Tag: books

31 Days – 31 Books (day 15)

Wow – my seniors took their physics final exam today. Hard to believe the year is almost over! Tomorrow is the Awards Ceremony (I think I have all of the certificates done!) and Friday is graduation practice. They graduate on Sunday. Amazing.

Day15 – 4. book from the left on your shelf

Shelf – singular? To hold all of my books, that would be one long shelf! I’ve got floor to ceiling bookshelves in my library! I checked alryssa‘s entry to see how she handled this (like me, she has many shelves) and she opted to pick 4th book from the left from each shelf. I think I’ll try 4th set of shelves, 4th shelf, 4th book all from the left and just stick to my library. Hmmm, I’m interested to know myself which book this is. (Hopefully, I’ll pick the correct left!)

*time passes*

Heh – once I got into my library, I wasn’t sure which set of shelves to start counting with. And if I should count shelves with no books as a shelf to count from. In the end I wound up with The Gryphon by Nick Bantock. “In Which the Extraordinary Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine Is Rediscovered.” I must admit, Bantock’s Griffin & Sabine books are beautiful to look at and fun to read, but honestly, totally forgettable. I really don’t remember them, and I know I’ve read books 1-3 twice (but this one only once, thus far). (To me, that’s worse than being a bad book – being forgettable.)

The rest of the 31 days:

Day1 – Book you are reading right now
Day2 – The book you want to read next
Day3 – Your favourite Book
Day4 – Book you hate
Day5 – A Book you can read again and again
Day6 – A book you can only read once (no matter you love or hate it)
Day7 – Book that reminds you of someone
Day8 – Book that reminds you on a certain place
Day9 – The first book you ever read
Day10 – Book from your favourite author
Day11 – Book you once loved and now hate
Day12 – Book that a friend recommended
Day13 – Book that makes you laugh
Day14 – Book from your childhood
Day16 – 9. book from the right on your shelf
Day17 – Close your eyes and get any book from your shelf
Day18 – Book with the most beautiful cover
Day19 – Book, that you ever wanted to read
Day20 – Book that you read at school
Day21 – most stupid book you read at school
Day22 – Book on your shelf with the most pages
Day23 – Book on your shelf with the least pages
Day24 – Book where nobody would expect you read/loved it
Day25 – A book where the main character is almost like you
Day26 – Book you would read to your children
Day27 – A book where the main character is your idol
Day28 – Thanks God this book was made into a movie
Day29 – Darn, why did they make this book into a movie?
Day30 – First erotic book you ever read
Day31 – Book series you are collecting

31 Days – 31 Books (day 14)

Day14 – Book from your childhood

Since I have loved most of the books that I read (or had read to me) from my childhood, I decided I’d mix it up a bit and pick a book from my childhood that I dislike. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams.

See, for me, it was never a story about a toy rabbit that becomes real. No, it was the story of a child who lost his favorite toy due to illness. And I was always afraid I’d get sick and Teeny Tiny Teddy, my most favorite teddy bear (a gift to me on the Christmas the week before I was born) would be taken from me and I’d never see him again. (And what would Teeny do as a real bear? Surely he’d not be 41 years old and still pootling about these days.)

Anyhoo, I never did get sick like the boy in the story and Teeny and I have been firm friends ever since. He used to travel everywhere with me (to college & back, to Chicago, London, etc.) but now he’s retired from travel and stays on the pillow next to mine in bed.

The rest of the 31 days:

Day1 – Book you are reading right now
Day2 – The book you want to read next
Day3 – Your favourite Book
Day4 – Book you hate
Day5 – A Book you can read again and again
Day6 – A book you can only read once (no matter you love or hate it)
Day7 – Book that reminds you of someone
Day8 – Book that reminds you on a certain place
Day9 – The first book you ever read
Day10 – Book from your favourite author
Day11 – Book you once loved and now hate
Day12 – Book that a friend recommended
Day13 – Book that makes you laugh
Day15 – 4. book from the left on your shelf
Day16 – 9. book from the right on your shelf
Day17 – Close your eyes and get any book from your shelf
Day18 – Book with the most beautiful cover
Day19 – Book, that you ever wanted to read
Day20 – Book that you read at school
Day21 – most stupid book you read at school
Day22 – Book on your shelf with the most pages
Day23 – Book on your shelf with the least pages
Day24 – Book where nobody would expect you read/loved it
Day25 – A book where the main character is almost like you
Day26 – Book you would read to your children
Day27 – A book where the main character is your idol
Day28 – Thanks God this book was made into a movie
Day29 – Darn, why did they make this book into a movie?
Day30 – First erotic book you ever read
Day31 – Book series you are collecting

31 Days – 31 Books (days 12 & 13): Mother’s Day Edition

(Got back from playing cards after midnight last night, so missed a second day in my meme. Whoops!)

