Bookish ( & Not So Bookish) Thoughts

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Posted on April 24, 2014

Bookish & Not So Bookish Thoughts

is a weekly meme hosted by Christine over at Bookishly Boisterous, where we post things that are on our minds. Head over there and check it out!

1. It was finally nice the other day, so I grabbed the book I was just starting (Blood & Beauty by Sarah Dunant) and sat outside. A few hours later I came in half way done with the book and nicely sunburned. Ouch. Now it’s cold again and I am hot.

2. I managed to finish 2 books so far this week-including the afore mentioned Blood & Beauty, which was about the Borgias. Now I want to get to the bottom of this question- were they as awful as I have always heard in history classes, or, as in the book, were they just as awful (if not slightly more so) than everyone else around during that time?

3. Can anyone recommend a place where I can get some really awesome bookmarks? I used to have so many, but those evil fairies who always come in the house and throw things out must have targeted them.

4. I read this article on Book Riot about whether you have ever read a book that haunted you, one that really stayed with you, and I got to wondering which books really stayed with me. This was a tough question for me. I think The Stand will stay with me for awhile. What about you- what book haunts you?

5. My local library is having their semi annual book sale this Saturday and I am SO excited!!!

6. I finally ran more than 5 miles this week, and of course the next day my achilles was aching. Thank god darling hubby put KT tape in my xmas stocking this year.

7. I finished the She Reads April Book Club Selection- The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and I loved it. Unfortunately, I kept having to pick it up and put it down, and it was really bothering me that I just didn’t have a chance to read for any good block of time.

8. I posted a review of a wonderful book this week that was sent to me by the author, fellow blogger Andra Watkins. She is an amazing person and a wonderful writer and you should really look for her book To Live Forever: An Afterlife Journey of Meriwether Lewis.

9. This is the first weekend since November that we don’t have something to do-yeah!! I see a lot of reading-and some playoff hockey- in my future. Let’s Go Rangers!

10. I am tired of the appearance of my blog and want to spruce it up. I am thinking of taking the plunge and actually paying $ for a new Theme. Any suggestions?

Bookish (& Not So Bookish) Thoughts

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Posted on April 10, 2014

Bookish & Not So Bookish Thoughts

is a weekly meme hosted by Christine over at Bookishly Boisterous, where we post things that are on our minds. Head over there and check it out!

1. Spring is here! I began running outside again (not pretty to see) and I made up a new playlist, which is pretty awesome. It includes the oldie “Bat out of Hell” by Meatloaf. As I was listening to it this morning, all I could think of was Stu Redman, from The Stand. That would be the perfect song to play, as he is leaving Boulder and Frannie on his way out west. And yes- I have too much time on my hands.

2. She Reads announced that its April Book Club selection is The Storied Life of A.J Fikry, which excited me very much. I requested it a while ago at my library, but had no luck so far, so I downloaded it from Amazon onto my iPad. Within 5 hours, I got an email from the library that it was in. Life’s a bitch.

3. BookRiot ran a great article On The Perils of Feeling Dumb While Reading. This has definitely happened to me- more than once.

4. I grabbed the first Harry Potter while I waited for above mentioned book from library. It was- so nice. I missed the whole HP world so much, it was very difficult to not immediately pick up the next (then the next) book.

5. I am SO excited to go see Cabaret at Studio 54- with Alan Cumming and Michelle Williams this SUnday afternoon. He is one of my FAV actors and I am sure he will be an amazing MC!

Here is a link to him singing Wilkommen.

I tried to put the little you tube screen, like I have seen so many savvy bloggers do- then I realized I don’t know how to do that.

6. I have been watching Glee since it started (even though this year was pretty meh). My daughter (14) was home sick, and asked if we could watch a few episodes from the beginning. Wow- this show was pretty amazing in the beginning. If you have a chance, watch some of the early episodes-though it is so sad to see Finn.

7. The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon is not good for my health. I am over 40-I can’t stay up so late. But he is SO DAMN FUNNY.

8. I finished The Green Mile last week and I loved it. I am hoping to get the review posted within the week, but until then, know this- you should read it.

9. This sucks.

10. What’s going on with you?? Please leave a comment- I love hearing from you!

Bookish (& Not So Bookish) Thoughts

9 Comments

Posted on December 19, 2013

Bookish & Not So Bookish Thought

is a weekly meme hosted by Christine over at Bookishly Boisterous, where we post things that are on our minds.

1. I did a good amount of shopping at Target over this past month, so when I woke up and saw the news, I was all-WTF!!! Nice way to start the holidays.

2. Over the last week and a half, we have had 4 winter storms. 4! There have been snow days and delayed openings galore. My son’s school actually called a “at home school day”, where from 10-3, the teacher posted work online and the kids did it and submitted it. That wasn’t so bad.

