A Musing ~ Latest DNF ~ 12/10/12

Each week Miz B at Should Be Reading asks a bookish question to muse over.

Q. "What was the last book you could not finish and why?"

The last book I couldn't finish was "Baby, It's Cold Outside" by Susan May Warren.  I love Susan May Warren's writing and the book was really good but it was just so sad!

I was looking for a light-hearted Christmas read and this book had so much sadness surrounding death due to war.  I just wasn't in a place to read about the subject matter as I had just had an unexpected death in the family.

So, as hard as it was, I had to stop reading and move on to a lighter topic but please don't let this discourage you from reading the book.

Musing along,

A Musing ~ Organization ~ 12/3/12

Each week Miz B at Should Be Reading asks a bookish question to muse over.

Q. "How do you organize/store your books? Do you go through them often? Or do you pretty much just shelve them and then leave them alone until you need them?"

I have an inner Librarian, so my books are on my shelves in alphabetical order by author and title.

The only books that aren't in this order are the books that I have for review.  These are in a pile in order to date of review.

It makes me happy :)
Musing along,

A Musing ~ Book After Movie ~ 11/26/12

Each week Miz B at Should Be Reading asks a bookish question to muse over.

Q. "Have you ever read a book after watching the movie/television version only to find that you don’t like the book as much as the adaptation?"

I've never read a book after seeing the movie.  If I've already seen the movie, I move on.  I won't spend the time reading a book that I semi-know what is going to happen.  There are too many other books out there to read.

I do, however, like to read the book before seeing a movie adaptation.  It doesn't take nearly as long to watch a movie that I might now what is going to happen and I enjoy picking out the differences.

Musing along,

A Musing ~ Sneak Peek ~ 11/19/12

Each week Miz B at Should Be Reading asks a bookish question to muse over.

Q. "Do you read the ending before you start a book? Do you ever skip ahead to read the ending?"

Sometimes I will take a "peek" for maybe a name.  I don't like to actually read the ending, I just sometimes want to know who the person ends up with so that I don't get too invested in a character that "hits the road" so to speak.  So I sometimes will check for a name in the last pages while trying not to  get too much other information.


Musing along,

A Musing ~ Only 3 ~ 11/12/12

Each week Miz B at Should Be Reading asks a bookish question to muse over.

Q. "If you had to choose only 3 books to read forever, which ones would you choose?"

1.  The Bible

2.  Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

3.  An English to Spanish dictionary.

Musing along,

A Musing ~ Book Talk ~ 10/29/12

Each week Miz B at Should Be Reading asks a bookish question to muse over.

Q. "Do you have people online that you often discuss the books you read with? Not just book groups, but individual readers who share the same taste in books? If so, what do you like best about this? If not, do you wish you did?"

There are certain blogs that I follow whose owners have the same tastes in books as I do and we end up reading the same books at times.  I like to read their reviews after I've written my own to see how they compare.  I also enjoy getting new ideas for books to add to my wishlist and TBR pile.

I'm also friends on goodreads.com with several people who read the same genres and books that I do.  We comment on each other's updates and compare notes along the way.

I enjoy the sense of community that it brings as I don't really have anyone IRL to talk books with.


Musing along,

A Musing ~ Character Crushes ~ 10/22/12

Each week Miz B at Should Be Reading asks a bookish question to muse over.

Q. "Do you ever get crushes on fictional characters? Name one (or a few), and tell what you liked…"

I had to chuckle at this question!  Isn't this the whole point of reading?  lol  To be drawn into the characters and their lives...and maybe even crush on them?

I just have to watch that I don't try to compare my husband to the heroes in books because then we end up fighting because he isn't the perfect gentlemen, or doesn't say sweet, sappy things all the time.  Because he is a real and perfectly imperfect.

It is very important to remember these characters are just that.  Fiction.  Sometimes the authors make them seems very real with flaws and quirks but in the end, the book will be read and the next book will be started.

I really struggled with reading fictional romances when I first got married because I felt a bit guilty having character crushes.  hehe  As you can see, I've overcome that!

I just keep in mind that the real deal is so much better than a fictional character.  My own love story is much more important than one in a book :)

Excellent question!

Musing along,

A Musing ~ Review System ~ 10/15/12

Each week Miz B at Should Be Reading asks a bookish question to muse over.

"Do you have a system as to which books to read from your “requested review pile?  What is it?  What about when there are too many to read in a certain time frame?"

