Athena Posted February 22, 2015 Posted February 22, 2015 1 Euro is a great price for a book in great condition, I hope you enjoy re-reading the book . Quote
frankie Posted February 25, 2015 Author Posted February 25, 2015 (edited) I went to the library to take back a few books and collected a few reservations at the same time. I got a copy of Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry so I can now finally start with The Giver and continue on to GB If I can get into the books, that is. I need to finish The Rosie Project soon because I need to take back The Rosie Effect in a few days... Which reminds me that we're to start reading Sonnets from the Portuguese and Other Poems this weekend, so I'm going to be mighty busy with books I hope I haven't forgotten anything else. No, wait, there's Rebecca that I want to read soon as Kylie picked the title up from her book jar... Oh and I also got a copy of Eleanor & Park from the library and want to get to that soon! I ought to make some sort of reading list so I won't forget anything.... I was only going to pop in to pick up the books but I couldn't resist taking a look at the removed books section. That was a mistake! There was a book by Carl-Johan Vallgren, and his name seems familiar for some reason and so I read the blurb of the novel. Ah, I just wikied his name and realized it's his novel Horrific Sufferings of the Mind-Reading Monster Hercules Barefoot: His Wonderful Love and His Terrible Hatred that I added to my wishlist some time ago and made me aware of Vallgren. Anyway, it was another novel by him that I bought at the library. It's about a Swedish author who gets a letter from mister Bachman, who's making a brochure about the foreign authors living in the city, and who asks the author to write about himself to him. It's about being an author and about Sweden and the Swedish society. Ought to be interesting! I thought at first that I wouldn't buy the book, just make a note of the title and add it to my wishlist and then borrow it from the library some day, but then I found another book I was somewhat interested in and I threw caution into the wind The other book is by Michael Hjorth and Hans Rosenfeldt, two Swedish authors, and it's called Dark Secrets in English. I haven't heard of the book or the authors before but when I read there was a private school involved, and a Swedish magazine / paper had claimed it might just be the best Swedish debut since Larsson... I had to get the book The third novel is a book I've had on my wishlist for a few years. It's Drömfakulteten by Sara Stridsberg. Yes, all the books I bought happen to be by Swedish authors This one hasn't been translated into English, unfortunately, and there are no Finnish translations either. I think I found out about the book when I was watching some TV show about Nordic authors and I liked the sound of the book. It's a fictional story of Valerie Solanas who's known for SCUM Manifesto and who tried to kill Andy Warhol. Three books for 60 cents. Edited February 25, 2015 by frankie Quote
chaliepud Posted February 25, 2015 Posted February 25, 2015 Oh wow! I missed your dog sitting news, it sounds like you had a fantastic time! I too love Jack Russells.. Opinions are a little mixed on them in the UK, due to there being too many that are not bred or raised correctly. There is a gorgeous rough coated boy in Jojo's agility class, his name is Benny and he has the sweetest, most easy going temperament, he can be a bit cheeky, if his owner, who is in her 80''s, doesn't get his lead on quick enough he sometimes tries to join in with whichever dog is currently running the course! Quote
frankie Posted February 25, 2015 Author Posted February 25, 2015 I had a really great time with the dogs, yes It was a bit tiring, though, because I'd been babysitting for the past three days and now I had to mind dogs, and I was feeling a bit tired of having to be alert all the time. When I came home back from Lahti, and I heard a baby crying (there was a baby in the hallway outside my apartment, a neighbor's baby or something), I jumped up and thought okay here we go, must see to baby, what is wrong with baby. It took me a moment to shake it off and realize the baby wasn't the baby I had been minding that week! But otherwise it was just great. Although I did feel guilty every time I went online or tried to read a book, because the dogs would just look at me and they would seem so sad that I wasn't playing with them.... But one gets used to that! I had no idea Jack Russells are a polarizing breed in the UK. I would think over here they are generally liked Interesting to see how opinions differ in different countries. Benny sounds like a real