16 August 2012

Today's question at Booking Through Thursday is "what is the most emotional read you have ever had?"  

I would have to say that "Sophie's Choice" would be at the top of the list.  "The Diary of Anne Frank" would be a close second.  

I tend to read emotional books but I do try to keep it reasonable.  A little emotion goes a long way for me and I don't enjoy reading something that is going to leave me in the depths of depression for days.

Booking Through Thursday


The question on today BTT is "Which non-series book would you like most to read the sequel to?  Do you have any wishes for what might happen in it?

This is a difficult question for me as I do enjoy and regularly read series books.  The Aunt Dimity series as well as the Mitford series come readily to mind.  However, these books naturally lend themselves to the serial format.  I don't enjoy reading sequels to books that begin, progress, and end well on their own without leaving an open door.  The last few books I have read would not be good serialized, in my opinion so I probably wouldn't read a sequel to any of them.

As far as what might happen in a sequel -- well, that sort of depends on what the story decides, isn't it?  I believe that stories, good stories, write themselves -- they just evolve and I think  a sequel would be the same.  If an author has to work too hard at a sequel then maybe it isn't meant to be.

I don't think I really answered the question.

BTT, Thirty Days of Thanks, and -- groan -- The Diet

Today's question is "All other things being equal, would you rather read a book that's hard/challenging/rewarding or light/enjoyable/easy?"

This a difficult question because I think it depends on the book.  I love historical fiction and sometimes that gets very involved and difficult to keep up with yet, in the end, it is very rewarding.  There are some days, however, where something light/easy is just what you need.  I read for entertainment and pleasure and I don't need too much of a challenge -- this isn't school, after all.

Thirty Days of Thanks

Day 3 -- I am thankful for my husband.

THE DIET

Ok, I will admit -- I have always had weight issues.  Even when I was a teenager and appeared thinner, I still had issues.  Part of it is my build -- I always tended to have longer arms and legs but my body was short and a bit squarish.  I was always envious of my mother's short, yet proportionate, stature.  I was always a bit out of kilter.  When I would  sit next to my mother, we were the same height, however, when I would stand, I was several inches taller than she, thanks to the long legs.  I always likened myself to a kiwi bird -- short, stocky build (thanks Dad) and long arms and legs (have no clue where they came from).  So, even if my weight was normal, which it was most of my life, my shape was just a bit wonky.  I was never happy, even when I was a size 5 when I was about 23.

I have gained weight twice in my life and  I have seriously dieted twice in my life and I lost the weight by portion control  and exercise.  Note to anybody who might be reading this with the same issue -- trust me, if I can do it, anybody can do it.  The first time was right after we were married -- I gained some weight not unlike the "freshman 15" but more correctly the "newlywed 20".  Well, I got a look at myself in the mirror one day and knew something needed to change so out came the calorie counter, the notebook and onto the floor I went doing the pilates routine I did in my college dance class.  I lost the 20 and a lot more.  I was pretty happy until I saw a photo  and didn't recognize myself.  My little round face bore all the signs of a raging anorexic -- so did the visibly prominent hip bones.  It didn't matter because shortly thereafter, I was pregnant and it wasn't a problem anymore.  I only gained a little with the baby and it was gone immediately.  I went home from the hospital in pre-pregnancy clothes and all was right with my world.  Four years later I delivered my second child.  I had gained too much weight, went home in maternity clothes and struggled from then on.  At one point, when the baby was about 6 months old, I had my thyroid checked, it was overactive.  The situation was never addressed and nobody ever mentioned it again.  So, I plodded along through any number of family/personal "situations" and the weight just gradually, but steadily, crept up.  About seven years ago  I read a book called "Is Your Thyroid Making You Fat".  It involves a diet of 1000 calories a day for 28 days followed by a number of calculations to determine how "under active" your thyroid is as an explanation to your weight issues.  I did it, I lost a lot of weight, I did the calculations and whoa -- my thyroid was working at 150%.  Back to the hyper business.  But, in true Melissa form, did I had to the doctor to get tested again?  Nope.  I stayed on the diet for nine months, losing a LOT of weight, until one day I decided I was hungry, actually feeling ill, and that was the end of that ball game -- not unlike the recent World Series for Texas Rangers fans.  The weight all came back on, minus about 20 pounds, and I am back to square one.  I am not happy -- actually, miserable would be a good adjective to use here. 

