Category: Booking Thru Thursday

Booking Through Thursday

Twenty-seven years ago today, God blessed me with another son.  I can’t believe how fast the time has gone by.  I am so lucky to be his mother.  He fills me with love and pride as I see the man he has become.  And this year, on November 16th, he will be getting married and presenting me with a daughter, Jess, who my husband and I love and consider her our daughter.

Happy Birthday Mark!!!  I Love You!!!  

You will always be my baby!

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This week’s question:
Clocks change this weekend here in the US, which means one less hour to read … does anybody else begrudge that hour like I do? Wish the Powers That Be would just pick a time-frame and stick to it instead of inflicting clock-driven jet lag on an innocent public twice a year?
(Yeah, so not a question so much about reading … except, of course, you do need to use your electric light to be able to read, so the hour it gets dark IS relevant!)

My response:
I agree.  I understand some of the reasons, such as it being dark when children are waiting for buses to transport them to school, but wish that the time changes be done with.  I don’t know about you, but it takes me at least a week for my internal clock to adjust.  And I find that, during the winter when it gets dark at 4:30pm, makes the evening seem so much longer.  I am very much looking forward to the longer sun filled days.

What about you?  Does the time change affect you in any ways?  Do you wish that changing the clocks be abolished?

Happy Valentine’s Day and Booking Through Thursday

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This week’s question:
Not the kind of “love” question you’re expecting for Valentine’s Day. No, what I want to know is:
What do you love most about reading?

My answer:
I have many reasons why I “love” reading.  One is to escape into the pages, tuning everything out around me, which also relaxes me.  Being able to “travel” at without airfare :).  Becoming “friends” with the characters.  And when I read novels of the mystery/suspense genre, becoming the PI to try and find out the “who dun it”, which isn’t often because the writer has written an intricate puzzle.  Plus, I would much rather read and use my imagination to create a movie in my mind than watching a movie.

What about you?  What do you love about reading?

Booking through Thursday

Hi All:  I haven’t been participating in memes lately for a couple of reasons.  PICT and PBP tour companies have been keeping me very busy with all of our tours.  I invite you to stop by and see what great titles have been booked.  If interested in any of the titles and think you would like to participate, there is a form on either site to fill out.

And then, over this past weekend, had some major computer issues, which resulted in something I wasn’t anticipating, to purchase a new laptop since the old one crashed.  I have been trying to transfer all of my files and sites to the new one to bring it up to speed.  Not a fun task!!  But getting there.

What’s new with you?

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This week’s question:

It’s the depth of winter here where I live right now … what books do you like to read when it’s snowy and white? What books do you read to evoke a real feeling of winter (good or bad)?

My thoughts:
I have never been a seasonal reader when it comes to titles but am when it comes to reading habits.  I also live in an area where it’s the depth of winter and, especially during a snow storm, love to get comfy in my reading chair with a fleece throw, a hot cup of coffee or chocolate and read.    My reading room/office is set up so that when I am in my recliner,  I can also glance up to look out the window to see the snow falling and blowing around.  Matter of fact, this scenario played out yesterday.  I have been in a reading slump and thought that this setting would help, which it would have, if I hadn’t dozed off lol.  Unfortunately, the depth of winter flu bug, has come to visit at the Mash household.  🙁

Booking Through Thursday

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Today’s question:
Any reading resolutions for the new year? Reading more? (Reading less?) Reading better books? Bigger books? More series? More relaxing books?
And hey, feel free to talk about any other resolutions you might have, too … or why you choose NOT to have any.

My response:
Resolutions…wondering does anyone really keep their’s throughout the year.  I know I never have so I don’t really make any.  Hower, I do have “hopes” for the New Year.  Some include reading and other’s personal.

When it comes to reading, I hope to make time for more reading.  This past year due to health issues and being very busy with the VT companies, which is a great thing, I just couldn’t find the time to read.  And if I did, I found myself dozing off, which could be age lol.

On a personal level, 2013 is going to be an exciting year for the “Mash” family with our youngest son getting married on Nov. 16th.  And with that comes mother of the groom dress shopping, planning a shower, rehearsal dinner and all the other things that the groom’s parents need to do.  However, I refuse to shop for a dress before I take off the weight I put on since my surgery.  So diet is my #1 goal.

What about you?  Any resolutions either for reading and/or personal?  Would love to hear!!

