Booking Through Thursday: But What About Me?

What’s your favorite part of Booking Through Thursday? Why do you participate (or not)?

Booking Through Thursday is one of the first weekly postings that I came across when I discovered the world of book blogging and I try to take part every week! I think that the questions often make you think a little bit more about the books that you are reading. I love hearing about what other people are reading too and I usually add a couple of books to my wish list after reading people's Booking Through Thursday responses.

Booking Through Thursday: Too Short?

“Life is too short to read bad books.” I’d always heard that, but I still read books through until the end no matter how bad they were because I had this sense of obligation.

That is, until this week when I tried (really tried) to read a book that is utterly boring and unrealistic. I had to stop reading.

Do you read everything all the way through or do you feel life really is too short to read bad books?

I used to be really stubborn and would finish a book even if I hated it, this was right up until I started my blog! Then I realised just how many wonderful books there are out there and I felt like I was missing out by spending my time reading something that I wasn't enjoying. I do still try to give a book a fair few chapters before I give up and it is rare that I will start something that I don't enjoy. Some people have a 3 chapter rule but I think you have to take into consideration what type of book it is and if others have said it has a slow start etc. I did used to feel really guilty if I didn't finish a book but now I just reach for the next one!

Booking Through Thursday: One Question

If you could ask your favorite author (alive or dead) one question … who would you ask, and what would the question be?

My favourite author is Daphne Du Maurier and I would ask her if the character of Mrs Danvers definitely dies in the fire at the end of Rebecca. I'm sure she does but she's such a sinister character and it makes me shiver sometimes to think that she could pop up again!
What would you ask your favourite author?

Booking Through Thursday: Recent Enjoyable

What’s the most enjoyable, most fun, most just-darn-entertaining book you’ve read recently?

(Mind you, this doesn’t necessarily mean funny, since we covered that already. Just … GOOD.)

I like this one! I can't really pick just one book, there have been quite a few that have stood out for me recently! I loved The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, I just could not put it down as I was so drawn in by the plot and characters. Her first book, The House at Riverton is also a good read but I though this one was excellent. My reading choices have been quite varied recently depending on mood, The Seance by John Harwood is a very dark and mysterious book and has one of my favourite book covers of the year! My third and final choice would have to be Rumour Has It by Jill Mansell, I have only read two of her books so far but I know that I have found a new author to enjoy!

What about you, what has been your most enjoyable, recent read?

Booking Through Thursday: Recent Fluff

What’s the lightest, most “fluff” kind of book you’ve read recently?

I'm not sure if I like would like to use the word 'fluff' to describe it but the lightest book that I have read recently would be Life's Too Short to Frost a Cupcake by Rosie Wilde. It was pure escapism, basically Alice has got a good, solid job at Carmichael Music, an extremely reliable boyfriend and a family that doesn't cause her too much trouble. However, this all changes when Alice's boss from New York pays a visit to the London office. Alice is pretty certain that she is in the firing line, but instead she is offered a dream job opportunity in America. The only catch is that the aim of her glamorous new job is to persuade the once-successful but now highly reclusive rock star, Wyatt Brown to record an album.

I'm really enjoying reading some lighter books at the moment, it's lovely to just drift away somewhere pleasant for a while! What's the lightest book that you have read recently?

Booking Through Thursday: Recent Funny

What’s the funniest book you’ve read recently?

I couldn't decide between two so I shall tell you about both! The first one was Alan Carr's autobiography, this had me laughing out loud several times.

The second one was Running in Heels by Anna Maxted; as I said in my review, this book is extremely poignant but the author manages to slip in a few laugh out loud moments along the way. I think it's great when an author can make you laugh, I'm sure it's really not an easy thing to do!

