August Wrap-Up

I almost didn’t do a wrap-up this month, I kind of feel like hanging my head in shame. What happened? I have absolutely no idea.

08 august 

Total: 1 books

Books Read:

  • Knit Two – Kate Jacobs

Books started:

  • Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – J.K. Rowling
  • Earth Abides – George Stewart
  • The Circle Trilogy, Book 1: Black – Ted Dekker

Challenges Finished:

  • none

Musing Mondays (Aug 31)

Musing Mondays (BIG) Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about books for children…


Do you buy books as gifts for children – either your own or those of friends or family? Would you buy books for all children, or only children who are already practiced readers?


PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your opinion in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks.




I don’t have any children of my own, but do have young children in the family whom I do buy books for. I don’t give books as gifts to everyone, though I wouldn’t hesitate if I found one I think they’d like.

Over the past few birthdays and Christmas’ I’ve started buying gifts as presents for my cousin, Hannah. She turns 7 this week, and I’ve already picked out two books for her:

 

 Levine - Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand fairy

  • Gail Carson Levine – Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand
  • Kelly McKain – The Fairy House: Fairy Friends

 

I also picked out some new picture books for my cousin’s daughter, Kaitlyn, whose birthday is coming up soon. She does enjoy her books; she may just give her mother and I a run for our money in a few years.

 

witches snow whale

  • Eva Montanari – Witches and Fairies
  • Ellie Patterson – The Tail of the Whale
  • Lucy M George – The Snow Queen

Wandering Books

My book shelf stands against the window in my craft room, which means that my table tends to become a bit of a dumping ground for a whole manner of things, books included. I cleaned off my table this week and managed to find, among other things:

P8260003

TWELVE BOOKMARKS

P8260009

A whole stack of books – some new buys, some my sister had abandoned and left on my table, and some NF being referenced.

Virtual Walking Tour: Kristina and Andrea

I’ve been off wandering the countryside again this week, and had a great time visiting with two bloggers:

 

virtual walking tour vicky1

Kristina from Kristina’s Favourites
and
Andrea from So Many Books, So Little Time

 

Kristina

Explain the title of your blog: The title "Kristina's Favorites" explains that I love to do a lot of things but reading, cooking, and my family are my favorites.  And those are what I talk about on my blog.  I could have been a little more original, but I was 7 months pregnant and on bedrest when I started this and mommy brain was already setting in..

How did you get into blogging? I saw that a friend of mine had a blog so, from her Blogger blog, I would just randomly visit other blogs. Bedrest can get very boring!  Anyway, I couldn't believe how many bloggers I saw talking about books!  I originally thought blogging was like a diary online.  I thought "who is going to want to read about my boring everyday life?", until I saw how many people posted book reviews.  That initial book review was one of Dewey's and it had me thinking that I could blog about what books I read, if for nothing else than to keep track of what I was reading.

What do you like best about blogging? I'm sure you get this answer all the time, but I love the community.  Just the sense of comfort I get from the commenters,  knowing someone is reading what I have to say! I have "met" so many new people through the book blogging world! I hope to enjoy many years of "meeting" new people and hopefully getting to meet some of them in person.

What are the five books you would recommend to anyone?
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - I read this in high school and it was probably the most "fun" I can remember having reading a book.  I think it helped to have a teacher who thoroughly enjoyed this novel.  We also watched the movie.  I think this might have been the first time I knew a movie was made from a book.  The characters were what did it for me, you felt like you knew them.


Twilight (the whole series) by Stephenie Meyer- I wouldn't recommend this if you are looking for some serious writing, but I would most definitely recommend this if you are look for a flat out good read.  I think the writing is easily read, and again, the characters are so defined that you feel like you can see every movement in your head.  I love a book that defines a character so completely that you could feel like you are sitting next to them.

Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman - I am so proud to be a part of a book blogging community that embraces change.  Patrick has implemented a change so profound, people are going "why didn't I think of that?"  At least I was.  He combines the love of reading a book, with the love of media.  This book, and it's sequel, Ghost in the Machine, take you on an adventure through two best friends.  One journals and one films, so read the book then watch a correlating video clip.  It's so amazing...and creepy!

Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill - I never knew this was Stephen King's son while I was reading it, but I should have guessed.  This one had me scared to turn the lights off at night!  I'm a sucker for creepy, scary books.  Especially ones with ghosts.  Who knows why I like to scare myself so much?!?!

The Shack by William P. Young - There have been a lot of mixed reviews about this one, even in my own family.  I gave it to my dad who said he didn't like it because it was too preachy and then I gave it to my father in law who absolutely loved it!  I really liked this book.  I didn't think it was preachy and I had a good time reading it.  It gave me a new perspective.

 

 

Andrea

Explain the title of your blog: The title of my blog is So Many Books, So Little Time.  I came up with it because I have sooo many books in my bookshelves (over 600) and I often look at them and think that I will never have enough time to read them all!

How did you get into blogging? I'm  not really sure how I got into blogging.  I just started in January.  I think maybe I was looking for a book review of a certain book and came across blogs and thought it would be fun to have my own!

What do you like best about blogging? There are several great things about blogging - I love chatting with other bloggers about books.  I have made great friends and I've found even more books to add to my wishlist.  I also love talking to the authors...they are some of the nicest people ever!  And it doesn't hurt to be able to read books before they come out in public!

What are the five books that you would recommend to anyone?
As for the five books, I'm not so sure I'm good at this--Definitely the Twilight series (Does that count as 4?) and recently, My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent

 

 

Thanks for letting me visit with you!

WiFi Love

I am blogging...

while at Maccas.

I'm out of the house.I don't have my laptop, but I have our new little midgy WIFI CAPABLE notebook (name still to be decided, but we're leaning towards 'Widdle' ... as in "awww, what a wee widdle notebook")

And I'm blogging...

I think I'm in love.

Why have a library at home?

Doing some blog surfing this week, I read Bryan’s response to the question ‘Why have a library at home?’. His gave a lot of thought to it and his answer was certainly an interesting read!

Head on over and take a look yourself, he raises some great points.

 

600-goods

Grab Bag

Just a few little things, nothing to make a whole post about…

grab-bag

The Time Traveller’s Wife series
Thanks for all your comments about this, makes me feel a little less crazy to know I’m not the only one reacting so. I think Emily summed it up best: “what a hideous thing to do to that book”!

My 10, 000th visitor
Congratulations to Allison for being my 10, 000th visitor! I can’t believe that I’ve had 10, 000 of you all in my living room… I think I’ll have to get some more cookies… here’s a prize coming her way, and I’ll post about this again when I decide what that prize will actually be.

In the meantime, I’d like to thank all of you for coming to visit and leaving such wonderful comments. I’d also like to thank you all for the laughs I got reading the comments from my not-quite-10, 000th-visitors. Emily (different Emily), in particular made me laugh with her 9, 999th visit. So Emily, if you email me at rebeccajohnson47 (at) gmail (dot) com with your address, I’ll send you a runner up prize :)

A-Z Wednesday (C)


A-ZWEDNESDAY
A-Z Wednesday is hosted by Vicky of Reading at the Beach
To join, here's all you have to do: Go to your stack of books and find one whose title starts with the letter of the week.
Post:
1~ a photo of the book
2~ title and synopsis
3~ link(amazon, barnes and noble etc.).
Be sure to visit other participants to see what book they have posted and leave them a comment. (We all love comments, don't we?) Who knows? You may find your next "favorite" book.

THIS WEEK'S LETTER IS: C
Here is my "C" Title:

confessionstop-cover

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister – Gregory Maguire
368 pages; published 1999
Gregory Maguire's chilling, wonderful retelling of Cinderella is a study in contrasts. Love and hate, beauty and ugliness, cruelty and charity--each idea is stripped of its ethical trappings, smashed up against its opposite number, and laid bare for our examination. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister begins in 17th-century Holland, where the two Fisher sisters and their mother have fled to escape a hostile England. Maguire's characters are at once more human and more fanciful than their fairy-tale originals. Plain but smart Iris and her sister, Ruth, a hulking simpleton, are dazed and terrified as their mother, Margarethe, urges them into the strange Dutch streets. Within days, purposeful Margarethe has secured the family a place in the home of an aspiring painter, where for a short time, they find happiness.
But this is Cinderella, after all, and tragedy is inevitable. When a wealthy tulip speculator commissions the painter to capture his blindingly lovely daughter, Clara, on canvas, Margarethe jumps at the chance to better their lot. "Give me room to cast my eel spear, and let follow what may," she crows, and the Fisher family abandons the artist for the upper-crust Van den Meers.
When Van den Meer's wife dies during childbirth, the stage is set for Margarethe to take over the household and for Clara to adopt the role of "Cinderling" in order to survive. What follows is a changeling adventure, and of course a ball, a handsome prince, a lost slipper, and what might even be a fairy godmother. In a single magic night, the exquisite and the ugly swirl around in a heated mix:
Everything about this moment hovers, trembles, all their sweet, unreasonable hopes on view before anything has had the chance to go wrong. A stepsister spins on black and white tiles, in glass slippers and a gold gown, and two stepsisters watch with unrelieved admiration. The light pours in, strengthening in its golden hue as the sun sinks and the evening approaches. Clara is as otherworldly as the Donkeywoman, the Girl-Boy. Extreme beauty is an affliction...
But beyond these familiar elements, Maguire's second novel becomes something else altogether--a morality play, a psychological study, a feminist manifesto, or perhaps a plain explanation of what it is to be human. Villains turn out to be heroes, and heroes disappoint. The story's narrator wryly observes, "In the lives of children, pumpkins can turn into coaches, mice and rats into human beings. When we grow up, we learn that it's far more common for human beings to turn into rats." (from Amazon)

10, 000th visitor

I am coming VERY close to receiving my 10, 000th visitor – yes, I am very excited!

So keep an eye on the counter below – if you are the 10, 00th visitor, capture the screen and let me know! If you’re the lucky one, I’ll send you a prize… I’m not sure what it will be, yet, but there will be a prize!

books books everywhere, and not a page being read…

I’ve had a rather slow month this month. Wait, no. I’ve had a ridiculously slow one. I have plenty to read – the rest of my book for bookclub, a couple ARCs (I feel terrible that I haven’t gotten to them yet), and a graphic novel trilogy a friend leant me – but I’ve barely touched anything all month. I think I have August-itus.

In any case, I’m going to be doing a little booky house-keeping today, catch up on an owing review or two, and hopefully finish off my book club book and start on something new.

Wish me luck!

Teaser Tuesday (Aug 25)

Teaser TuesdaysTeaser 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.
  • You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

 Stewart - Earth Abides

 

He ad been at the Library hundreds of times before, as a matter of course, during his years at the University. But now under the changed conditions, he felt a strange new sense of awe. (11) 

Earth Abides – George R. Stewart

New ABC series…

ABC is teaming with "Friends" creator Marta Kauffman and Warner Bros. Television to adapt "The Time Traveler's Wife" as a weekly series.

I just found out about this tonight and I have to say… I’m not feeling all too positively about it. I’ve talked about this in the past, it being a recent MM question, but I don’t always react well to my favourite books being made into movies.

When I found out they were making The Time Traveler’s Wife (being one of my two favourite books) into a movie, I wasn’t entirely convinced that it could be pulled off. I have yet, however, to actually see the film, so I’m holding off final judgements until I do.

But really? A series? I can come to terms with a movie. I could, maybe, even come around to a short mini-series. But a weekly television series? Part of, if not the central beauty of the novel is it’s structure. The way it’s story is both inherently reaching and yet self-contained due to the nature of Henry’s condition. It has to end, and it has to have that end anticipated, to reach it’s full impact. I can’t help but thing that drawing out the novel in weekly instalments will only take away from the story.

But that’s just my thoughts. What do you think?

 

eric_inside

Musing Mondays (Aug 24)

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about book series…


Do you prefer to read stand-alone books, or books in series? Do you stick with a series the whole way through or stop after the first instalment? Are there any particular series you enjoy?(question courtesy of
Elena)

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your opinion in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks.




I wouldn’t say that I prefer either stand-alone or serial books over the other. Both are separate formats and I think they should be considered differently. I love both.

I do enjoy reading books in series – if it’s a story that I love, then naturally I always want to read more! I have, in the past devoured and even reread whole series – Anne of Green Gables, Harry Potter, Incarnation’s of Immortality, Discworld.

