Currently Reading

The Sunday Salon [10.24.10]

Michelle19 Comments

What is it about fall that just makes the days fly by? I apologize for my sporadic posting and my inconsistent commenting lately. It just seems like by the time I settle down from my day, it’s 10pm and I can’t bring myself to finally get around to this blogging stuff. This week, my in laws are visiting so I don’t expect to be much better. Maybe I’ll get caught up on life in November?

For those who were following the Gatsby drama last week, he is home and doing well. He’s still recovering from a respiratory infection he picked up while at the hospital, but he seems to have recovered from whatever mystery illness sent him there. Now we have the fun task of keeping the two cats separated for awhile in our little apartment (with additional guests at the moment). Life is interesting.

(Gatsby on his first night back home – doesn’t the shaved arm make him look like he’s wearing uggs?)

I’m still finding some time to read (apparently not enough as I have to return 3 unread books to the library today which is becoming a habit), so let’s just move on to a little summary of that.

Most Recently Finished:

Print

Audio

Currently Reading

Print

Audio

On Deck

I’ve also added an “In the Wings” section to the sidebar so you can see what I’m thinking about reading in the near future.

Print

(Betsy in Spite of Herself)

Audio

I started to listen to the Bill Bryson playaway and a few hours in, I realized that it was abridged so I put it down and requested the unabridged cds. I’m annoyed that it was not written clearly on the front of the box. I’m also annoyed that abridged books exist.

What are you reading this weekend?

Sunday Salon 9.12.10

Michelle17 Comments

The Sunday Salon.comI was feeling a little lazy this morning and almost decided against a Sunday Salon post, but then I realized that I may not have a chance to write one the next two Sundays so I better post one today. As I started writing, this post became much more about my life in general than about books. But you’ll still find a condensed reading/blogging update at the bottom.

Next weekend, my best friend from law school, Susan, is coming for a last minute visit. I haven’t seen her in over a year and she’s never seen where I live now (I actually think she’s never been to Florida). We’re going to squeeze a quick Wizarding World of Harry Potter trip in (which I promise I will actually post about this time) followed by a stop at Downtown Disney to soak up some Disney atmosphere. Then we’ll head back over here and spend the second day at the beach. I don’t think I can adequately explain how excited I am for these two days. I would give just about anything to be able to see Susan every day again. At least we have our daily emails.

A few days after Susan leaves, I’m heading up to Michigan for a long weekend for my little cousin’s wedding. I’ve got just about my entire time there planned with family and friends and I am hoping (fingers crossed people) that I get a little fall weather. I haven’t seen fall in three years and I would love to experience just a touch of that fall feeling (the crisp air, that fall smell, you know what I’m talking about). Fall was always my favorite time of the year and I really miss it living here (but ask me which place I prefer come January).

As for books, I didn’t manage to read much this week. I had a lot going on in the evenings and I spent my Saturday attending a conference and then watching Michigan’s incredible win over Notre Dame (but I am going to wait a few more weeks before joining in with those Heisman whispers surrounding Robinson). I have a feeling my reading is going to wane a little the rest of this month but sometimes you need to focus on the real world a little and that should be fun.

This week I reviewed Ape House and Mr. Peanut. I also found a nice discussion on my Reading Speed & Speed Reading post. Then I kind of disappeared.

Since I didn’t do much reading, I’m going to skip my usual Just Finished/Currently Reading section. I’m still listening to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on audio. My print book is Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut.

I hope everyone had a wonderful week and is enjoying their Sunday. Anyone reading anything fabulous?

The Sunday Salon 8.8.10

Michelle10 Comments

The Sunday Salon.comI slept for 9 1/2 hours last night after spending the day at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I woke up to a very quiet house. I have my tea and a few hours before yoga. Perfect Sunday Salon time.

Harry Potter was pretty great. I think it deserves its own post, so look for that this week, but a quick summary is: hot, crowded, still worth the trip.

I haven’t been able to read a lot this week/weekend, but I have some hopes about today. My sister-in-law, Melissa, is visiting us right now and she is among my favorite visitors. Her trips always include a lot of sitting around and reading (maybe to balance out the trip to an amusement park we always end up taking). And when she leaves, we send her home with books. I’m still thinking of which books she should take with her tomorrow. I’m on a YA kick as her pile so far includes The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, The Disreputable Histpry of Frankie Landau-Banks, and Before I Fall. She has already started and finished the third Mysterious Benedict Society.

