Category General Book Talk

40 Things (17)

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Global constellation map

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Following along with Boof’s 40 Day Challenge leading up to her 40th birthday, her 17th topic is:

17) A book with the best evil character

I don’t read many books with truly evil characters.  He Who Shall Not Be Named was pretty terrifying in the Harry Potter series.  The bad guys in Stieg Larsson‘s books were pretty terrifying, because they were more human, I’m afraid.  Evil people scare me more than evil wizards.

The 17th thing on my list of 40 things was to “Learn the constellations from one season.”  Pretty specific and measurable.  But sadly, I’m lacking.  But not for want of trying!  We did have several successful star gazing parties at a friend’s home – lying on a blanket in the country gazing in wonder at the many stars.  I love the app on my phone called Google Sky that shows the constellations as you look at them.  Now I can always learn something!

Off to read!

 

40 Things (16)

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1st edition cover (Methuen)

Now We Are Six Image via Wikipedia

Following along with Boof’s 40 Day Challenge leading up to her 40th birthday, her 16th topic is:

16) A favourite book from childhood

Oh my.  I had a lot of favorite books when I was younger.  I’ve mentioned a few – “Now We Are Six” by A.A. Milne, and “A Wrinkle in Time.”  I loved the Trixie Belden series (more contemporary than Nancy Drew), I loved “The Secret Garden” and “Mandy.” “Island of the Blue Dolphins,” the Little House on the Prairie books, and books about The Littles.  I remember learning to read with Dick and Jane books (I even loved their little stories!).  I loved reading Aesop’s fables and Grimm’s fairy tales.  I was never without a book, even then.  When I went to see relatives, they would ask my mom to have me leave my books at home.

So to pick one is difficult.   Because I still have the book on my bookshelf and love to get it out when little ones are over (and love to give it as a gift to all six year olds I know), I am going to choose “Now We Are Six” by A.A. Milne.  I loved the stories told in rhyme and the lightheartedness of them.

#16 on my list was to “Watch movies from 1968” (the year I was born).  This was a fascinating challenge!  I ended up starting with “Funny Girl” and watched quite a few movies from that time period.  There were a lot of BAD movies made that year (see Barbarella) but lots of fun movies, too!  It was an interesting time… and a challenge that I loved.

Off to read!

 

 

 

 

 

 

40 Things (15)

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Cover of "Extremely Loud and Incredibly C...

Cover of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Following along with Boof’s 40 Day Challenge leading up to her 40th birthday, day 15!  Her topic for today is:

15) A book that I have read the most number of times

Well, I don’t tend to re-read books too much (save the kiddo books I read when smaller), so the books I’ve read twice include: the Harry Potter series, Pride & Prejudice, and Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.  That’s all I can remember.  I sort of have a “keep moving forward” philosophy and so use my limited time to try new books.  I had some poetry books when I was younger (“Now We Are Six” and “Reflections on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle”) that I read over and over again because they were so clever and fun.

#15 on my list of 40 things was to WRITE.  Blog, journal, stories, poetry, letters and postcards.  Again, not measurable but it has made me more purposeful and intentional and to put stamps on things and to keep a book for haikus.  Good stuff.

Off to read!

40 Things (14)

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Elizabeth tells her father that Darcy was resp...

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Following along with Boof’s 40 Day Challenge leading up to her 40th birthday, her next topic is:

14) A favourite 19th century novel

I am going to be very unoriginal and say “Pride & Prejudice.” I love everything about Austen’s novel and will re-read it every few years forever. Easy peasy.

#14 on my list was to Apply for a New Job.  See yesterday’s post for how that went. I was content to happy in my old job, so although I applied for part-time work occasionally (the library or B&N) I wasn’t ever serious about looking for a new job.

Off to read!

40 Things (13)

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Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason

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Following along with Boof’s 40 Day Challenge leading up to her 40th birthday, her topic today is:

13) A book that made me laugh out loud

Now that’s what I’m talking about. 🙂  There are a lot of books that make me smile the entire time I’m reading them – that’s the kind of books I choose, I guess.  As for laughing out loud, I have a vivid memory of reading “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason,” and literally laughing until I cried. It’s not a great book, but it was the mood it put me in.  What a treat that was!  My daughter thought I was going crazy, on the other hand. I also chuckled a lot while reading Louise Rennison‘s books about Georgia.  How silly are they?

I love books like this, so I’m hoping for more recommendations!

#13 on my list of 40 Things was to make/update my resume.  I didn’t get around to that until recently – I guess I was content (lazy?).  Resume writing is so different now than the first few times I wrote mine.  I’ve decided it is an ever-changing document, because it needs to be tailored to the job that I’m applying for.  No more printing out dozens of copies on parchment paper (gosh, am I old??).

Off to read!

40 Things (12)

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Portrait of Jane Austen, from the memoir by J....