Happy Mother’s Day! I took mom (and dad) out to a Mother’s Day Brunch at the Crystal Room today. They had a few teething troubles at the brunch and we had a waitress with bad karma, but other than that, it was a lovely time with my mom (and dad). I think she was supposed to get a carnation, too, but that was one of the teething troubles they were having. No matter, I had brought some lilac flowers in a glass for her this morning. Thank you mom for borning us!

Day12 – Book that a friend recommended

The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo by Stieg Larsson. My sister was reading the Millennium Trilogy long before the rest of the country was reading it. She bought the first book for dad for Christmas, and it wasn’t long before the entire family was reading the series. As I mentioned in an earlier post in this meme, I read much of books 1 & 2 while on our cruise.

Day13 – Book that makes you laugh

Oh, there are many that do this. I have no reservations about laughing out loud while reading, even if I’m alone at a restaurant. But probably the book that has made me laugh out loud the most was Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore. I read a lot of it in bed, and remember slapping the bed often while howling in laughter. I suspect the kitties were traumatized by the laughter (but they must have gotten over it since they still sleep with me in bed).

The rest of the 31 days:

Day1 – Book you are reading right now
Day2 – The book you want to read next
Day3 – Your favourite Book
Day4 – Book you hate
Day5 – A Book you can read again and again
Day6 – A book you can only read once (no matter you love or hate it)
Day7 – Book that reminds you of someone
Day8 – Book that reminds you on a certain place
Day9 – The first book you ever read
Day10 – Book from your favourite author
Day11 – Book you once loved and now hate
Day14 – Book from your childhood
Day15 – 4. book from the left on your shelf
Day16 – 9. book from the right on your shelf
Day17 – Close your eyes and get any book from your shelf
Day18 – Book with the most beautiful cover
Day19 – Book, that you ever wanted to read
Day20 – Book that you read at school
Day21 – most stupid book you read at school
Day22 – Book on your shelf with the most pages
Day23 – Book on your shelf with the least pages
Day24 – Book where nobody would expect you read/loved it
Day25 – A book where the main character is almost like you
Day26 – Book you would read to your children
Day27 – A book where the main character is your idol
Day28 – Thanks God this book was made into a movie
Day29 – Darn, why did they make this book into a movie?
Day30 – First erotic book you ever read
Day31 – Book series you are collecting

31 Days – 31 Books (day 11)

Day11 – Book you once loved and now hate

Hate is too strong a word, but when I was much younger, I loved the Companions of Doctor Who book Turlough and the Earthlink Dilemma by Tony Attwood. And then as a young adult, I tried to reread it… OMG, why didn’t my younger self realize how badly written that book was?

The rest of the 31 days:

Day1 – Book you are reading right now
Day2 – The book you want to read next
Day3 – Your favourite Book
Day4 – Book you hate
Day5 – A Book you can read again and again
Day6 – A book you can only read once (no matter you love or hate it)
Day7 – Book that reminds you of someone
Day8 – Book that reminds you on a certain place
Day9 – The first book you ever read
Day10 – Book from your favourite author
Day12 – Book that a friend recommended
Day13 – Book that makes you laugh
Day14 – Book from your childhood
Day15 – 4. book from the left on your shelf
Day16 – 9. book from the right on your shelf
Day17 – Close your eyes and get any book from your shelf
Day18 – Book with the most beautiful cover
Day19 – Book, that you ever wanted to read
Day20 – Book that you read at school
Day21 – most stupid book you read at school
Day22 – Book on your shelf with the most pages
Day23 – Book on your shelf with the least pages
Day24 – Book where nobody would expect you read/loved it
Day25 – A book where the main character is almost like you
Day26 – Book you would read to your children
Day27 – A book where the main character is your idol
Day28 – Thanks God this book was made into a movie
Day29 – Darn, why did they make this book into a movie?
Day30 – First erotic book you ever read
Day31 – Book series you are collecting

