Reading and Writing about Reading

As a long time book nerd, it was a little unsettling when I realized just how little I read these days.  With work and activities, and coming home tired, I was continuing to amass books at home, enlarge my "to read" list, but never do anything about them!  My living situation became a lot about sitting in front of the tv and not having a place to read comfortably.  Now, my new living situation affords me a more comfortable space to quietly read, but I would still find myself in front of the tv with my computer on my lap. I'd go to bed, more often then not, with a headache from the eye strain or my neck angle.  And I wasn't reading.  I wasn't escaping to a fantasy world or learning anything, or just having those quiet moments to myself.

So I decided to change that.  I've decided to go back to always having a book or two being read.  And I'm going to track them again on GoodReads.  I also made a brand new LibraryThing to catalog the ones I own. Because I need to. Because reasons.

Another part of my new leaf (or returning to the old leaf, I guess) is that I want to write about my books more.  Sometimes you just need to get ideas and thoughts about a character or story out of your head, put feelings in to words.  Hopefully that means a return to Bibliorantics.

In the meantime, a quick overview:

• I just started a book on the history of surveying the US. Looking forward to some nonfiction!
• Recently read Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic finally.  I'd read so little Discworld in the past so I want to start at teh beginning and work my way through.
• Started the new Ms. Marvel series, reading volume one (issues 1-5) No Normal.  I LOVE IT. Kamala, the new Ms. Marvel, is instantly likable and relateable.  I need more immediately. I forsee myself devouring this series.
• Just finished a cute YA book called A Taste for Red by Lewis Harris about vampires.  But it's a different spin, and it's really light and adorable.  I wish the author would write more about the main character, Svetlana.  It would be a great series for young kids who want to read about vamps and the supernatural.

Towel Day Inspiration

For those who are unaware, May 25th is Towel Day. You carry your towel with you. It is in loving tribute to British author Douglas Adams and his book The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. wiki entry on Towel Day. Now, being one who has never read Douglas Adams, I don't tend to remember such events until my Twitter feed bombards me with DON'T PANIC entries and pictures of people with towels. This year Towel Day came during a particular shitty time for me. Everything kinda sucks in life right now. A death in my family has caused issues between people Instead of grieving I am cleaning out my loved one's home and coping with relations that I'd like to turn over me knee. I am planning and packing for a long trip this summer that is more than a little intimidation and scary. My home is filling up with my deceased family member's stuff. And reading just hasn't been happening. My reading of Cucuteni information has stagnated, and two books (TWO!) that I began in the last month lie unfinished. They just didn't do it for me. One takes too much thought and the other just isn't written well at all (and I should have realized that before I started, so bad on me). So, inspired by folks going to work with towels over their shoulders I am now reading Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Finally.

This is one of those books that has transcended being a story and become a phenomenon. In the geek world, where I have found myself since college, it is considered a necessity. It's bad enough that I haven't read the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy. It was sacrilege that I hadn't read Hitchhiker's. Just now, being only a few chapters in, so many phrases and references made by friends make sense!

I am a fool and an idiot for not reading this earlier. Adams's humor is the kind that I adore, that makes me smile no matter what. And right now I need that. The only downside at the moment is that my copy of the book is the Ultimate Guide, including all the related Hitchiker's books. So it's a very large tome-o-funny. Can't really lug it about, so it is a read-at-home book. Not so bad, though. Gives me that break when I need it most.

So, don't panic, folks, and remember your towel.
http://towelday.org/

I do it every time...current reading

Once again, reading too much at once.

I had ordered Tobias Bucknell's Sly Mongoose through ILLwhen I first read about it - shortly after it came out. Being so new, most places wouldn't lend it. So I began something else in the meantime - Lincoln's Melancholy (see mention here). I'm enjoying it. I don't read too much non-fiction that isn't anthropology, archaeology, or mandated for class. This is something very different - historical psychology of sorts. I'm only up to 1841 and one of Lincoln's great breakdowns and crazy moments. He jumped out a window.

A couple days ago Sly Mongoose came in. So I started it. The loan period on it isn't v. long, and I doubt they'll grant a renewal since it is from their new books shelf. Not sure what I think thus far. It's heavy sci-fi spec - he's making up new planets, species, words - the whole deal. Thus far a guy fell from space, a city in the sky is near poverty, and a dude is dead. Too early to tell.

It is still interesting how our societies idea of spec fic has changed. The sci-fi that caught me on to the genre was the classic Asimov-type stuff of the 1950s and 60s. Most of the scenarios were utopias, or utopias crumbling. Or they were hopeful - in the future all is equal and cars fly. I still gravitate twds that type now and then. Sometimes you need optimism and flying cars.
Already in Sly Mongoose it is aparent that the future is not happy alien friendships. There's been invasion, denial of aliens, death, and poverty. And I'm less than 50 pages in. But that's good sci-fi, too. What WILL the future be like? Why will we leave this planet for another, and who among us will leave? It's naive to think that aliens species we encounter will be friendly. It's good to really think, "What's possible?"

So I'm reading about the past and future - all while trying to forget the present.

Also, have fallen in love with the illustrations of Laurel Long. Picked up The Magic Nesting Doll because of the pretty cover. Now have another by her and one on the way. Her style is elegant with a Russian feel to it. Image search for her on google

too.many.books

Haven't we all said it at one time? Thought it? Considered buying the t-shirt? "Too many books, too little time."

Now I find myself living it.

I am continuously caught in the trap of reading two to three books at once. Or picking up a graphic novel or two on the side. Ordering books from ILL as I see them, despite surely NOT having the time to finish them before they're due. Suddenly the overdue notices spring up on you!
I am currently reading the novelization of Fritz Lang's film Metropolis by his wife Thea Harbou, a version illustrated beautifully by Michael Kaluta. I keep being torn from it by other things and life. I must focus on this one.
I had begun The Threepenny Opera but I think I'll drop it for now. I can learn of the play's plot later.
Recently author John Scalzi released a new book, and reviews of it (on one or more of the various blogs I read that would mention such things) mad me think that I should read Old Man's War first. I'm 50 pages in and I love it. Good sci-fi and humor - just what I need right now. Space travel is my favorite.
While at the public library looking for something completely different I stumbled upon the comic Marvel 1602. It's Marvel characters in the year 1602. Not a big X-men fan, so it's not doing too much for me. I can only pick out a few of the characters anyway. Not sure if I'll finish it or not. Depends on how soon the due date sneaks up on me.
Another sci-fi book is (perhaps) on its way to me via ILL. It JUST came out, so I'm doubting anyone will send it. Prolly better that way - gives me more time to read the above! TI's called Sly Mongoose and I can no longer remember what it's about. I read about it online (BoingBoing?) and ordered it two seconds later. Damnit, libraries will be the end to me, I swear! In addition, a book about food culture and growing, Animal, vegetable, miracle: a year of food life by Barbara Kingsolver was recommended to me. Depends on how the next few weeks go before I think of cracking the cover. I also want to read, at some point, the same author's Poisonwood Bible.


I've been thinking lately about my reading. I am always reading something - I often carry a purse that a book will fit in. But lately I think my reading has been taking my time, energy, and brain power away from other things in life. Important things. Like my future. I'm caught at the moment in a paralyzing fear and detrimental stasis regarding life and my future. I have been wasting my life away at a worthless job (albeit in a library, thus providing me with plentiful books!) and avoiding doing all that needs to be done to move on. This fear has, lately, truly come to mind and I think that I may be subconsciously distracting myself. Sink my brain in to wondrous other worlds rather than face reality.