I am feeling lazy today, and so I thought I would post a few random bookish thoughts for the Sunday Salon.
- Many thanks to all of you for your book recommendations last month for my coworker who is interested in discovering the love of reading. For those who may not know, he wants to read two books this year, which is a big deal considering he doesn't even read one book a year right now.
- He currently is reading The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien.
- He's only just started it, and so I haven't asked him what he thinks yet.
- My other coworker, the one who turns his nose up to reading, didn't take the bait when a friend and I left a copy of Marley and Me on his desk.
- The book ended up in the break room for general consumption.
- At least he did not toss it in the trash.
- I am reading the sixth book in the Kitty Norville series, Kitty Raises Hell, by Carrie Vaughn right now.
- I have read three of her books back to back this past week and a half and this will make the fourth.
- Considering the little cliff hanger at the end of the last book in the series, it was a no brainer that I would jump into my current book right away.
- The advantage to reading series books back to back is that the characters and world stay fresh in my mind.
- I am glad though that this is the last book I have in the series to read right now. I'm ready for a change of scenery.
- I know my limit well and recognize when it's time to step away from a series to avoid burn out.
- I usually mix up my reading more, but sometimes I like to linger in a series for a few books before moving on.
- I like how Carrie Vaughn handles the whole re-introduction and catch-the-reader up thing.
- She does it naturally and without it seeming like overkill to someone like me who is reading the books back to back.
- My husband, Anjin, is still on a Hard Case Crime novel kick.
- He recently reviewed The Dead Man's Brother by Roger Zelanzy on his blog.
- Anjin is currently reading The Cutie by Donald E. Westlake.
- One of my coworkers told me the other day that I cannot leave for lunch without telling them where I am going (book wise).
- She and her cubicle mates enjoy hearing about my lunch time reading adventures.
- I did not go to the bookstore this past week.
- Happy reading!
Week in Review:
My Thoughts on Watchmen (the book and movie) & My Favorite War Movies
A Page in the Life of April from Cafe of Dreams
TGIF Weekly Friday Fun: Talking to Strangers & the Worst "Best" Book
My Thoughts on Watchmen (the book and movie) & My Favorite War Movies
A Page in the Life of April from Cafe of Dreams
TGIF Weekly Friday Fun: Talking to Strangers & the Worst "Best" Book
Ah, series....on the one hand, sometimes I really enjoy spending a lot of time in a specific world hanging out with specific characters. But on the other hand, it can get tiresome after a while. A change of scenery really is needed sometimes. I hope you have a great week, reading- and otherwise :)
ReplyDeleteNymeth - Thank you, Nymeth. I am looking forward to see where this week takes me with my reading. I always feel like there is never enough time regardless . . .
ReplyDeleteYou nailed it on the head with series reading. There's certainly advantages to it, but also disadvantages to reading the series books back to back.
I like the co-worker who said you can't go to lunch without telling others where you are going (bookwise). We just started doing that lately on a list, ARM. I believe the question is, "Who are you having dinner with?" So, my answer would be, I'm having dinner with police detective Simon Ziele in Dobson, NY in 1905. (In the Shadow of Gotham, an ARC of Stefanie Pintoff's May release.)
ReplyDeleteLesa Holstine
http://lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com
Last summer, I went on a binge of reading all of the Jack Reacher series (written by Lee Child). I love the series, love the dude-ishness of Jack, but I did hit the burnout stage. I ususally do that when I find a good series. I just don't have the will to stop!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun, fun, fun post! And I love your husband's "about me" blurb at his blog!
ReplyDeleteI think it depends on the series for me. Then again, I get sidetracked really easily if I don't start a second book in a series right away - that happened with the His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman for me. Read The Golden Compass and still have to continue...
ReplyDeleteThis was a fun post. I'll be interested to see what your co-worker thinks of The Things They Carried - my son loved it.
ReplyDeleteThere is something that I really loved about this post--maybe because when my coworkers email me throughout the day they use numbered bullets for their points (these are fun emails...not icky work emails). :) I get burned out on genres and series as well--part of the reason why I don't read very many series. Great about coworker 1! The Things They Carried is a fantastic book. Too bad abut coworker 2. Maybe one day...? That's always my hope.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently reading Kitty Raises Hell as well and I am glad that it is the last one for now. I really enjoy these books but have read too many of them close together. She is a very talented author though! And I'll be looking forward to reading your review :)
ReplyDeletei think a lot of us are going to need a break from Kitty after this week! I do enjoy the books, though.
ReplyDeleteI can binge on series, but I'm frantically reading these which adds to the pressure!
I can't wait to see what he thinks of The Things They Carried. I love that book!
ReplyDeleteLezlie
Lesa - What a great idea!
ReplyDeleteSandy - It's easy to do when you are really enjoying a series, isn't it? And isn't it awful having to wait an entire year sometimes longer when you're caught up in a series?
Debi - Thanks! It was fun to write. :-) I actually ended up saying more than I thought I would.
My husband thanks you very much for the compliment. :-)
Angela - That's very true. It does depend on the series. With some series, it's easy to pick up and keep reading book after book but with others not so much. And like you, sometimes if I don't continue on right away, I end up taking an extended break from the series and it may take me longer to pick up the next book than I might have anticipated.
Kathy - I'm trying not to pester him about his thoughts on the book just yet. I might scare him with my over eagerness. :-)
Trish - I don't hold out much hope for the non-booklover in my office. I am glad to see my other coworker giving reading a try though. We can't win everyone over.
