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Showing posts with label Reading Habits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reading Habits. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Top Ten Tuesday: How My Reading Habits Have Changed Over Two Decades of Book Blogging
Ever since I learned to read when I was five, I've been obsessed with books. Reading has always been my main and favorite hobby. My reading habits have definitely changed over time, though, especially since I started book blogging back in 2006. All these years later, they look different still. Today's TTT topic is all about our evolution as readers: Top Ten Ways My Reading Has Changed Over Time. I'm going to focus specifically on how mine have changed since I started Bloggin' 'bout Books 18 years ago. (Look at that, BBB is legally an adult! Don't worry—the content here will always remain family friendly.)
As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl.
Top Ten Ways My Reading Habits Have Changed Over (Almost) 20 Years of Book Blogging
1. Choosy Suzy—When I was a baby book blogger, I was so thrilled to be getting books from publishers that I accepted every title I was offered, regardless of whether or not it was something I actually wanted to read. I ended up with stacks of volumes I wasn't really interested in but which I felt obligated to finish and review. Not an ideal situation. While I still accept more books to review than I can realistically handle, I'm much choosier about which ones I'll take.
Fun fact: I hate being called Suzy. After about kindergarten, my maternal grandmother was the only one who could get away with it!
2. DNF or Die—Not finishing a book, especially one I had been gifted for review, used to make me feel horribly guilty. I'd force myself to complete them, no matter what. Not anymore. If I'm not liking a book for any reason, I DNF that baby. Life's too short—and my TBR list is too long—to waste time on books I'm not enjoying.
3. My Blog, My Way—Because I wanted to keep all the newest and shiniest books coming to my mailbox, I used to accept too many of them for review, participate in multiple blog tours through a bunch of different companies, and maintain a rigorous calendar of scheduled reviews. That stressed me out as well as sucking all the enjoyment out of my reading and reviewing. I finally said enough and stopped doing any kind of scheduled reviewing. These days, I tell publishers, authors, and publicists that I'll read the books they send me only if and when I can. This way, I can do what I do without feeling anxious, guilty, or pressured.
4. Reviews? What Reviews?—The stress I describe above also came from my own unrealistic expectations for myself. I had vowed to write a thoughtful review of every book I read, whether it was a review book, a library pick, or a title plucked from my own shelf. Since I've always read way faster than I review, I was perpetually behind on the latter. Finally, I realized I was stressing myself out for no reason. Giving myself permission to review a book only if/when I wanted to has helped me breathe a lot easier. Not gonna lie, though—having no review schedule at all has made me lazy. I'm pretty sure I can count the reviews I've done this year on the blog on one hand. Yikes! I need to up my game so I have fresh content to share with you all on the regular. I'm never going to be one of those book influencers who posts three times a day and that's okay, but I do want to publish more reviews than I have been.
5. Me + Goodreads = BFFs—I'm a lover of lists, spreadsheets, habit trackers, and other organizational tools. Not surprisingly, then, I'm a tad obsessed with Goodreads. In recent years, I've been using it nearly every day to record my reading, add titles to various TBR lists, interact with book buddies, etc. When I finish a book, and while its content is fresh in my mind, I always rate it on Goodreads and write a quick initial review. This helps me record my first thoughts, which I can refer back to if/when I write a lengthier review later here on BBB. If you want to see reviews of everything I read, follow me on Goodreads. I'm much more active there than here these days.
By the way, yes, I have tried StoryGraph. There are elements of that site that appeal to me, but I just haven't found it to be as user friendly or as useful as Goodreads. While I'm not 100% satisfied with GR either (What do they have against half stars?), I mostly love it. It keeps me organized and on track.
6. Give It a Listen—It's only been in the past few years that I've really gotten into audiobooks. I'm not sure what my hang up was before because listening to books has been a game changer for me. I listen while I drive, do housework, and exercise. Audiobooks make these tedious tasks less unpleasant while helping me up my reading game. Nowadays, I have both an audiobook and a "real" one going at all times.
7. Paper People—I love "real" books with their irresistible combination of paper and ink. I'll never not revel in the feel of one in my hands and their tantalizing smell in my nostrils. Although I once swore I would never give in to the digital reading craze, I've since been converted. I still read mostly print books, but I also can't live without my Kindle Fire. I'd estimate about 60% of my reading is print books, 30% is e-books, and 10% is audiobooks.
8. Fictional Vs. Factual—Fiction books have always been and will always be my favorite, but I've discovered that non-fiction isn't so bad after all! In fact, I quite enjoy narrative non-fiction, biographies, memoirs, pop psychology, historical accounts, and more.
9. Noteworthy Reviews—Unless it was for a school assignment, I never took notes on what I read before I started book blogging. I didn't even do it as a beginning blogger. These days, though, I have to take copious notes while I read—even on short middle-grade novels—because my aging memory just can't keep up. Unless it's a reread that I'm not planning to review on Goodreads or BBB, I take notes. I do it the old-fashioned way, too, with a paper notebook and a pen. When it comes to longer quotes, though, I have taken the advice of another book blogger (wish I could remember which one) who takes a picture of them with her phone instead of writing them all down by hand. Brilliant!
10. Changing It Up—Because I wanted to stay relevant as a book blogger, I used to be all about the shiny, new releases. I still get excited about those, but these days, I pretty much read whatever strikes my fancy, whether it's the latest and greatest thriller, an old favorite, a childhood classic I missed out on, a family saga from the 80s, or a random grab from the library.
There you go, ten ways in which my reading habits have evolved over the course of my 18 years as a book blogger. How have yours changed over time? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog. I also reply to comments left here, although I'm a couple weeks behind at the moment.
Happy TTT!
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
TTT: How Do I Love Thee, Goodreads? Let Me Count the Ways ...
It's Tuesday again and things in the world have changed a little bit. Has your state or country started opening up? What do you think about it? Here in Arizona, a few more places (restaurant dining rooms, movie theaters, public swimming pools, salons, etc.) have been given the green light to reopen. I'm still a little leery about the whole thing, but I'm not going to lie—I'm happy to have a hair appointment next week and to have been able to reschedule several doctor's appointments that had been postponed due to COVID-19. I'm a homebody by nature, so I plan to stick close to home no matter what. I just hope things can get back to a new normal that will feel stabilizing and safe. This has certainly been a strange Spring, hasn't it?
