Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Where is Your Bookmark? (06/11/2013)

Someone in one of my reading groups asked members to describe their ideal reading setting in such a way as to make us all feel like we were right there with the person, enjoying the moment too.  I placed myself at a mountain cabin on a summer morning, wrapped in my afghan with a book and a mug of hot chocolate, gently swinging on the porch swing.  There is a chill in the air, and it is raining, a morning rain that will soon let up and make way for a beautiful sunny day.  Just a little ways in the distance I can see the lake.  If you listen closely, you can hear a small animal scurrying up in the trees.  Birds twitter.  Leaves rustle.  My husband and daughter are still asleep and will not be up for another hour or so.  Tell me about your ideal reading place.  

My family celebrated my husband's birthday this past weekend.  Anjin and I enjoyed a date day on his actual birthday, seeing the new Star Trek movie after eating breakfast out.  We had cake later in the evening with Mouse who still prefers to eat with her fingers even with a fork in hand.  

The local library branch was open on Saturday, much to my glee (it's always been closed on Saturdays before).  After soccer and park time, we stopped in and Mouse and I settled onto a little person's couch to read.  Mouse brought over several books for us to read together and we stayed like that for who knows how long.  This may become our weekend routine, some quiet time after soccer or water play at the park.  I love the idea!



At the moment I am reading and enjoying two books.  I just started reading The Execution of Noa P. Singleton by Elizabeth L. Silver for an upcoming book tour.  The book has been compared to Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, which I recently (and finally!) read.  I'm not far enough in to say whether it is true or not, but just from the description of the book, I can see why some might think so.  I am also making my way through World War Z by Max Brooks.  It's my lunch time reading book, and so my progress with it is slower than it might be otherwise.  I am really liking it though.  Yes, even though it's about zombies.

What are you reading right now?



Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts 
First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where  
participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a 
book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.

I have only just begun reading Elizabeth L. Silver's The Execution of Noa P. Singleton, and I can already tell I am going to like this book.
In this world, you are either good or evil.  If not, then a court or a teacher or a parent is bound to tag your identity before you've had a chance to figure it out on your own.  The gray middle ground, that mucous thin terrain where most of life resides, is really only a temporary annex, like gestation or purgatory.  It shadows over everyone in its vacuous and insipid cape, flying across the sky, making smoke letters out of fears. You always know it's up there, but you never quite know how to get rid of it.  It waits for you, patiently, until the day it wraps you in its cyclone and you can no longer vacillate between black and white, artist or scientist, teacher or student.  It is this point at which you must choose one way of life or the other.  Victor or victim.  And when you do, the fear drips away as seamlessly as a river drains into an ocean.  For me, it happened on January 1, 2003.    
Would you keep reading?


© 2013, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

24 comments:

  1. That really is an ideal reading setting. I find that if my setting is too ideal, I end up falling asleep!

    I signed the girl up for the summer reading program. She's not been interested before but now it's all online and somehow, it appeals to her now. Go figure.

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    1. Ti - I know what you mean. Sleep would come all too easily if I were that comfortable!

      I hope your daughter enjoys the summer reading program!

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  2. We used to take languorous vacations to a state park in Oklahoma, and get a cabin for a week. I enjoyed lazing around indoors or out and totally recharging. With breaks to swim, of course. I need to do that again!

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    1. Andi - I love the idea of staying in a cabin for a week. My family used to camp out in the mountains when I was a child, but we were always in a tent. I could read for hours in that environment.

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  3. I agree that beginning sounds ominous, as does the title. I'd keep reading!

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    1. Harvee - The book got off to a great start, I thought!

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  4. I'm not sure. The intro is very descriptive and I did like that. I'd read a little more before deciding. I hope you enjoy the book. kelley—the road goes ever ever on

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    1. Kelley - It was good, although I wasn't as taken with it as I hoped.

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  5. Happy birthday to your hubby..mmmm cake! :)

    I've been hearing great things about that Singleton and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy :)

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    1. Jennifer - Thank you! He had a nice birthday. :-)

      I'd be really curious to know what you think of The Execution of Noa P. Singleton if you read it.

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  6. I'd love to join you at that cabin. The picture of Mouse in the library makes my heart sing.

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    1. Kathy - We could make it a readers' retreat! I love seeing Mouse so at home in the library.

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  7. I am intrigued enough to know what happened. I'd keep reading.

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  8. I like your ideal reading situation Wendy and I also thought that intro was pretty intriguing -- I'd keep reading.

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  9. Hope you enjoy it. I got a copy of this book at a pre-BEA Random House author breakfast and am looking forward to reading it soon.

    Like your description of the ideal reading place. I like reading poolside...on a cruise ship.

    Thanks for visiting my blog.

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    1. Catherine - I hope you like Silver's book! I had hoped to like it more, but it was good overall.

      I've never been on a cruise ship, but I imagine that would be a great place to read!

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  10. I love the idea of the library after soccer! Mouse is probably a little worn out and more ready to sit and read then and how fun to see her picking out her own books.

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    1. Lisa - It's a good combination. :-) She loves picking out her own books. I didn't even have to direct her to the shelves. She immediately walked up, pulled a book off the shelf and asked me to read to her. :-)

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  11. What a cute picture of Mouse! I think you are on to a great tradition of Saturday afternoons at the library. Sounds wonderful!

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    1. Iliana - Thank you! Especially with the hot summer weather, the library will be a great place to stop in after soccer practice or a day at the park!

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  12. I LOVE your ideal reading spot, especially the hour before hubby and kids get up part ;) Gage loves to play in our library but is way to excited to read there. I always have a stack checked out though. I should post about it!

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    1. Stacy - Sometimes it's the only time I get to read! Now I just need a mountain cabin . . . :-)

      I love how excited Mouse gets about going to the library. We haven't checked out any books yet because I need to update my card (and always forget it when we go).

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