Athena's Reading List 2013

[frankie]

x

Those are all my books, though a lot of them are on my TBR. I didn't seperate it into TBR and R (read), I could do that if you're interested though, but can't put it all in one post I think or it would get too confusing.

 

I would never ask you to do that, I know how much work that is! I was just wondering. If you decide to do it, you should do it for your own pleasure

 

 

xx

Ah , I think I'll do it a bit differently next year, at the very least add more posts to the beginning of the thread, before it starts with posts by other people. I love arranging lists and books too! Yep, it's the first year. I joined in January. It does feel like I've been here longer! I'm so happy to have found this forum, the people (including you!) are so wonderful .

 

Oh yes, it's definitely handy to have a lot of those empty posts in the beginning of the thread, for all the lists one already has on their previous year's reading log. And occasionally it just so happens that you can come by a certain interesting sounding reading challenge and want to take part in it, and you might want to have a few empty posts for those, too Never underestimate the amount of empty posts you might need during the year!

 

 

 

I agree, I could easily see myself re-reading it in a while. It was such a great book. The viewpoint was quite unique, I've read a few other books also written from the point-of-view with someone with autism, wish there were more of them (you might like House Rules by Jodi Picoult).

xx

 

I added the Picoult book on my wishlist, thanks! And as we now know, it's all the more great that you enjoyed the Curious Incident so much, as you have some inside info on the subject. It shows how Mark Haddon did a great job with the book!

 

 

 

Yes I gave my presentation about two and a half weeks ago! I don't have my diploma yet, that should happen in August. I'm really enjoying my time off, though I'm still stressed and anxious sometimes. I think it'll take time to get out of my system. I'm also still tired so need more rest. But I'm really enjoying my time off. I've been reading, spending time on the computer, spending time with my boyfriend (ie. going out shopping), watching things. I'm going on holidays in a few weeks so I'm looking forward to that. 

 

Congratulations for having done the presentation so successfully!!   You must be over the moon, having it all behind you... I know it can feel exhausting, too. And maybe even a bit like 'oh, what now? :O', but that's all normal. I'm so happy you're enjoying your time off, you fully deserve it   Remember to let us know when you've received your diploma!

[Athena]

Susan Hatler - Better Date Than Never 2: Truth or Date

Genre: Chick-lit

Format: Kindle

Pages: 188

Synopsis (GoodReads): Gina Hall is done with men who won’t commit. Ten years waiting for her ex to propose wasted her time. Never again. When her friend Kristen starts a game of Truth or Dare, she dares Gina to go on a date with Ethan, who’s amazing and total marriage material.

 

As Gina plans the going away party for office playboy Chris Bradley, she spontaneously initiates a game of Truth or Dare with him. When his turn comes around, he dares Gina to pose as his girlfriend to help get a flirty colleague off his back. Gina finds playing couple with Chris way too much fun.

 

Even though Gina and Chris are pretending, their relationship begins to feel painfully real. Fearing she might be falling for another fly-by man, Gina must focus on Ethan so she doesn’t make the same dating mistakes all over again.

 

My thoughts: I read this book on my holidays on my Kindle. It's a short read (relatively speaking) and I've liked all Susan Hatler books I've read so far.

 

I liked this book, though not as much as some of her other books. It's nice how the books in the series all feature the same characters, though who is the main character changes with each book. I didn't like the main character as much as some of the other main characters in the series. Yes I read book three, five and one first (review of book four to follow below). At the time of reading some of them, I didn't know they were part of a series.

 

Anyway, this book isn't very different from most of Susan Hatler's other books. That said, it's very entertaining and easy to read. It's very nice to read about all the different characters in this series (one day I'll have to read them all in order).

 

Rating: **** (7/10)

Edited August 20, 2013 by Athena

[Athena]

Susan Hatler - Better Date Than Never 2: Save the Date

Genre: Chick-lit

Format: Kindle

Pages: 165

Synopsis (GoodReads): Kristen knows men hide things. Case in point, her last boyfriend turned out to be married. Just like anyone else, Kristen is devastated. However, since Kristen evaluates people for a living, her ex’s duplicity has her searching for a new career as well as swearing off men.

