books – Page 11 – Sally Allen

April 4, 2016May 30, 2017

#ReadMyOwnDamnBooks Update: Overwhelmed, and not

I began today feeling exceedingly overwhelmed by my own damn books.

This weekend, I inhaled The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty. As with so many books in my Nook library, it’s there because I found it offered for $1.99.

It’s difficult to resist e-books offered for $2.99 or under. Why, that’s less than a large iced coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts! I’ll think to myself as I gleefully click “Purchase” on a book that was never on my radar. Even if I don’t fall in love with it, surely I’ll read it at some point? Continue reading “#ReadMyOwnDamnBooks Update: Overwhelmed, and not”

April 2, 2016May 30, 2017

The unabridged list of what I read in March

Picture me scratching my head and trying to figure out where the heck March went. April? Already?

But I digress. I had a solid reading month, and eclectic! A time travel novel, two memoirs in verse, two audiobooks, four of my own damn books, and the fewest book buys of any month this year! And here we go… Continue reading “The unabridged list of what I read in March”

March 24, 2016May 30, 2017

Making time for reading in the age of distraction

Last month, I worried a mild reading slump had me in its clutches. Holding on by its fingertips, but still. It’s not a desirable state. Even a “mild” cold inconveniences. Continue reading “Making time for reading in the age of distraction”

March 21, 2016May 30, 2017

Do some books make better listens than reads?

My journey to embrace audiobooks has been a rousing success so far this year. Granted, we’re not quite three months in, but I’m hopeful.

I’ve been thinking about the degree to which this may be a case of necessity being the mother of invention: My committed desire to really, really find an audiobook I could stick with created the favorable conditions for that to happen. Continue reading “Do some books make better listens than reads?”

March 12, 2016May 30, 2017

What I learned from reading a big book

Earlier this week, I wrote about a big book that I doubt I will ever read cover to cover, in the process arguing, essentially, so what? Since I don’t want to give the impressive that I believe it’s always okay to abandon or only partially read big books, today, I want to argue for reading them all the way through. Continue reading “What I learned from reading a big book”

March 8, 2016May 30, 2017

On reading the first chapter of Infinite Jest

On Sunday, I named Infinite Jest as a book readers can benefit from dipping into, even if they never read it straight through to the end. Today, I’m prepared to elaborate on why. Continue reading “On reading the first chapter of Infinite Jest”

March 6, 2016May 30, 2017

Reading Interrupted: BFD to the DNF

My February reading roundup included almost as many DNF titles as it did completed ones. Typically, DNF implies a book and reader failed to connect on some level. Conventional wisdom says if we love a book, we read it from beginning to end, possibly without putting it down. Not finishing a book must mean something went wrong along the way. Continue reading “Reading Interrupted: BFD to the DNF”

March 4, 2016May 30, 2017

5 new books to look for in March

I know, I know – Why am I looking at new books when I’m supposed to be focusing on my own damn books?

I’ll tell you why: Because I don’t want to let any serious gems slip by me. I mean, they will, inevitably. Think of how many books are published every week! But I have this thing called a wish list, and every item on it is books plus acres of free time to read said books.

So while I’m no longer endlessly scouring every conceivable book list, I’m still taking a little time each month to review new books. Here are five that will join my wish list this month. Continue reading “5 new books to look for in March”

March 3, 2016May 30, 2017

Why read children’s literature?

Children’s literature holds a prominent place on my reading list. Seven of the 16 books I’ve read this year are classified children’s or young adult novels. That tally will increase when I finish my current read, Alison Uttley’s charming A Traveller in Time.

I’ve been thinking about what draws me to children’s literature because of a Guardian article I read, loved, and shared widely last year that came back into my life recently through Facebook memories. It was written by SF Said and is called “Children’s books are never just for children.” I agree! Obviously. Continue reading “Why read children’s literature?”

February 27, 2016May 30, 2017

Book lovers’ 7 deadly sins … or not?

For some book lovers, a list of major no-nos would go something like this:

Do not dog-ear a book’s pages.
Do not dribble coffee/tea/wine on your book.
Ditto foodstuffs.
Do not break a book’s spine.
Do not allow the dust jacket to be torn or otherwise defiled.
Do not deface the margins by scrawling your (likely inferior) thoughts.
Ditto underlining and highlighting.

Let’s get the obvious out of the way first: If you’re borrowing a book your generous friend (or library) has lent you, doing any of the above is rude. Yes, sometimes it’s fun to eat potato chips while reading, but not while reading someone else’s book.

Outside the context of a borrowed book, though, are these really so bad? I’m discomfited by the suggestion, for several reasons. Continue reading “Book lovers’ 7 deadly sins … or not?”