Booking Through Thursday: Windfall

Yesterday, April 15th, was Tax Day here in the U.S., which means lots of lucky people will get refunds of over-paid taxes.

Whether you’re one of them or not, what would you spend an unexpected windfall on? Say … $50? How about $500?

(And, this is a reading meme, so by rights the answer should be book-related, but hey, feel free to go wild and splurge on anything you like.)

Unfortunately, my "windfall" is going to have to go to my car: insurance, renewed registration and licence, check-up...

But, if I had a true windfall I would spend it on, finally, opening my Etsy shop! Supplies for making bookmarks, blank books, bookplates, boxes decorated with books that have fallen apart. Recycled materials used for everything! But even "one man's trash" can cost...

Man, I just need to get myself organized and do this! If I didn't need to go to sleep so I can be at work in 6 hours, I would start right now!

Hope I don't loose the mojo by the time I get home...

Booking Through Thursday: The Best Book You've Never Read

What’s the best book that YOU haven’t read yet?

Oddly...only one book even comes to mind (and I've been thinking about this since last night)...

Bleak House by Charles Dickens

I've heard it's one of the first courtroom type mysteries and has a lot of twists and turns.

Has anyone read it? I'd love to read your opinions.

Booking Through Thursday: Storage

“How do you arrange your books on your shelves? Is it by author, by genre, or you just put it where it falls on?”

From where I'm sitting I can see 6 bookcases:

The first is under the TV. It's just a single, 4' long shelf, 18" high. It contains oversized, coffetable type books. I like to use these photos for artwork reference.

Moving to the right is the 3 shelf unit at the front door. The top shelf is basically empty. It has sides and a back where I drop off my keys and whatnots when I come home. The bottom 2 shelves are just slightly shorter than the first bookcase, so it also holds oversized books of a general catagory.

Then there's the 4 shelf unit that I can see sitting in the hallway. That's full of your basic sized hardcover nonfiction books. Mostly pertaining to budgeting (which I don't do), gardening (which I don't do) and cooking (which, surprise, I don't do).

Past that doorway and back into this room is the 7 shelf unit behind the couch. The top shelf is shorter and full of mass market books. The next five shelves are the perfect height for basic hardcover and trade paperbacks. These are all "readables". Novels, biographies, medical narratives...The bottom shelf is tall and holds more oversized books, again, mostly art reference.

Behind me is a built-in desk unit with 12" wide shelving on each side. These contain the same types of books that are in the hallway, but in paperback.

Now we head up to the ceiling! I have shelving above all the doors and windows which hold mass market books that I got about 25-30 years ago when I worked at B. Dalton. Back then we were allowed to take stripped books home. So I would take a copy of just about anything we were stripping, thinking one day I would retire and have a chance to read them. Don't know if that's ever going to happen now but I still have the books!

Aren't you glad you asked?

Booking Through Thursday: Authors Talking

Do you read any author’s blogs? If so, are you looking for information on their next project? On the author personally? Something else?

I read a couple of blogs that are written by authors that I just happened upon.

But for the most part, no.

I only look for author blogs when I'm doing a review so I can add a link. But, more often than not, I can really only find a website. It's rare that I find an actual blog.

If you're interested in a fun author website, though, check out jasperfforde.com. It's a lot of fun!

Booking Through Thursday: Too Much Information?

Have you ever been put off an author’s books after reading a biography of them? Or the reverse - a biography has made you love an author more?

Well, my first thought was "no". The end.

Then I thought some more...

Please indulge me while I seem to go off topic.

I never had a hard and fast opinion of Marilyn Monroe. Until 25 years (or so) ago when I read Marilyn Monroe: Confidential by Lena Pepitone, just because I've always liked biographies. Since then, while not a fanatical fan, I do consider myself a fan of Marilyn Monroe.

A couple of weeks ago I was lurking through blogs and ran across one that was OK, but, again, I had no hard opinion. Then I noticed she had a political statement button on the sidebar. I laughed, thinking this blogger was being funny. Then I noticed she had a political blog. I zoomed over, only to find she was serious! I've never been back.

