Booking Through Thursday.

Any New Year’s reading resolutions?

Honestly, I haven't really thought about any resolutions this year. But now that I am sitting down to do some blogging, I can't think of anything better right now.

So, my reading resolutions would be: To simply read more. I'm not exactly sure when or how it happened, but my reading habits are now horrifying. I almost don't read at all. I have some remedies for myself on this though: Themes for my blog. I got a Nook Color for Christmas (which is awesome and so addicting). A new (sort of) meme to get through all those short story and poetry books I have on my reading list. I've started picking up books during TV commercials.

Hopefully, I will have a better reading year and blogging year this year.

Read more Booking Through Thursdays here!

Booking Through Thursday.

This week's Booking Through Thursday asks:

"What’s the saddest book you’ve read recently?"

That, would have to be The Boy in the Striped Pajama's. It completely broke my heart. & I suppose anyone else who has read the book or even seen the movie would know why, so I will leave my answer at that. Oh, one more book I cannot get out of my head with this question, is The Kommandant's Girl by Pam Jenoff (which I read before The Boy in the Striped Pajama's). I just loved that book so much and it was so sad at the end. I couldn't get Emma and the Kommandant out of my head for weeks after reading it. I can't really remember ever reading such a sad story before that one.

Booking Through Thursday

This week's BTT asks:

What’s the most enjoyable, most fun, most just-darn-entertaining book you’ve read recently?(Mind you, this doesn’t necessarily mean funny, since we covered that already. Just … GOOD.)

That would have to be Julia London's Highland Scandal. (Book 2 in her Scandal series.) Gotta love a good romance story. :p Just remembering the emotions I felt nearing the end of the story, fearing for Jack's fate, phew, he got off CLOSE. I enjoyed that suspense.

Booking Through Thursday.

This weeks BTT asks:

What's the funniest book you've read recently?

Well, not many, but the book I'm reading right now (How the Dead Dream) is pretty funny in places. I love T. but he is getting a little strange. The funniest book I've ever read was Jimmy Breslin's The Gang that Couldn't Shoot Straight, now that was a funny book.

Booking Through Thursday.

Do you read celebrity memoirs? Which ones have you read or do you want to read?
Which nonexistent celebrity memoirs would you like to see?

Do I read celebrity memoirs? Yes, I suppose I have...A few years back I read Steven Regal's "Walking A Golden Mile." I've also read both of Lewis Black's books (wait, do those count as memoirs?!) which I found to be very interesting, to say the least. I think that is it. Non-existent memoirs...I don't know. Hrmm, I've sat here for about ten minutes now trying to think of someone, but no one comes to mind right now who is truly interesting enough for me to want to read their memoir. So, my post is over. :p

Booking Through Thursday.

This week's question asks:

This can be a quick one. Don’t take too long to think about it. Fifteen books you’ve read that will always stick with you. First fifteen you can recall in no more than 15 minutes.

Let's see:

1. Dealing with Dragons. (Patricia C. Wrede)
2. The Phantom of the Opera. (Gaston Leroux)
3. The Hobbit. (J.R.R. Tolkien)
4. Lady Chatterley's Lover. (D.H. Lawrence)
5. Little Women. (Louisa May Alcott)
6. The First Four Years. (Laura Ingles Wilder)
7. Phantom. (Susan Kay)
8. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. (C.S. Lewis)
9. The Tales of Beatrix Potter. (Beatrix Potter)
10. The Kommandant's Girl. (Pam Jenoff)
11. Inkheart. (Cornelia Funke)
12. My Left Foot. (Christy Brown)
13. Deception: A Phantom of the Opera Novel. (Shirley Yoshinaka)
14. Anne of Green Gables. (L.M. Montgomery)
15. Jane Eyre. (Charlotte Bronte)

Booking Through Thursday.

This week's question asks:

Is there a book that you wish you could “unread”? One that you disliked so thoroughly you wish you could just forget that you ever read it?

Uhm. Yes. The Phantom of Manhattan, by Frederick Forsyth. I can't even really explain anymore why I hated it sososo much. All I really remember about it now is the icky feeling it gave me after I closed it, not really fathoming how I managed to read the whole book in the first place. I guess I have done a good job at forgetting it!

Booking Through Thursday.

This week's BTT asks:

What book do you think should be made into a movie? And do you have any suggestions for the producers?
Or, What book do you think should NEVER be made into a movie?

Well, there are lots of books I would love to see as movies, including many a romance novel into those "tv mini-series" things, that, would be awesome. But the top book right now is J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Which I heard is actually being made into a movie, and I am mega-excited about that because it's one of my favorite books. Another I would like to see as a movie is a phantom novel; Shirley Yoshinaka's Deception: A Phantom of the Opera Novel. That is one of my favorite phantom reads. I love it. I've read it twice already and plan to read it again this year.