I have noticed of late, however, that I’ve not been reading as many series as I used to, with my reading habits progressively changing over the past year or so. I’ve started several series in the past year or so that I haven’t completed – Dresden Files (Butcher) and Southern Vampires (Harris) just to name a few. I do intend to go back to them, just haven’t managed to do so yet.

A break from our regularly scheduled program…

In addition to being a book nerd, I’m a fairly big sci-fi nerd also – in fact they may even tie… no… yes… maybe… wait, don’t make me choose!

Anyways, I’ve recently joined a lj community called Gateland, a Stargate based interactive competition community.

gateland is an interactive, activity-based community for fans of Stargate. There are four teams, Team SG-1, Team Sheppard, Team Goa'uld and Team Wraith. You will be placed on one these teams and participate in various activities which will earn points for your team.

I’m on Team Goa’uld, myself – I promise not to let the god thing get to my head (hee!). It's looks to be a lot of fun, so if any of you out there are Stargate fans, head on over and join in!

Wordle cloud

I know Wordle isn’t new – but I just love it so much. When I saw it on someone’s blog this week (was it you? I forget, let me know) I couldn’t resist the urge to go play.

So on the off chance that you haven’t already played with Wordle before, go have fun!

 

wordlejomp

A-Z Wednesday (B)


A-ZWEDNESDAY
A-Z Wednesday is hosted by Vicky of Reading at the Beach
To join, here's all you have to do: Go to your stack of books and find one whose title starts with the letter of the week.
Post:
1~ a photo of the book
2~ title and synopsis
3~ link(amazon, barnes and noble etc.).
Be sure to visit other participants to see what book they have posted and leave them a comment. (We all love comments, don't we?) Who knows? You may find your next "favorite" book.

THIS WEEK'S LETTER IS: B
Here is my "A" Title:
 joby
Book of Joby – Mark J. Ferrari 638 pages; published 2007
Ferrari's rather grim debut blends Arthurian legend into the age-old tale of a bet between God and Lucifer. Nine-year-old Joby Peterson has a fairly ordinary childhood until he becomes the focus of the same stupid bet that Lucifer has suggested thousands of times before: if Lucifer can make Joby renounce God, he gets to destroy the earth and remake it his way. God isn't allowed to interfere, but fortunately, his allies, from angels to Merlin, have fewer strictures. Joby grows up miserable and constantly accused of being gay and not man enough when he refuses to physically fight those who goad him. He finds brief respite in the quiet coastal town of Taubolt, the Camelot of his childhood dreams, but soon Joby must leave his haven and return to the struggle for his soul and the fate of the world. This dark fantasy for Left Behind fans achieves its narrow transcendence only at the cost of many pages and many lives.

Teaser Tuesday (Aug 18)

Teaser TuesdaysTeaser 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.
  • You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

 

 

Stewart - Earth AbidesHe heard no sounds this time, but as he turned the corner, there she was, standing in the middle of the street, a long-legged teen-age girl with stringy blonde hair. She stood, suddenly stopped, as a deer stands surprised in a glade. (30)

Earth Abides – George R. Stewart

Nebula Awards 2007

Nebula Awards Showcase 2007 Mike Resnick (ed.)
383 pages; published 2007
Resnick - Nebula Awards Showcase 2007
The Nebula Award is an award established and bestowed by the members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. It targets excellent new examples of Science Fiction and Fantasy in the novel, novella, novelette, short story and script formats.
This year was a showcase of the winners and nominees of the 2007 awards. It held excerpts from the winning novel, as well as full texts of the novellas and short stories. There are also a collection of essays on sci-fi/fantasy as a publishing field and genre, written by several known SF writers.
They were all, obviously, wonderful examples of sci-fi/fantasy, but I was particularly pleased to find it a nice blend of fiction – some very serious, some fantastical, and some downright ridiculous.
A nice collection for fans of the genre. 4/5

Musing Monday (Aug 17)

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about movies …


How do you react to movies made of your favourite books (or even not-so-favourite books)? Do you look forward to seeing them, or avoid them? Do you like to have read the book before seeing the movie?



PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your opinion in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks.



