Exceedingly Mundane

Today’s question is suggested by Carrie.

What’s the most desperate thing you’ve read because it was the only available reading material?
If it was longer than a cereal box or an advertisement, did it turn out to be worth your while?

Gosh, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten desperate for something to read. I have a pretty good library branch not a mile from my house, so during their open hours, that is an option. The biggest factor is that I now keep a fairly decent TBR pile here at my house. I don’t like ending a book at 10:30 PM and not having another one lined up to read, you know?! Also, I subscribe to several magazines, and I have a pretty significant stack of those here at the ready, for me to read. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever run out of anything to read or not had something available.

Now, I have been known to read a cereal box or two in my time, though 🙂 Daily paper too, and most anything else I can get my hands on. But, these days, I try to always have a book with me, or something to read. Especially if I know I’m going to be somewhere that I might need to wait. I try to always be prepared 🙂

Happy Reading!

School days, Golden Rule days…. June 21, 2007

Since school is out for the summer (in most places, at least), here’s a school-themed question for the week:

Do you have any old school books? Did you keep yours from college? Old textbooks from garage sales? Old workbooks from classes gone by?
How about your old notes, exams, papers? Do you save them? Or have they long since gone to the great Locker-in-the-sky?

Well, you know, I would honestly have to go up in the attic and look. I think we finally got around to throwing most of them away. At least mine; we might have some of Tim’s. I have absolutely no desire to hang on to my mathematics and extremely out-dated computer text books. I’m pretty sure that Tim has at least a couple still hanging around that he wants to keep as a reference. I would throw them away if I could, but alas, he might actually want to use them one day (*snort*). 🙄

As far as old notes and exams and papers go, I would say that it is all gone too. I might have a stray exam or report around here, but not much. I know I have one large Rubbermaid tote that has some things from my childhood, and I believe the last time I looked through it, I had some reports I did in elementary school and junior high. High level stuff, to be sure 😀

I finished a great book a day or so ago, “Thorn in My Heart” by Liz Curtis Higgs. I got this book via Stacy and Lauren, who very kindly passed it on to me to read. They had both enjoyed it, and now after reading it, I certainly understand why. This book is a retelling of the Biblical story of Jacob, Leah and Rachel, except it is set it in the Scottish Lowlands in the late 1700’s. There’s a ton of local Scottish dialect, culture and customs woven in with the more modernized version of the story. It’s a long book, but the story is fairly engrossing and the pages just flew by. I found myself not wanting the book to end, which is the sign of a wonderful book to me. There’s several more in this series, that I hope to read eventually. I’d recommend this book if you can “handle” the Scottish dialect that is interspersed in the book, as it’s a great story and a good read.

For the record, that makes 43 books read so far this year, for a total of 13, 494 pages read. Up next is the next book in the Anne George “Southern Sisters” mystery series, “Murder on a Bad Hair Day”. I won’t do a review for this one, as it is part of a nice little series. After that one, I will have to figure out what to read next. It might be “What a Girl Wants” by Kristin Billerbeck, but then again, it might be something else 🙂

Happy Reading!

I finished another library book recently, “Dream When You’re Feeling Blue” by Elizabeth Berg. Oh my, I have really found an author I love! This was my third book by Berg and I enjoyed it immensely. It took me about 50 pages to “really” get into it, but after I did, it just flew by and I didn’t want it to end. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there’s something about Berg’s writing style that I really love. I still think the first one I read by her, “The Year of Pleasures” is still my favorite, but this one was wonderful too. I was also able to strike a bit of a personal chord with this book.

The book is about an Irish family living in Chicago during World War II. There’s 6 children in all, 3 boys and 3 girls, and the book focuses mainly on the girls. We start off the book with the two oldest girls seeing their boyfriends off at the train station – one headed to Europe to fight the Germans and the other to the Pacific to fight the Japs. We follow their lives and loves, through letters, things happening on the home front, through the girls eyes, mostly. It was a really well written book, and much like “Year of Pleasures”, one that I could sort of relate to. You see, my mom and dad got married in 1946 and I could sort of picture this time period through their eyes. I asked my dad if my mom went to dances and danced with the soldiers (she did) and if she wrote him letters (she did, but not every night like the girls in the book). I just wish my mom were still here for me to ask her more things 🙂

I hated to see this book end, and it did sort of surprise me at the end. It didn’t turn out quite like I had thought it would. It didn’t end badly, but it ended differently than I would have thought. It had me thinking about the ending, and the characters, for quite a while afterwards. In fact, I’m still thinking about them – always the sign of a good book to me. I really wish the book had been longer, I wanted to know more about the characters and see what happened in their lives more. More, more, more… another good sign! I’m definitely going to have to look for other books by Elizabeth Berg at my library. She has not failed me yet 🙂

For the record, I’ve read 42 books so far this year, for a total of 13,019 pages read. I have also read the sixth book in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series lately (“In the Company of Cheerful Ladies”), but I won’t review it. It is just part of a wonderful series that I have already reviewed. I look forward to catching up on it soon, as I have 2 more to be current with that particular series. Up next for me is a book that came to me via two wonderful ladies (thanks, Stacy and Lauren) – “Thorn in my Heart” by Liz Curtis Higgs. I’m really looking forward to it 🙂

Happy Reading!

