I swiped this meme from Melanie's Musings. It's right up my alley.
Hardback, trade paperback or mass market paperback? I prefer hardback, but they usually aren't in my budget so I end up paperback.
Barnes & Noble or Borders? Until 6 months ago we had a Bookstop, which was owned by Barnes and Noble, within minutes of our house, but it closed. So now I go to Bookpeople, a locally owned store, or Half-Price Books.
Bookmark or dog-ear? Dog-ear. I always lose bookmarks.
Amazon or brick-and-mortar? When I have specific books in mind, I go with Amazon. But if I'm in the mood to wander and find something new, I'll go to an actual store.
Alphabetize by author, or alphabetize by title, or random? I have a system, although my husband would argue that point. I group books by author, and then certain authors belong together. Like no way David Sedaris and Edith Wharton belong together, but David and Sarah Vowell completely do.
Keep, throw away, or sell? I keep them unless I really hate the book, then I give it to my kids' school for the annual used-book sale.
Keep dust jacket or toss it? Keep. I take them off while I read, but then they get put back on.
Short story or novel? Novels
Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket? Harry Potter. I tried Lemony Snicket and couldn't get through the first book.
Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks? I read until I can't keep my eyes open.
“It was a dark and stormy night” or “Once upon a time”? Either
Buy or borrow? Both. I like owning my books, but I've also discovered some great books through borrowing from friends.
Buying choice: book reviews, recommendations, or browse? All of the above.
Tidy ending or cliffhanger? Tidy
Morning reading, afternoon reading, or nighttime reading? I have four kids, so the only time I get to read is after they're in bed.
Stand-alone or series? Depends on the series.
Favorite series? Anne of Green Gables, Little House on the Prairie, Harry Potter, Horatio Hornblower
Favorite children’s book? Where the Wild Things Are
Favorite YA book? Anne of Green Gables, Phantom Tollbooth
Favorite book of which nobody else has heard? I have no idea
Favorite books read last year? I read too many to pick.
Favorite books of all time? They have changed through the years, but I think Age of Innocence would have to rank way up there.
What are you reading right now? Otherwise Normal People - it's about competitive rose exhibiting.
What are you reading next? I'm hoping to get my hands on Lost Paradise, about the recent sex-abuse trials on Pitcairn Island.
Favorite book to recommend to an 11-year-old? Phantom Tollbooth
Favorite book to re-read? I read Age of Innocence and A Room with a View at least once a year.
Do you ever smell books? Yes. I think I could probably identify some of my favorite books by their smell.
Do you ever read primary source documents like letters or diaries? Yes. I love reading histories and biographies, the best of which include primary sources.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
My life in France
I should admit, right off the bat, that I am not a food person. Anthony Bourdain would HATE me. So much of Julia Child's memoir of her life in Paris and the beginning of her cooking career was lost on me. Her descriptions of the fabulous meals she ate and cooked meant nothing, because I cannot imagine a circumstance in which I would ever agree to eat a snail. Or pate. Or or or. The list is endless.
Despite my food issues, I found this book completely charming. Child's enthusiasm for life and cooking and her husband shine through on every page. Even though the cooking didn't interest me, I was swept along in her story and her life.
The parts of the book about actually getting her cookbooks written and published were amazing. She and her partner worked for close to 20 years on the two books, coming up with recipes, converting them for American audiences, testing and retesting everything. The amount of work that went into the books was astronomical.
She also discusses her start in television, and she seemed to just fall into it. She filmed a few shows for her local PBS station, and everything grew from there.
I haven't seen the movie Julie and Julia yet, and I'll probably wait until it comes out on Netflix, but I can't wait to see Meryl Streep channel this amazing woman.
Despite my food issues, I found this book completely charming. Child's enthusiasm for life and cooking and her husband shine through on every page. Even though the cooking didn't interest me, I was swept along in her story and her life.
The parts of the book about actually getting her cookbooks written and published were amazing. She and her partner worked for close to 20 years on the two books, coming up with recipes, converting them for American audiences, testing and retesting everything. The amount of work that went into the books was astronomical.
She also discusses her start in television, and she seemed to just fall into it. She filmed a few shows for her local PBS station, and everything grew from there.
I haven't seen the movie Julie and Julia yet, and I'll probably wait until it comes out on Netflix, but I can't wait to see Meryl Streep channel this amazing woman.
Bridge of Sighs
I had forgotten how much I love Richard Russo's writing. I picked up this book while I was at my parents' house in July, and I couldn't put it down, so I "borrowed" it. (Hi mom!)
Russo has a knack for creating these complete little worlds populated with real people - so real that I could probably draw a map of his towns.
His characters aren't particularly happy or successful people, but I end up truly liking them and wanting to find out what happens next. As with Empire Falls, I didn't want this book to end because I wanted to stay with the people and see what happened next.
Mom just read his newest book and said it wasn't as good. I guess I'll wait for it to come through at the library, or just steal it the next time I'm at her house.
Russo has a knack for creating these complete little worlds populated with real people - so real that I could probably draw a map of his towns.