I don't really go to the movies a lot, but lately I feel like all the movies I've seen (or want to see) are based on books. I saw Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince not too long ago, and My Sister's Keeper just this week. I haven't gotten to The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas yet, but I will, and I'm very much looking forward to seeing Coraline and The Time Traveller's Wife.

I usually feel a mix of excitement and apprehension when there's a new book>movie coming out. Part of me so looks forward to seeing how they'll present the story, how it'll look, how it will hold up to my imagination. But at the same time, I usually feel very nervous, thinking that there's no way it can ever hold up to the book - all the more so if it's a favourite of mine.

If it's a book that has been on my to-read pile, I always try to get to it before the movie comes out (Inkheart, for instance), even if it means bumping it up on the pile.

My Sister’s Keeper

I went to see the My Sister’s Keeper movie tonight – something I was both very excited about and dreading completely. Overall I’d have to say that I was actually very pleased with it.

I’d love to chat with anyone who has seen it but don’t want to have any spoilers. So if you’re interested, head down into the comments, or email me.

A-Z Wednesday… on a Friday

I know it’s not Wednesday, but I only just found this meme and I wanted to play, too!

A-ZWEDNESDAY
A-Z Wednesday is hosted by Vicky of Reading at the Beach
To join, here's all you have to do: Go to your stack of books and find one whose title starts with the letter of the week.
Post:
1~ a photo of the book
2~ title and synopsis
3~ link(amazon, barnes and noble etc.).
Be sure to visit other participants to see what book they have posted and leave them a comment. (We all love comments, don't we?) Who knows? You may find your next "favorite" book.

THIS WEEK'S LETTER IS: A
Here is my "A" Title:
aogglmm
Anne of Green Gables – L.M. Montgomery
When Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert of Green Gables, Prince Edward Island, send for a boy orphan to help them out at the farm, they are in no way prepared for the error that will change their lives. The mistake takes the shape of Anne Shirley, a redheaded 11-year-old girl who can talk anyone under the table. Fortunately, her sunny nature and quirky imagination quickly win over her reluctant foster parents. Anne's feisty spirit soon draws many friends--and much trouble--her way. Not a day goes by without some melodramatic new episode in the tragicomedy of her life. Early on, Anne declares her eternal antipathy for Gilbert Blythe, a classmate who commits the ultimate sin of mocking her hair color. Later, she accidentally dyes that same cursed hair green. Another time, in her haste to impress a new neighbor, she bakes a cake with liniment instead of vanilla. Lucy Maud Montgomery's series of books about Anne have remained classics since the early 20th century. Her portrayal of this feminine yet independent spirit has given generations of girls a strong female role model, while offering a taste of another, milder time in history.

His Dark Materials, Book 1

Pullman - The Golden CompassThe Golden Compass Philip Pullman
351 pages; published 1995
"We are all subject to the fates. But we must all act as if we are not, or die of despair...death will sweep through all the worlds; it will be the triumph of despair, forever. The universes will all become nothing more than interlocking machines, blind and empty of thought, feeling, life..."

The roofs and roads of Oxford are Lyra's home; she has scaled their heights in adventurous play, and mapped their length in bitter warfare against the town’s children. It is a life both endearingly simple and unendingly complex, but it is Lyra's own, and she loves it.
But, just as Lyra cannot stay a child forever, her days of raucous freedom must too come to an end. Forced to leave behind her days of dodging the educating attempts of scholars, Lyra is thrown headfirst into a world he barely recognises. A world where no one can be trusted and nothing is safe - not even a child's soul.
Lyra travels with the Gyptians over land and sea in her attempt to rescue her imprisoned uncle, Lord Asriel, but is stopped at every turn by Gobblers, clockwork beetles and armoured bears.
The Golden Compass (originally/also titled Northern Lights) is a book that doesn't diminish, but rather improves with each reading. Lyra's world is such a richly detailed one that each read surfaces something new and delightful.
It is a wonderful blend of fantasy and science fiction (a good example of steampunk for those so inclined - something the film visually represents remarkably well), using a good balance of both to establish the series.
Intended as a children's book (middle grade/YA), it is, nevertheless, one that should appeal to all ages, child and adult alike. Followed by The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass, Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials Trilogy is a must read. (5/5)

Teaser Tuesday (Aug 11)

Teaser TuesdaysTeaser 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.
  • You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

 

Vida - The Texicans

I’ve been thinking and thinking about Aurelia,” Willie said to Oscar after Luz picked the baby up and took it inside. “I don’t want to marry her, you see, but I’d like to buy her.”