sweetheart! And I love it that there's a woman in her 80s teaching her dog agility! That is so cool. You know, I guess I'll just have to time my visit to the UK at the same time you guys have your summer holidays, haha. That way I could look after Jojo and Obi I would love it!! But even if I don't get to doggy sit Jojo and Obi in a while, at least my friend and his husband seemed happy with the way things had gone and they already asked me if I would do it again. Heck yeah! They already tentatively asked if I was around during the Easter holidays... Hurrah! (Did I already tell you about how the Jack Russell Terrier, Eva, tries to eat the Chihuahua's food? Well, as Eva practically swallows her kibble without chewing, it only takes her a second to eat her food and then she goes to Nestori the Chihu and tries to eat his food. Nestori on the other hand doesn't even like eating from his bowl. He takes one kibble out of it and puts it on the floor and then ponders if he shall eat it or not. 30% of the time he'll leave it and try another kibble It takes him forever to finish his food, if he ever finishes... I noticed that Nestori eats more quickly if I have his kibble in my hand and show him one kibble at a time. I put one between my thumb and index finger and he liked poking it till it dropped on the floor and then he ate it. The trouble was that Eva wanted to steal the food... So I came to the conclusion that I would also feed Eva one kibble at a time, and much slower than Nestori. I actually made Eva sit for each kibble, and she was very good at sitting on command. So I was basically feeding them one kibble at a time, and it took a long long time When I told this to my friend and his husband, they laughed and the husband whose dog Eva initially was said that Eva must've been pleased to high heavens and Eva must want them to ask me to doggy sit her every single time in the future ) Quote
Marie H Posted February 25, 2015 Posted February 25, 2015 Wow, you have got some great book fun there! The title of Horrific Sufferings of the Mind-Reading Monster Hercules Barefoot: His Wonderful Love and His Terrible Hatred must be the most complicated one I've seen! And 3 books for 60 cents!! *Ker chinck* Quote
frankie Posted February 25, 2015 Author Posted February 25, 2015 Wow, you have got some great book fun there! The title of Horrific Sufferings of the Mind-Reading Monster Hercules Barefoot: His Wonderful Love and His Terrible Hatred must be the most complicated one I've seen! And 3 books for 60 cents!! *Ker chinck* Yep, book fun! I was very good last year, not buying many books at all, so it's felt rather lovely to have done a bit of book buying this year Although I really ought not buy any... I really must remember to write the titles down and put them in the book box. Although I've not had the time to pick any titles yet so far this year. Always reading library books... Shouldn't complain, because I love the fantastic selection they have! And yeah, the title of the Vallgren book is insufferably long and complicated I haven't learned it yet by heart, I just copy+paste it from different websites after googling it I wonder what kind of an acronym it would make... A long one, for sure! HSotM-RMHB:HWLaHTH Quote
Marie H Posted February 25, 2015 Posted February 25, 2015 And yeah, the title of the Vallgren book is insufferably long and complicated I haven't learned it yet by heart, I just copy+paste it from different websites after googling it I wonder what kind of an acronym it would make... A long one, for sure! HSotM-RMHB:HWLaHTH I think that the acronym is actually harder to remember than the whole of it!! Definitely need to use a post-it note for that title Quote
frankie Posted February 25, 2015 Author Posted February 25, 2015 I think that the acronym is actually harder to remember than the whole of it!! Definitely need to use a post-it note for that title The acronym is a real nightmare, innit Even if you leave out "His Wonderful Love and His Terrible Hatred ", it's still a long title to remember! What was Vallgren thinking... Quote
Athena Posted February 26, 2015 Posted February 26, 2015 I hope you have fun with your three new books ! 60 cents is a real bargain! Quote
