The Book Stacks

Because it’s the weekend and because I haven’t had such a good laugh in a long time.

Have a great weekend.

xkcd.com

Last night my husband asked me to look over something he wrote to proofread and check for basic readability. He walked out of the room to do something in the kitchen and I sat down at his computer to look it over.

When he walked back into the room, he said, “Uh oh.”

I asked why he said that and he said that it must be bad if I was still sitting there looking at it. I frowned a bit because what he wrote was actually quite good, and I was still sitting there simply because I hadn’t finished reading.

My husband is a faster reader than I am. He got through his books from Christmas at a rate that amazed me. Still, like anyone with an ego, just because I’ll freely admit he’s a faster reader than I am it doesn’t mean I want to call attention to the fact that I read slower than he does. (How is that for a strange, run-on sentence for you?)

Admittedly, I take longer when I’m in editor mode, but I still was a bit irked that he thought I was still there because there was something wrong, not just because I wasn’t done reading yet.

I don’t think reading faster or slower holds any particular advantages unless you’re a reviewer on a schedule. Still, I can’t help but feel a little slow when attention is brought to my reading speed.

What about you? Are you a fast reader or a slow reader? Do you get annoyed with people who comment about your reading pace?

Hey, at least I’m being honest, right? There are a lot of classics out there, but I have never been one to read books because people tell me I should or need to. The same goes with classics and ‘classics’ - I’ll read it if I care to read it. So, here is my list. Are you brave enough be honest and post up yours?

1. Crime and Punishment
2. One Hundred Years of Solitude
3. The Brothers Karamazov
4. David Copperfield
5. The Hunchback of Notre Dame
6. The Scarlet Letter
7. Beloved
8. The Color Purple
9. A People’s History of the United States: 1492-Present
10. Angels & Demons
11. The Grapes of Wrath
12. Brave New World - I could be mistaken, but if this is what I’m thinking it is, then that’s another ‘not likely’.
13. War and Peace

Check out my other Thursday Thirteens on Write Anyway, Fiction Scribe, and Long Relationships

Thanksgiving (for those in the States) is over, and now it’s time to start thinking about Christmas (if you haven’t already started). Buying gifts for the people in your life – especially the people who seem to ‘have everything’ can be stressful and confusing.

Will he like a golf mug? Will she like this brand of perfume?

It can be a nightmare if you let it. (By the way, don’t buy a woman perfume unless you know for sure it’s the kind she wears. Smells can be very personal. Even candles can be iffy if they have strong scents.)

I am here to save the day! Well, kind of. If you have someone who loves books and loves to read, I have a few suggestions to get you started on your Christmas shopping journey.

Where do you start for the book lover in your life?

Book ends, of course! JustBookEnds.com offers a wide range of awesome and creative book ends. From the natural marble block book ends to book ends that look like, well, books, you can likely find something the book lover in your life will love.

Levenger.com’s tagline is “Tools for Serious Readers”. If you can’t find something at this site that you think your book lover will love, then you’re in trouble. This site offers reading tools, tote bags, desk accessories, and much more. The items at this site look great. (Be warned that for those great looks and options, things are a bit pricey.)

TheLibraryShop.org has a little bit of everything – and a sale section. Like Levengers, there is a lot to look at – even more than at Levengers – so you are going to find something the book lover in your life will like. The price range is great so you can find something nice for little and also have the opportunity to splurge a bit. On top of all that, you can by gift certificates in the event you just can’t decide.

Those are three great sites to get ideas if not actual presents for the book lover in your life.

Be sure to check out my list of things to buy for the writer in your life on Fiction Scribe, and some general guy/gal suggestions on Long Relationships!

No one told me when I started doing book reviews – and I never really asked – that when you start reading books for books reviews, it’s a lot different than reading for pleasure.

When I sit down to read a book as a reviewer, I’m still JM and the book is still the same book. However, when you read as a reviewer, the feelings just aren’t the same.

As a pleasure reader, the first difference is I don’t have a schedule to maintain. I can read as fast or as slow as I want. I can get lost completely in what’s happening and it’s not a big deal if I miss a detail or two because I’m so engrossed in living in the world the author has created.

As a reviewer, I don’t get as lost in the story. That isn’t to say I don’t enjoy books as much; I still enjoy them quite a bit. There is a degree of separation, though. When I read a book as a reviewer, I’m not only taking in the world the author has created; I also take in things such as technical aspects of the writing, how the story works overall, how it compares to other books I’ve read (though, there’s only a little of that with me for my own reasons), and other things.

I recommend everyone give a shot at reviewing at least one books. (Reviewing a few would be better.) You not only could get into something you might enjoy continuing doing, but you could start reading things you wouldn’t usually read. Also, you learn to look at what you’re reading with a critical mind.

