Musings of a Bookish Kitty: BTT

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Friday, March 27, 2015

TGIF: Hopping and Booking Through Friday (03/27/2014)

My husband woke up this morning with a killer headache, and so I volunteered to drive our daughter to school today. Wouldn't you know it, the minute we get there, she runs to the restroom and throws up. Home again we go. She's resting (I'm not so lucky that she'll sleep--I doubt she'll even nap), and I am hoping she'll let me do a little blogging today. I am five reviews behind and had hoped to work on those. They may have to wait. It's not like they haven't waited this long already . . . Here's hoping she is feeling better soon! Stomach troubles are no fun.

Every Thursday Deb from Booking Through Thursday asks a question which participants respond on their own blogs on Thursdays (or any day they can, thankfully for me). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

Do you carry a book around with you? Inside the house? Whenever you go out? Always, everywhere, it’s practically glued to your fingers? (And yes, digital books very much DO count as long as you’re spending time reading on your Kindle or iPad and not just loading them with books that you never actually read.)

Now I feel bad about not being more detailed in my Day in the Life post yesterday. One of the first things I grab before heading downstairs in the morning is my e-reader and maybe a print book if I just happen to be reading one. I make sure one or both are tucked into my purse when on my way out the door. If I am staying in, I like to have them close by just in case I get the chance to read.

Sometimes you can find me walking and reading. I learned the hard way that I cannot read while going up and down my stairs, although sometimes I still snatch peeks in my book as I go because, well, how could I not?

Do you take a book everywhere you go?

Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

Which books have you read in the past month that still have you thinking back to the storyline and the characters? (submitted by Elizabeth)

I read more than my average amount of books last month. This month is a different story. It was not a month for reading despite my best intentions. As a result, all of the books I've read this month were pretty memorable. That's not the answer you want though, is it?

Is it fair to say Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, which I have read before? Probably not since I am just over half way through (I'm taking my time reading it since my husband and I are reading it together) and haven't yet finished it.

I finished the third book in Anne Bishop's The Others series early in the month, Vision in Silver, which I devoured and absolutely loved. Meg is a blood prophet, a trailblazer. She's innocent and kind, like a child in many ways, still learning the ways of the world. She has a way with people--and the others--winning over their hearts, including mine. She is also extremely brave, pushing herself, challenging herself. And Sam, the young wolf whose mother was killed in front of him. He has suffered so much and has finally come out of his shell. It's hard not to love him and feel for him as a mother.

After reading all three books (Written in Red, Murder of Crows and Vision in Silver) in a row it is hard not to think about them still, admittedly. Still, I imagine this book and the two before will stay with me awhile given how much I enjoyed them and the world Anne Bishop has created. I hate having to wait for the next in the series.

Have any books you read this month stand out for you more than another?

© 2015, 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.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

TGIF: Hopping As I Muse and Book It Through Friday (03/20/2015)

What new book would make you spring out of your chair and run to the bookstore? (Or library, or nearest computer screen, depending on your book-delivery-method of choice.)

I still remember going to my first midnight release party. It was for the final Harry Potter book. I was not one of those who started reading as soon as I hit the store parking lot, but I did go home that night, went straight to bed and spent the entire next day reading the book, start to finish. Then there was the time I was at the bookstore when it opened on a Tuesday, the day one of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series' books was being released (back when I read the series). I had taken the day off work in anticipation of buying and reading the book. I was sorely disappointed to find out the bookstore hadn't yet put the books out. I had to ask someone for it and was told to come back later in the day. I guess the books were still in a box in the back. I was not a happy camper, to say the least.

I haven't gone book crazy like that in years. At least not more than a squeal and maybe a little feet stomping in glee. I rarely buy or seek out books immediately upon their release anymore. An already overflowing TBR collection, my war on clutter (I didn't say I was winning . . .), and my tighter budget make me much less likely to buy a new release, at least not right away. I like to wait for a good deal generally, but sometimes I cave and buy it if I just can't wait any longer. Usually with the next book in a trilogy, especially if it's a final book. I do not buy books at the rate I once did. I think I am most guilty of buying earlier books in a series when I get a series book to review from a publisher or decide to buy an e-copy of a book I have in print because it is more convenient to read the book on an e-reader. And those Kindle or Nook daily deal can sometimes be irresistible . . .

The closest I probably come though is with Jim Buthcer's Dresden Files series and Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone books. They are about the only two author's whose books I must buy in hardback these days. And even then I am so behind on both series that I do not run out to get them right away.

What new releases can't you wait to get your hands on?

Do you read more on a rainy day or on a gorgeous day so you can be outside? (submitted by Elizabeth)

Someone at work yesterday asked which I would be willing to give up forever if I had to choose: chocolate or cheese. My immediate thought was chocolate, but then I started thinking of all the foods I eat that include cheese as a main ingredient. My final answer has to be cheese. Sorry, my beloved chocolate. I thought of that as I read today's question.

