Sunday, June 07, 2009

Sunday Salon: Random Bookish Thoughts

This will be a short post today. I did not get a lot of reading done this weekend. My in-laws were in town visiting for my husband's birthday. For the next three months, he will be an actual number ahead of me age wise. You can bet I will take full advantage of teasing him about that.

Random Bookish Thoughts
  • A coworker of mine was complaining about her son's behavior. She was approached by another coworker later in the morning who suggested that perhaps it was because he was reading the Harry Potter books.
  • My youngest cat has discovered how tasty books can be. Especially the corners.
  • Not all books should be made into movies.
  • I prefer to read books I will enjoy, and so I choose books accordingly. Why do some people take issue with that?
  • My mother-in-law has come up with the cutest logo for my business cards.--if I ever follow through and decide to have some made.
  • My father-in-law is in awe of my personal library.
  • He seems to gravitate mostly towards my husband's recent reads.
  • I lovingly persuaded my mother-in-law to take home a book I think she might like (Sweet Mandarin by Helen Tse).
  • I have this week off from work, and I hope to spend much of it lost in books.
  • And watching movies and more of season two of Torchwood. And the first season of True Blood.
I hope you will join me tomorrow in welcoming James Lepore to Musings of a Bookish Kitty, at which time I will also be reviewing his book, A World I Never Made. And later this week, I will also be sharing my thoughts on Emily St. John Mandel's Last Night in Montreal.

Week in Review:

Guest Appearance: Interview with Author Mary Stanton
Double Feature: Reviews of Defending Angels and Angel's Advocate by Mary Stanton



Please join me in congratulating Natalie from Book, Line, and Sinker and Tanabata from In Spring It is the Dawn on winning a copies of No One You Know by Michelle Richmond!

Thank you to all who entered and shared the books that inspired you in some way. I have added several to my never ending wish list.


To my husband:

30 comments:

  1. That first one! Seriously? She was serious? Obviously she's never READ Harry Potter!

    Happy Birthday to your husband.

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  2. I agree with you on only reading books you like. There's a lot of duds out there. I need to sort my shelf.

    Happy birthday to your Husband!

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  3. Oh yes, definitely it's the HP books doing it.... providing he's running around in a black cape, waving a stick and shouting Alohamora or some other spell.

    I mostly try to stay to books I think I'll like, but I'm not terribly picky, and I've been trying to broaden my reading since all I used to read was classics. There's sooooo many good books I've been missing!

    I have Torchwood season 1 on hold at the library, and I'm waiting to finish reading Dead Until Dark before getting the True Blood shows from Netflix.

    Have a wonderful week off :-)

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  4. Lisa - Seriously! Can you believe it? She went on to say something about the evil spirits entering the son via the books.

    My husband says thank you for the birthday wishes. :-)

    Nikki - I'd rather not waste my time reading something I won't enjoy. And thank you from my husband. :-)

    Koolaidmom - Haha! I can see him doing just that!

    My reading tastes are fairly broad, and I love trying new authors and books. I'm not afraid to step outside of my comfort zone, whatever that may be--at least if the book sounds like it will be worth my time to read. My issue has more to do with the fact that I like most of what I read, and sometimes I get tired of feeling like I have to defend myself over it.

    We're rewatching True Blood now before the second season begins the end of this week. I really like the show--and the books.

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  5. Happy birthday to your husband. I enjoyed reading your random bookish things. People who like criticising others will do so in any case. No body should defend their reading choices.

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  6. That musing was like a teaser! Each of your bullet points has a story, I can tell! Have a wonderful week off (very jealous!) and Happy Birthday to your husband!

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  7. Why would people take issue with you choosing books you think you'll enjoy? But then again, I catch hell for finishing books I don't particularily like, and I wonder why people care. Humans are kinda weird, aren't they?

    Happy Birthday to Hubby!
    Lezlie

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  8. LF -

    I agree with Sandy! Such a teaser post...

    I cannot believe people are still equating HP with bad things. Good grief. Don't you just want to say get a life already?

