Monday, November 23, 2015

Thanksgiving


Good morning, all! I'm taking this week off from blogging to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family.  Wherever you are, and however many people you may be celebrating with, Sheba and I hope your week is filled with safe travels, good food, and even better - lots of time for reading. :)

Below are some posts from the past, if you're in a browsing mood:


See you again next week!

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Reading Wish-List

Now that space is limited and most of my funds are funneled to school, having a reading wish-list is almost its own dream.  That said, thanks to my library I don't really feel like I'm lacking - any book on my wish-list is a possibility!

Now that's living big :)

Time - unlimited time to read - well, if I could squeeze out more of that (and I just might!), here's what I'd choose:



The Wind Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
I hadn't taken a closer look at this book by Murakami until an "employee picks" card at my local bookstore caught my attention.  They described it as an adult Alice In Wonderland, and after reading the first few pages, I was hooked.

Opera 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Opera by Fred Plotkin
Aside from the fact that this guy has a terrific name, this book is immensely readable.  I wandered into the Metropolitan Opera after having moved to the city and saw this gem after (naturally) finding the bookstore.  His writing is clear and relatable, and I wanted to buy it right away.  For those who, like me, are secret (or not so secret) fans of opera, or anyone who wants to learn more about opera, this is one to add to your list.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
As a kid, the Anne of Green Gables series never did anything for me, but they were some of the only books on the shelves at Girl Scout Camp when I was a teenager.  I worked several summers there, and picked up one or two - I'd love to take a closer look, maybe as a wintery escape.  Plus, have you seen pictures of Prince Edward Island?

The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing (A Vish Puri Mystery) by Tarquin Hall
It's no secret that I'm a big fan of the Vish Puri mysteries, but I haven't picked this one up.  The series is terrific for a number of reasons: the rich, vivid descriptions of India, the incredibly well-developed characters, the intriguing storylines - and on and on.  It's been a long time since I've read one of Hall's novels, and I would love to hide away with this one.

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Over the summer I became a non-fiction (specifically, finance and business-related) aficionado.  Carnegie's classic went right up on my list.  Not only is it timeless, it's approachable and action-oriented.  The title originally put me off (I mean, come ON), but it's filled with wise little tidbits that will, I imagine, serve me well one day.

What's on your reading wish-list? If you make one, what are the qualities you look for in an author or a book?

Monday, November 9, 2015

Bookish Things To Be Thankful For


One of the things I love the most about this season (aside from eating stuffing and stepping on crunchy leaves) is how attention is turned to being thankful.  Some of it is hokey - sales! marketing! - but on the other hand, when I've looked at lists or made my own, life does seem infinitely better.  Perspective is everything, and this year, I decided to make a list of bookish and reading-related things I'm thankful for.

Learning how to read
Coming from a family of curious, book-loving people
Book bloggers from all around the world, who post and think critically
Inter-library loan (!)
Being able to return books at any branch of my city's library
Learning new skills and facts about anything under the sun - hummingbirds, the history of tea, investing, management, dealing with difficult people
All of the library's non-book related services - job search, computer and tax classes, book groups, after-school programming, and on and on
Book covers - brown paper, stretchy, colored, hard plastic
Bookmarks - magnetic, paper stenciled, laminated with children's drawings, museum bookmarks, ones with tassels
The hush of (some) libraries as you come inside
Having a place to study, do work, and write where I don't have to spend money (like at a coffee shop)
People-watching
Unbent corners of new books
Poetry - Mary Oliver, John 
Haiku collections
Local authors
Book signings
Not being yelled at for browsing without buying
The ache you get in your back from sitting on the floor of the store and reading
Losing yourself completely in a story
Roald Dahl and iconic illustrations
Almost missing your stop when you're so invested in a story/character/plot
Seeing people read anywhere, and seeing what commuters are reading
Used bookstores

Do you make lists like this? What are you thankful for?