you’ve even met, you’ll have something to talk about that extends beyond the color of the walls in the café or how much good a little rain would do your geraniums.

The site is the brainchild of Matt Sherman, who came up with idea after ‘wishing I could meet a woman... more »

A recent article in the Guardian’s Book Blog (I’m addicted) debated whether it’s necessary to date a reader if you yourself are a reader. The writer, clearly also the reader in this scenario, says that reading is not only an intensely personal ritual, but also an incredibly social one. Think about the success of book clubs–most people find they can relate better to what they’ve read if they discuss it with others. This is something I have definitely found true, though my own book club is still in its fledgling days. I love talking about books and writers, getting recommendations and different perspectives from fellow readers. I am incredibly lucky in that I work in a field (publishing) chock full of voracious readers, and many of my friends are also readers (comes with the territory when you attend a graduate program in writing and publishing).

Okay, so if you love to read, you can chat about books around the water cooler, or around a few bottles of wine at a book club. Isn’t that outlet enough? Do we really need our romantic partners to love reading as well?

According to the Guardian, no. The writer says that his wife of eight years has read... more »