I live in a relatively mild climate (although summers can be torture without an air conditioner). No snow, which means no hibernating in the winter on designated snow days. Rainy days are few and far between, but still much loved. I love the idea of spending a rainy day reading all day. It rarely happens (either no rain or I'm working), mind you, but it's a wonderful idea in theory. In contrast, I often imagine myself stretched out on a blanket in the park reading on a beautiful sunny day, a nice breeze to keep the heat bearable. It has been ages since I last did that. My daughter is not yet of an age where I am comfortable taking my eyes off her for long as she plays--whether near me or from a reasonable distance.

More often than not, I do my reading indoors, usually at night before bed or at the office during my lunch break. I read on the weekends when my daughter's favorite show is on if I have nothing more pressing to do, or sometimes when my husband and daughter are keeping each other entertained and I can slip away unnoticed.

Ultimately, the weather rarely plays a factor in how much reading I do. Both sound like perfect reading weather options to me--if only the stars would align to make that possible.

What about you? Do you prefer rainy day reading or being able to read outdoors?

Musing Mondays, hosted by Jenn from A Daily Rhythm, asks participants a random question every week, asking that they then post their links and visit the other participants to see what they have to say.

How often do you use your local library? Are you happy with their availability?

I love my local library. It is on the small side, but it has a marvelous children's selection, rows and rows of children's books. There is a nice size area for children and their parents to sit and read. Just about every Saturday, we visit the library, taking advantage of the reading selection and, as of late, the air conditioning. After a couple hours of soccer and playing at the park, it is nice to rest awhile in a cool place. It has also proven to be good shelter when the rain starts falling.

My daughter enjoys selecting her own books to read, pulling them off the shelves and bringing them to either my husband or me, whoever she wants to read to her at that moment. I will sometimes select a few for her to read as well. We don't always check out the books, although occasionally we do.

The adult selection is made up mostly of popular fiction and it's not a huge selection at that. I am not sure I would always be able to find what I am looking for if I wanted something specific. The city (and county, for that matter) has quite a few library branches, however, and I imagine the inter-library loan program might help with that.

As it is, I rarely use the library for my own purposes. I feel guilty at the mere idea of checking out books I have to return by a deadline when I have my own unread books sitting at home to read. There is another part of me that worries if my not using the library for myself is something my daughter notices and will be influenced by. I keep telling myself I will start using the library more--especially for books on my wish list (rather than buying them)--but it hasn't happened yet.

Do you frequent your local library? What do you think of the selection there?

Friday, June 04, 2010

TGIF: Bookish Fun

This week MizB's Musings Monday question:

Do you ever read a word or phrase that sparks a specific place or setting in your mind and makes you crave to read a book with that type of place/setting in it?

Whenever I travel, I get an urge to read about the places I visit. Sometimes I read about a particular period of time or an event in history and I want to know more; so I'll search out other books related to that subject or time. And in these ways, my interest in a specific place or setting is sparked.

Literary references occasionally catch my attention as well. Perhaps a fictional character is reading an actual book as part of the story or mentions a title or author. My interest is immediately piqued and I just have to learn more.

More often than not, my cravings tend to be more general. It could be that I am in the mood for a mystery or urban fantasy today, and then tomorrow it will be nonfiction or a historical novel. One of the first signs a craving is coming on is my sudden interest in a book of a particular subject or type. A visit to the bookstore will find me picking up those types of books more than others or paying more attention to blogger reviews of such books. My cravings come and go, which is fortunate because I would hate to burn out on any one type of book.

Hosted by MizB Should Be Reading

A little tease from where I was:

At night when Stella was at work reading kept her mind full of someone else's stories. She had to have a book or she'd go crazy at every little noise or shadow in the night. [pg 49, Little Green by Loretta Stinson]

A little tease from where I am:

I love spring for all the obvious reasons. I love the flowers blooming (which happens early in Louisiana); I love the birds twittering; I love the squirrels scampering across my yard.

I love the sound of werewolves howling in the distance. [pg 37, Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris]

A little tease from where I will be:

When at last this day is finally over, after I've made it through a wretched afternoon spent in faceless hotel splendor and a plane ride during which I became airsick for the first time since I was a child, a taxi lets me out in front of my house in Newton, and I discover I've been found. My yard is scoured with artificial light, and fifteen or twenty people with cameras and microphones and other technological paraphernalia are standing, waiting for me, in the drizzle. As I open the door of the taxi, they move toward me in a single clot. [pg 25, The Nobodies Album by Carolyn Parkhurst]

Hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine

As I was browsing the new release list for June, I came across mention of Not Untrue and Not Unkind. One of my many reading interests is in books related to or set in Africa, and so it caught my eye.

Not Untrue and Not Unkind by Ed O'Loughlin
Overlook, 2010
Fiction; 288 pgs

Blurb from the publisher:

In Dublin, a newspaper editor called Cartwright is found dead. One of his colleagues, Owen Simmons, discovers a dossier on Cartwright’s desk containing a photograph that brings him back to a dusty road in Africa and to a woman he once loved.

Not Untrue & Not Unkind is Owen’s story—a gripping tale of friendship, rivalry, and betrayal among a group of journalists and photographers covering Africa’s wars. It is an astonishingly powerful and accomplished debut that immediately establishes Ed O’Loughlin as a mature master of the novel, and was longlisted for the Booker Prize.

