tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68933967789637702802012-02-16T03:43:46.333-05:00Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.comBlogger681100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-89294553810977249702010-12-19T18:30:00.002-05:002010-12-19T18:44:15.983-05:00

"The love of learning, the sequestered nooks, And all the sweet serenity of books." - Henry Wadsworth LongfellowThis year was by far my worst year of reading . . . ever. Although there are 11 days left in the year, I am calling it. I do not think I read even 15 books this year. January started off fine, maybe 1-2 books off pace. But then, that was it.I don't want to be one of "those" people -

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-32423337640737940652010-06-09T11:34:00.002-04:002010-06-09T12:07:49.165-04:00

What is everyone reading this summer?I know Jen plans to reread Gone with the Wind. The neighborhood book club is reading Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll and A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Those two are on my list.Right now I'm reading The Believers by Zoe Heller (unavailable on Kindle last time I checked, so I bought the paperback). I'm liking it so far, it's a dysfunctional

Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866359663975650122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-78115081981270248632010-03-29T17:19:00.002-04:002010-03-29T17:23:29.578-04:00

goes to Sherman Alexie for War Dances - "a collection of stories on the themes of love, betrayal, familial relationships, race, and class." I didn't really enjoy his 2003 collection of short stories Ten Little Indians. Is this one worth a try?

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-37385169242983378292010-03-29T17:14:00.002-04:002010-03-29T17:17:23.712-04:00

Could I read all of the selections and vote? Time is tight!The Lost Man Booker prize of 1970Would I want to?

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-58616587580699785432010-03-24T18:59:00.002-04:002010-03-24T19:08:57.740-04:00

Publisher's Weekly has published a list of the top-selling books of 2009.Top 5 FictionThe Lost Symbol: A Novel by Dan Brown (Doubleday)The Associate: A Novel by John Grisham (Doubleday)The Help by Kathryn Stockett (Putnam/Amy Einhorn)I, Alex Cross by James Patterson (Little, Brown)Ford County by John Grisham (Doubleday)Top 5 Non-fictionGoing Rogue: An American Life by Sarah Palin (Harper)Act Like

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-17861506738089270562010-02-17T11:07:00.002-05:002010-02-17T11:26:00.268-05:00

It's February 17th and my year of reading is already flopping. Sigh . . .I need some inspiration. It's too early to call the whole year, but 7 books by February 17th may be my worst start in recorded history. It's not for a lack of books on my nightstand or on my shelves. I'm not in a relaxed place though. I think I read best when I am feeling more relaxed.I'm going to plug in to a site -

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-56941980784530587082010-01-01T08:35:00.003-05:002010-01-01T09:30:10.264-05:00

It's 8:35am on New Year's Day, 2010. I'm up way too early and without a hangover, SO, I have time to reflect on the year of reading ahead.I am going to call 2009, "the year without reading." Technically, this is not true, of course. I would have to be dead or recently blinded and not learned braille yet for there to ever truly be a year without reading. But, overall, I felt like I read less

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-78860684188888827972009-11-25T10:43:00.002-05:002009-11-25T10:49:13.148-05:00

I've been having trouble keeping up my reading pace these past several months. Is it just that I do not have the right books on my nightstand?New Stories from the South 2008 - ZZ Packer, ed.The Hunger Games - Suzanne CollinsThe White Queen - Philippa GregorySomething Incredibly Wonderful Happened: Frank Oppenheimer and the World He Made Us - K.C. ColeThat Old Cape Magic - Richard RussoThe Heart

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-53440205816565495942009-08-26T13:36:00.003-04:002009-08-26T13:52:21.133-04:00

The beautiful thing about favorite reads is that they do not have to be anything but that; they don't have to be best-sellers or classics or award winners. Just favoritesLittle Women by Louisa May Alcott - I received this as a gift, in beautiful hard copy, the Christmas after I turned 10. I love this book! It's lost its dust jacket along the way, but I still have the same copy, from my Aunt

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-46198804799531487262009-07-08T12:36:00.002-04:002009-07-08T12:48:53.309-04:00

Hmmm . . . I may not have logged all of my books last month, but this is what I have:Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen by Julie PowellBento Box in the Heartland: My Japanese Girlhood in Whitebread America by Linda FuriyaAlice Waters and Chez Panisse by Thomas McNameeMy Life in France by Julia ChildLost on Planet China: One Man's Attempt to Understand the World's