On a lighter note, it's time for my favorite weekly meme. This week's topic is a nice, open one that should lead to lot of interesting lists: Top Ten Reasons I Love ______ (insert your favorite book, author, genre, etc.). I'll tell you what topic I chose in a sec, but first I want to encourage you to join in the TTT fun. All you have to do is click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl, read through some brief instructions, craft your own list, and then spend some happy hours hopping around the book blogosphere. It's a great way to spread the love around our wonderful community!
I've always been a list-making type of person. There's just something so satisfying about corralling my thoughts into neat columns, adding to it when needed, and then crossing out accomplished tasks. I began keeping track of the books I read and those I wanted to read in the back of a paper journal in college. When Google Docs became a thing, I switched to a spreadsheet. While I've used Goodreads here and there since its creation, it hasn't been until the last few years that I've made it my number one tool for keeping track of what I read, what I want to read, and what I think about what I've read. So, for today's list, I'm going to tell you why I love the site so much.
Top Ten Reasons I Love Goodreads (in no particular order):
1. I can keep track of what I read. Yes, I could do this on a Google spreadsheet, but I like GR's interface. It makes tracking easy and fun.
2. I can rate what I read. Like many, I have some issues with GR's limited star-rating system. Half-stars should totally be a thing! Still, I like being able to rate a book using a simple system. I can always explain my reasoning in my review.
3. I can review what I read. For the most part, I review every book I read on my blog. However, sometimes it's months before I actually get around to doing it! I'm good about ticking off the books I read on GR right away, though, and typing up a quick review on the site. It's really nice to be able to look back at what I wrote about a book when my thoughts were fresh to remind me of what to write in my blog review.
4. I can see ratings and reviews from other GR users. As always, I take other readers' opinions with a grain of salt, but I still appreciate being able to see what other people thought of a book. Both ratings and reviews help me decide which titles to add to my always-growing TBR lists and which to leave on the shelf.
5. I can follow my friends and acquaintances. It's fun to follow my friends on GR so I can see what they're reading as well as the titles on their TBR lists. My favorite feature under the "Friends" tab is "Compare Books." It's always interesting to compare/contrast my thoughts on a book with those of my friends.
6. I can make endless "Bookshelves." This is a GR feature that I should use more. Right now, I have only three bookshelves: Adult Fiction TBR, MG/YA Fiction TBR, and Non-Fiction TBR. Originally, I only had one bookshelf for all genres, but when the shelf was loaded up with more than 5000 titles, GR would no longer let me organize them in want-to-read order, so I split my main shelf into three. I could have organized my TBR list by genre or favorite author or setting or whatever, really. Other people do this a lot more than I do and it's fun to see their lists, some of which are very handy, creative, and entertaining.
7. I can organize my books in want-to-read order. This is my favorite GR feature by far. There are a number of ways you can organize your bookshelves in GR, but I like to have mine in order of most excited to read to least. In fact, I'm a *tad* obsessive about this. I spend a fair amount of time making sure the first 30 books on my shelves are in want-to-read order. Because I can pull up GR wherever I may be, this prioritizing helps when I'm browsing for books at the library or bookstore.
8. I can take GR with me wherever I go. See above. Bringing up a Google spreadsheet on my phone when I'm at the library or bookstore is not easy. Firing up GR is simple. The site helps me see what books are on my TBR list as well as find other authors/books when I'm on the go. Super helpful.
9. I can participate in GR's annual reading challenge. I love me a reading challenge, so I've had a ball with this GR feature. The site makes it a cinch to set a personal reading goal and keep track of your progress. GR even gives me a fun widget to put on my blog so everyone can see how I'm doing. Who cares if I never actually reach my GR goal? I still have a good ole time with it!
10. Everything else. GR has tons to offer book lovers. You can follow favorite authors, interact with authors and other readers, enter book giveaways, join groups of like-minded bibliophiles, vote for your favorite reads in the annual Goodreads Choice Awards, etc. There are tons of great features on GR, probably more than I'm even aware of. It's an awesome website that I definitely recommend using. If you haven't checked it out yet, do it! And if you want to follow me, just click on the GR icon on left sidebar of my blog. Easy peasy.
There you have it, ten reasons I love Goodreads. Do you use GR? What do you think of it? What are your favorite features? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I'll return the favor on yours.
Happy TTT!
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
It's a Quarantine Top Ten Tuesday. Again.
Well, it's another Tuesday in quarantine. How are you all holding up? We're doing fine over here. Not a lot has changed since last week and the week before that and the week before that, although apparently, things are going to start opening back up here in Arizona this week and next. My husband and sons are readying our jet skiis to hit the lake as soon as the gates open on Saturday. I know they're ready to bust out of quarantine for good, but I'm still not sure if a grand reopening of the world is a solid idea. It makes me nervous, I have to say.
In less controversial news, it's Tuesday again, time for my favorite bookish meme. If you haven't joined in the fun of Top Ten Tuesday yet, you really should. It's a great way to get involved in the book blogging community, visit favorite blogs, find new ones, discover fantastic-sounding books, and keep yourself entertained (something we all need right now). Click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl to get all the details.
Not gonna lie, I'm not totally feeling today's topic of the Last Ten Books I've Abandoned. I prefer to keep TTT a positive thing. Also, there's the little problem of my faulty memory—I honestly wouldn't be able to dredge up the names of the last ten books I DNF'd if I tried! Since I couldn't think of a creative way to spin the topic du jour, I'm just going to chatter generally about the Top Ten Reasons I Might Abandon a Book (in no particular order):
- The story is moving way too slllloooowwwwwlllllly and I'm bored with it. I've gotta have some action to keep me awake!
- The characters have no personality or they have personalities that grate on my nerves.
- The plot is too gory, violent, graphic, or disturbing. I DNF'd a book last night and one last week for this reason.
- The writing is unskilled, unpolished, or just downright terrible.
- My own moodiness. Sometimes books that would otherwise grab me just don't at a certain time, for no particular reason other than my mood.
- Too much cheese! When it comes to food, there is no such thing. Books are different, though. Too much corny, saccharine, or eye roll-worthy prose and/or dialogue and I'm out.