frankie Posted February 26, 2015 Author Posted February 26, 2015 I had a horrid start for the day... As I was reaching for something in the bathroom mirror cabinet, I knocked over the mascara which fell to the side of the sink and took a great happy leap from there into the toilet It went so fast that it didn't end up on the bottom of the bowl, but went into hiding. It was so quick and it made a funny noise and so I could only laugh but honestly, I was terrified. Would I need to call the landlord and then get a plumber in who'd take the whole thing apart and I was feeling I needed to use the toilet just because of the scare of it... Not a good thing! I called my Dad who's a plumber, and after I told him the size of the mascara, he told me to put my hand in the bowl and feel if I could reach it. I couldn't, and so we gathered that it had been quick and light enough to reach the pipes. He told me to flush the toilet a few times before putting any toilet paper in, and that was that. What a relief!! He then said that he'd actually started the book I'd given him to read the Christmas before last. Oh dear!! I have to get a move on with the Kalle Päätalo book I'm to read in return. I'm beginning to resent the fact that the book Dad's reading only has about 200 pages and mine has about 500 So this is the reading plan for the next few weeks: The Rosie Project The Rosie Effect The Giver Gathering Blue Sonnets from the Portuguese and Other Poems Eleanor Park Pyynikin rinteellä Bubbling under: Rebecca Quote
chesilbeach Posted February 26, 2015 Posted February 26, 2015 Oh no, frankie, what a nightmare! Although, I have to say, it does sound a bit comical too, now that we know the outcome is ok Quote
frankie Posted February 26, 2015 Author Posted February 26, 2015 It almost made me want to cry, because I couldn't deal with anything going wrong at the moment (I'm stressed about uni stuff and a new flatmate moving in this Sunday), but at the same time, I couldn't help but laugh because it was so quick but yet I kind of saw it in this slow motion mode and it was hilarious, the path from the cabinet to the bowl was so swift and it was like the mascara had been planning it all along, it was so graciously executed, the dive to freedom Quote
Marie H Posted February 26, 2015 Posted February 26, 2015 It almost made me want to cry, because I couldn't deal with anything going wrong at the moment (I'm stressed about uni stuff and a new flatmate moving in this Sunday), but at the same time, I couldn't help but laugh because it was so quick but yet I kind of saw it in this slow motion mode and it was hilarious, the path from the cabinet to the bowl was so swift and it was like the mascara had been planning it all along, it was so graciously executed, the dive to freedom Oh poor frankie! . That sort of thing has happened to me too - a domino effect when you would be impossible to happen, but it does! Thank goodness that the mascara hasn't become lodged in the pipes. Quote
poppyshake Posted February 26, 2015 Posted February 26, 2015 Poor frankie The annoying thing is .. if you had wanted to do it (I don't know .. maybe in some sort of weird mascara tossing championships ) you would never have been able to do it so accurately. Well done Dad .. for all the good advice. I had a kitchen disaster a day or so ago, I knocked over a pot of bouillon (stock powder) .. went everywhere and got in all the grouting between the floor tiles etc and sort of exploded like a bomb when it hit the floor. Alan said (amongst other things ) .. 'what's that? .. mustard?' and I said no. Later on when putting something else away the mustard tin fell out and did the self same thing .. it was like he had foretold some awful disaster It was worse this time though as both me and Molly were sneezing all over the place I like the reading plan Hope Rebecca bubbles up, past simmering point and straight to the boil Quote
Athena Posted February 26, 2015 Posted February 26, 2015 I'm so glad it turned out to be allright in the end, Frankie. What a scary experience! Quote
frankie Posted February 26, 2015 Author Posted February 26, 2015 Oh poor frankie! That sort of thing has happened to me too - a domino effect when you would be impossible to happen, but it does! Thank goodness that the mascara hasn't become lodged in the pipes. I can be really clumsy at times so ... These things happen! Imagine if you had a group of clumsy, disaster prone people in a room for some sort of group counselling session and one took a fall, bumping into another one and they all went down. It would have to be in some padded room with no furniture! Poor frankie. The annoying thing is .. if you had wanted to do it (I don't know .. maybe in some sort of weird mascara tossing championships) you would never have been able to do it so accurately. Well done Dad .. for all the good advice. Mascara tossing championship! I think you're onto something... We've already had cell phone throwing competitions and wellington throwing competitions and we also have an annual wife bearing competition... So I guess a mascara tossing competition wouldn't seem too out of the ordinary! But you're right, this was 'beginner's luck'. I could never really win if I tried! I had a kitchen disaster a day or so ago, I knocked over a pot of bouillon (stock powder) .. went everywhere and got in all the grouting between the floor tiles etc and sort of exploded like a bomb when it hit the floor. Alan said (amongst other things) .. 