Goodbye to Weekly Geeks

Back when I was a newbie blogger, I came across a fellow book blogger named Dewey. I thought she was the rock star of all book bloggers. (I know now that we were actually about the same age blogging-wise. Wow.) She knew what she was doing. And she went out and made things happen. The rest of us followed along enjoying the ride. One of the things she created was a meme she called Weekly Geeks. The idea behind this meme was to come and see what the topic or assignment was for that week, then work on it throughout the week, put a post up, and then visit other people's posts. The difference between this one and the many others that are (or were) out there, was that you had to actually WORK for this one. It was a blogging project every week. I loved it! It made me think, it made me be creative, it was so much fun participating. Some of my favorites from Dewey's day were:

The Cover Guessing Game
Author Pictures
The Scavenger Hunt
Asking for Review Questions

Just to name a few!

When Dewey died in late 2008, some of us came together to make that Weekly Geek meme live on in her honor. I was happy to be part of that effort and it's been fun these past few years to try and think of something "Dewey-worthy" to put out there as a Weekly Geek assignment. Some of my favorites that we've all come up with have been:

A Character Conversation
Writing a Book Poem
Trivia Questions
Author Fun Facts
A Cover Study

Now, after nearly three years of keeping this meme alive, we've decided it's had its day and can be officially, but sadly, retired. I'm going miss you Weekly Geeks! It's almost like saying goodbye to Dewey all over again. Thank you to everyone who has participated over the years! It's been a blast! Be sure head on over to the Weekly Geek site to read our final tribute to Dewey and check out other Geeksters' goodbye posts.

Weekly Geeks 2011.24: Back to School

I haven't done a Weekly Geek thing for awhile, so I thought I'd try this one this week. It's a school edition and we are asked these questions:

What's your favorite bookish school memory?

I remember when we read A Tale of Two Cities as a class in 9th grade. I wouldn't have understood a thing without our class discussions, but as it turned, I loved the book! Then we watched the movie (whatever version was on PBS at the time) and I had a major character crush for sure! The same thing happened in 10th grade with The Scarlet Letter! 

I remember reading Great Expectations in 8th grade for on my own reading, and not understanding a word, but getting through the whole book, 10 min at a time, every day in English. 

I remember buying Newbery award winners at the school book fair. 

Did your teacher read aloud to you? Do you remember what book it was?

I specifically remember my 3rd grade teacher doing this and my 6th grade teacher also. I really disliked my 6th grade teacher, and he had a terrible reading voice, so this does not bring back fond memories. But my third grade teacher was awesome and we were enthralled with the books she read... but you know, I can't remember what they were!

Do you remember what books you checked out at the school library?

I remember checking out tons of Nancy Drew. One after the other after the other. And all sorts of Beverly Cleary books too. I didn't use the libraries in my jr. high and high school. Sad.

What was one of the first book reports you did for school?

It's bugging me that I can't remember what reports I did! I know I did a ton of them! 

Do you have a favorite book or author that you first heard about from a teacher or school project?

I discovered Thomas Hardy in high school. I had never heard of him before, but I loved his stuff. I know his books are depressing, but I loved them anyway.

Then there was Shakespeare of course, which I loved learning about and discussing as a class. 

What are some of your bookish school memories?

Answers to The Quote Quiz

Thanks to those of you who tried guessing the quotes I posted last Monday. I thought they were way too easy, but you told me that no, that was not necessarily the case. So here are the answers for those of you who are interested:


1. "Oh, my cherished preserver!"  Mr. Rochester says this to Jane after the first fire in Jane Eyre.

2. "I am haunted by humans." The final sentence of The Book Thief.

3. "Is this a kissing book?" From The Princess Bride... yes I remember it most from the movie, but I'm pretty sure it's in the book too.

4. "For you, a thousand times over." What Amir says to his friend Hassan many times, and what Hassan says in turn to Amir's son later on.

5. "My mother is a fish." Benji in As I Lay Dying... my English class got a huge kick out of this quote.

6. "Alas, poor Yorik." Another memory of English class, this one from Hamlet.

7. "It is a far far better thing that I do, than I have ever done..." The last line in A Tale of Two Cities... I cut it short, it goes on for a bit longer. But I love it.

8. "The happiness which this reply produced, was such as he had probably never felt before; and he expressed himself on the occasion as sensibly and as warmly as a man violently in love can be supposed to do." Yes, from Pride and Prejudice. I love this one too... how you just have to assuming there's a kiss. Ah... imagination!