ReplyDeleteI don't feel so bad going off on tangents in posts like this. They're pretty easy to write too!
Sam - There is something as overdoing it. :-) I look forward to reading your thoughts on the recent books.
Amy - LOL You are probably right!
Lezlie - I still haven't read it myself, but my dad loved it. I will get around to reading it one of these days. :-)
Well, you know me and a series - I can't stop until the end. Mainly because, as you mentioned, I love moving from one book to the next to keep everything fresh.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to what you have to say about Kitty's latest adventures.
cjh
I enjoy reading series too, but like you said, sometimes you need a change of scenery!! You didn't go to a bookstore this week????!!! I think it's cool that your fellow co-workers want to know where your reading is taking you!!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
CJ - Yes, you do fly through the series. :-) There is something to be said for being able to read a series straight through, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteStaci - I didn't get to the bookstore, no. It feels like some sort of crime. LOL
I have a few coworkers who seem to take pleasure in my quirks. :-)
I hope you have a great week too.
I consider Marley And Me a good book for non-readers...who could resist the puppy on the book cover???
ReplyDeleteI've heard of people who read turning their nose up at non-readers (who doesn't like to learn, discover, read, be swept away from the comfort of your own seat) but a non-reader who turns up their nose at readers? Hmmm...
ReplyDeleteThe only series that I read one right after another until I got tired of the characters and had to take a break (this was seven years ago and I still haven't picked the series back up) was the LEFT BEHIND series.
I cannot read more than 2 books from a seried back to back. I would end up being burning out as you said (for a long time), not worth the risk for me :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you co-worker likes the book.
Bybee - We were hoping it would work on him because he loves dogs, but he's not budging on the issue.
ReplyDeleteKaren - I do understand that some people do not enjoy reading, and I don't have a problem with that. This particular coworker though has a strong aversion to reading for pleasure and has made a point of saying so while at the same time looking down at those of us who do read. I've met a few people like him before unfortunately.
I haven't read the Left Behind series, but I've heard about it. I admit that I've often started a series and then stalled on it--either intentionally or unintentionally. Mostly my problem is that there are so many books I want to read that I tend to not have time to get to them all.
Eliza - It's good to know your limit. The last thing we want to do is overdo it with a series and risk never picking up another book in it again--in particular if it's a series we enjoy.
The drawback to reading back to back is when you go to review them lol. Love Carrie Vaughn! Lady T from Living Read Girl got her to autograph a book for me :)
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about reading series. Sometimes it's fun to just continue spending time with the characters, but others after a couple books it becomes too much of the same.
ReplyDeleteThat's too bad about the guy in your office who won't read, but very fun that your co-worker likes keeping tabs on your literary travels.
I hope you have a great week, Wendy! :)
You'll have to let us know how your co-worker feels about The Things They Carried when he's finished. I loved that book! Made my Top Ten the year I read it.
ReplyDeleteI usually allow several months between books in a series. It's probably been at least a year since I've read anything in John Sandford's "Prey" series, so yesterday I snagged two at the library and plan to read them in the coming weeks. I've missed Lucas Davenport! :)
I love how you're turning your officemates on to reading!! SO cool.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the way your organized your random reading thoughts this week, Wendy!
ReplyDeleteI had a rough week and weekend again this past week, so I'm going to follow your lead and do a random thought list as well. I don't want to loose touch. Great thoughts.
ReplyDeleteHave a good week.
I won the Kitty series and can't wait to start them. They might be good for the Read-a-Thon. I love how you mentioned at the end how you didn't go to a bookstore this week-too funny..
ReplyDeleteI really liked The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien. Your other co-worker seems like a drag...not taking the bait. Hmmm...maybe Marley and Me is not the right bait.
ReplyDeleteI love this post.
ReplyDeleteI hope your co-worker meets his goal of reading 2 books.
I should try this Kitty Norville series.
Never heard of it.
Have a great day!
I walked into a bookstore today and came out... guess what, EMPTY-HANDED! I had 3 books in hand and almost ended up at the cashier's but then BOOK BAN! I remembered my book ban...
ReplyDeleteJen - That is true! I think you do a great job though, and I like how you often combine your series reviews together in one post.
ReplyDeleteNat - Yes, that's it exactly.
I guess we can't turn everyone into a reader. ;-)
Les - I am looking forward to hearing what he thinks of it.
I haven't yet read the Lucas Davenport series, but I do want to. I've heard nothing but good things about John Sandford's books.
LisaMM - I'm sure trying! I just loaned a huge stack of series books to one of my coworkers and she's been e-mailing me every day with little updates with her thoughts of the books.
Florinda - Haha! Thanks. I actually started out with 11 and then just kept adding to it. An actual theme emerged! At least for part of it.
Wisteria - I hope things start looking up for you. Rough weeks should be banned.
Dar - Congratulations on winning the series! I hope you enjoy the books. They're fairly quick reading, I think.
Serena - I've heard wonderful things about it, although I haven't yet read it myself. My dad liked it quite a bit. My other coworker . . . Sometimes I don't think he'd be able to sit still long enough to read a book. Maybe an audio book would work better for him. Or maybe we can try a humorous book. He loves to crack jokes.
Tara - Thank you! I hope he does too. There are several of us in my office who are acting as his cheerleaders--as long as we don't overdo it, he should be able to manage it. :-)
Alice - Wow! That's quite an accomplishment! You have good will power, Alice. :-)