Friday Firsts

Head over to Wendy’s blog to participate in Friday Firsts.

Do you find this line [of Mrs Dalloway] interesting if so why? Do you have any first lines that you find fascinating for no particular reason?

You’d think I’d be better at working to a deadline by now wouldn’t you? Nope, I’m hopeless.

I wasn’t terribly enamored with the line of Mrs Dalloway (“Mrs. Dalloway said she’d buy all the flowers herself.”), however that may change if I were reading the book myself. Either way I don’t think it really matters; I think we’re all drawn to something different and all that matters is that we find something we like.

For instance, after thinking and thinking and thinking I finally came up with two first lines that I really like (or at least, I could remember them, which considering my memory for first lines had to be saying something).

#1 Markus Zusak’s The Book Theif

First the colors.

Not terribly fascinating on it’s own, I know, but I love the sharpness of it. It’s direct and to the point without actually telling you what that point is. And then it just builds up and delivers the voice of one of my favourite narrators.

First the colors.
Then the humans.
That's usually how I see things.
Or at least, how I try.
***HERE IS A SMALL FACT ***
You are going to die.

If you haven’t read this book yet, you should.

#2 Terry Pratchett’s The Colour of Magic

In a distant and secondhand set of dimensions, in an astral plane that was never meant to fly, the curling star-mists waver and part...

See...

Great A'Tuin the turtle comes, swimming slowly through the interstellar gulf, hydrogen frost on his ponderous limbs, his huge and ancient shell pocked with meteor craters.

Okay, so that wasn’t exactly just the first sentence, but eh, I’m breaking the rules today. What more could you want from an opening sentence/paragraph(s)? You just know the book is going to be crazy and wonderful all wrapped up in one.

A Formal Apology

Letter #1

Dear Musing Monday-ers,

I would like to take the opportunity to formally apologise for making you face reality your anxieties about your tbr pile. Had I known the mental anguish I would be wreaking I would have reconsidered the question.

I apologise for bringing your nerves to the surface and for making you consider the monumental piles of book lurking in every corner of your house.

If it makes you feel better we are all crazy worried together, just think about all the nice books we’ll get to enjoy in the process.

I promise to deliver a less nerve-wracking question next week.

Rebecca

 

Letter #2

Dear Musing Monday-ers,

It was all Wendy’s fault!! Not mine!! Make the piles of books fall on her head, not mine!

*runs and hides*

me.

Musing Monday (May 4)

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about your tbr pile…

How many books (roughly) are in your tbr pile? Is this in increasing number or does it stay stable? Do you ever experience tbr anxiety in the face of this pile? (question courtesy of Wendy)

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.

 

 

Oh my tbr pile … I couldn’t tell you how big it is. I suppose, for the purpose of answering this MM, I’d have to make a distinction between my tbr pile (books that are currently residing in my house but have yet to be read) and my wish list (books that I would like to hunt down and read, usually through the library). Both are monstrously huge.

I recently started cataloguing the books in my library so could take it with me and have it on hand (did I mention that I love my new phone? Have rarely made any calls on it, but it sure is useful for other things). The amount of books that I have on my shelves but haven’t gotten to yet – I blame the 10c book rack at the library/op-shop – would likely get me in a lot of trouble with certain people so I’m going to refrain from putting down an actual number that could get me killed… or at least exiled into a bookless existence.

I do sometimes experience tbr anxiety but not when I look at my shelves – I like that I always have something new to read on hand. My anxiety usually sets in around the third week of the month. At this point I’m usually half-way through a book that’s due back at the library, I have a stack of books that I haven’t yet reviewed (I’ve been so slack), and then I realise that it’s exactly one week before book club… and as usual, I haven’t got gotten to the book yet (I’m a procrastinator purist – that is, I procrastinate all things equally). So, anxiety thoroughly activated I usually hunker down in the back room in the big comfy chair (which, since no one ever sits there, has become my ‘reading chair’) and read read read until I get to the bottom of my must-read-asap-tbr pile.

Q&A*

Everyone… gave me get-well-soon messages.

Thanks so much everyone :) I am resting as much as possible. Sleeping as much as possible as well (this is why MM was up a little late this week – oops!).