 

Touring history museums with her sexy friend Ethan doesn’t count, because he has a girlfriend, and has only shown friendly interest in Kristen. He even helps with her career counseling tasks. Although Kristen has a secret crush on Ethan, spending time with him is safe. Until she discovers he’s actually single. Gasp. And now he’s flirting with her, too.

 

Suddenly, Ethan is way too dangerous. Not to mention tempting. Sure, he seems like sixty shades of perfect, but how’s a girl with bad judgment supposed to detect what skeletons he has in his closet?

 

My thoughts: I read this book on my holidays on my Kindle.

 

I really liked the character of Kirsten in this book. I liked learning more about her, she seemed a bit odd in the previous book I read (book two, see post above), but I really liked her in this book. The book is well written, mainly I give this book a higher rating because of the plot (better than some of the other books, though similar) and the main character.

 

Rating: ***** (9/10)

[Athena]

Brandon Sanderson - The Emperor's Soul

Genre: Fantasy

Format: Kindle

Pages: 167

Synopsis (GoodReads): When Shai is caught replacing the Moon Scepter with her nearly flawless forgery, she must bargain for her life. An assassin has left the Emperor Ashravan without consciousness, a circumstance concealed only by the death of his wife. If the emperor does not emerge after his hundred-day mourning period, the rule of the Heritage Faction will be forfeit and the empire will fall into chaos.

 

Shai is given an impossible task: to create—to Forge—a new soul for the emperor in less than one hundred days. But her soul-Forgery is considered an abomination by her captors. She is confined to a tiny, dirty chamber, guarded by a man who hates her, spied upon by politicians, and trapped behind a door sealed in her own blood. Shai's only possible ally is the emperor's most loyal councillor, Gaotona, who struggles to understand her true talent.

 

Time is running out for Shai. Forging, while deducing the motivations of her captors, she needs a perfect plan to escape…

 

My thoughts: I read this book on my holidays on my Kindle. I felt like reading something different after reading two chick-lit books and so browsed the Fantasy section on my Kindle. I almost forgot I bought this book! XD It's easier seeing them on your shelves, I find it harder to see them on the Kindle, unless I browse the specific catagory and flick through the pages (if there are several I mean).

 

Because I can't read synopses on my Kindle if I don't have an internet connection, and I didn't remember what this book was about, I didn't know much going into the book.

 

The book was easily readable and well written. I really love the magic system in it. The character of Shai appealed to me, it's always nice to see a strong female character in a book (especially in a genre where often the main characters are males). I really liked this book and look forward to read some more of his work. I'd already read some of the Wheel of Time books he wrote and loved them, I have a couple of his other books on my shelf but not yet read (Mistborn series, Warbreaker and The Way of Kings parts one and two). This novella was really good.

 

Rating: ***** (9/10)

[Athena]

Edith Wharton - Summer

Genre: Literature

Format: Kindle

Pages: 216? Unsure, my free Kindle edition doesn't seem to be on GoodReads

Synopsis (GoodReads): A new Englander of humble origins, Charity Royall is swept into a torrid love affair with an artistically inclined young man from New York City, but her dreams of a future with him are thwarted. A bold, provocative work, SUMMER was an immediate sensation when first published in 1917 and still stands as one of Wharton's greatest achievements.

 

My thoughts: I read this book on my holidays on my Kindle. It's the August read of the Reading Circle so I thought I might as well try and read it (it was free on Kindle).

 

I was pleasantly surprised by how readable the book was. I did have to look up quite a few words, mainly of things that were used back in those days, that we don't have much anymore now. Some structures were also unknown to me, such as "I want you should go to ..", I got what was meant but the sentence structure was unknown to me. Other than those things I found it very readable (and in a way I enjoyed learning more about life back then by looking up the words I didn't know, which is easy on the Kindle).