As for a book I think should never be made into a movie, well, I don't know...I guess I would have to answer this question a little differently than what might be expected, I think Inkheart should never have been made into the movie that it was. Frankly, it stunk. I hated it and was severely disappointed. I just can't understand why they made it that way. It was ruined. But then, I don't know why I expected so much from it, because usually movie versions of books never fully deliver, for me at least.

Booking Through Thursday.

• What songs … either specific songs, or songs in general by a specific group or writer … have words that you love?

  Why?

  And … do the tunes that go with the fantastic lyrics live up to them?

Oh, I love music. Sometimes there are days where it feels like that's all that's running through my veins. Just perfectly arranged words and stank beats. There are so many artists and songs that I love, it would be completely impossible for me to pick just one artist. There is one in particular right now though, that I can't seem to get enough of. The one that keeps sending that image to my mind of my heart beating like a speaker with a tangle of music notes wrapped around it, that thumps with every word and instrument. & That artist would have to be Everlast. I love, LOVE his latest album. (Love, War, and the Ghost of Whitey Ford.) It is just so good. (I think so, anyway. :p) Others I love listening to nightly are many, but I will mention (early) Madonna, (older) House of Pain, and No Doubt. Oh, and of course, The Phantom of the Opera (2004 movie) soundtrack.

Booking Through Thursday.

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!

Reading Resolutions: Yes!

• Read more new-to-me authors this year.
• Watch less TV, so I can possibly get more reading done.

That's pretty much it on the resolutions. :p

Specific books, not really, but specific authors, yes. I plan to read more Georgette Heyer this year, and get re-acquainted with two of my favorite romance authors; Julia London, and Jennifer Ashley. Oh, and if Judith Pella releases any new books this year I'll definitely be on that book like a naked Highlander with my name written across his bare chest. :) hehe. I just love her thaaat much. :p

One thing I am looking forward to reading this year, my usual choice of course, FICTION! :)

Booking Through Thursday.

What is the best book you ever bought for yourself?
And, why? What made it the best? What made it so special?

There are two best books I've bought for myself. The first one is "The Hobbit." The second, "The Phantom of the Opera." The Hobbit is what hooked me on Tolkien, one of my favorite authors. It's also what introduced me to (what will always be) one of my favorite characters, Gollum. I don't know how to describe it, but I just love that character. I've read the book four times and I can never seem to get enough of it, I think it will always be one of my favorites. The other, has caused me one of my favorite obsessions, I love the Phantom of the Opera. It's just so sad and tragic, I love it. Erik will always be one of my favorite characters as well. I just find him so mysterious and well, crazed really. (Just like Gollum.) I don't know why; but I like characters that are full of tragedy and crazy thoughts.

Booking Through Thursday.

1. Do you get to read as much as you WANT to read?
(I’m guessing #1 is an easy question for everyone?)
2. If you had (magically) more time to read–what would you read? Something educational? Classic? Comfort Reading? Escapism? Magazines?

1. No, I do not. I wish I read way more, but I simply don't. I'm not a fast reader, and I don't have the time to spend hours upon hours just simply reading. (Though I wish I did.) If I'm lucky I finish one book in about four days, leaving me to secretly envy other readers that can read a book in a day.

2. What would I read if I magically had more time to read? Well that's easy, I'd be reading fiction. I adore fiction, I hardly ever touch non-fiction. In fact, I've only read two non-fiction books in the past two years. Both by Lewis Black. Otherwise there's no room for it on my reading agenda. It's too crowded with romance, comedy, historicals, and some mystery, thrills, & drama. Besides, I'm not so sure I'd want that magic reading time, I'd always be afraid I'd run out of things to read.

Booking Through Thursday.

1. Do you have a favorite author?

I have many favorite authors, so it's pretty hard to pick just one, but I think right now, it shall have to be Cornelia Funke. I am completely in love with her Inkheart trilogy.

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

No, I've only read two books by her so far, and just a few chapters of a third before I had to take it back to the library and wait for it again. I'm not sure if I'll read any of her other books, but who knows!

3. Did you LIKE everything?

Just from what I've read so far, yes. :)

4. How about a least favorite author?

This one is also hard to answer, mostly because if a book doesn't even have one memorable character or "event" I will forget it immediately. None come to mind that are really worth a mention though.

5. An author you wanted to like, but didn’t?
The only one I can think of right now is Christina Dodd. Her "Once A Knight" was just so promising looking from the back cover description, but it was just disappointing. Oh, and Jodi Leisure Minton, for her Phantom of the Opera-related book: Darkness Brings the Dawn. I hated it for so many reasons, and it was like extra disappointing, because it was a phantom tale. Oh - how could I forget the most recent one: Stephenie Meyer. I heard such good things about the Twilight series, but I just couldn't get into those books.