 

JessicaLeigh said... What did you think about To Kill A Mockingbird, Rebecca?; The Book Resort asked if I liked the movie

I loved it, absolutely loved it. I’m planning on writing up my reviews on the weekend as soon as I’ve finished up some assignments. I did watch the movie again after I’d read the book, but I prefer the book.

 

Elena said... How are you liking Fight Club so far?

It’s a strange book. I like how it’s written… but it’s a little unnerving. I’ll let you know when I’m done.

 

wendy said... Just think what your May list will look like now classes have finished!

I know!! One more day of classes! Just one! *does a little end-of-uni dance*

 

Ladytink_534 said... […] I re-read Inkheart and Betrayed in April too. Hope you pick it up again, LOVE this series!

I’m going to reborrow it when I go to the library next. Silly me for returning the wrong book.

 

gautami tripathy said that her new blog is over at everything distils into reading so head on over and change your bookmarks

 

The Book Resort said... What did you think of Jodi working Wonder Woman? Fun, huh?

I didn’t really know a lot about Wonder Woman (I wish I knew more about comics, but don’t really know much outside of X-Men or basic Spiderman). I’ll admit that I picked it up just because Jodi Picoult wrote it, but I LOVED it, I want to read more.

 

*anyone got a better idea for a title for comment answering… did that sentence even make sense?

April Wrap-Up

Books read this month:

• Change of Heart - Jodi Picoult
• Twilight: Director's Notebook - Catherine Hardwicke
• Tithe - Holly Black
• To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
• Inkheart - Cornelia Funke
• Sucks to Be Me: The All-True Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire (Maybe) - Kimberly Pauley
• The Dead and the Gone - Susan Pfeffer
• Wonder Woman: Love and Murder - Jodi Picoult, Terry Dodson, Drew Johnson and Paco Diaz
  

Books started but not finished:

• Sonata for Mirium – Linda Olsson (nearly done)
• Betrayed - P.C. and Kristen Cast (accidently returned to the library - whoops)
• Fight Club - Chuck Palahniuk

Friday Firsts (and a quick note)

Head over to Wendy’s blog to participate in Friday Firsts.

Reach out and pick up the nearest book to you right now (don't go the bookshelf and pull off War and peace). What's the first line...

I did consider picking a nice fancy book (even if it wasn’t War and Peace – don’t have that one) but just new that if I did I would get busted. But I will admit to this not being the first book I picked up cause that was a graphic novel and that just seemed too complicated.

“Tyler gets me a job as a waiter, after that Tyler’s pushing a gun in my mouth and saying, the first step to eternal life if you have to die.”

The Fight Club – Chuck Palahniuk

Quick Note

Some of you may recall my mentioning, a few weeks back, that I was feeling a little under the weather. Turns out that I had glandular fever and the doctor says I have to rest as much as possible. Apparently those are the magic words and now I’m even sleepier than before.

So! Even though Musing Mondays will be going up as usual posts may be a little slow over the next few weeks. I’m not planning an actual hiatus, but I’m not going to worry if other things are going up later than usual (a Friday meme on a Monday night for instance).

Musing Monday (April 27)

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about reading non-fiction…

Do you read non-fiction regularly? Do you read it in a different way or place than you read fiction? (question courtesy of Diane)

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 like the idea of reading non-fiction, there are many things I wish I knew more about, but I don’t really read as much non-fiction as I would like or even should (and yes, that includes the reading I should be doing for school).

When I do read non-fiction books, they’re usually ones I’ve picked up from the ‘new books’ shelf at the library, and yes, it’s usually the cover that draws me in.

I do find that I tend to read them differently. I usually sit up and read instead of sprawl on my bed or squish into the comfy lounge up the back. I also tend to take more notes - I’m a note taker anyway, but this is increased. Thinking about it now, it sounds a little strange, as if I’m sitting in a class or doing homework or something. I suppose it doesn’t come up enough for it to be too strange.

Read With Kids Challenge

 

 

I thought I’d let you guys know about the Read With Kids Challenge, which was very successful last year and is running again from April 1 – June 30.