As for authors, I think, for me, it works about the same way.

If I see (or read) an interview with an author of a book I haven't read, and I'm not impressed, I won't read their book no matter how interested I may have been before. On the other hand, if I am impressed by them, I'll pick up one of their books even if I had never thought to before. Harlan Coben (I found him amusing) falls in this category, as do Patricia Cornwell (I liked the way she argued points logically) and Walter Mosley (he just seemed like someone who could be a personal friend).

At the same time...I enjoyed Funny Boys by Warren Adler. After I wrote my review, in looking for an author link I came across his blog. Politically and socially, I agree with him almost 1% (yes, that's almost not at all), but I still like his writing style and story. And, frankly, as with Cornwell, I like the way he argues his points even if I reach a completely different conclusion.

So, I guess I'm saying, it depends on when I find "biographical" information.

Also, I have been less than happy with books written by authors that I like on a more personal level based on, sadly, not caring for the book.

Booking Through Thursday: Inspiration

Since “Inspiration” is (or should) the theme this week … what is your reading inspired by?

First of all, let me just say, you're making me think way too hard...

Well, I guess there are about a gazillion "inspirations".

My mood is probably the first and last. Sometimes I'm in the mood for something light, sometimes serious, sometimes mystery, sometimes history...well, you see where I'm going here. I'm a very complicated person.

So, my mood sends me to the bookstore (completely ignoring the hundreds of un-read books at home) and decides whether I'm heading to fiction or non-fiction.

This is when my "inspiration" moves to my eyeballs.

I love bookcovers. If the cover art and/or design isn't interesting to me, I'm not likely to pick up the book. That's not engraved in stone, it's just most likely. Now, having said that, there are certain words in a title that will get my attention... "freak", "anomalies", "medical", "chimp", "dwarf (or midget)", "giant"...You see where I'm going...

The thing is, I like reading about things that I could never possibly understand without reading about them (or living many lives allowing me to meet many different people. But then I'd have to talk to people, and we can't have that).

I also like reading things that I can very much relate to (ended with a preposition!). So anything linking to things that I've done...TV news, theatre, radio, art, retail (oddly, don't find a lot of those), working with animals...I guess that's kind of my "comfort food".

The next step has to do with what I'm reading. One book often leads to another, even, if only by my own logic. Sometimes the only common thread will be the location of the story or the time period or, even something mentioned only on a single page.

And then the whole convoluted process begins again...

Can I get off the couch now, doctor?

Booking Through Thursday: Sing! Sing a Song...

If you’re anything like me, there are songs that you love because of their lyrics; writers you admire because their songs have depth, meaning, or just a sheer playfulness that has nothing to do with the tunes.

So many possibilities!!! The first thing that came to mind was Sheryl Crow's Na-Na Song: "...Steely Dan Rather be a hammer than a nail..."

I LOVE that!

Then that sent my mind to this:



Just in case you don't make it to the end of the video (but I have no idea how you could possibly turn it off!) the last verse is my favorite:

Have you ever went over a friends house to eat

And the food just ain't no good?

The macaroni's soggy, the peas are mushed,

And the chicken tastes like wood

So you try to play it off like you think you can

By saying that you're full

And then your friend says, "Mama, he's just being polite

He ain't finished, uh-uh, that's bull!"

So your heart starts pumpin' and you think of a lie

And you say that you already ate

And your friend says "Man, there's plenty of food"

So you pile some more on your plate

While the stinky food's steamin', your mind starts to dreamin'

Of the moment that it's time to leave

And then you look at your plate and your chicken's slowly rottin'

Into something that looks like cheese

Oh so you say "That's it, I gotta leave this place

I don't care what these people think,

I'm just sittin' here makin' myself nauseous

With this ugly food that stinks"

So you bust out the door while it's still closed

Still sick from the food you ate

And then you run to the store for quick relief

From a bottle of Kaopectate

And then you call your friend two weeks later

To see how he has been

And he says, "I understand about the food,

Baby Bubba, but we're still friends"

With a hip hop the hippie to the hippie

The hip hip a hop, a you don't stop the rockin'

To the bang bang boogie

Say up jump the boogie to the rhythm of the boogie the beat

That's POETRY!