 

I have to admit, I skimmed the few religious parts in the book. Reading those kinds of things doesn't appeal to me at all (no offense to whoever does believe in that specific religion), and I get nothing out of it, I get the gist by skimming it. This is also one of the reasons why I prefer not to read any books that talk about religion too much, ie. if religion is prominently featured I tend to steer clear of a book (if I know it beforehand). Anyway, there were only a few parts like that in the book. I suppose it adds to the authenticity but I just didn't like reading those parts.

 

I liked the fact that the book featured a library and talked about the library. I liked reading about the general life of the people there. However I didn't really like the characters a lot. They were all annoying in their own way. Charity (the main character) seemed immature at times, for example. I didn't really like the ending of the book. Anyway, for more thoughts please visit the August Reading Circle thread (warning: spoilers!).

 

I liked this book but didn't love it. It was nice to read, though and I'm glad I did. Whether I'll be buying a paperback version at some point though, I don't know (maybe if I see it cheap.. XD).

 

Rating: *** (6/10)

[Athena]

Ian Ford - A Field Guide to Earthlings: An Autistic/Asperger View of Neurotypical Behavior

Genre: Information

Format: Kindle

Pages: The paperback version has 218 pages.

Synopsis (GoodReads): Autistic people often live in a state of anxiety and confusion about the social world, running into misunderstandings and other barriers. This book unlocks the inner workings of neurotypical behavior, which can be mysterious to autistics.

 

Proceeding from root concepts of language and culture through 62 behavior patterns used by neurotypical people, the book reveals how they structure a mental map of the world in symbolic webs of beliefs, how those symbols are used to filter perception, how they build and display their identity, how they complete for power, and how they socialize and develop relationships.

 

My thoughts: I read this book on my holidays on my Kindle. I bought it because Amazon recommended it to me and after reading a few pages in the chapter preview, it sounded quite interesting so I bought it. I felt like reading something different after reading Summer so I chose this book.

 

This book was very interesting. It explained a lot of things to me, about how some people without autism communicate with each other. I recognise some things in some people, but not other things in others. For example, my boyfriend is kind of his own thing, he doesn't seem to follow at all what the book says (and I'm really glad for that!!). I recognise some things in my parents and sister, and some more in my brother especially. I also recognise things in people I've seen in the past, such as some of my fellow students at the university. This book made certain things clearer to me. I'm still trying to wrap my head around some concepts, not all of them were easy to understand for me.

 

I loved how this book was written by someone with autism for people with autism. Not only does it add authenticity, the author knows what he's talking about and how to bring it across so that I can understand it (or most of it, at least). Definitely one I'll have to re-read sometime just to understand even more of it and to refresh my mind on certain concepts.

 

Throughout the book a play is described. Each chapter (divived into subchapters, called Patterns) discusses a subject (several patterns). Previous to each chapter, there is one scene of the play (that in the whole plays out a story). I have to admit, I had some real trouble following the play at first. Once I read through the patterns and they were explained (also in relation to the play), I could follow it better. The play seemed a bit chaotically written at first, I was a bit confused. Which is probably exactly how I would've felt, if I'd been there . I had some trouble wrapping my head around which character was who, but later on it became clearer as I got to know them.

 

I'd heartily recommend this book to someone with autism, or to someone who doesn't think the way most people without autism do (ie. like my boyfriend) and who's interested in how most people communicate. If you have no interest in this subject or you think you know most of it already (because you communicate like that), then it may not be of interest. Though it could be refreshing to see just how you're behaving! To me, some of it seemed pretty weird and illogical! XD

 

Rating: ***** (9/10)

[Timstar]

Brandon Sanderson - The Emperor's Soul

 

 

My thoughts: I read this book on my holidays on my Kindle. I felt like reading something different after reading two chick-lit books and so browsed the Fantasy section on my Kindle. I almost forgot I bought this book! XD It's easier seeing them on your shelves, I find it harder to see them on the Kindle, unless I browse the specific catagory and flick through the pages (if there are several I mean).