When/If you go back to reading purely for pleasure, you can get a fuller experience in your read because you can have a reader’s pleasure while noticing the smaller details a reviewer notices.

PS. Guest reviews are always welcome here on The Book Stacks. Use the contact me button on the right if you are interested in sending me one of your reviews.

The buzz around the internet today is about Harry Potter. Rather, about Dumbledore from the Harry Potter books. As writer for The Book Stacks, I feel I should weigh in on this.

At a reading of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows at Carnegie Hall in New York, with one thousand grand prize winners (of Scholastic’s Open Book Tour Sweepstakes) who had “plus one” written on their invitations eagerly listening, J.K. opened the floor for a question and answer session.

One of the questions asked was this: Did Dumbledore, who believed in the prevailing power of love, ever fall in love himself?

In a move that gave one more reason for anti-Harry Potter people to hate the books, J.K. announced that she had always thought of Dumbledore as a gay man.

Gasp, horror, shock? No. Wild applause, according to reports of the event.

First off, good on the people who applauded for showing not everyone hates gays and lesbians.

Secondly, I, like Dave, wish J.K. would have put something more solid in the books. At this point, revealing that information could just be shoved off as one more thing to gain Harry Potter some press before the whole phenomena dies down too much. (That was my first conclusion when I heard the news.) What better way to stir up a fuss than by declaring a much loved character gay?

Like Aurora, I would like to ask, ‘Who cares?’ Yet, I think about it, and I do. You read about the incident of my book being burned, yes? Well, if I had any Harry Potter books, I could kiss them goodbye as well after this announcement. That’s why I care and why I’m glad Rowling was open and relaxed enough to reveal this information. I think how people take this information – even if they liked Harry Potter before this – will reveal a lot about their character. So thanks to you, J.K., for - if nothing else - using your influence to stand up for being open-minded.

Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling, Dumbledore, coming out, gay, homosexuality, news, books, New York, Carnegie Hall

Hello All! This is just a quick post to say that 451Press has finally arranged a way for me to add my own custom banner to this blog. Yay! Luckily I *do* have some very minor Photoshop skills. (If you want to see real photoshop skill, check out the one my husband made for me over on Watching Doctor Who.) Enjoy!

*taps microphone*

Is this thing on?

Hello all! Thanks for stopping by. I just thought that you might be interested in a couple of things that are coming soon to The Book Stacks. The first news item is related to my Monday game - A Book By Any Other Name. Beginning this Monday, I am issuing a challenge to those of you who play the game each week. If you can get the number of titles containing the weekly word above 45 by Midnight Pacific Time on the following Friday, (with no more than 10 titles commented per person) I will post a poem that I wrote in High School the next day. I figure that this is a suitably embarrassing forfeit (you should see some of the terrible poetry I wrote in High School *shiver*) to encourage folks to work together to comment with enough titles. The challenge will remain in effect until I have to post that poem (*eek*), after which I will issue a new challenge. Good Luck!

Secondly, I’m starting a Book Stacks Book Club (although I’m trying to come up with a better name than that.) We’re going to start with The Children Of Húrin by J. R. R. Tolkien. In two weeks, on 25 May, I will post my review of the book and attempt to come up with some discussion questions. I will also name the next book up for discussion two weeks after that. All you have to do is read the book and tell me what you think in the comments. I’m giving you two weeks to read the book each time, as I know life can be wicked hectic. I am also accepting suggestions for books, and they can range from picture books to Adult Mysteries. Anything is fair game, but I make the final decision. Okay? On non-Book Club Fridays, I will continue to post other reviews, etc.

And finally, just a little plug to remind you to stop by The Blogger’s Choice Awards and vote for The Book Stacks. I’d say “vote early, vote often,” but I’d like to keep it fair. *sigh* Thanks again and I hope that you enjoy the upcoming coolness here.

The Book Stacks, Book Stacks Book Club, The Children Of Húrin, J. R. R. Tolkien, The Blogger’s Choice Awards, The Book Stacks

Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund

April 16, 2007, will be remembered as one of the darkest days in the history of the Virginia Tech community and the world beyond.

To remember and honor the victims of those tragic events, the university has established the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund to aid in the healing process and generate financial support.

The fund will be used to cover expenses including but not limited to:

• Grief counseling
• Memorials
• Communication expenses
• Comfort expenses
• Incidental needs

If you plan to give, please click the link below:

xkcd is “a webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language” and, I should add, extreme coolness drawn by Randall Munroe. I have yet to encounter one of his comics that I have not enjoyed. Where else will you find a whole new level of velociraptor fear, the correct way to avoid folks who want you to join myspace, or random Ender’s Game references? Best of all, we seem to share a pet peeve, so I have included it below. Enjoy!

xkcd, Randall Munroe, Ender’s Game