Posted on June 17, 2012 in Books
Happy Father’s Day! We had family time yesterday and now my dad wants to take his own day trip. Ha. I do a bit of solo travel too so I guess I take that away from him.
In reading news, I went to a book fair yesterday and got 19 books. I will make a post about all the book fair books I got in the last two weeks for tomorrow or Tuesday.
This week, I finished reading two books: Tess of the Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy and Friday’s Child by Georgette Heyer.
I started The Mill on the FLoss by George Eliot. My first of her works so it’s a long time coming especially with this book, but I’ll tackle that in the review. I will read most of it today which means I will probably finish it by the end of the day.
I could have read more this past week, but it’s been an unusually social and busy week for me. Also, in a weird turn of events, I have taken two jobs in the last week after a long drought without any work. I don’t know how it will affect my reading, but I hope not too much. I like to reserve Sundays for at least one book a week.
Has everyone planned their summer reading? I’ll keep with the classics for this summer I think.
Posted on June 10, 2012 in Books
This week, I read two books. One was the Jungle Book and the other was Heyer’s The Convenient Marriage. The latter’s post was scheduled incorrectly and the review will be up tomorrow.
Today, I plan on starting and reading Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles. I’ve been wanting to read this book for a few years as I have liked Hardy though I do find a lot of his works difficult because of the tragedies he usually puts in the books. I feel Tess will probably be hard especially since it concerns women’s place in Victorian society.
After that, I will read another Heyer. For my next Classics Club and Victorian Challenge read, I will probably go with George Eliot’s Mill on the Floss. I have also been meaning to read this for years and semi-avoiding it since I saw the adaptation before I knew of the book.
In other book news, I went to used book fair on Wednesday and I plan on going to another one on Saturday. I didn’t do any used book shopping in 2011, and book blogging has me back on it. I’m excited by the one on Saturday because the last time I went a few years ago, I got lots of books. Hopefully the selection will be as good this year. I have already started a haul post since I want to share what I got.
That’s it for this Sunday. What are you reading today? I hope everyone has a good week. Happy reading!
Posted on June 3, 2012 in Books
This was my last week of the month long course I have been take. No books read this week and I doubt any today because I have to finish my last assignments today. Furthermore, I got very little sleep last night so I don’t think I have much energy to read today any way.
I will read later this week. While I have a whole stack of Georgette Heyer still in the queue, I will also read The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling for the Classics Club. If I have the chance, I will start
Tess of the Ubvervilles soon for Classics Club and the Victorian Reading Challenge. Thomas Hardy’s birthday was yesterday. I do like Hardy.
It will be good to read during the week again! In other news, I’ve been deleting the duplicates from my GoodReads account. Since about 2002, I’ve read roughly 720 new books (give or take maybe 50 books for a margin of error). That’s not a bad number. That means I’ve been averaging 70 books a year on average. So I just have to read over 70 books this year as part of my personal challenge.
How is everyone’s weekend? What are you reading?
Posted on May 27, 2012 in Books
Managed to read two books since last Sunday. Both Georgette Heyer and the Heyerathon continues as I am finishing The Masqueraders. All the gender bending and cross dressing in Heyer had me rewatching Amanda Bynes’s She’s the Man (love Twelfth Night play) this week. Also, starting j-drama Hana Kimi.
A couple questions for this Sunday. Does anyone access this post from the Yahoo!Pipes or the RSS Sunday Salon feed? I’ve been trying to figure out if that works. I post my links to the FB group but I wonder if the original SS feed works at all and if anyone uses it since I couldn’t manage to a few weeks ago.
Secondly, I think I will be joining the Classics Club to read 50 classic books in five years. My problem now is to develop my list. I’m going to make the list more than 50 (perhaps 60 or 65) so that I can have some legroom. I am not good at planning my life that far ahead, so this will be a challenge.
Please list me suggestions of ‘classic’ books you like and that I could read. I’ve read a fair number so far, so the more suggestions, the better. Thank you!
Happy reading, everyone!
Posted on May 20, 2012 in Books
It’s a long weekend so yay for me as I have one day less of class this week. Also, I managed to finish my homework on time on Friday so have had time to do personal chores and today, I do some reading!
I started Georgette Heyer’s books last month and requested a bunch of them from the library. I haven’t made a dent in the pile at all, but I will do so today. It’ll be Heyer marathon for awhile there.
In other news, I am still trying to explore social media. I have been trying to use Twitter again (@athena), but I am failing. I am not sure why, but I don’t really find it easy to tweet.
I am addicted to Pinterest though. I was invited in late 2010 when the site was still somewhat new. It has much more content now and as a result, much more addictive. It appeals to the crafter, decorator and stylist in me. There are some seriously nice book shelves on that site.
The weather will be hot today at 30C so I am going to run an errand before noon and be back to read. Ahh that’s the stuff.
What are you reading today?
Posted on May 13, 2012 in Books
Another busy week, and only today to read. I’m reading Derek Hayes’s The Malaadjusted today.
