Sunday, June 05, 2011

Busy Reader

My schedule is pretty full. I’m always trying to squeeze just one more activity into my rotation. Eventually, I need downtime and my favorite way to relax is reading.


Vest, swap. Dress, Jovovich Hawk for Target. Sandals, Aerosoles. Bag, Happy Cow. Earrings, Julie’s Inspiration. Sunnies, Betsey Johnson.

I’m a huge fan of our local library. I collect book recommendations from friends, bloggers, and Amazon and then reserve them through the library’s online catalog. All I have to do is pick them up. I’ve usually got a stack of materials borrowed. (In fact, I have an overdue book right now. Doh.)

I’ve really got to dig into that pile of reading material because, if I can read the most at my library location before July 31, I’ll win a Nook Color. An e-reader would make hauling all those books around much more convenient. Check out Team Read for yourself.


In June, I've finished Origin (J A Konrath), I'm about to finish Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (Susanna Clark), and I've begun The Sea, The Sea (Iris Murdoch). Any recommendations for my fourth book?


Photos by Beefy Muchacho

19 comments:

Stacy aka Stacybeads said...

That is exactly how I use my library, too--collect recommendations from various sources and then reserve library materials online. The best book I've read lately was "Just Kids," Patti Smith's memoir of her early days in New York with Robert Mapplethorpe. It was both fascinating and beautifully written.

BookSniffer said...

I love books! Not sure what you like, but if you haven't read Bel Canto by Ann Patchett, that's one I always recommend. I have also liked The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon and The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly. America America by Ethan Canin was pretty solid, too.

Charlotte said...

I am always reading when I have the chance - I think I have eight or so books checked out from my library at the moment, with another dozen on standby from the used bookstore. I don't know about recommendations - looks like we probably have different taste. Almost everything I read is speculative fiction. If you are interested, some of the best books I've read lately were The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms and The Broken Kingdoms by N.K. Jemison.

Cindy said...

If you like family sagas, AND LADIES OF THE CLUB is a great one, plus it takes place in (Xenia)Ohio, from post Civil War to pre-WWI. Best funny and poignant book (and Southern): DAISY MAY AND THE MIRACLE MAN by Fannie Flagg (much better than Fried Green Tomatoes). Charming epistolary book: DADDY-LONG-LEGS by Jean Webster. Comfort read: the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. Start with DOWNTOWN or HEAVEN TO BETSY for turn-of-the-century fashions, music, and a warm family. These are my favorites.

Kasmira said...

Thanks for the recommendations so far! No need to worry about taste...I'll read almost anything and am always looking to expand my reading horizons.

Beefy Muchacho said...

OMG! You absolutely HAVE to read TWILIGHT!!!^^@@@$$^^^###

I've read it SSOSOSOSOSOSo Many times and itz the Best. Book. EVARRRR.

SQUEEEEEEEEEEE

I mean... it's either that or "Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War" by Pulitzer prize winner Tony Horwitz.

Megan G said...

I've seen that dress worn by a lot of bloggers in a lot of different ways, but that has got to be my favorite.

I've got a Nook and read all the time. I love my Nook but probably would never have spent the money on it myself. I got it as a gift.

I'm currently (re)reading the Pendragon series by Dj McHale. I just finished the Percy Jackson series. I'm really big into sci-fi fantasy. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett was my last paper-book read. The Sneaky Pie Brown series by Rita Mae Brown is an adorable mystery series. I hope you win!

Carol in Indian Springs Village said...

"Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" is a really good one if you haven't read it. I belong to a group and get some advanced reading copies, and put "The Language of Flowers" on your list - it is coming out in August I believe and is wonderful. I read it in less than 24 hours.

et said...

If you love books, literature, satire, English humor, and reading in general, try any of Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next books (The Eyre Affair is the first of the series). Something Rotten has a great send-up of presidential debates. I'm on the latest one (One of our Thursdays is Missing) and it's the funniest so far - you don't really have to have read the others to enjoy it.

As a fellow devoted reader, I got an ereader 3 months ago and LOVE it, despite my fears I wouldn't.

I usually hit up the library (love that online reservation option - I can also renew books that way too), then head to the bookstore. Although now that I have a Kindle it's a toss up between the library & Amazon.

freeda said...

I just finished "Cinderella Ate My Daughter" by Peggy Orenstein. It's an interesting look at the uber-girly culture and how they affect how girls grow up.

Anonymous said...

Agree that bel canto is great! I am currently reading Julia child's my life in france and Tina fey's bossy pants. Very different but enjoying both!

Sheila said...

I love the vest with this dress!

I'm currently about a third into Dan Simmons' "Drood" and love it - there are far too many books and too little time!

CatherineMarie said...

I like Christopher Moore, you'd love Fool, by him. I just read The Distant Hours, by Kate Morton, who also wrote The Forgotten Garden, both of which I loved.

I second Terry Pratchett and Jasper FForde. You should also read Neil Gaiman.

DaShannon said...

I second daisy Faye, laugh out loud funny, and hearing a lot about major pettigrew.. My 2recent Favs
are the forgotten garden and love in the present tense. Cat lovers/ mystery lite fiction lovers would like the cat who series by Braun.

The Cheap Chick said...

Did you like Origin? I tried another book by the author and was less than thrilled - but I'm willing to give him another go.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE The Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner. Sure, it's for YA, but it is just amazing. There are four books, and each is better than the next.

Kasmira said...

Origin was pretty good! I liked it until the very last paragraph. Disappointing ending!

Kayee said...

I think that is the vest I wore in the 70's! That one had ties in the front and I just wore it with jeans. I love your blog; inspirational. What am I supposed to wear at 62? There seem to be some rules I don't get!

Jasmine said...

How did you style your hair? It's super cute with the outfit and I was wondering how you styled it.

Kasmira said...

Jazz - I french braided it into two pigtails and tucked the ends inside the opposite braid. Same hairstyle as here: http://whatiwore2day.blogspot.com/2011/05/showoff.html