One Book Pledgers
L
aurel Cook has been an avid book reader for nearly as long as she can remember. Her husband, "Cactus," not so much. She studied French and English
and taught both at St. Paul's for years. She's also been a member of a book group (now two) for most of her adult life. He, on the other hand, studied science and became an OB/GYN. Reading literature was not part of his education or routine. When asked about what got him reading, and especially the classics, Laurel and Cactus share a smile. "We went to see a play in Chicago," he says. "Metamorphosis," Laurel adds. "Over drinks after the play Laurel and our friends were discussing the play and the symbolism in it," Cactus continues. "Wait a minute, I said to them, I grew up in Nebraska where a cockroach is a cockroach. Did I miss something, and do you think I missed anything else in my education?" Curiosity led him to Harold Bloom and reading of the Western canon, trying to fill the gaps in his education. The Cooks moved to Bellingham in 1981. Laurel soon joined a book group that was later named Erleichda, after a word from Tom Robbins' 1984 novel, Jitterbug Perfume. The word is explained in a line from the novel : "The word was a transitive verb, an exclamation, a command, of which an exact English translation is impossible. The closest equivalent probably would be the phrase 'Lighten up!" It's a word that likely has to be regularly remembered by a group of serious readers who have long focused on reading intentionally. "I read differently when I read a book for my book group. I think more carefully about it," Laurel comments. A recent The book favorite of hers is Mink River, "It's the best novel I've read for a long time," she says.
knowledge of the staff and the store's community outreach are what keep the Cooks coming back to Village Books.
Cactus has more recently joined a book group, and while he leans more to nonfiction (he cites Team of Rivals as a recent favorite), he also reads fiction. David Ignatius has become a favorite and he has recently drifted into "cyberpunk," reading Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash and Cryptonomicon. Cactus recently retired—but not before delivering Kelly Carbert's daughter Winslow (Kelly is the person who makes this magazine look good). He says his day is made up of the "big four." "I walk for about an hour, work out in the gym for an hour, read, and practice the piano. I never seem to get them all done," he admits with a grin. He bought a very nice grand piano some years ago and began to learn to play. "Then for years I'd sneak through the living room, trying not to make eye contact with the piano," he says. Now he's back to lessons and really enjoying playing in what he calls "a recital-free arrangement" with his teacher.
The book knowledge of the staff and the store's community outreach are what keep the Cooks coming back to Village Books. Laurel loves saying to VB staff, "I just finished reading X, what should I read now?" "Cactus and I are both loyal to Village Books in no small part because of the contributions, both financial and philosophical, that you make to the community. Bellingham is a better place due to your presence," says Laurel. Cactus and Laurel have also contributed much to the cultural fabric of the community, especially since Cactus has learned that a cockroach is not always a cockroach. You can learn more about the One Book Pledge at www.VillageBooks.com.
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
Spring 2013
49