Since I am learning a lot about social media these days. I have been thinking about the social networks for book bloggers as well.
First of all, I’ve been thinking about switching my commenting system. I use the WP one now and I like it, but sometimes I think maybe it would be better to switch over to Disqus (which I have an account for and like fine) or Livefyre which is new to me, but attuned to other people’s social networks. What do you think? Have you used these on your blog and do you like the format of them? Do you think they allow easier engagement on blogs?
Secondly, there are the book social network sites. Since I am online so much, I have had accounts on sites such as AllConsuming.net, Shelfari, LibraryThing, BookCrossing and GoodReads. I joined most of these in their earlier years, but I have not kept up with most of them. Do you still use any of these sites? Which do you like the most?
I have found that GoodReads now leads the pack as a book sharing site and have decided to revive my Good Reads account. I even imported a list from AllConsuming, but it created over 100 duplicates. Deleting the duplicates on GoodReads is a pain. I have left it as it is easy for now and with many of my books unread. I doubt I will add reviews either since I do most my book reviewing here. To be honest, I’m a bit too lazy to keep up with these kind of sites but do like to lurk on them once in awhile.
If you are curious, this is my GoodReads account:
Have a good week, everyone!
Posted on May 6, 2012 in Books
Today is the first free day I have for reading since last Sunday. I have been taking a Social Media Certificate course at the local college so I am going to school again. It’s taken my time to homework, go to class, and transition from my previous sloth existence.
I have a lot of books from the library to read including a big stack of Georgette Heyer. Not for today though since Walking People by Mary Beth Keane is priority and due Tuesday.
My goal this year was to blog and read more again. I think I’ve done well, but in the last few weeks, I’ve watched less shows, movies, and knit much less than I would have before. That’s the problem with hobbies. I always find there isn’t enough time of day to do all the things that I want.
Do you balance reading with other hobbies and interests? Does reading usually win out?
Posted on April 22, 2012 in Books
It has been a lethargic week for me and to be honest, I hadn’t read a book for two weeks until yesterday. Yikes. It’s suppose to be a year of me reading more again. I remember summers as a teenager and two weeks without a book would be very strange. It use to make me angsty when I didn’t have a book on hand.
To be honest, I have been doing much of anything lately. The days are a blur. Still, with impending library books due, I read one yesterday: The Best American Travel Writing 2011 (review up tomorrow).
Now that I’ve hit my stride, it’s a reading weekend so I will start another today among the To Be Read queue. It will be my first Georgette Heyer today:
The Devil’s Club by Georgette Heyer
A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
The Maladjusted by Derek Hayes
The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
And more. There is always more books for me to read. It’s a cloudy weekend so it’s perfect time to stay indoors. What are you reading this week?
Posted on March 25, 2012 in Books
It’s been awhile since I did the Sunday Salon. I’m not even sure if it’ll go though so this is a test post of sorts.
So I have not been reading books very much this week, but I plan to do some reading today and tomorrow. Here are the books in the To Be Read queue:
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
Timeless (Parasol Protectorate) by Gail Carriger
Girl Reading by Katie Ward
They are all fairly short, but I’ve been a bit busy and preoccupied to read lately. On the other hand, I’ve been reading. I always have to balance those two hobbies of mine out.
This last week, I’ve been thinking about reading more in French. I try to read at least one French book a year, but it is very difficult. It takes me months to read French book. I started Bel-Ami in 2010 and to be honest, I still haven’t finished it. This is a bit frustrating as a reader since I am a relatively fast reader in English. French slows things down. I’ve asked my francophone friends for recommendations of French books that are easy to read. I am not bilingual, but I do understand most French oral conversations.
Do you have recommendations for French adult/YA adult books? I rather read new books in French and not books I’ve read in English already too. I am open to most genre of my books. Thanks.
Have a good week everyone!
Posted on January 25, 2009 in Books, Travel
Today, I am listening to the audiobook for Charlaine Harris’s Club Dead and reading some Casino Royale. I think I’ve given up A Christmas Carol; I’m going to pick it up in July or something.
Last weekend, I was actually reading in Paris, France. I had brought one book with me and that is my copy of Adam Gopnik’s Paris to the Moon which is one of my favourite collection of personal essays and books about Paris. It’s very funny and pleasing to read about the places he writes about such as the Jardin du Luxembourg, Café de Flore, Les Deux Magots, Musée d’Orsay, and others and actually go there later in the day. Reading while on a voyage is not uncommon to me or any other bibliophile, but I think it was the first time that I had read so much of the place I was actually in. Since the book was written ten years ago, I noticed a lot of changes. I have read a lot of travelogues and travel nonfiction, but I do not travel to these places all that much so it was refreshing to read and contemplate the changes presented while noticing what was very true. I have actually yet to read anything very London since getting here since I acquire and read fiction here.
