Booking Through Thursday - 9 DEC

I haven't participated a Booking Through Thursday in quite a while but I'm ready to jump back in.  (I hope.  I make no promises!  My life is kinda crazy.)

So today's topic: 

Do you ever crave reading crappy books?

Oh yeah, I definitely do.  I balance every notable book with at least five crappy books.  And I love them all!!!  I'm all about the light and fluffy reading.  The fluffier the book, the better.  I actually don't think they are crappy at all.  Unless they are, because some books are REALLY crappy. 

Booking Through Thursday - 13 May

Are your book choices influenced by friends and family? Do their recommendations carry weight for you? Or do you choose your books solely by what you want to read?

I am definitely influenced by what my friends and family read and recommend.  Some of my favorite authors were introduced to me that way.  The majority of the time I make my own decisions but have on occasion read a book based on peer pressure.  That sometimes backfires on me.  I've read some stinkers!

There are certain people who I feel "get me."  I am more apt to jump on a book they recommend over some other people (who will remain nameless).  I love them even if I think their choices of books are a bit off my taste. 

Last night my dad asked me if I ever read non-fiction.  I told him I do and mentioned a few memoirs and humor books.  He didn't seem to think that counted.  No, Dad.  I don't read books on World War II.  Sorry. 

Booking Through Thursday - May 6

So … you’re halfway through a book and you’re hating it. It’s boring. It’s trite. It’s badly written. But … you’ve invested all this time to reading the first half.

What do you do? Read the second half? Just to finish out the story? Find out what happens?
Or, cut your losses and dump the second half?

It all depends.  If it's a book for a review, I'll plug through.  Sometimes I just want to see how bad it can get.  If it's a book I've heard a ton about and have been encouraged to read, I'll probably skim.  If it's a book I bought for fifty cents at a library book sale, I'm going to put it down. 

I don't like giving up on a book.  I do give most books a fighting chance.  I usually give it to fifty pages.  If I get to one hundred and I still don't like the book, I'm not apt to quit.  If I've invested that much time, I'm going to finish.  I do find myself skimming at times just so I can find out what happens.  I don't like doing that either.  I want to enjoy, think about, and immerse myself in a book. 

Booking Through Thursday- Jan 7

Booking through Thursday asks:

What books did you get for Christmas (or whichever holiday you may have celebrated last month)?

Do you usually ask for books on gift-giving occasions or do you prefer to buy them yourself?

 
I didn't get too many books for Christmas but I think it's because nobody knows what I have or don't have.  I did get a book on the history of Disney - the man, movies, parks etc.  It's a lovely book with wonderful pictures too. 

I also got the Griffin and Sabine set which was a surprise because I hadn't thought about those books in years.  I remember pouring over them in college, opening the envelopes and reading the letters.  My friend had a copy that I would borrow regularly.  Now I have my own set with all three books!  It was a great gift. 

I don't usually ask for books.  It's too hard to try to explain what I want.  On occasion, if I'm out with my dad near the holidays, I'll let him know what books I want and he'll get them for me, saving them for Christmas.  That's pretty much it.  One year I asked for all of the Stephanie Plum books which was easy as they were numbered so well!  I'd prefer to just get a gift card.  It makes it easier on everyone. 

Booking Through Thursday - Oct 1

Today's Booking Through Thursday question is. . .

Two-thirds of Brits have lied about reading books they haven’t. Have you? Why? What book?

I think I probably have told little white lies at times. I don't do it to make me look better or more well read though! Here are a few examples. . .

A friend tells me I really need to read a book. I know of the book or the author and have absolutely no desire to read it. In order to not have to explain myself, I usually just say that I've read it, or I started it and didn't really like it all that much.

I start reading a book, don't love it, and ended up skimming through to the end. In my mind I didn't read the book, but I might tell someone I read it because I at least gave it a good try.

Some books, A Christmas Carol for example, have been made into 13,576,987 movies* and therefore I feel like I've read the book even though I haven't.

It's rare that I would lie, but those are a few instances when I might. Like I said, I wouldn't lie to make myself appear smarter or more intelligent. I could care less what people think of the books I read. What about you?

*That number is just a random guess. According to one website there are over 200 versions out there but I like my number better.

Booking Through Thursday - Sept. 24

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

If we count actual tears, then Dewey, by Vicki Myron, would be the saddest book I've read this year. I do not handle animal stories well, especially when it deals with end of life. Dewey made me cry a lot.

The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold, was sad in a different way. The subject matter was difficult and while the character of Susie was still a vibrant part of the book, every once in a while I'd remember that she was dead and I'd feel so bad for her family.

After, by Amy Efaw was also a sad book. I was so sad for Devon and how quickly she changed the whole direction of her life. I find myself still thinking about the book and wondering what happened next.

Booking Through Thursday - Sept 10

What’s the most informative book you’ve read recently?

Informative? I don't read a lot of educational stuff! I'm definitely a fiction girl. I would definitely say that Sacred Hearts was informative. I learned a great deal about the life of a cloistered nun in the 16th century! Julie and Julia was also informative in that I learned that I couldn't cook like Julia Child if my life depended on it.