    Which book shouldn't have been made into a movie? I'm curious.

    And reading is personal. The heck with reading what others thing we should read, especially if they're the snobbish type.

    I hope your weekend was great! And I'm now the same age as my sister for 11 more days.

    cjh

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  9. I'm not sure whether I find that first random thought very funny or rather sad.

    Have a nice week off!

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  10. I hope you have a great, bookish week off! I agree with you about books and movies. The Harry Potter thing is appalling! You should get those cards made & then show us! :-)

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  11. Wow, that comment about Harry Potter is so annoying. I don't think people like that are helping children grow to love reading.

    Enjoy your week off!

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  12. Violet - Thank you! My husband had a nice birthday. I told him he could celebrate all week, if he wanted to. :-)

    You are right, critical people will most likely always criticize. I usually just let it roll off my shoulders, but sometimes it does get to me. Fortunately, the criticism was not directed at me specifically in this case, but it's been coming up frequently in general terms and I was caught at one of my more sensitive moments.

    Sandy - I hadn't even thought of that when I wrote my random thoughts, but you are right! They are little teasers, aren't they? LOL My husband thanks you for the birthday wishes.

    Lezlie - Yes, they definitely can be. We all have our own preferences when it comes to reading, whether it be in choice of books, whether we finish a book we are struggling with or what have you. I don't think there is anything right or wrong in our choices. While our reading differences make for good discussion, it goes downhill when someone turns it into a wrong versus right argument, doesn't it?

    Hubby says thank you!

    CJ - It definitely surprised me--although considering the source, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. The coworker with the son handled it very well, I thought. She was quite stunned, but she didn't let it bother her.

    I didn't really have a particular book or movie in mind. And it's too early to judge on one movie I have been leary about in particular based on a beloved book because I haven't seen the movie yet . . .

    I am not a fan of book snobbery, that's for sure. And you're right, it doesn't matter what others think in that regard.

    I hope you have a great week, CJ.

    Memory - It is sad, but I can't help but find it funny too. If only because it's so ridiculous. But people actually do believe it--and that's what makes it sad.

    Thank you! I hope you have a wonderful week.

    Marie - Thank you! Some books really are best left in their book format, aren't they?

    I'll definitely post a picture of the cards when they're done. They won't be anything fancy, but they'll be mine. :-) Of course, I'll probably be too afraid to give them out to anyone. LOL

    Meghan - You know, I don't know if her children (who are all adults now) enjoy reading or not. She's actually an avid reader herself, but she does avoid fantasy like the plague.

    The boy in question did not really care for reading until he began reading The Harry Potter books. Now he loves reading and is always begging his mom for new books. I think the Harry Potter books have done him a world of good.

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  13. For business cards, check out Overnightprints.com. They're not exactly overnight, but they're really inexpensive and very nice. I just ordered 100 for $20.

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  14. Wish your husband a happy birthday for me! Have fun teasing him to... I love teasing my husband that while he is in 30s, I am still in my 20s!

    I agree, there isn't enough time to read things you don't enjoy, and why should you feel guilty with reading what's good to you? I would never read a Harry Potter book, but I love that so many people do enjoy them.

    Enjoy your week off! I have two more days of work and then a month off before summer school starts. I am looking forward to the time off and hopefully the weather will cooperate.

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  15. I'm older than my hubby for the next 6 months and he loves pointing that out to me!

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  16. My husband is a graphic designer, and just finished the design for my cards. I hope to get them printed up soon, because I need them next month for BlogHer'09 in Chicago! If you ever want that logo idea turned into something more, let me know...

    Only someone who has no personal experience with Harry Potter could have said something like that. Jeez.

    Enjoy your week off, Wendy!

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  17. The HP thing is nothing new. I had a bunch of car trouble on a long road-trip a few years ago, and was told it was probably because we were listening to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone while we drove. I also had a friend tell me I was opening our house up to evil spirits by allowing my kids to read the books/watch the movies. Such ignorance is appalling, and because I don't buy into it, I don't fit in well with many others of my faith. Sigh.

