Friday, April 25, 2008

Booking Through Thursday: Springing, Friday Fill Ins & 123 Meme


Do your reading habits change in the spring? Do you read gardening books? Even if you don’t have a garden? More light fiction than during the winter? Less? Travel books? Light paperbacks you can stick in a knapsack?

Or do you pretty much read the same kinds of things in the spring as you do the rest of the year?

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of spring is allergies. Although I have year round allergies, they seem to act up even more so during the spring. Sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes and killer sinus headaches . . . You would think this would cause me to dread the coming of spring each year, however, far from it. I love the longer days, seeing the flowers in bloom, leisurely walks, pleasant weather, and the general buzz of excitement that spring always seems to carry with it. I am sure spring is one of my dog's favorite times of year as he wants to spend much more time outdoors, lounging on the grass and taking in the rays. My cat hates the spring, however, because he's stuck inside staring longingly out the window, wishing he could be rolling in the grass next to the dog.

Despite what many people say, there are signs of a season's change in Southern California, however slight. Having lived in the state most of my life and being a natural observer, there is a definite change in the air and in the life cycle around us. Unless you live in the mountains, the changes are not nearly as extreme here as they are in other parts of the country, certainly. That is fine by me. This literary feline is not a snowbird. I am quite content with a less dramatic climate.

Perhaps that plays a part in my reading as well. The less distinctive seasons, the less change in reading habits to coincide with them. I am not a seasonal reader. Going from winter into the spring does not inspire me to read any particular type of book nor draw me to any one topic. My reading patterns change now and then as my interests ebb and flow, but they cannot be set by the calendar.



1. When I fell in love, I knew it would be forever.
2. It's time to break out the spring clothing when the flowers bloom and it heats up outside!
3. Oh no! The internet connection is down, what a perfect opportunity jump back into that book I was reading!
4. Lost is the craziest television show ever. (and I love it!)
5. Cheese and macaroni make a great meal!
6. I would love to have a garden, but I have a brown thumb.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to getting a good night's sleep in preparation for the weekend; tomorrow my plans include spending the day at the L.A. Times Festival of Books; and Sunday, I want to go back for more fun!



Clea Simon was kind enough to tag me for the 123 meme.

1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people, and acknowledge who tagged you.

Well, the nearest book happens to be Cecilia Samartin's Tarnished Beauty and I am afraid that page 123 only has two and a half sentences. A catalog of summer fashions does not quite fit the bill, does it?

An excerpt from the novella, "The Hundred and Ninety-Nine Steps," from Michel Faber's The Courage Consort:
He was carrying a large plastic bag, but apart from that he looked like a young doctor who'd answered his beeper at a London brasserie and been persuaded to make a house call. Sian had trouble accepting he could look like this; she'd imagined him (she realised now) permanently dressed in shorts and T-shirt, running around Whitby in endless circles. She laughed at the thought, her inhibitions loosened by the excesses she was indulging in with Hadrian.
This is one of those memes that goes round and round, but each time can result in a different answer. I will not tag anyone in particular, but feel free to play along!

19 comments:

  1. This meme does seem to get around, but you're right. It's different every time. I love reading little snippets from books.

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  2. I've a brown thumb too. :P

    Love that meme because we can always come up with a new answer whenever we're tagged, hehe.

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  3. Ooo, a book festival? That sounds wonderful!
    Great FFI. Enjoy your weekend.

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  4. Mood reader and brown thumb here too.

    A good night's sleep sounds awesome. My eyes are burning with tiredness as I sit here, lol.

    Have a great weekend.

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  5. Hi Wendy :)

    You are so lucky, a book festival, you'd have to use a crowbar to remove me from there, have a lot of fun and bring back some great reads!

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  6. I should've said what you did for #6. I wish we had a garden but in reality I'm terrible at gardening. Someday, in my dream house I'll have my dream library, a garen and a gardener to keep it looking lovely. :P
    Have a fabulous time at the book festival!

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  7. I hope we'll run into each other at UCLA this weekend! We should work out a signal so we'll recognize each other. :-) I think we're just going to the Festival on Saturday, though.

    I have to agree with you on #4 - I'm so glad Lost is back! My answer for #5 was almost the same as yours.

    After seeing quite a few BTT answers, I have to wonder if anyone really is a seasonal reader.