Designed to encourage children to discover the joy of reading, parents log time reading with and to their children all across the nation* with the chances to win prizes – including a trip to Disneyland.

So if you have kids, or work with kids, or would just like to make a donation to the project head on over and sign up.

 

 

 

*I know that this is an American thing as well as, you know, aimed at parents – both of which does not apply to me – but I just loved the idea behind the project.

Whoops…

Look what happens when you have an off week…

I’ve got some reading to do, huh.

*dives in*

Dare to read aloud….

Inkheart Cornelia Funke
543 pages; published 2003

So Mo began filling the silence with words. He lured them out of the pages as if they had only been waiting for his voice, words long and short, words sharp and soft, cooing, purring words. They danced through the room, painting stained-glass pictures, tickling the skin. (252)

There are books, and then there are books for booklovers. Inkheart definitely falls into the second category.

Twelve year old Meggie Folchart inherited her love of reading from her father Mo (Mortimer), a dedicated bookbinder. Everything about their lives together revolves around their shared passion: reading books, talking about books, collecting books…

Until the day a strange man, with an even stranger name (Dustfinger) turns up and disrupts Meggie’s understanding of the world. Suddenly books aren’t quite as safe as they used to be, her father is not the simple man he always seemed, and villains are no longer limited to the page.

I hate the idea of seeing a movie based on a book BEFORE actually reading the book, so I’ll admit that I bought this book before I really knew what it was about – just that it was had a pretty cover and was something about books… luckily it all worked out well.

Inkheart was a very enjoyable read, a real adventure story for booklovers. The idea of people and creatures literally leaping out of a book through the power of a reading voice is an amazingly beautiful one – even if it’s uncontrollability did have dire consequences in this book. How many times have you wished the books you love could just come to live beside you?

The relationship between Meggie and Mo was heartwarming, a father and daughter with no one but each other, and I hope to see that that progresses with the rest of the trilogy, as Meggie continues to mature – especially in face of everything Inkheart puts her through.

I did feel that the book was a little on the long side, like it dragged a little towards the end, however I will own up to having spent a rather long – and interrupted – time reading it. I am very curious to see how the rest of the series unfolds in Inkspell and Inkdeath. 4/5

My Sister’s Keeper

Oh oh, I’m so excited! And yet also so worried. I know it’s not going to be the same as the book, I know I’ll probably be cranky but still – so excited.

I don’t know about everywhere else, but it apparently comes out in July here in Australia.

Embedding has been disabled, but head over here to see the trailer.

 

 

Jodi Picoult:
"I had the chance to see the movie when I was on tour in LA. Yes - it ends differently from the book. And yes, you’re still going to like it The acting is phenomenal; the movie is beautifully shot; and I highly recommend investing in Kleenex before you go."

I do believe in fairies…

Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale Holly Black
331 pages; published 2002

A man was sprawled in the mud only a few steps from her, clutching a curved sword in one hand. It shone like a sliver of moonlight in the hazy dark. Long pewter hair, plastered wetly to his neck, framed a face that was long and full of sharp angles. Rivulets of rain ran over the jointed black armour he wore. His other hand was at his heart, clutching a branch that jutted from his chest. The rain there was tinted pink with blood.

“Was it you, girl? … [have you] come to finish me off?” (24-5)

Kaye’s mum is a unknown rockstar-wannabe, her grandmother disapproves of everything, and she hasn’t been to school in years. Her life couldn’t be less magical. It is a far cry from the happy life she enjoyed as a small child, surrounded by her fairy and pixie friends, even if no one else could see them.

When Kaye and her mother move back to town, however, her little friends are nowhere to be seen, and life just isn’t the same without them. And the friends who are around aren’t quite the same either. Even the people she meets are a little unusual. Roiben, the young man she meets in the woods is… well, he’s not human for starters.

But as it turns out, neither is Kaye.

Having proof that fairies are real makes life different but no less hard when Kaye finds herself the target in a battle of good and evil in the world of faerie.

It is so good to finally read a book that has been on your tbr list for so long… not so good when it’s the first in a trilogy and you don’t have the next two books (stupid, stupid). Despite that little hiccup however, it was still a pretty good read – hard to make a final judgment until I read the rest of the series.

