Booking Through Thursday: Weeding

I haven’t done a Booking Through Thursday post in a long time but today’s prompt is so in tune with my life right now that I have to write about it. Today’s prompt is:

Do you ever weed out unwanted books from your library? And if so, what do you do with them?

When we moved (a few years ago) we went through everything, including our books, and donated or sold quite a few things. I noticed last week that my kids’ bookshelves are crammed. There are a lot of books on there that they no longer read because they have simply outgrown them. Then I looked at mine and my husband’s bookshelves and realized there’s quite a bit on there that I’m certain neither of us will read again. So, it is time for us to weed out our bookshelves. In the past we have donated our books to the library or my kids’ school. That works well for us so that is what we will do again.

 

We are huge advocates of the public library. We use it a LOT and figure by donating our books we’re giving back to our community. The same goes for the school. In fact, last time we gave one of the kindergarten teachers a huge box of the books my kids had outgrown and she was really touched by it. She put several of the books in her classroom library and asked us if she could give the others to her students. I was so pleased when my kids excitedly said yes to this request. If them sharing the books they’d outgrown with kids a little younger than them fostered the love of reading in even one of them then I’d say that was a definite win.

Booking Through Thursday - 50

From Booking Through Thursday, this week:

My brother-in-law turns 50 this weekend. So, in his honor, please pick up your nearest book or whatever book you’re currently reading, and turn to page 50 and then share the first 50 words with the rest of us.
(Do feel free to round this off, to stop and start with complete sentences, though.)

So, from page 50 of the large print edition of Nora Roberts' Angels Fall:

"I appreciate you going to all this trouble."  She ordered herself not to panic because the stairwell seemed so much smaller with him beside her.  "I certainly dropped into a friendly town."

"Wyoming's a friendly state.  May not be many of us here, but we're congenial.  I heard you were from Boston."

Booking Through Thursday - Spring

Booking Through Thursday is a fun, weekly, bookish question and response event. This week's question is:

Happy Spring, everyone! What book are you choosing to celebrate with?

I've been in a thoroughly frustrating book rut.  However, I started reading the latest by Victoria Alexander last night and it captured my attention immediately.  It is called The Importance of Being Wicked.  Also, if my friend is ready to start our next book club selection, I will begin The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan.

Booking Through Thursday - Libraries

Booking Through Thursday is a fun, weekly, bookish question and response event. This week's question is:

How often do you visit a library? Do you go to borrow books? Do research? Check out the multi-media center? Hang out with the friendly and knowledgeable staff? Are you there out of love or out of need?

I love the library and have since I was a little girl! It has always been such a magical place to me.  Fortunately, I have passed my love of books, the library and bookstores on to my children.  Since that is the case, we visit the library at least once a week.  We borrow books and now that my oldest child is doing school projects - we do research there, as well.  And both of my kids adore using the children's multi media center.  The library has so many great computer learning programs for the kids.  The library is a place we need for practical purposes but it is also a place that we absolutely love.

Booking Through Thursday - Better

Booking Through Thursday is a fun, weekly, bookish question and response event. This week's question is:

Ever read a book you thought you could have written better yourself? 

Well, this is quite the provocative question.  At first I wasn't going to participate but then decided, why not? I'm certainly not out to bash an author or their work.  That being said, the book I thought I could have written better is New Moon by Stephenie Meyer.  Yes, of the so well-loved Twilight Saga.  Oh, I know I'm opening myself up to all sorts of possible grief over my opinion on this but I just was not fond of this book! It frustrated me on so many levels that I barely made it through the darn book.  In fact, the only thing that kept me reading was all the people telling me how much better Eclipse was and that New Moon set it up.  Sigh.

I am not a Young Adult author and I won't pretend that I know the nuances of writing the genre because I don't.  However, it seems to me that letting the reader in on what was actually going on with Edward Cullen during the majority of the book would have been a good thing! That's the biggest thing I would have done differently had I written the book.  I really do think that would have been much better.  Instead it was page after page after page after page of Bella's angst and stupidity! Oh, it makes me cringe just thinking about it.

