Wednesday, August 22, 2007

What Are You Reading Meme

This particular book meme is floating around out there, and so I thought I would give it a try. I pulled this off of Bibliolatrist's blog.

What are you reading right now?

I am actually in between books at the moment, having decided to set my current book aside for another time or perhaps not at all. I just cannot get into it. Next up on my schedule to read is Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer.

Do you have any idea what you’ll read when you’re done with that?

I really must get to Stephen L. Carter's New England White, and so that will be up after I finish Mr. Krakauer's book.

What magazines do you have in your bathroom right now?

I just got a free sample of a facial cream of some sort. I believe it came with a pamphlet.

What’s the worst thing you were ever forced to read?

A badly written court report. If you are turning in a legal document that will be put on the record, wouldn't you want to try and make sure it is as perfect as possible?

Admit it, the librarians at your library know you on a first name basis, don’t they?


I am the librarian of my personal library and, so of course, I know my own first name, but that is not what the questioner meant, is it? Alas, I have not set foot in the local public library in over a year and a half. I doubt anyone there would even know what I look like, much less my name.

What’s the one book you always recommend to just about everyone?


My recommendations tend to be individualized based on the types of books a person likes to read. While I may sing high praises of Lisa See's Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, I know my friend Stefanie would not find much enjoyment in reading it. I would more likely recommend she try a Harlan Coben novel or perhaps something by Mo Hayder. My mother would definitely enjoy the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. I talked my husband into trying Michael Connelly awhile ago, and now he's further into the series than I am. Moloka'i is my latest recommendation to my friends who enjoy historical fiction.

Do you read books while you eat? While you bathe? While you watch movies or TV? While you listen to music? While you’re on the computer? While you’re having sex? While you’re driving?

I do read while I eat sometimes, especially during my lunch break at work if the other people in the breakroom leave me alone or are not talking very loud on their cell phones. I've been known to go eat and read in my car for my half hour break just to settle down in a quiet place.

Showers are not conducive to reading, and so no, I do not read while I bathe.

I sometimes will read during commercials when watching a movie or TV, but with the advent of DVR's and DVD's, that happens less frequently than it once did.

More often than not, I do not read with music on in the background, although I can and I have in the past. A lot depends on the volume of the music and what type of music is playing. I love music, and if a song is playing that I am familiar with, I am likely to sing along, which hurts my concentration when trying to read a book.

The only time I read a book when I am on the computer is if the internet is running very slow, or I'm just sitting at my desk reading with an occasional glance at my e-mail. I tend to do one or the other rather than both at the same time.

I do not think my husband would appreciate me reading during sex, not to mention it would ruin the mood. And I definitely do not read while driving, although I have been known to sneak a peek at my book while waiting at a drive-thru.

When you were little, did other children tease you about your reading habits?

I do not recall being teased about my reading habits by other children. My dad used to say that the only punishment that might work on me was to take away my books, but that never happened.

What’s the last thing you stayed up half the night reading because it was so good you couldn’t put it down?

Michael Palmer's The Society. I just had to see how it would all play out in the end. I used to be able to pull all nighters when I read a book, but the older I get, the harder it is to stay awake. When I am desperate, I try reading with one eye to let the other rest and then switch eyes, but that does not really work. If my body wants to shut down, no matter how exciting a book may be, I will fall asleep. My husband has had to extricate several books that I've fallen asleep cuddling.

9 comments:

  1. Oh, to be a teenager again and be able to stay up half the night.

    Instead of being just old enough that I go to bed early and then wake up halfway through the night, stay up for an hour or two and then go back to bed. *sigh* And somehow, I don't have the concentration to read much at 3 am.

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  2. I'd love to hear what you think of Into the Wild. I have it, but have never read it. I did really like one of his other books: Under the Banner of Heaven.

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  3. Like nyssaneala, I'm looking forward to reading what you think of "Into the Wild" since I just finished it not too long ago myself.

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  4. I have to ask what you're reading now that you can't seem to get into.

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  5. Heather - LOL Maybe not a teenager, but definitely in my early twenties maybe. :-)

    I know what you mean. I am the same way. I end up waking up too early in the morning, but I'm still too tired to concentrate on a book even though I cannot sleep. And I thought being an adult meant I could stay up reading as late as I wanted! Hurmphf.

    Nyssaneala - So far it's interesting. I read Under the Banner of Heaven too and really liked it. I like his writing style very much.

    Kookie - Yes, I read your review and while usually reading a review doesn't taint my impression of a book, I'm having a hard time not thinking of yours as I read. LOL That's totally not your fault, of course. Anyhow, I'm of the mind the guy was mentally ill, but I haven't gotten too far into the book to form a complete impression yet.

    JMC - The novel I had trouble getting into was Ana Castillo's The Guardians. Sam Houston did a great review of the book on his blog and gives me hope that maybe someday I can try again.

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  6. Enjoyed your post, Wendy! I played as well. ;P

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  7. Wendy, there is a related book to Into The Wild which I recently heard about. The father of the young man in ITW, killed himself deliberately by going up on a mountain; and his wife wrote a book about it. Not cheerful reading, I'm sure, but then neither is your book, right? :<) It is called Losing The Garden by Laura Waterman.

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  8. Hi:

    I’ve been reading and enjoying your blog for sometime now. I love how your posts truly connect to your readership. I’m interested to have an interactive/link-up/post with you. I’ve written a book that you and your audience might enjoy and am preparing to do a virtual blog tour and would love an opportunity to participate on your blog.

    However, my young adult book ‘Turtle Feet, Surfer’s Beat’ is only a small part of what I’m trying to build. The book itself revolves around a typical suburban teen girl, Penelope, from the States that is forced to go to Costa Rica with her parents for her father’s job assignment. Involuntarily, her parents sign up Penelope and her little brother to spend two weeks at the Leatherback turtle biological station (for ‘their own good’). Penelope, obviously isn’t pleased but forgives the horrid accommodations and the never ending bug brigade as she sees the turtle and instantly pledges to do all she can to help it from extinction. But hang ten, dudes! Penelope is about to get help. One lonely night, as she’s patrolling the beach for turtle poachers she stumbles and falls directly into the arms of the local surf champ. Together they dive into the world of surfing and marine preservation.

    These days, we are constantly facing global problems that seem to be getting worse and worse daily. Living in Costa Rica, I’ve been inspired to take action. I started by writing this book and am now developing a community of teens, surfers, artists, scientist, and everyone else who is interested in working together to have fun while helping out.

    I would love to join forces with you and your readers in a fun, interactive way. I will gladly write a post about your blog (and whatever you will like to plug:), plus a link with your blog to my website and blog, in return for a review of my book and/or small interview.

    Looking forward to hearing from you soon. I can get a copy out to you ASAP.
    Thanks so much.
    By the way, INTO THE WILD, is one of my very favorite books.
    bye,
    Marina Kuperman
    marina@turtlefeetsurfersbeat.com

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  9. Melody - I saw that. :-) Thanks!

    Nan - I'll have to look for Losing The Garden. Thanks for the recommendation. I'm about halfway through Into the Wild now. It's such a tragic story on so many levels.

    Marina - I am so flattered! Thank you. I'm afraid I cannot take on any more reviews right now. I have quite a full plate at the moment. I do wish you the very best though with your book. Your efforts to bring awareness and save sea turtles and other marine life is definitely a worthy one.

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