Booking Through Thursday.

I’ve asked, in the past, about whether you more often buy your books, or get
them from libraries. What I want to know today, is, WHY BUY?
Even if you are a die-hard fan of the public library system, I’m betting you have at least ONE permanent resident of your bookshelves in your house. I’m betting that no real book-lover can go through life without owning at least one book. So … why that one? What made you buy the books that you actually own, even though your usual preference is to borrow and return them?
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?

Well, I used to buy books all the time, until I realized I was wasting at least half my money, because at least half the books turned out to be unsatisfying. Naturally, that had to stop, so I began using the library and book buying for me became rare. Mainly because I couldn't afford books so often anymore, and I hardly ever found any that gave me the high drive inside of me that screeched that I needed to own any particular book I had read. I also didn't really have any favorite authors then. (Now I have lots, of course.) I only buy books now if I have read them from the library and absolutely loved them, with the exception of a favorite author, of course. I like to re-read and I like to build my collection much more carefully now, so the library plays a big part in that. Oh, also I will buy a book if the library does not have it and I just can't wait for them to get it, or they simply won't get it. For instance, this happens a lot with phantom-fiction. (That's The Phantom of the Opera, for those that have no idea what I am talking about!) The library has virtually none of these, so I end up buying them off of Amazon.com - 9 in all so far. Only one wasn't worth it. So I'm pretty picky when it comes to buying now. Even though it is pretty thrilling in my nerdy way, walking into the bookstore with the intent to actually buy something and not just browse.

Booking Through Thursday.

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?

I try to take pretty good care of my books, but I do get a little careless at times. Such as it drops to the floor because I wasn't paying enough attention or gets a splash of whatever on it, pages accidentally get bent; but I have never dog-eared or broken any spines purposefully. I do expect to keep my books in pristine condition because it's truly hard to wreck them in any way after I've finished, because they simply just sit on my shelves (a reservation for my favorites.), so it is rather easy to do so. While I do feel badly for the book, if I see one being treated badly I don't really sweat it, because it's not my book. I am a big library fan, mainly because I am too poor to buy books on a regular basis, and library books, sometimes make me seriously annoyed, if not just plain mad. A good example of this is the library copy of American Pyscho. It was in horrifying condition. Water damage, torn pages. Yuck. I understand accidents happen, but it just looked like plain carelessness. I was taught to take good care of any book I receive even though I slip up every now and then, I have never done any major-major damage to a book. It just makes me wonder what these people are like that they take such poor care of something that is definitely not theirs. Ugh. Maddening.

Booking Through Thursday.

"Name a favorite literary couple and tell me why they are a favorite. If you cannot choose just one, that is okay too. Name as many as you like–sometimes narrowing down a list can be extremely difficult and painful. Or maybe that’s just me."

When I decided I would answer this, I thought it would be easy, but now that I think further into it, it is hard, because I just love a couple that makes my heart beat quicker when they are together, and unfortunately, being as single as I am, I have acquired many a favorite literary couple. And now it is hard to choose even a top five, but well, (in no particular order) here goes:

1. Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe: I just love them. What is not to love? They have me on the edge of my seat with their quarreling and wonderment at whether or not they will be together, and then, they are -and it is completely wonderful and I want to cheer them on in their relationship.
2. Lady Chatterley and Oliver Mellors: Even though they weren't exactly together in the end, I love them. I found them somewhat complicated and for some reason that compelled me. They didn't seem like a "traditional" literary couple at all, and I think that's why I find them a favorite, they were different.
3. Emma Bau and Kommandant Richwalder: They were so tragic, doomed from the start, and I wanted to cry when he died, and when he turned on her in a snap, it hurt. Emotionally fulfilling read, to say the least.
4. Jo March and Professor Bhaer: How can I not love Jo and her beloved Professor. There is nothing like a heroine you just completely relate to and then find you'd like her man for yourself. lol. They are just both so lovable in my opinion.
5. Erik (The Phantom) and Meg Giry: What, the Phantom of the Opera without his beloved Christine, am I nuts? Nope. Sadie Montgomery has started something wonderful in her book, "The Phoenix of the Opera." She pairs him with Meg Giry and I cannot possibly be more thrilled over that. Honestly, I don't think Christine could ever have been truly his. She just wasn't right for him, and half the time she truly thought him to be an angel sent by her father, and then there's the Raoul factor. Too many things going against him in my opinion. His love for her was much stronger and I don't think she ever would have loved him like that in return.
   

Booking Through Thursday.

If you’re anything like me, one of your favorite reasons to read is for the
story. Not for the character development and interaction. Not because of the
descriptive, emotive powers of the writer. Not because of deep, literary meaning
hidden beneath layers of metaphor. (Even though those are all good things.) No …
it’s because you want to know what happens next?
Or, um, is it just me?