Honestly, I learn a little bit about something from every book I read. I can go through my list of books read in 2009 and pick something from each book that added to my head full of random trivia. This is why I'm good at trivia games. I don't know enough about anything for it to be very useful but I do glean information every day.

As for books that are really useful, I read them when I need them. The truly informative books aren't that much fun for me and reading is definitely an escape for me.

Booking Through Thursday - Sept. 3

Today's topic is:

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

(Feel free to think “big” as size, or as popularity, or in any other way you care to interpret.)

I'm going to go with "big" as size. . .

I think The Host was the biggest I've read as far as size goes. It was a big one. A good one but a big one. Eragon was big too. I don't usually go by size when it comes to picking out books but I will say it's always a bit of a relief to pick up a small little novel after reading a monster.

Short and sweet answer today.

Booking Through Thursday - August 27

What’s the lightest, most “fluff” kind of book you’ve read recently?

The lightest, fluffiest book I've read recently is Vision in White by Nora Roberts. It was just a sweet love story. It wasn't complex and it wasn't anything you would have to think about too much. Probably why I liked it! It was a fun read.

I'm looking forward to reading some more fluff soon!

Booking Through Thursday - August 20

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

That's a tough one. . . I've liked so many!

South of Broad was a fabulous book in my opinion, it affected me emotionally and not many books do that. I also really loved The Late Lamented Molly Marx, it was unique and different. The Host is another that I really enjoyed.

I would say that those three books top my list for 2009 so far. They are three very different books and have stayed with me. I personally think that a book that I continue to think about for months and even years later, is a book that I can put on my list of favorites.

Booking Through Thursday - August 13

I somehow missed Booking Through Thursday last week, so I'm going to catch up by answering both last week's question and this week. So. . . let's go back in time to last week:

What’s the most serious book you’ve read recently?

I think the most serious book I've read recently was Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant. Wow. That was a serious book. The book is about a nun in a sequestered convent in the 15th century. The story revolves around her relationship with a novice who doesn't want to be there. It was a very good book but it wasn't a lot of fun.

And now for this week. . .

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

Ugh. I read a book a few months ago that was so bad I never even reviewed it. Every time I started to write a review I felt like I was a horrible person talking bad about someone. The book is called The Gettysburg Ghost by Philip Rogone. It was written by a friend of a friend of a friend and it's very bad. It read like a first draft. I think the story has potential but it is in desperate need of editing. A lot of editing.

Booking Through Thursday - July 31

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

The funniest book I read this year was Pretty in Plaid by Jen Lancaster. Her books always make me smile and laugh out loud. If you haven't read any of her books I really recommend them. You can't go wrong.

Booking Through Thursday - July 16

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 have a bookshelf in my living room with five shelves. The top shelf is my very favorite books ever. I just like to be able to look at them. The second shelf holds my travel books but I'm really thinking they are going to have to move. . . The third and fourth shelf are my "To Be Read" books. They are groaning right now, bowed at the bottom and way too full. That's why I think my travel books have to go. The bottom shelf is my collection of picture books along with toys for my niece.

I have two more bookshelves in my bedroom. One is a short little thing. I've had it pretty much my entire life. It is currently holding more "TBR" books - but ones that I've had a really, really, really, long time and probably will never be read. I go through it every now and then and pull a few out to get rid of.

The larger bookshelf in my bedroom is where I just shove books that I want to keep. Most have been read and they probably should be gone through again. It's a mess. A catch - all.

Booking Through Thursday - June 11

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?

Interesting question. My answer would have to be travel guides. At the moment, I'm reading travel guides to Italy. I'm planning a trip and am currently obsessed with finding out as much information as I can. That being said, I can guarantee it will be a short lived obsession, like everything else. I don't have a long term niche. I flit around from passion to passion.

In the past fifteen years or so I can list a few niche books that I've read. I have a stack of books on Hawaii. When I went a few years ago I knew everything about the islands. I have a good collection of books on tropical fish because when I bought my aquarium I wanted to be well educated. I have books on dog training but I've never focused on them.

I don't think that reading travel guides is at all unusual though. I wish I had a better answer!

Booking Through Thursday - May 28

I'm still playing catch - up! Sorry this is late.

In the perfect follow-up to last week’s question, as suggested by C in DC:

Is there a book that you wish you could “unread”? One that you disliked so thoroughly you wish you could just forget that you ever read it?

Yes. That's the short answer. There are books I wish I could "unread". Looking back over the last few years, I can come up with a few that I consider a waste of my time. I probably shouldn't have bothered to finish them.

Relating to the same question, there are scenes in books that I wish I could unread. While the book might have been good or even great, sometimes a scene is so disturbing that I wish I could forget that part.

Booking Through Thursday - April 23

It's one of those smart people questions today. . . I'll still try my best! :)

Question suggested by Barbara H:

My husband is not an avid reader, and he used to get very frustrated in college when teachers would insist discussing symbolism in a literary work when there didn't seem to him to be any. He felt that writers often just wrote the story for the story’s sake and other people read symbolism into it.

It does seem like modern fiction just “tells the story” without much symbolism. Is symbolism an older literary device, like excessive description, that is not used much any more? Do you think there was as much symbolism as English teachers seemed to think? What are some examples of symbolism from your reading?

I was not one of those who read looking for hidden meaning. I still have trouble finding the symbolism when I know it's supposed to be there. I think I got through my high school and college English classes by making a lot of stuff up. I'm a pretty straight-forward person. I don't like hidden meanings and big secrets. In my opinion, I don't think this makes me less intelligent or less of a reader than anyone else. It's just the way I am made. We all learn in different ways.

When I think of books that are loaded with symbolism, I do find that they tend to be older books. I think it is an older literary device that isn't used as much. I'm pretty convinced that there are no hidden meanings in some of the books I read these days. Some books are so cut and dry that I can't imagine they mean something more.

I think the example that comes to mind for me when I think of symbolism is the Narnia series. It's well known that C.S. Lewis used Christian imagery and symbolism in his stories. Even I can see some of that! He did a great job too. Anyone who wasn't looking for it, would just think the books were great fantasy, adventure books. Which they are of course. My 5th grade teacher read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe to the class but never mentioned anything having to do with Christianity. She couldn't, it was a public school, but still I never noticed. It was several years later that I found out that they were "Christian" books.

Booking Through Thursday - April 16

Today's prompt:

Yesterday, April 15th, was Tax Day here in the U.S., which means lots of lucky people will get refunds of over-paid taxes.

Whether you’re one of them or not, what would you spend an unexpected windfall on? Say … $50? How about $500?

(And, this is a reading meme, so by rights the answer should be book-related, but hey, feel free to go wild and splurge on anything you like.)

As I am not one of the lucky recipients of a refund this year, I can only dream. *sigh* If I were to somehow receive some unexpected money, and I wasn't allowed to be practical with it, I can think of a few things I might splurge on.

Let's just say that $500 showed up one day. I couldn't use it for paying bills and I couldn't put it in my savings account. I would buy a Kindle. Yes, something that I've been on the fence about for a while. It would be wonderful for traveling. Because I know it will never replace an actual book in my heart and my bookcase, it's something I wouldn't use every day. This makes it frivolous and therefore could only be purchased with unexpected money.

There are a few non-book related things I'd buy as well. I want a Flip Mino video camera so I can capture my naughty puppy in the act of dragging my shoes through the house. I'd like to do some re-organizing which requires baskets and shelves, so I'd buy that too. Hmm. . . I think my $500 is spent.

Booking through Thursday - April 9

Here’s the question:

Some people read one book at a time. Some people have a number of them on the go at any given time, perhaps a reading in bed book, a breakfast table book, a bathroom book, and so on, which leads me to…

1. Are you currently reading more than one book?
2. If so, how many books are you currently reading?
3. Is this normal for you?
4. Where do you keep your current reads?

I usually have two books going at a time. Rarely more than that. I am currently reading two books. This is pretty common for me as I keep one book by my bed and one book in my car. They occasionally change places if I'm wanting to finish one or the other, but generally they stay in their spots.

I read during my lunch breaks which is where the "Car Book" comes in. I usually get 1/2 hour to read every day which is nice. The "Bed Book" is the book I will drag around the house and read before bed. I like for it to be a lighter read, not one that will keep me up all night thinking!

Booking Through Thursday - March 19

Today's prompt:

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?”

There have been a few books that got a lot of hype that I didn't really like. One that comes to mind is Naked by David Sedaris. I guess I just didn't like him. It wasn't enjoyable for me to read at all. My friends have been recommending other books by him but I'm just politely refusing.

Wicked by Gregory Maguire is another one. I didn't care for the book at all. I thought it was too full of politics and frankly I didn't like Elphaba. She was a horrible person, especially with her treatment of her son. That being said, I've seen the musical and absolutely loved it. It's quite different from the book and in all good ways.

Booking Through Thursday - March 12

Oooh, I like this prompt. . .

What book do you think should be made into a movie? And do you have any suggestions for the producers?

Or, What book do you think should NEVER be made into a movie?

I used to think that EVERY book I loved should be made into a movie but I have definitely changed my mind about that. I've been so disappointed by so many books turned movie that I'm getting a bit jaded; although there are several that I thought were great.

I would like to see what they would do with The Time Traveler's Wife. Actually I think they may be making that movie but if they aren't, they really should. It would be a challenge but it could be great. I'd also like to see the Heather Wells series by Meg Cabot put on screen. I think that series could be really fun. I'd put my request in for a live action Hobbit but we already know that's happening.

As for what should NEVER be made into a movie . . . Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortinson. I think the book should stand alone. No movie is necessary or could ever convey the struggles he went through to get schools built in Pakistan and Afghanistan. I also don't think they should make any movies on the truly bizarre books by Christopher Moore. It would never, ever, work in my opinion.