Other books coming out next week that have caught my attention:
The Passage by Justin Cronin
The Lion by Nelson DeMille
Backsteat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson
Book of Shadows by Alexandra Sokoloff

What's your "waiting on" pick this week?

Booking Through Thursday Question:

Which do you prefer? Short stories? Or full-length novels?

One of my favorite Bible verses goes something like this:

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens . . .

There was a time when the answer to such a question came easily to me. And I suppose, in some respects, it still does. Eight times out of ten, I will pick the novel over the short story. It is because of those two times I would select a short story over a novel that I hesitate to make the blanket statement that I prefer full length novels. But there you have it.

I tend to prefer the novel for all the usual reasons. Full length novels tend to be more satisfying when everything is said and done. There is more time to lose myself in a story and get to know the characters. Reading a novel is like eating a three course meal. The short story is more of a light lunch or a snack. It curbs the appetite for awhile, but the feeling doesn't last long. Mostly.

Short stories have the advantage of being great for those in between moments, when I need something to read but do not want to settle down with a full length novel; maybe I just finished an especially wonderful novel and am not quite ready to commit to another one yet. Or I am on my lunch break and know if I break out my novel I'll forget to go back to work.

The truth is, short stories can be pretty amazing--and satisfying--if done right. I did not always believe that. A couple or so years ago I discovered a new appreciation for the art of short stories, realizing that, like with novels, some appeal to me more than others. It would be easy to lump them all into the same category; but short stories come in all shapes and sizes, genres and types. For me, it was just a matter of finding that right fit.

Even so, I am more likely to pick up that full length novel when all is said and done. Well, at least eight times out of ten.

Graphic courtesy of Tonya!
*Click on the image above graphic to get to the Friday Fill-In headquarters, hosted by Janet!*

1. The bookstore is my favorite place to travel to.

2. When I think about my childhood, I often remember those endless summer days reading in the forest.

3. A book makes for a good friend.

4. The wind in the trees, the rain on my skin, the umbrella over my book to keep it from getting wet.

5. Discovering a new favorite author is so exciting!

6. My best friend knows where all the bodies are hidden.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to welcoming my in-laws to town and sneaking off to read while my husband and his brother play games into the wee hours of the morning; tomorrow my plans include catching a movie and celebrating my husband's birthday with his family (his actual birthday is this coming Monday); and Sunday, I want to settle in for a quiet weekend once the company leaves!

© 2010, 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.

Friday, October 09, 2009

TGIF: Wishlists & a Nearly Endless List of Questions for My Dear Readers

This week Rebecca's Musings Monday question:

Last week we talked about keeping a wishlist. Why not pull out that list and show us some of the books you’ve been eyeing?

Thank goodness no one is asking to take a peek at my TBR list (a list of all the unread books I own). Only two people besides myself have seen it. Kelly from The Written World and my husband. Both have been sworn to secrecy (not really, but it sounds menacing, doesn't it?). Since this week I am only being asked to offer a glimpse at my wish ist, I think I can swing it. It is a rather long list, and so I will only offer a sampling (and most of those listed I discovered through blogs).

The Islands of Divine Music by John Addiego
The Hero's Walk by Anita Rau Badami
Written in Bones: How Human Remains Unlock the Secrets of the Dead by Paul Bahn
The Manual of Detection by Jedediah Berry
The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan
A Person of Interest by Susan Choi
Sealing Their Fate: The Twenty-two Days That Decided World War II by David Downing
The Caveman's Valentine by George Dawes Green
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
31 Hours by Masha Hamilton
Smuggling Donkeys by David Helwig
The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova
Tethered by Amy MacKinnon
The City & The City by China Mieville
Sashenka by Simon Montefiore
Hick by Andrea Portes
My Father's Paradise: A Son's Search for His Jewish Past in Kurdish Iraq by Ariel Sabar
The Sky Isn't Visible from Here: Scenes from a Life by Felicia C. Sullivan
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

Have you read any of these? If so, what did you think? What are some of the books on your wish list?

Booking Through Thursday Question:

Barbara H asked BTT participants to come up with their own questions this week that we would like our visitors to answer, and, wouldn't you know it, I'm drawing a blank. I was full of ideas earlier in the week but I failed to write them down.

After a little brainstorming, this is what I've come up with for today:

1) Comfort Zones: What kind of book qualifies as being outside of your comfort zone? Do you ever read books outside of your comfort zone? Share a title of a book you read and enjoyed that is outside of your comfort zone.

2) TBR Piles: Share the titles of five books in your TBR (books you actually have on hand) pile.

3) Reading Count: My husband would like to know how many book you can actively read at once, not counting the books you've set aside to pick up again later.

4) Recommendations: Can anyone recommend a good crime fiction novel that falls under the LGBT category?

I would love to hear what you think! Go on, take a stab at a question or two, or all of them if you'd like!

Graphic courtesy of Tonya!
*Click on the image above graphic to get to the Friday Fill-In headquarters, hosted by Janet!*

1. Sweet dreams caress us in the night; nightmares make us tremble.

2. That pumpkin cheesecake was made especially for me.

3. Silliness is not my middle name despite what some people may try to tell you.

4. If I celebrated the holiday, I would dress up as my favorite literary character this Halloween.

5. Outstanding or not there are nights I just cannot keep my eyes open to finish that book.

6. A comment from you is what I want right now!

7. And as for the weekend, today I'm looking forward to taking in a movie and having a leisurely lunch with my husband; tomorrow my plans include building a pyramid with all my books right in the middle of the living room (no, not really) and Sunday, I want to do what every good reader does on a free day: read!