I’ve seen this mentioned on several blogs, and thought I’d hop on the play-along bandwagon 🙂

Jill, over at “Who Could Ask for Anything More“, is having a fun new contest at her blog. She’s giving away a book each month, in a cute bag, to one lucky winner. This month, the book is “The Patron Saint of Liars” by Ann Patchett. Sounds like a good book, and who wouldn’t love a cute bag to put your books in?! Count me in 🙂

Thanks Jill!

This week’s topic: Dessert First

1. Do you cheat and peek ahead at the end of your books? Or do you resolutely read in sequence, as the author intended?
2. And, if you don’t peek, do you ever feel tempted?

Believe it or not, I have the first question on my list of “topics to ask as a ‘question of the day’ “. Yes, I keep a running list of ideas of things to ask, and am always on the lookout for more. I’ll have to remember to mark this one off of my list!

Ok, time for my answers. I don’t cheat and peek. I don’t like to read the ending. I read it in order, and even if I’m struggling, I still plod on along and don’t read the ending. I’ll tell you what I do, do, though – I do flip to the very back when I first look at getting a book and I first start reading it. I always want to know how many pages it is! I have this mental roadblock about books that are too long. My limit is usually in the 350-400 page range. I start struggling around then, and if the book is any longer than that, I really probably won’t even attempt it. I guess my attention span is just too short 🙂 Anyway, I read in order and rarely feel tempted to cheat and peek. I don’t like to know how it’s going to turn out until I turn that last page.

Great question! Leave me a comment and let me know if you cheat and peek at the ending, or play along at your blog. This is a great meme if you like books and reading 🙂

I finished another library book last night, “Back on Blossom Street” by Debbie Macomber. I thoroughly enjoyed it, as I expected to! I love the Cedar Cove books by Macomber, and I’ve loved both books she has set on Blossom Street (The Shop on Blossom Street and A Good Yarn). I do hope she continues on with this series and these characters. In this book, we have yet another knitting class, this time for a prayer shawl. Lydia and her sister Margaret are back, as are several of the other characters from the previous books. One of the members of the knitting class is Susannah, from Macomber’s other recent book, Susannah’s Garden. Another member is Alix, from the first book, who is about to wed pastor Jordan Turner, if she can survive the wedding preparations. There’s also Collette, who works with Susannah at her flower shop on Blossom Street. If you read and enjoyed either of the other books, you will like this one!

For the record, that makes 40 books for me so far this year, with a total of 12,510 pages read. Up next is another library book, one I picked up on a whim from the New Release shelf – “Dream When You’re Feeling Blue” by Elizabeth Berg. This is going to be a totally different book, as it appears (from the book jacket) to be about “3 sisters during World War II, their lively Irish family and the men they love”. I hope it’s good!

I saw this a while ago at Deena’s blog – A Peek at my Bookshelf. Thanks for sharing, Deena, here’s my answers!

What’s Your Preference??

1) Novel or novella? Novel, definitely. I like to watch characters grow, and see what happens to them and how they turn out 🙂

2) Hardback or paperback? Both. I like the new larger size paperback best, but I will read hardbacks and paperbacks.

3) Male authors or female authors? I read some of both, but I think I do read more women authors lately than men.

4) Fiction or non-fiction? Oh, easy one! Fiction all the way. I have a hard time reading non-fiction

5) Bestseller or obscure title? Bestseller. I like to read what others are reading and stuff that is “good”. Usually the bestsellers are pretty good

6) Local bookstore or chain franchise? I know it won’t be a popular answer, but I do patronize chains like Borders and Barnes and Noble. We have a copy of local bookstores I keep telling myself I want to go to, but I haven’t yet.

7) Read the book first or see the movie first? Book is always better, I think, but I have done it in reverse order. I usually try to go back and read the book afterwards, but that is harder, since I already know how it’s going to turn out.

