“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.”~John Dewey, American philosopher
I’m so glad I found Beautiful Madness Book Case subscription company tucked in the back of Aisle 1 at BookExpo America 2016 in Chicago.
Book in a box
The owner was so much friendlier than Owlcrate. She and I talked for a solid 20 minutes or more, sharing ideas and input. I felt important and valued. Owlcrate, however, snubbed anyone except potential new customers. I’ve been an Owlcrate subscriber for 10 months now, and I will never forget that poor customer service. I purchased the BMBC Messenger Bag kit because I support good customer service. Plus, the bag is roomy, strong and colorful.
The BMBC box themes are creative and book-related. The August theme is: Chapter 3 “Be Right Back…Laughing Forever”
The mystery revealed….
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Like any good care package, this one is wrapped in brown paper with the contents reveal on top. This is the way Mom sent me care packages in college. Her loving note was the first thing I saw.
Library cards are extra-cool when they’ve got writing prompts on them.
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FIRST ITEM: Writing Prompts
I’m a sucker for prompts, idea books, journals and the like. This is a clever design–library cards in the envelopes–with quirky prompts written by the author. “If you were kidnapped,what embarrassing photos might your family use to find you?” Classic!
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Gold-tipped pages make any journal feel exquisite.
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SECOND ITEM: Writing Journal
Speaking of classic, this lined journal is edged in gold and the cover is designed to look like a bookshelf. Perhaps BMBC planned this as a great place to start writing down your ideas based on those writing prompts. The whole theme works. The paper is good quality, as is the cover and band, but the binding feels cheap. I pressed the journal to lay it flat, and I heard a crunchy sound like pages pulling apart. I’ll use this journal for sure, but I’ll have to be more delicate than I’m used to.
Cup, cold brew and candy. ‘Nuff said.
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THIRD ITEM: Food and Drink
I count these as one item because a drink and snack are in every box. This month’s offerings are better than the ones in the messenger bag kit. The cold brew coffee is something different rather than packaged tea. I’m not big on making drinks by the pitcherful, like iced tea, but I like Latin American coffees. I’ll give this a try when I know I’ll be home for awhile, late September, when our upcoming roadtrips are over.
The sweets are two praline clusters. Looks like a sugar headache wrapped in plastic, but I expect to love them. Not too little, not too much, a delightful accompaniment to this set.
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FOURTH ITEM: Coffee Mug
The heavy coffee mug is decorated with gold leafing, matching the journal, and that means the mug can’t be microwaved. I’ll never use it for my drinks because I never drink a cup of coffee or tea in less than 30 minutes. I’m going to use this as a pen holder or something similar, making practical use out of this item and something I get to look at every day.
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The freaky plate is being regifted
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FIFTH ITEM: Plate
The sweets were possibly meant to be served on this item, the second reason for the Fra-gee-lay sticker on the box. The freaky deer plate will not live in my house longer than it has to. I know three housemates who will adore this; it’s perfectly suited for them, not me.
A funny memoir
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SIXTH and FINAL ITEM: The Book
This is the first softcover book I’ve received in a subscription kit. Hardcover books are showpieces; softcover books are practical and easy to carry around in my (messenger) bag. I love it for that reason and that the subject is one close to my heart: a father memoir. I’m writing the memoir of me and my dad right now, so I am intrigued to read it. What a humorous tone!
“Harrison Scott Key…grew up in Mississippi, among pious Bible-reading women and men who either shot things or got women pregnant. At the center of his world was his larger-than-life father–a hunter, a fighter, a football coach. … He taught me many things: how to fight and work and cheat, and how to pray to Jesus about, how to kill things with guns and knives and, if necessary, with hammers. …When it became clear that he was not able to kill anything very well or otherwise make his father happy, he resolved to become everything his father was not….”
The is the next book on my TBR pile. Positive.
MY OVERALL REACTION
This kit was worth the $46 shipped, which is the priciest book subscription box I’ve come across. I have high expectations for that reason, and this month met them. All of the items are useful and practical. The freaky plate will make me Gift Giver Extraordinaire with my friends. This high quality regifting item is worth it to me. I’m not palming off some cheap lip balm or pinky ring. All items relate to the theme, and some are quite clever and unusual. This box isn’t advertised as genre-specific, and it’s refreshing to receive a non-YA book. For that reason, among many more, I’m keeping this kit and cancelling Owlcrate.
I’m looking forward to the beautiful madness of the book case Chapter 4.