'what's that? .. mustard?' and I said no. Later on when putting something else away the mustard tin fell out and did the self same thing .. it was like he had foretold some awful disaster. It was worse this time though as both me and Molly were sneezing all over the place. Oh I can only imagine how annoying it must've been, the powder all over the place, and having to clean it up. Must've taken you a long time! I hope it wasn't on your Birthday! How the hell did Alan do that?!? He's some sort of Mustard Charmer I like the reading plan. Hope Rebecca bubbles up, past simmering point and straight to the boil Straight to the bowl, you mean? I'm so glad it turned out to be allright in the end, Frankie. What a scary experience! It's taught me a valuable lesson: never position your mascara in an upright position! Quote
Marie H Posted February 26, 2015 Posted February 26, 2015 It taught me that I should put the toilet seat lid down before I have bottles,cans etc around. But it is not easy to remember all the time. I have had real disasters in the kitchen though. Curry paste and beetroot were the worst experiences! Quote
Kylie Posted February 26, 2015 Posted February 26, 2015 Oh, Poppy, you're hilarious! First the stock and then the mustard. Alan must never have a dull moment with you around. I can be really clumsy at times so ... These things happen! Imagine if you had a group of clumsy, disaster prone people in a room for some sort of group counselling session and one took a fall, bumping into another one and they all went down. It would have to be in some padded room with no furniture! Remember that Pie in the Sky shop we went to when you were here? I can't remember if the bikies were there that day, but they are usually there with their bikes all lined up in a row. I'm always tempted (jokingly) to push one over to cause a domino effect so they all get knocked over. I'd have to have a getaway car ready to race me away. I wouldn't want to stick around to face the bikies! Now on to more important things, missy. What's with Rebecca 'bubbling under'?! I'm just kidding. I don't want to pressure you at all. I have a couple of books to finish off, but I'm hoping to read Rebecca in March. Do you think we should pass on reading it together? It might be ages before we can 'sync' our reading. And there are plenty of other books we have in common that we could read and discuss together (Sonnets from the Portuguese for a start!) AND I just noticed that The Phantom Tollbooth is nowhere to be seen on that list! What do you have to say for yourself? Quote
frankie Posted February 26, 2015 Author Posted February 26, 2015 It taught me that I should put the toilet seat lid down before I have bottles,cans etc around. But it is not easy to remember all the time. I have had real disasters in the kitchen though. Curry paste and beetroot were the worst experiences! That's what my Dad advised me, too, but I hate touching the toilet seat lid ... I wouldn't call myself a germaphobe but I hate touching the toilet seat lids! But I guess one could at least put it down when opening the mirror cabinet... Curry paste and beetroot! I'm pretty sure the beetroot makes a very colorful stain ... Oh dear! Remember that Pie in the Sky shop we went to when you were here? I can't remember if the bikies were there that day, but they are usually there with their bikes all lined up in a row. I'm always tempted (jokingly) to push one over to cause a domino effect so they all get knocked over. I'd have to have a getaway car ready to race me away. I wouldn't want to stick around to face the bikies! What have the bikies ever done to you? Would you like your car pushed around the same way if it was possible? Now on to more important things, missy. What's with Rebecca 'bubbling under'?! I'm just kidding. I don't want to pressure you at all. I have a couple of books to finish off, but I'm hoping to read Rebecca in March. Do you think we should pass on reading it together? It might be ages before we can 'sync' our reading. And there are plenty of other books we have in common that we could read and discuss together (Sonnets from the Portuguese for a start!) Rebecca's bubbling under because we never agreed to a timeline with it. The Lois Lowry books I was supposed to start ages ago, and the library wants the Rosie Effect book back tomorrow. Sonnets is a group read I've committed to this weekend. Eleanor & Park is another library loan