Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

I used to browse bookstores all the time, but I stopped doing that partly because the chain bookstores are stuffed to the gills with things other than books, which I found to be awfully depressing, and partly because I just don't have room for any more books.

This summer hubby and I finally bit the bullet and decided to install hardwood floor on the main floor in our home. I have been delaying and delaying it because I dreaded tackling our library. It took me forever and a day to cart down all the books to the basement to get them out of the way. I was exhausted and swore I would never buy another book again as long as I lived. When the project was finished, we painted the library walls and re-installed the bookshelves.

This will show show you what a nut job I am: I took advantage of the empty bookshelves by organizing my books according to genre. The bulk of my books are novels. They are now organized alphabetically according to the author's last name. I organized separate sections for each of the following: poetry books, plays, essays, short stories, and biographies. On my bookshelves in my downstairs office, I have feminism, mythology, ancient lit, philosophy, world religions, and the textbooks I used when I was faculty. Now I know exactly where to go when I want a specific book.

I'm reading a lot since I retired, so I'm making prolific use of my local library. Thank goodness for libraries. I like holding a book in my hand, touching it, and smelling it. I love sniffing a good book. I will occasionally read on my Kindle but prefer to hold a book.

I have two sons, both of whom are avid readers. Our eldest compiles lists of books he thinks I will like. He will call me whenever there is an occasion, like my birthday, wedding anniversary, mother's day, etc. to go through the list of books he has picked out for me. I then get to choose which book I want, and he buys it for me. So other than the books my son buys me, I haven't purchased a new book in quite some time.

Like everyone else here, I am thankful for Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ because I get to browse books and see what books people are reading/recommending. I love discussing books in these groups, but I miss the human interaction of discussing books with people face-to-face.

Alwynne wrote: "If you go somewhere like Hay-on-Wye you'll find plenty of good, second-hand bookshops."

Oh thank you for keeping my post covid travel fantasy alive, Al. Have you been?

Story wrote: "Alwynne wrote: "If you go somewhere like Hay-on-Wye you'll find plenty of good, second-hand bookshops."

Oh thank you for keeping my post covid travel fantasy alive, Al. Have you been?"

Yes but not for a while, this gives some background:

Thanks Alwynne....looking forward to pouring a cup of coffee and reading this.

Story wrote: "Well, Hannah, you've just crushed my travel fantasy of coming to a booktown or two in the UK with an empty suitcase & a sack of cash and buying all the BritLit books I can't get here. I'm going to go away and cry a little now.... (joking) ((not really)) (((I really am quite disappointed))"

Nooo! You may have a totally different experience than I did story! I mostly read international literature so I really wasn't in the right kind of place for what I was looking for. There's lots of british lit, I did manage to find a leila aboulela and an aminatta forna (both are scottish) which I was happy about :)

Story wrote: "Leann wrote: "Oh my goodness, I need to read My Side of the Mountain now. I loved the TV series Grizzly Adams because he lived in the mountains with animal friends. That show is still comforting to..."

You have a crow friend? I love that!

It is comforting to know we have so many reading ideas and habits in common.

I read in several genres and find it near impossible to engage someone in an in-person deep discussion about books. Maybe because we each are so focused on our current book mood? I don't know. Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ is helpful because I can cherry pick the group book read I'm truly interested in at the moment and leave the rest.

Anyway, I need to read, even a little bit, before sleeping also. My parents taught me to read in bed at night. My dad went to bed early just so he'd have quiet time to read.

I buy and borrow books in all of their forms. Borrowing has first priority, used books are next. Paper books make my brain feel the best, but ebooks and audiobooks are so convenient in a busy life. The best small-biz used book store is almost thee hours away. They are fantastic. When I get there, I like to be supportive and add lots to my tbr piles. I donate the books I finish back to them unless I want to reread them someday. That's pretty rare, although, lately, I'm rereading books that are nostalgic for me.

I gift books often. Books being gifted to me tapered off after childhood.

Thanks for these prompts! Getting to know each other is really nice.

I try to get my books as cheaply as possible, except for the ones I´d really like to own. Meaning I try the library first - mostly no success, except Classics or Christie mysteries, some contemporary novels when they are very famous/won a prize or are translated into German, then either a cheap kindle edition or an audiobook (I always have credits, but I don´t like most of the US narrators). This is for the books I read with the GR groups, but there are sometimes others that I get from the libraries or as a present for birthday or Christmas. And then there´s Netgalley which mostly doesn´t have the books we´re reading here or don´t give them to one who doesn´t have a book blog like me.

I just wanted to let you all know that I'm really struggling. I have chronic migraine and I've suddenly gone from 2/3 severe days per week to 5. My life has been reduced to lying in bed with ice on my head and the pain is relentless. I'm checking goodreads a lot but I'm rarely able to actually read. I'm worried about the group reads that I've committed to, especially soviet milk that I'm supposed to be leading next week. This has happened before so I'm going to stop nominating books and I'm going to reduce my challenge goals. I'll do what I can

Hannah I'm so sorry I had a brief phase of suffering from migraines so I know how hideously overwhelming they can be, I was fortunate in that mine were related to a hormonal problem that got sorted out. I can't imagine how I'd have coped if they hadn't gone away so I think you're amazing for how well you've dealt with these so far. I really hope you can get some decent support and treatment, I can post some articles and other things about Soviet Milk on the thread to get it started if that would help. Otherwise just look after yourself.

Hannah wrote: "I just wanted to let you all know that I'm really struggling. I have chronic migraine and I've suddenly gone from 2/3 severe days per week to 5. My life has been reduced to lying in bed with ice on..."

I'm so sorry, Hannah. I wish there was something I could do to help. I hope you feel better soon.

Hannah wrote: "I just wanted to let you all know that I'm really struggling. I have chronic migraine and I've suddenly gone from 2/3 severe days per week to 5. My life has been reduced to lying in bed with ice on..."

Hannah, I'm so sorry to hear this and hope you have treatments available to you that will reduce your pain and improve quality of life as soon as possible. We'll collaborate together on the Soviet Milk discussion (thank you, @Alwynne) and appreciate the heads-up, but the most important thing is for you to feel like yourself again, soon. Take care.

Hannah wrote: "I just wanted to let you all know that I'm really struggling. I have chronic migraine and I've suddenly gone from 2/3 severe days per week to 5. My life has been reduced to lying in bed with ice on..."
Oh Hannah how awful. As you can see from our comments, we just wish you relief from your suffering. Take care.

So sorry Hannah - can´t imagine what you´re suffering. Hope you´ll find proper treatment and can recover soon. Just look after yourself!

It sounds so frustrating and painful Hannah. I hope you find relief very very soon.

Migraines are the worst. So sorry. I hope you get relief very soon.

Definitely most important that you care for yourself Hannah. I'm so sorry you're in such pain.
Migraines suck and absolutely derail things. Hopefully you can get back to reading soon, and no worries about the thread but thank you for the thoughtful heads up.

Take care, Hannah.

Thanks everyone, means a lot

So sorry to hear you are suffering like this Hannah, no pressure here, just rest and take care, I hope you have all you need to get through these days. Sending calm, healing thoughts.

Story wrote: "This week's question
How do you obtain the majority of your books: library, books bought new or used? E-books or paper? Does browsing for books whether in a book store, flea market or online make your heart sing? Are you a poweruser of your library's catalogue? .."

I've always been a book buyer but more recently I wish I had the availability of a great library. I've started buying books on Kindle but I really do prefer holding a book in my hand and turning the pages. I absolutely love spending time in bookstores but it usually turns into purchasing rather than simply browsing.

Hannah wrote: "I just wanted to let you all know that I'm really struggling. I have chronic migraine and I've suddenly gone from 2/3 severe days per week to 5. My life has been reduced to lying in bed with ice on..."

Hannah, I am so sorry to read this. I'm also a chronic migraine sufferer and reading is impossible while you are dealing with the pain... and even a couple of days after. When I was working I was suffering from what they call "weekend migraines" which are migraines that come on Friday evening after you've left the office from a stressful week. You spend your entire weekend in bed and are back up in time to go back to work on Monday.

I noticed that you didn't mention any medication. Do you take anything for your migraines? I have been using Zomig the past 4 or 5 years and it is amazing. Before that I used Imigran. My body gets used to the medicine and it eventually stops working.

Thank you again everyone for your kindness and well wishes.

Liesl - mine started out as "weekend migraines" also when I worked full time in an office and initially triptans like the ones you take worked for me. But then I started to get "rebound" migraines and ended up taking a triptan at least once per day (nobody told me you should take 8 per month max or this can happen). I ended up quitting my job and having to stop taking the triptans (they just stopped prescribing them which was excruciating). This was 10 years ago. Since then I've seen several neurologists, tried about a dozen different preventatives, none of which worked, gave up on modern medicine, dealt with my emotional issues believing this was the root of my problems.... only to have the pain get worse and worse and worse. There are more modern injectables available as preventative treatments now so I asked for an urgent referral back to neurology....in March.....still waiting....

That sounds agonizing, Hannah. I have a few migraines a year, (that turn out to be triggered by corn and soy in food) and am completely flattened by them so can't imagine how you are coping having so many, so often. And having to wait so long to see a neurologist is maddening. Sending virtual hugs of empathy your way.

This week's question: What elements make a book an ideal read for you? Describe your ideal reading experience (when, where, what, how).

My ideal reading experience: sitting outside a little cabin in the middle of a huge forest with fresh air, the gentle sounds of nature, the 'just warm enough to sit outside' sun shining, and all of my dogs (past & present) snoozing at my feet. Oh and perhaps my partner inside cooking us some tasty snacks!

My ideal read: real, complex characters, writing that is simple in an 'easy to read' kind of way but meaningful, intelligent and unafraid to go against the norm. Subject matter unimportant

Story wrote: "This week's question: What elements make a book an ideal read for you? Describe your ideal reading experience (when, where, what, how)."

I'm definitely a character driven reader. I need great characters - whether they be actual characters or even land over time (like those epic generational literature reads that make me roll my eyes at words like "epic" and "sprawling" but I've found that I actually love them). I love difficult situations and people, the ugly side of life, and you're making me realize that I like traumatic stories and characters... and I read most things.

I like Hannah's ideal read.

I always read in bed at night. I like the idea of reading at the pool or the beach or the woods, but I always get distracted in reality and the only place I can read is in bed. At night.

Thank you for the introspective prompt!

Hannah wrote: "My ideal reading experience: sitting outside a little cabin in the middle of a huge forest with fresh air, the gentle sounds of nature, the 'just warm enough to sit outside' sun shining, and all of..."

That's a beautiful description, Hannah, though I'll admit I usually become too distracted myself to read in the forest. (I live right next to a big one.) Audiobooks work well on forest walks though :)

Any other audiobook fans here?

My ideal reading experience is a day at my favourite rocky beach on the Côte Bleu with my beach chair, picnic, and a chunkster of a novel, that intermittently I put down as I immerse in the Mediterranean and then return to read, cool and salty.

My ideal read would usually be some kind of thought provoking, compelling literary fiction or historical fiction, of a reflective, sometimes challenging nature. Maybe translated fiction. By the end I will have highlighted hundreds of quotable passages and I'll be encouraging someone else to read it.

Anita wrote: I'm definitely a character driven reader....I love difficult situations and people, the ugly side of life, and you're making me realize that I like traumatic stories and characters "

We're alike in that character-driven is very important for me as well (as is vivid setting and a strong voice), Anita, but I shy away now from the ugly side of life, after having experienced a little too much trauma in my life.

Anita, what is it that appeals to you as a reader about 'the ugly side of life"?

Years ago, I came across an essay by the author Amanda Craig in which she wrote about what she called "sunlit" (as opposed to 'grimlit'). Sadly the article is behind a paywall now but I saved it in an email so will quote a bit here:

You don't want to read the sort of novel that, if superbly written, offers an awful sort of consolation, the feeling that Life is even worse than you suspected. You want to read something that is not chick-lit, but sun-lit: something that is both literary and pleasurable, something that lifts the spirits while engaging the mind....Every once in a while a literary novelist (usually female) writes such a book. AS Byatt's Possession was one, as was Rose Tremain's Music & Silence, Sarah Waters' Fingersmith.... to read them is to undergo that miraculous transformation of mood, so powerfully uplifting that Francis Spufford, in his book The Child that Books Built, compared it to a drug high."

So, yeah, that pretty much describe my ideal read! If it can take place in a hot bath, so much the better.

(If anyone would like to read the whole essay, just PM me and I'll send it to you.)

Claire wrote: "My ideal reading experience is a day at my favourite rocky beach on the Côte Bleu with my beach chair, picnic, and a chunkster of a novel, that intermittently I put down as I immerse in the Mediter..."

Oh that sounds heavenly, Claire!

How do you highlight--in an e-reader or right in the text? Annotations too, or just highlighting?

A friend of mine writes all her favourite quotations in a book and loves to share them with others.

Sorry to say I turn down corners of the page but don't annotate, I just know that on that page is a passage of interest I can find again. it's only in recent years I've been able to do it, be sure I'd receive a book from a friend who did that and I was curious to know which passage attracted attention, initially I was horrified by it. I'm over that now, it's just very practical and leaves a kind of presence.

I do have an e reader so I highlight on that too.
I also have a page on my blog called "What They Said" and I keep just one quote per book. I love looking back on them months later, outside the context of the book, where they begin to develop deeper, wider meaning.

I nearly always include favourite quotes in my reviews on my blog, using them to express elements of a review, and to demonstrate style.

I like to read mostly when it´s quiet and I can concentrate - either on my sofa or in bed. Sometimes reading on the kindle when I go by public transport over a longer period. When I´m out in nature I think I would miss something when I´d be reading, but it´s good when I´m waiting and have nothing else to do.

I´m reading "heavy", serious books alternating with lighter ones like mysteries of the Golden Age.

Story wrote: "Anita wrote: I'm definitely a character driven reader....I love difficult situations and people, the ugly side of life, and you're making me realize that I like traumatic stories and characters "

..."

I have come to love audiobooks and always have one that I listen to when my hands and body, but not brain are busy - walking, cooking - and fall asleep to them every night. I started listening to them heavily last year.

I don't know that the ugly side of life appeals to me so much as books with darker stories and characters tend to have very developed characters with rich and robust backgrounds, which lends to the character driven stories that appeal to me.

Claire wrote: "Sorry to say I turn down corners of the page but don't annotate, I just know that on that page is a passage of interest I can find again. it's only in recent years I've been able to do it, be sure ..."

I feel a little less lonely and sin-ful reading that you dog-ear, and continue full of admiration for your robust reviews.

I've now set up the entry for our December read Attia Hosain's Sunlight on a Broken Column and added links, including one to a free, online digital copy that can be downloaded as a PDF file.

Alwynne wrote: "I've now set up the entry for our December read Attia Hosain's Sunlight on a Broken Column and added links, including one to a free, online digital copy that can be downloaded as a P..."

Most excellent.

As we´ll also be reading Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants in November, I read that it was among the Climate Change Kindle Book Deal for 99p - for those who don´t have the book already.

This week's question

Has a book ever brought you closer to another person, or conversely, come between you? If so, what book was it and why do you think it caused a change in your feelings?

A book hasn't necessarily brought me closer to anyone, but identifying a loved book or an interest in a book has sometimes indicated that it's worth spending more time with someone and seeing if a relationship develops. If they said they like sushi, same impact. Conversely, if someone mentions that one of their favorite books is Gone with the Wind or anything by Ayn Rand*, without any caveats or effort to address how that statement might come across to me, I might go all judgy and just withdraw from the conversation as swiftly as is polite under the circumstances. (*I adored The Fountainhead at the time I read it. I see those raised eyebrows lol. I was/am a failed architecture major. I found Rand's passion for her theory as expressed via its characters to be really intriguing and memorable because at the time I read it I was 20 or so and had never read another fiction work like it. Propulsive. I also didn't know anything about her or her philosophy at the time I picked it up and read it. For clarity, my adoration doesn't extend to her philosophy, which I abhor.)

Carol, I could have written the exact same post! If people have those among their favourites it really bothers me a lot. Unless, like you and Rand, they read them at a very early age. I read 'The Fountainhead' in my teens, and really didn't have a clue what it was about, it was only later I understood how it fitted with Rand's odious beliefs. I skimmed 'Gone with the Wind' later, mostly because it's such an influential book and I wanted to be able to back up my perceptions of it, but what a terrible, hate-filled novel. I'm always taken aback by readers who defend it on the basis of the supposedly feisty heroine, which is a bit of a broad interpretation! Out of the hundreds upon thousands of novels available you'd think they could find one that managed to feature a spunky central female character who isn't also hideously racist with ties to the KKK!

So sad to hear that bell hooks has died. She was only 69.

Alwynne wrote: "Carol, I could have written the exact same post! If people have those among their favourites it really bothers me a lot. Unless, like you and Rand, they read them at a very early age. I read 'The F..."

Funny.

I'm fairly certain that my disdain for Moby Dick has caused some GoodReads folk to decide we're unlikely to become close friends, too. And, on a lighter note, when I get a friend-vite from someone who has given The Silent Patient 5 stars, I look to find something else in their profile or shelves that supports accepting.

Story wrote: "So sad to hear that bell hooks has died. She was only 69."

Oh, wow. Yes, that's a gut punch.

The Lexington Herald-Leader published an obituary that's not behind a paywall. I'm sure there will be others that are more robust, but this is where her family resides and I like to hear the sense of belonging and connection this reflects.




"hooks� family said that contributions and memorials can be made to the Christian County Literacy Council via Paypal, which promotes reading for children, or the Museums of Historic Hopkinsville Christian County where a biographical exhibit is on display."

Carol wrote: "Alwynne wrote: "Carol, I could have written the exact same post! If people have those among their favourites it really bothers me a lot.

Carol wrote: Funny. I'd add The Help to my list, but mostly I just practice my poker face when readers who enthuse about it. We're unlikely to become close friends, although it's possible -- if they self-admit to a 30-day in-patient rehab institute with a program for clueless white people.

Yikes! When I posted this question for discussion I guess I was thinking more along the lines of my friendships that have developed over the shared love of a book or an author. For example, one of my dearest friends and I became friends over our shared love for the three Margarets: Atwood, Drabble and Laurence.

As a working class person who was the first in my extended family to attend university, I often faced the sting of others' prejudice over not having read the 'right' books or for loving the 'wrong' books. I'd hate to think of someone perusing my GR shelves and judging my moral value as a human based on the books I've enjoyed. But I guess that also answers part of my question about how books can come between people. Just not in the way I intended when I chose the question.

I'm sorry if it comes across like that Story. It's not about snobbery it's about the possibility of other people being prejudiced, As I'm not white, people loving books that are either explicitly racist (and pro Slavery) like Mitchell's or politely racist like 'The Help' or extremely right-wing like Rand's is something that bothers me on a personal level. I have friended people who have Mitchell on their lists, for example, but only when I know them well enough to be sure it's not representative of their attitudes in general. I know that Carol takes these issues seriously too, and I'm glad for it. And I know from what you read, you do too Story.

It's not about judging someone's 'moral value' it's about self-protection and not aiding/abetting the spread of values I can't endorse or support.

I don't like 'Moby Dick' much either but that's mostly because I think it's very dull and over-rated!

Story wrote: "Carol wrote: "Alwynne wrote: "Carol, I could have written the exact same post! If people have those among their favourites it really bothers me a lot.

Carol wrote: Funny. I'd add The Help to my l..."

I’m sorry, story; I can understand how it came across. I don’t consider any books to be uncool or guilty pleasures or the like. I identified a couple of red flags only because they’ve been rock solid predictors of gaps in priorities and values that will impede friendship. The silent patient comment reflects my 1-star rating and is more of a book lovers� joke, like .. why would anyone who 5 starred x want me for a friend? I also don’t judge the extent to which someone has read a high volume of award winning or highly touted works. My reading years are full of crime novels and the like, which is a nice cover for a whole lot of interests and reads most folks deem geeky and I code switch all day long, most days.

Story wrote: "So sad to hear that bell hooks has died. She was only 69."

Very sad. I iust recently read Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism and I couldn't really fathom how it had escaped my radar for so long... sad to try to imagine the loss of her words and activism in our future