I was a little bugged to read another ‘normal-girl-loves-supernatural-boy’ story (was written before Twilight) but got over it pretty quick because there were a few spins on it – namely that the girl herself isn’t exactly normal.

For the most part, Tithe was a good first book, it set up the world well – a somewhat intimidating world, I might add. Kaye was an interesting character, damaged enough to make you very sympathetic toward her, but curious enough to make her interesting. My only real concern was the language; it was a little strong in the first part the novel which, while somewhat confronting (and may need a warning for some readers), worked quite well within the context of the world they were setting up. 3.5/5

Library Loot

Oh, how I love library day… guilt free book gathering…

I probably borrowed more than I will have time to read, but that’s half the fun.

 

 

 

 

YA Fiction

• Betrayed (A House of Night novel) – P.C. and Kristen Cast
• Sucks to Be Me: The All-True Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire (maybe) – Kimberly Pauley
• The Dead and the Gone – Susan Beth Pfeffer
• The Bermudez Triangle – Maureen Johnson

General Fiction

• Fight Club – Chuck Palahniuk

Graphic Novels

• Complete Maus – Art Spiegelman
• Wonder Woman: Love and Murder – Jodi Picoult

Non-Fiction

• The Funny Thing Is – Ellen Degeneres
• The Children’s House of Belsen – Hetty E. Verolma
• Harry, A History: The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon – Melissa Anelli

DVDs

• To Kill a Mockingbird – Dir. by Robert Mulligan

Teaser Tuesday (April 21)

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!

 

All I’m saying is that maybe it wouldn’t be the end of the world to be a vampire. The end of your life, yeah, kind of. But not the end of the world. (78)

Sucks to Be Me: The All-True Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire (maybe) – Kimberly Pauley

Musing Monday (April 20)

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about 2009 favourites…

Coming towards the end of April, we’re a third of the way through the way through the year. What’s the favourite book you’ve read so far in 2009? What about your least favourite? (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.

 

 

 

For the award of ‘best-book-so-far’ my first answer was either March by Geraldine Brooks, or To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee (which I finished about an hour ago)…

 

… but as they were both re-reads for me, I went back to my list.

I suppose the favourite book I’ve read so far this year (and I haven’t written the review for it yet, which makes me feel a little slack) would have to be John Green’s Looking for Alaska. I only discovered John Green’s books this year, reading An Abundance of Katherines in January (which I also haven’t reviewed – I AM slack), but it was Looking for Alaska that I feel in love with. I’m hitting Paper Towns next.

As for my least favourite… hmmm… that would probably have to be The Origin of Lament by Emma Magenta.

You know, I would have thought that a much easier question to answer, especially seeing as I rate them as I go. But nope, hard to decide. I’m not looking forward to my end of year top 10.

Friday First… on a Sunday (just)

I didn’t forget, just been busy – no really. Plus, this one was a hard one to answer.

Do you have any fond memories from your childhood or can you share any remarkable firsts that, like E.B White's, were a bit... unexpected?

In participating in Friday Firsts, I have learnt one very important thing… I’m TERRIBLE at remember first lines. I spend most of my time jumping up and down and running to the book shelf and then still not answering the question. I find this really odd, because I think that the first line can truly make a great book. Oh well, I’ve decided to focus on the first part of the question and think of some fond reading memories.

I don’t remember learning to read. I truly wish that I did, because the thought of it – especially considering the fact that no one else in my immediate family is a reader – fascinates me. My mother tells me however that as soon as I was old enough to hold a book I was getting her to read. I do remember sitting curled up in her lap our our back verandah, on the old brown chairs with the cracks in the arms, while she read to me though.

The memory of the transition from her reading to me to my reading myself is practically non-existent (why, oh why can I not remember this?), and again falls mostly on what my mother tells me – that she looked for chapter books young enough for me to read without pictures. This, if my bookshelf is any indication, meant Enid Blyton.

I don’t remember receiving Little Women – which I got for my 8th birthday from my grandparents – but I do remember reading and re-reading it constantly, along with Heidi, The Secret Garden and The Little Princess.