The Texicans – Nina Vida

Musing Mondays (Aug 10)

Musing Mondays (BIG)Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about publishing houses …

Do you have a favourite publishing house -- one that puts out books that you constantly find yourself wanting to read? If so, who? And, what books have they published that you've loved? (question courtesy of MizB)

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your opinion in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks.

 

 

 

I can’t say that I have a favourite publishing house, at least not consciously. And a quick scan of my bookshelf didn’t show a large preference one way or the other – larger numbers falling with Penguin, Random House and A&R. I tend to buy books based on past history with the author, rather than the publisher.

Having said that, however, I do subscribe to several email newsletters from publishing house - again, Penguin and A&R (several from A&R, actually… maybe I do have a preference?) – and this does sway my choices a little.

I am very curious to see how publishing houses effect the choices of others though.

Friday Firsts (Aug 7)

Friday_Firsts
Friday Firsts is a monthly meme hosted by Wendy at We Read.
An easy FF this month (but one of my favourites because I’m passionate about first lines)…let’s have a teaser from your current read…first line/title/author please.
Jacobs - Knit Two
It was after hours at Walker and Daughter: Knitters, and Dakota stood in the centre of the Manhattan yarn shop and wrestled with the cellophane tape.
Knit Two – Kate Jacobs

Teaser Tuesday (August 3)

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.
  • You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
  • Please avoid spoilers!

Jacobs - Knit TwoThe Phoenix looked as if a grand salon from another century had been dropped wholesale and wedged into the compact storefront. Entering through the door was like being invited into a regal yet cozy private home of rustling skirts and tea parties, and Catherine’s ability to play the welcoming hostess was a strong attraction to her customers. (49-50)

Kate Jacobs – Knit Two

Musing Monday

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is a library habits meme…

This week we have a library meme courtesy of MizB:

Library Habits meme:
1) If you don't frequent your local library, why not?
2) If you do visit the library, how often do you go?
3) Do you have a favorite section that you always head to first, or do you just randomly peruse the shelves?
4) How many books are you allowed to check out at one time? Do you take advantage of this?
5) How long are you allowed to have the books checked out?
6) How many times are you allowed to renew your check-outs, if at all?
7) What do you love best about your particular library?
8) What is one thing you wish your library did differently?
9) Do you request your books via an online catalogue, or through the librarian at your branch?
10) Have you ever chosen a book on impulse (from the online catalogue OR the shelves) and had it turn out to be totally amazing? If so, what book was it, and why did you love it?

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your opinion in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks.

1) If you don't frequent your local library, why not?
I love my library

2) If you do visit the library, how often do you go?
I usually go every second Sunday


3) Do you have a favorite section that you always head to first, or do you just randomly peruse the shelves?
My library has a special themed display (this week is ‘armchair travelling’, for instance) which I like to check, and then I like to look at the new books display


4) How many books are you allowed to check out at one time? Do you take advantage of this?
My library has a VIP program which you can sign up for if you have over 12 months with no fines. As a VIP you can borrow up to 20 books – I don’t think I’ve ever borrowed out that many, but have borrowed up to 15 at a time (not the norm). This usually happens when I go on a graphic novel kick (and try to borrow out a whole set) or if I spend a lot of unexpected time in Penrith – I sometimes fill in time at the library when taking my mother to the doctors.


5) How long are you allowed to have the books checked out?
Two weeks


6) How many times are you allowed to renew your check-outs, if at all?
I’m pretty sure you can reborrow twice – but our library has a self check-in system, so as long as there’s no hold on it, there’s nothing stopping you from just returning it and reborrowing it.


7) What do you love best about your particular library?
I like the display shelves the library sets out all over the library, in the general fiction, YA, and children’s section. I like the themed displays best (‘armchair travelling’ and  ‘If you liked Twilight…’ are up at the moment) but also make sure to also check out the new book in each section as well as the ‘recently returned’ shelves. Makes browsing easier if you’re in a hurry, too.