Fast forward to Halloween.  I dressed all in black with cat ears and a, drum roll please, tail to go to my daughters little shindig.  Well, my dear hubby seemed to have forgotten the cardinal rule of no photo taking of Moi -- future generations  will just have to be satisfied with high school photos of me.  Well, the photos were downloaded, I looked at them, and here is my summation -- Hubs needs some photography lessons, particularly in regards to lighting, and I need to lose half of me.  I was one fat cat.  So, here I go again.

I have tried getting back in the calorie counting routine any number of times, each requiring some new recording supplies -- cute notebooks, special pens -- color coded even -- an app for my nook -- I even tried Weight Watchers -- twice.  Guess I just wasn't in the mood.  Well, after the Halloween photo shoot my mind was changed so I went online trying to find some sort of easy calorie tracking program.  I thought I had tried them all but apparently not.  I ran across my fitness pal and set up an account.  It is so easy.  I have actually kept up with it for a couple of days.  It is very user friendly and straightforward.  I think I might be able to do with this program for a while.  I weighed in this morning and am down 1.5 pounds.  I don't ever intend to disclose my beginning weight -- use your imagination -- whatever a fat cat would weigh -- but I will record my loss here.  Maybe if I share it I will be more successful.  Maybe it will be like weight watchers meetings -- haha -- never would go to one of those! So, anyway, from time to time expect an update on my latest endeavor.  It shouldn't be a surprise that this would be my next step in building my new, frugal life, now should it?  I mean, it is just another  type of frugality, isn't it?  We will see how it plays out.

Ok, must go get my Thursday started.  It is cold out and quite dark even though it is after 7 a.m.   I will be glad for this weekend with the time change.  I could use a little more sleep!

Booking Through Thursday




Do you cheat and peek at the ends of books?  (Come on, be honest).


Boringly enough, no, I don't.  I like the process of reading and I don't like jumping ahead.  I don't even jump through slow parts.  Regardless of the genre, I like to have the story build and peak, I am  not in a hurry just to get to the end.  To me, reading a book is akin to watching a movie -- it has to unfold.
 
 

Booking Through Thursday

It has been a while so I thought I should post another BTT today.  The question is which authors have we been following since they first started their career.  I guess I have two and that would be Brunonia Barry and Jennifer Chiaverinni.

Booking Through Thursday -- Is there a book you wish you could unread? One that you disliked so thoroughly you wish you could just forget that you ever read it?

Well, I would have to say "no" to this question. In the first place, if I don't like a book in the first page or so, it never gets any further than that. I am not the sort that can just sit down and read anything, I have to like it.

There are, however, a few books that start out slow but I keep on going and, at the end of the day, they usually turn out to be can't-put-them-down-page-turners. I do believe in giving a book a chance so in order for me to give it up on the first page, it has to be something that I am really not interested in or just doesn't grab me at all.

There are a few books that I like, that I WANT to like but find getting through them similar to walking through quicksand. "London" would be one of these books. I enjoy it while I am reading it but it seems like it just takes forever to read a page. "London" is taking a sabbatical right now -- I will get back to it.

I have never, however, read a book that I wish I hadn't read.

Booking through Thursday

"Do you buy books while on vacation/holiday? Do you have favorite bookstores that you only get to visit while away on a trip? What/where are they?"

I don't vacation much -- A travels for work so his idea of a vacation is NOT traveling. However, we do enjoy short trips from time to time -- mostly to the San Antonio area. I have been to Arkansas and California but I was a child so this question really doesn't apply. With that said, however, I spent some time in Dallas in 1961/62 when my dad was doing some film work here and the one thing I did buy was a copy of "Tom Sawyer" at a drug store. So, I guess I did begin the practice of buying vacation books then.

