Are you one of those people who like to be reading several books at once? You may have one by your bed, one in the living room, and one in the bathroom. Or you may have a novel, a how-to, and an inspirational book that you're perusing. I'm usually not one of those people although I know many that are. I like to be focused on one book until I complete it and then move onto something else. Occasionally I vary from this, but that is the method I am most comfortable with.
Therefore, I was surprised at how many books I had checked out from the library. I knew that I had several, but decided today that I should gather them up to see what I actually had. And I found that I had more than one, more than two, and more than three--the numbers with which I am most comfortable. How did this happen? Well, the first thing is that I work in the library and am surrounded by interesting (and not so interesting books) everyday. However, I don't really have time to look at them during work, so anything that catches my eye, I take home for further investigation. I'm not sure why more things have been catching my eye recently, but it may be related to the fact that I can't seem to settle into a book right now.
Nevertheless, here's what I found on my book hunt today.
The Mad, Mad, Mad, Sixties Cookbook by Rodgers and Maclean--This book caught my attention when another staff member was reading titles of some of the recipes. They reminded me of all of the good stuff I'd had at cover dish dinners both long ago and recently. Some recipes never get old. So far, I've only read the introduction, but I hope to spend more time with this book.
Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho by Fodor's--I hope we can go on a vacation to these areas this year. I will look at the book more if I can get the rest of the family to agree on a time that they can go.
Sarah, Plain and Tall by MacLachlan--One day the children's librarian was saying how this book is beautifully written with just the right amount of words. I haven't read it in a very long time, so I thought it was time to revisit it. I haven't opened it yet and it may go back before I do. There are plenty of copies, so I should be able to easily get it another time.
Help, Thanks, Wow by Lamont--This book about prayer was actually a gift, but I want to read it. I'm just getting into it, but I really like Lamont's style. She puts things in a very accessible way whether or not you are a religious person. I started this book with Wally and hope I can continue it with him.
The Peculiar by Bachmann--One day the children's librarian was listening to some music by the author of the book. This exceptional kid wrote the book when he was sixteen and has composed symphonies as well. When I asked her if the book was any good, she said that it was and it showed up on my desk a couple of days later. I've only read a couple of chapters of this dark fantasy novel and while I would like to read the whole book because it starts out with an intriguing story, I don't know if I will finish it before it is due back.
Repairing Antique Clocks by Smith--Theo is learning to repair old clocks, so I though that I would learn a little about the subject myself. So far, I have only looked at the pictures, but Ward is reading the book. He is finding it quite interesting.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Skloot--I read this very good book a couple of years ago about the life of Henrietta Lacks, her contribution to science, the ramifications that had for her family. This is our book this month for book club, so I'm trying to read it again. If you haven't read it, I highly suggest that you check it out.
South Dakota's Black Hills and Badlands by Insider's Guide--another vacation book that hasn't been opened.
The Diet Cure by Ross--I am usually not attracted to diet books. There are so many of them and they all claim that they have THE answer. So I don't really know why I brought this one home except the cover said that it would end food cravings and right about then I really wanted some Oreo cookies. However, I skimmed the entire book and started reading the first couple of chapters. I may actually spend some more time with this book. It seems very reasonable so far.
Home to Harmony by Gulley--This is a charming book about life in a small town much of which I can relate to. However after I read a few chapters in it, I lost it for a couple of weeks. I finally found it at the doctor's office I had taken it to to read while I was waiting for my appointment. If I hadn't lost it, I would have finished it. But I'm not sure how it will stack up against the rest of this pile before it has to be returned.
So there you have it. A big pile of books, none of which is getting the attention it deserves. If I had any doubts before, they have been to put to rest. I can't seem to manage a lot of books at once. But how nice that I have a library that let me try this experiment.
What is your reading style?
Ooo...this is a favorite topic of mine - what people are reading and how people read. Your photo really makes me smile, because I'm often in the same boat.
ReplyDeleteI alternate between excessive (reading, or not reading, 5-10 books at a time) to minimalist (reading one book on my phone, which is what I'm doing right now).
I returned a few books last week that didn't make the pile, so I had even more out. And I feel like I'm missing a few that I haven't found yet. The libraries have just raised the limits, so one card can now check out 100 books at a time. I don't know how anyone can manage that many books at once even if they have a use for all of them like a teacher.