I finished another library book last night, one that I had requested and received from their waiting list, “Whitethorn Woods” by Maeve Binchy. I have read most of her work in the past and always enjoyed her books. This one was no exception, although I will say, I don’t think it was one of my favorites of hers. I haven’t read one of her books in a while, but I do own several (collecting dust on my bookshelves!), and I probably need to glance through some of them soon. I’m thinking this one was not like her normal books. It seemed a little more disjointed in how she flipped from character to character, in telling the story of the townspeople. Half the time, when I started the chapter, I had no idea who the character was, or how they would tie into other characters she had “flitted” through in her telling of the story. This sort of bothered me at first, but I settled into it fairly quickly, and I did enjoy the book. I didn’t love it, but I did like it. Always the case with me 🙂 Especially considering it’s a library book. I’m always more critical of the books I buy. Something about that expenditure of money from my pocket, I imagine.

For the record, that makes 39 books so far this year, for a total of 12, 117 pages read. Up next is another book from the bestseller list, that I was on the reserve list for at the library – “Back on Blossom Street” by Debbie Macomber. I’m looking forward to reading it – I loved Blossom Street and A Good Yarn and look forward to revisiting those characters. I just ran to the library early this morning and picked it up. And, me being me, I couldn’t just walk into the library and pick up one book on hold. Oh no! 😀 I had to peruse and get more books. I picked up the next book in the No 1. Ladies Detective Agency series (for me, I’m up to book 6, “In the Company of Cheerful Ladies”). I also have to always check out the new release shelves up front. I saw a new book by Elizabeth Berg. I’ve read two Berg books so far and enjoyed both of them, and although I don’t remember hearing anything about this one, I picked it up anyway. It’s called “Dream When You’re Feeling Blue”. I hope it’s as good as her others.

Happy Reading everyone!

Debi tagged me earlier this week with this fun little book meme that is going around. We were off on vacation, then I’ve been trying (ever so slowly) to catch up on things. I’m afraid blog-reading came after unpacking, laundry, etc. But, better late than never will have to apply here! Thanks for tagging me Debi, and without further ado… I give you my answers to the fun book meme!

The next 5 books on your to be read shelf:

1. Thorn in my Heart by Liz Curtis Higgs
2. Whitethorn Woods by Maeve Binchy (at the library, they called and I need to stop by and pick it up)
3. Murder on a Bad Hair Day by Anne George
4. What a Girl Wants by Kristin Billerbeck
5. Not sure, either the next Anne George book, Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner or Blessings by Anna Quindlen, will depend on my mood

I’m also going to append this with the exact thing that Debi posted on hers. Great minds think alike 😀 “I do, of course, reserve the right to change my mind. The whole woman’s prerogative thing, you know.” What I plan to read and what I actually end up reading, in order, often depend entirely on my mood.

The last 4 books you’ve read:

1. Murder on a Girl’s Night Out by Anne George
2. The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler
3. Loving Ways by Gail Gaymer Martin
4. The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith

The last 3 books you’ve borrowed (library or friend):

All from the library, I don’t borrow that many from friends or family:

1. The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith
2. Miss Julia Strikes Back by Ann B. Ross
3. Between, Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson

The last 2 non-fiction books you’ve read:

1. 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper
2. Can’t think of another one, I don’t read much non-fiction at all. I have several on my TBR shelf but never seem to get to them 🙂

The 1 book you wish everyone would read:

1. Hmm, sort of a tough question. I’d like for everyone to read the Bible, but I must admit, I’ve not read the entire thing. I mostly wish everyone would just read. Read for yourself, read to your kids, buy your spouse a book. Read for enlightenment, read for pleasure, read for knowledge, read for fun. Just Read!

I won’t tag anyone else, but if you’d like to play along, please do so! Leave me a comment and let me know if you decide to play, so I can be sure to come by and read your answers 😀

I finished another book last night, “The Jane Austen Book Club” by Karen Joy Fowler. I wish I had something positive to say about the book, but I really didn’t like it very much. I didn’t hate it, but I just didn’t like it. It was a bit of a struggle for me to get through. Maybe I wasn’t in the mood for that type of book right now (I really do tend to be a moody reader), but mostly I think I just didn’t like the characters all that much or the way the author wrote. Or the plot, for that matter.

The book centers on 5 women of varying ages (and relationship states) and one man in California who band together to read the works of Jane Austen, exclusively. They don’t read works by other authors, just Austen. Maybe it is because I have not read most of her books (of which there are few, only 6 books), but I really don’t think that is it. While there is sufficient talk each time about the book and characters, that is not what didn’t appeal to me. It’s the actual book club members, their lives and forays into their past (distant or otherwise) that I just didn’t like. To me, these weren’t very likable characters, not endearing to me in any way. Maybe I didn’t relate to them. Who knows, but now, I do know, this is not the book for me. I don’t know if Fowler has written other books, but I don’t think I’ll look for any. I have plenty of other books I know I want to read, most by authors I know I enjoy. Life is too short to read books we don’t enjoy. I did finish it. I persevered, to be sure. I struggled at times, but my philosophy is “never surrender” 😀

For the record, I’ve read 37 books so far this year, for a total of 11, 534 pages. Up next is the first “Southern Sisters” mystery that I bought last week in the library sale. It’s called “Murder on a Girl’s Night Out” and I’m looking forward to it – light, cozy and enjoyable. 🙂

Happy Reading!