When I receive a book to review I write on a sticky note who I received the book from and when the review is due.  I then put my review books in order of review due date.  This is usually the order I read them in.

The books that don't have a specific review date go in a pile and have the date received written on the note.  I fit these in between the books with specific review dates.

I also have an agenda that I use for all things:  appts, events, practices, book reviews, drawings, giveaway hops etc.  I highlight everything book related in pink so I can schedule reviews without getting super piled up.  I keep a running list in the notes section for the month and mark that book when I read it and then again when the review is written and scheduled for posting.

I also make sure to only request or accept books that I think look interesting and will enjoy reading.  I hate wasting precious reading time on a book I don't like or isn't in my "niche".  I also don't think it is fair to the author to review a book I know I probably won't like and therefore not give a very good rating.

I only just recently started requesting review books and accepting requests and I knew I'd need a system to keep it organized. So far I'm doing pretty well and am reading about 2 weeks ahead. I can enjoy the books better this way.

Musing along,

A Musing ~ Favorite Series ~ 10/8/12

Each week Miz B at Should Be Reading asks a bookish question to muse over.

"Do you have a favorite series? Do you have a favorite book out of that series"?

I've read tons and tons of series!  I mean tons!  Some stand out in my memory, others don't so much.  I do have 2 different series that I especially loved.  One is Inspirational and one is Mainstream.

Inspirational:  "Mark of the Lion" Trilogy by Francine Rivers.  My favorite of the 3 books is a hard call between book 1 and 2 but I think I'd have to go with Book 2.

Mainstream:  I've mentioned my favorite mainstream series on my blog before.  It is hands-down "The Bridgertons" by Julia Quinn.  Picking a favorite is a lot harder because they are all so GOOD!  But I usually go with the very first book of the series that I read, Book 5.  (Then I went back and read them all :)

Musing along,

A Musing ~ Distractions ~ 10/1/12

Each week Miz B at Should Be Reading asks a bookish question to muse over.

 

"What distracts you when you really “should be reading"?

Blogging, favorite TV shows, housework, kids needing attention, crocheting, cooking, sleep...basically, life :)

Musing along,

A Musing ~ Hobbies and Collections ~ 9/24/12

Each week Miz B at Should Be Reading asks a bookish question to muse over.

This week's musing courtesy of http://carabosseslibrary.blogspot.com:

"Do you have any hobbies outside of reading?
Or do you collect anything?"

Other than blogging: I crochet (you can see my etsy shop on my sidebar), sew, bake, like to walk, and watch my favorite TV shows.  Church and Church events are also a very large part of my life.  I also enjoy going to my daughter's basketball and softball games.

 

I used to collect teacups and teapot until my china cupboard filled to the brim.  Now I have nowhere else to put them and I made myself stop looking for them.  Other than that, I don't really collect anything but dirty dishes and laundry.

Musing along,

A Musing ~ Least Favorite ~ 9/17/12

Each week Miz B at Should Be Reading asks a bookish question to muse over.

This week's musing courtesy of sarrod22.blogspot.com:

"What is your least favorite book? Why?

 

Hummm.....  This is a tricky question because if I dislike a book to the point of it being a "least favorite", then I wouldn't finish it.  So, I'm thinking maybe one that is HAD to read for a class?

 

My brother would kill me (if he actually read my blog), but I'm going to go with anything by Edgar Allen Poe.  Bleh.  Bleh.  Bleh.

 

How about you?

Musing along,

A Musing ~ Notes ~ 9/10/12

Each week Miz B at Should Be Reading asks a bookish question to muse over.

This week's musing courtesy of http://abookandashortlatte.wordpress.com:

"Do you take notes while you read?"

No, I don't take notes.  Especially because I read mostly fiction and I like to maintain my flow of reading to enjoy the story.

I have very few books on my "keeper shelf".  These are mostly self-help/inspirational books.  I have them underlined and highlighted like crazy so I can go back and see what struck me and helped me the first time I read it.

Sometimes, I'll write a quote or saying on a sticky note and put it on my wall where I can see it often.

That is pretty much the extent of my note-taking.

Musing along,

A Musing ~ Me, a Writer? ~ 9/3/12

Each week Miz B at Should Be Reading asks a bookish question to muse over.

This week's musing courtesy of http://bookshelf.shotgunopera.net:

"Have you ever considered writing a book before? What genre would you write?"

I admit to considering it before, but then I think of all the thought it would take and my brain starts to hurt just thinking about it.

 

I'd much rather someone else do all that creative work and let me just enjoy the ride of reading a great book.

