tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post787958733338815990..comments2008-03-20T14:52:16.749-07:00Literary Felinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-6570730273026653542008-03-20T14:52:00.000-07:002008-03-20T14:52:00.000-07:00Jaimie - It's one of those books that is easy to relate to as a reader. :-)Literary Felinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-51094634518881050922008-03-19T08:22:00.000-07:002008-03-19T08:22:00.000-07:00This looks like a great book! Thanks for posting your thoughts on it. I can tell it has definitely made an impression on you!Jaimiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984305420691237277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-72411620667495876092008-03-18T09:12:00.000-07:002008-03-18T09:12:00.000-07:00Bybee - I know what you mean! Haha <BR/><BR/>Although we do keep our general book collection together, our TBR collections are pretty much separate, although either one of us is free to read anything from the others collection. <BR/><BR/>Carrie K - I really like the structure of reading challenges myself and it's a shame that I've fallen away from them this year. I think I over committed myself in selecting books to review for various sites and that's what has gotten me into trouble. And it isn't helping reduce my TBR collection at all. <BR/><BR/>I'd read something about the book you mention, the authors' essays about their rereading old favorites. It's on my wish list to try.<BR/><BR/>Shonna - I'm definitely the bigger book buyer in the house too, and I'm sure that plays a part in my sense of ownership in some of the books we have in the house.<BR/><BR/>Although on a lesser scale, I can also relate to you in regards to keeping or passing along books. Both my husband and I are keepers, but in recent years I've had the urge to clean up the shelves and pass along some of the books I won't be rereading again. I never realized how much of a keeper my husband was until that moment, when he staunchly disapproved (and let's not talk about my dad who doesn't even live with us who wasn't pleased with the idea either). My husband is okay now with my letting my books go, but he gets to have veto power. <BR/><BR/>Iliana - Does she have a new one out? I'll have to look for it. Maybe it's the one Carrie mentioned.<BR/><BR/>Whether there's a difference in reading tastes seems to make a difference in how easy it is to merge libraries, I'm noticing. Maybe because it's still easy to separate out the two. :-)<BR/><BR/>Tara - A sister space hog--for books, that is! When I put the bookshelves up in the TBR room, my husband asked that he at least have three shelves for some of his stuff. I have all the rest, which are quite a few.Literary Felinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-44972808171114707802008-03-18T08:54:00.000-07:002008-03-18T08:54:00.000-07:00Wendy - Thank you. It was fairly obvious which books were mine and which were Anjin's early on with a few exceptions (some of the classics) because he was mostly into science fiction and fantasy whereas I read everything else. What's especially funny is when I come across a book that we both deny belongs to either of us. <BR/><BR/>I may just follow your lead when it comes to challenges. There's still most of the year ahead of me, right?<BR/><BR/>Alisia - I've heard wonderful things about What is the What. And how funny that you almost had the same conversation! It's easy to do with a title like that. :-)<BR/><BR/>Litlove - Ah, yes! That was a funny moment. I never thought of having a "friends and family" shelf, but then, I don't know all that many authors personally. I like the idea though.<BR/><BR/>It's easy to get tempted by another book, especially when you feel the pull of obligation creeping in. I think it's only natural to want to rebel a little. I did really well last year with the challenges I took on, but this year is another story. It mixes things up a bit anyway. <BR/><BR/>Nymeth - Thanks! I imagine most booklovers would enjoy this one quite a bit. <BR/><BR/>I think I've been feeling a little guilty that it's already the middle of March and I haven't started most of the challenges I signed up for. I've been debating whether I want to drop out all together or continue on in the hopes that I may make some progress later on. I am leaning towards Wendy's way of thinking at the moment.<BR/><BR/>Florinda - Anne Fadiman loves her words, doesn't she? I agree with your thought that she was wordy and even pretentious on occasion. I got that feeling too.<BR/><BR/>Our musical tastes do say a lot about us, don't they? My husband and I are so different when it comes to music, whereas with books, there's more common ground. <BR/><BR/>I definitely don't need the challenges to spur on my reading, that's for sure. They were a nice way though of getting to some of those books I'd been wanting to get to that always got passed over though. I'm just going to go with the flow and see where it takes me this year. <BR/><BR/>Melody - Yes, that would make division of or combining books easy! <BR/><BR/>And what you said is very true about reading and challenges. It only matters that I'm enjoying what I am reading in the end.Literary Felinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-31343300323421966502008-03-18T08:20:00.000-07:002008-03-18T08:20:00.000-07:00I've been remiss in responding to your wonderful comments, and for that I apologize. The week hasn't gotten off the best of starts, I'm afraid. <BR/><BR/>Ann - I only recently became aware of this little gem of a book. I can see why you would return to it again and again. It definitely speaks to the booklover in me as well.<BR/><BR/>Mrs. S - Keeping notes has definitely helped me considerably, especially in remembering little details I might want to consider putting in a review that I might have forgotten otherwise.<BR/><BR/>Jeane - It's a good one, isn't it?<BR/><BR/>Jill - That's my biggest problem, the ARC's. I think I'm reading slower as well this year and probably for the same reason! Haha <BR/><BR/>Thank you for the well wishes.