Musing Monday.

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

This week's musing asks: If you were going to write a book, what would you write about? Would it be fiction, or nonfiction?

Well, I've already written a book actually. When I was seventeen. And it's horrible. Truly. I'm not being modest in the least. It will never see the light of day. It's mostly full-on teenage fangirl squeeing with some sort of plot in there somehow. I don't even know how I managed it, or well, if it should really be even be called a book. But it is book-length.

Most people don't know this about me but I used to write every single day from the time I was fifteen to eighteen. I've written a lot of poetry and a few short stories. I still want to try to write a book again someday. I've got lots of ideas floating around in my head, but that's it. They're still just ideas. I suppose I should write them down on paper, but honestly I don't think I will ever forget the ideas because they've lived in there for so long, slowly growing. I don't know why I don't write them out. Maybe I will soon. That's pretty much why I got my "inkheart" tattoo. I've still got words flowing around in me.

And of course, it would be fiction if I ever wrote a book. Out of over the one-thousand books on my reading list (eep!) only fifty-five are non-fiction. So yeah. Definitely fiction for me, because I am a big fiction lover. One of my ideas is a regency vampire fiction. Only I'd do it in comic book form. Another idea would take place in WWII. Another involves a mermaid. I've got more but that's all I care to mention right now, as those have gotten the most depth in my thoughts.

Musing Mondays.

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

This week's musing asks: What book do you wish you were reading right now? Where would you take it to, if you could go anywhere to read for a while?

The book I wish I were reading right now, is Diana Gabaldon's Outlander 20th Anniversary Edition. It's been sitting on my shelf loudly staring at me. I can't wait to return to the story of Jamie and Claire, and finally move to the next books in the series as well. I just can't seem to make room for it yet though on my reading list. If I could go anywhere to read it, I'd actually stay right here in my room, the most comfortable place in the world for me to read. To be able to just stretch out and get truly comfortable and really just be swept away by the story is one of the best things ever.

Musing Mondays.

This week's Musing Mondays asks:

Are you planning on participating in the upcoming 24 Hour Read-a-thon (either as a reader or cheerleader)? Have you made any preparations for the event? And, veterans out there, any tips you’d like to share with the newbies?

Well, I've been thinking about this for a couple of weeks now. The last time I signed up, our washing machine broke down and I ended up spending the day at the laundromat with my mother (whom gets upset and feels ignored whenever I read around her) & I didn't read anything and I felt bad about that. So you may guess at why I am on the reluctant side to try this again... I think I might do it though, but I don't think I'll actually sign up - because I don't know what might come up this weekend. But as it gets closer (like, Friday) I may go ahead and sign up for it. :)

Musing Mondays.

Today's Musing Mondays asks:

Do you listen to music while reading? Does this change if you’re reading in or
out of your house? Do you have a preference of music for such occasions?

Do I listen to music while reading? Generally... no. I used to try to have some nice classical music on while I read, but I found that to be too distracting if a piece I liked was played while I was reading and I wouldn't be able to really concentrate on either one. & No, it does not change whether I'm at home, outside, or someplace else - like a waiting room or sitting in the car. I just prefer quietness while I'm reading because I am easily distracted most of the time.

Musing Mondays.

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about online book sites…

Do you have an account with an online book database site (LibraryThing, Shelfari, GoodReads etc)? If so, do you have a preference? Do you use it for - your own record keeping? finding new books to read? social networking?

I used to use LibraryThing, and I tried out Shelfari, but now I've moved over to Goodreads. & I am way happier with that site than I was with any of the others. I use it mostly for my own reading record keeping which has been pretty handy. :)

Musing Mondays.

Who, if anyone usually accompanies you to the library? Is it somewhere you go alone? Or is it a regular outing with family or friends? Which do you prefer?

Well, I always have a ride to the library, but nobody ever usually comes in with me, because a library stop is almost always on the way to someplace else, which also means I don't get to spend much time there. Which is as annoying as it possibly can be. I prefer going in alone actually, I can't really explain why, I just do!