Booking Through Thursday: Preferences

Which do you prefer? (Quick answers–we’ll do more detail at some later date)

Reading something frivolous? Or something serious?
I really can't pick, I like a good mix of both!
Paperbacks? Or hardcovers?
Paperbacks, Hardcovers are too heavy to read in the bath!!
Fiction or Non Fiction?
Definitely fiction.
Poetry? Or Prose?
Prose but I do really enjoy reading poetry.
Biographies? Or Autobiographies?
Hmmm I would probably have to say biographies as most of the people I am interested in reading about are no longer with us!
History? Or Historical Fiction?
Historical fiction
Series? Or Stand-alones?
I mainly read stand alones but it's nice to find a good series of books too.
Classics? Or best-sellers?
Classics, they're usually best-sellers too!
Lurid, fruity prose? Or straight-forward, basic prose?
Again I think you often need a bit of both!
Plots? Or Stream-of-Consciousness?
Plots
Long books? Or Short?
Long, something to really get your teeth into!
Illustrated? Or Non-illustrated?
Non-illustrated probably
Borrowed? Or Owned?
Owned in case I really love it as I wouldn't want to give it back!
New? Or Used?
New, I buy a lot of second hand books but it's always exciting buying a brand new sparkly one!

Booking Through Thursday: TBR

I missed BTT last week but here's my answer to this weeks question:

Do you keep all your unread books together, like books in a waiting room? Or are they scattered throughout your shelves, mingling like party-goers waiting for the host to come along?

I am very particular about this, all of my TBR books are kept separately on the top shelf of my favourite bookcase. I like to see what I have to choose from and as this bookcase is at the top of my stairs, I tend to pass it several times a day, so this gives me plenty of time to choose which book will be next. I think that if I didn't put all of my TBR books in one place then I would forget what I had bought and then they would just be replaced by even more! What about you?

Booking Through Thursday: Celebrities?

Do you read celebrity memoirs? Which ones have you read or do you want to read? Which nonexistent celebrity memoirs would you like to see?

I occasionally read celebrity memoirs but they are not my favourite type of book! Probably the most high-brow celebrity memoir I have read is Living History by Hilary Clinton. I'm sure some people would not class her as a celebrity but this book was truly fascinating. You get a real feel for how the White House works behind the scenes and she is extremely honest about how she handled her husband's now infamous affair.

The other celebrity memoirs I have read recently are a little more trashy! I was bought the Girls Aloud memoir, Dreams that Glitter for my birthday and I love them so I really enjoyed reading about how they have been so successful.
I also read Alan Carr's autobiography a couple of weeks ago and that was excellent as well, it had me laughing out loud several times. I have to be really interested in the person in order to read someones memoirs, it's quite a personal choice of book in that way.

(sorry about the italics but Blogger is clearly having a bit of a funny today!)

Booking Through Thursday: Hot!

Now that summer is here (in the northern hemisphere, anyway), what is the most “Summery” book you can think of? The one that captures the essence of summer for you?

I would have to say To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. The friendship that forms between Jem, Scout and Dill over the first summer that they meet reminds me of the Summers that I used to spend playing outside with my friends. I love this book, going to pop it on my summer reading pile right now!

Booking Through Thursday: Niche

There are certain types of books that I more or less assume all readers read. (Novels, for example.)

But then there are books that only YOU read. Instructional manuals for fly-fishing. How-to books for spinning yarn. How to cook the perfect souffle. Rebuilding car engines in three easy steps. Dog training for dummies. Rewiring your house without electrocuting yourself. Tips on how to build a NASCAR course in your backyard. Stuff like that.

What niche books do YOU read?

I had to really think about this one as I rarely read non-fiction books. After having a look around my house I would say that the main type of niche book I read is recipe/cookery books; I love cooking and I have about 20 recipe books in my kitchen which I probably do refer to most weeks. The only other type I could think of is books about writing, I have only one of these as it came highly recommended. I used to think that if you need a book to tell you how to write then you probably aren't cut out for writing anyway. However this book Wannabe a Writer by Jane Wenham-Jones is brilliant, it has loads of information about how the publishing industry works and a guide to what to do with your manuscript once you have finished it. Also it has many inspiring words and stories to spur you on when you feel that you couldn't possibly write another word!

That's about it really, I'm a bit lazy other than that, if I need some niche information then I tend to look for it on the Internet, what about you?

Booking Through Thursday: 15 Books

This can be a quick one. Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen books you've read that will always stick with you. First fifteen you can recall in no more than 15 minutes.

1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
2. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
3. After You'd Gone by Maggie O'Farrell
4. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
5. The Secret History by Donna Tart
6. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
7. Dracula by Bram Stoker
8. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
9. Anne Frank's Diary
10. King Lear by William Shakespeare
11. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
12. Matilda by Roald Dahl
13. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
14. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
15. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Booking Through Thursday: Unread

Is there a book that you wish you could “unread”? One that you disliked so thoroughly you wish you could just forget that you ever read it?

Up until a few months ago I would always finish a book even if I hated it but then I realised (it's only taken 26 years!) that there is no point continuing with something that I am not enjoying when I could be reading something that I love. So nowadays if I disliked something that much I would just stop reading it when I have got to the point that I know it is not going to get better for me. This rarely happens and it is always a bit disappointing but there's millions of books out there, you are always going to come across one that is not right for you. So I don't think that I would ever want to 'unread' a book, I think each book we do read tells us just that little bit more about our reading likes and dislikes.

Booking Through Thursday: A Second First Time

What book would you love to be able to read again for the first time?

I love this week's question as I have never really thought about this! I am probably going to sound a bit obsessive now as I go on about it so much but I would love to read Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier again for the first time as it really is my favourite book plus it introduced me to a fantastic writer whose work I am still reading and enjoying today.
I would also have to say Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, I had such a brilliant teacher at school for this who gave me a real love for Austen. I fell in love with this book the first time that I read it, I think that Elizabeth Bennett is one of the greatest literary characters created (Mr Rochester is not bad either).
Arrgggh there's so many books that I would love to read again for the first time, I have to mention Ralph's Party by Lisa Jewell too. Again this is because it introduced me to such a good writer, Lisa Jewell is often categorised as a chick lit writer and I can see that but for me personally, she just has the edge over other writers in that genre. I have read all her books and she is an author who truly inspires me to write myself.

Booking Through Thursday: Gluttony

Mariel suggested this week’s question

Book Gluttony! Are your eyes bigger than your book belly? Do you have a habit of buying up books far quicker than you could possibly read them? Have you had to curb your book buying habits until you can catch up with yourself? Or are you a controlled buyer, only purchasing books when you have run out of things to read?

I am definitely not a controlled buyer when it comes to books! I do buy books quicker than I can read them but I would hate to only have one new book on the shelf waiting to be read. It's good to have lots to choose from as I think you have to find the right book for you at a particular time. I like to keep my new books separate as well, the top shelf of my favourite bookcase at the top of my stairs is dedicated solely to the books waiting to be read. It's nice to be able to see them as I climb the stairs, it gives me many opportunities to decide on what I will read next. What about you, are you a book glutton?

Booking Through Thursday: Graphic

Last Saturday (May 2nd) is Free Comic Book Day! In celebration of comics and graphic novels, some suggestions:

- Do you read graphic novels/comics? Why do/don’t you enjoy them?

I used to read comics when I was very young and did enjoy them but as an adult they have never interested me. Maybe I still feel that they are a childish thing. I don't think that a graphic novel or comic would have enough detail to hold my attention, I love reading as it allows me to use my imagination where as with a graphic novel, most of that work is done for you. I have to say though that I have always found the characters from some of the main stream comics to be really intriguing when I have seen their stories translated to the big screen, I am thinking of characters such as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Peter Parker/Spiderman.

- How would you describe the difference between “graphic novel” and “comic”? Is there a difference at all?

I really don't know anything about them so I am just guessing that a comic is like a short story and a graphic novel is exactly that, a novel and so longer and detailed. I am probably completely wrong.

- Say you have a friend who’s never encountered graphic novels. Recommend some titles you consider landmark/”canonical”.

Again, I would not have a clue, maybe I need to check out this section in my book shop next time I go, just to see what it's all about!

Booking Through Thursday

It's Thursday again! Here's this weeks BTT:

Which is worse?