<BR/><BR/>Gautami - It's fun to read books about reading, isn't it? <BR/><BR/>I did so well with the challenges last year, but my focus changed this year in my reading and the challenges have fallen by the wayside. No matter though. I'm still reading and that's what is the most important. <BR/><BR/>Susan L - Thanks so much! A friend recently read this one and I couldn't believe I'd never heard of it before. Or maybe I had but hadn't been paying close enough attention.Literary Felinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-19490958153864270872008-03-17T17:49:00.000-07:002008-03-17T17:49:00.000-07:00I should really read this. The part about marrying libraries was interesting to me...have been married since 2000 and have not done this. Or the CDs. In fact, all the books that are 'displayed' in our home are....mine. I'm so greedy about the shelves. I'm not sure why this is...I do know that I have an emotional connection with my books and enjoy being surrounded by them and am sure he would not claim the same desire.Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208766776468157501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-35210830040521458192008-03-17T15:55:00.000-07:002008-03-17T15:55:00.000-07:00This is such a great little book isn't it? And, she has a new one out doesn't? <BR/>My husband and I have pretty different tastes in books so we really didn't have a problem marrying our libraries. Thank goodness :)Ilianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026669671843769219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-62335208716296551082008-03-17T12:15:00.000-07:002008-03-17T12:15:00.000-07:00I loved Ex Libris too, and was fascinated by the Marrying Libraries essay. My husband deferred to me for the organization (after all I am a librarian), and we did keep the few duplicates we had. He has since moved to reading more newspapers and magazines, so I tend to be the buyer of most books and thus think of them as "mine". I also think of the ones I brought in at the beginning as mine. The point we most differ on now is that he is a "keeper" and I tend to pass on those books I don't think I'll read again. He finds this annoying. He was even upset when I tossed my GMAT workbook after I did the test!Shonnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15774547910764225983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-64667771646616829182008-03-17T11:34:00.000-07:002008-03-17T11:34:00.000-07:00I've been a much happier reader since dropping out of challenges altogther. It's peculiar really, since I joined the challenges that looked the most fun, chose the books myself and then.....proceeded to act as if it was a dreaded school assigment. <BR/><BR/>Anne Fadiman's collection of authors essays of their rereading old favorites was really interesting. I'll have to pick up this book since it sounds as if it's more of her own essays this time out.Carrie Khttp://mymiddlenameispatience.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-58191792436056600142008-03-16T20:16:00.000-07:002008-03-16T20:16:00.000-07:00I not only want Anne Fadiman's book, I want her life!<BR/><BR/>Marrying libraries...Mr. Bybee keeps to his side of the bookshelf and I keep to mine, although a few rogue books have crept onto my shelf.Bybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10061186489010154661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-83923063480506332432008-03-16T16:56:00.000-07:002008-03-16T16:56:00.000-07:00That sounds like a wonderful book,Wendy. As for marrying libraries, I don't have such issue because my husband and my reading tastes are different, haha... he's more into computer manuals and references so it's very clear which book belongs to whom in our bookshelves. ;P <BR/><BR/>As for reading challenges, it doesn't really matter as long as you take your pace and enjoy what you're reading. Hope you've a great weekend. :)Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03967837585961009598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-53810223159305220062008-03-16T15:20:00.000-07:002008-03-16T15:20:00.000-07:00I actually BookCrossed my copy of <I>Ex Libris</I> a few years ago; I should pick up another. While at times I did find Fadiman a bit wordy and pretentious, I do identify with her enthusiasm about reading.<BR/><BR/>Your comment about merging CD collections with your husband - and how it seemed harder than merging libraries - made me nod in agreement, Wendy. When my husband and I started combining things, I felt that blending our iTunes libraries was a bigger challenge than our books. That's probably because I tend to judge people more - and therefore feel more judged myself - on musical taste than literary. :-)<BR/><BR/>I haven't gotten involved with reading challenges, and I suspect that you read enough on your own - books that you choose, and books for review - that you don't really <I>need</I> them.Florindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09789402061034734894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-14943904269423090482008-03-16T15:01:00.000-07:002008-03-16T15:01:00.000-07:00I just love the way you structured this post :) Ex-Libris sounds like the kind of book that would make any book lover smile. I must pick it up sometime.