Booking Through Thursday: The Best

It’s a week or two later than you’d expect, and it may be almost a trite question, but … what were your favorite books from 2008?

Without a doubt, the absolute favorite book that I reviewed in 2008 was The Treatment & The Cure by Peter Kocan. It wasn't first published in 2008, but it was re-published last year.

I also would highly recommend Woman's World by Graham Rawle. It will give you an over-all experience in reading that was completely new to me. It just came out in paperback this week if you're interested.

And, just for a good time, The Urban Hermit by Sam MacDonald. A memoir of a very likable, fallible "guy".

I linked to my reviews because it just makes more sense than re-hashing them here.

Booking Through Thursday: Resolutions

Happy New Year, everyone!
So … any Reading Resolutions? Say, specific books you plan to read? A plan to read more ____? Anything at all?
Name me at least ONE thing you’re looking forward to reading this year!

Funny you should ask!

It looks like my first book review this year is going to be a favorable one. I'm going to finish up The Book of Obituaries, put out by The Economist. I've read on more than one occassion that these are the obits to read, and so far, I must agree.

The second obituary in this book is for Alex the Parrot. I've had the book Alex & Me by Irene Pepperberg in my TBR pile for quite some time, so, I think, I'll be hitting this one early on in the year.

Also, I just ran across this one at the store the other day:

Must, must, must read! And a BIG THANK YOU to whoever decided to put Oscar on the cover. I LOVE HIM!!!

BTW: I've also resolved to be a better "meme" participant, now that I kinda know what I'm doing. So, you will be able to link to the meme's that I play by clicking the button at the top of each post. I'm such a good girl! Oscar would be so disappointed...

Booking Through Thursday: Wintery Books

What I want to know today is … what are the most “wintery” books you can think of? The ones that almost embody Winter?

Well, this is odd...Turns out, the only book that comes to mind, that even comes close to a "wintery" book that I've read is A Creed for the Third Millenium by Colleen McCullough which I read 20+ years ago.

I guess I just don't like cold books!

Time for some introspection...

Booking Through Thursday: Generosity

Do you give books as gifts?

Of course! Although, more often than not, it will be a gift certificate for books so I don't end up getting them something they already have. One year I bought a book for my mom that I wanted to read too, so I did, and then I wrapped it up and sent it to her.

To everyone? Or only to select people?

Well, I can't afford books for everyone!!! So I only get gifts for friends and family. Hardy hardy har...Actually, I know a distressing number of people who just don't seem to own books. I find it very odd the number of homes I walk into and see no books...weird...

How do you feel about receiving books as gifts?

LOVE IT!!! But, really, would prefer a gift certificate. I'm never sure what I'll be in the mood for. So, for those of you trying to decide what to get me...

What is the best book you ever bought for yourself?

That's easy! A first edition of The Secret Life of Salvador Dali by Salvador Dali! At least, that's the latest one!

And, why? What made it the best? What made it so special?

After reviewing Dali & I, I became a bit obsessed with Salvador Dali. I was browsing around a used book store to find anything I could about him and stumbled across this book. It was a first edition, hardcover of The Secret Life of Salvador Dali by Salvador Dali! It was $70!. I went to a used book store to find something inexpensive, so I told myself "no". The problem was, in addition to my obsession, this was also a book that was bound in my favorite way! It's a cloth hardcover book with paper "paste-downs" on both the cover and the spine. I avoided going back to that store everyday for 3 months and then decided the book had too much power over me. I went back to "buy my book". It was gone! The bookseller was certain he hadn't sold it. I was there for more than an hour searching every shelf, one book at a time. The gentleman called the other two men who work at the store at their homes to see if they knew where it might be. And then...insert angels singing...I found the coveted book! I bought it, brought it home and have never been happier to have spent $70 on an item for myself!

Booking Through Thursday: Time Is of the Essence

1. Do you get to read as much as you WANT to read?

Of course not!!! Oddly, I was just talking about this at work today (which is why this is posting so late. Pacific Time stinks for this stuff). I want to quit working and just read 24 hours a day and write a review after each book.