 

Because I can't read synopses on my Kindle if I don't have an internet connection, and I didn't remember what this book was about, I didn't know much going into the book.

 

Rating: ***** (9/10)

 

I have this issue as well! I've had Emperor's Soul on my Kindle for since it was released but keep forgetting about it. If it's as good as you say then I should read it soon

[Athena]

I think you should! I really liked it, at least. It's also not terribly long so it should take you less time to read than some other, bigger books. It's very good, though .

[Athena]

A while ago I downloaded a free Kindle book:

Nancy Radke - The Sisters of Spirit 1-4 Boxset

 

I bought some books during my holidays (nearly all of them on sale):

Tony DiTerlizzi - The Spiderwick Chronicles 2: The Seeing Stone

Holly Black - The Spiderwick Chronicles 4: The Ironwood Tree

M. C. Beaton - The Travelling Matchmaker 1: Emily goes to Exeter

M. C. Beaton - The Travelling Matchmaker 2: Berlinda goes to Bath

Joseph Delaney - The Wardstone Chronicles 4: The Spook's Battle

Charlaine Harris - Sookie Stackhouse Collection: A Touch of Dead

D. J. MacHale - Pendragon 8: The Pilgrims of Rayne

Jim Butcher - Codex Alera 4: Captain's Fury

Michael Ashley - The Mammoth Book of Dark Magic

Paula Guran - The Mammoth Book of Angels and Demons

Maureen Lee - The Old House on the Corner

Cassandra Clare - The Mortal Instruments 5: City of Lost Souls

Erica James - The Hidden Cottage

Peter Boxall - 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die

 

I've ordered a couple of other books, mainly books about books, some books of authors I love that have been released in paperback in the past while and some books from a series that involves a book club. I'll post a list of them when I have them (or most of them).

 

I'm currently reading John Green - The Fault in Our Stars, it's quite good so far, though I'm not that far into the book yet.

[Athena]

Here are the books I received today:

 

Diane Chamberlain - Necessary Lies

Penny Vincenzi - Love In The Afternoon And Other Delights

Heather Vogel Frederick - The Mother-Daughter Book Club 2: Much Ado About Anne

Janey Fraser - Happy Families     

Terry Brooks - The Dark Legacy Of Shannara 2: Bloodfire Quest

Peter F. Hamilton - Great North Road

Various Authors - Stop What You're Doing And Read This!     

Sandra Newman and Howard Mittelmark - Read This Next

Nancy Pearl - Book Lust: Recommended Reading For Every Mood, Moment, And Reason (Lust)

Nancy Pearl - More Book Lust: Recommended Reading For Every Mood, Moment, And Reason

Nancy Pearl - Book Lust To Go: Recommended Reading for Travelers, Vagabonds, and Dreamers

Thomas C. Foster - How To Read Literature Like A Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines

Julia Eccleshare - 1001 Children's Books

 

Waiting for these ones, most should be here not too long from now (one has been delayed, so that may take another few weeks):

Nicholas Sparks - Message In A Bottle     

Heather Vogel Frederick - The Mother-Daughter Book Club 3: Dear Pen Pal

Heather Vogel Frederick - The Mother-Daughter Book Club 4: Pies & Prejudice

Heather Vogel Frederick - The Mother-Daughter Book Club 5: Home For The Holidays     

Nancy Pearl - Book Crush: For Kids And Teens Recommended Reading For Every Mood, Moment And Interest

Hallie Ephron - 1001 Books For Every Mood: A Bibliophile's Guide To Unwinding, Misbehaving, Forgiving, Celebrating, Commiserating     

Francine Prose - Reading Like A Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them     

Rob Kaplan - A Passion For Books

 

(note: I won't be writing down again when I've got them.)