8) What is one thing you wish your library did differently?
I’m sure Wendy will agree with me here, but I wish the library was a bit more diligent in keeping their shelves in order. Sometimes it is very difficult to locate a book.


9) Do you request your books via an online catalogue, or through the librarian at your branch?
I have done, but only if desperate because they charge $1.50 a book to request something. I usually have enough on my tbr list to grab something whenever it’s in and wait for the others to be returned eventually. I suppose I’ve been spoiled by the free requesting at my uni library.


10) Have you ever chosen a book on impulse (from the online catalogue OR the shelves) and had it turn out to be totally amazing? If so, what book was it, and why did you love it?

I grab random books all the time; I enjoy a little mystery here and there! The one coming to mind at the moment is Lisa Ann Sandell’s Song of the Sparrow

Sandell - Song of the Sparrow 

Thanks!

JOMP and I would like to thank everyone who wished us a very happy birthday. A special big thanks to Wendy who sent us some birthday balloons – aren’t they pretty!

So please, grab a chair, pull a book of the shelf and help yourself to lovely bit of cake!

 

Balloon-Happy-Birthday-sparkle_thumb

Dear Blog

Dear Just One More Page (or JOMP, as I’ve come to affectionately call you),

This is a hard letter for me to write. I remember when you were just a passing fancy of mine, and now here you are, a year old. Before I know it you’ll be up and leaving me, off to find a blogger who doesn’t insist on holding your hand while we upload posts and insist on signing out at your bed-time.

It’s certainly been a tough year on us both. There were times when you refused to let me log in – remember that? I did not seem to enjoy it as much as you did. There were days – no, weeks – where I didn’t have the time or, dare I say it, the inclination to update. I’m sure you felt abandoned, but please, it was not your fault.

You make me smile when you pass on the kind comments you collect from other bloggers while out on your journeys, and you make me sigh when you feel the need to point to the staggering pile of books I have yet to review. I know this precociousness is my fault, I gave you too much freedom as a wee bloglett.

But despite all this, all the ups and downs and refreshing of pages, I want you to know that you’re in my heart, always.

Happy Birthday, Jompy.

Love, Rebecca

happy-birthday

Challenge Finished

I finished up the Support Your Library challenge this past month. I elected to split the difference and do the 25-book option for both this challenge and the RYOB challenge… yeah… maybe if I’d stayed away from the library I would have more on my other list.

 

 

Support Your Local Library Challenge

 

 

1. The Origin of Lament - Emma Magenta
2. Blankets - Craig Thompson
3. An Abundance of Katherines - John Green
4.
This Lullaby - Sarah Dessen
5. The City of Ember - Jeanne DuPrau
6. Angels and Visitations - Neil Gaiman
7. Red Spikes - Margo Lanagan
8.
Before I Die - Jenny Downham
9. Looking for Alaska - John Green
10. The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman
11. The Truth About Forever - Sarah Dessen
12.
Sucks to Be Me - Kimberly Pauley
13. The Dead and the Gone - Susan Pfeffer
14. Wonder Woman: Love and Murder - Jodi Picoult
15. Book Lust - Nancy Pearl
16. Investigating Firefly and Serenity: Science Fiction on the Frontier - Rhonda V. Wilcox and Tanya R. Cochran (ed.)
17. Pippi Longstocking - Astrid Lindgren
18.
Runaways, Vol. 1: Pride and Joy - Brian K. Vaughn and Adrian Alphona
19. Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher
20. The Infinite Wisdom of Harriet Rose -Diana Janney
21. Betrayed (House of Night, Book 2) - P.C. and Kristen Cast
22. Catwoman: It's Only a Movie - Will Pfeifer and David Lopez
23. Starry Night - Martin Waddell
24.
Runaways, Vol. 2: Teenage Wasteland - Brian K. Vaughn and Adrian Alphona
25. Runaways, Vol. 3: The Good Die Young - Brian K. Vaughn and Adrian Alphona

July Wrap-Up

07 july

Total: 10 books

Books Read:

Books started:

  • Living Dead in Dallas – Charlaine Harris
  • Knit Two – Kate Jacobs
  • Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – J.K. Rowling

Challenges Finished: