BOOKKEEPING: The Reading Status Report
Currently reading: Perfect Life by Jessica Shattuck, via LibraryThing Early Reviewers
Book reviews posted this week: Fool, by Christopher Moore
Next review scheduled: All We Ever Wanted Was Everything, by Janelle Brown
Bonus Bookery: BOOKKEEPING, expanded edition: The (half) year in books
New to my LibraryThing “to be read” collection:
The Divorce Party: A Novel, by Laura Dave (won in a giveaway from Bookworm with a View)
I have decided not to catalog my Kindle books in LibraryThing, since the Kindle will keep track of them for me (duh). And I think I’m definitely going to be sucked into a “why wait for the paperback when the e-book is already out, and cheaper?” habit, based on my first five purchases:
The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
Admission, by Jean Hanff Korelitz
Sag Harbor: A Novel, by Colson Whitehead
The Song is You: A Novel, by Arthur Phillips
(And speaking of Kindle purchases – wouldn’t you know they’d lower the price
In case you hadn’t heard yet: Book Blogger Appreciation Week is being observed from September 14-18 this year, and it will have its own blog – bookmark it NOW!
** Are you participating in the Fifty Books for Our Times Reading Project organized by My Friend Amy? (I’ve claimed #32.) All of the books on the list have been claimed by at least one reader/reviewer, but since doubling up is allowed, you can still join in!
Tuesday Thingers, hosted at Wendi’s Book Corner: “Too Much Networking?”
There are so many wonderful resources available to us as bloggers and individuals. Take a look at just a few of the many social networking sites: Facebook, MySpace, Library Thing, GoodReads, Twitter. . . the list can go on and on!
Sometimes it is hard to keep up with everything, and sometimes we all need a place just for us – where we don’t have any blogger responsibilities.
My Answer: I like social-networking sites generally, but sometimes it’s hard to tell. I’ve mentioned in previous Tuesday Thingers that I don’t really use the social side of LibraryThing very much (and although it feels disloyal to say so, I think GoodReads does that part better). I’m sporadically active on Twitter – I check in almost every day, but I tweet more on some days than others, depending on what else is happening. I have a Facebook page, and more and more of my off-line friends and family are getting active there, but sadly, publishing my blog posts over there is the extent of my FB activity most days (and that’s automated).
And that’s the heart of it for me, lately. There’s only so much time in a day, and time spent on social-networking sites is time when I’m not doing blog-related stuff. And I like my blogger responsibilities! The blogiverse is still my preferred place for online socializing. I’ve noticed that as some bloggers participate more in social sites, they blog less…and I miss them. I understand the “something’s got to give” thing, though, and for me, that’s more likely to be social-networking activity than blogging. For now, anyway – ask me again in six months.
Booking Through Thursday: “Unread”
“So here today I present to you an Unread Books Challenge. Give me the list or take a picture of all the books you have stacked on your bedside table, hidden under the bed or standing in your shelf – the books you have not read, but keep meaning to. The books that begin to weigh on your mind. The books that make you cover your ears in conversation and say, ‘No! Don’t give me another book to read! I can’t finish the ones I have!’ “
“NO! Don’t give me another book to read! I can’t finish the ones I have!” I can’t imagine ever saying that, can you?
The current count of my “To Read” collection in LibraryThing stands at 209 – what you see above is just a sample. See for yourself: go to my LT catalog, and select “To read” from the drop-down “collections” menu button in the upper-left corner. Sort the list on the “entry date” column to find some of the oldest ones; anything dated January 4, 2008 was in my possession when I first set up my books on LT. Some of them had been in my possession for years before that, though. I still believe I’ll get to them eventually.
As long as this “challenge” doesn’t require me to declare an intent-to-read-by date for any of these books, I think I can manage it.
Friday Fill-ins #132
1. The last thing I ate was a cheeseburger cooked on the backyard grill and the toasted whole-wheat bun it rested in (oh, and some mac and cheese).
2. A Kindle and some e-books to read on it is something I recently bought.
3. When it rains, it makes the streets slippery and the drivers worse than usual.
4. Tall Paul was the first person I talked to today (the dog doesn’t count).
5. Hugs are the best medicine (that was my answer last week, and I’m sticking to it!).
6. A cozy blanket gives me a little extra comfort.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to a quiet evening, tomorrow my plans include the usual Saturday stuff during the day, and seeing Spamalot! at the Ahmanson Theater at night and Sunday, I want to relax in the morning, before going to my nephew’s 6th birthday party in the afternoon!
If this weekend is less eventful than last weekend was, it’s fine with me!
Ok, now tell me.. why did you buy a Kindle with additional books to read.. when you have all those books still on your TBR shelf?
(tee hee *call me hypocritical, I won't deny it as I go and buy more and more and more and more)
My BTT and Friday posts are up at The Burton Review
Have a great Friday!
You can get a refund for $60, if you bought your Kindle in the last 30 days. One of my neighbors did and she said it was simple. Buying books on the Kindle is almost too easy, isn't it?
Marie – I think you've answered your own question :-). Enjoy your weekend!
Kathy (Bermudaonion) – Thanks for the mention about the refund; since I bought my Kindle less than two weeks ago, it qualifies, and Amazon is processing it! And yes, it's almost scary how easy shopping for the Kindle is.
Have you done a review of the Kindle yet? I listen to the Tech Guy's radio show, and I know he loves his. I guess I'm wondering why it's better than a book? I mean, the cost of the unit will take forever to recoup just on what you save on books, so it's not a money saving proposition, really. What's that hook?
Billy Rhythm – I've only had the Kindle a few days, and haven't read anything on it except the user's guide, so no review yet. I don't know if it's better than a book, but I think there are times it will be more convenient than one (especially when traveling). Also, the fact that you can adjust the text size means I may be able to read it without my glasses :-).
I'll read my copy of Reading Like a Writer if you read yours! 🙂 the only thing i've read on your To Read list the the Sarah Vowell book which i can really recommend
I went ahead and followed your advice, bookmarking the Book Blogger Appreciation Week blog. 🙂
My family and several friends have been pushing me to sign up for FaceBook but so far I have resisted. I struggle just keeping up with the social networking sites I do use. I've noticed that a couple of the online reading groups I belong to are quieter because so many of the members on on Facebook. I understand the appeal to some extent, but there's also aspects of it that are more of a turn off for me than not.
I skipped this week's BTT because I am too embarrassed to admit just how many unread books I have. My husband suggested I take a photo of the house and post that, saying that it was the only way I could fit them all in one picture.
I'm thrilled for you that you got a Kindle. 🙂 I think I talked to my dog first Friday morning too, but, like you, figured he didn't count. I hope you are enjoying your weekend. How was the show? I'm surprised my husband hasn't been jumping up and down to see Spamalot. Happy birthday to your nephew!
Apparently, Bloglines hasn't been feeding me your most recent posts. Aarrggh. So, I'm a little late on reading and commenting!
I'm with you on the LibraryThing/Goodreads assessment. I use Goodreads as a social tool and it is there that I list all the books I've read whether owned or borrowed. I tend to comment and track others recent reading there as well. LibraryThing tends to be the place where I catalog my collection. I do place reviews in both when appropriate.
And re too much social networking. Don't get me started! I'll just say … I can't keep up!
Melanie – I'll agree to that challenge as long as we don't set a date for it :-). My husband has read the Sarah Vowell book, and he liked it too.
Wendy (Literary Feline) – I agree with your conflicted feelings about Facebook. One reason I'm not as active there is, honestly, because it's blocked at work, and I don't want it to take up half my evening when I get home. I really like seeing that it's made some of my off-line friends and family, most of whom don't blog, more active online, but it's also pulled some bloggers in a different direction. And a lot of the apps are kind of annoying, if you ask me.
I almost blew off the BTT question too, and I think my response was a bit of a cop-out, to be honest. I think your husband has the right idea about your collection, though :-).
I will be posting about Spamalot soon, but short answer: I had a fantastic time! It keeps most of the best scenes from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, adds some new material and songs, and is hysterically funny. If your husband is a Python fan, you should definitely try to see it!
Terri – I've heard Bloglines can be persnickety (I use Google Reader myself). Glad you stopped by!
I think that deciding that I won't beat myself up over the social-networking stuff I miss has helped me deal with it. Some days, just visiting and commenting on blogs is quite enough for me :-).
I absolutely loved The Divorce Party and hope you do too! If you review it, definite send it over to me and I will link it to my review. Have a great weekend!