 

The Fault in Our Stars is quite good so far, though because of other things I've been doing I haven't been reading a lot. It's not a very long book, normally I could read it pretty quickly if I spend some time reading, however I've been doing other things.

[Athena]

John Green - The Fault in Our Stars

Genre: Contemporary fiction, Young-Adult

Format: Paperback

Pages: 316

Synopsis (GoodReads): Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

 

My thoughts: I've been meaning to read this book for a while. I've heard a lot of good things about it, from quite a few people. While initially I felt the book was very good but not worth the hype, the second half pulled me in more. It's a sad book, in the sense that it's about cancer, life, death, love, and other things. It's really well written. I quite liked most of the characters. There was one character I didn't really like. The main character is quite strong, mentally.

 

Books that deal with difficult issues such as this book, make me think about how happy I am with what I have and how lucky I am to have the people I love, in my life, without health issues (other than our disabilities). I love my boyfriend and my family and friends.

 

It's hard to talk about this book without telling you anything about the plot twists. So (only read if you've read the book or if you really don't mind being spoiled about the plot or the ending):

 

 

I love the ending. It's so sweet and thoughtful, really true love, yet a bit sad too. I love that Hazel has something of Augustus to hold onto. I didn't like that he died, though I did guess that one of them would die in the book. I felt bad for Isaac too, with him having to be blind. I didn't really like Peter van Houten, though he came through in the end. But half way through the book, when Hazel and Augustus just met him, he was such a jerk! It makes sense I guess, but still. I would've liked for Hazel to have it turned out differently. I'm happy though that she and Augustus had a great time together. I thought Hazel was really strong, despite all the breating machines etc.

 

 

I'd recommend this book to anyone (unless perhaps you've in one way or another dealt with cancer in your life and it's too difficult to read a fictional story about it).

 

Rating: ***** (9/10)

 

Next I might read Stop What You're Doing And Read This!, written by various authors (including Mark Haddon). But I haven't fully decided yet. I've got quite some books lined up on the TBR-soon (to-be-read-soon), there's a couple of piles.

[vodkafan]

 This book looks extremely interesting  Athena!  I will definitely check this out.

 

Ian Ford - A Field Guide to Earthlings: An Autistic/Asperger View of Neurotypical Behavior
Genre: Information
Format: Kindle
Pages: The paperback version has 218 pages.
Synopsis (GoodReads): Autistic people often live in a state of anxiety and confusion about the social world, running into misunderstandings and other barriers. This book unlocks the inner workings of neurotypical behavior, which can be mysterious to autistics.

Proceeding from root concepts of language and culture through 62 behavior patterns used by neurotypical people, the book reveals how they structure a mental map of the world in symbolic webs of beliefs, how those symbols are used to filter perception, how they build and display their identity, how they complete for power, and how they socialize and develop relationships.

 

Edited August 24, 2013 by vodkafan

[Athena]

I bought some books at the charity shop:

 

Theodore H. White - In Search of History

William Boyd - A Good Man in Afrika

Ken Kesey - One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

Ian McEwan - The Cement Garden

Graham Greene - The Power and the Glory

Doris Lessing - The Grass is Singing

James Baldwin - If Beale Street Could Talk

Margaret Drabble - The Millstone

Jay McInerney - Bright Lights, Big City

Evelyn Waugh - The Loved One

Sandra Glover - Don't Tell

Jan Page - Juggling Lessons

Jane Smiley - Good Faith

 

Note: I can't seem to add to my book list at the beginning of the topic so these aren't on there yet, posted about it in the Using the Board section.

[Athena]

This book looks extremely interesting  Athena!  I will definitely check this out.

x

I'm glad to hear it, if you decide to buy/read it, I look forward to hear/read your thoughts!!

Edited August 24, 2013 by Athena

[Little Pixie]

I`ve not read any of Jane Smiley, though I`ve thought about geting some of hers. I`ve got a couple of William Boyd books, but not read them yet.

 

I loved The Power and the Glory ; I read it a few years ago, thought it was excellent.