Booking Through Thursday

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Today’s question:
So … you’ve just finished reading a book. For the sake of the discussion, we’ll say it was everything a book should be—engaging, entertaining, interesting, thought-provoking. The kind you want to gush over. The question is—do you immediately move on to your next book? Or do you take time to contemplate this writerly masterpiece and all its associated thoughts/emotions/ideas for a while first?

My thoughts:
What a great question!  Don’t you think?

I have 2 responses since my reading habits have changed since I became active in this community of book bloggers.  Before blogging, I would have gone instantly onto the next book.  But for the past 3+ years, I don’t and the reason is reviews.

I just finished reading Goodnight, Brian by Steven Manchester a 5+ emotional read.  This story will stay with me for a very long time as did his other novel Twelve Months.  Since I write my review of a book before starting another, I would say that I do take time comtemplating the read, pulling my thoughts together, thinking about it’s pro and cons, if any and what I felt while reading it.  However, when I’m almost done with the book, I may start thinking what book I should read next.  But sometimes, a book touches me so deeply, like Goodnight, Brian did, that I have to take a couple of days before picking up another because the next book has to be just as good.  I wrote my review yesterday and still can’t decide what my next read will be.

What about you?  Do you rush and start the next book because there is so little time and oh so many books or do you take your time?

Booking Through Thursday

    

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Today’s question:
1. How do storms affect your reading? Do you go for comfort reading?
2. How do you deal with power outages? Do you read by candlelight? Flashlights? Use a self-lit e-reader or tablet? Skip reading altogether for the duration and instead play games with the family?

My thoughts:
1.  As far back as I can remember, I love curling up with a good book, nestled under a fleece throw and coffee by my side during a storm.  Especially in the winter if a heavy snowfall is predicted.  As a child, I remember how I loved to read during T-storms.

2.  My Kindle doesn’t have a backlight but I do have some battery powered book lights that attach to both my Kindle and print books.  When my sons were young, and we had a power outage, games were played.  Now that my husband and I are empty nesters, I do look forward to reading during a storm, however since my husband isn’t a reader, there are quite a few interupptions because he gets bored and wants to talk.

What about you?  Do you enjoy reading during storms and power outages?

Booking Through Thursday

    

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This week’s question:
The flip side of last week’s …
Are there any good books that you read IN SPITE OF the cover and ended up wondering what on earth the artist and publisher were thinking to pair up a cover that so badly represented a perfectly good book?
And … if you didn’t like the cover, what made you pick up the book? The author? Assigned reading from school? A recommendation from a friend?

My answer:
Unfortunately, yes.  And quite a few.  BB (before blogging), I will admit, when purchasing a book, I would first pick up a book because of it’s cover and then read the synopsis.  Unless it was a writer that was on my “authors to read” list.

However, for the past 3 years, since becoming an active participant in the online book blogging community and accepting requests to review,  it’s the synopsis and/or reviews from other bloggers that influence  me.   After receiving said books,  there have been a few times where I have thought, “what were they thinking?”  I also wonder if the cover is any indication of what kind of read it is going to be.  And in those circumstances when the book is a 4-5 star, I then think “the cover is going to hurt the sales of a book” putting myself in a consumer’s “shoes”.  Even though I loved the book, I know I would have missed out on a good read if I saw it on the shelves.

In my opinion, even though you aren’t supposed to judge a book by it’s cover, when I see a poorly designed cover, I automatically think that the caliber of writing will probably be amateurish especially in today’s market where anyone can self publish.

What about you?  Do covers influence you?  Have you read a 5 star novel but hate the cover?   What are your thoughts on poorly designed covers?

Booking Through Thursday

    

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Today’s question:
Do you bring the book(s) you’re reading with you when you go out? How?
Physically, or in an e-reader of some kind? Have your habits in this
regard changed?

My answer:
For as long as I can remember, a book is in hand whenever I leave the house, except for one time when I didn’t and I learned a lesson.  It’s automatic, grab my pocketbook, keys and my current read be it either a print or EBook.  No matter where I am going, my book comes with me.  Even if it is a short errand.  All I can think about is “what if” situations and have no book with me!!  Example…I get a flat tire and have to wait for AAA, I need my book to read while I wait.  However, there was one time, earlier this year, when I wasn’t feeling well, called the doctor and was told to come right in. Rushing to get ready, I forgot to grab my book.  No problem, I would see the doc and then come straight home.  WRONG!!!  From the doctor’s office, I was rushed to the hospital.  I was more upset that I didn’t have my book, as I sat in the ER for hours, than for why I was there.   I learned my lesson.

What about you?  Is your book always with you?