TBIF 1-23-09: A week of meme-ery

Mailbox Monday, hosted at The Printed Page

I’ve never participated in Mailbox Monday before, and I doubt I’ll be able to do it often, since I really don’t get all that many books in the mail. Last week was unusual, though, and four new books came my way thanks to the Post Office – all of them are for review, and I hope to get to them sooner rather than later.

Last Wednesday, I received Dating Jesus: A Story of Fundamentalism, Feminism, and the American Girl, by Susan Campbell thanks to LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers Program.

On Thursday, the copy of The Triumph of Deborah that author Eva Etzioni-Halevy ordered for me from Amazon arrived.

Two packages arrived from The Book Report Network/Authors on the Web on Friday: The Mighty Queens of Freeville: A Mother, A Daughter, and the Town That Raised Them, by Amy Dickinson (a book on my wishlist offered by Nicole Bruce), and True Colors, by Kristin Hannah (an ARC of a novel to be published in February by the author of the first “review book” I ever got, thanks to Anna Jarzab).


Tuesday Thingers: Questions for LibraryThing users, hosted at Wendi’s Book Corner

Today’s question: Have you ever used the Swap This Book function which can be found on the main page of any book? If so, what do you think about it? If not, are there any other swap sites you utilize to exchange books once you are done? What do you do with your books if you no longer want them anymore?

My Answer: I’ve seen the feature before, but haven’t used it – yet. I think it’s good that LibraryThing helps its members out by linking them to some outlets where they can find new homes for their old books, though. Ever since I discovered BookCrossing six years ago, I’ve gotten out of the habit of keeping books after I read them, unless there’s a special reason I want to hold on to them; I make exceptions for favorite authors and books that strike a particular chord with me. (Most of what’s on my shelves is books in TBR Purgatory.) I don’t actually BookCross in fact any more, but I feel like I do in spirit. I give books to friends when I’m done, or else I donate them to the Friends of the Library bookstore.

While I’m happy to give away books I’ve finished reading (or have accepted that I probably never will read), I just want to give them away; I’m not necessarily interested in trading them for other books or getting anything back. Having said that, though, I’m a bit intrigued by BookMooch, and I think I’m going to explore it a little more. I like that it lets you donate your points if you don’t want to use them to get other books.


It’s Tuesday, where are were you?, hosted at An Adventure in Reading

I am was still re-living my youth chronologically and geographically. Laura Pedersen is about a year-and-a-half younger than me (which in over-40 terms makes us essentially the same age), and many of the historical and pop-cultural elements she weaves through Buffalo Gal, her memoir of growing up in Upstate New York during the 1960’s and ’70’s, are part of my own memories too.

(I finished the book on Thursday – the review will be posted on Sunday!)


Teaser Tuesday, hosted at Should Be Reading

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

  • Grab your current read.
  • Let the book fall open to a random page.
  • Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
  • You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
  • Please avoid spoilers!

The book this comes from is a little bit unusual; it’s a collection of short fiction originally published online, and companion to an upcoming novel. I bought my copy direct from the author, whose name is pretty well-known around the book-blogging community. (Go to her site to find out how to contact her and get a copy of your own!)

“He found a girl,” Eric said.
“A girl found him, you mean,” Trevor said. (page 48, “Late-Night Load Out”)
ShapeShifter: The Demo Tapes, Year One, by Susan Helene Gottfried


Booking Through Thursday: Inspired 


Since “Inspiration” is (or should be) the theme this week … what is your reading inspired by?

Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

This is one of those simple questions that’s hard to answer.

The fact that I read at all – that I choose reading over other activities – is probably hard-wired in my system by now, since I’ve been doing it for forty years. I was inspired early on by having parents that read to me, and by seeing them read themselves – I wanted to be able to do that too, as soon as possible!

I am inspired to read – to pick up a book or magazine, or more recently, to read online – by the need to distract myself from something else and recharge my batteries, or to occupy my time while waiting. I am inspired to read by curiosity and a desire to learn, and by my enjoyment of language and story. I am inspired to read by friends, family, and other book bloggers, who share their recommendations and opinions about books with me and pique my interest. I am inspired to read when I browse through a bookstore and come across intriguing titles.