Portrait of Jane Austen, Image via Wikipedia

Following along with Boof’s 40 Day Challenge leading up to her 40th birthday, her twelfth topic is:

12) A favourite historical novel

I’m assuming a historical novel is written in present day about the past, rather than a book written in the 1800s about the 1800s.  I don’t have many of those on my goodreads list!  I know that back in the day, when I had more time and read anything I could get my hands on, I read a few “bodice rippers.”  They were good fun, but not earth shattering.  I’ve read quite a few books set in the past (Austen, Laura Ingalls Wilder, etc.) but most of the contemporary fiction I read is set in the 1900s, so although some historical (Water for Elephants, Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society – both great books set in the 1900s) I took this topic to mean a little before that time.

#12 on my list of 40 things was to “Read a good book every month!” and I think I’ve succeeded at that!  I know that I’ve become a much more purposeful reader – creating a list and choosing books off that list to read.  When I was in college I once described myself as a “book slut – I’ll read anything and everything,” but that is no longer true.  While a lot of things I read may not be considered great books, I am more intent on reading more good books.

Off to read!

40 Things (11)

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Cover of "Little Bee: A Novel"

Cover of Little Bee: A Novel

Following along with Boof’s 40 Day Challenge leading up to her 40th birthday, day 11 –

11) A book that made me cry

I wrote earlier this week about feeling negatively towards books that make me cry by manipulating my emotions (“Sister’s Keeper” and “Beatrice & Virgil”). I cry a lot during good books and movies (and TV shows), but when I read this topic, my first thought was of “Little Bee” by Chris Cleave. What a beautifully written, sad story that was. And no negative feelings attached to it. Good stuff.

#11 on my list of 40 Things is: Write More Letters.  Again, not very specific or measurable, but something I made a conscious effort to do. I still try to write letters and send snail mail, because I know that getting mail other than bills or junk is so much fun.  (I don’t hardly get bills anymore, because everything is online! Mostly junkmail!)

Well, I’m going to write a few letters RIGHT NOW because I even have some cool stamps!  So much fun… (Happy Birthday, Troy!)

Off to read!

40 Things (10)

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Creepy Woods

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Following along with Boof’s 40 Day Challenge leading up to her 40th birthday, day 10 (not sure I’ve ever posted ten days in a row before!):

10) A book that gave me the creeps

Hmmm again. I tend not to read books that give me the creeps. “The Giver” gave me the creeps (don’t like dystopia anymore) and I remember reading “Amityville Horror” as a teen, and that is memorable. Whenever I see a lot of flies in a room, I remember…

I don’t like to feel creeped out or grossed out or scared, so I really choose not to “feed my head” things (books, movies, TV) that would make me have any of those feelings.

On my list, #10 Watercolor – a class? just for fun?

Again, pathetic. I did some watercolor classes in the past and have dabbled in it a bit, but never to much finesse. It is relaxing and fun. I wonder where my watercolor/art tub went… I think I loaned it to someone before the flood and haven’t gotten it back yet!  Must call her…

I took a Chinese brush painting class and spent quite a lot of money framing my “masterpiece” of that day, but it doesn’t match my decor at this point so it is in the closet.  Ah, well.

Off to read!

40 Things (9)

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Institute of Arts

Image by tracktwentynine via Flickr

Following along with Boof’s 40 Day Challenge leading up to her 40th birthday and her next question is:

9) A favourite crime fiction book

It isn’t a genre I read often, but I have read some good ones.  On audio I have enjoyed Patricia Cornwell‘s novels about Kay Scarpetta, Diane Mott Davidson’s catering sleuth, and Sue Grafton‘s alphabet novels about Kinsey Milhone.  I remember staying up all night reading John Grisham‘s “The Firm” – I couldn’t sleep until it was done – and feeling just as compelled to read Dan Brown‘s “DaVinci Code.”

#9 on my list was to “go to the Minneapolis Art Institute,” which I did with Deadra and John in April of 2007!  I should make it a yearly pilgrimage, as there is always so much to see in a museum and I just love looking at art.

Off to read!

Books: Attachments

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“Attachments” by Rainbow Rowell was such a fun and unique book!  It is told through emails written between two friends and the IT guy whose job it is to monitor emails.  When reading the book, I was amazed at how much I liked the characters, how intimately I got to know them, and how much I was smiling while I was reading.  A great book. Heartily recommend to anyone!

Attachments View a preview of this book online

Goodreads summary:
Beth and Jennifer know their company monitors their office e-mail. But the women still spend all day sending each other messages, gossiping about their coworkers at the newspaper and baring their personal lives like an open book. Jennifer tells Beth everything she can’t seem to tell her husband about her anxieties over starting a family. And Beth tells Jennifer everything, period.

When Lincoln applied to be an Internet security officer, he hardly imagined he’d be sifting through other people’s inboxes like some sort of electronic Peeping Tom. Lincoln is supposed to turn people in for misusing company e-mail, but he can’t quite bring himself to crack down on Beth and Jennifer. He can’t help but be entertained-and captivated- by their stories.

But by the time Lincoln realizes he’s falling for Beth, it’s way too late for him to ever introduce himself. What would he say to her? “Hi, I’m the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you.” After a series of close encounters and missed connections, Lincoln decides it’s time to muster the courage to follow his heart . . . even if he can’t see exactly where it’s leading him.

Written with whip-smart precision and charm, Attachments is a strikingly clever and deeply romantic debut about falling in love with the person who makes you feel like the best version of yourself. Even if it’s someone you’ve never met