9. "Do you know why swallows build in the eaves of houses? It is to listen to the stories." From Peter Pan.

10. "I want words at my funeral. But I guess that means you need life in your life."  From I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak... very true words, don't you think? Get out there and live!

Weekly Geeks 2011.19: A Quote Quiz

This week for Weekly Geeks we're talking about quotes. I thought it would be fun to list some of my favorites  and see if you can tell me what book they are from, and who said them. I think they will all be too easy for you. Let's see what you think:

A Quote Quiz

1. "Oh, my cherished preserver!"
2. "I am haunted by humans."
3. "Is this a kissing book?"
4. "For you, a thousand times over."
5. "My mother is a fish."
6. "Alas, poor Yorik."
7. "It is a far far better thing that I do, than I have ever done..."
8. "The happiness which this reply produced, was such as he had probably never felt before; and he expressed himself on the occasion as sensibly and as warmly as a man violently in love can be supposed to do."
9. "Do you know why swallows build in the eaves of houses? It is to listen to the stories."
10. "I want words at my funeral. But I guess that means you need life in your life."

So tell me, do you know these quotes? What are some of your favorites quotes?

Weekly Geeks 2011.16: Best Bookish Moments

Over at Weekly Geeks this week we are asked to think of a few things that have stood out to us since the year began, and have, so far, been our favorite bookish moments of the year.

Can you guess what mine are? Well at least what my top one is? As my mom always says, I'll give you three guesses, and the first two don't count!

Best Bookish Moments of the Year 2011.... So Far

1. Markus Zusak!

Need I say more? Years ago, when I realized this guy was a most awesome author and decided to list him always as my number one favorite, I remember thinking.... too bad I'll never be able to meet him. Then suddenly one day, he came! Now I wonder, did that really happen? Yes, it did!


2. Jenny is blogging! 

Jenny's been coming to book club at my house for years now, and somewhere along the way we clicked and have found a lot of fun in comparing our book (and other) tastes. I've taken her with me along on many bookish adventures and finally, just this past month, she started blogging! Yes, now you all can go over there and see what she thinks about things. Just an example of her style is her non-recommendation for a book she recently reviewed... does she recommend it? "Fat Freaking Chance!"



3. Buddy read with Ibeeeg!

I love buddy reads, and it was a blast to read book number six of the huge Wheel of Time series together during March and April with Ibeeeg. A perfect motivation to get through what is quite the daunting task. Soon, we'll be tackling book seven!



4. A fantastic fun read and new favorite: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss!

Still thinking about it, wondering when I can get back to these characters. Soon, I hope, since I just ordered book two. But life is going to get crazy, so I don't know, I just don't know.

5. General random miscellaneous bookish connections!

Book blogging parties, launch parties, Twitter chats, LTUE, book club, the upcoming Armchair BEA events.... all of it. Connecting through books has just been especially fun this year so far!

What bookish things have stood out to you so far this year?

Weekly Geeks 2011.15: Ask Me Questions!

This week over at the Geeks we are doing another Dewey Flashback! I love those! This one is to ask for questions on a book that you plan to review in the coming days. And then to incorporate the answers to those questions into the review. Get it?

So the book that I'm THIS CLOSE to finishing, and have totally loved and have been completely immersed in this past weekend is The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.

Now... ask me questions! Please!? Post them in the comments.

Then hopefully by the end of this week I'll get the answers and review posted.

Thanks for playing!

Weekly Geek 2011.14: An ABC Author List

Our Weekly Geek idea this week is to create an ABC favorite author list. That way, we don't have to think of just one favorite! Awesome!

Here's my list:

A: Jane Austen,  Isabel Allende, Laurie Halse Anderson
B: Julie Berry, all the Brontes, Bill Bryson
C: Suzanne Collins, Wilkie Collins, Ally Condie
D: Charles Dickens, Alexandre Dumas, James Dashner, Bree Despain, Sarah Dessen
E: Simone Elkeles, Ann Dee Ellis
F: Cornelia Funke
G: John Green, Elizabeth Gaskell
H: Shannon Hale, Khaled Hosseini
I: John Irving
J: Maureen Johnson, Robert Jordan
K: Jeff Kinney, Stephen King
L: Lois Lowry
M: Robin McKinley, Stephenie Meyer, Angela Morrison, Brandon Mull, Juliet Marillier
N: Patrick Ness
O: Scott O'Dell
P: Mary Pearson, Michael Perry
Q: Sir Aurthur Quiller-Couch
R: Janette Rallison, J.K. Rowling
S: Brandon Sanderson, Neal Shusterman, Wallace Stegner
T: Megan Whalen Turner
U:
V: Wendelin Van Draanen
W: Scott Westerfeld, Becca Wilhite, David Wroblewski
X:
Y:
Z: Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Markus Zusak

Who would you put on your list?

