Category: Lockup Library

What’s one book that you wish you could read again for the first time?

Posted on by Shawshank

I’ve always said that you can only read a book for the first time. You can only be surprised by a twist or a cliff hanger once.

Which book do you wish you could read again for the first time?

For me, it’s A Storm of Swords by George RR Martin. Yes, that one. For those in the know, they know what I’m talking about. Crystal does for sure.

This is the one book that I’ve thrown across the room once I hit that certain chapter. Do you know which one I’m talking about?

The North Remembers.

Yeah, I’m talking about The Red Wedding. Martins writing in that chapter is flawless. He navigates with expertise, I didn’t know what was happening until it was over. Cue throwing the book, and just rushing to get it, and rereading the chapter over again.

I wish I could read it again for the first time.

Why do you read?

Posted on by Shawshank

I read for a number of reasons. Before, I didn’t have anything else to do. So I read to pass the time. I hoarded books under my bed. I think before I left, I had about 20 books in my “TBR” or to be read pile. Some of them looked promising, others were junk that I could blow through in an afternoon.

My favourite ones that I’d already read, were on display, against the rules on my desk. The Twilight series, and the books that Crystal had sent me. They were, and still are comfort books for me. I may not reread them often now, but I’ll still pick up and flip through House of Leaves. In its pages are treasures. Seriously, there’s metaphorical treasures, and physical ones as well. That’s the book I flip through when I’m really homesick. When I’m on the verge of tears, I’ll pull out that book, and if I squeeze my eyes shut hard enough, I can almost see Crystal doing the same thing, and flipping through the pages.

Sounds kind of stupid, huh?

I read to escape. I’ve been reading now for a hobby since mid February, and now I’m starting to notice that I can picture what’s going on in my minds eye. That surprised me. Before, I’d read and see nothing in my mind. It’s slowly coming back to me, that makes me excited to keep reading.

I read to laugh, to cry, to be transported some place different. To meet and interact with characters much better than me. I can dive into a book, and not be myself for a little while. I can be a hero, a side character, or just be invisible to watch how things unfold.

To me a book can be way better than a movie or a TV show. So much more detail, more…. humanity I guess. I mostly buy books that their cover catches my eye. Then the back of the book

Will this book take me away on an adventure? That’s my ultimate goal – to escape for just a few precious minutes. To become someone that’s not me just for a second.

Why do you read?

First Impressions – The Guest List

Posted on by Shawshank

So this is a new thing I want to try out. I’m calling it “First Impressions”. I’m only a handful of pages into The Guest List by Lucy Foley, and I just want to talk about what I’m thinking about the book as I read the opening chapters.

It’s gonna be a wild ride, methinks.

Reese? Oh Witherspoon, not John Conners dad from The Terminator. Good to know.

So like A Song of Ice and Fire, each chapter is dedicated to one character in the book. We’re introduced to the bride, the plus-one, the best man, the wedding planner, the bridesmaid, and the fiancé. You really get to know them in the opening chapters. But at the end of each chapter, you’re left wanting more.

The other character in the book is the small Irish island out in the Atlantic Ocean. Lucy Foley is doing a great job of describing the island as both menacing, and gentle. I believe I’ve gotten to the point where all the characters are now on the island, and soon, I’m sure, all hell will break loose.

And I can’t wait to see how all this plays out.

Books – a year in review

Posted on by Shawshank

As I lie here at 10:42 on New Year’s Eve, scrolling through the discover feature on the WordPress app, I feel the need to talk a lot about all the books I read this year.

It’s been a lot. A lot. Trust me, I had a lot of time on my hands. I’m still trying to figure out how to balance work, and reading. So I am reading more now, at least in the last couple of days.

Some of my favourite books this year have been ones that were bought for me. House of Leaves, The Raw Shark Texts, etc. Some I found on the library cart – The Twilight Saga, some cheesy Janet Evanovich novels, and one called Honour Among Thieves.

I have a pretty nice collection of different books. I read a lot this year. I don’t put a number on it. Not everything needs to be a competition. Read because it’s fun, because as soon as you make it a competition, it’s not fun anymore.

I can’t wait to go on some reading adventures in 2021.

What are you reading to ring in the new year? Me, I’m reading The Guest List by Lucy Foley. I’m enjoying it so far.

See y’all in 2021 book nerds!

Book Haul – BigCity edition

Posted on by Shawshank

Greetings, book nerds! I have been to BigCity, and have returned to TinyTown with books. Book that were published this year! With the exception of one or two, there were all published in 2020.

Amazing, isn’t it. Looking back, I’m really happy that I didn’t go earlier, you know, before I had a job. I didn’t spend as much as I thought I was going to, which is nice. What was nicer, is that I went when they were having the boxing week sale. So essentially, I got two of the books basically free.

Without further adieu, I present my last book haul of 2020.

It took me a few minutes, but I think I’m going to read The Guest List by Lucy Foley first.

From the back of the book: An exclusive wedding on a remote Irish island – the bride, the plus-one, the best man, the wedding planner, the bridesmaid. All have a secret. All have a motive. But only one is a murderer.

Sounds really interesting for sure! I’ll try and get some reading done to talk about it in this weekends Lockup Library Book Club. See you then, book nerds!