31 Days – 31 Books (day 10)

Day10 – Book from your favourite author

You’ve probably guessed that Roald Dahl is my favorite author (I think I mentioned it outright earlier). So I’ll mention James and the Giant Peach as a book from my favorite author. It’s not my favorite (that one is also already mentioned), but it’s a wonderful story (like so many others of his). When my sister was having some… troubling times due to… a couple of women who sort of resembled Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker, I tried to help cheer her up by reading from James and the Giant Peach. It was a wonderfully cathartic thing for both of us. 🙂

The illustrations by Nancy Ekholm Burkert from the book are probably my favorite of all of Dahl’s books. Simply beautiful. I enjoy Quentin Blake and associate his art with Dahl, but the original artwork for James, Charlie 1 & 2, and Fantastic Mr. Fox are the Right and Proper illustrations for those books. Accept no substitute, even if it is Blake!

The rest of the 31 days:

Day1 – Book you are reading right now
Day2 – The book you want to read next
Day3 – Your favourite Book
Day4 – Book you hate
Day5 – A Book you can read again and again
Day6 – A book you can only read once (no matter you love or hate it)
Day7 – Book that reminds you of someone
Day8 – Book that reminds you on a certain place
Day9 – The first book you ever read
Day11 – Book you once loved and now hate
Day12 – Book that a friend recommended
Day13 – Book that makes you laugh
Day14 – Book from your childhood
Day15 – 4. book from the left on your shelf
Day16 – 9. book from the right on your shelf
Day17 – Close your eyes and get any book from your shelf
Day18 – Book with the most beautiful cover
Day19 – Book, that you ever wanted to read
Day20 – Book that you read at school
Day21 – most stupid book you read at school
Day22 – Book on your shelf with the most pages
Day23 – Book on your shelf with the least pages
Day24 – Book where nobody would expect you read/loved it
Day25 – A book where the main character is almost like you
Day26 – Book you would read to your children
Day27 – A book where the main character is your idol
Day28 – Thanks God this book was made into a movie
Day29 – Darn, why did they make this book into a movie?
Day30 – First erotic book you ever read
Day31 – Book series you are collecting

31 Days – 31 Books (day 9)

First off, “Woohoo!” and “You Go Guy!” to President Obama for supporting gay marriage!

Now, onto business:

Day9 – The first book you ever read

Picture book: Pickle Pickle Pickle Juice by Patty Wolcott (though there’s a good chance I was saying it from memory). “The pickles popped and Peter stopped.” “Peter popped?” “No, the pickles popped!”

Chapter book: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl (of course! The most important reason to learn how to read was to be able to read Roald Dahl books!)

The rest of the 31 days:

Day1 – Book you are reading right now
Day2 – The book you want to read next
Day3 – Your favourite Book
Day4 – Book you hate
Day5 – A Book you can read again and again
Day6 – A book you can only read once (no matter you love or hate it)
Day7 – Book that reminds you of someone
Day8 – Book that reminds you on a certain place
Day10 – Book from your favourite author
Day11 – Book you once loved and now hate
Day12 – Book that a friend recommended
Day13 – Book that makes you laugh
Day14 – Book from your childhood
Day15 – 4. book from the left on your shelf
Day16 – 9. book from the right on your shelf
Day17 – Close your eyes and get any book from your shelf
Day18 – Book with the most beautiful cover
Day19 – Book, that you ever wanted to read
Day20 – Book that you read at school
Day21 – most stupid book you read at school
Day22 – Book on your shelf with the most pages
Day23 – Book on your shelf with the least pages
Day24 – Book where nobody would expect you read/loved it
Day25 – A book where the main character is almost like you
Day26 – Book you would read to your children
Day27 – A book where the main character is your idol
Day28 – Thanks God this book was made into a movie
Day29 – Darn, why did they make this book into a movie?
Day30 – First erotic book you ever read
Day31 – Book series you are collecting

31 Days – 31 Books (day 8)

First, a Happy Birthday to my sister, who turns 37 today! She now has a year in which she can quote from Monty Python and the Holy Grail: “I’m 37, I’m not old!” Yay!