One of the strongest memory I have of reading when I was very young mostly revolved around reading the Babysitter Club books. I would take my little list in it’s shiny green clipboard to the library and get a stack then sit on my bed, propped up by a whole heap of pillows, the pile sitting on the floor next to my bed (not at all unlike how I read now, in fact). I would read and laugh and enjoy every minute of it, running out to my mother at the start of every chapter to get her to read the indecipherable handwriting.

Another memory that I can think of comes out of the holidays I would spent at my grandparent’s house. It seems that I would go for the night and just never leave – I don’t remember ever being home for the holidays! I would take my pile with me and would read my way through them – my grandfather watching disbelievingly all the while. One holiday I remember very clearly because it was the year he voiced his believe that I couldn’t possibly be reading all these books. I remember that I took a book of the pile and read it just so he could quiz me when I was done. He actually seemed a little put out when I could answer his questions… though funnily enough, it was also the year I read the final draft of his memoirs, so I guess I passed the test.

Thank you to the commenters

I have been thinking a lot about commenting and commenters lately. This is mostly because I think it’s an important thing to be thinking about if you’re participating in a blogging but also because I feel that I don’t comment enough. I try to comment here and there, but, as we all discussed on MM last week, it doesn’t always work that way.

Last week, however, I was very surprised (happy, honored, giddy, take your pick) to see that Diane over at The Book Resort had kindly awarded me with a commenter award. I  was very happy to see that I was getting better.

Firstly I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who stops by here now and then – especially those who come by every week for MM – and leaves comments. I appreciate all of you and am always very excited to read your comments.

I want to say an extra big thank-you to the people I’m going to pass this award onto, these are the people who visit all the time and comment the most. Their comments usually make me laugh and smile or think of books differently than I may have before, so thanks!

 

• Ladytink @ Up Close and Personal with Ladytink
• Beth F @ Beth Fish Reads
• Serena @ Saavy Verse and Wit
• Jenny Girl @ Jenny Loves to Read
• Nise @ Under the Boardwalk
• Kaye @ The Road Goes Ever On
• Sherrie@ Just Books
• Zetor @ Mog’s Blog
• Wendy @ We Read to Know

Also, I kinda want to award it back to Diane cause she’s currently on the top of my shiny new comment tally thingy over on the sidebar… am I allowed to do that?

“…aaaaand we’re walking.”*

Starting out on a walking tour is hard work I tell you. There are many things you need to consider. You need to get a map that folds up nice and little, you need a new water bottle, a good pair of sturdy shoes (did actually buy new shoes, they’re pink), an itinerary, a compass, some …

What?

It’s a VIRTUAL walking tour?

You don’t need all that stuff?

Really? You sure?

Well…

Despite my little hiccup last week, I did indeed head out on my virtual (geez, I didn’t need my pink shoes after all) walking tour and hit the first two stops along the way. MsMazzola over at State of Denmark, and Kim over at PageafterPage kindly signed up as my first two stops on the trail. They kindly opened their doors and let me visit and so I’d like to give them a big thanks right now. THANKS!

I’ve got to say that I’ve browsed over at MsMazzola’s blog before, because the fact that she’s an English teacher has me curious. I’ve only got a little over a month (and I’m not freaking, truly…) of my degree left and I figure if maybe I listen hard enough, some of her teachery-ness will rub off on me. Perhaps I should stop using words like ‘teachery-ness’.

I enjoyed reading her blog – she’s got an interesting range of book reviews (several of which making it onto my list, so thanks!) and has participated in some challenges which I’ve not heard of. I like that she talks about reading as well, rather than just reviewing or participating in memes – both wonderful things to do, of course, but I like to read people’s general opinions as well because that way I get to know people better. I particularly like that she defended her reading of chicklit - “They’re fun and damnit, I like them.” I also liked the way she had short memo-like posts about books she was currently reading/was going to read and the posts with cool book images or links to other places.