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-84400462325609527052009-05-31T14:14:00.004-04:002009-05-31T14:36:39.844-04:00

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga*My Invented Country: A Memoir by Isabel Allende*Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-SmithThe Last Summer (of You & Me) by Ann Brashares*The Host by Stephenie MeyerThe Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death: Reflections on Revenge, Germophobia, and Laser Hair Removal by Laurie Notaro*City of Refuge by Tom PiazzaLook Again by Lisa

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-57069873575808363082009-05-07T22:35:00.000-04:002009-05-07T22:36:25.069-04:00

Penguin to Publish Vladimir Nabokov's Last WorkThe Telegraph reports that Penguin will publish Lolita author Vladimir Nabokov's last book. The book is called The Original of Laura. It's a novel that Nabokov wanted destroyed when he died. His death wish will not be granted as the novel will be in bookstores in November. Kirschbaum said she and Stefan McGrath, the managing director of

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-46066237790326672702009-05-01T12:07:00.002-04:002009-05-01T12:16:11.480-04:00

Another month in which I did not get in 10 books, but I have read 36 books this year in 4 months. So, I am averaging 9 per month right now, and at that pace, I will hit 100, which is the goal. If I actually get to take my 10-year anniversary trip in 10 days, I would expect my May reading to pick up. I've downloaded some "beach reads" to my new Kindle 2 - This Charming Man by Marian Keyes and

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-68705476484477728742009-04-25T12:24:00.002-04:002009-04-25T12:33:32.551-04:00

I promised to post some links to some Hayao Miyazaki movies, My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away. I would say that Totoro is great for preschoolers, and Spirited Away is better suited to school age kids.The only one that I haven't let my 8 yo watch is Princess Mononoke. It's pretty violent and downright strange. I think I once heard a joke about needing to smoke a little something along with

Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866359663975650122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-81406754983978343342009-04-01T16:48:00.011-04:002009-04-01T18:21:02.097-04:00

Well, I fell off my 10-book pace this month, (March is always hectic) but I have a little lee-way on my 100 book goal. That is, if I read 10 books every month, I would be at 120 by year end. Here are my March reads:Valeria's Last Stand by Marc FittenThe Alchemist by Paulo CoehloThe Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg LarssonThe Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette WallsLoving Frank by Nancy

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-15871587942234059972009-02-26T19:36:00.004-05:002009-04-01T18:20:20.031-04:00

I hit my 10-book per month quota with two days to spare, so here they are:Forever Odd by Dean KoontzKitchen Confidential Updated Ed. :Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony BourdainDating Jesus: A Story of Fundamentalism, Feminism, and the American Girl by Susan CampbellThe Gifted Gabaldon Sisters by Lorraine LopezWhite Noise by Don DeLilloHere's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-36054731228709173922009-02-03T10:36:00.002-05:002009-02-03T10:42:28.658-05:00

Book Club For Boys has some suggestions for starting a boys' book club and some reading lists based on level. I thought Jen might be interested, I have hard time finding things for C (right now it's Captain Underpants and Goosebumps.)Flashlight Worthy. I found this through Twitter (I should say they found me). They publish book lists on various topics on a frequent basis. And I love

Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866359663975650122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-86161025743263720882009-02-01T12:26:00.002-05:002009-02-01T12:31:56.231-05:00

In January, I read 10 books for a total of 4,109 pages.The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel BarberyThursday Next: First Among Sequels by Jasper FfordeAmerican Gods by Neil GaimanThe Hour I First Believed by Wally LambHarvesting the Heart by Jodi PicoultThe Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK RowlingWhen You are Engulfed in Flames by David SedarisWe Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel ShriverSlumdog

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-69530662952787826672009-01-08T21:05:00.002-05:002009-01-08T21:07:47.772-05:00

Well, actually, it should be "goal." I only one so far (on top of my annual one, which is to read 100 books per year - something that has not happened since I became a mother!). My new 2009 reading goal is to post a review for each book I read. I am currently doing this at LibraryThing, GoodReads and to a lesser degree Facebook. Yes, they are all the same review. Please, how much time do you

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-67591312689772785452009-01-06T16:22:00.003-05:002009-01-06T16:29:53.959-05:00

Atlanta is one of the country's most literate cities. :^) This year the following study:http://www.ccsu.edu/amlc08/overall_all.htmrated it 6th overall. But Atlanta did not make the Top 10 for the booksellers category. It ranked 6th in Education Level. It didn't make the Top 10 in the internet resources category. It didn't make the Top 10 in the libraries category. It didn't make the Top 10 in the

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-33749212802103280282008-10-22T14:00:00.002-04:002008-10-22T14:23:31.430-04:00

Unusual question? It just popped into my head as I was reading the Letter from the Editor in my most recent issue of Bookmarks magazine. It was about David Foster Wallace's suicide. I actually have never read any of his books because I could never get more than 40 pages into Infinite Jest (a book I gave up on more than a decade ago). But here he is, being mourned by the literary community.I

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-46773752474286340272008-08-26T19:46:00.002-04:002008-08-26T19:56:54.814-04:00

When browsing through my Trashionista blog feeds, I came across a blurb about Noel Streatfield's book Ballet Shoes being made into a film. What a flashback - Noel Streatfield! I loved, loved, loved all of her books growing up. In addition to Ballet Shoes, which was a personal favorite of mine, she wrote:Theater ShoesTennis ShoesDancing ShoesMovie ShoesCircus ShoesParty ShoesFamily ShoesNew

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-4178428895475459062008-07-25T20:17:00.003-04:002008-07-25T20:27:30.240-04:00

First, I'm not sure how I feel about Entertainment Weekly naming "new classics." But I found this post on Readers Read interesting enough to write about it here. These are books published between 1983 and 2008. The top ten are:1. The Road, Cormac McCarthy (2006)2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling (2000)3. Beloved, Toni Morrison (1987)4. The Liars' Club, Mary Karr (1995)5.

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-47046827695830263312008-06-14T22:05:00.002-04:002008-06-14T22:42:29.684-04:00

I've added a number of book-related blogs to my bloglines feeds, and I thought I would share a few:www.thebostonbibliophile.comShe has a cool Graphic Novel Monday post. For all the Marjane Satrapi Persepolis readers, check out Chicken with Plums. For those who read Cancer Vixen by Marisa Acocella Marchetto , check out Cancer Made Me a Shallower Person by Miriam Engerlberghttp://

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-36548926556043723742008-05-30T10:43:00.003-04:002008-05-30T10:48:28.181-04:00

Here is a review of an ARC that I received as part of the Early Reviewers Group at LibraryThing. If you have not joined LibraryThing, you should - it's great!Like Bringing Home the Birkin by Michael Tonello, I place this book in my "non-celebrity does something a little different and interesting and is able to write well about it" genre. I am ALWAYS drawn to it. This book started off a bit slow

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-44247167372900503122008-05-10T11:49:00.004-04:002008-05-10T12:19:58.256-04:00

That's Bookmarks magazine's tag line, and I finally made a few minutes to peruse the May/June issue.I'm excited to see that Chris Bohjalian (one of my favorite authors) has a new book out - Skeletons at the Feast - "Inspired by an actual World War II diary." I'm a little disappointed that it's a WWII book. I'm still a bit worn out on the topic after The Good German and Suite Francaise from

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-35256841420843643142008-04-30T14:37:00.004-04:002008-11-13T18:03:18.112-05:00

I came across this interesting post at http://www.trashionista.com/ - "Where we read books like they are going out of fashion." :^) Would you stick your books on the back of a door?I know that sounds like a mad question, but look! Spotted in Marie Claire Maison by those amazing Apartment Therapy people, the books are held up by the "Sticklebook". The innovative design comprises an aluminium

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-31453121679242993482008-04-30T14:27:00.002-04:002008-04-30T14:35:46.337-04:00

The following is a post from http://www.readersread.com/cgi-bin/bookblog.pl?bblog=421081Bush Plans to Eliminate RIF Program President Bush's 2009 budget will eliminate funding for RIF, the Reading is Fundamental program which provides books and encourages reading for impoverished children.President Bush's proposed 2009 budget eliminates all the funding for Reading Is Fundamental's book

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-79340709073407678152008-04-12T11:57:00.002-04:002008-04-12T12:03:13.972-04:00

This book is another ARC that I received from Bookbrowse. I get advanced reader copies from Bookbrowse and Librarything, when I'm lucky. :^) Here is my quick review of the book. If you are interested in reading it, let me know - I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. As you can see in my somewhat snobbish review, I single you ladies out as being up to my high standards. ;^) (And no, you don't have to

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-28272331635246153702008-04-07T18:46:00.002-04:002008-04-07T18:57:45.785-04:00

The Man Booker prize is celebrating its 40th anniversary by awarding The Best of the Booker to the best overall novel to have won the prize since it was first awarded in 1969. The public will get to give its input on a six-novel shortlist, when it is announced in May.Here is the archive of books that won.Here are the books I've enjoyed from that list:2004 winner The Line of Beauty by Alan

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-62114119500716968072008-04-07T09:26:00.002-04:002008-04-07T11:14:48.288-04:00

OK, So I too went a bit nutty this month with book purchases. I know I bought some books for the boys' Easter baskets but for the life of me I am not remembering them right now. I went to the Reading Tree (in downtown Alpharetta) recently -- it is a kids bookstore that is huge and has lots of great stuff (although I must admit the lady in the store was not the most friendly). They do story

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608591419397853913noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-23513799394907618022008-04-03T19:08:00.012-04:002008-04-03T19:44:50.900-04:00

For me it was about books, not basketball. :^) With Coffee Buy the Book going out of business, I may have set a new personal book buying record for one month. In no particular order:And Now You Can Go by Vendela Vida (HC)** This book has been on my "should pick it up list" since late 2003. Vida is part of 826 Valencia, a cool non-profit writing workshop in San Francisco. Well, at least that's

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-44646231684362026232008-04-01T07:39:00.000-04:002008-04-01T07:41:02.896-04:00

Hey guys, this is so funny.It's Not You, It's Your Books

Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866359663975650122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-38675103041851804552008-03-27T13:11:00.003-04:002008-11-13T18:03:18.671-05:00

(Okay, it's not a book picture, but I can't do a blog post without a photo. . .)I just discovered a site called Good Reads where you can set up an account and add friends (like Facebook or Ravelry) and review your books. I have only just set up my account and haven't had much time to explore it yet, but it looks like fun.If you get on and want to friend me, I'm Mbarkle. (So far I have no friends

Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866359663975650122noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-68316880248575230632008-03-14T16:03:00.003-04:002008-11-13T18:03:19.533-05:00

Umm, it's a little embarrassing. But hey, I've read 6 of the books in the top photo already. Actually I've read the two books of mine in the bottom photo and the other three weren't even mine. I feel better now.The Thirteenth Tale was fun. No spoiler, but it's got one of those big plot twists at the end (which I did NOT like).The Sarah Vowell book, Assassination Vacation, was really a fun and

Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866359663975650122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-18715022437973564922008-03-13T20:01:00.004-04:002008-03-13T20:42:00.989-04:00

Through LibraryThing, I was lucky enough to snag an advance reader's edition of Bringing Home the Birkin: My Life in Hot Pursuit of the World's Most Coveted Handbag by Michael Tonello. It is scheduled for release by Harper Collins on April 22, 2008. I posted a discussion/review at LibraryThing in their Early Reviewers group. It's not as fancy as most of the reviewers probably do. But you all

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-81463355233735960772008-02-24T10:13:00.002-05:002008-03-06T14:50:49.706-05:00

Oooh, did I spend in February!FictionSuite Francaise by Irene NemirovskyLife on the Refridgerator Door: Notes between a Mother and a Daughter by Alice Kuipers (HC)Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg CabotBig Bones by Meg CabotShopaholic & Baby by Sophie KinsellaTelling Tales edited by Nadine GordimerThe Poet of Tolstoy Park by Sonny BrewerThe Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (HC)The Deportee and

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-23871388476609738612008-02-16T19:34:00.002-05:002008-02-16T20:14:20.916-05:00

I have to admit. I was at the bookstore again today. This time I was with the whole family, so we spent our time in the children's section, getting books for the girls. But, as we were on our way to the front to pay, I couldn't resist doing another scan of the "Buy One, Get One Half Off" table . . . that I had just looked at a mere 30 hours before.I can often find my "secret pleasures" on this

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-60324216815960162472008-01-31T11:25:00.001-05:002008-01-31T11:50:06.806-05:00

Bbbrrrrrrr! I felt very cold in January, so I didn't get out to do as much book buying as usual. ;^) But, here is what I can recall purchasing:Lord Foul's Bane: The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever (Book One) by Stephen R. Donaldson (Amazon.com)I bought this book because it is part of a series. I came across this author in my most recent Bookmarks Magazine (I think) that mentioned

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-21688860580683491422008-01-17T21:41:00.000-05:002008-01-17T21:45:21.150-05:00

I look forward to meeting each of you and participating in the group. To give you some insight on my reading preferences, here are the books I’m reading in January and February:FictionLiterary MysteryThe People of the Book by Geraldine BrooksCrime (Texas and Mexico)No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthyCrime (Tornados, Oklahoma)The Breathtaker by Alice BlanchardHistorical (post Civil War and

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17776425426867400638noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-26922484860206497432008-01-12T15:16:00.001-05:002008-01-12T15:51:40.568-05:00

A new year on the calendar, a new year for reading. :^) I'm really looking forward to 2008. I am not pregnant. I am not giving birth. And I am not in those early infant months when readings seems impossible (Sorry Jen!). So, I am fully prepared for my challenge to read 100 books this year. A goal I set for myself annually. Last year, I read around 65 books I think.What to read? I've

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-27176916152845335562007-12-31T08:59:00.001-05:002007-12-31T09:24:06.395-05:00

Hi all,I am not sure that I will remember everything I purchased and received, but here goes:PurchasesThe Daring Book for Girls (gift for my niece)The Dangerous Book for Boys (gift for my nephew and for the boys in my house)Thunderstruck by Erik Larson (gift for my father-in-law)That Book of Perfectly Useless Information by Michell Symons (gift for my husband Craig)I am America (and So Can You!)

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608591419397853913noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-74373365840463020932007-12-29T15:22:00.000-05:002007-12-29T16:16:09.066-05:00

In the holiday spirit, I am also including the books that people purchased for me. Because my love of reading caused these purchases, so I feel some good book karma should accumulate to me. :^)Books I purchasedFICTIONNaked Lunch by William S. Burroughs (Coffee Buy the Book)White Noise by Don DeLillo (Coffee Buy the Book)Hey Nostradamus! by Douglas Coupland (Coffee by the Book)The Wrinkle in Time

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-5626043158564188572007-12-09T13:01:00.000-05:002007-12-09T13:04:42.824-05:00

Do any of you guys use Library Thing? I'm wondering if it's worth the work to get all my books organized this way.I think I might try entering just my craft books, mostly because I'm trying to organize my yarn stash at Ravelry and someone mentioned possibly being able to import your book list from Librarything into Ravelry. . .Anyone used it?

Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866359663975650122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-83297170676617463352007-12-03T08:45:00.001-05:002008-11-13T18:03:19.940-05:00

I was thinking I only bought a couple of books this month, but it's not so. Admittedly many of these are gifts for other people (and there are a few things I've left out of the stack, sigh). . .For dd (age 11):Secret Santa by Sabrina James.Could You Would You? by Trudy White, supposed to be a fantastic book for 9-12 yos.Warriors Into the Wild this is a fantasy series featuring cats -- one of dd's

Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866359663975650122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-47937345589847547352007-12-02T11:35:00.000-05:002007-12-02T12:07:13.555-05:00

Gosh, I am really feeling like I have a serious book buying problem. I shouldn't feel guilty about this, should I? I'll read them all eventually, won't I?? And I know I'm forgetting at least one other used book from Coffee Buy the Book, which I can't find. And I'm forgetting at least one or two more from Daedalus because I never would buy just ONE book at a time from them. And a third book from

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-56925979001170271372007-11-11T20:43:00.000-05:002008-11-13T18:03:20.061-05:00

I loved when Mary has put pictures on the blog. So, I'm giving it a try. It really wasn't that big when I stacked them. I mean it only hit me right at mid-hip. :^) Hmmm . . . it looks like A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini got cut off at the bottom there . . .These books were piled in a random order and with an eye to not having them topple over before I could snap the picture. Not

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-9860392606655754142007-11-07T14:07:00.000-05:002007-11-07T14:13:58.518-05:00

OK, I am going to go ahead and blame it on pregnancy brain, but I cannto recall all the books I bought last month. I DO know that I boughtThe World Without An End (although I do not get my hands on it until Christmas -- it is to be a gift from Craig) This si the Ken follett sequel to Pillars of the Earth.American Gangster (which I am very bummed about. I did not read the fine print and it is a "

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608591419397853913noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-49140290643629759882007-11-07T14:02:00.000-05:002007-11-07T14:04:21.278-05:00

I have only read two books that make the list --The Reluctant Fundamentalist (fiction) which I HIGHLY recommend -- it takes about 2 hours to read but is very good.A Long Way Gone (nonfiction) which was not as good as some of the other books in the genre (An Ordinary Man, God Grew Tired of Us)there were several posted that I want to read, especially Them, which takes place here in Atlanta and is

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608591419397853913noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-82941462728990539332007-11-05T21:33:00.000-05:002007-11-05T21:37:30.978-05:00

"It's the end of the year—almost. A time for reflection, before the resolutions of 2008 send us all scrambling once again. So what did we read this year that kept us up at night, broke our hearts, opened our minds, made us fall in love? Three thousand books are published daily in the U.S., and PW reviewed more than 6,000 of them in 2007, in print and online. From that astounding number, we've

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-10879916776681401842007-10-27T13:09:00.001-04:002007-10-27T13:28:28.889-04:00

And it just keeps growing. I'm also going to note which books I purchased in October - as the month is coming to an end - and where I purchased them, if I can remember!Painted Shadow: the Life of Vivienne Eliot, First Wife of T.S. Eliot, and the Long-Suppressed Truth about her Influence on his Genius by Carole Seymour-Jones (purchased in October through Daedalus Books, hard cover)In the Mountains

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-89247756471253437602007-10-27T13:06:00.000-04:002007-10-27T13:08:14.350-04:00

Hi ladies,I'm posting Jen's on the blog for her. Just to have it all in one place. :^)Babs****Here are my answers:1: Hardcover or paperback, and why?Paperback - unless I really like the author , have a collection of similar books in hardback or do not want to wait for the paperback2: If I were to own a book shop, I would call it... Turn the Page3: My favourite quote from a book (mention the

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-11896799083841007942007-10-22T22:20:00.001-04:002007-10-22T22:27:54.722-04:00

Thanks for sharing, Mary! Here are my answers:1: Hardcover or paperback, and why?Paperback - unless I really like the author or can’t wait for the paperback2: If I were to own a book shop, I would call it...Babs’ Beautiful World of Books3: My favourite quote from a book (mention the title)One man scorned and covered with scars still strove with his last ounce of courage to reach the unreachable

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-63259583285714815962007-10-22T10:41:00.000-04:002007-10-22T11:00:41.799-04:00

Hi ladies,I saw this book meme and thought it might be fun for each of us to fill out (don't feel like you have to though).1: Hardcover or paperback, and why?I love hardcovers but I'm too cheap to buy them generally. . .2: If I were to own a book shop, I would call it...I like The Book Worm, or something similarly nerdy3: My favourite quote from a book (mention the title)I can't find it right now

Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866359663975650122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-26285067754530578812007-10-18T13:19:00.000-04:002008-11-13T18:03:20.349-05:00

And I spent less than $100 at Coffee Buy the Book today.Three of these were book club selections (The Freedom Writers Diary by Erin Gruwell, The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant, and The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon). She has all the Edenwilde book club selections in except for The Good German, I think.I bought Cormac McCarthy's The Road because when I looked at the Pulitzer Prize

Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866359663975650122noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-30544569309049009172007-10-13T08:38:00.000-04:002007-10-13T08:46:32.467-04:00

Hi ladies,I am also a book buying addict, although Craig just asked me to stop for the next month.....guess I have been spending too much!!!!Anyway, the last three books I bought wereShattered Dreams by Irene Spencer (the memoir of the wife of a polygamist)Dreaming Water by Gail Tsukiyama (I have loved the two books I have read of hers and decided I needed to read all of hers)Playing for Pizza by

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608591419397853913noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-24090205558848322832007-10-11T21:32:00.000-04:002007-10-11T21:34:47.168-04:00

Through my friend's blog, Mother-in-Chief, I occasionally hop over to Bethany Hiitola's Mommy Writer Blog. I've been meaning to blog about a recent post of hers because I really like the suggestion (which she took from Melanie Lynne Hauser's Refridgerator Door blog) and want to encourage others to embrace it. Yes, it's the three books a month club. I regularly buy 10-15 books a month, through

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-62575987440586382672007-09-10T20:12:00.000-04:002007-09-10T20:17:02.021-04:00

I am so excited to finally figure this out!Here are some of the titles I have been reading about and wanting to pick up. Anyone have any thoughts or reactions?Femme Fatale - a biography of Mata Hari taking the point of view that she may not actually have been a spy but rather was framed by her lover to cover his own status as a double agent.Shattered Lives -- selfbiography of a woman that is one

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608591419397853913noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-40426293648547306672007-09-08T17:58:00.000-04:002007-09-08T18:02:27.835-04:00