What are your plans for the weekend?

© 2009, 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.

Friday, September 25, 2009

TGIF: Music, Wish Lists & Tears

This week Rebecca's Musings Monday question:

Do you listen to music while reading? Does this change if you’re reading in or out of your house? Do you have a preference of music for such occasions?

The soft snores of my dog or the gentle purrs of my cats accompany my reading in the evenings. Murmurs of conversation sound in the background while I read during my lunch break at the office. The music of life going on around me is what I listen to most when I lose myself in a book these days.

There was a time when I insisted on having music on when I read. I used to try and match the music to my book, as if creating a soundtrack. The older I get, however, the more I prefer the quiet and natural sounds as the soundtrack to my reading. It is not that I cannot read to music. I can--on the condition that the volume is reasonable. As it is, I tend to block out all sound when I am truly engrossed in a book.

I do like to listen to music when I am blogging or writing, however. I find it relaxing. Plus, it gives me an excuse to sing to my heart's content.

For this week's Tuesday Thingers, Wendi asks:

Have you explored/used the Wish list collection on Library Thing yet? If so, have you found it helpful? Do you have any other tips or uses for the Wish list collection? [Question courtesy of Caite of A Lovely Shore Breeze]

A couple of nights ago I was re-labeling books in my library collection that were a part of my BBAW giveaways. Ever since LibraryThing added the collection feature, there is no need for me to completely delete the books I give away (I use LibraryThing as a catalog for all the books I own and have read and reviewed). I simply switch the books from "My Library" to "Gave Away" and all is right in my personal library again.

I had seen the wish list feature before but had not really explored it. I still am not using it, but it is an option I am considering. At the moment I keep two wish lists: one with Amazon and the other is an Excel spreadsheet. There are crossovers, but neither is fully up to date. I have bits of paper here and there too with books I keep meaning to add to my wish list. I am always trying to be better organized, but it never quite seems to work out. Perhaps if I switch solely to LibraryThing's wish list feature it would solve my problem. I could keep better track of where I first heard about a book, search for other reviews to make sure it is a book I want to consider getting, and it would be easily accessible.

Hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine

The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova
Release Date: January 12, 2010

From Books-A-Million:

Psychiatrist Andrew Marlowe, devoted to his profession and the painting hobby he loves, has a solitary but ordered life. When renowned painter Robert Oliver attacks a canvas in the National Gallery of Art and becomes his patient, Marlow finds that order destroyed. Desperate to understand the secret that torments the genius, he embarks on a journey that leads him into the lives of the women closest to Oliver and a tragedy at the heart of French Impressionism. Kostova's masterful new novel travels from American cities to the coast of Normandy, from the late 19th century to the late 20th, from young love to last love. THE SWAN THIEVES is a story of obsession, history's losses, and the power of art to preserve human hope.

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova is one of my favorite novels. I first heard mention of the author's latest novel over at My Friend Amy's. I was too late to enter the giveaway unfortunately, but at least now I can make room for it on my wish list.

Booking Through Thursday Website Question:

What’s the saddest book you’ve read recently?

The book I am reading right now is sad. And angry-making. It is called Tears of the Desert: A Memoir of Survival in Darfur by by Halima Bashir with Damien Lewis. Just from the title alone, you can probably guess what the book is about and why I would find it sad. It is even sadder still because it is a true story.

I find myself drawn to sad books now and then. I like books that bring out my emotions. Often the sad books I read offer some glimmer of hope, however small. Ru Freeman's A Disobedient Girl, which I recently read, was one such book, one of the character's stories was devastating. It was a heartbreaking. While the other character's story ended on a more hopeful note. I would offer the details, but I wouldn't want to spoil the story for anyone who has yet to read the book (and that's probably too much information, isn't it?).

Graphic courtesy of Tonya!
*Click on the image above graphic to get to the Friday Fill-In headquarters, hosted by Janet!*

1. One week ago we were celebrating BBAW.

2. You could often find me daydreaming when I was young.

3. Mama told me to smile and laugh often.

4. We are good bloggers, you and me.

5. Take your time when you read a book and savor every word.

6. If I am offered a book about wave particle duality, I will pass!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching the premiere of Flash Forward and Dollhouse; tomorrow my plans include running errands and enjoying my husband's company; and Sunday, I want to try out The Beatles: Rock Band.

Friday, July 24, 2009

TGIF: Quickies

Which do you prefer?
(Quick answers--I tried to pick the choices I gravitate towards most often; however, for all of them, I take part in--and enjoy--each of the options. And as you can see, on several, I just couldn't choose no matter how hard I tried.)

Reading something frivolous? Or something serious?
Hard as I might try to choose one o the other, I cannot. I enjoy reading both equally. Some days call for something serious and others something more frivolous.