I had an idea for a BTT question when I was taking a peek at one of my bookcases yesterday and spotted my old copy of the Aeneid in Latin sitting there. Maybe this question has already been done—but if not… Do you have any foreign language books and if so can you (still) read them?

Well, this week’s question is really not very applicable for me. I have never even owned a book in another language! I’m sure I had some French textbooks of some sort when I was in high school and took French, but I certainly don’t have them now 🙄 I never took any other language, either. Actually, I think I might turn that into a “Question of the Day” 😀

This week’s question is very timely, considering I blogged a little about this yesterday! From their new website, here:

It happens even to the best readers from time to time… you close the cover on the book you’re reading and discover, to your horror, that there’s nothing else to read. Either there’s nothing in the house, or nothing you’re in the mood for. Just, nothing that “clicks.� What do you do?? How do you get the reading wheels turning again?

Well, since I got back on my reading kick a couple of years ago, I can honestly say that I have never reached the point where I don’t have something lined up next to read. I have a pretty good TBR pile here, and I have a huge list on my PDA of books to check out of the library. So the literal “don’t have a thing to read” dilemma has not happened to me. However, the “nothing you’re in the mood for” thing does apply to me! I actually have that a lot. Including yesterday. I had finished the last library book, and knew I wanted to work on some books from my bookshelves that are languishing there, feeling lonely and gathering dust. I just didn’t know which ones and what I felt like reading.

I am actually quite a “moody” reader, I admit. I tend to get in moods where I do or do not want to read certain kinds of books. This is really apparent for me when it comes to series books. I love to read series books, and I must read them in order, but I have this odd little quirk about not reading them back to back most of the time. I seem to get sort of burned out if I read a series of 3, 5 or even more books in consecutive order, with nothing else interspersed in there to change the mood or flow. (I think I must have a short attention span and need to switch things up. This also applies to any book over about 350 or 400 pages. I balk. I can’t do it, just too long!) I just don’t enjoy series books as much like that, if I read them back to back to back. So, I slide other books in there and work along on my series, without getting burned out on them. Does that make sense?

I finished another library book last night, the fifth book in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith. I still have several of these left to go, and am slowly checking them out of the library. They’re really light and easy books to read, with a different pace and voice to them, but I do enjoy them. Really like little short stories and vignettes woven throughout each book. And certainly the setting, Botswana, is different from most everything I read.

I also enjoy these books because I don’t have to stop and look up a lot of words! 😆 I don’t like books where I have to stop every page or so and look up a word or figure out what it means. It distracts me from my reading, but I do have to know and therefore have to stop. In this book, I only wrote down four words, although I think I pretty much knew two of them (or figured it out from the sentence), but still, I love to learn new words.

Here’s the words I wrote down… see if you know any or all of them! I’ll put a link to the definitions on the extended page.

1. Diurnal
2. Didactic
3. Stentorian
4. Imprecations

For the record, that makes 35 books read so far this year, with a total of 10,907 pages read. I am still trying to decide what to read next. Therein lies my dilemma. I have a huge TBR pile of books here and then there’s always the library (and my ever-growing list of 100 or so books I want to check out). I am going to try to stay out of the library until after our vacation though. I don’t like to take library books with me out of town; I’d rather travel with my own books. So, I will have to go through my pile of books later today and see what strikes my fancy. I don’t think I want to read a book that is a part of a series, and I have a lot of those. I’ve already got so many other series started, in progress, that I don’t think I need to start any more. 🙄

Have a good day, and Happy Reading!!!

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Look what I got in the mail over the long weekend!!!

I had entered one of the “Books Galore” giveaways over at Katrina’s blog, Callapidder Days. Katrina emailed me to let me know I had won one of the books, a book entitled “Last Light” by Terri Blackstock. Terri is an author I have not read, but had heard good things about. And, this book is part of a series, and I do love good series books! Anyway, it came in the mail over the weekend, signed by the author and everything! I don’t own a single book that has been signed by the author, so this is a wonderful thing for me 🙂 What really got me though, was that I had no idea Terri Blackstock lived just a few minutes from my house! I think it’s just the coolest thing to enter a contest on the Internet, win a book, and find out that the author lives 20 minutes from my home. Cool beans!

Thanks again to Katrina, and thanks to Terri Blackstock – I look forward to reading it! 😀