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  18. Happy Birthday to your husband and I hope you had a nice visit with your in-laws.
    I have heard similar things said about the HP books and can only shake my head in disbelief at their ignorance. A few years ago it was Pokemon cards that were supposed to bring evil into the hearts and minds of children. Before that something else. What is the deal with fantasy with them? I guess they overlook the talking snake in the Garden of Eden. Oh yeah, that was real. :)

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  19. Happy Birthday to your husband and hope you are enjoying your free week! :)

    That coworkers comment about the H.P. books - makes you want to shake your head right. And, I also read books I think I'll enjoy so no issue taking here :)

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  20. Oh no! My cats have yet to discover the joys of book chewing. I hope they never do!

    People taking issue with others reading for enjoyment is something I'll never understand.

    Happy belated birthday to Anjin! I hope you have a great week :)

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  21. Why would anyone have a problem with you being selective in what you read? I'm the same way and I'm trying to do that more and more these days. I want to only read the genres I enjoy, although sometimes I do like something new.

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  22. Anya chewed your books??? She's acquired the taste for books. Another bookish kitty! :D

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  23. Happy Birthday to Anjin! Scott just turned 29, so I've been teasing him that he's in his 30th year of life. He doesn't like that very much. :)

    Hmmm--did you recently watch a movie based on a book that shouldn't have been made? I can think of a couple!

    Isn't it great that you can send home a loved book to someone? I always get a tad paranoid that he/she won't love the book as I did, but I try not to worry about it too much.

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  24. Oh now that just irritates me that someone is trying to blame a kid's behavior on books. Especially great books. *grr*

    Happy belated birthday to your hubby!

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  25. Karen - Thanks for the tip! That's a really good price.

    Kristie - Thanks! He had a good birthday. It's fun to rub it in that they're older than us, isn't it?

    I've enjoyed my week off, but it was too short and I didn't get nearly as much done as I hoped.

    Hopefully your weather was nice and you are enjoying your time off.

    Melissa - So you're on the other end of the stick! That's no fun. You can kiddie jokes at least. :-)

    Florinda - I hope you'll post a photo or image of your cards on your blog so I can see. And thanks for the offer--I may take you up on it!

    Carrie K. - The HP controversy's been going on for awhile, but I still find it amusing. I'm just not used to it hitting so close to home. :-) That's too funny about your car troubles being the result of evil spirits thanks to the HP book. It's sad, but I can't help but laugh at the same time.

    Jaimie - Thanks! We did have a nice visit. Now it's time to reclaim my house!

    I remember the hoopla over Pokeman! It's always something, isn't it?

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  26. Iliana - Thanks for the birthday wishes. The week's flown by. I didn't get nearly as much reading done as I planned. The best laid plans . . .

    Nymeth - Haha! It's kind of adorable in its own way. But yeah, not so adorable for the book.

    Thank you for the birthday wishes. We had a good week.

    Yvonne - I think some people enjoy being critical of others--their way is the right way and there's no other way to be. It's sad, isn't it?

    Alice - She has! She's definitely a bookish kitty. :-)

    Trish - He says thank you! The big 3-0. Now that's a milestone you can't let your husband live down. :-)

    I love matching people up with books. Especially when they end up liking them. :-)

    Jen - I know! It's not fair to the books or the author. The boy really is just acting like the typical pre-teen. HP had nothing to do with that.

    And thank you from my husband!

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  27. Well, it is almost Sunday again, but I am really behind in my blog posts! Hope you had a good week!

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  28. Kelly - I know the feeling of being behind. I always feel like I am playing catch up.

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  29. And I suppose we can assume no one who has made the Harry Potter comments has ever read the books?!!! I wonder what they think is in them!

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  30. Rhapsody - She hasn't read the books, of course. She goes to a fairly conservative church and I imagine that has something to do with it. It's always interesting to me the superstitions that people develop about books like HP.

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