Shopping | Turn the Page Reviews

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 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.