Weekly Geeks 2011.12 and A Sunday Salon: Spring Quarterly Report

At first I wasn't going to report on my reading so far this year, but since it's a Weekly Geek assignment this week,and since I'm wanting to take a break from my day book sort of Sunday posts that I've been doing a lot of, I figured I'd give this report a go.

So far this year I've read 22 books, which is three short of where I should be if I'm to make it too 100. In fact Goodreads has even given me the message... "not bad but pick up the pace!" Ha! We'll see about that. You try reading a 1000 page fantasy in the middle of everything Goodreads! :)

Here are the questions posed over at Weekly Geeks that I'll attempt to answer:

• Books published in 2011 you've read that have lived up or NOT to the hype

I haven't read any really hyped up books. Wither was great. Beyonders was great. Hush was okay, My Jane Austen Summer was okay. But there's nothing I've read that bombed in my eyes... yet.

• Something new or different you've added to your blog

Nothing new about the blog really. Same old same old. I seem to have few new readers though! That makes me happy. I added a few new pages and rearranged things a bit back for Bloggiesta in January, but nothing major. Do I need to change something up? Any suggestions? I'm a little scared to mess with things for some reason these days.

• Organizing books - do you have a new system, new bookcases, or are you simply getting rid of things to make room for the new?

Oh wow, I need to organize them somehow. They are getting away from me again! What a mess!

• Changes you are making from the first part of the year to the second part of the year

Hmmm ,well, according to Goodreads I need to pick up the pace! Maybe if I read some "easy" books I can get my total back on track, when I give the 1000 page fantasy thing a bit of break. 

• Most anticipated book releases in April, May and June 2011

There's a lot of local author releases coming up that I'm looking forward to. Back When You Were Easier to Love by Emily Wing Smith, The Forgotten Locket by Lisa Mangum, Possession by Elana Johnson... to name a few.

• How your reading changes from the winter months to the warmer days of spring

Nothing much changes. In June, though, I do hope to read brain candy easy type books while on vacation. Suggestions?

• Is there a book you've read in the first three months of the year which you think will make your top ten list for the year? Share it with us!

Book that I've read so far this year that I'm pretty sure will make to my top ten of the year are Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, Room, The Glass Castle, Paranormalcy and I am the Messenger, if we can count re-reads. 

Other stuff to report:

• I've read five out of the ten books I listed in the post "books I must read in 2011."
• I'm on track with at least one NF book a month.
• In looking at my bookish resolutions, I'm really not doing that well, except for the NF, and perhaps the local author thing. 
• I need to read more classics, more Printz, and more buzzed about books.

And I guess that's about it that I can think of to report on regarding my reading so far this year. I just know that I look at my piles and wish I could read more faster. Know the feeling?

How's it going so far for you?

Weekly Geeks 2011.10: The Bookish Me

It's been awhile since I've done a Weekly Geek assignment. It's about time, right? This week we are to list ten things about us with regard to books and reading. Our bookish personality of sorts. Whatever goes. Here's what I've come up with:

1. Do you ever take a book, usually new but sometimes old, and stick your nose completely into it and inhale deeply? Yep, I do that, quite a lot actually. Ah the smell of books. I love it!

2. As far as the actually physical book itself... I like to read trade paperbacks. Mass market ones are too little, and hardbacks are too big.

3. One of my favorite things is to fall in love with an author and then read ALL their books!

4. It used to be I didn't know how to answer this question: "Are you a plot driven reader or a character driven one?" Hmmm... that's easy now. Guesses anyone? Yep... characters for me.

5. I can read with all sorts of outside distractions... TV, music, kids, noise, people talking, etc. BUT, I have a hard time reading if there's any internal distractions going on. That's why it's hard for me to read while flying (too nervous) or waiting (too anxious... well depending on what I'm waiting for) or if I'm just plain worrying or stressed about something in my life.

6. Reading in bed at night is great, but I enjoy reading in the morning (on weekends of course) even better. My eyes stay open then!

