Posted on August 13, 2013 in Books
The Third Classics Spin from the Classics Club. As with before, I must pick twenty books, then a random number will be selected and each of us must read the number listed at X number by October 1st 2013.
These Spins are really useful because other challenges, reads, and activities have taken me away from the classics this year.
I have mostly kept the same books as I did my earlier Spins, but added a couple due to new acquistions or already read works. My challenge is that I own almost every one of these books so I must read them to clear my TBR shelf.
Posted on August 12, 2013 in Stationery
Finsbury Pocket in Yellow
When I first began looking for a Filofax as my planner, I discounted the Pocket for its size, but considered it and the Mini as a wallet replacement. When this came on sale, I couldn’t resist buying it.
Posted on August 9, 2013 in Books
This book helped me get out of my nonfiction bubble. It was almost too obvious to me when I started it in a waiting room at a walk-in clinic. Heyer is light, breezy and has a world of her own! Good for summer, distractions and for just a touch of romance.
Miss Tavener is wealthy heiress from Yorkshire going to set up house in London with her brother Perry. Miss Tavener is one of the classic Heyer protagonists: forthright, intelligent, and a true bookworm. She exclaims happily when she realizes Hatchard’s is near her new home. I love Hatchard’s of London. One of my top five bookstores in that city.
Jane Austen gets a couple of references in this one too which is mighty amusing.
This is a classic tale of girl meets man, girl hates man, and girl realizes that man is actually her guardian. Ok, not so much the last bit, but there is considerable animosity on her part about Lord Worth. I’m not crazy about him either all the time. Not of the worse Heyer leads, but definitely on the rougher and bad boy end. He’s just a little too arrogant and unpleasant at times to make me feel fictional swoon. It works out though, and I’m glad for the happily ever after.
Read August 6th 2013.
Posted on August 8, 2013 in Books
All other things being equal (good writing, enthralling story, etc), which would you rather read—something serious, angsty, and tragic? Or something light, fluffy, and fun? Or a blend of both? (Since, really, isn’t that how real life works?) – BTT
I try to balance my reading to be both light and serious. I think it veers slightly more to the serious side these days especially with all the non-fiction. I like to escape to books, but I’m more willing to escape into something completely different albeit more serious than for the TV or Movies I choose (which are firmly more comedy/dramedy). I’m more tolerant of angst if it’s in the written form.
These last couple of weeks, I have been more in the mood for something light and fluffy. It all depends on one’s mood relative to everything else going on in life.
How about you?
Posted on August 5, 2013 in Stationery, Travel
Filofax- Personal Malden in Vintage Pink
After many weeks of lusting, searching and obsessively reading Philofaxy and other FF blogs, I have finally bought my first Filofax: Personal Malden in Vintage Pink.
I have had a planner every year since I was 12 except in 2012. I realized when I did not have it, how much I missed one so I bought a 2013 Mead planner to hold me over. In the last couple of months, I’ve been thinking it’s time to invest in a serious planner.
This is the first post in my new Stationery category. I love pens, fountain pens, and stationary. I will be sharing my love of paper and pen in the blog from now on. I am traditionalist really and I actually think more people should at least have a good pen or two.
This was not my preferred colour. I would have preferred the Ochre, Purple or the Crimson. Of course, all of these are very popular and even looking for a Personal Malden took me through six New York stationary stores. Scroll down for my short review of the stockists.
In the beginning, I considered a Personal Finsbury, but the more I read about the Malden, the more I wanted one since it seems so well loved by the FF community. Some others have recently mentioned a hardness to their Maldens, but mine thankfully did not have this issue or any ring issues. When I opened it up and checked the rings at the store, it laid flat and snapped up well. Wonderful. I think my model was made in 2011 because it came with a 2012 diary, and the A. I. Friedman people had put in a 2013 one as well. I’ve started using the 2012 refill as scrap note paper.
Posted on August 4, 2013 in Books
Hello everyone!
This week, I finished Through the Children’s Gate and that’s about it. I’ve still not recovered my reading momentum. I have too much on my mind.
I’ve been trying to figure out which book to read next. I realized that most of the books I have from the library are nonfiction books. One of my goals this year was to read more nonfiction, and I’ve succeeded! However, now I’m less sure of which fiction books to read next.
Sometimes, you’re just in a mood to be taken away into a fictional world. Actually, that’s most often my mood, but I really need these days I think. I didn’t read much in July due to the trip, and what I did read was nonfiction.
Still not sure what to read next. I’ll consider it more thoroughly after I cleaned a bit today.
In other news, I got some more books a couple weeks ago. I said I wouldn’t anymore this year, but they were free! Someone in the neighborhood put them out. I took about most of the books (10ish) because we seem to have similar tastes. I got a couple works by W. Somerset Maugham which they obviously liked and I adored Of Human Bondage.
For space reasons, I had to sequester them away until I can find space for them. I really should start giving books away, but I haven’t read most of the books I own so can’t do that just yet. I also have just random piles of books. How do you make space for books?
Off to try and be productive for the the millionth time.
Have a good first week of August!
Posted on August 2, 2013 in Books
Do you read forewords/notes that precede many classics? Does it help you or hurt you in your enjoyment/understanding of the work? – Classics Club
I rarely read forewords/notes before I read the book. I actually prefer to read classics and analysis after I read a work. It makes me appreciate the book more. That way, I can reread passages that the Foreword/Notes reference.
I do not always read the Forewords though, but I am doing it more often with classics. They do make it more enjoyable.
Posted on August 1, 2013 in Books
Do you have a preference between “person” in the books you read? Do you prefer third-person to first-person? Or don’t you care?
And … why?? – BTT
Generally, I don’t have a preference because it depends on the writer to make it. I will say that I like when authors switch narratives best use with Third-Person Omniscient. I like knowing a lot characters.
I don’t care as long as it’s written well.