History
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a man in possession of a good wife must be in want of a book club. As it turns out, in the middle of 2017, the first two members of the BFBCR found themselves in such a predicament. To be exact, Geoff was standing in the door of his car in Lawrence’s driveway when he turned and asked, “Do you think we could start a book club?” Or something like that. It was two years ago.
Several phone calls to choice, similarly-disposed friends later, the BFBCR was formed and met within a few weeks. Since then, the club has met every month outside of a few carefully chosen breaks to facilitate longer reads. Our members have busy personal and professional lives, so we’re not always, each of us at every meeting; but if there’s a book, there’s a talk. And we love it.
Get in touch
While the founding chapter of the BFBCR is presently running at full capacity, we recognize, as does any lover of books, that literature is best shared. If you need help or advice starting a book club of your own, or if space becomes available in ours, we’d be happy to talk. Use the contact button. We’ll even let you call yourself the BFBCR. But we’ll all know which is really the BFBCR, yes?
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Members
HISTORY
Geoff
Call me Jeff. My parents did, or nearly did. They called me Geoff. Not many people know this, but the pronunciations of “Geoff” and “Jeff” are identical. When your parents name you after the “Father of English Literature,” you learn that not everyone loves books. I tell you, life ain’t easy for a boy named Geoff. I grew up quick and I grew up mean. My fists got hard and my wits got keen. Not really. However, I did tell my eighth grade gym class that I was the namesake of Geoff Bodine, the NASCAR driver. I did not get beat up that year. Well, I roamed from town to town and somehow ended up teaching history here in Raleigh with my brilliant wife and radical children. I am currently writing a lengthy indictment against our century. When my brain begins to reel from my literary labors, I make an occasional cheese dip.
MILITARY PRACTICE and theory
Lawrence
There are said to be certain Buddhist monks whose ascetic practices allow them to see a whole landscape in a legume. Having tried at quite early ages—in no particular order—beans, painting, and certain ascetic practices, Lawrence found that he far preferred reading to all three; and besides, a landscape is far more likely to be found in a novel than in a pea. When he isn’t completely in thrall to his beautiful wife and their offspring, or dutifully determining and executing the needs of a grateful nation, Lawrence can be found either reading, buying, or attempting to write a book. To date, he has read on, or over, every major continent.
COMPUTER SCIENCE
Jim
Jim is the engineer of our bunch, and often, in the name of preserving his nerd street cred, pretends to be completely befuddled by the obscure references made by some of our literary heavyweights (see other Jim). At our meetings, Jim never misses an opportunity to bait Lawrence into a philosophical debate about Artificial Intelligence (which we all know is a complete red herring!). Outside of work and family, Jim has an unhealthy obsession with cars and racing. His wife remains puzzled to this day by his obsession with trying to shave fractions of a second off his lap times at local tracks and on the very well-appointed simulator at his house.
COMPUTER SCIENCE
PHIL
Although my work took me West in August 2018, to reside along the ancient Bonneville Lake shoreline (look it up) on the South bench of the Wasatch front, I am with my brothers in spirit each month, and once or twice a year make an appearance—for the beer of course. I read and write almost constantly for work and fun and when I'm not doing that or sleeping, I am listening to music or a book on tape..even commuting on my motorcycle. I entreat my BFBCR mates to someday soon, head West for a meeting under the stars, by a campfire, in one of Utah's dark-sky sites located in a national park. Then I'll finally get to pick a book! Local transport and accommodations provided by YT.
Pharmacology
ZAC
The details of my life are quite inconsequential. . . very well, where do I begin? My father was a relentlessly self-improving boulangerie owner from Belgium with low-grade narcolepsy and a penchant for buggery. My mother was a fifteen-year-old French prostitute named Chloe with webbed feet. My father would womanize, he would drink. He would make outrageous claims like he invented the question mark. Sometimes he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy. The sort of general malaise only the genius possess and the insane lament. My childhood was typical. Summers in Rangoon, luge lessons. In the spring, we’d make meat helmets. When I was insolent I was placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds—pretty standard really. At the age of twelve, I received my first scribe. At fourteen, a Zoroastrian named Vilma ritualistically shaved my testicles. There really is nothing like a shaved scrotum. . . it’s breathtaking. I highly suggest you try it.
ENGLISH LITERATURE
JIM
Insert Jim Bio. . .
EDUCATION
BURT
Insert Burt Bio. . .
ecology
ROBERT
Insert Robert bio. . .
HISTORY
AUNDREY
Insert Aundrey Bio. . .
POLYMATH UNDERGRADUATE
HUNTER
Readerly-speaking, a bio of this nature could be interpreted as a magnificent, fun, Verne-like adventure; or, based on one’s more refined taste, a series of Kafkaesque vexations. Moreover, Hunter’s story relies heavily for veracity on first-hand accounts, of which few are available for myriad reasons. Born a Virgo on the western shore of the United States, Hunter’s life of reading and pursuit of beauty has landed him in the land of the Long-Leaf Pine (to say nothing of the oak, whose abundance does little to diminish its magnificence). In the mien of his favorite author, Mark Helprin, and his idyllic characters, Hunter is himself a poetic and enigmatic figure. He seeks to travel the world with his partner, who somehow—rather miraculously—is able to understand, tolerate, and even love him. At present, Hunter is pleasantly sequestered in the cozy comforts of the academic life in Chapel Hill. A true millennial, his favorite book, A Soldier Of The Great War, can be found only on his Kindle. He can often be found reading it while using his Croatian heritage to enable his espresso-based diet.
SHAKESPEARE
WILLIAM
Insert Will bio. . .