And over to Kim’s place…

The thing I loved best about Kim’s blog was the way she did up her reviews. I always panic a little about the way I write mine (too long? too short? too much summary not enough opinion etc…) She has a nice clear format with an Amazon review, a solid amount of her thought on the book, cover, first sentence and some admin like challenges it falls into (which I think is a great idea btw). Very easy to read.

I was also very impressed with how bowed her shelf of cook books was. Very impressive indeed. There are also a lot of nice pictures in her posts, which it always nice. Another big plus is that she has a lot of books on her blog – I know, it’s a book blog, what do you expect, but she has links to a lot and has a lot of interesting covers and things for books she’s bought/found/heard of.

Her sidebar shows that she’s a reading challenge fiend, which I highly respect (good luck on your challenges, btw). Oh, and plus, she’s a knitter, and the world ALWAYS needs more knitters.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Kim on her upcoming grandmother-hood. I see lots of picture books in your future.

I had a wonderful first leg of the walking tour and I highly encourage you to follow me along to visit both these lovely blogs.

* bonus points if you can tell me why this makes me laugh (without googling, be honest). In fact there will be a prize, because I like prizes… not sure what the prize will be but it will probably be something both nerdy and bookish

EDIT: Note, it's not from Dave... well... apparently it is, but it's from something else too

Q&A

I have a very fervent believe that every single person in the world – each and every one – is so utterly complex, so totally unique unto themselves that it is impossible to every completely know a person. I believe that every person inherently faceted to the point that it is not even possible to adequately describe any one person in detail and come close to doing them any form of justice.

But of course, as with most people, these beliefs tend to go out the window when said person starts to consider themselves.

As such, I think that I could provide two personality traits that so closely define myself that no others are required.

1. I become easily obsessed and fixated… and on anything.

2. I will do anything – ANYTHING – in the name of procrastination.

You would think that those two traits would cancel each other out yet they don’t (so I guess I’m a little complex after all).

Why am I telling you this? Well, because I have an essay to write (which I don’t want to) and a new found determination to comment (and reply to comments) more. I received several comments over the past few days and, since I’m bored and there’s no way I’m about to do actual work, I thought I’d reply to them here.

So here goes…

Jenny Girl said... I have never read Peter Pan either or Alice in Wonderland. I wonder if there is a Disney Classics challenge somewhere?

Why, yes, Jenny there is. I told you I’d try to look for it for you, and here is the link. I may just sign up myself.

Ladytink_534 said... I'll have to play along this upcoming Friday! [on Friday Firsts]

Yay! please do, I' know Wendy would love to see you all play, and I always like when there’s something new to read/watch/play along. [As an aside, come back some time next week when I talk about the new thing I discovered… which you probably already know about… but oh well]

Beth F and Robin of My Two Blessings congratulated me on the awards I received last week.

Thanks! I appreciate the congrats :)

Ladytink_534 said... Oh have you finished Inkheart yet? I finally did today.

No I have not. And it is sitting right next to me on my bedside table glaring at me because I have been ignoring it of late. It has buddied up with To Kill A Mockingbird (bookclub book) and I think they are planning to kill my by papercuts in my sleep. Let it be known that books, while enjoyable, are also mean and do not take interruptions to their reading schedule kindly.

Having said that. I plan to get back to reading something more exciting than textbooks and journal articles next week.

To everyone who commented on my book buying post, I’d like to say thanks for the endorsement of the retail therapy plan. While it’s not something I usually do (please ignore the spluttering of my family) it was fun and did fix the mood.

J.S. Peyton said... I always wander into the bookstore when I'm depressed and it always picks me up. I don't think I've ever gotten away with 16 books for $6.50 either! lol. That edition of Lord of the Rings does look pretty sweet, especially for .50 cent.

I have the bargain book nose. Don’t know how I do it but I’m not complaining. And yes! My LotR purchase has been validated!

wendy said... well, many things, but this is what I get for converting her to blogging.

yes, even I (having seen Becca’s bookshop mania firsthand) was shocked by 16 in one go.

And I thought I was past shocking you :)

You'll notice that most of the books are horizontal on her shelves...it's because she can't FIT any more books on them - hence the book-buying ban.

NOT TRUE!