I recently became a paid member at LibraryThing.com, where I am cataloging my recent reads. Well, from post-Naomi recent, which are the journals I've come across so far, where I have been recording the books I read. I haven't decided if I can yet trust cyberspace to solely keep track of such valuable information. But I worked with the site and put in my 200 free reads, and I then felt that I

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-10338232480281618382007-08-13T18:15:00.000-04:002007-08-13T18:35:49.853-04:00

In addition to subscribing to magazines about books, I am also a member of just about every company that sends out catalogs through which to order books and earn points. My interest in these companies has waned since I acquired my Borders Visa several years back, but I can't seem to get off their mailing lists. I recently perused the Quality Paperback Bookclub's catalog, and I found some

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-23307925084222957542007-07-22T14:36:00.000-04:002007-07-22T14:47:27.499-04:00

There is an article about bookclubs, which I enjoyed perusing. And it made me think of our bookclub a bit because it talks about people being afraid that their book choices will be duds. Their advice: don't worry about it; everyone will be having too much fun being together to hold a grudge. Their tip: Serve extra good food! :^)There is also an interesting article reviewing a book called God

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-43304437475492598222007-07-22T12:59:00.000-04:002007-07-22T14:29:00.453-04:00

Just thought I'd throw this in. Maybe generate some posts about what everyone else is reading?? Besides of course our July book group discussion pick. :^)Currently I am reading (in no particular order):Night by Elie Wiesel - His personal memories of the Holocaust and Auschwitz. It's even more haunting, having recently finished Left To Tell: Finding God Amdist the Rwandan Genocide by Immaculee

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-86126085533653493092007-06-20T17:02:00.000-04:002007-06-20T17:05:20.220-04:00

I wanted to post this Link I ran across, criticizing the Vanity Fair Africa issue. I still haven't picked up the magazine yet, so I have no idea how valid the concerns are, but thought you guys might like to see it.

Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866359663975650122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-46082334568587793132007-06-19T14:05:00.000-04:002007-06-20T09:51:34.922-04:00

Here is the list of books that people threw out at the meeting (with the exception of Stiff by Mary Roach, which is detailed in the "In non-fiction, Babs recommends . . ." post) as books they enjoyed reading:Ask A Mexican! by Gustavo Arellano (www.askamexican.net)Inside cover:DEAR MEXICAN:WHAT IS ¡ASK A MEXICAN! ?Questions and answers about our spiciest Americans. I explore the clichés of

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-29207734941896268422007-06-07T10:56:00.001-04:002008-11-13T18:03:20.897-05:00

Last summer I entered a Summer Reading challenge as part of an online bookclub and these were my stacks of books I had planned to read (click to enlarge).I don't know why I always think I'll have reading time in the summer. It's so short and we are typically travelling a lot, which means I can't get much reading done -- it's a different story if you are travelling alone or by air, of course.The

Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866359663975650122noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-4658798322391648272007-06-06T20:58:00.000-04:002007-06-06T21:05:34.658-04:00

I recently read a graphic novel called Cancer Vixen by Marisa Acochella Marchetto. It is the story of a 40 something comic artist living in New York, about to be married and she discovers she has breast cancer. it is her rendition of the diagnosis, treatment and recovery path. I had never really read a graphic novel (other than Nick bantoc's Griffin & Sabine books -- which I LOVED and recommend

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608591419397853913noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-28900788924454824452007-06-06T14:07:00.000-04:002007-06-06T23:08:02.308-04:00

Tales of a Female Nomad: Living At Large in the World by Rita Golden GelmanAmazon.com: When Rita Golden Gelman traveled to Mexico during a two-month separation from her husband, she hoped to satisfy an old craving for adventure and, in the process, rejuvenate herself and her marriage. Little did she know it was the beginning of a new life, not just as a divorcée, but as a nomad of the world.

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6893396778963770280.post-28856347504379309852007-06-05T09:21:00.000-04:002007-06-06T14:20:11.009-04:00

The following, in no particular order, are some of the books I have thoroughly enjoyed since January 2005. :^)Tales of the City (series of 6 books) by Armistead MaupinPublisher's Weekly: Maupin's alternately playful and sentimental tales depict an all-too-easily satirized population of transients and toffs living in and around San FranciscoBabs says: "These books are set in SF in the late

Babshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998462854953615203noreply@blogger.com0