[pontalba]

We have the Boxall book, 1001 books..really a neat, beautifully made book!

 

I've read a couple of Graham Green's, and liked them, but not that particular one.

 

I've also read several of William Boyd's books, and liked them, but not that one.  lol

 

Same for Doris Lessing, I read her Golden Notebook.....I need to reread it to really get the flavor though.  It's very interesting.  She is an interesting author.

 

The one Evelyn Waugh I've read....can't even remember the name at the moment.....kind of disappointed me, wasn't the one you have listed though.

[Athena]

I`ve not read any of Jane Smiley, though I`ve thought about geting some of hers. I`ve got a couple of William Boyd books, but not read them yet.

 

I loved The Power and the Glory ; I read it a few years ago, thought it was excellent.

x

I'm glad to hear you liked it a lot!!

x 

We have the Boxall book, 1001 books..really a neat, beautifully made book!

 

I've read a couple of Graham Green's, and liked them, but not that particular one.

 

I've also read several of William Boyd's books, and liked them, but not that one.  lol

 

Same for Doris Lessing, I read her Golden Notebook.....I need to reread it to really get the flavor though.  It's very interesting.  She is an interesting author.

 

The one Evelyn Waugh I've read....can't even remember the name at the moment.....kind of disappointed me, wasn't the one you have listed though.

x

lol, nice to read your thoughts on some of the books I bought .

[Athena]

Suzannah Gardner and Shane Birley - Blogging for Dummies

Genre: Information

Format: Kindle

Pages: 411

Synopsis (GoodReads) (shortened): This proven bestseller is fully updated and better than ever!Now in its fourth edition, "Blogging For Dummies" is fully updated and more practical than ever for today's bloggers. Whether you're just beginning or are already a full-tilt blogging maven, you'll find the up-to-date information you need in these friendly pages. Want to integrate your blog with social media? Jump into the fast-moving world of microblogging on Twitter or Tumblr? Choose which blogging software to use? Optimize your current blog for search? This detailed book guide covers it all, and then some. Buy the book, build a better blog, and blog about it!

 

My thoughts: I started to read this book because it's one of the last For Dummies books left to read on the Kindle (until I buy more, at least). My Kindle has a light and so it's easy to read when it's a bit dark. I thought the book might inspire me to do some blogging (of some kind). I would like to write more.

 

The book was good, though some things were a bit straight-forward. I suppose those things should help less tech-savvy people or people who don't know a lot about blogging and the internet yet. In any case, there were some helpful tips in the book that may be of use to me too (if I decide to blog again), or that I can tell others about (bloggers I know). The book was well written and easy to follow.

 

Rating: **** (8/10)

[Athena]

Various Authors - Stop What You're Doing and Read This!

Genre: Biography, Information

Format: Paperback

Pages: 181

Synopsis (GoodReads): In Vintage's 21st anniversary year, this book is a mission statement about the paramount importance of reading to our quality of life.

 

In any 24 hours there might be sleeping, eating, kids, parents, friends, lovers, work, school, travel, deadlines, emails, phone calls, Facebook, Twitter, the news, the TV, Playstation, music, movies, sport, responsibilities, passions, desires, dreams. Why should you stop what you're doing and read a book? But people have always needed stories. We need literature -- novels, poetry -- because we need to make sense of our lives, test our depths, understand our joys, and discover what humans are capable of. Great books can provide companionship when we are lonely or peacefulness in the midst of the commuter rush. Reading provides a unique kind of pleasure and no-one should live without it.

 

The ten essays in this book tell us about the experience of reading, why access to books should never be taken forgranted, how reading transforms our brains, and how literature can save lives. In any 24 hours there are so many demands on your time and attention -- make books one of them.

 

My thoughts: I bought this book recently because it sounded interesting, it's a collection of essays (pieces) on various aspects of reading and reading related themes. Below I will shortly review each section seperately, with a rating. Of these authors, I've only read a book by Mark Haddon. The other authors either weren't familiar to me at all and/or I hadn't read anything by them previously.

