Tag: talking about books

What are your quirky reading habits?

Posted on by Shawshank

Can you only read whilst death metal plays softly in the background? Or does Mars have to be in retrograde?

What are your quirky reading habits? I want to know. I don’t think any of my book habits are quirky.

When I read, it has to be quiet. Quiet. If the TV is on, I can’t read. I’ll sit and watch TV. I’m very easily distracted. So I usually read at night. Shady Acres goes to bed pretty early, so that’s always a bonus.

I rarely use a book mark. I’ll just fold over a page, yet I won’t crack the spine. Some of you are probably fanning yourselves right now at the mention of folding over a page. The next point will give you the vapours!

If the book is begging for it, I’ll write/highlight, whatever. You should see my copy of House of Leaves. It’s been well loved! I also randomly added stickers too.

4 books I’ve discovered while blogging

Posted on by Shawshank

Since I’ve started blogging, I’ve tried to stick to new and interesting books. Books out of left field, like Ship of Theseus, House of Leaves, etc. I’m trying not to just go back to the old comfortables, like the Dresden Files, random, mysteries, etc. I like to be challenged. Make me work for it! I don’t choose them for the look at what book I’ve read, I’m better than you. Homie don’t play dat.

So in searching for the new and strange, I have come across books that look like they’d be really interesting, here’s a few of them. To wet your whistle, so to speak.

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

From what I can tell, it’s a Romeo one Juliet retelling in 1920’s Shanghai. I think it sounds pretty interesting for sure.

The Fifty Year Sword by Mark Z. Danielewski

I think I’d call this more of a short story, and I’ve been keeping my eye out for it at the second hand stores in hopes, of one day finding it.

If On A Winters Night A Traveller by Italo Calvino

It’s a book where you’re actually a character reading If On A Winters Night A Traveller. That sounds pretty cool to me for sure. Of course, you had me at book!

Demon Theory by Stephen Graham Jones

On Halloween, after a crazy call from his mom, Hale and six friends return to the house where his sister disappeared 6 years ago. It’s a psychological tale of cinematic horror, and it sounds really really awesome.

Have you guys (and gals) found any off the wall interesting books out there? Tell me!

Book Club: Full Dark, No Stars

Posted on by Shawshank

Finally I got some time to do some reading. And since I was behind a week, I decided to read the last two stories in Full Dark, No Stars, our book club book. Now, we’re back on track.

Fair Extension

This was a disturbing one, at least for me. It shows that even your best of friends could hate you. The short story was short. Like really short. It’s the story of a guy dying of lung cancer. So one night he’s driving home, and sees a guy with a little sore front set up by the side of the road. He goes over to talk to him, and finds out that this guy can give him a fair extension. This extension comes at a price. Money of course, and someone that he hates. Truly hates to transfer all his bad luck too.

It left me feeling unsettled. But I’m sure that’s what King was going for.

A Good Marriage

This one started out so normal and happy, which from what I can guess means this King novella is going to go down hill very quickly. Which it does.

Can I spoil a book that came out 10 years ago? I mean, I’d be upset that it got spoiled for me. I’m just getting to know Stephan King. But on the other hand, it has been 10 years.

Ok, I really enjoyed all the short stories in the book. I liked how he explored different takes on retribution, and revenge. I personally can’t wait to read another King book.

See you again next week, where I talk about my initial thoughts and questions on Brave New World. Y’all though I forgot about it, huh? Nope!

Books books, books (sung to the tune of Girls girls, girls)

Posted on by Shawshank

So today, with moms approval, I was allowed to move the “Romance Rack” – consisting of at least 80-90% of Nora Roberts complete library out of my room, and back into the living room, where they came from.

The Romance Rack with all the dust catchers on it.

I waited until my mom and grandmother left for a hair appointment, then moved the bookcase out, and through multiple trips? Brought all the bodice rippers out.

So then, I had to move my bookcase over a bit. You see the chunks of wood there? I cut those, with no adult supervision! It only took a few seconds to figure out how to turn on the table saw. I need them there because when I moved moms bookcase, my books fell to the floor.

Wood paneling AND that carpet. Hello 1972!

Shady Acres is taking a nap. Then we’re off to SlightlyBiggerTown, and I think this’ll be the first week in a long time that I won’t look for books. For two reasons:

1. I’m out of money.

2. I’m out of room on the bookcase.

This will be the week that at least 1 of the books on my want list will be there, and someone else will pick it up. I just know it.

Book Club: Full Dark, No Stars

Posted on by Shawshank

So here is where our chat about the third short story in the book Full Dark, No Stars – Fair Extension would be, had I read it.

And I feel very terrible and guilty about not reading it. This past week has been totally busy and insane. It was my first full week at work, I’d get home from working and just be so mentally tired, I couldn’t read. I planned on reading part, if not most of it yesterday; but it was my first day solo on the shop, I couldn’t even concentrate on a cooking show.

I know, excuses, excuses. I don’t know how y’all other bloggers can manage to balance everything.

So hopefully you guys forgive me. I’ll do better in the coming week to get it read.

Please, stick around. I’m not usually this useless!