7. I don't think it will come as a surprise that I like to have more than one book going at a time. You can get more read this way, right? Doesn't it work that way?

8. I'm not much of a note taker while reading, and I don't underline and mark up the book. I find it messes with the flow of things.

9. I'm a surface reader, not a deep one. I read for the enjoyment of it, and not for the underlying meanings. That's not to say I don't find the underlying meanings interesting now and then, it's just that I don't necessary look for them much.

10. I enjoy both sad and happy ending books. Sad ones tend to stick with me, and have the greatest impact, but it's best if the story is left with a sense of hope. Happy ones are simply the most fun though, and sometimes I get really bugged if an author sees fit to deny us that happy ending!

Are we the same with any of the bookish habits I've listed?  I'd love to know what your bookish personality is. Do a post and come over and link up at Weekly Geeks.

Weekly Geeks 2011.2: The Printz Award

In honor the awards that were announced last week, Weekly Geeks asks us about our feelings and/or plans regarding book awards. The option I'm choosing to answer today is this one:

Choose an award (like the Printz and Newbery) and look at the list of previous winners/honors. Which books have you read and enjoyed? Are there any that you hated? Share a few 'favorites' with your readers. (If you haven't read any lately, maybe you might want to write up a post listing a few you'd be interested in reading soon.)


Once, nearly two years ago now, I got all excited about the Printz Awards and even started a Printz Project (mostly Jessica from The Bluestocking Society started it, but I cheered her on!) and I said I would read lots of Printz books! But then, it never really seemed to happen, so one of my reading goals for this year is to re-commit to reading some Printz books. I have a bunch just sitting here waiting for me!

But first, let me share with you some of my favorites from that list, and then I'll list some of the ones I'd really love to read.

Favorites:

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
One Whole and Perfect Day by Judith Clarke
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing Vol. 1 by M.T. Anderson
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
A Northern Light by Jonnifer Donnelly
The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson


Hope to Read:

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing Vol. 2 by M. T. Anderson
Nation by Terry Pratchett
Skellig by David Almond
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt
Going Bovine by Libba Bray
how i live now by Meg Rosoff
Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Which Printz books have you read and loved? Which ones do you think I need to add to my list?

Weekly Geeks 2011.1: Self Portrait

Weekly Geeks this week is to take a picture of yourself (or get your kids to like I did!) reading your current book in your favorite spot. So here I am. Notice the glasses on top of the head.... that's because I suddenly can't read with my glasses on. Yep. It's come to that.


Now your turn for a reading picture!

Weekly Geeks 2010.39: Reading Plans for 2011

This week's Weekly Geek question asks what our reading plans for next year are, and what challenges we might participate in and/or host.

So here's the thing, I really love challenges. I think they are so fun... but it appears that I am a much more spontaneous reader then I originally thought. I like working from lists, which is what a challenge basically is, and I usually pick challenges that include books I figure I'll be reading anyway, but still, somehow, I rarely actually finish them! Other things always crop up that bump the challenge books to the side where they are totally forgotten.

So this year, unless there's something that completely entices me, my challenge participation will be much smaller.  Instead, I think I'd rather have more general goals which will hopefully allow for the spontaneity.

Here's what I'm thinking:

** I really enjoyed the handful of read alongs I did last year, and I hope to be able to keep that up and join them at a moment's notice. This includes both online and off.

** I want to still participate in a few, just a few, blog tours including the Classics Circuit.

** I want to be able to read and review a small amount of ARCs, catch up with the ones I've got and then still be able to accept a few here and there, but definitely not have this be the bulk of my reading.

** I want to keep up better with the new books that are coming out and causing buzz, and not just the YA ones, but the ones for big people too!

** That being said, I also want to be sure that I'm reading a lot of classics.

** I want to continue with some series that I've started, and retry some that I've abandoned.

** I will for sure keep reading local authors... and I'd like to reintroduce Printz Award winners back into the line up.

** It doesn't really matter to me exactly how many books I read, but that nice round 100 number is sure fun to aim for.

** I may be really crazy and actually try an audio book next year! (Stay tuned for a post about my hang ups with this. Maybe you can convince me I can do it!)

** Even though I probably won't join a specific challenge for this, I will still be working toward reading all the unread books that have sat on my shelf forever.

Which is all to say that basically, I'll just keep doing what I've been doing!