As for me, I:

Just Finished (and by just, I mean two weeks ago):

am Currently Reading:


am Currently Listening to:

have On Deck:

and Recently added to my TBR:

Recommended by Galleysmith

Recommended by Chick Loves Lit

Recommended by Devourer of Books

Recommended by KellyVision

As I was writing this post, Melissa woke up, came out to the living room, grabbed a drink, and sat down with The Hunger Games. Best guest ever, right?

What are you reading today?

Question: do you guys like when I incorporate my TBR books into this post or do you prefer they get their own post? I’m still deciding which I like better.

The Sunday Salon: The Too-Excited to Do a Real Post Edition

Michelle5 Comments

As I hear everyone discuss how they are frantically packing for BEA and I watch people start to arrive in New York City, my excitement about this week grows. I don’t leave until Wednesday so I am not really frantically doing anything (except incessantly talking about the trip as I have been told by my husband). I’m more of a throw-clothes-in-the-suitcase-10-minutes-before-leaving -for-the-airport kind of girl, but I’m enjoying everyone else’s franticness.

The list of things I’m excited for:

  • I am thrilled to be able to finally “meet” all the wonderful bloggers I feel like I already know so well. This is what I’m most looking forward to.
  • This is my first real trip to New York City. So much to do – I’m thankfully lucky enough to have a great tour guide and hostess.
  • The abundance of books I plan on taking (or shipping) home with me.
  • The Lost finale – did I really just throw that in there? Yep.

And because this IS a Sunday Salon post, here is a little reading update:

Recently finished:


Currently reading:

Currently Listening to:

On Deck (and not ashamed to say so):

The Sunday Salon: My 2010 Goals

Michelle15 Comments

The Sunday Salon.com

It’s a new year and I’m using this turn-a-new-leaf time to write my first post for The Sunday Salon.  These are some of my favorite posts from other bloggers and I want to join in the fun.  The description of the Sunday Salon is one of a mini-readathon, but I’ve noticed that most use it as a sort of weekly recap or a place to discuss a particular idea.  So if I’m doing it wrong, let me know, but I’m taking my cue from loads of other book bloggrers.

This week has been a bad one for reading and a good one for blogging so I guess overall it’s been an average week.

Reading

Despite the limited time spent at work, I still didn’t manage to finish a book (a feat I last accomplished on December 5 – how sad).  I am currently reading:

It is my goal of the day to get to page 600 in The Sweet Far Thing.  That’s about 125 pages and will bring me 200 pages from the end and is certainly possible if I can just sit down and do it.  I must say I’m not enjoying this book very much and only want to finish it because it’s the  last in a trilogy.

Blogging

This could very possibly be the most I’ve written in one week.  This week I told you about my Christmas goodies both in book form and reading related.  I shared my favorite books of 2009 and my reading stats for the year.  My favorite post (and most visited by you) is my husband’s guest post sharing his favorite books of 2009.  I’m glad you all enjoyed hearing from him and left encouraging comments.

I loved reading everyone’s end of the year recaps.  This might be my favorite time of the year to open my google reader.

Goals

Everyone is talking about their reading goals for the new year.  I don’t want to set myself any numeric goals because I’ve learned that I can’t predict how much time I’ll have to read.  Instead, I want to set a few guidelines that can apply no matter how much I read and list a few books/authors that I hope to get to in 2010.

  • I want to read more adult literature than young adult/middle grade.  While I love YA/MG books, I felt like I got a little distracted from other books in 2009.  So it doesn’t matter if it’s one book more or 30 books more, I just want to read more adult literature than not.
  • I’m aiming for 20% of my books to be classics.  That’s a little better than I did in 2009.
  • And I’m aiming for 15% of my books to me nonfiction/memoir v. fiction.  I’m trying to broaden my reading horizon.
  • Specific authors: Margaret Atwood (never read); Isabelle Allende (never read); Kurt Vonnegut (haven’t read in awhile)
    • Specific books: Uglies by Scott Westerfeld; The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein; David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (my one daunting read for the year) ; Finish the last 5 Betsy-Tacy books; The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

      While I didn’t meet all of last year’s goals, I did like having them as a guide, so that’s all this is: a guideline. If I don’t meet it, no worries.  I’ve also joined a few challenges so with these guidelines and the challenge requirements, I think my year is on the right track.  If only I could finish The Sweet Far Thing.