Now, onto the meme:

Day8 – Book that reminds you on a certain place

The first one that I think of is Dancing the Code, a Past Doctor Adventure by Virgin publishing. Just thinking of the book makes me think of B-WISER camp. And just thinking of B-WISER camp makes me remember that book. Heh.

Many other books make me think of my library – I often sit in my comfy chair reading books (with cat or cats on lap). Much of the Harry Potter series was read in this manner (though book 6 was also read at judiang‘s place). Christopher Moore’s Lamb makes me think of Chicago as well since I bought it (and several others) there when Narns Ignoble was doing a Buy 3 get 4 or some such deal. Loved the cover and the premise, so bought it knowing nothing else about it. Loved the book. Oh, and in a stark contrast, reading about the cold Swedish weather in the Millennium trilogy makes me remember the cruise that mom, Judi, elsaf and I went on since I started the trilogy while on that cruise. Yeah, places implant themselves in my books, and my books in places.

The rest of the 31 days:

Day1 – Book you are reading right now
Day2 – The book you want to read next
Day3 – Your favourite Book
Day4 – Book you hate
Day5 – A Book you can read again and again
Day6 – A book you can only read once (no matter you love or hate it)
Day7 – Book that reminds you of someone
Day9 – The first book you ever read
Day10 – Book from your favourite author
Day11 – Book you once loved and now hate
Day12 – Book that a friend recommended
Day13 – Book that makes you laugh
Day14 – Book from your childhood
Day15 – 4. book from the left on your shelf
Day16 – 9. book from the right on your shelf
Day17 – Close your eyes and get any book from your shelf
Day18 – Book with the most beautiful cover
Day19 – Book, that you ever wanted to read
Day20 – Book that you read at school
Day21 – most stupid book you read at school
Day22 – Book on your shelf with the most pages
Day23 – Book on your shelf with the least pages
Day24 – Book where nobody would expect you read/loved it
Day25 – A book where the main character is almost like you
Day26 – Book you would read to your children
Day27 – A book where the main character is your idol
Day28 – Thanks God this book was made into a movie
Day29 – Darn, why did they make this book into a movie?
Day30 – First erotic book you ever read
Day31 – Book series you are collecting

Almost missed sending this out today since we went out tonight to watch a double header (7 innings each) at the Dayton Dragons – only to experience the first game going to 16 innings before the Dragons lost. We opted to head home rather than watch game 2. Heh.

31 Days – 31 Books (day 7)

Day7 – Book that reminds you of someone

Usually books help me focus on place rather than person, but there are a few exceptions. Most of Roald Dahl’s classics make me think of dad since he (and mom) read to Amy and me when we’d be taking a bath. Though I also think of Mrs. Fisher, my 1st grade teacher, who read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to our class and then gave us Oompa Loompa candies. I think of mom when I read Ben Aaronovitch‘s novelization of Remembrance of the Daleks since I first read that when looking after her after she’d had surgery. Tomorrow’s answer will be a festival of places. Heh.

The rest of the 31 days:

Day1 – Book you are reading right now
Day2 – The book you want to read next
Day3 – Your favourite Book
Day4 – Book you hate
Day5 – A Book you can read again and again
Day6 – A book you can only read once (no matter you love or hate it)
Day8 – Book that reminds you on a certain place
Day9 – The first book you ever read
Day10 – Book from your favourite author
Day11 – Book you once loved and now hate
Day12 – Book that a friend recommended
Day13 – Book that makes you laugh
Day14 – Book from your childhood
Day15 – 4. book from the left on your shelf
Day16 – 9. book from the right on your shelf
Day17 – Close your eyes and get any book from your shelf
Day18 – Book with the most beautiful cover
Day19 – Book, that you ever wanted to read
Day20 – Book that you read at school
Day21 – most stupid book you read at school
Day22 – Book on your shelf with the most pages
Day23 – Book on your shelf with the least pages
Day24 – Book where nobody would expect you read/loved it
Day25 – A book where the main character is almost like you
Day26 – Book you would read to your children
Day27 – A book where the main character is your idol
Day28 – Thanks God this book was made into a movie
Day29 – Darn, why did they make this book into a movie?
Day30 – First erotic book you ever read
Day31 – Book series you are collecting