Musing Mondays

Have you ever finished a book, then turned around and immediately re-read it? Why? What book(s)? (question courtesy of MizB)

Yes. I have. It was The Hobbit. It was actually my second time reading it when I finally had my own copy of it. I sat there for a few moments reflecting on the story, and then I just decided to read it again. So I did. I just love that story so much. :)

Musing Mondays.

How many books (roughly) are in your tbr pile? Is this in increasing number or does it stay stable? Do you ever experience tbr anxiety in the face of this pile? (question courtesy of Wendy)

Oh lord, there are so many. Over one hundred I'm sure. It increases monthly, when my library adds to their "new at the library this month" page. Anxiety, usually, not really. But lately, I have been a little, because my reading habits are so very bad this year. I've only read three books this year and I am highly disappointed in that number. I hope to increase it, quickly. Like, I want it way up there by the beginning of August. (Though it probably won't be as high as I'd like.) But yes, the anxiety has been increasing! Oy. Hopefully in a few months it will have gone away though. That is, if I can manage to tear myself away from other things and focus more on reading. Fingers crossed!

Musing Mondays.

Do you have a system for borrowing out books from the library? Do you know what
you're going to borrow before you get there? How often do you borrow out books?

Sort of. I usually request books on Mondays or Saturdays, because it takes the library system three to four days to send the books to my library, so I can pick them up on Fridays or Saturdays. I do this every few weeks. Sometimes I'll browse the shelves real quick, but I rarely find anything that way. I try not to spend too much time at the library, mainly because I don't have the time, and also because I know I'd be there for hours (probably) if I took the time to really browse all those shelves full of lovely books. But, most times I already know what I'm looking for and I go straight to the "holds" shelves, because that is usually where the books I'm getting are at. Sometimes I come online to check to see if my library has any of the books that have been on my TBR list before i make a trip to the library (rarely they have any of them), so mostly it's requests for me. Sometimes I'll visit the library three weeks in a row, and sometimes it's up to a month where I haven't visited, so it varies.

Musing Mondays.

How long do you wait after finishing a book before you pick/start another one? How many books do you have planned ahead or do you pick up random books from your tbr pile (if you have one)? Do you review right away or keep reading and come back to it later?

Sometimes I pick up another book right away after I finish one. Other times I wait until I find one that suits my reading mood - which can take up to a (frustrated book searching) week. Well, I have a list of "Upcoming Reads" here on my blog, but sometimes I don't even look at it because nothing on it strikes my reading taste at the next book choosing time (strange, I know!). Sometimes I'll have a stack of library books I planned out, or there will be a book on my shelf just calling out to me to read it. I always try to review within the next day after I've finished reading a book, and sometimes I make notes while I'm reading it so I already know what I want to say about it and I can write/post a review right after I finish.

Musing Mondays.

Do you ever reread books? Do you have any favorites that you like to reread over
and over, maybe once a year? What are they? What do you think you get out of
rereading a book? Why do you do it?

Yes. But I haven't re-read any books since January (Deception by Shirley Yoshinaka - one of my favorite Phantom of the Opera "follow-up" reads.) & March (Phantom by Susan Kay - another of my favorite Phantom books). Though next year when I am done with my 50 Book Challenge, I plan on doing some more re-reading, because there are some characters I am really missing, if that makes any sense at all, lol. I do have some favorites that I like to re-read, and would like to return to because they were a new book to me this year that I came across and want to read again. My re-read list is currently at seventeen books, eight I've re-read already in the past, nine I want to return to. The books being at the top of that list are The Hobbit (which I've read four times) and Deception, which I've read twice, and am longing to return to again already even though I read it in January. I think that one is the happiest phantom-tales I've come across so far and may always be my absolute favorite one. I just love to return to a good book and relive everything with the characters and bring them back to life and stir those ever growing emotions I feel for their stories with each read.