His characters aren't particularly happy or successful people, but I end up truly liking them and wanting to find out what happens next. As with Empire Falls, I didn't want this book to end because I wanted to stay with the people and see what happened next.
Mom just read his newest book and said it wasn't as good. I guess I'll wait for it to come through at the library, or just steal it the next time I'm at her house.
Street Gang
I heard an interview with the author on NPR, and the book sounded fascinating. I've always been a huge fan of "Sesame Street," so a book about the history of the show seemed right up my alley.
Unfortunately, it was a huge disappointment. The book covers so much ground leading up to the formation of Sesame Street - bios of the people involved, a history of children's television, a long section on Captain Kangaroo - that by the time we get around to the actual show, it feels almost like an afterthought. Thirty years of Sesame Street go by in a flash.
But the section about the actual show did confirm what I have long suspected - that the show is now driven by market research and polling. I watch it with my kids, and the new shows seem to have lost much of their anarchic whimsy that I loved as a kid. Plus, Elmo has completely taken over the place.
Unfortunately, it was a huge disappointment. The book covers so much ground leading up to the formation of Sesame Street - bios of the people involved, a history of children's television, a long section on Captain Kangaroo - that by the time we get around to the actual show, it feels almost like an afterthought. Thirty years of Sesame Street go by in a flash.
But the section about the actual show did confirm what I have long suspected - that the show is now driven by market research and polling. I watch it with my kids, and the new shows seem to have lost much of their anarchic whimsy that I loved as a kid. Plus, Elmo has completely taken over the place.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict
I grabbed this while I was at my parents' house. It's about a modern-day woman who lives in Los Angeles waking up one morning to find herself in Regency England living a life straight out of a Jane Austen book. At first, she thinks it's a dream because she fell asleep the night before while reading Sense and Sensibility, but as the days go on and she doesn't wake up from the dream and starts having memories that belong to this other woman, she starts to question more and more what is going on. And the book never really makes it clear what has happened - whether it's a dream or she has magically switched lives or what, and that's fine.
The interesting part of the book, which is at best a fluffy airplane read, was the culture clash of putting a 21st Century woman into Regency England and having her cope with chamber pots and limited bathing and need chaperones to go on walks and sleeping in disgusting road-side inns. Oh and having to be bled to "cure" her of her perceived illnesses.
Through all of this is a love story, that's supposed to be along the lines of Darcy and Eliza, but it isn't. It's formulaic, but it's still fun.
The interesting part of the book, which is at best a fluffy airplane read, was the culture clash of putting a 21st Century woman into Regency England and having her cope with chamber pots and limited bathing and need chaperones to go on walks and sleeping in disgusting road-side inns. Oh and having to be bled to "cure" her of her perceived illnesses.
Through all of this is a love story, that's supposed to be along the lines of Darcy and Eliza, but it isn't. It's formulaic, but it's still fun.
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
I'd heard a lot of chatter about the book, and my sister had read it, so when I saw it at the bookstore, I couldn't help but grab it.
And it was just OK. I wasn't expecting great literature, but somehow I thought it would have a little more to it. Once you get past the gimmick of mixing zombies into the world of Jane Austen, the book doesn't really work that well. The author uses a lot of the original text, but then he changes bit and pieces here and there for no real reason other than he can. It's like watching a movie of your favorite book and having the actors say the wrong lines - it's jarring.
Plus, the author assumes that everyone reading already knows how P&P ends, so he puts in little hints about Eliza and Darcy and has them say things that are completely out of character, zombie killers or otherwise.
It's a good airplane book, but that's about it.
And it was just OK. I wasn't expecting great literature, but somehow I thought it would have a little more to it. Once you get past the gimmick of mixing zombies into the world of Jane Austen, the book doesn't really work that well. The author uses a lot of the original text, but then he changes bit and pieces here and there for no real reason other than he can. It's like watching a movie of your favorite book and having the actors say the wrong lines - it's jarring.
Plus, the author assumes that everyone reading already knows how P&P ends, so he puts in little hints about Eliza and Darcy and has them say things that are completely out of character, zombie killers or otherwise.
It's a good airplane book, but that's about it.
From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
I saw this book on display while at the bookstore with a friend a few weeks ago, and I snatched it up. I LOVED this book when I was about Ella's age, and I bought it hoping she would, too. But before I handed it over to her, I re-read it.
I still love the book, although the mystery of the statue plays a much smaller role in the story than I had remembered.
When I was nine, the idea of running away from home and living in a museum really appealed to me, and it still does. I'd love to spend a night or six living someplace so grand and filled with treasures, whether it's a museum or Hearst Castle.
I've given the book to Ella, but she hasn't started it yet. My sister bought her Holes, and she's been busy reading that. Perhaps I'll start reading this book to Lily in the meantime.
I still love the book, although the mystery of the statue plays a much smaller role in the story than I had remembered.
When I was nine, the idea of running away from home and living in a museum really appealed to me, and it still does. I'd love to spend a night or six living someplace so grand and filled with treasures, whether it's a museum or Hearst Castle.
I've given the book to Ella, but she hasn't started it yet. My sister bought her Holes, and she's been busy reading that. Perhaps I'll start reading this book to Lily in the meantime.
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