 

Zadie Smith - Library Life

 

This piece is about the life of Zadie Smith and how she spent quite a bit of time in libraries. It's nicely written. It's a bit political, she references some political standpoints (of the UK). I enjoyed reading how she felt about libraries. I particularly liked the 'library game' she played when she was a child, making her soft toys go to her 'library', lecturing them on too late fees etc. I used to play 'library' with my sister and always really enjoyed that (though soft toys weren't involved), so this in particular spoke to me.

 

Rating: **** (7/10)

 

Blake Morrison - Twelve Thoughts About Reading

 

This essay is split up into twelve pieces. Below follows a short summary, a final rating is at the end.

 

The Great Escape

A piece about having books around your bed, as a physical barrier.

 

I liked this piece, though I had never really thought about putting books around my bed.

 

Giving and Taking

Text comes 'alive' once read, books require giving and taking.

 

This was an interesting piece, it made me think about reading, how it's imagining what happens (if it's fiction).

 

Ownership

Who owns books, stories feel like they're especially written for the reader

 

I have this happen to me now and then, when a particular book really speaks to me. Have you had this happen to you?

 

Ownership: An Extreme Case of Appropriation

An example of how a story can speak to someone.

 

A writer takes a story he's read and uses it as his own, he didn't notice he was doing it because the story felt like it was his own thoughts. Interesting and thought-provoking.

 

Why Poetry Matters

Emotions.

 

Poetry is one of those things that usually doesn't appeal to me at all. It's too abstract, too many metaphors, I often don't get what's meant (due to the way my brain works). I can understand why some people like it, but most poems simply aren't for me.

 

Another Reason Why Poetry Matters

Serious, slower pacing.

 

See above.

 

Reading Catatonically

Read so that the real world has less power over us.

 

This was interesting, and it makes sense to me. I don't think I'd call it "reading catatonically" when I read, because I hear what's going on still, but I do read sometimes to feel my own problems less.

 

Company and Solitude

Read the book privately, then discuss with others.

 

This reminded me of reading a book and then discussing it on this forum (or with others). A good piece!

 

Forbidden Pleasure

When reading is forbidden.

 

This spoke to me not so much, to me something doesn't become more appealing when it's forbidden or inappropriate at the time. I'm very much a "lawful good" person, I want to follow the rules and do good.

 

The Canon

In an age of distraction, which books to read how.

 

This was interesting.

 

The More, the Merrier

Share books with the world.

 

I wasn't entirely sure what to think of this. It makes sense for a lot of people, less so for myself. Though I usually do like to recommend a book if I think someone else will like it too.

 

All of the pieces were well written and I really enjoyed reading most of them.

 

Rating: ***** (9/10)

 

Carmen Callil - True Daemons

 

This is an essay about her childhood and growing up and what reading means to her and her job as a publisher. I quite liked this one, it was well written and interesting.

 

Rating: ***** (9/10)

 

Tim Parks - Mindful Reading

 

This is a well written essay about reading.

 

Rating: ***** (9/10)

 

Mark Haddon - The Right Words in the Right Order

 

This essay is about reading, the author mentions some of the books he likes, it's about how we read and why we read. It's really well written. I loved Mark Haddon's book The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, so I was particularly interested in reading his essay. It didn't disappoint!

 

Michael Rosen - Memories and Expectations

 

This essay talks about the author's father reading Great Expectations to the family. I think this essay would've worked better for me if I'd read Great Expectations. As it is, the essay doesn't explain the story of the book nor the relation of the characters. The author mentions how his father acted out these characters, but the meaning was a bit lost on me since I haven't read the book (it's on my TBR). I can imagine that reading the essay again after having read the book, it might make a lot more sense to me. As it is, my enjoyment of this essay was only allright so I'm giving it a rating reflecting that.