- Serial OCD. I've abandoned (or, rather, postponed) a number of books I've randomly grabbed at the library because I later discovered they were part of a series. I refuse to read books in a series out of order, even when other people swear up and down that they don't need to be read in order. Yes, they do, Karen! Yes. They. Do.
- I just don't care. Have you ever been in the middle of a book only to realize you really couldn't care less what happens next? This occurs to me fairly often, usually because the characters are unlikable or just too flat to really make me interested in what happens to them.
- Certain topics. There are topics I just don't like to read about, either because they make my blood boil or my stomach turn or my head/heart hurt. If I encounter these subjects in a novel, I almost always jump ship.
- Variety. I like to read several different genres, shuffling between them to keep my reading life interesting. If I start with a book and realize it's too similar to something else I've read lately, I'll usually abandon it, even if just for the time being.
So, there you have it, ten reasons I might abandon a book. Do any of my reasons resound with you? What makes you stop reading a book? Which have you DNF'd lately and why? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I'll gladly return the favor on yours.
Happy TTT!
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Bookish Me, From A to Z
Author you’ve read the most books from:
I'm not a frequent enough user of Goodreads to look there for help with this one, so who knows if this answer's accurate or not, but I would guess Jodi Picoult. I've read every book she's written except the two or three newest. She's definitely one of my faves!
Best Sequel Ever:
I'm going to go with Scarlet by Marissa Meyer. I loved Cinder so much that I was a *little* bit afraid to read the sequel. Turned out, I had no reason to fear. In Scarlet, Meyer introduced a whole new set of characters with their own storyline, which was disorienting for a second. But only a second. Then, it was awesome! The new cast was just as compelling as the old, plus Meyer kept the action going strong and used the continuing plot from Cinder as a parallel, then intersecting, storyline in Scarlet. I think I just made it sound a whole lot more confusing than it is. Just trust me on this one, Scarlet's a fine example of a sequel that gets everything right.
Currently Reading:
The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron. Why didn't I pick this one up earlier? I'm devouring it.
Drink of Choice While Reading:
Most of the time, I go with a nice, big glass of ice water. I'm just boring like that.
E-reader or Physical Book?
I used to rage endlessly against e-books. Then I got a Kindle Fire. And I didn't hate it. In fact, I sorta loved it. I still read more *real* books than e-books, but I like the flexibility that owning a Kindle gives me. This quote from Stephen Fry sums up my feelings on the subject exactly: "Books are no more threatened by [e-readers] than stairs by elevators."
Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:
I don't know, probably someone sweet and nerdy, like Simon from The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare.
Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:
Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer. This swashbuckling YA novel really didn't sound like my kind of thing, but lots of bloggers were raving about it, so I decided to give it a try. It ended up being a huge favorite.
Hidden Gem Book:
Can I cheat and use the answer above for this one, too?
Important Moment in your Reading Life:
I didn't realize it at the time, but deciding to keep an online reading journal changed my reading life forever. It was the earliest incarnation of this blog. Creating BBB opened up my reading world in ways I couldn't even fathom back in the day.
Just Finished:
Not A Drop To Drink by Mindy McGinnis -- It's one of the most frightening YA dystopians I've read in a long time because it presents a scenario that could actually happen. Plus, it's intriguing, well-written and peopled with compelling characters.
Kinds of Books You Won’t Read:
Erotica -- just, no thanks
Poetry -- usually I'm too dense to understand it
Boring Non-Fiction -- zzzzzzzzz
Longest Book You’ve Read:
Hm, I don't know for sure. Probably something by Stephen King. Or Brandon Sanderson.
Major book hangover because of:
A couple years ago, I had a thyroidectomy, followed by two rounds of iodine radiation therapy. While radioactive, I couldn't leave my bedroom, so I spent lots of time reading. During the first round, I read the first three books in The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare back-to-back. The story definitely kept me entertained, but man, I was in some pain afterward: my eyes stung, my head throbbed and my hands hurt from holding those big, ole tomes.
Number of Bookcases You Own:
I have bookcases all over my house, but there are 5 main ones. I haven't posted pictures of my brand new, 9 feet tall x 12 feet long beauty, but heck, there's no time like the present. Here's the unfilled version:
I'm about 5'5", so that gives you an idea of this bookcase's crazy bigness. I LOVE it! I'll post the filled and frou-frou-ed version later.
One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:
I'm not much of a re-reader, although I've read both Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins twice—does that count?
Preferred Place To Read:
My reclining couch or in my adjustable bed. Yes, I am a senior citizen.
Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:
I can't think of a book-specific quote, but I like this one from Stephen King: "Books are a uniquely portable magic."
Reading Regret:
I regret not having re-read the Harry Potter books yet. I enjoyed them all as they came out, but haven't gone back to re-enjoy them yet. I definitely need to do that—and soon!
Series You Started And Need To Finish(all books are out in series):
It would take me years to list all the series I've started and haven't finished yet. 'Course, most of them are still being written. So, for this question, I'll choose ... the original Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan.
Three of your All-Time Favorite Books:
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Unapologetic Fangirl For:
The Hunger Games series. Even if the movie didn't quite capture its essence and my husband now thinks I'm a cold-hearted monster for loving the story, even then, I adore it.
Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:
I've been waiting and waiting to get my hands on The Shade of the Moon, a new entry in Susan Beth Pfeffer's YA dystopian series. The story officially ended with This World We Live In, but we fans pressured her to continue the story and voila, she did! The good folks at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt recently sent me an ARC and I can't wait to dive into it.
Worst Bookish Habit:
Probably eating while I read. I can't count the number of times I've dripped something on a page or marred it with a greasy fingerprint. Unforgivable, I know.
X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:
Since I have about a bajillion bookcases, I chose the behemoth that houses all my adult review books (see photo above). The top left section houses non-fiction, so the 27th is Ree Drummond's The Pioneer Woman Cooks. I've had this cookbook since it came out and haven't even cracked the spine yet. What's wrong with me??
Your latest book purchase:
Probably The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. I love his quirky, creepy stories, but this one's getting mixed reviews so I've been hesitating to read it. I'll get to it eventually.
ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):
Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts. The book wasn't even that good, I just wanted to finish it, even though I knew reading it late at night was going to give me nightmares. Which it totally did.