Yesterday I had allotted an hour and a half in the middle of the day to just read. It was cold in my apartment so I sat on the couch with a blanket thrown over my legs. Less than an hour into my reading, I fell asleep!!!

2. If you had (magically) more time to read–what would you read? Something educational? Classic? Comfort Reading? Escapism? Magazines?

I like to read a large spectrum of things. To me, though, it's all "escapism". The only thing I would not bother with is magazines. Oddly, I don't have the attention span for magazines the short articles feel like chaos to my brain. I tend to skim as opposed to reading.

Booking Through Thursday: 5 For Favorites

1. Do you have a favorite author?

Believe it or not, there are actually "best-selling" authors that I do like. The first to come to mind are Patricia Cornwell and Gregory Maguire. I also enjoy Edgar Allan Poe and Jack London. Oh, and Robin Cook and Tess Gerritsen. And on and on and on...

2. Have you read everything he or she has written?

Patricia Cornwell, I had to stop.

Gregory Maguire, only his adult works.

Edgar Allan Poe, I've skipped some.

Jack London, only White Fang and Call of the Wild (White Fang is better), but would read more.

Robin Cook, working on it.

Tess Gerritsen, working on it.

Everyone else, I need some time for TV before I loose access in February.

3. Did you LIKE everything?

Cornwell, Scarpetta got too big for her britches.

Maguire, in order of best to worst: Wicked, Mirror Mirror, Son of a Witch, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, and you can just skip Lost altogether...pooh wee! Haven't hit his latest yet.

As for the rest...I've liked everything so far! Fingers crossed!

4. How about a least favorite author?

It's got to be that guy who wrote Dali & I. Yeah, I know his name...oh, man...why'd ya havta bring that up! I'm mad all over again now!!!

Oh, yeah! I'm about over this whole Stephanie Meyer thing too! In all fairness, however, I haven't read her books.

And before you hit that comment button, I've also never seen an episode of "Seinfeld", "The Simpsons" or "Buffy" and I'm over them too...Go ahead, begin the flogging NOW!!!

5. An author you wanted to like, but didn’t?

I want to like every author whose work I read. I guess the most disappointing was Robert Rankin. He was recommended to me due to my enjoyment of The Eyre Affair series. Ooh! CrapORama! I forgot Jasper Fforde! I didn't care for the last the last book in that series or the first book in his Nursery Crimes series, but the rest are GREAT! (Way to stay on topic) Anyway Rankin didn't work for me. sad.

So did you notice my marketing genius in linking to my other blog. Not once. But twice! I swear, I wasn't even planning to, but then, since those were the first books that came to mind, I thought, "Why not, dag-nab-it? Let the people see what I'm talking about!"

That's right. It's for you, I do what I do!

Alrighty, then...I really shouldn't be allowed on the computer in the middle of the night...

Booking Through Thursday: Thankful

So–just for today–how about sharing 7 things that you’re thankful for?

1. I have a job! At least for now...

2. Even if I were to loose my job tomorrow I have 280hrs. of vacation time backed up that they would have to pay out. So that's 7 weeks to find something new!

3. I have a lot of little independent side jobs that could keep me afloat for awhile and I can do anywhere.

4. I own my car out-right and it's in great condition!

5. Even at my age, my parents are still a viable "safety net". Although, my pride makes that a last resort.

6. Books to divert my attention.

7. Possibly most important. My cats. One that sits next to me while I read, the other that sits behind my head on the couch and whose mere existence reminds me to never throw in the towel.

Booking Through Thursday: Honesty

I receive a lot of review books, but I have never once told lies about the book just because I got a free copy of it. However, some authors seem to feel that if they send you a copy of their book for free, you should give it a positive review.
Do you think reviewers are obligated to put up a good review of a book, even if they don’t like it? Have we come to a point where reviewers *need* to put up disclaimers to (hopefully) save themselves from being harassed by unhappy authors who get negative reviews?

When I started my book blog (NoBSBookReviews) this past summer, I started it for one reason: To give my opinion of books I've chosen to read.