I'm a little worried that forgoing most challenges will make me feel like a party pooper though. That's probably while I'll still end up reading along with Carl's popular challenges, so I can be part of the party! Or any other popular challenge that suddenly appears!

So anyway. I'm thinking that's a start for next year's reading goals. What plans do you have?

Weekly Geeks 2010.38: Antique Books

I decided I better do a quick Weekly Geek since I posted the question, even if it was a day late! :)

So the question is what old books do you have? Where here old means like, old, like ancient, like antique. And I do have a few, most of them come from my grandparents. So I took some pictures of a few of them for you:

These books were my grandpa's favorites when he was a kid. (He's the one that turned 90 this summer.) One day, he just up and gave them to me. The dates on them are 1927 and 1928.

These Hardy Boy books are my father-in-law's. They are from the 1940's.

The green book is my mom's history book from 1958 or so. The blue book is my grandpa's English book from 1934. What I love about the English book is all the signatures of all the kids inside whose hands this book traveled through. It's like a time capsule.

The Bobbsey Twins book I just found at a thrift store and fell in love with it. It's date is 1929. The Pinocchio book is one I inherited from my grandma. It's from the 1960's. It's a flip book where this side is Pinocchio, but the other side is King Aurthur and the Round Table...but its cover is torn off sadly.

This one also came from my grandma and is dated 1902. I have no idea why she had it. I wish I knew if there was a story behind it. The pictures inside are wonderful

 And my favorite is the husbandry book that was found in a pile of junk on my grandpa's farm. I'm not sure he ever used it, but perhaps his uncle, who he bought the farm from in 1948 or so, used it. It's date is 1899, and I find it a most fascinating, old thing! Inside is all sorts of knowledge about how to run a farm and deal with livestock, including cool fold out overlays of cows and horses like this:

Not that this will ever come in handy for me, but I'll always remember that day we were on the farm going through this junk and I latched onto this old book and my grandpa thought I was crazy!

What cool old books to you have around  your house?

Saturday Stuff: A Bit Me(Me) and Weekly Geeks

It appears I'm killing two birds with one stone today, by answering two meme-ish questions on one post! I know, what a concept. But the questions are a bit more simple for me today so I thought I'd go for it!

For A  Bit Me(Me), brought to you by There's a Book, the question is: If you could take a class in anything (for free) what would it be and why?


I've taken quite a few little fun classes in lots of things and really enjoyed them. But most of them were just dabbling in a topic. So if I could, I'd like to revisit some of those things and get a little more in depth. For instance, I'd like to REALLY learn Photoshop. Yeah, that thing confuses me to no end. And Premiere too. Well, I know that one pretty good, but I'd like to know it much much better.  I'd also like to take more writing classes so I could get enough guts to write a book perhaps. As far as language goes, I'm really keen on learning Italian. That be so cool.  And also (I have you noticed I can never give just one answer to these questions?) a literature class would be awesome!

Weekly Geeks is wondering this week, how we find time to read amongst our other responsibilities. Here are the specific questions:

Do you read for a few minutes here and there?


Yes, I do actually. I read lots in the evening, after family activities or TV or whatever else is happening. I read lots on the weekends, especially Sunday afternoons. I read most afternoons actually when I get that "I must crash now for a moment or die" feeling. I read waiting for kids at lessons and orthodontist appointments. Reading basically fills up all the cracks of time during the day when otherwise you'd be just wasting time waiting for the next thing to start.
Do you put aside certain nights or times of the day to read?


No, I don't do this. I just read whenever it works into the day, all day long, all week long, all month long, all year long.

How do you minimize family interruptions?


Family interruptions just happen and there's no way to minimize them. You just read around them and through them and with them. Sometimes I will say to a kid, "Hey, get your book and come read with me." That works... sometimes. Sometimes, everyone else will be occupied with their various activities and then I know I have a few good moments of reading time. That's when you must be sure to use that time  and not waste it!


My bottom line answer to this question: If you want to read, you'll find time in your day no matter how busy you are. 


You are welcome to join in the fun and answer these questions on your own blog! So what are you waiting for? Come join us!

Weekly Geeks 2010.35: Readers Advisory

Weekly Geeks this week is an intriguing assignment wherein we ask for recommendations and we give recommendations.

But first to answer some questions:

-- Where do you go for book recommendations?

It's all from you bloggers these days, seriously. Your influence over me is huge. It's a little scary, isn't it? That and just falling love with authors and then wanting to read everything by them, or things they like. That adds to my list too.