Of course it could mostly be for the story. But, I think without all those other things, sometimes the story just wouldn't matter to me at all. Then again, the back cover description is the main book-hooker for me most times; seeing as how it outlines what will happen in the story. So I guess what that would mean for me, I need a good mixture of all points listed above. It's all those things that are blended perfectly together that sweep me away in a book. For me, if there aren't any good characters to care about and wonder about while I'm doing something else besides reading or drifting off to sleep, then I won't really give two hoots about the actual story. So no I guess, not really just for the story, while I am reading as quickly as I can without ruining my reading experience, wanting to get to the next page to find out what happens, I need those heart-stirring characters and that sometimes poetic writing to want to take me there.

Booking Through Thursday.

Whether you usually read off of your own book pile or from
the library shelves NOW, chances are you started off with trips to the library.
(There’s no way my parents could otherwise have kept up with my book habit when
I was 10.) So … What is your earliest memory of a library? Who took you?
Do you have you any funny/odd memories of the library?

My earliest memory of the library is fragmented, and it is of my first trip there I believe - getting my library card which I still have, with my mother and brother. I think I was around 7-9. I remember the pen not wanting to write on the back of the card, but I somehow got it to stop being stubborn and write my name on the back in my very kid-like handwriting. Even as I look at my signature on my old bent up card now I can't help but laugh to myself at the ordeal and the memory of it. I remember being amazed and not even knowing where to start looking in the kid section for something to look at. I wasn't actually much of a reader when I was a child. I preferred animal books with loads of pictures, and Garfield comic books. And oh the board games. I couldn't believe the library had board games (that I didn't have at home) that you could sit there and play quietly with with someone. And those little cushion-chairs on the floor by the big window, for kids to sit in and read in. I didn't get to sit in them often though, because they were almost always taken.

I do remember this one strange thing that only happened to me there once, there was a little girl younger than I was, who kept following me around and calling me Christina. I had never seen her anywhere before and my name certainly isn't Christina. I told her I wasn't Christina but I guess either she didn't hear or me or just ignored me. I just tried my best to avoid her and smile as if to say "okay, whatever, go away," because my mother was not raising a rude child.

After a while we stopped going to the library because of a full schedule and just plain tiredness on my parents side. But when I was 18 I started going again. During that library absence period we had moved a little closer to the library so I could walk there. I loved walking to the library. but I didn't get to too often because my family didn't like it, because they were being too protective, but I can't blame them for that. It was a lovely walk though. There was one particular fragrant house I loved walking by, because it was always surrounded by flowers. With all the plants it was beautiful to look at and I looked forward on my walk to going by it slowly and drinking it in with my eyes. Lovely.

I never really had any bad experiences at the library, except for that one librarian who always seemed to have something rammed up her backside. I always wondered what she was doing working in a place with children. I was not a child while she was there though, It was when I started going back after I turned 18. No matter how much I smiled and tried to stay pleasant she still got on my nerves with her rudeness. Oh well though. I don't have to deal with dreading of getting her at checkout anymore because my family and I have moved recently. (Last year.) My new library is smaller, but much more pleasant feeling and the librarians are nicer. One even knows me by name already. :p This pleases me to no end because it never happened at the old library. But I must admit I'm too shy to come right out and ask her name since she learned mine. Though I have been fishing for a moment to do so. She is very friendly and always smiling, it seems a shame not even to know her name.

Anyhoo, those are my worth remembering times of the library. Probably boring to everyone else, but I like thinking about them. Even about the rude librarian, because she makes me appreciate these nicer ones. LOL.

Booking Through Thursday.

"Are there any particular worlds in books where you’d like to live?
Or where you certainly would NOT want to live?
What about authors? If you were a character, who would you trust to write your life?"

Yes. I would die, die, to live in L.M. Montgomery's Avonlea. simply to wander around Green Gables with Anne Shirley as one of her "bosom" friends. Also, I'd like to venture into Middle-Earth to stalk Gollum for a while. :p I think that could turn out very interesting, if not a little on the dangerous side, considering his character. Also, I would love to live in the world of the Phantom of the Opera. He is my absolute favorite literary character. I have practically longed to wander his underground labyrinth and unfold all of it's tempting secrets. Narnia could also prove to be a fantastic adventure waiting to unfold, as well as Laura Ingalls Wilder's pioneer time. I realize these are not all imaginary worlds, but I can't help but feel like it truly is in another world, while I am reading the books in which these places just are.

As far as worlds I would not want to live in; Discworld is definitely one of them. I tried reading one of the books, but I just couldn't get into it. It wasn't my style, so I don't think that world would ever be either. I think that is the only world right now, actually.

If I were a character, I would, without a doubt, trust L.M. Montgomery to write my life. I just love her style. I find it so poetic at times, and just plain pretty feeling with the right touches of humor and sadness.