But seriously, the wrapping needed to be done. Remember I told you I am the sole holiday worker in this household?

3. I have been in such an awesome groove reading wise lately! I actually read a book (Reconstructing Amelia) in less than 11 hours yesterday. I simply could not put it down, ignoring all others until I finished. (Please, at 13 and 15, they were thrilled). I can’t wait to review it, but I need to give myself a few days. It made such an impression, that I kept having dreams about it last night!

4. Last week, I was dreading getting back out on the slopes- well, I did it!

This is what I looked like- yeah right.

No broken bones or anything though, but now hubby is trying to convince me I can move onto the next level slopes. I don’t think so.

5. I hate it when you think you are totally done with the shopping for gifts, only to realize after you have wrapped, that you forgot something. Guess I am hitting Marshall’s tomorrow.

6. Getting very excited for the holidays! We have a pretty cool tradition. We stay home on Christmas Eve, decorate our tree, and have a fancy dinner. This year my daughter insisted on lamb chops. Then we exchange one gift, usually a jokey gift, then watch Scrooged in front of the fire. Do you have any fun holiday traditions?

Please leave a comment- I love hearing from you!

Bookish & Not So Bookish Thoughts…

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Posted on December 12, 2013

Bookish & Not So Bookish Thought

is a weekly men hosted by Christine over at Bookishly Boisterous, where we post things that are on our minds.

I am crazy busy, so I am not sure how many actual thoughts I will be able to string together.

1. With less than 2 weeks till Christmas, I am getting run down. Somehow, I am responsible for buying ALL the gifts- my extended family, his extended family, our children. Poor hubby? He has to wrack his brain to buy for me. Nevermind all the wrapping, baking and cooking. Now add to that a snow day this Tuesday, and going away this weekend and next for some skiing, and I am thinking that I am screwed. If I don’t watch out I am going to be grumpy mess for the holidays.

2. I gave in and borrowed a copy of The Bone Season from my library. I had heard many good things, but wasn’t sure if I wanted to start a new series-this is supposed to be the first of 7. Well, I read it. And loved it. Now I have to wait for the darn author to write the next 6! Hurry up already, I want to know what happens!!!

3. As I mentioned above, it snowed and there was no school for the kids. I actually sat in my chair with a lovely wool blanket as the snow started falling aground 7 am, and read as the snow fell. It was probably the best 2 hours of my week.

4. I started skiing last year, at the age of 40+. I survived. I’m supposed to go back and do it again this weekend. I know I probably won’t die, but the thought has entered my head. Often. I am afraid of breaking something or worse. This is why you should teach these sorts of things while people are really young. I have to start thinking positive. I will not fall. I will not fall. By the way, I tend to stick to the greens- the easiest slopes-with all the little kids and beginners.

5. My blogging and reviewing has slowed down a bit, but at the same time, I am read a lot and loving it. Plus, I have taken a step back from accepting ARCS for a while and I am only reading books that I am choosing. It’s all going pretty nicely. I am hoping to get back into more blogging after the holidays, but for now I am just going with the flow.

6. I am so looking forward to joining Leah at Books Speak Volumes in a few weeks for Jazz Age January! She has invited bloggers to join along in “reading books related to the Jazz Age- novels, written by Jazz Age authors, non fiction about the 20’s and contemporary fiction set during this time period.” I wrote my thesis in History in this time period, and have always loved the literature that came out of it. Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Stein, and then all the books that have been written about them and the decade.

Stop by if you are interested and sign up!

7. Last January, I signed up for the Goodreads 2013 challenge, and I set out to read 100 books in the year. I am at 94, and I think I am going to make it (fingers crossed).

8. This is all I want for Christmas- Jane Austen’s Persuasion Scarf. Or Pride & Prejudice. I’ll take either. But I will probably get pajamas.

And maybe a sweater.

Bookish ( & Not So Bookish) Thoughts

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Posted on December 5, 2013

Bookish & Not So Bookish Thought

is a weekly men hosted by Christine over at Bookishly Boisterous, where we post things that are on our minds.

1. Hello! I feel like I have been away from blogging for a while now. We hosted Thanksgiving here and all went well (it’s over!) This is probably the 10th time we have hosted in the past 12 years, and I think I need next year off. Everything went fine, but it is a lot of work. Plus, the 3 year old nephew made it necessary to replace 4- count em,4- tablecloths. Why did it seem like a good idea to a. give the kid glass after glass of cider? and b. to encourage the game of “throw the stuffed animals at people”? Moving forward, I think I would like to be skiing next year-Lake Placid, maybe?