-- How often do you challenge yourself to get out of your comfort zone?

Probably not really that often, though I'm not opposed to the idea. My comfort zone is pretty broad I think, so it's hard to find something "out of it" really.

-- How often do you read outside your genre?

Hmmm... so what's my genre? All types of YA? Fantasy? Classics? Contemporary, literary fiction? If I consider these "my genres" then I don't get outside of them often. I have read more non fiction this year than normal, and I love it, so that's good. I have read more horror this year and that's been fun too.

-- How often do you try a new-to-you author?

I love trying new authors, and in recent years, my list of new authors I've discovered every year grows and grows. It's very fun learning about how many authors there are out there to love and read.

-- How often do you take a chance?

Again I would say, not very often! So here goes nothing!

And now for the experiment to help me take a chance!

I'm looking for:

....something considered real true science fiction. I think I've read many science fiction type books, and they are all YA for the most part, so I want something in the adult section which is considered real true science fiction. A sub genre of this that intrigues me and which I don't really know what books would be classified as this is space opera. Tell me, what books can I read that would fall in this genre? Anyone? Anyone?

If you're looking for:

....books to help you escape real life (as my sister-in-law whose husband just died this week is asking me for) I would recommend:

Secondhand Charm by Julie Berry
Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
Insatiable by Meg Cabot

....to name a few.

 (What would you add to this list for me to recommend to someone who truly needs to forget about real life pain right now?)

Weekly Geeks 2010.33: Read-a-thon Plans!

For Weekly Geeks this week we are asked to reveal our readathon plans, of which I have a few.

Here's the stack of books I've gathered so far. Not a whole ton, but I may add to it still. I think this readathon I will not worry so much about finishing a book, but maybe jump around a bit. Therefore, I may (yes, it may all change depending on how things go and my mood that day!) count pages read.....

.....especially because I will spend some of my time working on these never ending books! BUT, you can see the bookmark is getting awfully close to the end on one of them! In fact, by Saturday, it may be done! The other one however, seems to be stuck stuck stuck!! Anyway, I will continue to work on them too.

I just got back from the store and brought with me this pile of snacks to be saved for the readathon. It's a bit chocolate heavy, surprise surprise. I think I need to still add some salty something to the mix. As for actual food to eat that day? We'll see when it happens!

I can't decide where to read this year. Last year, I was upstairs on my favorite reading couch. But this year, I may try reading downstairs in my book nook. But the chairs are misfits and not too comfortable for reading. So, maybe we'll bounce between the two.

And yes, I will be trying to get cleaning, and errands and all manner of miscellaneous chores done on Friday, and Thursday and today, so nothing will be calling to me or making me feel guilty on Saturday. I hope. Actually, most of this week is just getting through the book fair, which I'll be working at this evening, tomorrow evening and then putting away on Friday. So by Saturday, I'll be exhausted and so so ready to just sit and read! Here's hoping I can stay awake! Though I can tell you right now I won't read through the night. Just can't do it. I will get up for the start time (6 a.m. here I think) and read until I drop, which will be around 11:00 pm. to midnight. That's a plenty long enough readathon for me!

Oh, I wonder what I'll buy at the book fair? Hmmmm...maybe that stack above will have a whole new book fair stack added to it!

Yes, I will be reading with music on. With my 11 year old daughter by my side. My 18 year old daughter may join us at times with school reading, and hopefully we can get my 15 year old son to join us with some of his school reading too. My husband would like it crazy to sit and "waste" a perfectly good Saturday just reading. However, maybe he'll join us in the evening after he's worked his butt off all day long? Yeah, we'll see.

Well, no matter the plans, I'm just excited to get going!

Let me know if you'll be reading too so I can be sure to check in and cheer you on that day!

Weekly Geeks 2010.29: Reading from the Decades

This week's Weekly Geek project is to look at books published during the decade you were born, which for me is the 60's. Sheesh, that was a long time ago! Anyway, I found this site and have looked at the books and made this list from that list, which was quite fun for me. See what you think:


Books I've Read:

Dune by Frank Herbert (won the first Nebula Award... the only thing I remember about this book... WEIRD!)
The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary (at least I think I read it)
Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss (gosh, what an old book!)
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (only one of the best books ever written!)
Christy by Catherine Marshall (of course I loved this one)
The Promise by Chaim Potok (I can't hardly remember this one. I bet a re-read would do wonders.)