<BR/><BR/>As for challenges, if they are keeping you from reading what you actually want to read, then I'd say it's wise to drop out - for a while, anyway.Nymethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16092495983972185943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-90650802018507474072008-03-16T14:10:00.000-07:002008-03-16T14:10:00.000-07:00I loved Anne Fadiman's essays and I do remember the one in which she and her husband merge their libraries. I recall the moment when they find Homer has sneaked into the 'friends and family' shelf. But I also thought, my goodness, who has a 'friends and family' shelf of books! I haven't taken on any challenges this year as I never do very well with them. Something else always catches my eye as I dutifully head towards the books on the list.litlovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952927245186474480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-41300161610754362612008-03-16T09:56:00.000-07:002008-03-16T09:56:00.000-07:00I can relate to the reading challenge issue! <BR/><BR/>I just bought What is the What a few weeks ago as well. And, we also almost had the "Who's on first" type conversation about it, too. :)Nyssanealahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880042178848084407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-17254072656590887332008-03-16T08:58:00.001-07:002008-03-16T08:58:00.001-07:00I'm actually doing better with my challenges this year. Flexibility is the key for me though. I think I learned a bit from last year's, I don't want to say failure, but inability to complete some of the challenges. <BR/> <BR/>As for marrying libraries, in our case this has never been an issue because when we met he was going through a non-reading phase. Too busy with work. And even now that he's reading again he mostly reads non-fiction in Japanese so there's little chance of duplicates. <BR/> <BR/>And about looking up words, lately I just put a sticky note on the word and then look it up when I'm done. This is what I did for A Tale of Two Cities and The Road. I suppose if it seemed critical to the story I might look something up in the middle of reading though.<BR/>It does sound like a great book. I'll have to get it someday.tanabatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592550784537825632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-39466931890312751062008-03-16T08:58:00.000-07:002008-03-16T08:58:00.000-07:00I'm not very good at expressing myself and I usually talk to myself about a book and then run around trying to find my notebook before I forget lol.<BR/><BR/>My husband never was much of a reader and the few he did have I already had copies of (in better condition to!) so we put them into my mom's yard sale. Now CD's are another story. I have a few but his collection far outnumbers mine so my paltry few got absorbed into his.<BR/><BR/>I sometimes look up the meaning of a word if I can't glean from the rest of the text what it means and I either do it right then or I completely forget about it.<BR/><BR/>I've written a few poems over the years but nothing I'm particulary proud of.<BR/>Have a great week!Ladytink_534http://www.blogger.com/profile/14317480621483829078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-9564141868695307392008-03-16T08:43:00.000-07:002008-03-16T08:43:00.000-07:00Great post, Wendy. I haven't read this book yet, but I will. Yours is one of many reviews who give it great marks. <BR/><BR/>When my husband and I got married he didn't have much fiction - it was mostly technical books and aviation history books...so it was an easy meld and it is always clear which ones are "mine" *smiles*<BR/><BR/>I agree with Anjin - being a writer, I'm more interested in how words are put together than the individual word...although I *do* love my thesaurus!<BR/><BR/>I know what you mean about the challenges. I'm signed up for too many - and I've pretty much decided that if I complete them, I complete them; if not, so what? I've been more into reading AREs lately, most of which don't fit with my challenges. I'm just picking what I feel like reading and will see where it all falls out in the end!<BR/><BR/>Have a good day, Wendy - I hope you're getting the sunshine we're getting up here in the North State!Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14332796775305098552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-1710031347456006092008-03-16T07:20:00.000-07:002008-03-16T07:20:00.000-07:00I always enjoy your Sunday Salon Wendy. I had not heard of this book but I'm going to look for it now. Sounds like something I'd like to read.Susan Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09075517088896664743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-37806007626010726052008-03-16T06:35:00.000-07:002008-03-16T06:35:00.000-07:00You read the most interesting of books. I do like reading such books. <BR/><BR/>I agree with you over challenge participation. I am not reading for those either. I joined to many and those burnt me out so early! <BR/><BR/>Today I am here via sunday salon!gautami tripathyhttp://readingandmorereading.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-48743801653825271462008-03-16T05:34:00.000-07:002008-03-16T05:34:00.000-07:00I don't feel like I have been very successful in my challenge commitments either. The deluge of ARCs hasn't helped at all. I am also reading at a much slower pace than last year - and that's probably American Idol's doing. LOL.<BR/><BR/>I hope you're doing well today.<BR/><BR/>All the best,<BR/>JillJillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14563369624457858904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-50809119732293356312008-03-16T04:07:00.000-07:002008-03-16T04:07:00.000-07:00I enjoyed this book very much.Jeanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02270303640902731044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-54747525264131950702008-03-16T03:13:00.000-07:002008-03-16T03:13:00.000-07:00I've not heard of this book but maybe I'll seek it out.<BR/><BR/>I like the idea of keeping a notepad nearby while reading - by the time I've finished a book and come to review it I forget the best bits!Mrs S | 50 Book Challengewww.clareswindlehurst.com/bookreviewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-57114776887712853012008-03-16T02:25:00.000-07:002008-03-16T02:25:00.000-07:00I love this book. It's one of those which I have to take off the shelf at regular intervals and re-read just to enjoy the company of someone else whose life revolves around the written word. I know how important it is to me because I can even remember when and where I bought it and when you own as many books as I do that in itself is a feat.Table Talkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319818411835430752noreply@blogger.com