In trying to get through some of the classics, I came across The Picture of Dorian Grey, which I am told is must read.  Well I cannot get into it, so now I feel like a failure, lol.  Not really, but it does sort of haunt me.

Naomi Klein’s The Shock Doctrine .. "The only book of the last few years in American publishing that I would describe as a mandatory must-read. Literally the only one."
-Rachel Maddow

A friend has begged me to join her book club.  I really want to, but when the date comes up to attend, I always have to work late.  They meet on weekdays which is cool, but inconvenient for my schedule.  Anyway, they’re reading Steve Harvey’s best-seller "Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man".  I really want to read this one, but I haven’t bought it yet.  The club will discuss the book on July 1st.  I’d better get moving.

I used to have time in the afternoon to watch Oprah, so when she was promoting "A new Earth" last year, I purchased it. I watched her show and heard such rave reviews, i finally picked it up and began. Needless to say, I didn’t get very far. I wanted to experience a WOW moment( that was mentioned so many times), but never got far enough in the book. I guess I’m not that kind of reader, or maybe it was a sign that I didn’t need a WOW moment in my life. I do love to read however. I have many books on shelves and distributed throughout my house. Most of them I have read. Mostly mystery novels. A very important book that rest by my bed is my BIBLE. I have read alot of it but I am ashamed to say not all.

I’m definitely one of those who can’t drift easily to sleep, so I always have a big supply of books on the bedside table … and on the bench at the foot of the bed … and on the dresser … and spilling off the shelves of the bookcases … and so on. The one I keep saying that I will read "one of these days" is Samuel Pepys’ Journal - not the abridged version, but the long version. I know I’ll love it once I get down to it, but in the meantime, there’s a little matter of the Dickens novels remaining to be read, the latest Anita Brookner novel that came out this week, Chandler Burr’s books on the fragrance industry, and … well, you get the picture.

Who was it who said "Nothing furnishes a room like books"? That should be my mantra, as my condo is overflowing, despite last summer’s major tag sale and the recent library donation. It has been hard times lately for local libraries, as many posters have pointed out. Making a small monetary donation toward the purchase of a new or classic title makes a lot of sense. The books I donated will undoubtedly end up on the sale table at the next library book sale, which is fine with me - someone who loves reading will get a bargain, and the library will get a little extra money. Isn’t is sad that the greatest resource our communities have - the libraries - are hurting so badly in these times? Libraries, museums, art education programs and so on are being hit especially hard, and I’m shuddering to think how much this will cost us in the years to come.

In the meantime, however, I am going to put Mr. Pepys on TOP of the pile. And Joan, when you do finally jump into Middlemarch I know you’ll love it. It is an amazingly advanced story about the lives of women (and men) and their flawed and fantastic relationships.

I don’t have a bedside table, but I do have stacks of books around my apartment, many floor to ceiling bookcases, and many, many boxes of books that I gave to charity and the local library.  I haven’t bought a book for myself in years, but friends know that books are the perfect gift for me, especially those gift cards from Borders—I love those.  Right now, I am trying to teach myself HTML from books, since that seems to be a requisite for any job—even parttime jobs—that I can find.  I have friends who have better computer skills than I do and they cannot find work, or only temp jobs that don’t have a steady paycheck.  I don’t know about other states, but New York is hurting for decent jobs, especially New York City.

I’m also reading about Buddhism, to deal with the stress.  I find it comforting. 

I’m a reader.  I call my living room the library.  Every shelf is two-deep, there is a row of books on the floor in front of one big book case, the coffee table is buried under books, the old dumbwaiter/tea trolley in front of the window (because the top shelf is the ideal height for Bubba the WonderCat to sit & watch neighbors) has no room for more books on the lower shelves.  There are mor books in the den, in my bedroom, & there are over a dozen boxes in the basement.

I keep a paperback in my backpack for reading on breaks at work, one in my purse for reading on the bus, one or two on the other end of the library couch, a few on the other side of the bed.

However, the ones that remain partially unread are ones lauded by others.  "The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follet was recommended by ab ex-beau.  I’ve started it three times, but can’t seem to get past the first chapter.  I’m one of those sad women that read Jane Austen over & over, have made pilgrimages to J.A. sites in Britain, etc. etc.  I’ve been reading sequels to her work written by others, & I just cannot force myself to finish "Mr. & Mrs. Darcy".  It’s been praised to the heavens by readers at the J.A. web community I belong to, but frankly, I think it sucks.

There are others, but these are the ones annoying me right now.

Aww. I still haven’t read the third book in the Ender series (Orson Scott Card)—Xenocide.

I want to, I really do, but I hit a snag about 80 pages in, and I can’t get past it. I will! I will! I know I can!

Orson Scott Card rocks!

Gravity’s Rainbow. The print is too small. 

For a long time I have planned on reading Susan Jaboby’s book on history - but The Age of American Unreason came out and grabbed me, and I’m going to read it again, next week. Then, dive into the former book, and re-read my Penguin Classics that stare at me everytime I pass a bookcase in my home (I often took courses that required many PGs in one course, so I am loaded with this gems, and love them, want to re-read them, and shall, but …).

 

I am an avid reader and an addicted bibliophile.  :)  I devour books and about two months ago,  I found a book swapping site called www.swaptree.com. I love it!  I always have a fresh supply and all I have to do is pay shipping.  They make it very simple and I can print my shipping label straight from the site and they charge my card once a month for the cost of the shipping.  They also give the option to use your own shipping.  I always had the problem of forgetting to return library books, too, so this saves me bunches in fees as well as the cost of new books.  Check it out, and if you have any recommendations for good books, I’d love some ideas!

                                                                      -Jessica