2. I just finished The Dinner by Herman Koch. Have any of you read this? What did you think? I am going to write a review, but I gotta say, I felt awful after I read it. Like I needed to shower. I am actually sorry that I read it, which is very unlike me.

3. This is me every night.

Actually, it used to be. Now that I have a nice little reading chair, the dog comes up and puts his head on my leg. And stares.

4. Do you have little kids? I miss having little ones around this time of year SO much! The wonder and excitement was so much fun! I taped A Charlie Brown Christmas, and we still haven’t watched it because the kids have too much HW at night. My daughter is very excited for Christmas, helping with the lights, etc. But I miss the days when she would scream her head off if she came anywhere near Santa. Yup, she was THAT kid.

5. I know this isn’t really in keeping with the spirit of the season, but it’s true.

6. I am writing this when I should be starting baking my eggnog cookies. I am going to a “Cookie Exchange”. Ever heard of it? You all bring cookies, then you get to go home with a little of each kind. I have only two problems with this.

1. I have to bake 6 DOZEN freaking cookies.

2. What if other people’s cookies suck?

There had better be wine.

7. I am so looking forward to it getting cold and snowy soon. When it is cold and snowy I can sit whit a blanket and read and not feel like I should be doing other things.

All right, fine, I have to go and bake damn it!

Leave a comment- I love to hear from you!

Bookish (& Not So Bookish) Thoughts

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Posted on November 21, 2013

Bookish & Not So Bookish Thought

is a weekly men hosted by Christine over at Bookishly Boisterous, where we post things that are on our minds.

1. I am currently reading The End of The Affair by Graham Greene. I am actually rereading The Hunger Games series to get ready for tomorrow’s premiere, but I did start the other. Very excited about the movie- my daughter and I plan to watch the fist one tonight.

2. It is official. I have inherited the infamous “bad back” that runs in my mother’s Napolitano genes. My uncles, one aunt, and lots of cousins all have the same back issues. The lower left back has been “out” for almost a week. I am sure if I actually went to a doctor, they would tell me it is a slipped disc. I am old.

3. I just finished We Need to Talk About Kevin, and all I can say is WOW. It really was a wonderful kind of awful.

4. Every morning, my son leaves the shower curtain open, and every morning my dog goes in there and licks the soap. Not a big deal, but then he spends an hour or so making weird noises trying to lick the flavor off his tongue. Everyday.

5. I have finally given iTunes radio a try, and I am not too sure I like it yet. Does anyone use it? What are your thoughts?

6. My son is going on a class trip to Philadelphia. They are going to visit Gettysburg and the Eastern State Penitentiary- the oldest jail in the country. Think I can slip the teacher some $ to close one of those cells for a minute or two? Just kidding.

7. I have had three books sitting here, that I finished, waiting for me to write reviews. Why am I so lazy lately?

8. Can I do ALL of my Christmas shopping at Target? I think I can.

9. Thanksgiving is just a week away. We always host my husband’s family, except one year we all went to the Bahamas to celebrate the in-laws anniversary. We ate in a Chinese restaurant on Thanksgiving. Best Thanksgiving ever.

Bookish (& Not So Bookish) Thoughts

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Posted on November 14, 2013

Bookish & Not So Bookish Thought

is a weekly men hosted by Christine over at Bookishly Boisterous, where we post things that are on our minds.

1. I can’t read – or do anything for that matter – if it is quiet. I have music playing almost all the time, except later at night if someone puts on the TV. I usually have on some sort of singer-songwriter station, or my old stand by of DMB. Nothing too loud or annoying. I am actually loving a little playlist of DMB, James Taylor, Springsteen, and Mumford & Sons.

Dot To Dot Fesival Various venues, Bristol 23 May 2009 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

2. My husband is away- just for one night, but I still can’t sleep well without him here. So now I am tired, have a headache, and he is in FLA. Not fair.

3. I read this great post over at Parajunkee about a perceived slow down in the blogging community. The comments were really interesting. What do you think? I definitely have seen less reviews/more promotional posts out there.

4. It has been a busy week for me. We finally painted the dining room- a great color called “wine glass”- and it is all ready for company. So is it terrible that I love the way it looks so much that I don’t want anyone to go in there? Ever. I yell at the dogs when they go in there.

5. We are settling into the cold weather here- had snow the other day, and I even ran yesterday when the wind chill was 15 degrees. I think I was way more proud of myself for that than I should have been. Shorter Days + colder weather = more hot tea. I think I rather this equation- long days + warm weather = sangria. I love to curl up with a good book and a cup of tea, but I really love the bask in the sun, read a book, and sip a fruity cocktail.