31 Days – 31 Books (Day 6)

Day6 – A book you can only read once (no matter you love or hate it)

Hmmm, hardest question so far in this meme. One of my favorite things to read is a book I’ve already read. Even the book that I said I hated was a book that I read twice before being sure of that decision. I guess I’ll have to put Dead Romance by Lawrence Miles here – I have no interest in rereading that book. Would love to have my time back from reading it, actually.

The rest of the 31 days:

Day1 – Book you are reading right now
Day2 – The book you want to read next
Day3 – Your favourite Book
Day4 – Book you hate
Day5 – A Book you can read again and again
Day7 – Book that reminds you of someone
Day8 – Book that reminds you on a certain place
Day9 – The first book you ever read
Day10 – Book from your favourite author
Day11 – Book you once loved and now hate
Day12 – Book that a friend recommended
Day13 – Book that makes you laugh
Day14 – Book from your childhood
Day15 – 4. book from the left on your shelf
Day16 – 9. book from the right on your shelf
Day17 – Close your eyes and get any book from your shelf
Day18 – Book with the most beautiful cover
Day19 – Book, that you ever wanted to read
Day20 – Book that you read at school
Day21 – most stupid book you read at school
Day22 – Book on your shelf with the most pages
Day23 – Book on your shelf with the least pages
Day24 – Book where nobody would expect you read/loved it
Day25 – A book where the main character is almost like you
Day26 – Book you would read to your children
Day27 – A book where the main character is your idol
Day28 – Thanks God this book was made into a movie
Day29 – Darn, why did they make this book into a movie?
Day30 – First erotic book you ever read
Day31 – Book series you are collecting

In other news, the parental units and I went to see The Avengers today. Fun flick! I’m sure you’ve heard this already, but be sure to stay for the credits.

31 Days – 31 Books (days 4 & 5)

Alas, I slipped up and forgot to post yesterday. I actually did think of it after work, but didn’t have the time. And then forgot after my evening of fun & frolic. (Went to see the Newton HS band & choir perform at state contest with mum. Both were excellent. Oh, and in between performances, we picked up dad and let him buy us Japanese food for supper.)

Day4 – Book you hate

When I first thought of an answer for this, I thought “I don’t read books that I hate!” And then I remembered Eternity Weeps by Lawrence Miles from The New Adventures of Doctor Who series. Oh yeah, I hated that book. I even gave it a second chance. Didn’t work for me the second time, either. And when I later read Miles’ Bernice Summerfield novel, Dead Romance, I realized that Miles wasn’t writing for me. (I think I disliked that book even more than EW (ewwww!).) So I’ve avoided all of his other books.

Day5 – A Book you can read again and again

There are several of these, but the first that pops into my mind is Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Such a joy to read.

The rest of the 31 days:

Day1 – Book you are reading right now
Day2 – The book you want to read next
Day3 – Your favourite Book
Day6 – A book you can only read once (no matter you love or hate it)
Day7 – Book that reminds you of someone
Day8 – Book that reminds you on a certain place
Day9 – The first book you ever read
Day10 – Book from your favourite author
Day11 – Book you once loved and now hate
Day12 – Book that a friend recommended
Day13 – Book that makes you laugh
Day14 – Book from your childhood
Day15 – 4. book from the left on your shelf
Day16 – 9. book from the right on your shelf
Day17 – Close your eyes and get any book from your shelf
Day18 – Book with the most beautiful cover
Day19 – Book, that you ever wanted to read
Day20 – Book that you read at school
Day21 – most stupid book you read at school
Day22 – Book on your shelf with the most pages
Day23 – Book on your shelf with the least pages
Day24 – Book where nobody would expect you read/loved it
Day25 – A book where the main character is almost like you
Day26 – Book you would read to your children
Day27 – A book where the main character is your idol
Day28 – Thanks God this book was made into a movie
Day29 – Darn, why did they make this book into a movie?
Day30 – First erotic book you ever read
Day31 – Book series you are collecting