 

I'm definitely a reader, not a writer.  (Just ask my high school English teacher about the poem I wrote for her class.  It was about an ice-cream cone.  It might have even been a haiku.   hehe)

 

 

Musing along,

A Musing ~ Crazy! ~ 8/27/12

Each week Miz B at Should Be Reading asks a bookish question to muse over.

This week's musing:

"What is the weirdest/strangest/craziest book you’ve read?"

After thinking about this questions for a bit, I think I've decided.  The craziest book I've read would have to be "The Hunger Games".  I mean, common.  12-18 year olds running around a forest trying to kill each other while "adults" (crazy adults) are watching it all on TV and bet on the survivor.  Very disturbing.  A great book, but disturbing none-the-less.

Musing along,

A Musing ~ Re-reading ~ 8/19/12

Each week Miz B at Should Be Reading asks a bookish question to muse over.

This week's musing:

"Have you ever re-read a book and found that your opinion changed?"

I think I can answer this questions with a no.  I don't like to re-read books, even the ones that I really, really liked.  Once I've read them, I'm done and pass them along to the next reader.

The other day, I saw someone pose a question as to why they don't like to re-read a book but will watch movies over and over.  The same is true for me.  I've watched some of my favorite movies so many times I've lost count!

What is your opinion on this?

Musing along,

A Musing ~ Snacking ~ 8/13/12

Each week Miz B at Should Be Reading asks a bookish question to muse over.

This week's musing question courtesy of ME!!!!!!  So exciting:

"Do you snack while you read? If so, what is your favorite reading snack?"

I try not to snack while reading but when I do my go-to's would be:

-Cheese stick and crackers
-Chocolate Chips
-A cereral bowl of chips

But mostly I always HAVE to at least have a drink.  That helps me not to snack and also not to bite at my nails.  Now that is something I have a problem with when reading!

Favorite drinks:  Ovaltine, hot tea, Crystal Lite, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper.

Musing along,

A Musing ~ Blog Appeal ~ 8/6/12

Each week Miz B at Should Be Reading asks a bookish question to muse over.

This week's musing question courtesy of http://readbookswritepoetry.blogspot.in/ :

"What attracts you to a book blog? What puts you off in a book blog? Do you share personal stuff on your book blog?"

What attracts me to a blog?  I love clean, clear blogs that are easy to read and pleasing to the eye with book covers that I strike my eye enough for me to want to check it out.  I also like to read more than just reviews.  I like blogs to be fun with a variety of bookish posts as well as some personality so that I can get to know the blogger.

What puts me off?  Dark, dark colors and too much commotion.  I don't like having to search through a bunch of clutter just to find the post.  I realize that people love to promote books and authors on their page but I don't like when it is disorganized and all over the place.

Do I share personal stuff:  Yes, I do.  My blog is about my life and that consists of more than just books.  I do this through a few linkup/meme's that are designed to learn more about the person writing the blog.  So if a blog reader doesn't like that sort of thing, they can just skip over that post.

Wonderful question!  I enjoyed answering it :)

Musing along,

A Musing ~ A Question ~ 7/30/12

Each week Miz B at Should Be Reading asks a bookish question to muse over.

This week's musing :

"What question(s) would you like to see asked in future Musing Mondays posts?"

Hmm....now to come up with an amazing question that hasn't been asked yet....  Ok, maybe not so amazing and I don't know if it has been asked before but here goes....

"Do you snack while you read?  If so, what is your favorite reading snack?"

Don't answer!  We must now wait and see if Miz B picks this semi-amazing question to feature some Monday :)

Musing along,

A Musing ~ Magazines? ~ 7/23/12

Each week Miz B at Should Be Reading asks a bookish question to muse over.

This week's musing :

"Do you read magazines? If so, which ones? If not, why not?"

Well, I have  love/hate relationship with magazines.  I will get a subscription and read the first few magazines a soon as I get them.  After that they seem to sit in a pile that I never get around to looking through.

Some of the ones I enjoy, though, are:  "Family Circle", "Crochet Today", "Good Housekeeping", and "Better Homes and Gardens".

I sometimes will order a fitness magazine thinking that it will help motivate me to diet and exercise.  These are the ones that tend to get turned face down in a pile.  Those cover models are just not realistic!  You'd think I'd learn to not waste my money.

Anyway, my plan is to not renew any of my subscriptions, but there is just something so fun about seeing those magazines in the mailbox.  Can I resist?

Musing along,