Yes, I do buy books when I am vacationing. The last trip to San Antonio I bought four books dealing with local history. I had been looking for those sorts of books for some time but I hadn't been able to find any north of Austin so when I discovered them in a bookstore -- Betano's -- on the Riverwalk, I seized the opportunity, bought four and then picked my DH up off the floor when I handed him the receipt for $134. In my opinion, it was well worth it to sort of round out my local history section of my personal library.

While visiting in and around Texas, I don't really have a favorite bookstore -- I mean, B&N and Borders is the Starbucks of the literary world -- they are on every corner so it isn't difficult to find a place to buy a book but I do like to frequent book areas in museums and gift stores of tourist sites. For instance, when I visited the UK, I hit every bookstore/gift shop in every tourist place I went. I have to say the sales people at the gift store at Westminster Abbey were more than thrilled that I visited there!

I find books to be the best sourvenir of a vacation, followed closely by art work and postcards. So, yes, I do buy books while on vacation.

Booking Through Thursday Challenge

Pick up a book.
Turn to page 123.
Read the first sentence.
Read the last sentence.
Now connect them.

Ok, I know it isn't Thursday but let's just say yesterday I was a bit of a mess and just didn't get around to this. Also, I know I didn't transcribe the challenge word for word. My apology.

The book closest to me is "The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place" by E.L. Konigsburg.

"I awakened to the smell of pancakes. This morning, Uncle Alex said nothing--did not even greet me in English -- but stood at the stove, with his back to me, pouring batter into a pan."

I actually think these two sentences make sense together without fiddling with them so I will leave them as they are. Of course, they are better with all the text in between but they still stand on their own.

I haven't started reading this book yet but it was next in line for my Young Readers Challenge. After reading page 123, my interest is piqued and I will start it this afternoon. Thanks for the jumpstart!

Booking Through Thursday

While acknowledging that we can't judge books by their covers, how much does the design of a book affect your reading enjoyment? Hardover vs softcover? Trade paperback vs mass market paperback? Font? Illustrations? Etc.?

Ok, I will admit, I am a sucker for a neat looking book. I am attracted to the gorgeous cover art of the likes of Wendell Minor ("Then Came Heaven" by LaVyrle Spencer and William Ireland ("Evening Class" by Maeve Binchy). It was the cover art that drew my eye to the Jan Karon "Mitford" books which, of course, turned out to be absolutely lovely books.

I don't care for books with artwork from movies. In fact, I don't really like reading a book if I have seen the movie. Bad memories of an oral book report on "Mutiny on the Bounty" circa 1964. I have a copy of "Chocolat" that has a photo of Juliette Binoche on the cover. I have to say that, as much I like Ms. Binoche as an actress, I don't like the cover of this book.

Hard back vs paper back? Well, I really prefer hard backs if they aren't too thick. They just hold up better because I tend to carry a book with me every place I go and they are more propable. If they are too large, however, they are difficult to hold with my weak wrists. I do buy many paperbacks, however, and have to admit that they are more "purse-able". I think it just depends on how the mood strikes me and whether the book will become a permanent part of our little library or perhaps passed around to friends.

The typeface is another matter, however. It needs to be dark and easy to read. While I am not quite to the point of buying "large print" books, I can see it out on the horizon. Another negative about the "Chocolat" book -- small print on the greyish side.

All of this has to do with the initial attraction to the book, however. Once I have read the dust jacket or an excerpt from the book (mostly done while standing in the store juggling all the magazines I tend to buy), I know whether I am going to enjoy the book in spite of the cover art. I have reshelved many "cool looking" books because they just weren't for me. Unfortunately, I have probably never taken a second look at some great books because the packaging just didn't grab me.

I read/collect children's books and I am drawn to the illustrations -- who isn't. Again, however, if the story falls flat, I won't purchase the book just for the art -- it has to be a complete package. Like jlshall, I wish adult books could be illustrated -- they should be illustrated. I like the street maps in the Mitford books -- they create a visual for the reader that really puts you into the book.

At the end of the day, however, it is the content that matters and once I am "into" a book, the cover matters not a whit. All the decoration in the world won't "make" a book nor will lack of decoration doom it.

Great covers do make book shopping fun though and I am sure turn a good profit for the dealers.