Speaking of which, I acquired a few books this week by chance, mostly ones that have gone on Bookmooch. I am pleased to say that in the pile was Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander which I had listened to audiobook last spring and enjoyed so I’m glad to own a copy as well as the next book in the series Dragonfly in Amber. This works out perfectly since I own the next two books Voyager and Drums of Autumn which are back in Canada. I have enough books on small tiny shelf here in London and my limited free time that I shouldn’t get more book nor think I’ll actually get through them all before the end of 2009.
On a final note, I usually leave these things in the Literary Links, but I have to plug The Guardian’s 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read. I have penchants for book lists and this is one I can get behind whether you agree with the selections or not. Here is the definitive list and you can search if your favourites are there, or browse through the novels by category/genre.
Happy Chinese New Year!
Literary Links:
ZenHabits has a How to Instill Love of Reading for Your Child or Yourself
I think I linked this before, but it’s a good list: ZenHabits’s 50 Amazing and Essential Novels to Enrich Your Library
book.populair.eu – A directory of web 2.0 book sites.
Posted on January 11, 2009 in Books
Oh woe. I can not wait until I am no longer a graduate student so I can go back to reading. I am exactly where I was two weeks ago at my last Salon. I have read all of three chapters in Casino Royale, Club Dead is still on hold in audiobook form, it’s well past Christmas but A Christmas Carol is stacked underneath CR, and Paris to the Moon is on top urging for a little reread because I will be going to Paris this weekend. I never actually finished that reread of Hamlet in time for either two performances that I saw (review tomorrow!).
I read an interesting article on buying books called In Defense of Buying Books which sparked a discussion on that particular blog about books as indulgences, the values of library, overspending, frugality, etc. I really did not start buying books seriously until a couple years ago, and the majority of my books are used books from fairs. I rarely buy new books because they aren’t in my budget. I love libraries, and I grew up and lived within a municipality with an exceptional library system for years, not so much now (more on that in a bit), but I also like owning books. I think many people will argue that buying books and putting them on shelves is a bit of a waste especially if you have not read the books. This is a common affliction among bibliophiles: the buying and hoarding of books. I, too, am afflicted with this disease, but in all honestly, books are my luxury a lot. I do not shop for clothes or accessories all that much, and books are one of my few entertainment sources. Cable tv vs. used books: I know which I would want more. In my poorest days, I wouldn’t give up buying a used book or two. Libraries are sublime, but there are circumstances wherein you can’t use them all the time.
In an earlier salon, I said the likihood of me using the London library system is slim. Well, I applied for one library card this past week and it’s coming into the mail. That is only for one borough of London, and there are two more I’d like to apply for. The libraries in my particular area are farthere away and not as good. It’s not comparable to what I grew up with, and in any case, when do I have the time to read for fun any more? Still, the library cards would be nice to have.
In other news, I won a Bookmooch point and I joined, but I hardly have any books to give away since most of them are across the pond.
Have a good week!
Literary Links:
BBC News has an article about Donkeys boosting Ethiopian literacy rate
Posted on December 28, 2008 in Books
All of a sudden, I find myself inundated with reading. At first, I seemed to only have a couple of things going, but I realise now I am consuming at least four different things. I find myself less relaxed this holiday season than previous which is understandable with the new setting and responsibilities. My hobbies have suffered, especially reading and I’ve been piling on too much. I was sick last week and I have just returned from four days in Pembrokeshire, Wales for Christmas. Most of the day is already over which is how the winter works. I am glad the solstice is over and now the days can slowly get longer again.
Casino Royale by Ian Fleming is on the go, as is my rereading of Hamlet. The performance is on Tuesday which means I must dash through it. I started A Christmas Carol on the train to Wales, but I barely touched it then and not at all on my trip. I do not know if I should even try and finish it because the festive season is over. I am also listening to Book 3 of the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire mysteries Club Dead on audiobook.
Being in Wales reinvigorated my desire to travel especially in Britain, and I had the notion of going to Hay-on-Wye, Wales in the summer. I’ll have exams during the festival, but the book capital of the isles for a weekend sounds promising. Though, putting myself in a small town of thirty bookshops is also asking for trouble. I’ll definitely consider it even if it seems difficult to get to by public transport. Anyone been and any tips to offer?
The older I get the less time I get to read it seems. I finished most of the reading challenges that I joined, but I can no longer join as many as I would like. I will post another reading challenge update soon and assess/renew those that I can have. Reading is vital in my life, but so is looking for a job and a means to work to live.
This week and for the rest of what is left of today, I will read the aforementioned books. Possibly pick up Paris to the Moon for my reread; I’m heading off to France the 15th. If I do well, I may pick up Atonement at some point in the first days of new year or something light such as The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.
Have a good last couple days of 2008. Happy New Year!
Literary Links:
Modern Library’s 100 Best Nonfiction.
20 Amazing and Essential Nonfiction Books.
Europeana is up.
Online reading is -surprise- not as good as print reading, but more studies are required about the effects of screen reading.
More free classic e-books.
A list of prize-winning books online.