So, what do you think? Did you learn anything new about me? Have you done this survey on your blog? If so, let me know as I'd love to come learn more about you and your bookish life. If you haven't done the A to Z survey yet, do, it's a whole lot of fun!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Just Answer the Meme, Already. It'll Be Fun, I Swear.
Thanks to BBAW, I've added all kinds of new book blogs to my Google reader. I spied this fun meme on Sandy's blog, You've GOTTA Read This. Since no one IRL cares this much about my reading habits, I thought I'd share my answers with you. I love to get a glimpse into other people's book-related OCD, so let me know if you've done this one on your blog.
Hardback, trade paperback or mass market paperback? I prefer hardback books, just because they're so ... substantial. They feel good in my hands, ya know? They're also expensive, so I usually buy trade paperbacks. For some reason, I'm not big on mass market paperbacks. I'm not sure why that is. I'll have to discuss that one with my therapist ...
Waterstones, Borders or Amazon? I've never heard of Waterstones (is it in the U.K.?), but I'm a little too familiar with the last two. Borders is my bookstore of choice, because (1) it's close and (2) the coupons and Borders Bucks get me every time. I actually don't buy a lot of books off Amazon, although I do all my pre-ordering through them.
Bookmark or dog-ear? Dog ear? *gasp* Who would do such a thing? I bookmark, baby. I do, however, have a bad habit of leaving books open, facedown on tables, couch arms, my desk, etc. The practice makes my book-lovin', retired librarian MIL shudder.
Amazon or brick-and-mortar? Evidently, I'm not a very patient person (just ask my kids), because I prefer a brick-and-mortar store over Amazon. There's just something about being able to see, touch and skim through a book that makes me prefer IRL buying encounters.
Alphabetize by author, or alphabetize by title, or random? I was that nerdy kid who alphabetized her CDs. Books are another matter. My bookshelves (which don't contain any ARCs or review books - they're in another spot) are kinda sorta organized. I have shelves for adult fiction, YA fiction, LDS fiction, LDS non-fiction, dieting/health books (I have a lot of those), homemaking/craft/organizing manuals, parenting, etc. My fiction shelves are double and triple stacked. Either I need to start weeding or I need more bookshelves. I'm thinking the latter.
Keep, throw away, or sell? Throw away?? What kind of savage are you? I actually answered this question in a recent post. In a nutshell: I keep the books I love, donate those I don't to the library and my kids' elementary school, and store ARCs in a box in my garage since I'm not sure what else to do with them. I've only trashed one book. It was really, really, really bad.
Keep dust jacket or toss it? *Shudder* Dust jackets remain on at all times. I repeat, on at al times. Remind me never to loan you a book.
Short story or novel? I avoid short stories like the plague. Novels only, please.
Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket? HP wins every time, although I like Lemony Snicket, too. I'm somewhere in the middle of the Unfortunate Events series. I love Snicket's voice, but I'm getting a little tired of the redundant plots.
Buy or borrow? Both. I love to buy books, but they cost a lot of moola, which I don't always have on hand. Therefore, I wait until there's a sale, I have a coupon, or I have Border Bucks. If all of these things happen at the same time, I do a dance of joy. Then, I head to Borders.
Buying choice: book reviews, recommendations, or browse? Good question. Usually I have an idea of what I'm going to buy before I head into a bookstore. Not always, though. I'd say 90% of the books I buy have been recommended to me either by an IRL friend or through a review on a blog, in a magazine, or on the Internet somewhere. About 10% of the time, I pick up whatever looks interesting.
Tidy ending or cliffhanger? Call me old-fashioned, but I love me a happily-ever-after. Actually, I don't like stories that end perfectly - I just want the finale to be satisfying. Give me twists, turns, cliffhangers, whatever, but make the ending ring true. That's all I ask.
Morning reading, afternoon reading, or nighttime reading? I have to choose? Tell me it ain't so! I read whenever and wherever I can - in bed, in the car (while waiting, not driving), in the bathtub, laying in bed, while I eat, while feeding the baby, while on hold,
etc.
Stand-alone or series? Either. I love series', because I love "knowing" characters well, but I'm also delighted by standalones. So, I guess my answer's really, both.
Favorite series? I have a million: HP; Kathy Reichs' Temperance Brennan books; Grace Valley by Robyn Carr; Virgin River by Robyn Carr; Jeffery Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme series; Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani; tons and tons.
Favorite children’s book? Hm. I'm too indecisive to have just one favorite. I like so many: Little Women; Anne of Green Gables; I Love You, Forever (makes me cry every time); Green Eggs and Ham; The Polar Express; Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes; tons.
Favorite YA book? The Hunger Games comes to mind. Also, The Book Thief by Marcus Zuzak.
Favorite books read last year? I can barely remember what I read this year, let alone last year. The Hunger Games probably.
Favorite books of all time? I'm going to go classic with Little Women, Gone With the Wind, Anne of Green Gables and Jane Eyre.
Favorite book to recommend to an 11-year-old? If you happen to have an almost 11-year-old boy like I do, I'd recommend A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket; the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books; and anything by Gordon Korman. If your kid is a little more ambitious in his reading than mine is, I'd definitely suggest Mr. Harry Potter.
Favorite book to re-read? I rarely re-read books. The only book I've read more than once is The Book of Mormon. And picture books. I'd go with the picture books if I were you. Kidding, kidding.
Do you ever smell books? I'm not sure you can help smelling books. I happen to love the scent - old, new, doesn't matter, I love that book-y scent. I agree with Sandy - someone should make book-scented air freshener. And perfume!
Do you ever read primary source documents like letters or diaries? You mean like Anne Frank? Or primary source documents that aren't actually books? Yes to the first, no to the second - unless they were written by family members.
What are you reading right now? An ARC of Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani. It's her first YA novel, and I don't think it has anything to do with Italians. It already seems as if it's missing something ... My bathroom read is Diane Mott Davidson's Catering to Nobody. Obviously, I don't spend enough time in there (do I need more fiber in my diet?) because it's taking me forever to read this one. It's just okay.
What are you reading next? I was just debating that. I've had Blueberry Muffin Murder by Joanne Fluke out for months, so I need to get to it. I've also got a mountain of review books, many of which I'm dying to read. Then, there's Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, which I finally got from the library. Decisions, decisions ...
