Bluebird Books

My tbr list is insane.  It's so insane, I don't even keep a list.  As a person who loves books and bookstores, I often buy books with the intention of reading them and then shelve them when I get home, remember the five books I'm currently reading and the 5 books I've cued up for the next month.  Am I the only one who buys books like an addict?   this picture makes me feel calm and frantic at the same time.  how is that even possible?? Regardless, I always have an endless supply of books I can pick up when I'm ready for another.  Friends love recommending books to me and it can be kind of frustrating.  I love talking about books but I don't really need anyone adding to my list.  I already have a dread feeling because there are just so many books and so little time.   I'm winding down another book and was looking at one of my stacks to tbr books.  I thought maybe you could help. I'll give you two titles that I already own, let me know what I sh

I've been a part of many book clubs through the years.  They have served a variety of purposes, but probably lowest on the list would be reading.  My former book clubs were ways for me to make connections with neighbors and friends.  They were full of talk about "family and personal experience."  Which is a gentle way of saying birth stories.  And also wine, lots of wine.   However, as a somewhat snooty English major ("with a focus on Literature," said smugly), I would leave mostly frustrated because whenever I would start nerding out about a book I would be met with wide-eyed stares, my friends' mouths agape.   At one point, I looked into auditing a couple of English classes at our local community college to talk books with people.  But that seemed like too much, even for my geek-self.   Finally, I found a solution.   Spurred on by indie booksellers on podcasts and blogs, I looked into local independent bookstores in my area.  And I found it. 

We are not a consistently "fun" family.  There were three Friday nights in a row that we managed to pull off a family movie.  They were nice.  We ate popcorn in the den and watched classic movies.  But, the kids kept laying on us and the movies were either too grown up for our youngest or too babyish for the rest of us.  We ended the "tradition." not as fun as these guys make it look... At one point I decided to do a regular craft day.  Each week, the kids would come home from school and I would have paints and project all set up.  We created cool jellyfish watercolor pictures and made owl drawings using our left hands.  It was glorious.  Except there was always a big mess for me to clean up afterward and I would have to display four versions of the same picture.  We ended "Crafty Fridays."  I imagine that other families are able to do things consistently.  That we are aberrations and our kids will suffer for it.  I picture the dad bringing home

I'm listening to an audiobook now.  An audiobook that I do not like.  I feel pretty confident that I wouldn't like it if I were reading a paper copy.  It would probably get set aside quickly, actually.   Something about the audiobook format keeps me listening when I'm annoyed/frustrated/angry.   That's not to say that I haven't discarded a few of my audiobooks.  When it says I still have 12 hours to go, that feels like an unbearable burden and the "delete from device" option seems so tempting.   Having the time information really puts it into perspective for me.  I like knowing how long I will have to invest in a book and watching that decrease everytime I listen.   If a book isn't too long, I'll just power through my disgust.  Why? Maybe I'm masochistic.  But that doesn't seem likely.  Maybe it's because I'm not actually an audible member--I just get the discount titles when I find them so I don't have

Every now and then I mistakenly think that a sick day = lots of reading.  Today that theory was proved wrong.   I don't have the regular flu and I'm thankful for that because I have heard stories of it lasting FOREVER.  Instead, I've caught the dreaded stomach flu.  This one flares, a few days of gastrointestinal distress and then boom, back to normal.  However, that distress can be intense.   Today I spent the day in my bed.  I would like to think I would have finished a book or at least read more than 10 pages.  The pain, the trips to the bathroom, the naps.  I couldn't bring myself to lift a paperback.   Maybe I'm weak, maybe some people can read a lot on days when their stomach has betrayed them.  But, I just couldn't.  I'm hoping that post dinner (which I will make, but not eat), I will have the strength to lift my book again.  I have also debated forcing one of my kids to read to me.   Anyone else sick?  Are you able to read while yo

So...one post in January, not great...maybe two posts in February?  I'll try for more, I promise. January was a good month for reading.  The cold renders me useless for anything but reading.  I can't take the dog for long walks, I can't gather up the strength to do laundry, I must read.   First of the month was A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny.   "Comfort, security, ease.  None of that comes with money...you asked what I count each evening and each morning.  What I counted each day in prison while better men withered and died?  I count my blessings...we're all blessed and we're all blighted, Chief Inspector...Every day each of us does our sums.  The question is, what do we count?" I can't find mysteries that are better written than Louise Penny and Alan Bradley.  Both have a knack for surprising me.  I haven't started the next Penny yet, but I have it, so maybe in February... Four stars.  Next up was The Book of Unknown Americ