BTT-Current

Today's Question:  What are you reading right now? What made you choose it? Are you enjoying it? Would you recommend it? (And, by all means, discuss everything, if you’re reading more than one thing!)

I just began listening to The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova for the On The Ledge Readalongs.  I have finished one disc and am thoroughly addicted.  The readers are doing an excellent job and the sense of suspense is what has me wanting to keep listening. 

I also just started (in print) Immanuel's Veins by Ted Dekker and a character by the name of Vlad has just made his appearance.    This has me wondering if these two books may have a common link.  Can't wait to find out. 

I need to have Immanuel's Veins finished by Saturday before I leave for vacation so it is a struggle because I want to be immersed in both!

Book Break

Do you take breaks while reading a book? Or read it straight through? (And, by breaks, I don’t mean sleeping, eating and going to work; I mean putting it aside for a time while you read something else.)

Normally, once I get a good start (25-50 pages), I will continue to read straight through a book.  I do have a couple of books lying around the house that I read only when I am in that room.

 Stop by Sunday for my blogoversary giveaways.

Olympic Reading

You may have noticed–the Winter Olympics are going on. Is that affecting your reading time? Have you read any Olympics-themed books? What do you think about the Olympics in general? Here’s your chance to discuss!

I am a huge Olympics watcher and yes it has affected my reading a bit. I try to read during commericals or first thing in the morning.  No Olympic-themed books are being read though.

So glad that Shani Davis, Lindsey Vonn and Shawn White won gold yesterday! 

Are you watching?

Favorite Unread Authors

BTT asks: Who’s your favorite author that other people are NOT reading?  The author that, so far as you’re concerned, everyone should be reading–but that nobody seems to have heard of. You know, not JK Rowling, not Jane Austen, not Hemingway–everybody’s heard of them.

The authors I have enjoyed that some have never heard of or read are Sara Donati's Into The Wilderness series, Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series and Jennifer Donnelly's Rose series.  These are historical fiction.

A couple of non-historical fiction that are not as well known as the author's other work are Steven James's Patrick Bowers series and James Scott Bell's Ty Buchanan series.  Both are suspense/thrillers.

BTT - To Flap or Not To Flap

Suggested by Prairie Progressive:

Do you read the inside flaps that describe a book before or while reading it?

If I know nothing about the book or it's author, I do read the inside flap or back cover to get an idea of what it's about to determine if it is something I would like to read.

There are times when I pick up a book based on knowledge of the author and do not read either.  Such as Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli.  I had no idea what it was about, knew the reputation of the author and was blown away by the book.

Many times I pick up a book after reading rave reviews on numerous book blogs having an idea what the book is about and do not read the flap.  I most likely will while reading the book or after though.

Are you a flapper?

BTT - Bookmarks

Today's Booking Through Thursday was suggested by Tammy:

What items have you ever used as a bookmark? What is the most unusual item you’ve ever used or seen used?

I usually have a collection of bookmarks all over the house so that when I need to stop reading and mark my place I have one I can grab. Many times it is a piece of paper, a sticky note, unopened junk mail, or anything that will hold my place and not fall out.
 
Just recently I got yelled at because I used the tv remote and left it in the basement which caused a big search and rescue operation.  I guess that little button on the side is not sufficient!  LOL

When I return library books, I have to make a point to check the pages and make sure I did not leave anything in the book. I have found some interesting things that other people have used as bookmarks: dental floss, notes to self or from a family member, a gift card, a used cotton swab, a bank deposit receipt. 

Yesterday I got a chuckle because I checked out a book, flipped through it (looking for anything yucky), found a library due date receipt stuck in it and it was mine!  I had already read the book and left my due date slip inside.

Bad Books

Today's question:
“Life is too short to read bad books.” I’d always heard that, but I still read books through until the end no matter how bad they were because I had this sense of obligation. That is, until this week when I tried (really tried) to read a book that is utterly boring and unrealistic. I had to stop reading."

Do you read everything all the way through or do you feel life really is too short to read bad books?

I feel that there are too many books out there to be read to keep reading a bad one or one that is not holding my attention for whatever reason. I normally have a 50 page rule, if my interest is not held by then, I will move on to another book. However, if it is a book I've agreed to review I will give it another 50 pages or so (make more of an effort).

Sometimes I will skim and try to pick up at a more interesting place or skim and get to the end to find out what happens.

Because I abandon a book it does not mean I will never try to read it again. There are many books that for one reason or another did not hold my attention and when I gave them another try I finished.

Discuss

Today's subject at Booking Through Thursday is: “YOU ask the question”. Each participant could ask a question they’ve wanted to discuss with other readers. Perhaps, like me, you’d like a recommendation of a certain author’s best work, or perhaps you LOVE a certain genre or series but no one else you know does and you’d just like to discuss it with someone. Or perhaps you want to try a new genre and would like recommendations from seasoned readers.

Dean Koontz, Jeffery Deaver, Lincoln Child and Michael Connelly are recommended to me over and over again. Where to start? Do they write series books? Which one is the best?

Thanks for any input given!

Book Liar?

Today is true confession time at Booking Through Thursday. Two-thirds of Brits have lied about reading books they haven’t. Have you? Why? What book?

Question is inspired by this article.

In high school I was a notorious "skimmer" and would never fully read the assigned books unless they were really good. Somehow, I still got As. I tried to avoid answering the question, "Did you read the book", but am sure that I answered that question incorrectly a time or two! ;O0

Now, however, if you ask me if I've read this or that book, I am going to answer you 100% correctly. Why lie? I am not ashamed that I like Stephanie Plum better than Esther Summerson or Myron Bolitar better than Captain Ahab.

. Are there other book liars? Find out here.

Recent Best/Worst Books

Last week's question was, "What's the worst book you've read recently?" and this week's question is, "What's the best book you've read recently?"

I have not read a really bad book in awhile. Could be due to my 50 page rule or I've just been fortunate in my choices. The one that disappointed me the most was Olive Kitteridge. I had high expectations of this being a great book and it was just so-so for me.

I've read some really great books recently. North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, and Graceling by Kristin Cashore.

I ask today's question to complete strangers and get into some really good book discussions as well as get some strange looks as they are moving quickly away from me.

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

Funny Books?

Today's Booking Through Thursday asks.....

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

The book that had me laughing most recently was Everyone Is Beautiful by Katherine Center. My review is here.

I just started Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich, a Stephanie Plum novel that will most likely prove to be a funny one as well.

Looking forward to finding out what tickled your funny bone.

Quick Survery

Which do you prefer? (Quick answers–we’ll do more detail at some later date)

Reading something frivolous? Or something serious?
Depends upon my mood

Paperbacks? Or hardcovers?
no preference

Fiction? Or Nonfiction?
fiction

Poetry? Or Prose?
prose

Biographies? Or Autobiographies?
no preference

History? Or Historical Fiction?
love both

Series? Or Stand-alones?
stand alones

Classics? Or best-sellers?
both

Lurid, fruity prose? Or straight-forward, basic prose?
straigh forward

Plots? Or Stream-of-Consciousness?
plots

Long books? Or Short?
the longer the better

Illustrated? Or Non-illustrated?
non-illustrated

Borrowed? Or Owned?
no preference

New? Or Used?
no preference

This was hard! Love all books of any type.

A Second First Time

What book would you love to be able to read again for the first time?

(Interestingly, I thought that I had thought this one up myself, but when I started scrolling through the Suggestions, found that Rebecca had suggested almost exactly this question a couple months ago. So, we both get credit!)

That first thought of "I am loving this book!" is priceless and with it comes the total immersion, shutting out everything else that is going on around you, as you absorb yourself in the story/characters! I can think of many books I would love to have that first rush with again:

Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns
Sacajawea by Anna Lee Waldo
The Outlander by Diane Gabaldon
A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman
and many more....

Read what others would love to read again for the first time at Booking Through Thursday.

Book Glutton

Mariel suggested this week’s question
Book Gluttony! Are your eyes bigger than your book belly? Do you have a habit of buying up books far quicker than you could possibly read them? Have you had to curb your book buying habits until you can catch up with yourself? Or are you a controlled buyer, only purchasing books when you have run out of things to read?

Years ago I committed to curb my book buying (it was out of control) to help with the family finances and have kept that commitment because I know I would be back to buying more books than I could possibly read. I have not control.

Now I am a book glutton at the library! I always have way more books checked out than I can read before the due date. Today I had to return some books and was looking for my book bag. Could not find it anywhere...it was in the backseat of the car with 7 library books in it that I totally forgot about! Emptied the bag, put the ones I had to return in it and yep, came home with four more books!

Is there such a person that can be a controlled buyer and run out of things to read? ;0)

Which is worse?

Finding a book you love and then hating everything else you try by that author, or

Reading a completely disappointing book by an author that you love?

For me it is finding a book that I love and then not liking any of the other books written by the same author. If I read a book by an author that is new to me and loved the book, I take the time to look up their backlist and get the books. It is frustrating to then dislike the books.

I have been completely disappointed by a book written by a favorite. I forget about it and wait for the next book.

What's worse for you?

Booking Through Thursday

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…

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

Thursday snuck up on me. I have been a day behind all week as we are on Spring Break.

I usually have two to three books going at once, sometimes more. It is very normal for me to do so. I am reading a bookclub book, a review book and a book just because. I also keep a book in the car in case I forget to grab one as I go out the door. The book I am reading for the bookclub usually stays in the office and the other two move around with me. I've always got a book in my hand!

What about you? How many do you have going at one time?

Booking Through Thursday - Numbers Game

BTT - Library

Today Barbara asks: I saw that National Library week is coming up in April, and that led to some questions. How often do you use your public library and how do you use it? Has the coffeehouse/bookstore replaced the library? Did you go to the library as a child? Do you have any particular memories of the library? Do you like sleek, modern, active libraries or the older, darker, quiet, cozy libraries?

I regularly use two public libraries in my area. I visit at least once a week and always have more books checked out than I can possibly read in the allotted time.

I loved going to the library as a child and since it was just a few blocks away I could walk or ride my bike there at any time. Back then kids were only allowed to check out 10 items at a time and I could easily finish up with those 10 items before the due date. Since the library was centrally located, it was the place to meet up with friends before going on somewhere else. I remember meeting my first boyfriend by the fountain at the library. He wanted to go bowling, but I wanted to go inside the library! LOL

I don't think that the coffeehouse/bookstore has replaced the library. I love to browse the bookstore with a favorite drink, but it mostly to find books to checkout of the library. If it is a book I want in my library, I return to purchase it.

Both of my local libraries have been totally renovated, the one closest will be finished this summer. The one thing that I miss about the older, cozy buildings is that "book smell" that seems to be missing with the new, renovated libraries.

Booking Through Thursday

Tami inspired this week’s question:
What book do you think should be made into a movie? And do you have any suggestions for the producers?

I love epic movies: Gone With The Wind, The Lord of the Rings, Braveheart, etc. so I would love to see Sara Donati's Wilderness series on the big screen.

Book Through Thursday

Today's Question:
We’ve all seen the lists, we’ve all thought, “I should really read that someday,” but for all of us, there are still books on “The List” that we haven’t actually gotten around to reading. Even though we know they’re fabulous. Even though we know that we’ll like them. Or that we’ll learn from them. Or just that they’re supposed to be worthy. We just … haven’t gotten around to them yet.

What’s the best book that YOU haven’t read yet?

I have a large to be read list and I wonder if these have been on it this long because I really have no intention of reading them?!:

Harry Potter Series (only read the 1st book)
Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Great Expectations – Charles Dickens

Besides these four books, what should we be reading?

Booking Through Thursday

Booking Through Thursday - Collectibles
Hardcover? Or paperback?
Illustrations? Or just text?
First editions? Or you don’t care?
Signed by the author? Or not?

It does not matter to me if it is hardcover or paperback. If I love the book I want it in my collection! The edition does not matter to me and having it signed by the author is not important to me either. However, that does not mean that I don't want an author signed book! It is wonderful to meet and talk with favorite authors and get a book signed.

I enjoy illustrations in the YA books I read as well as non-fiction. In some non-fictions books I would say they are a must to enhance the subject matter. My cousin wrote a book and her beautiful illustrations helped make the book so enjoyable.