If you're dying to dish about your reading habits, I'm dying to listen. Really. Just do the meme, already.
Hardback, trade paperback or mass market paperback? I prefer hardback books, just because they're so ... substantial. They feel good in my hands, ya know? They're also expensive, so I usually buy trade paperbacks. For some reason, I'm not big on mass market paperbacks. I'm not sure why that is. I'll have to discuss that one with my therapist ...
Waterstones, Borders or Amazon? I've never heard of Waterstones (is it in the U.K.?), but I'm a little too familiar with the last two. Borders is my bookstore of choice, because (1) it's close and (2) the coupons and Borders Bucks get me every time. I actually don't buy a lot of books off Amazon, although I do all my pre-ordering through them.
Bookmark or dog-ear? Dog ear? *gasp* Who would do such a thing? I bookmark, baby. I do, however, have a bad habit of leaving books open, facedown on tables, couch arms, my desk, etc. The practice makes my book-lovin', retired librarian MIL shudder.
Amazon or brick-and-mortar? Evidently, I'm not a very patient person (just ask my kids), because I prefer a brick-and-mortar store over Amazon. There's just something about being able to see, touch and skim through a book that makes me prefer IRL buying encounters.
Alphabetize by author, or alphabetize by title, or random? I was that nerdy kid who alphabetized her CDs. Books are another matter. My bookshelves (which don't contain any ARCs or review books - they're in another spot) are kinda sorta organized. I have shelves for adult fiction, YA fiction, LDS fiction, LDS non-fiction, dieting/health books (I have a lot of those), homemaking/craft/organizing manuals, parenting, etc. My fiction shelves are double and triple stacked. Either I need to start weeding or I need more bookshelves. I'm thinking the latter.
Keep, throw away, or sell? Throw away?? What kind of savage are you? I actually answered this question in a recent post. In a nutshell: I keep the books I love, donate those I don't to the library and my kids' elementary school, and store ARCs in a box in my garage since I'm not sure what else to do with them. I've only trashed one book. It was really, really, really bad.
Keep dust jacket or toss it? *Shudder* Dust jackets remain on at all times. I repeat, on at al times. Remind me never to loan you a book.
Short story or novel? I avoid short stories like the plague. Novels only, please.
Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket? HP wins every time, although I like Lemony Snicket, too. I'm somewhere in the middle of the Unfortunate Events series. I love Snicket's voice, but I'm getting a little tired of the redundant plots.
Buy or borrow? Both. I love to buy books, but they cost a lot of moola, which I don't always have on hand. Therefore, I wait until there's a sale, I have a coupon, or I have Border Bucks. If all of these things happen at the same time, I do a dance of joy. Then, I head to Borders.
Buying choice: book reviews, recommendations, or browse? Good question. Usually I have an idea of what I'm going to buy before I head into a bookstore. Not always, though. I'd say 90% of the books I buy have been recommended to me either by an IRL friend or through a review on a blog, in a magazine, or on the Internet somewhere. About 10% of the time, I pick up whatever looks interesting.
Tidy ending or cliffhanger? Call me old-fashioned, but I love me a happily-ever-after. Actually, I don't like stories that end perfectly - I just want the finale to be satisfying. Give me twists, turns, cliffhangers, whatever, but make the ending ring true. That's all I ask.
Morning reading, afternoon reading, or nighttime reading? I have to choose? Tell me it ain't so! I read whenever and wherever I can - in bed, in the car (while waiting, not driving), in the bathtub, laying in bed, while I eat, while feeding the baby, while on hold,
etc.
Stand-alone or series? Either. I love series', because I love "knowing" characters well, but I'm also delighted by standalones. So, I guess my answer's really, both.
Favorite series? I have a million: HP; Kathy Reichs' Temperance Brennan books; Grace Valley by Robyn Carr; Virgin River by Robyn Carr; Jeffery Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme series; Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani; tons and tons.
Favorite children’s book? Hm. I'm too indecisive to have just one favorite. I like so many: Little Women; Anne of Green Gables; I Love You, Forever (makes me cry every time); Green Eggs and Ham; The Polar Express; Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes; tons.
Favorite YA book? The Hunger Games comes to mind. Also, The Book Thief by Marcus Zuzak.
Favorite books read last year? I can barely remember what I read this year, let alone last year. The Hunger Games probably.
Favorite books of all time? I'm going to go classic with Little Women, Gone With the Wind, Anne of Green Gables and Jane Eyre.
Favorite book to recommend to an 11-year-old? If you happen to have an almost 11-year-old boy like I do, I'd recommend A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket; the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books; and anything by Gordon Korman. If your kid is a little more ambitious in his reading than mine is, I'd definitely suggest Mr. Harry Potter.
Favorite book to re-read? I rarely re-read books. The only book I've read more than once is The Book of Mormon. And picture books. I'd go with the picture books if I were you. Kidding, kidding.
Do you ever smell books? I'm not sure you can help smelling books. I happen to love the scent - old, new, doesn't matter, I love that book-y scent. I agree with Sandy - someone should make book-scented air freshener. And perfume!
Do you ever read primary source documents like letters or diaries? You mean like Anne Frank? Or primary source documents that aren't actually books? Yes to the first, no to the second - unless they were written by family members.
What are you reading right now? An ARC of Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani. It's her first YA novel, and I don't think it has anything to do with Italians. It already seems as if it's missing something ... My bathroom read is Diane Mott Davidson's Catering to Nobody. Obviously, I don't spend enough time in there (do I need more fiber in my diet?) because it's taking me forever to read this one. It's just okay.
What are you reading next? I was just debating that. I've had Blueberry Muffin Murder by Joanne Fluke out for months, so I need to get to it. I've also got a mountain of review books, many of which I'm dying to read. Then, there's Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, which I finally got from the library. Decisions, decisions ...
If you're dying to dish about your reading habits, I'm dying to listen. Really. Just do the meme, already.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Distracted By Books
I've talked before about what a little bookworm my 7-year-old daughter is. She reads constantly, running through dozens of books each month. She stashes books in the car, the bathrooms, the kitchen - everywhere - just so she will never be without one. Sound familiar?