DeleteWhat are you reading now?
I fear I have a strained relationship with books. As a borderline dyslexic books can be a bit intimidating. Some authors write in a way that works for me, but when they use long paragraphs and too many parenthetical phrases it starts to remind me of college, which was somewhat akin to torture for me where reading was concerned.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I just can't read fast like most people can because I basically have to read out loud to myself in my head. I've never been able to get the information to go straight from print to brain like you're supposed to.
That being said, I do love books, and since CatMan likes to read out loud to me, it's one of our favorite activities. We also like to read in Spanish. We have a great system... he reads and I look up any words we don't know. Currently we're reading 'Hija de la Fortuna' by Isabel Ayende and it's just wonderful.
Ward and I read out loud to each other also. It's great and fun to have someone to discuss the book with. However, we don't read in Spanish or any other language. Ward could do just fine with the Spanish, but I only know a few words.
DeleteDo you ever listen to books on CD? I find my mind wanders a lot when I do this, but many of my friends use this as a preferred way to read. My nephew, with a reading disability, read many of his school books this way.
I have done a few books on CD (well actually cassette - yes, I am a dinosaur) and found it to be quite enjoyable. My main issue right now is that I seem to be drowning in information sources! Internet, Roku, Netflix, etc, etc, etc... there just isn't time for it all! :-)
DeleteYes, it certainly is possible to be drowning in information sources these days. And among all of those sources, some of it is good information and some of it isn't. Telling the difference between the two is not always easy.
DeleteI have always had several books being read at the same time, my son learned this from me as well. To explain it the easiest way I would have one that was very engrossing, usually in the living room, one that was dull by my bed for insomnia, one near the door that was okay but one that could be put down without any regret for those hours in the sun, and one in the car. The one in the car was usually one I had read a while ago and enjoyed so could put down at any moment for those waiting periods. You know waiting to pick up the kids, waiting for football practice to end, doctor's offices, etc.
ReplyDeleteToday I still have many books going at once but they are all different, where I used to read almost exclusively fiction, fiction is a small part of my reading today.Winter being hard to get around I collect books from others to keep on hand until I can get back out to the library. I am down to my last book so the weather better continue to stay warm as I need a new infusion of books. I'm making this final book last longer by only reading before bed and working on other projects during the daytime. I can't imagine finishing it and having nothing left to read.
You were certainly very organized with your reading patterns. I don't think I've ever been quite like that. Although, I try not to take library books to places I don't visit regularly in case I forget them. I hadn't forgotten one for a long time, so I got out of the habit. And then bingo! I left one at the doctor' office.
DeleteI typically check out 3 books at a time, with the intention of reading one after the other. Sometimes I just can't seem to get into a book at all, so all three will go unread. And we have a rule in our house, no taking library books on vacation! We've lost a couple that way and had to pay the hefty replacement fee.
ReplyDeleteThe cookbook sounds like a fun trip down memory lane. I love looking through my mom's old recipe card file, or her church's cookbook -- full of those pot-luck casserole recipes and gelatin salads.
We learned our lesson about library books on vacation after Wally lost one at scout camp one year (I didn't even know he had it.) Now we buy books off the used book rack for $1.00 or less to take with us. No problem if we lose them. Sometimes we leave them for others if there is an opportunity to do this.
DeleteInteresting to see your bookpile. I don't know any of those books but naturally I'm drawn to 'Sarah, plain and tall' ! I always have several books on the go; one novel and a few non-fiction. At the moment, unusually for me, I'm also listening to an audio-book novel on CD; Unusual Uses for Olive Oil by Alexander McCall Smith which I'm enjoying hugely, I think even more than I would if I were reading it in book form.
ReplyDeleteI think liking a book on CD greatly depends on who's reading it, as well as the story. Not always, but usually the authors would do better to let a professional actor do the job. BTW, I heard a talk once about reading books out loud for a CD and it is a plum job that actors want to get.
DeleteAlso, after I took this picture, I found Soul Garden that you mentioned in one of your posts. I had forgotten all about it.I'm looking forward to looking into that book (along with all of the others.)
I usually read 2 books at a time (if you don't count Scriptures and cook books :) -one for each bathroom because this is my reading spot :) 15 minutes of peace a day :)
ReplyDeleteDo your kids knock on the door while you're in your "reading room"? Mine used to when they were little.
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