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  8. I think of allergies too when I think of Spring. I've been a bit lucky so far this season but I'm knocking wood! :)
    Have tons of fun at the book fest. I'm jealous! Of course this means we are eagerly awaiting posts of book finds and all that good stuff.

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  9. What a wonderfully fun weekend you have ahead!! I would soo love to be able to go to a book festival. I don't think they ever have any around here though. I will be anxious to hear all about it!

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  10. I have a brown thumb with indoor plants; outdoors, it's a whole different thing! Never thought I could have a garden, tried it a few years ago and wow!

    Thanks for playing, have fun this weekend :-)

    Here's my input for the 123 meme:

    The floor was flagged, and strewn with fresh green rushes. There were four deep mattresses, each piled with white blankets, laid on the floor along one side. Against the opposite wall was a long bench laden with wide earthenware basins, and beside it stood brown ewers filled with water, some cold, some steaming hot.

    Do you know what book it's from?

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  11. Hi Wendy, green thumb for me too. I'd never be a gardener... no talent. LOL.

    My 123 Meme, from THE ENGLISH PATIENT by Michael Ondaatje:

    The Englishman's dark lean face with it's angular nose has the appearance of a still hawk swaddled in sheets. The coffin of a hawk, Caravaggio thinks. The Englishman turns to him.

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  12. Sally - There seems to be a lot more of us with brown thumbs than I would have guessed. We're in good company then!

    Nikki - It can be interesting reading the little snippets sometimes. :-)

    Melody - I think Florinda has a brown thumb club. Maybe we should join!

    Amy - I'm really looking forward to the festival. A chance to meet authors and browse through booths full of books. What's better than that? :-)

    Trisha - Another one for the club! I hope you were able to get some sleep. I'm heading off to bed shortly. I hope you have a great weekend too.

    Sylvie - My husband tried one year to talk me into going for just one day, but I dragged him back for the second day. It's a bit of a drive for us and a lot of bad traffic, but it's only one weekend out of the year. It's worth it.

    Florinda - I hope we run into each other too! It never fails that there are panels on both days that I want to go to. Hubby doesn't seem to mind too much and this time there's a few that actually interest him as well.

    I hope to watch this week's episode of Lost next week. I heard it was really good.

    Iliana - I hope your allergies continue to stay away. They can be quite miserable making when they want to be.

    I wish it were tomorrow already! I'm so excited about the festival tomorrow.

    April - It's going to be fun! I'll have all of you with me in spirit, even if not in person.

    Janet - I wish I was more like you. I kill everything plant like, outside or inside. My attempts always end in utter failure.

    Thanks for doing the meme! The snippet is from Lord of the Rings, right? ;-)

    Alice - I want to read that book so badly! Before the year is out, I really must. It's good to know I'm not the only person who has no talent as a gardener. :-)

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  13. I have brown thumbs too. Does it come from reading (mine most definitely are not from smoking)?

    For the BTT question it's really interesting reading about the difference in the seasons round the world - we mostly seem to be unaffected as far as our reading habits go.

    Have fun at the Festival!

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  14. I think the only seasonal change is that I tend to read more in winter. What I read doesn't change though.
    My thumbs are decidedly black. :(
    Book festival - heaven!!
    Thanks for commenting on my pics - very kind of you.

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  15. My husband has hayfever but it hasn't kicked in yet... I have started sneezing more inthe summer but am hoping it is coincidental and doesn't develop into allergies. Personally I am not a season or weather reader.

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  16. Margaret - Brown thumbs from reading . . . That could very well be!

    Julie - It sounds like quite a few of us don't really see a change in our reading habits based on seasons overall. It's interesting that you do read more in the winter though.

    Rhinoa - I hope your husband's hayfever decides to skip town this year. That's nasty stuff.

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  17. Allergies have not been so bad this year, I have no idea why but I am grateful. We have changes in season up here, it can get in the 30's in the winter and it has been bouncing back and forth.
    I love my garden but it is my husband who does most of the maintaining once I decide what will go where!

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  18. Jaimie - I'm glad your allergies haven't been so bad this year. Mine are about the same. We sometimes get that cold in the winter here too. And our summers can be scorchers, into the hundreds, which I'm sure you've experienced as well considering where you live. :-)

    It's great that you have a husband who doesn't mind maintaining a garden. Getting mine to mow the lawn is a chore in and of itself. LOL

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