Paperbacks? Or hardcovers?
Trade paperbacks

Fiction? Or Nonfiction?
Fiction

Poetry? Or Prose?
Prose

Biographies? Or Autobiographies?
Memoirs

History? Or Historical Fiction?
Historical Fiction

Series? Or Stand-alones?
Nope. Won't choose. I enjoy both.

Classics? Or best-sellers?
I read more bestsellers, but I do love a good classic.

Lurid, fruity prose? Or straight-forward, basic prose?
Another choice that leaves me straddling the fence. Much depends on the book and my mood. I enjoy both.

Plots? Or Stream-of-Consciousness?
With well developed characters, either will do.

Long books? Or Short?
Medium length

Illustrated? Or Non-illustrated?
Non-illustrated

Borrowed? Or Owned?
Definitely owned. I mean, have you seen my personal library?

New? Or Used?
I tend to prefer new over used.

(Yes, I know, some of these we’ve touched on before, and some of these we might address in-depth in the future, but for today–just quick answers!)

Graphic courtesy of Tonya!
*Click on the image above graphic to get to the Friday Fill-In headquarters, hosted by Janet!*

1. Mandatory furloughs are not the end of the world.

2. Sitting here, listening to the sound of rain falling, I feel nostalgic for cinnamon toast fingers, hot chocolate with marshmallows, and walks in the rain with my mother.

3. Barbecue chicken pizza with just right amount of sauce tastes so good!

4. Sometimes, putting others first is a mistake, in particular on that airplane when oxygen levels are falling fast. You have to first secure your own oxygen mask before being able to help others. If you aid someone else first, you may pass out and die. What good would you be then?

5. Watching my cats and dog sleep is breathtaking, really.

6. Well, maybe there is a God after all.

7. And as for the weekend, today I'm looking forward to getting out of work early and spending the afternoon with my husband; and tomorrow my plans include going to see Fiddler on the Roof at the Pantages!

Friday, July 17, 2009

TGIF: Appearances Aren't Everything, the TBR Room & Friday Fill-Ins

This week's Musings Monday question is about book covers:

We all know the old adage about not judging a book by it’s cover, but just how much sway does a book cover have when it comes to your choice of book – whether buying or borrowing? Are there any books you’ve bought based on the cover alone?

Doing a little digging in the depths of my blog, I found a Booking Through Thursday post from March of last year in which I briefly touched on this topic:

I may judge a book by its cover; it is a temporary impression that can easily be changed once I find out what is inside a book. What the author has to tell me is what really matters. The words written on the pages, the story told, the characters and setting that are brought to life . . . All of this is what matters most to me.

I often come across a book while browsing in a bookstore, the cover catching my eye. I pick up the book to take a closer look, peering at the back cover or inside flap to see what the book is about. I have never bought or borrowed a book solely based on the cover. Looks can be deceiving, after all. I base my decision to read a book on whether the subject matter appeals to me.

Do you keep all your unread books together, like books in a waiting room? Or are they scattered throughout your shelves, mingling like party-goers waiting for the host to come along?

I never meant for it to happen. To this day, I am not sure when it came into being. It just was. It got its start as a spare bedroom. A twin bed, a desk and a television set for any company that might come for a visit. There were books, of course. They lined the shelves of the desk. Eventually they lined the desk itself, triple stacked. And then the bookcases came. Books, lining the shelves, sometimes stacked ontop of those. I have always kept my TBR collection separate from the books we had already read. At first it was just a handy way to avoid losing track of what still needed to be read. Now that I keep a spreadsheet with all the titles of my unread books, that really isn't necessary. Still, they remain separate.

I jokingly began calling the spare bedroom my TBR room a few years ago. The books had taken over, and it seemed a fitting name. Years later, the name just rolls off the tongue without a second thought. Even my husband refers to it as such now and then (I am trying to reframe and think of it as my library instead, but it's not working very well).

Separate even from that are the books in my "immediate" TBR collection. They fill the once empty spaces on my computer desk in my home office: shelves, stacks, and a box of books. This consists mostly of my review books and a few others that I want to read sooner than later.

There are books I have not yet read mixed in with the "read" books on my husband's and my shelves. These are books my husband has read, books I hadn't realized I wanted to read until after they'd found their place on the bookshelves in the living room, our "read" library.

So I guess you could say my unread books have just about taken over the house. They're throwing their own part, host or no host.

Graphic courtesy of Tonya!
*Click on the image above graphic to get to the Friday Fill-In headquarters, hosted by Janet!*

1. Milk and frosted shredded wheat cereal make a quick and easy dinner. It's been ages since I've indulged in a meal like that!

2. The Welsh Girl by Peter Ho Davies and The Red Tent by Anita Diamant are the books I'm reading right now.

3. July brings back memories of a wedding in the rose garden, Riley's first homecoming, and Anya's introduction to her new family.

4. The fact that Riley has a new friend who is sneaking in under the fence to play was obvious. He was sprinting around my backyard as Riley looked on in amusement yesterday evening. He was too quick for me to catch, unfortunately. I haven't a clue who this little dog belongs to. He wasn't wearing a collar. I'm sure he'll be back.

5. They say if you tell your dreams to the stars, they may very well come true. Just not always the way you expect them too.