 

Rating: *** (6/10)

 

Jane Davis - The Reading Revolution

 

This essay is about a method where groups of people meet up and then read a book out loud to each other, commenting as the piece is read with their thoughts and experiences. It's an interesting way of reading and she recommends it, but I can say for certain it's not for me, due to my disability. I don't listen to audio books either (which some people recommend and really like), and this would be even more tiring. It's nice to read about it though, and if it works for some people then good for them .

 

Rating: **** (8/10)

 

Jeanette Wilson - A Bed. A Book. A Mountain.

 

This is an essay about reading and what it means to her. While I think her words ring true for me when I read some books, they aren't for others. But reading is very personal anyway, we all have different experiences. The essay was interesting and nice to read, though.

 

Rating: **** (8/10)

 

Nicholas Carr - The Dreams of Readers

 

This essay is about the psychological effects of reading fiction, what happens in the brain. It was quite interesting, I'd never really thought of reading in that way.

 

Rating: ***** (9/10)

 

Dr. Maryanne Wolf and Dr. Mirit Barzillai - Questions for a Reader

 

This essay talks about the transition we're undergoing towards a digital culture and how reading may change when we do so. It compares this transition to the transition of the ancient Greeks in going from an oral society to a literary one. I enjoyed reading this, it made me think though I hope reading won't change for the worse (I plan on holding on to my beloved paper books, for the most part).

 

Rating: **** (8/10)

 

Overall I really liked most of the essays, they're quite well written. There were only a few that spoke to me less so. I recommend this book, it was insightful and interesting.

 

Rating: **** (8/10)

[julie]

Holy Smokes, Athena

You have added a ton of books to your piles recently ! Lucky you !  I have read a couple of the Book Lust ones --really neat books that will give you a lot MORE ideas of good books to search for .

 

I've read at least one of Jane Smiley's -- 1000 Acres .. I'm trying to remember if I've read any others of hers. That was a long time ago ,so I only remember the basics of the story .

 

You certainly have a nice pile of reading material stacked up there to keep you busy . 

[Athena]

Thanks ! I'm glad to hear your thoughts on the books. I look forward to reading them all.

[Little Pixie]

Really liked your review about those essays on reading.

[Athena]

Thank you ! It took a bit of time to write it all down (from the notes I took while reading the book), so I'm glad to hear you liked it.

[frankie]

Wow, you've been a real book reading machine, and look at all those books you've bought/downloaded You are shaming all of us others for being so busy

 

I bought some books at the charity shop:

Margaret Drabble - The Millstone

 

I saw you add this book to your TBR on Goodreads, and I was like, what, why, noooooooooooo....! What made you buy it? It's the book I wrote my proseminar and seminar on, for English lit. It's the book I was supposed to write my thesis about Not gonna happen.... Brings back awful memories!!

 

As for the book itself. It's actually pretty good. I would never have picked to read it myself, but I did, and all the uni stuff aside, I enjoyed the book It'll be extremely interesting to see how you like it

 

[Athena]

Haha! I actually bought it because it's part of a book series, in the Netherlands we have the Lijsters, where every year this publishing company (Wolters-Noordhoff in that time) would collect five books and then publish them, with new covers. Schools (primary and secondary) would be able to purchase them cheaply for their children. I think it was meant to encourage children to read more. There were various kinds, depending on the ages of the children. These ones are Blackbirds, they're for teenagers, in English, secondary school. I have quite a few from when I was a child, they're very dear to me. (EDIT: Actually, the school used to ask if there is enough interest, and then the parents pay the school for the books. I don't know how things go these days.)

 

Here is a website that I found based on quick Googling. They still exist and are being made! The company is called Noordhoff Uitgevers now.

 

Anyway, the blurb of the book sounded interesting and I wanted to have the whole set (minus the ones I already had, in either that format or a different edition), and it was cheap. So I hope I like it!

 

Thanks for your story about the book, it made me giggle .

 

In other news, I'm reading Ken Grimwood - Replay and should have it finished soon.

Edited August 31, 2013 by Athena