Anyway, her assignment for today is to get her room cleaned. It's a disaster, and will probably take her hours to get straightened. So, I was surprised when she popped down the stairs a couple of minutes ago. I asked her if her room was clean, to which she heaved a big sigh and said, "I'm TRYING to clean my room, but I keep getting distracted by books!" A few minutes later, her eyes lit up as she hit on the perfect solution: "I'm going to take all of the books out of my room until it's clean. Then, I'll put them back." And off she trotted.
I'm still chuckling. How many times do we bookworms get so distracted by our reading that housework goes undone, kids get ignored, and work falls by the wayside? I think my daughter knows what she's talking about: If we carted all the books out of our houses, we'd have so much time for other things. But, where's the fun in that? Who wants to scrub toilets when adventure awaits inside a book? I'm tempted to let her lounge on her unmade bed and read all day, but that's how she got herself into this (literal) mess in the first place. What's the bookworm mom of a bookworm child to do? I'm sure there's a book on the subject out there somewhere ...
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Readers Make the Best Waiters
Due to what I thought was appendicitis, I got to spend a torturous 6 hours a pleasant evening in the E.R. on Tuesday night. The upside is that I had lots of time to read. One of the nurses that helped me said, "You have been my best patient tonight. You're so laidback, just reading your book and going with the flow." I could hear a little kid wailing down the hall and a druggie shrieking for more water, so I probably didn't have a lot of competition in the patient department, but her comment made me remember a conversation I had with my endocrinologist last week. He apologized for keeping me waiting. I replied, "Oh, it's okay, I've got a good book." We then discussed the fact that readers make the best waiters. He told me a story about going to the DMV on his day off to get his son's car registered. When a clerk informed him it would be an hour wait, he happily settled in to read the book he'd brought along. Fifteen minutes later, the DMV employee handed him his paperwork. The clerk was shocked at his obvious disappointment when he cried, "What? I thought I was going to have an hour to wait!"
I'm still in a bit of a Percoset haze, so I'm not sure this post is making sense, but my point is: I must be book-crazed, because I actually didn't mind all the waiting at the hospital (at least not the first 4 hours or so). What do you think? Are you like me and my endocrinologist, who sort of look forward to waiting because it means more time to read?
As I was hobbling out the door, clutching my stomach in agony heading out the door for the hospital, I grabbed 2 novels out of my growing mountain of review books. I enjoyed both In Search of Molly Pitcher by Linda Grant De Pauw, which I finished, and Deadly Enterprise by Christopher Hoare, which I'm still reading. Reviews to follow!
By the way, I'm feeling a little bit better. I was supposed to take 1 Percoset every 4 hours yesterday, but I took 1 total and was out for the entire day. My head still feels foggy. According to the doctor, my pain should fade over the next day or so, so I'm laying off the Percoset and going with straight Tylenol. Hopefully, that will do the trick. In the meantime, I'm gritting my teeth and trying to be patient ... with a book in my hands, of course!
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Doing My Duty
Considering all this, I thought I should do my part to support booksellers and encourage reading in my home. It was all out of duty, I promise. So, I hit Borders, where I bought the following:
Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky
Rhett Butler's People by Donald McCaig - I love Gone With the Wind and am excited to read this "official" sequel (prequel?) to Margaret Mitchell's classic
The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James - I'm planning a Jane Austen binge for the Triple 8 challenge, and thought this one would fit in nicely.
Then, because my sense of duty was so overwhelming, I forced myself to go to a big sale at the Scholastic warehouse in Phoenix. Obviously, I took the obligation seriously, because I couldn't stop myself from purchasing these goodies (all at 30-60% off - yipee!):
Magyk by Angie Sage and Mark Zug - I've seen some great reviews of this YA book
Black Duck by Janet Taylor Lisle - This YA mystery/adventure caught my attention
The Secret School by Avi - I'm excited to read this one for the Newbery Award Project
The Mercy of Thin Air by Ronlyn Domingue - This is the story of a woman hovering between Earth and whatever comes after death - sounds interesting
Coraline by Neil Gaiman - It's Neil Gaiman - what more do I have to say?
The Princess Academy by Shannon Hale - I've read great reviews of this one
Monday with A Mad Genius - This one is for my daughter, who loves the Magic Treehouse Series
A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck - This book cracks me up, and it was only a dollar! What a steal.
Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson - I thought this historical novel about a young woman who works a homestead in Montana sounded intriguing
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis - This one has gotten fabulous reviews. I can't wait to read it.
Diary of a Fly by Doreen Cronin - This one is for my son, who adores Diary of a Worm
The last book is a book about weather for my science-obsessed son.
Phew! I love stacks of books - they carry such promise. Plus, they give me something to write about when I haven't quite finished the book I've been reading for a week. I'm getting there...hopefully, a review of The Golem's Eye will be up tomorrow. Until then you can feast your eyes on my bargains :)
Saturday, November 17, 2007
A Bookworm's Meme
I love memes about books and reading. I stole this one from Becky, who got it from Dewey:
1.) Do you remember learning to read? How old were you? Nope, I really don't remember learning to read. My mom said I taught myself how before I started kindergarten, so we'll just have to take her word on that.
2.) What do you find most challenging to read? Anything technical, scientific or math-related. Boooring!
3.) What are your library habits? I head to the library about 3 times a month. I'm really bad at renewing books on time, so I'm often there to pay overdue fines. In spite of this, I still feel compelled to check out a whole stack of books each time I visit. Why is that? I think it stems from my childhood (doesn't everything?). As a kid, I used to walk down to our town library, load up on books and hike back home. My route wasn't quite a mile long, but it seemed like a major expedition. So, I toted home as many books as I could carry to avoid having to make the long walk to the library. Plus, I love the sense of anticipation I get from seeing a whole pile of books I have yet to read.
4. Have your library habits changed since you were a kid? Yes and no. I've always loved libraries and visited them often. As a kid, I spent more time reading in the library than I do now. And, of course, I no longer have to walk to the library, which is a very nice change!
5. How has blogging changed your reading life? Well, I started this blog to track what I read and record my opinions for myself and anyone else who happened to stop by. At that time, I had never heard of reading challenges - now, I'm an addict. They have really broadened my horizons by making me read things I otherwise wouldn't. Joining the book blogging community also exposed me to other people's book blogs, from which I get all kinds of ideas and recommendations.
