I do love a fresh spice muffin in the morning! I rarely have time to fix myself a nice breakfast before bolting out the door for the office each morning, but I do try and grab something I can take with me. On weekend mornings, like today, I sometimes skip breakfast all together, I confess. Not the best of habits. I'm trying to be better today.
You aren't here to read about my breakfast though, are you? Let's talk about what I've been reading, shall we? I am still on my crime fiction kick. I somehow managed to squeeze in time to read L.J. Seller's The Sex Club, the first in the Detective Jackson series set in Eugene, Oregon. For some reason, I was really excited to be reading a book set in Oregon. Oregon is one of those states I wish I could visit for more than a drive through from California to Washington and back again. The setting actually wasn't terribly important to the novel, although the good detective made his way to Portland often enough, Eugene being a smaller community.
It makes me wonder how often the setting is important in the books I read. Would it make a difference if the book you are reading right now was set somewhere else entirely? I tend to favor books where the setting is significant, and if the setting is a character all by itself--or at least has that feel--even better! I tend to be a visual reader, forming pictures of the words on the page.
How important is the setting to you? If you were to set the book you are reading currently elsewhere, would it change the story at all? The characters?
I now am reading Dating Dead Men by Harley Jane Kozak (or I would be if I hadn't left it in the office Wednesday evening not anticipating Mouse would become ill with fever, and I would be taking the rest of the week off), which is set in and around Los Angeles, an area I am very familiar with. Mouse chose the book for me. She was particularly fascinated by the colors on the cover. It was probably those heart-shaped eyes on the skull that made her choose that one above the others though. And, no, it is not a vampire novel.
I've been carrying around The Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby for about a week, hoping for a moment to start on that. I figured it would be a good book to read in spurts. I'm just waiting for the right spurt, I guess.
This past month I made an effort to jump back into blogging. I am still trying to find a good rhythm, so please bear with me. I survived my first week of daycare (two actually)--and, really, it was more a case of my survival rather than my daughter's. She took it much better than I did. Except maybe the cold and fever part. That's been tough on all of us. It's her first of many to be sure.
This month I am celebrating my 5th year of blogging and, as a result, have been feeling a bit reflective. The book blogging community is so much bigger than it was when I started. And it continues to grow by leaps and bounds. Please continue to e-mail any questions you may have that you would like me to answer this month! I look forward to hearing from you!
Wishing you all a great week. Happy reading everyone! And happy Independence Day to my fellow Americans!
You aren't here to read about my breakfast though, are you? Let's talk about what I've been reading, shall we? I am still on my crime fiction kick. I somehow managed to squeeze in time to read L.J. Seller's The Sex Club, the first in the Detective Jackson series set in Eugene, Oregon. For some reason, I was really excited to be reading a book set in Oregon. Oregon is one of those states I wish I could visit for more than a drive through from California to Washington and back again. The setting actually wasn't terribly important to the novel, although the good detective made his way to Portland often enough, Eugene being a smaller community.It makes me wonder how often the setting is important in the books I read. Would it make a difference if the book you are reading right now was set somewhere else entirely? I tend to favor books where the setting is significant, and if the setting is a character all by itself--or at least has that feel--even better! I tend to be a visual reader, forming pictures of the words on the page.
How important is the setting to you? If you were to set the book you are reading currently elsewhere, would it change the story at all? The characters?
I now am reading Dating Dead Men by Harley Jane Kozak (or I would be if I hadn't left it in the office Wednesday evening not anticipating Mouse would become ill with fever, and I would be taking the rest of the week off), which is set in and around Los Angeles, an area I am very familiar with. Mouse chose the book for me. She was particularly fascinated by the colors on the cover. It was probably those heart-shaped eyes on the skull that made her choose that one above the others though. And, no, it is not a vampire novel.I've been carrying around The Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby for about a week, hoping for a moment to start on that. I figured it would be a good book to read in spurts. I'm just waiting for the right spurt, I guess.
This past month I made an effort to jump back into blogging. I am still trying to find a good rhythm, so please bear with me. I survived my first week of daycare (two actually)--and, really, it was more a case of my survival rather than my daughter's. She took it much better than I did. Except maybe the cold and fever part. That's been tough on all of us. It's her first of many to be sure.
This month I am celebrating my 5th year of blogging and, as a result, have been feeling a bit reflective. The book blogging community is so much bigger than it was when I started. And it continues to grow by leaps and bounds. Please continue to e-mail any questions you may have that you would like me to answer this month! I look forward to hearing from you!
Wishing you all a great week. Happy reading everyone! And happy Independence Day to my fellow Americans!
© 2011, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
Oh I'm going to have track down L.J. Seller's The Sex Club because I lived in Eugene for a couple of years. I love reading books that take place in familiar settings.
ReplyDeleteFive years of blogging? Congratulations. I've been around for six and seem to remember you coming along, you whippersnapper, you ;).
ReplyDeleteAs for your question about setting, for me, it's very important. It's almost like it's another character in the book and if the book were set anywhere else, it wouldn't be the same. The books I probably like the least are those that have settings that don't really matter -- where it could be anywhere.
It's crazy how time flies when you blog. I have been here for about 4 years, I think, and it seems like it was just yesterday that I started. And I also like a good muffin in the morning, though I don't usually choose the healthy spice muffins, and instead go for something with a lot of chocolate chips.
ReplyDeleteAs far as how important setting is to me, well that depends. In certain cases it's very important, like when I am reading Indian fiction (which is one of my favorite genres) but in other cases, when the book is more of an intended character study, it is not so important to me. However I do like it when the setting is almost like another character at times, as unfinished person mentioned. Very interesting question to ponder.
I hope that Mouse is starting to feel better, and things calm down around there.
I must say that I am excited to see you blogging again!
Wow, 5 years of blogging! That's amazing.
ReplyDeleteIf I have to choose a book by setting, I usually pick something set in New York because that's where I live. I do think setting is important especially since I love my cozy mysteries. Those have to be set in a small town somewhere to really get the feel of a cozy.
Happy July 4th!
5 years!! Congrats to you! I remember when I first left my oldest at daycare. I had an emotional breakdown big time..he loved it there!!
ReplyDeleteI choose books a lot of the times because of their setting. It's a very important role to me and helps get me into the location of the book!
Have a great 4th of July! And don't forget to eat breakfast tomorrow!!
Give Mouse a hug!
5 years is monumental. Congrats Wendy.
ReplyDelete5 years of blogging is an amazing thing! And I'm so glad Mouse is doing better. No fun to have a sick baby.
ReplyDeleteI love Polysyllabic Spree - all of the collections of Hornby's bookish columns, actually. They make for good reading - and will increase your to-read list by leaps and bounds.
I'm with you - I love a book where the setting is a character in and of itself.
Five years blogging is fantastic! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThe same goes for surviving day care. I cannot even imagine how difficult that is. I'm glad to hear Mouse handled it well.
Interesting detective you're reading. I'm going to be sure to check some of the titles out! I've been reading a little Agatha Christie again since she's being celebrated around the blogs right now but I'm always interested in good detective fiction! Thanks!
I wanted to wush you and your family a Happy 4th of July! I hope you're having a good weekend
Congrats, Wendy! My blog is turning 5 this month too!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear your little one is doing well at the daycare. :)
Hope you have a great week!
Congratulations on 5 years of blogging!
ReplyDelete