Okay, maybe it’s true. But you didn’t need to dob me in!
She also wrote up a post about the Booklover list, here on her blog. She claims I laid down the gauntlet – I should have expected her to pick it up. I will be furthering this gauntlet to every one else post-essay so I’ll see you all then.

Dot said... Wow! Well done for getting 16 books for $6.50, I am so impressed! I don't think I have ever bought that many books at once! Have fun reading them!

Thanks, I will! I think my best bargain was 80 books for $20. Apparently if you say things like “how much if I take them all?” people get very nervous. They said $10, but I thought that was a little ridiculous.
Oh! and then there was the time my brother got nearly as many for a $1 because they didn’t want to pack up all the books at the end of the day… that was a good day.
I have got to say, that while that was a REALLY long post, far longer than I had anticipated, it was really fun. I may respond to comments (less though next time) like that in the future. What do you think, does it work?
And for all of you who managed to get to the end of this post, I think you deserve a cookie. I didn’t bake them, but they look nice, don’t you think?

Books? What books?

Hello, and welcome to today’s (well, tonight’s, actually) multiple choice post. If you are my mother/Wendy(possibly)/anyone who knows that I am supposed to be on a book buying ban, please read POST A. Everyone else, head over to POST B (it’s better, trust me, there’s pictures).

 

POST A
Today I spent all day in the library studying and doing research for my assignment – yes, that one I was whinging about having to do. I was there from 8:30 (…well, I was there at 7:50 but turns out I was early, do I get bonus points for that?) right through till 1:30 at which point I promptly returned home. That’s all.

 

POST B
Okay, so today, after whinging incessantly and doing everything else I could possibly do instead, I headed off to the library to do research for this assignment I have to do. I was pretty crabby with the general state of things so, after putting in a decent amount of time (I really was there until 12 … I have solid pages of notes to prove it) I decided to partake in a little retail therapy.

Book retail therapy.

It was, of course, a total abandonment of my new-book-less-ness but I came home with sixteen new books.

Now before some of you freak out*, they were all from the two op-shops near my uni. So even though they are new TO ME, they’re not really NEW NEW. Plus I got all sixteen for … $6.50. Now come on, that’s a pretty good bargain. What’s more, I managed to get them home, catalogued and shelved on my bookshelf without anyone noticing.

It really cheered me up.

So what did I get? Well, let’s have a look.

• 10 The Babysitter’s Club books. Last year I was struck with the overwhelming urge to re-read the series (which I loved as a kid) to see if they were as good as I remembered, and, even more, to see if I could remember them at all… I haven’t actually got to the reading part, but I pick them up when I see them. All together these books were $2.50.
  
• Kidnapped by R.L. Stevenson – Never read it, though I’ve read Treasure Island.
  
• The Time Keeper by Emily Rodda – I haven’t read this one, but I remember having it’s prequeal, Finder’s Keeper’s, read to me in primary school as a class novel.
  
• Fugitives and Refugees by Chuck Palahnuik – I’ll admit, I recognized the name and picked it up because I hadn’t read him before.
  
• Antarctica on a Plate by Alexa Thompson – Okay, I have no idea what this book is about, and quite frankly don’t want to know until I read it. All I know is that the cover sports a big penguin with a whisk and a chef’s hat, and the tag line reads ‘She came, she saw, she burnt the toast’… it was enough for me. Instant sale.
  
• A Prayer for Owen Meaney by John Irving – on a lot of my lists**
  
• And finally… Lord of the Rings (all in one) by J.R.R. Tolkien. I already have this book, but in seven smaller volumes. So I don’t really have any strong logic backing up this purchase except for the fact that it was only 50c and it was darn pretty.

 

See, perdy.

 

So there you go. The very reason why I shouldn’t (should?) go shopping while depressed…

 

 

* yes Wendy, I know you read this post even though I told you not to.

** are those of you in Australia aware (I’m sure you are) that the 2009 Dymocks 101 Booklover’s List is now out. Have you got it yet? Have you checked it off? Have you compared it to last years? What do you think of the changes? What was your score? Did you go up or down? Did you get the top ten? What do you think? Huh? Huh?… yeah, the girls at Dymocks think I’m crazy too…