6. What percentage of your books do you get from (a) new bookstores, (b) secondhand bookstores, (c) the library, (d) online exchange sites, (e) online retailers, and (f) other?
(a) 40%
(b) 0% - I rarely go to secondhand shops
(c) 40%
(d) 0 % - I've heard lots about these, but have never tried them
(e) 10% - I love me some Amazon
(f) 10% - from retailers (like Costco) who aren't officially bookstores, review copies and gifts
7. How often do you read a book and not review it on your blog? What are your reasons for not blogging about it? I pretty much review every book I read.
8. What are your pet peeves about ways people abuse books? I hate it when people write in books. It just drives me nuts to read someone else's notes in a library book. I also hate dogearing (just get a bookmark, people!).
9. Do you ever read for pleasure at work? Well, I'm a stay-at-home Mom, so yeah, I read at home all the time. Do I ever shirk my responsibilities in favor of reading? No, never (hee hee)!
10. When you give people books as gifts, hwo do you decide what to give them? Oddly, I don't buy a lot of books as gifts. I guess because I feel like books are such personal things. When I do purchase them as gifts, I take into account the person's favorite authors, subjects, and genre of books. If I'm buying a gift for a booklover, I'm much more likely to purchase a gift card so that they can select their own books.
1.) Do you remember learning to read? How old were you? Nope, I really don't remember learning to read. My mom said I taught myself how before I started kindergarten, so we'll just have to take her word on that.
2.) What do you find most challenging to read? Anything technical, scientific or math-related. Boooring!
3.) What are your library habits? I head to the library about 3 times a month. I'm really bad at renewing books on time, so I'm often there to pay overdue fines. In spite of this, I still feel compelled to check out a whole stack of books each time I visit. Why is that? I think it stems from my childhood (doesn't everything?). As a kid, I used to walk down to our town library, load up on books and hike back home. My route wasn't quite a mile long, but it seemed like a major expedition. So, I toted home as many books as I could carry to avoid having to make the long walk to the library. Plus, I love the sense of anticipation I get from seeing a whole pile of books I have yet to read.
4. Have your library habits changed since you were a kid? Yes and no. I've always loved libraries and visited them often. As a kid, I spent more time reading in the library than I do now. And, of course, I no longer have to walk to the library, which is a very nice change!
5. How has blogging changed your reading life? Well, I started this blog to track what I read and record my opinions for myself and anyone else who happened to stop by. At that time, I had never heard of reading challenges - now, I'm an addict. They have really broadened my horizons by making me read things I otherwise wouldn't. Joining the book blogging community also exposed me to other people's book blogs, from which I get all kinds of ideas and recommendations.
6. What percentage of your books do you get from (a) new bookstores, (b) secondhand bookstores, (c) the library, (d) online exchange sites, (e) online retailers, and (f) other?
(a) 40%
(b) 0% - I rarely go to secondhand shops
(c) 40%
(d) 0 % - I've heard lots about these, but have never tried them
(e) 10% - I love me some Amazon
(f) 10% - from retailers (like Costco) who aren't officially bookstores, review copies and gifts
7. How often do you read a book and not review it on your blog? What are your reasons for not blogging about it? I pretty much review every book I read.
8. What are your pet peeves about ways people abuse books? I hate it when people write in books. It just drives me nuts to read someone else's notes in a library book. I also hate dogearing (just get a bookmark, people!).
9. Do you ever read for pleasure at work? Well, I'm a stay-at-home Mom, so yeah, I read at home all the time. Do I ever shirk my responsibilities in favor of reading? No, never (hee hee)!
10. When you give people books as gifts, hwo do you decide what to give them? Oddly, I don't buy a lot of books as gifts. I guess because I feel like books are such personal things. When I do purchase them as gifts, I take into account the person's favorite authors, subjects, and genre of books. If I'm buying a gift for a booklover, I'm much more likely to purchase a gift card so that they can select their own books.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Confessions of An Obsessive Reader, Or A Weekend Survey
I have been thinking of writing a blog entry called "Confessions of An Obsessive Reader" detailing all my "reading rules." Sometimes I think I am just an OCD-infected freak, but I thought maybe, just maybe, some of you are, too. So, when I saw this survey over at Becky's Book Reviews, I thought I would steal it, fill it in with all my secrets and hope that other obsessive readers will find it and make nice, comforting comments to convince me that I'm not operating too far south of normal! So, here goes...
What book are you currently reading? Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill. Since all of my reading for the R.I.P. II Challenge has been more fantastical than scary, I thought I needed something more Halloween-ish. This book, written by Stephen King's son, fits the bill perfectly.
How do you decide what book to read next? Since I've also become an obsessive book buyer, I have tons of choices on my bookshelf. I also make frequent trips to the library. Okay, here's a peek into my OCD - I keep a list (alphabetized by author) on my computer of all the books I want to read. When I hear about a good book, I add it. Then, before I go to the library or the bookstore, I peruse the list for interesting titles. Despite this, my list never seems to get any shorter; at least, I'll never run out of things to read!
Do you always finish books, or do you give up on them? If you give up on them, how many pages does it usually take? I don't give up on books often, but sometimes I do. I have WAY too many books in my TBR pile to waste time on those I don't like. It usually takes me a couple of chapters to decide.
Do you ever re-read books you love? If so, how often? Give examples, if possible. I rarely re-read books, even if I adore them. I also can't stand watching reruns on tv. Like I said, I'm weird.
Can you read books in noisy places (e.g. trains, buses, crowded rooms)? I can't read while I'm in the car because I get really carsick. Planes are a different story - usually I can read in the air without any problem. When I read - especially if the book is really good - I tune everything else out, so I can read with the t.v. on, my kids screaming, tornadoes raging outside, etc. I prefer to read in silence, but I take what I can get.
Where do you acquire most of your books? If you are a library user or borrower, how many books do you borrow at once? If a buyer, how many books do you usually buy at once? I get books any way I can. Lately, I have been buying more because I can't seem to get my library books back on time. But, when I do go to the library, I usually get at least 4 books, sometimes more. Yesterday, I checked out 12, but most of them were YA novels. Likewise, when I buy books, I can't purchase just one. I'm a huge sucker for Borders' 3 for 2 table. I try to shop wisely, taking advantage of coupons and free shipping (when I buy online). New books just make me happy. What can I say?