I had no intention of being offered free books from publishers or authors and I don't solicit them and I have turned down all that have been offered. I read only books that I pick off the shelf of the bookstore. I have received 2 free books from a source not connected with either the publisher or author with the understanding that I write a review for the site that provided the book.

This is how my blog will stay.

If an author feels compelled to reply to one of my reviews, that is their right (so far, only Warren Adler has done so, and, I might add, very nicely to a book I had no hard and fast opinion on). I, however, am writing for the consumer. In time, people will decide whether or not they agree with my opinions and either continue to read my blog and take my recommendations or stop reading.

For me, it's just that simple.

Have I written negative reviews? Yes. Have a written a review for a book I didn't care for but admitted, "I may not be the intended audience"? Yes. Have I "attacked" an author? Yes. His "memoirs" truthfulness is very much in doubt. Have I agonized over the review of a book that was so over-the-top good that I couldn't figure out a way to do it justice? Yes! And I don't believe I did do it justice.

But in the end, I'm not trying to help or harm the author. I'm trying to inform the customer who will be spending their money and time on "this" book when there are sooo many others from which to choose.

Let me add: This is just me. Everybody reviews for their own reasons. Some people can accept books from the source and still remain true to themselves. I think I could, but I'm not sure.

Booking Through Thursday: Why Buy?

If you usually buy your books, tell me why. Why buy instead of borrow? Why shell out your hard-earned dollars for something you could get for free?

Mine?! Mine?! Mine?!

1. I'm a very controlling person. I even like to control my books.

2. Genetics. My mother has the same problem as did her father, before her.

3. I'm a slow reader but I want what I want when I want it. It might not be there later.

4. Kooties!

5. I might need that gardening book 10 years from now if I ever start a garden.

6. I still have wall and floor space.

7. I have the mentality of a bag lady.

Booking Through Thursday: Conditioning

Are you a spine breaker? Or a dog-earer? Do you expect to keep your books in pristine condition even after you have read them? Does watching other readers bend the cover all the way round make you flinch or squeal in pain?

OH!!! Don't even get me started!!!

But you did. OK. Just remember, you asked:

Do not break my spine! Do not dog-ear my pages! Don't let me see you doing it with your own books!

I realize, what you do with your property is your business. I just don't want to be an unwitting witness.

I don't lend books. If I hand you my book to read, it's yours. Except my mom, who, no doubt, did this to me.

And, I don't know why, but when I see someone eating while reading, it's traumatising! I can fully recall every time in my life that I have seen this dreadful scene! MY EYES!!! MY EYES!!!

I'm feeling a bit dramatic.

Oddly, all this being said, I don't care about the condition of a used book that I get (except, again, food stains). I am careful, however to treat them just as if they are pristine adding no further damage from my own hands.

In summation, your honor (if you're not honorable, stop reading now):

I would never remove a kitty's leg, however, I still would not reject, but would love and care for a three-legged kitty.

Now I want a three-legged kitty. Weird...

...and I am now emotionally drained.

Booking Through Thursday: What's Sitting on Your Shelf?

Okay–here was an interesting article by Christopher Schoppa in the Washington Post.
Avid readers know all too well how easy it is to acquire books — it’s the letting go that’s the difficult part. … During the past 20 years, in which books have played a significant role in both my personal and professional lives, I’ve certainly had my fair share of them (and some might say several others’ shares) in my library. Many were read and saved for posterity, others eventually, but still reluctantly, sent back out into the world.
But there is also a category of titles that I’ve clung to for years, as they survived numerous purges, frequent library donations and countless changes of residence. I’ve yet to read them, but am absolutely certain I will. And should. When, I’m not sure, as I’m constantly distracted by the recent, just published and soon to be published works.
So, the question is his: “What tomes are waiting patiently on your shelves?“

So many! But, here's a very small sampling. They will go nowhere until I've read them. And will probably still go nowhere after that.

The Romance of Madame Tussaud's by John T. Tussaud





Memoirs of a Midget by Walter de la Mare












Houdini by Kenneth Silverman





Magic by William Goldman












Yes. I have a fascination with the unusual.