6. Before ordering that messy chocolate sundae on the Roadhouse menu, it might be best to think it over.

7. And as for the weekend, today I'm looking forward to a "Pamper Me" Day; tomorrow my plans include visiting Mesopotamia, Canaan and perhaps venturing into Egypt; and Sunday, I want to continue on with yesterday's journey, maybe resting in the Welsh countryside somewhere along the way.

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.

Friday, July 03, 2009

TGIF: Weekly Meme Fun (July 3, 2009)

This week's Musings Monday question is about mid-year reading:

Now that we’ve come to the middle of the year, what do you think of your 2009 reading so far? Read anything interesting that you’d like to share? Any outstanding favourites?

One thing is for sure. I have become sloppy in my record keeping. I am behind in updating my statistical list of the books I have read so far this year. What I can tell you is that I have read less books this year than any other year in recent history. However, quality wise, I am very pleased with my reading choices. I have read two books that earned five star ratings and several that hit that 4.5 mark. Only one book earned less than a 3 star rating and I have no books to add to that Did Not Finish (DNF) pile. Challenge wise, I am making fast progress in some and really slow progress in others. Lots of books have come into my house, although fortunately my own book buying is down as compared to this time last year. And that's a good thing. I do not anticipate my reading patterns will change much in the months to come, although I hope I will be able to devote more time to books and reading challenges than I have been able to so far.

For a list of what I have managed to read so far this year, you can visit my archives.

For this week's Tuesday Thingers, Wendi asks

This week we are exploring something totally different and un-Library Thing - we're looking at Glue! I first heard about Get Glue when a bloggy friend won a Kindle 2 from one of their contests! The topic then came up again at the recent Seattle blogger get-together. SO. . . I decided that maybe this whole Glue thing deserved a little attention.

What is Get Glue?
From their Website:

Developed by AdaptiveBlue, Glue enables you to connect with your friends on the web around the things you visit online. Glue is powered by semantic recognition technology that automatically identifies books, music, movies, wines, stocks, movie stars, recording artists, and more. Glue works hard to make it easy for you to find out what your friends think about things you're visiting online.
Questions: Have you gotten Glue yet? If so, how do you like it? Do you follow Glue Genie on Twitter? Won anything in their quizzes?

I knew a boy who ate paste. The Sunday school teacher made it a rule that he was not to use paste or glue without adult supervision. I tasted it once and did not see what the draw was. Oh, but how I loved to squirt the glue between my fingers or peel it off after spreading it out on the paper for a project! Glue can be very messy. Just ask my mother.

I have not tried Glue online. I considered it, looked into it, and dismissed it. No matter how many times I read definitions of Glue like the one above, I still am left confused, not sure exactly how it would benefit me. Oh my gosh! Am I becoming techno-phobic? That makes me feel old. Excuse me while I go and eat paste.

Suggested by Callista83:

Do you read celebrity memoirs? Which ones have you read or do you want to read? Which nonexistent celebrity memoirs would you like to see?

mem·oir (mmwär, -wôr)
n.
1. An account of the personal experiences of an author.
2. An autobiography. Often used in the plural.
3. A biography or biographical sketch.
4. A report, especially on a scientific or scholarly topic.
5. memoirs The report of the proceedings of a learned society.
from Free Dictionary

I tend to think of a memoir as falling into the first category. I separate it out from the biography, which I think of as having been written by one person about someone else. I have read biographies of celebrities and famous people. All for class assignments. I am not a huge fan of biographies. I do, however, like memoirs--but usually not of celebrities or famous people. I am more drawn to the stories of the less well-known, those people who are almost just like me. Closer, anyway, than a famous person. That isn't to say I have not or will not read a memoir written by a celebrity. It is just not my preference.

At this moment, I have two memoirs written by famous people sitting in my TBR stacks. One is President Obama's, Dreams of my Father, which I have been wanting to read since I first heard about it. The other is Kristin Chenoweth's A Little Bit Wicked. I have to be honest though and say that it isn't a book I would have chosen for myself, and I am still not sure yet I will read it. I received it as an unsolicited review book.

As to non-existent celebrity memoirs I would like to see? I can't think of one. Nope. Not a one.

“He who believes that the past cannot be changed has not yet written his memoirs.” ~ Torvald Gahlin

Graphic courtesy of Tonya!
*Click on the image above graphic to get to the Friday Fill-In headquarters, hosted by Janet!*

1. When I heard Doris telling Kim that she was looking for something to read I immediately joined in the conversation to offer my two cents.

2. Settling in with a good book is the best medicine.

3. It's late, but I cannot seem to stop reading. Just one more chapter. Well, maybe two . . .

4. I carry a book with me almost always.

5. My eyes have seen terrible and wonderful things over the years.

6. When it comes to certain issues, I feel rather strongly.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to cuddling on the couch with my husband and the dog and watching another episode of Mad Men (we're watching the first season on DVD); tomorrow my plans include catching the movie Public Enemies at the theater and following that up with lunch out; and Sunday, I want to cozy up with my book!

My Friend Amy is hosting The 50 Books for Our Time Project based on the Newsweek's 50 Books for our Times picks. I decided to throw my hat in the ring and join in. Because many of the books are rather daunting, it was decided that each participant would read one book from the list by the end of the year and post on his or her blog about whether or not, in fact, that book is a book for our times.