and needs to be read before too long. Pyynikin rinteellä I need to read before 21.3. when I'm going to Nurmes and Daddy will quiz me on the novel. So there I still say we read the book together, unless you really want to start it soon. I think you should go for it when you want and just let me know you've started it, if that's possible? And I can see if I can jump in AND I just noticed that The Phantom Tollbooth is nowhere to be seen on that list! What do you have to say for yourself? Well, you would never believe it but I was getting really efficient and productive just now and when I was making all sort of must-do things, I also wrote the reading plan in a notebook, and on that list I did write The Phantom Tollbooth. I was going to add it to the post I'd made on here but I was too lazy to edit the post, hehe. Quote
frankie Posted March 5, 2015 Author Posted March 5, 2015 I should stop going to the library, I borrowed six books yesterday even though I already have loads of books borrowed and have a TBR pile busting out of the bookcase... A funny thing though: I'd borrowed Augusten Burroughs's This Is How ages ago from the library but never got a chance to read it before I had to take it back to the library. Yesterday when I went to the library to read The Rosie Effect, I thought I'd go and see if the TIH copy was there so I could borrow it again. It was! So I got five other books, too. When I was walking home and carrying the books, I noticed that someone had left a magnetic bookmark on one of the books! And I thought 'poor person, having lost her/his bookmark'. And how did they not notice it at the library and remove it... I opened the book to look at the bookmark and thought, what coincidence, I have the same kind of bookmark at home! Then I had to check which book it was. Yep, This Is How. It was my bookmark Well, I'm happy that at least my bookmark's been able to spend the night at a library, all tucked in among all them books, since I'm not allowed to do it... Quote
Athena Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 I should stop going to the library, I borrowed six books yesterday even though I already have loads of books borrowed and have a TBR pile busting out of the bookcase... This happens a lot to me too lately . Nice story about your bookmark! I'm glad you got it back safely . Quote
Kylie Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 Oh dear, Frankie. Glad you got your bookmark back! Quote
frankie Posted March 5, 2015 Author Posted March 5, 2015 Would've served me right to have lost it for good... I didn't even notice it had gone missing (It's one I bought in a packet of six, so I have many similar ones. Although I did buy them on my way to Australia... So they are special!! Naughty frankie, naughty naughty ) Quote
Marie H Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 I should stop going to the library, I borrowed six books yesterday even though I already have loads of books borrowed and have a TBR pile busting out of the bookcase... ... .... :friends3:We all have to keep our librarians busy and stimulated..... Quote
poppyshake Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 I should stop going to the library, I borrowed six books yesterday even though I already have loads of books borrowed and have a TBR pile busting out of the bookcase... A funny thing though: I'd borrowed Augusten Burroughs's This Is How ages ago from the library but never got a chance to read it before I had to take it back to the library. Yesterday when I went to the library to read The Rosie Effect, I thought I'd go and see if the TIH copy was there so I could borrow it again. It was! So I got five other books, too. When I was walking home and carrying the books, I noticed that someone had left a magnetic bookmark on one of the books! And I thought 'poor person, having lost her/his bookmark'. And how did they not notice it at the library and remove it... I opened the book to look at the bookmark and thought, what coincidence, I have the same kind of bookmark at home! Then I had to check which book it was. Yep, This Is How. It was my bookmark Well, I'm happy that at least my bookmark's been able to spend the night at a library, all tucked in among all them books, since I'm not allowed to do it... Your bookmark knows all the secrets of a library at night Glad you found it That was quite a workout ... carrying six books As a book addict it's part of your job description to acquire more books than you can possibly read .. so no need for guilt or anything. You are also a great asset to your local library. They should build a statue of you to put outside .. they probably will one day Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.