Finding a book you love and then hating everything else you try by that author, or

Reading a completely disappointing book by an author that you love?

Oooh I had to really think about this one and I think that finding a book that you love and then hating everything else by that author is worse. I LOVED The Secret History by Donna Tart, I re-read it so many times and recommended it to loads of people so I was beyond excited when she published another book called The Little Friend. I really hated it, I didn't even finish it and I just remember feeling so disappointed, it was as though it was written by a completely different author.

I think you are very lucky if you can find an author that you love and they have written many books. I love Daphne Du Maurier and have always enjoyed anything that she has written but I was a little bit disappointed with her book Jamaica Inn. I knew though that there were other books by her that I would be able to try and I have not been disappointed for a long time!

Booking Through Thursday: Spend, Spend, Spend!

Booking Through Thursday time again:

Yesterday, April 15th, was Tax Day in the U.S., which means lots of lucky people will get refunds of over-paid taxes.

Whether you’re one of them or not, what would you spend an unexpected windfall on? Say … $50? How about $500?

(And, this is a reading meme, so by rights the answer should be book-related, but hey, feel free to go wild and splurge on anything you like.)

Oh dear mine probably are very predictably book related! If it was $5o then I would most likely buy some books on my wish list which seems to get bigger everyday! If it was $500 then I would fulfill my dream of turning one of our sitting rooms into a library. The front sitting room of our house has a big bay window and a wood-burning fire place and it is the room we like to sit in and read. There is a really large wall at the back of the room which I would love to put shelves up and fill that wall with books! Neither myself or my partner are that brilliant at DIY so I would use the $500 to pay a carpenter to make us some fitted shelves and there would probably be some money left over for a new book or two!

Booking Through Thursday: Library Week

This weeks Booking Through Thursday was suggested by Barbara and I think it's a really good one!

I saw that National Library week is coming up in April, and that led to some questions. How often do you use your public library and how do you use it? Has the coffeehouse/bookstore replaced the library? Did you go to the library as a child? Do you have any particular memories of the library? Do you like sleek, modern, active libraries or the older, darker, quiet, cozy libraries?

I am very lucky in that I have a public library literally at the top of my road! It is a very old Victorian building and houses a small children's and adults library; it does not have a massive collection of books but there is usually something to be found! I think I prefer older libraries like this to be honest, I think they are cosier and more inviting. We have lived in our current house for nearly two years now but I have probably only started using the library in the last few months. As I have written on this blog before, I kept putting off going in as I had a fine from the library where we previously lived due to being very late taking my books back. However, my other half nagged me to join this new one and I am glad I did and as it is only at the top of my road, I have no excuses for books being late!

My parents always encouraged me to read and I can remember that the hairdressers that I went to when I was little was right next to the library so once my hair had been cut I would go next door and read and pick some new books whilst my Mum had her hair done.

I think we can often take libraries for granted but when you think about it they provide a marvellous service. All you need do is join and then you have access to all of those beautiful books and it is free! I know that I will definitely encourage my children to use the library so that they can discover the wonderful world of reading for themselves!

Booking Through Thursday: The Best Book You've Never Read

We’ve all seen the lists, we’ve all thought, “I should really read that someday,” but for all of us, there are still books on “The List” that we haven’t actually gotten around to reading. Even though we know they’re fabulous. Even though we know that we’ll like them. Or that we’ll learn from them. Or just that they’re supposed to be worthy. We just … haven’t gotten around to them yet.

What’s the best book that YOU haven’t read yet?

I think that I have probably said this before but I would have to say anything by Charles Dickens. Somehow I managed to do a whole degree in English Literature without reading one of his novels. I recently bought a copy of Great Expectations but it is still sitting on my book shelf. I think I worry too much about Dickens due to the many mixed opinions out there; some say he is amazing; others say his descriptions are hard going; some describe his writing as depressing where as others think that it is truly inspirational. I am reading an extremely light book at the moment as I am so tired but I think maybe it is time to give Dickens a go and then I will have my own opinion on him instead of worrying about others!