There were a number of books on the list I would have loved to sign up to read, but most were already taken. I eventually zeroed in on Guests of the Ayatollah: The First Battle in America's War with Militant Islam by Mark Bowden. It's a book I have had on my shelf since 2007 but just haven't gotten around to yet. I really liked the author's book Black Hawk Down and have been wanting to read another of his books for awhile now. It actually seems like a fitting book to read right about now too, what with everything going on in the Middle East, in particular Iran. I can't say I will get to it this summer, but I do plan to read it before the year is out.

Currently, Amy is trying to fill the slots for the remaining books that have yet to be chosen. Once those are filled, she will open sign-ups again for the books already taken. If you are interested, be sure and stop by her blog to get the latest news about the project.

Because I hate for anyone to feel left out, if you like the idea of reading one book (or more) from the list but aren't interested or are unable to sign up for the official project, do not let that deter you from setting your own personal challenge or goals. I would love to know if you decide to read something from the list and to know your thoughts about whether the books on the list really are books for our times.

Maybe you have already read a book or two from the list. Would you call the books you've read books for our time? What books do you think should have made the list that did not?

© Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty 2009
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.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

A Week of Bookish Memes on Thursday

This week's Musings Monday question:

Do you have a set reading time (before bed, perhaps)? Do you read more at night or during the day? Is there a day of the week, perhaps, that you set aside to catch up on reading?

June gloom has settled in this week. The sky is covered in gray clouds and the sun is no where to be seen. The week is nearly over. My week of vacation. I had planned to schedule more reading time in, but it did not work out so well. There was company to entertain, errands to run, household chores that couldn't be put off any longer, movies to watch, and all the other stuff that comes up; and, while you would think spraining my ankle (yes, again) would keep me down, not a chance (maybe that's why I'm in this predicament, perhaps?).

I have been fitting in reading time before I drift off to sleep at least. Though, only once this week has my husband had to pry my book from underneath me, save my place and set my book aside. One of my favorite times to read is right before bed, actually. I like to curl up under the covers and read a bit before I can no longer keep my eyes open. My dog settles in for the night in his bed and the cats curl up on mine. It's such a peaceful time. Sometimes my husband will join us and read in bed too, but more often than not, he is still at his computer, typing away.

The weekends trump bedtime reading. If I can swing it, I can sit for hours reading, stretched out on the couch or sometimes even on top of my bed. More often than not though, I snatch an hour or two here and there, in between whatever else I have going.

I also read during my half hour lunch breaks at the work. My staff have gotten into the habit of asking me each day where I am headed. They don't mean the breakroom or my car or even an empty cubicle where no one can find me. No, they want to know what adventure my book will take me on that day.

It is not unusual to find me sneaking a moment with my book here and there: while waiting in line or for an appointment, for example. These moments aren't nearly as fulfilling, but they are rewarding in their own way.

When all is said and done, I never feel as if I have enough time to read. An extra few hours in the day just for reading would be nice. Hours without the distraction of computers and such, included.

Hosted by MizB Should Be Reading

A little tease from where I was:

When Lilia was very young the entire world seemed composed of motel rooms, strung like an archipelago across the continental United States. Island life was fast and transient, all cars and motel rooms and roadside diners, trading used cars at sketchy lots on the edges of places, long rides down highways in the sunlight, in the rain, talking to waitresses who thought she was too young for coffee, nights spent under the scratchy sheets of cheap roadside motels, messages written secretly in motel-room Bibles. I don't want to be found.
[pg 91, Last Night in Montreal by Emily St. John Mandel, ARC]

A little tease from where I am:

He took my jaw in his hand, and I jerked away. But his hands were firm, and he turned me back, ran a thumb over my broken lip and the other ropy scars, and told me I was the prettiest girl he'd ever seen. I called him a lying dog.
[pg 91, Sweeping Up Glass by Carolyn Wall, ARE]

A little tease from where I will be:

Every time Club Kids showed up on TV, new young converts from middle America would be inspired to run away to New York to join them. Alig let them believe that in his world, they could become freakish superheroes. It was liberating and boundless.
[pg 88, Chemical Cowboys: The DEA's Secret Mission to Hunt Down A Notorious Ecstasy Kingpin by Lisa Sweetingham]

Hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine

This book caught my attention as I was catching up on my BookBrowse recommendations.

Brodeck by Philippe Claudel
Translated by John Cullen
Release Date: June 23, 2009

Book Description: Forced into a brutal concentration camp during a great war, Brodeck returns to his village at the war's end and takes up his old job of writing reports for a governmental bureau. One day a stranger comes to live in the village. His odd manner and habits arouse suspicions: His speech is formal, he takes long, solitary walks, and although he is unfailingly friendly and polite, he reveals nothing about himself. When the stranger produces drawings of the village and its inhabitants that are both unflattering and insightful, the villagers murder him. The authorities who witnessed the killing tell Brodeck to write a report that is essentially a whitewash of the incident.

As Brodeck writes the official account, he sets down his version of the truth in a separate, parallel narrative. In measured, evocative prose, he weaves into the story of the stranger his own painful history and the dark secrets the villagers have vigilantly keep hidden.