6. I have an addictive personality. I finally gave in and read a King novel (The Shining)- loved it so much that I read the sequel (Doctor Sleep)- then was about to grab another King book. I made myself read something else- and of course I was totally disappointed. Thankfully, the book I just stared is pretty good- and fast reading. Do you get really into one author and just plow through their work?

7. On a similar topic- I hate it when I see a book that I think looks really good, only to find out it’s like the 5th in a series. I have picked up lots of books like this at the library, and of course they never have the first books in the series. I have an awful feeling that I am missing out on some great books.

8. I have two dogs- a chocolate and a yellow labrador. If you know the breed, you know they always want to eat. Always. A vet once told me that a lab would never voluntary stop eating- they are the breed most likely to eat until their stomach bursts. I can attest to this. My yellow eats everything- rocks included, but not fruit or veggies. The chocolate will eat everything- EVERYTHING- except for celery. They eat in the morning and again in the evening. I aim for 5 pm, but Jack (the chocolate) has begun begging incessantly until I feed him. His begging is starting earlier and earlier every day. He is bad. I am a bad owner.

9. I just got a notice from the library that 2 books that I requested have come in!! I put holds on We Need to Talk About Kevin and The End of The Affair– light reading? Anyway, I think I should feel more guilty than I do about not reading the ARCs I have lined up. Shouldn’t I?

Wow- I actually made it to 9!

Bookish ( & Not So Bookish) Thoughts

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Posted on November 7, 2013

Bookish & Not So Bookish Thought is a weekly men hosted by Christine over at Bookishly Boisterous, where we post things that are on our minds.

1. After having “house guests” who stayed for almost 2 1/2 years, we finally have the spare bedroom empty. Almost immediately, I had hubby move a nice big desk and my computer-which had been jammed into the living room- into the empty room, and take a big cozy chair and ottoman from the basement and put it into the living room. Now I have an AMAZINGLY wonderful reading spot, and an awesome office. More importunely, there is no guest room.

2. I just read an article on Book Riot about DNF’ing. I have been realizing that ever since I started reviewing books on this blog- especially since I have been getting books from all over the place- this has become an issue for me. And one I ma not proud of. I used to pick my books very carefully, and I usually didn’t stop reading any of them. It really bothers me when I read a review of a book I DNFed, and the reviewer really liked it. I have an awful feeling that I just didn’t stick with it long enough. On the other hand, there are SO many books out there-why stick with one that isn’t working for you?

3. My son got hit first term grades. He got a B- in Mandarin 3. I gave him a talking to, the whole time thinking- damn, I bet that s#@t is hard!! Sometimes not saying what you are really thinking is hard. Take for example this evening. My lovely 13 yr old doesn’t have school tomorrow, so her and her friends are making plans to hang out at one of their homes. At night. Doesn’t she realize that means I can’t have wine until she gets home??? Can’t she drive yet????

4. I finished The Shining (WOO HOO) and I loved it so much that when I saw Doctor Sleep in the no reserve shelf at the library the next day I grabbed it. I am 3/4 of the way done and I am loving it- but I have to admit I am not as scared as I was with the first! I think I need to take a break from King for a book or two though- I wont walk into a room with out the dog with me. And as you can see, he’s not much of a guard dog. (should have named him Doctor Sleep) Any suggestions though for my next King?

5. I want to start my holiday shopping soon- honestly I just wish I was done with it already. Another little fun fact they dont tell you before you walk down the aisle- you will now have to shop for at least twice as many people. And he will not help- even when he says he will. Do I hear a bah, humbug?

6. I have never taken part in World Book Night, and I was considering doing it this year. There are some good looking books- The Weird Sisters (great book), Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Where’d You Go, Bernadette?– and some great YA- Code Name Verity, The Bridge to Terebithia, and The Perks of Being a WallflowerThe Perks of Being a Wallflower. Some of them are in large print, and I know of lots of women whose eyes are starting to go. But the YA’s make me slightly uneasy- hanging around at some sports practices, trying to give things away to pre-teens. People in my town would probably call the cops on me.

7. It is a very warm and rainy day here. Perfect to curl up in my new reading spot and relax all day. On the other hand, I haven’t cleaned the house in over a week- a house with 2 labradors and 2 teens-gross. Clean it is.

8. I looked at the 10 day forecast for NJ- we will actually have snow next week. What the f*#k is wrong with the weather lately??? Did I mention it is 65 degrees today?

9. I might have to get my own Kindle after all(shudder). I had been borrowing my daughter’s, but when Allegiant came out, she made a big stink about how I had “taken hers over with ALL my books”. (did I get the tone across?) So, I said of course it is yours, I have plenty of books to read- I downloaded Allegiant and off she went. A WEEK AGO. What takes that long?? Read the damn book already. Now she is making noise about “giving” her kindle to me-and getting a better one for Christmas. My goodness.