I am inspired to read because there’s a lot in this world I’ll never be able to experience or do myself, but I can get a sense of what it might be like by reading about it.

My specific choice of what to read at a given time is sometimes inspired by my reviewing responsibilities, which is a relatively new thing for me, and it’s one I don’t want to get caught up in too often, so I’m trying to keep those in check. I’d rather be inspired by the fact I’m surrounded by well over 100 books in TBR Purgatory, not counting the review books, and let more random things like my moods inspire my choice of which book I’ll liberate next.

What inspires your reading – in general, and specifically?


Friday Fill-ins #108

ffi

1. Oh, I am so tired of this sinus headache – I wish the stupid rain would just get here already!

2. Weather changes, big and little.

3. During the winter, I like having soup for dinner.

4. The Dark Knight WASN’T nominated for Best Picture; are you kidding me???

5. Right now I’d like to be caught up on something.

6. My new cell phone is my favorite gadget.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to not having much to do, tomorrow my plans include catching up on recorded TV while it’s raining out, and Sunday, I want to relax at the spa in the morning, and maybe do a little shopping afterwards (unless it’s still raining – then I’ll come home and relax some more)!

So…tell me about your weekend plans, and your favorite gadget!

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14 comments

  1. Florinda: Welcome to Mailbox Monday! Those look like some great books. The Triumph of Deborah is one I’ve seen getting great reviews from other bloggers.

    I can give you some tips if you want more books in the mail.

  2. I have to work this weekend. Nothing really new there. I do need to do some clean-up in the house since the grandparents are coming over soon.

    My favorite gadget is still my iPod touch, but I am itching to get a new phone. What did you get?

  3. Serena – Right now, I’m getting as many as I can handle :-). Unless I buy them from Amazon, any books I get in the mail come with review responsibilities, and I’m trying not to let those overwhelm my freedom-of-choice reading!

    Mike – We changed providers, and both of us got new phones last weekend. Mine is a Sony Ericsson W760a. I like it – it’s got a nice, big screen for my bad eyes :-). Tall Paul finally went for the iPhone and is, of course, in love with it.

    Janet – I figured you would be. That’s actually why I went with that answer ;-).

  4. Welcome and thank you for stopping by the ‘mailbox’ this week. Even if you have nothing to post it’s always fun to peek in everyone else’s mailboxes. I, too, got ‘True Colors’ from Anna. The ‘Mighty Queens of Freeville’ is in my TBR pile.

  5. Lisa – I’m very interested in that one myself – and since it’s on the “review books” stack, I SHOULD be getting to it sooner rather than later :-).

  6. I feel like I’m cheating with Mailbox Monday because I rarely ever mention on my blog the books that come into my home straight from the bookstore and not through the mail. But then, maybe it’s better if everyone doesn’t know about those books.

    I am glad you were able to participate in it this week though. I don’t feel so bad posting my latest on Friday now. 🙂

    I thought I recognized the author’s name of of your teaser! I’ve visited her blog a few times.

    I like how you answered the BTT question this week. It really is a question that can be interpreted in several different ways. I especially like what you said about reading being a way to experience things you will most likely never be able to experience yourself.

    I hope that sinus headache went away. I was suffering from one too unfortunately. It’s been good to welcome the rain back. I hope it stays awhile. Hubby and I were complaining about the fact that The Dark Knight didn’t get a nomination for Best Picture yesterday. Hrmphf!

    I hope you enjoyed your weekend, Florinda. I still haven’t managed to get caught up on Lost. Maybe later tonight. Have a great week!

  7. Wendy (Literary Feline) – The rain settled in, and the headache got better. I think it’s the impending low pressure that aggravates things.

    Some book bloggers do post about all of their new acquisitions every week no matter where they come from, but I’m not sure I want to go that far myself :-).

    We caught up on Lost on Saturday night. Wow, I’ve missed that show!

    Tall Paul was reading over the Oscar nominations, and we have seen so few of the movies this year I might not even watch. And then I remembered why I probably will…thank goodness Hugh Jackman is hosting :-)!

  8. Wendi – I haven’t been active in BookCrossing for awhile, and I’m not sure I will be again, but I still love the concept of distributing the books you’ve read.