2015 My Year in Books

I am terrible with lists (grocery lists, to do lists, any list) but just to prove that I DID meet my reading challenge of 24 books for the year,  I spent a few minutes (on the last day of 2015) updating my Good Reads account.  My reward was this lovely summary of my year in books.  Two things strike me:  1) 8,750 pages!  2) How beautiful all the covers are displayed all at once.  I took pictures to post here but it looks better viewed on the Good Reads site.

New Library

 Haymarket has a brand spanking new Regional Library and even though I live in another county, they let me get a card!  SHINY! (Firefly ref for those in the know, wink wink).  It is modern and full of windows and light (and books, and audio, and computers).  It is very high tech with self check out kiosks and no more of those not so sticky due date stickers that fall off as soon as you get to the car; I got an actual receipt when I checked out!

This library is not really any closer to my house than my other options but it does have the advantage of being on my way home.

It does not have an adorable polydactyl live in cat.

It isn't located in Old Town (which makes me feel all historic and important just going there).

However, as Chris Core from WTOP would say, having three libraries to choose from is a CORE value!

Free Books!

One of the best features about an E-Reader is all the 'free' or 'very cheap' book offers that are available.   It is true libraries are Free and used book stores are Very Cheap but quite often you won't see these e-reader offerings in stores or libraries.  Here is a sample of my latest downloads.

Sign up with BookBub and personalize your profile to reflect your literary tastes and preferred vendors to get a daily email listing free or discounted offers.
Note:  Most of the offerings are for less well known authors so it is a great inexpensive way to meet new authors.  However, every now and then, a really good/well known book/author will also be on sale.  You can pick up some really good books this way.
WARNING:  Sometimes they are free because they are terrible.  Read the negative reviews (positive reviews cannot be trusted to be genuine) and see what the major complaint was about.  If Look Inside is available, read a snippet to see if you like the author's voice.

All Hallows Read

Consider giving books for Halloween instead of candy.  Check out the link below for a list of recommendations.

allhallowsread.com

Artwork courtesy of Introverted Wife

Early Reading Program

One is never too young to appreciate a good book.

Juggling Books

Are you a serial reader or do you juggle a pile of books reading a bit of this and that, whatever strikes your mood?

This is my current reading list.  Why so many?

Some books are best read in small nibbles - either because they are intense, emotional, or thought provoking and a little goes a long way.  (Magic Hour)

Some books aren't interesting enough to read for long periods of time but short bursts while waiting for something else provide a nice distraction.  (Salting Roses)

Some books are so good I want to gobble them up and at the same time I don't want them to end so I force myself to read slowly to draw out the pleasure as long as possible.  (The Winter Sea)




But there always comes a tipping point - the chapter where I simply MUST know what happens next and there is no choice but to sit and read to the end! (Red Rising -today)

Sometimes I want adventure, some times comfort.  Sometimes I want to learn and sometimes to escape.  Sometimes a little laughter is the cure and sometimes crying for someone else's pain helps ease my own.  Somewhere in the pile is a book to suit the need of the moment.

The Storyteller

Some people are writers and some....are storytellers.

A fantastic evening.  Neil Gaiman talked about his new book, Terry Pratchett, read stories, told stories, and answered a billion questions.  We would have sat there for two more hours enraptured.

Myth Busting E-Readers

E-Readers:  People either love them or hate them  which makes me sad because I don't see why it has to be all one or all the other.

Myth:  You can tell a lot about a person from looking at their book shelves; you can't tell anything about them from an E-reader.

Au contraire mon ami!  Look at mine.  Right away you know my favorite color from the faux leather cover.  You also know I have a practical (i.e. cheap) side since I didn't go for a designer cover that cost as much as the device.  Open the cover and the skel-animal sticker will show you my secret goth side.  Pull the papers out of the pockets and you might find a Disney post card, a grocery list, library information.  Turn it on and the title list will show you just how eclectic my taste are.  Also notice, the cover stands instead of opening like a book which should tell you that I don't see any reason meals should interrupt a good story!  Just from looking at my Kindle, you already know a lot about me.

Myth:  E-readers mean the death of real books and book sales.  I bet everyone said that about audio books and libraries and used book stores.  I do not know a single person who stopped buying real books once they got an E-reader.  If anything, we buy MORE books.  I love real books, the smell, the weight, the beautiful covers, how they look on the shelf.  I will always prefer to buy the real hardback book by my favorite author to have forever and read over and over.  Also, please note, most of the books I get on my kindle are not FREE....I still buy them.  Buying an e-book is still buying a book.  Yes they are less expensive than the real book but they should be.  Books I buy on my Kindle were books I was not going to buy anyway.  They are new books by unknown authors that I would probably get from the library or the used books store, if at all.  As far as I can see everybody wins here.

A few other points in favor of E-readers:
When my suitcase is at the maximum weight limit and I know I will need more than one book for the trip, I can solve the dilemma by simply putting my Kindle in my carry on.  I don't have to worry if four books are too heavy, I can take 1500 with me.
When I am out of reading material or not in the mood for the choices I have, I can get a new book with a single click in a matter of seconds.  No matter if it is in the middle of the night, or a weekend, or a holiday; the internet store is always open and with no delivery fee or waiting for shipping.
I can highlight or take notes without defacing the actual pages and I can easily search and find them all later.

I want my real books and my e-books.  Please don't make me choose.  I think this is called having your cake and eating it too!

Cure for January Blahs

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

One of the reviews said this book was 'grown up Harry Potter'.  Maybe, if being grown up means drinking, swearing, and having sex.  I think it is more 'Harry Potter goes to college'.  It is also a bit of Narnia in a disillusioned way with a scattering of Tolkien like wisdom.  It is all of these and none of these.  It is it's own thing.  It is also a great deal about being human and the pursuit of happiness which leads to both bliss and despair.   It is about waking up and discovering that Magic is real, you can learn it in school, you can travel to Narnia or Middle Earth and worlds unimagined but who you are goes with you and you always have to deal with that.

“Glory has its price,” Penny said.  “Did you not know that, before you sought it?”