I do feel compelled to add that I read the entire Twilight Saga.  While they're not my favorite books ever - the other three in the series were more tolerable to me.  In addition, I really liked Meyer's unrelated-to-Twilight book The Host.

Booking Through Thursday - Blogs

Booking Through Thursday is a fun, weekly, bookish question and response event. This week we ponder:

What do you look for when reading a book blog? Does the blogger have to read the same genre? Do you like reviews? Personal posts? Memes? Giveaways? What attracts you to a book blog?

The book blogs I tend to read often are ones that are well-written.  They don't have to include the same genre(s) that I read but they usually do.  I do like reviews and have found some excellent books to read through book bloggers.  In fact, I've read quite a few books since I became active in the blogging world that I probably would never have given a chance otherwise.  As for memes and giveaways; while I have read and participated in both - I can take or leave them.  They're not overly important to me.  Finally, my favorite blogs are in my sidebar and ones that I visit regularly.

Booking Through Thursday - Skipping

Booking Through Thursday is a fun, weekly, bookish question and response event. This week we ponder:

Do you skip ahead in a book? Do you feel badly about it when you do?

Well, I have to admit that I do sometimes skip a bit while I'm reading.  I have even been known to read the end of a book before deciding if I'm willing to emotionally invest in the entire story.  Do I fel bad about it? Not really.  There have been times when I have wished I hadn't skipped because I have found out something about the story that I shouldn't have known yet.  And this is probably why I don't skip ahead as much as I used to.

Booking Through Thursday - Mystery or Love

Booking Through Thursday is a fun, weekly, bookish question and response event. This week we ponder:

All things being equal, which would you prefer–a mystery? Or a love story?

Oh, my two favorite genres.  How is a girl to choose? Is it fair if I say both; in the form of a romantic suspense? All right, if I have to choose just one then it is going to be a love story - definitely.  I am a sucker for a really good love story; especially one with a happy ending.

Booking Through Thursday - Mood Reading

Booking Through Thursday is a fun, weekly, bookish question and response event. This week we ponder:

Do you find that your mood affects the things you read? Like, if you’re in a bad mood, do you tend to indulge in reading that will support it or do you try to read things that will cheer you up? Do you pick different types of books on dreary, rainy days than you do on bright sunny ones?

For that matter, does your mood color what you’re reading, so that a funny book isn’t so funny or a serious one not so deep?

On a similar note - I'm realizing that I am a seasonal reader.  Meaning, right now I am all about reading Christmas books.  While in the summer I tend to read a lot more romance than normal and go for the darker, creepier more mysterious in the Autumn.  I don't know how long I've been reading in this fashion but I definitely noticed it this year.

How about you? Do you read according to your mood or the season or holiday?





My moods do color what I read to a cetain degree but not all the time.  Usually if I'm in a bad mood or not feeling too well then I'm not reading too much.  It's at these times when I know I nned something funny or romantic to pull me out of my funk.

Booking Through Thursday - Light or Heavy

Booking Through Thursday is a fun, weekly, bookish question and response event.  This week we ponder:
Honestly, it depends on my mood whether I want an easy or challenging book.  It also depends on what else is going on in my life and what my stress level is hovering at.  Right now, I would definitely take a light, enjoyable easy read over a hard one.  To me, enjoyable is just as rewarding as challenging - but on a different level.

Short and sweet but it's late and I'm tired and the next few days are going to be crazy around here.

All other things being equal, would you rather read a book that’s hard/challenging/rewarding or light/enjoyable/easy?

Booking Through Thursday - Replay

This week's BTT question is:

Have you ever finished a book and loved it so much you went right back and started re-reading it again?
(And obviously, if so, we want titles!)

My initial thought upon reading this question was no.  Then I remembered that I have indeed finished a book just to flip back to the beginning and start it again.  The book is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by the incomparable J.K. Rowling.  Interestingly, this (book 6) is my favorite in the Harry Potter series.  And while I've read the series more than once - it is the only book that I just had to immediately read again.

How abou you? Are there any books that you have loved so much you read it or them right after finishing it once?

Booking Through Thursday: National Book Week

Booking Through Thursday is a fun weekly question and answer session, based on books, of course. This week there isn't a question but a fun bookish activity in honor of National Book Week.

Grab the closest book to you. Go to page 56. Copy the 5th sentence as your status.

Okay, so I'll play along here and other places.  I'm going to post mine on Twitter, too.  Silly? Definitely but I think it'll be funny, too.  Here is mine:

He sailed out.

Booking Through Thursday - Night Owl

Booking Through Thursday is a fun weekly question and answer session, based on books, of course. This week, the question is:

What’s the latest you’ve ever stayed up reading a book? Is staying up late reading a usual thing for you?


I've stayed up all night reading before and then gone about my day as usual.  Granted, this is when I was at University and probably over a weekend.  Still, I have been known to stay up much too late reading, even now.  In fact, one night last week - I couldn't sleep and picked up my book.  I read until about three in the morning before finally being able to fall asleep.  While I do read at night, thankfully the three a.m. bedtime is not a usual occurence.

Booking Through Thursday - Interactive

Booking Through Thursday is a fun weekly question and answer session, based on books, of course. This week, the question is:


With the advent (and growing popularity) of eBooks, I’m seeing more and more articles about how much “better” they can be, because they have the option to be interactive … videos, music, glossaries … all sorts of little extra goodies to help “enhance” your reading experience, rather like listening to the Director’s commentary on a DVD of your favorite movie.
How do you feel about that possibility? Does it excite you in a cutting-edge kind of way? Or does it chill you to the bone because that’s not what reading is ABOUT?

In my opinion, reading is about using your imagination.  I have a Nook and yes, it does have a dictionary and some other extras, but I never use them.  If I need to look up a word, I do it the old-fashioned way and grab my actual paper and glue bound dictionary.  As for other interactive features - to me, that's not what reading is about.  As I said, I think reading is an exercise in imagination.  It helps me to think about things and sometimes in a different light.  Reading is a joy in itself.  I don't need any 'extras' to 'enhance my experience'.  In fact, reading is often an escape from all the modern technology for me.

What do you think of all of this?

Booking Through Thursday: Own or Borrow

Booking Through Thursday is a fun weekly question and answer session, based on books, of course. This week, the question is:



All things being equal (money, space, etc), would you rather own copies of the books you read? Or borrow them?


This is an easy one for me: own! It is my dream (and trust me, I spend time fantasizing about this) to have a home for my family that has space for an actual library! It will be a space with plenty of natural light and extremely good reading lamps for night time, extremely comfortable chairs and couches and no television.  And books, lots and lots of books filling an abundant number of floor-to-ceiling bookcases.  It's just a fantasy - for now.  Someday this will be my family's reality, though.

Booking Through Thursday - Age Appropriate

Booking Through Thursday is a fun weekly question and answer session, based on books, of course.  This week, the question is:

Do you read books “meant” for other age groups? Adult books when you were a child; Young-Adult books now that you’re grown; Picture books just for kicks … You know … books not “meant” for you. Or do you pretty much stick to what’s written for people your age?

I have never worried about 'age appropriate' when reading my own books.  My parents didn't pay attention to what I was reading when I was young.  Although, I don't really recall reading anything and knowing that I shouldn't have been consuming it, either.  Sure, i read some books way ahead of my age group.  I believe that is pretty common when you're an advanced reader in school, though.

As an adult, I read whatever sounds good to me.  Admittedly, i don't read all that much of what is categorized as Young Adult fiction.  That's not because I don't think I should read it but more because I don't relate to the characters.  However, I just read Matched by Ally Condie and really liked the book.  And J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series are among my favorites.

I haven't had to worry about the age appropriateness of what my kids are reading yet.  I will pay attention to what they're reading as they get bigger, though.  I won't keep them from reading books that are advanced for them - if they wish to read them.  However, i will be sure that they are reading books with themes that are age appropriate for them and their emotional maturity.

Booking Through Thursday: No Movie, Please

Booking Through Thursday is a fun weekly question and answer session, based on books, of course.  This week, the question is:

And–the reverse of last week’s question. Name one book that you hope never, ever, ever gets made into a movie (no matter how good that movie might be).

I recently read A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness.  I absolutely loved the book and know that  it is to be the first in a trilogy of books.  As soon as I finished the book, I went looking for information on when the second book is due for release.  While researching, I read all sorts of posts, comments, etc about people wanting a movie based on the book.  I am in the minority because I hope there isn't a movie of the book.  Harkness did such a beautiful job with the book that I would really hate to see it distorted into a movie.

Booking Through Thursday: Headlines

From Booking Through Thursday this week, not really a question, but a discussion:

The news has been horrifying and addictive this week, with catastrophe piled on catastrophe, to a degree that–if I had read this in a book or seen it in a movie–I’d be protesting that it was just too unlikely, too farfetched.


But, topics for novels get ripped from the headlines all the time. Or real-life events remind you of fiction (whether “believable” or not) that you’ve read but never expected to see. Or real life comes up with an event so unbelievable that it stretches you sense of reality.
 Hmm … I can’t quite come up with an outright question to ask, but thinking about the theory of fiction and how it can affect and be affected by real world events can act as a buffer between the horrific events on the news and having to actually face that horror. So … what happens when the line between fiction and reality becomes all-too slim? Discuss!

I have had Japan on my mind all week.  I know many, many others have, as well.  It's just unbelievable what is happening over there - not one catastrophic event, but three! And yet the Japanese people are handling the events of the past week with a sense of grace and decorum that honestly brings (even more) tears to my eyes.

I admit to seeing much of the news coverage and thinking that it just seems too much to be real.  Not that I'm saying it isn't real - sadly, it is - but it does seem like an end-of-world movie.  Which makes me question why such movies and books make so much money.  What is the draw people have to tragedy? Personally, I'm not drawn to books or movies like this (not that I haven't seen such movies, they're just not my first choice).  However, it is difficult for me to walk away from CNN, MSNBC, etc. when tragedy strikes.  It's partly a need to know what is going on.  Plus, I've come to realize that I am drawn to the strength many people show in adverse times.  I am in awe of the dignity the Japanese people have exhibited this week.  As much as I pray something like this doesn't hit my home (or anywhere else, for that matter) I hope, that if it does, I would handle myself with such dignity.

Booking Through Thursday: Borrowing

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme about (mostly) books and reading. This weeks question:

Who would you rather borrow from? Your library? Or a Friend? (Or don’t your friends trust you to return their books?) And, DO you return books you borrow?

This is a wonderful (set of) question(s). The majority of the books I read come from the library. I do buy some books still but have cut way back on my book purchasing. There are reasons I borrow from the library more so than my friends. One reason is the general selection. Another reason is the fact that I can borrow a book from the library for a total of six weeks if necessary.


This is not to say that I never borrow books from friends; in fact, I do.  Just not that often.  I don't have a lot of real-life friends that read (sad, but true).  Of my reading friends, there is only one that I see on a regular basis with similar reading taste.  And actually, I do have a book of hers on loan right now - Eat, Pray, Love.  I really should read it and get it back to her but I've been so busy.  I've been reading the same book for two weeks now, which is so unlike me.  I will read the book and get it back to her soon, though. 

Booking Through Thursday: Books From Other Countries

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme about (mostly) books and reading. This weeks question:

Name a book (or books) from a country other than your own that you love. Or aren’t there any?

This is an easy queation.  There are many authors/books that I like from other countries.  I adore Maeve Binchy's books and she's from Ireland.  The first book I can remember reading by her is Tara Road.  Since then I have read almost all of her books.  She makes me feel like I'm in Ireland among the families and fvriends that her stories always revolve around.

I also love the Millenium series by the late Swedish authorStieg Larsson.  I feel like I've posted so much about his series this year that I'll just leave it at the fact that I do adore the books.