Set in an unnamed time and place, Brodeck blends the familiar and unfamiliar, myth and history into a work of extraordinary power and resonance. Readers of J. M. Coetzee’s Disgrace, Bernhard Schlink's The Reader and Kafka will be captivated by Brodeck.

What's your "waiting on" pick this week?

There are certain types of books that I more or less assume all readers read. (Novels, for example.)

But then there are books that only YOU read. Instructional manuals for fly-fishing. How-to books for spinning yarn. How to cook the perfect souffle. Rebuilding car engines in three easy steps. Dog training for dummies. Rewiring your house without electrocuting yourself. Tips on how to build a NASCAR course in your backyard. Stuff like that.

What niche books do YOU read?

At first thought, my response is that I do not read niche books, not of the variety the questioner refers to. While I focus mostly on fiction, I read such a wide variety that there is no particular area that stands out for me more than another. I read an awful lot of crime fiction. Perhaps that could be considered a niche. But I also really enjoy reading fantasy of just about every kind. I read and enjoy quite a bit of general and literary fiction as well. The classics and the contempories. Historical time periods: I am especially interested in the World War II era, but I am also interested in other historical time periods too as well as other wars. And locations. Anything overseas. I love to learn about other cultures and people. I also enjoy reading about books set in my own backyard. I enjoy reading series books and non-series books, genre and non-genre. I read a variety of nonfiction when I do read it, although I suppose you could say that my niche in nonfiction is human interest stories--and those come in a variety of forms. That's not so unusual though, is it? When all is said and done, I am just your average reader with no out of the ordinary reading tastes and interests.

Although, I do occasionally pull down the pet medical advice book when I am looking for a specific answer to a question. And I sometimes will read professional journals related my line of work, but not very often (terrible, I know). Does that count?

Friday, March 20, 2009

TGIF: Weekly Meme Fun

This week's Musings Monday question:

We were all warned as children to 'never talk to strangers', but how do you feel about book-talk with random people? When you see people reading, do you ask what it is? Do you talk to people in the book store or the library? Why or why not? What do you do if people talk to you? (question courtesy of Dena)

"Excuse me. Pardon me. Oh! I'm sorry. Excuse me. Ouch! Pardon me."

It was July 20, 2007. Barnes and Noble was crowded with people buzzing about the midnight release. It wouldn't be long now! Friends and families were gathered together for the event; strangers became instant friends. We all had something in common: our love for Harry Potter. At a moment like that, it was impossible not to talk to someone I didn't know.

In most instances, I tend not to approach strangers while they are reading. I do attempt to take a peek at the title of the book, sometimes straining in an unusual direction in hopes of satisfying my curiosity. I cannot help myself. While part of my unwillingness to push myself on a stranger I see reading has to do with shyness, a bigger part has to do with the fact that it might come across as rude. Not everyone wants to be interrupted while reading. Just this afternoon, in fact, I had reached an intense scene in my book when a coworker wandered into the breakroom. "Please leave me alone; please leave me alone," I silently begged. Fortunately for both of us she did just that.

I generally do not mind if someone I do not know strikes up a conversation about books with me. It has happened on occasion as I browse through a bookstore. Maybe someone is trying to decide on a book and is wondering out loud if it would be worth it (okay, so maybe she wasn't asking me directly, but that's just a technicality) or perhaps he notices a book in my hand which he read and loved--or hated.

It is not very often I find myself reading in a public place where strangers have asked me about the book I am reading. And even though there are those moments when I would rather not be interrupted, more often than not, I wouldn't mind at all. So, the next time you happen to see me with my nose in a book, do take time to stop and say hello.

For this week's Mailbox Monday on Friday, I have one book to report.

Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews

Suggested by Janet:

How about, “What’s the worst ‘best’ book you’ve ever read — the one everyone says is so great, but you can’t figure out why?”

I can still remember holding it in my hands. I was nestled under Grandma's afghan with a dog snuggled up in the crook of my legs and a cat curled up on my lap. I was excited and anxious. I had an entire afternoon of reading ahead of me, and I could not wait to dive in and see where my book would take me.

Words filled the pages, black ink on off white paper. I was prepared for the images to form in my head. Only, something was wrong. Something terrible was happening. The book was silent. It was not speaking to me. Maybe I could find an old episode of Law and Order to watch on television. It always seems to be playing somewhere. Or I could work on that crossword puzzle that had me stumped. I found myself dozing off to sleep before I knew it, waking with a start when my dog jumped down off the couch to bark at the postal carrier who had just dropped the mail in the mailbox.

Oh yes. The worst "best" book. The one everyone said I should read. The one almost everyone loved. It is too bad I cannot remember the title.

1. Why do we have to sometimes stop reading at the best part of a book?

2. Anya curling up on my chest and arms while I sit at my computer is now a habit.

3. I have to figure out a way to make sure the thief doesn't steal anymore of my mail (namely those packages the UPS delivery person and postal carrier leave on my porch while I am hard at work).

4. I had never heard the phrase "the worm has turned" before today, and it is probably not one I will remember tomorrow.

5. I will figure out this mess and fix it the way I always do.

6. How was I to know he would be waiting right outside the door?