Do you use bookmarks, or dog-ear the pages of your books? Do you make marginal notes? If so, do you use pencil or pen? Dog-ear pages?? Gasp! No, I would never do that. I use bookmarks - pretty ones if I have them, scraps of paper otherwise. I don't make marginal notes ever. I had an English teacher in high school who wrote copious notes in books she owned. Her spidery handwriting filled every blank space on the page. I thought this was very intellectual of her, but I don't read that way. Also, I find it hugely irritating to read a book that's filled with someone else's notes.
Do you have any unusual tendencies while you read? Did I mention my OCD? I have to read books in a series in order. I absolutely will not start in the middle. Also, I have a hard time with non-fiction. My husband has several books he's been urging me to read for years, but I've put them off because they're not fiction. In addition, I've discovered that I'm not big on reading the classics. I wish I was, but I find a lot of them incredibly boring. Of course, there are exceptions - Little Women, Gone With the Wind (more of a modern classic), Anne of Green Gables, poetry by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, etc. and there are lots of classics I haven't read, but, in general, I'm not big on the classics. I know - you're stunned! Reading is also an addiction of mine (almost as bad as the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups one) - I get so swept up in exciting plots that I forget about everything else. My husband and kids often have to pull me back up to the surface.
Do you read through pages at top speed, or do you stop to savor the sentences along the way? It depends on what I'm reading. If the writer uses language masterfully, I will pause to savor sentences here and there before I continue at top speed. In general, I read very quickly.
We know most of us can read just about anywhere, but specifically where and when do you do your best reading? Let's see, I love reading outside in serene places, but that doesn't happen a lot. So, I'd have to say my favorite reading spot is in my room. I have an adjustable bed that lets me achieve the perfect reading position (head elevated, feet elevated,). Then, I turn on a lamp so I have nice, soft light. A glass of ice water completes my perfect reading environment. Ahh...
Okay, there you have it. Remember your part in this? Nice, understanding comments that let me know I'm not too obsessive and weird! I'd love to hear other book lovers' answers to these questions as well - so feel free to steal - I mean, borrow - the survey I stole - I mean, borrowed, from Becky.
What book are you currently reading? Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill. Since all of my reading for the R.I.P. II Challenge has been more fantastical than scary, I thought I needed something more Halloween-ish. This book, written by Stephen King's son, fits the bill perfectly.
How do you decide what book to read next? Since I've also become an obsessive book buyer, I have tons of choices on my bookshelf. I also make frequent trips to the library. Okay, here's a peek into my OCD - I keep a list (alphabetized by author) on my computer of all the books I want to read. When I hear about a good book, I add it. Then, before I go to the library or the bookstore, I peruse the list for interesting titles. Despite this, my list never seems to get any shorter; at least, I'll never run out of things to read!
Do you always finish books, or do you give up on them? If you give up on them, how many pages does it usually take? I don't give up on books often, but sometimes I do. I have WAY too many books in my TBR pile to waste time on those I don't like. It usually takes me a couple of chapters to decide.
Do you ever re-read books you love? If so, how often? Give examples, if possible. I rarely re-read books, even if I adore them. I also can't stand watching reruns on tv. Like I said, I'm weird.
Can you read books in noisy places (e.g. trains, buses, crowded rooms)? I can't read while I'm in the car because I get really carsick. Planes are a different story - usually I can read in the air without any problem. When I read - especially if the book is really good - I tune everything else out, so I can read with the t.v. on, my kids screaming, tornadoes raging outside, etc. I prefer to read in silence, but I take what I can get.
Where do you acquire most of your books? If you are a library user or borrower, how many books do you borrow at once? If a buyer, how many books do you usually buy at once? I get books any way I can. Lately, I have been buying more because I can't seem to get my library books back on time. But, when I do go to the library, I usually get at least 4 books, sometimes more. Yesterday, I checked out 12, but most of them were YA novels. Likewise, when I buy books, I can't purchase just one. I'm a huge sucker for Borders' 3 for 2 table. I try to shop wisely, taking advantage of coupons and free shipping (when I buy online). New books just make me happy. What can I say?
Do you use bookmarks, or dog-ear the pages of your books? Do you make marginal notes? If so, do you use pencil or pen? Dog-ear pages?? Gasp! No, I would never do that. I use bookmarks - pretty ones if I have them, scraps of paper otherwise. I don't make marginal notes ever. I had an English teacher in high school who wrote copious notes in books she owned. Her spidery handwriting filled every blank space on the page. I thought this was very intellectual of her, but I don't read that way. Also, I find it hugely irritating to read a book that's filled with someone else's notes.
Do you have any unusual tendencies while you read? Did I mention my OCD? I have to read books in a series in order. I absolutely will not start in the middle. Also, I have a hard time with non-fiction. My husband has several books he's been urging me to read for years, but I've put them off because they're not fiction. In addition, I've discovered that I'm not big on reading the classics. I wish I was, but I find a lot of them incredibly boring. Of course, there are exceptions - Little Women, Gone With the Wind (more of a modern classic), Anne of Green Gables, poetry by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, etc. and there are lots of classics I haven't read, but, in general, I'm not big on the classics. I know - you're stunned! Reading is also an addiction of mine (almost as bad as the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups one) - I get so swept up in exciting plots that I forget about everything else. My husband and kids often have to pull me back up to the surface.
Do you read through pages at top speed, or do you stop to savor the sentences along the way? It depends on what I'm reading. If the writer uses language masterfully, I will pause to savor sentences here and there before I continue at top speed. In general, I read very quickly.
We know most of us can read just about anywhere, but specifically where and when do you do your best reading? Let's see, I love reading outside in serene places, but that doesn't happen a lot. So, I'd have to say my favorite reading spot is in my room. I have an adjustable bed that lets me achieve the perfect reading position (head elevated, feet elevated,). Then, I turn on a lamp so I have nice, soft light. A glass of ice water completes my perfect reading environment. Ahh...
Okay, there you have it. Remember your part in this? Nice, understanding comments that let me know I'm not too obsessive and weird! I'd love to hear other book lovers' answers to these questions as well - so feel free to steal - I mean, borrow - the survey I stole - I mean, borrowed, from Becky.
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