We read...

To know we are not alone. ~C.S. Lewis~

Monday, September 28, 2009

wish-list wonder

Musing Mondays (BIG) Musing Monday is hosted by Becca of Just One More Page. Pop over and read lots of interesting comments & post your own. This week book-list Becca (well actually any-sort-of-list-Becca but I'm on my mettle to alliterate each week) asks...

Do you keep a book wishlist, either on paper, Amazon/etc, or via a book database site (Shelfari, GoodReads, LibraryThing)? If yes, do you share this list with others (especially coming up to Christmas)?

My wishlist is badly maintained I'm afraid. Like everyone I have MT TBR beside my bed and I do have a wishlist on Shelfari (this is the badly maintained bit) but I'm thinking I really need a list.

You know one of those satisfying pieces of paper that you can work through and cross off as you go. Am going to read all MM posts this week to get ideas for said list - will get back to you.>

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

covers of covers

I love this meme hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page. Pop over to The Printed Page to veiw some gorgeous artwork.

infoquake

 

 

Whilst spending a rainy sunday afternoon surfing I found David Louis Edelman's blog. After chekingo out his blog Edelman’s science fiction novels Infoquake, MultiReal are on my reading list and I was fascinated by this book cover for Infoquake made up from a mosaic of David’s Library Thing catalogue.

Check out clickable photos of David himself made similarly of his mosaic book covers inhis blog post ‘you are what you read’ adds new meaning to cover attraction doesn’t it!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

hosted by MizB @ Should be Reading.
* Grab your current read & let it fall open.
* Share 2 “teaser” sentences, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
* Share the title of the book… remember... **************************avoid spoilers please****************************

Feeling like some poetry this is where my favourite opened up…

Advice to Psychologists

You spies that pierce the mind with trenches,slessor
Feasting your eyes through private panes,
Who, not content with Heavenly stenches,
Insist on taking up drains,

For you I’ve only two suggestions,
Who prowl with with torches in this Bog –
Small good you’ll get from asking questions;
Walk on your nostrils, like a dog.
                                     p144 Selected Poems Kenneth Slessor

 

Okay this is not my favourite Slessor poem (that would be Five Bells) but that’s the deal with Teaser Tuesday you just have to go with the fall of the page.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Musing Mondays (BIG) Musing Monday is hosted by Becca of Just One More Page. Pop over and read lots of interesting comments & post your own. This week Boppin'-Becca asks...

Do you listen to music while reading? Does this change if you’re reading in or out of your house? Do you have a preference of music for such occasions?

I'm a big fan of quiet. When I'm at home I read in my bedroom which is far enough away from the madding crowd to be a quiet space requiring no musical interference - just me and a book and quiet.

When I'm out however I choose music of my own rather than listen to the noises the world imposes on me. I notice this especially in the canteen at work. Uni students can be rowdy in their breaks from scholarly pursuits and our canteen sounds like a football match where the home team is winning.

My IPod is my best friend in this situation. I pop in my earphones and suddenly I'm in a tranquil world of my own device. My IPod is relatively new (got it for mother's day) and I so love it! Now I understand what the fuss is all about I'm wondering why it took me so long to get on the IPod band-waggon and, of course, I want the next one with more gigs (mine's 8 but I've a friend with a 120 and it looks awesome) the grass is always greener - really what would I do with all that gig-power ***laughs at herself***

I listen to instrumental - jazz, classical, new age - because any lyrics create too many words inside my head, they get in the way of the words on the page.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Teaser Tuesdays Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Grab your current read. Let the book fall open to a random page.Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page.Share the title… that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

my teaser:

She looked at me as though she had returned from the dead, unsure about the value of the achievement.

Romulus, my Father Raimond Gaita p32

Monday, September 14, 2009

a Fairy for Becca

Musing Mondays (BIG) Musing Monday is hosted by Becca of Just One More Page. Pop over and read lots of interesting comments & post your own.

This week Blue-fariy fairy  Becca asks …

Do you find yourself forming trends in your reading? Is this a conscious act, influenced by either your own interests or current publishing fads?

Looking back over my reading life I find trends in my reading and they seem to relate more to my own maturity and interests than publishing trends.

At the dawn of my reading career (remember I came quite late to this because of my dyslexia) I discovered Tolkien and could not get enough. Alas when I’d read everything he’d written I was a bit lost but by staying within the fantasy genre I was able to capitalize on the momentum I’d built up and continued to develop my own reading tastes.

When I worked as  a children’s librarian I read as much of the collection as I possibly could – all genres – to be able recommend books from personal experience for my young patrons.

As a mature-age uni student I read the classics and still have a fondness for the tried and true.

I’ve read some that I guess would fall into the category of ‘publishing fads’; Harry, Da Vinci Code, Twilight and, with the exception of the last (which I found boring), quickly came to see what the hype was all about.

So generally I read books chosen consciously for their content, right now I’m choosing historical novels (emphasis on the history/not-so-much on romance) and award winners (for curiosity’s sake)…oh and whatever the freaks (by bookclub) are reading of course.

life's a puzzle

Just how do you fit everything in to your life together?

You'll notice August 18th was my last post...I've gone back to work after having first semester this year off and am having immense difficulty fitting in the fun stuff like reading, crafting, blogging, coffee with friends. I've been taking it easy on myself attempting one challenge a week.

work out how to clean the house and work...check
work out how to wash and iron and work.....check
work out how to get everyone where they need to be on time and work (on time)...check
work out how to get enough sleep...check
work out how to fit in the gym...check

ongoing...
read
craft
blog

this week it is my mission to work out how to schedule posting and get caught up with my blogging...I miss you all!