Books That Look Interesting and I May Perhaps Read Sometime:

The Source by James Michner (loved most of the Michner I've read already, especially Chesapeake)
Space Opera by Jack Vance
The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander (um, I know, shame on me. I only read the first one of the series.)
Up the Down Staircase by Bel Kaufman
The Looking Glass War by John leCarre
The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck (one of the few Steinbeck's I haven't read)
The Glass Blowers by Daphne du Maurier (one of the few du Maurier's I haven't read)

Have you read any of these books? What did you think? Do you think these books have relevance today? I think the answer to that is a big resounding yes. Hey, reading books from your birth decade... sounds like a great challenge. I bet there's one out there already for this!

Oh, and hey... do you think books from this decade can be considered classics now? I think To Kill a Mockingbird definitely is anyway.  I suppose if the others have lasting/staying power, we can call them classics too.

What decade is YOUR decade? Have you read lots of books from your decade? This little assignment has made me realize I haven't read many at all from mine. Sad.

Weekly Geeks 2010.27: A Cover Study

This week over at the Geeks, Becky has come up with a list of different ways to ponder book covers. Normally, I'm not that into covers. I do, however, love it when people compare similar covers, but I can't ever think of them on my own. BUT, I do love to compare covers of the same book. Awhile back I did this with Jane Eyre for another Weekly Geek assignment, and it was really fun. So today, I want to do that again and compare all the different covers of The Book Thief. Which one is your favorite?

I think those last two are a bit creepy. And the first two, they're okay. But the middle two, I really like. I have no idea what editions all these are from, or where (what country) they are from. I'm clueless and too lazy to look it up. Anyone know?

Want to join the geek party, head on over and link up your post.

Answers to Author Pictures

Here's the answers to my Author Pictures which I posted last week for the Weekly Geek assignment (with my thoughts on the subjects in blue):



1.Photos of your favorite author(s).

Suzanne Collins

(Can you hardly wait until Aug. 24 and Mockingjay? 

I wonder what she is feeling? 

Is it like butterflies at Christmastime when you are nine?)

The Bronte Sisters
(Lovely painting, don't you think?
 I wish so bad they could still write
 from wherever they are now.
 Maybe they are, and we just can't read it yet, 
until we get to where they are ourselves? 
Now that's an interesting thought.)

2. Photo(s) of the author(s) of the book(s) you’re currently reading.

Robert Jordan
(Mr. Jordan, I'm hooked!)

3. Photo(s) of any author(s) you’ve met in person (even very briefly).

Richard Peck
(Love this picture of him!)

4. A Youtube of (an) author(s) you’ve heard speak.

Shannon Hale, Dean Hale and Nathan Hale
(So this was someone else's video of an event I was actually attending. Very fun!)

5. Any photo(s) you may have of yourself with an author.

Brandon Sanderson
(Love the head tilt! 
But I really wish I'd held up the book he had just signed for me... Warbreaker.)

6. A photo of the author of the book you’ve most recently finished.

Mark Haddon
(Don't know much about this author except he wrote The Curious Incident 
that I just read and quite enjoyed.)


7. Photos of the hottest author(s)!


Sorry, I can only think of the one. I would be "cheating" if I put anyone else here!!! :)

Markus Zusak


(What can I even say about this one? I'm so far gone!
 So cute. 
But, perhaps I could beg. 
PLEASE write another book soon! 
PLEASE come to my area so I can hyperventilate and make a fool of myself say hi!)


Congratulations to any of you who guessed correctly on any of these! Most of you got the Brontes and Mr. Zusak. A couple did well guessing Suzanne Collins and Brandon Sanderson. Way to go!

Weekly Geeks 2010.25: Author Pictures

We doing a Dewey original this week over at Weekly Geeks. We first did it back in August of 2008, one of my favorites. The idea is to post pictures of authors that answer the questions in this list, and have you my readers, guess who you think they are in comments.

1. Photos of your favorite author(s).

2. Photo(s) of the author(s) of the book(s) you’re currently reading.

3. Photo(s) of any author(s) you’ve met in person (even very briefly).

4. A Youtube of (an) author(s) you’ve heard speak.

5. Any photo(s) you may have of yourself with an author.

6. A photo of the author of the book you’ve most recently finished.

7. Photos of the hottest author(s)!


Sorry, I can only think of the one. I would be "cheating" if I put anyone else here!!! :)

Comment with your guesses!