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10 more reader rights

August 19, 2015 by Jana 16 Comments

This post is coming to you live from my iPad so please forgive any wonky formatting or weird autocorrects that I might have missed in my lazy proofreading. This is also why there is no picture.

A few weeks ago, while browsing Gretchen Rubin’s blog, I came across a post detailing the 10 Rights of a Reader (first published by Daniel Pennac in 1992). I liked the list and agreed with all of it but I thought it needed some addendums so why not go ahead and write those?

So I did. 

And they go something like this:

As a reader, any type of reader, no matter how frequent or infrequent, and regardless of your genre of choice, you have: 

  1. The right to hate a popular book or love an unpopular one.
  2. The right to prefer the company of books to the company of people.
  3. The right to read late into the night. 
  4. The right to always prefer the book to the movie (4a. The right to point out all the differences. 4b. The right to refuse a book with the movie poster as the cover)
  5. The right to have all the surfaces of your house covered with books.
  6. The right to a neverending TBR list.
  7. The right to own not having read all the books you’re told you “should” read. 
  8. The right to read the end first.
  9. The right to appreciate book covers like others appreciate paintings or photographs.
  10. The right to have your life changed by a book.


Did I miss anything not also mentioned on the original list?

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: books, reading

Interview with a bookworm: Miranda from mirandamarquit.com

August 18, 2015 by Jana 8 Comments

This is the last interview in the bookworm series. I know. It’s sad. But it had to come to an end at some point to quote the most 90s bar song that ever was even though the quote isn’t theirs originally, every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end, this is actually not too sad of an ending since I have a new feature starting next Tuesday. It’s called Judging Covers. It involves my husband. I assure you you’ll like it. It won’t be an every week thing, like the interviews, maybe just once or twice a month.
interview with a bookworm
But today’s interview. It’s with my friend Miranda who blogs in a whole bunch of places (seriously. You can check out her resume on her personal site. She wrote a book, too!). I’ve met her and spent time with her a number of times and she’s really fun and great and I’m glad you guys will have a chance to get to know her a little bit. So, without further ado, let’s talk books with Miranda:
Jana: Why do you enjoy reading?
Miranda: I love the feeling of escape. I can leave the “real” world behind and go somewhere new and exciting. Plus, I often feel as though I’m meeting new people and making friends with the characters. It’s always interesting to see myself in a character.
Jana: How do you decide what to read?
Miranda: I decide based on mood. There are even times I’ll read something I hate, just because I’m in the mood for something stupid, or I’m frustrated.
reading-quotes
Jana: Who are some of your favorite authors and/or genres?
Miranda: I love the sci-fi/fantasy genre. I love the unreality and the fact that complex worlds can emerge from imagination. I especially enjoy Isaac Asimov and Joe Abercrombie. I’m also fond of Jane Austen and J.R.R. Tolkien.
Jana: What’s your favorite book or a book you always recommend?
Miranda: I can’t choose just one! And I often recommend based on the person’s preferences. The latest recommendation I made was to my son. I encouraged him to read Dune. So far he really likes it.
Jana: Do you watch movie adaptations of books? What do you think of them?
Miranda: It’s fun to watch movie adaptations. I like to compare differences. However, I stopped trying to see them as the same thing ages ago. Books will never translate perfectly to movies, and I separate the two media. I think a movie adaptation can be good, even if it isn’t true to the source material. I might compare the differences, but I don’t get hung up on them.
Jana: Ebooks, paper books, audiobooks, or a combination? Why?
Miranda: Combination of ebooks and paper books. However, I’m leaning more toward ebooks these days for new additions to my collection. It takes up less space, and I love that I can switch to something else if I want. Plus, my Kindle can come with me everywhere. No matter where I am or what I’m doing, I can access an entire library. I never do audiobooks, though. For some reason, the reading aloud annoys me. It slows me down. I just don’t enjoy it. bookshelf
Jana: Do you use the library or buy books?
Miranda: I keep a current library card, and often “try” new things at the library before deciding whether to buy it. I’ve also subscribed to Kindle Unlimited, so that offers some options that I don’t have to pay for individually. However, if I like something well enough, I’ll usually buy the Kindle version to keep.
Jana: Does it offend you when people call you a bookworm or book nerd? Why or why not?
Miranda: No one’s called me that to my face. But I don’t think it would offend me — because that’s what I am!
Jana: How do you find time to read?
Miranda: I make the time to read. I love reading, and it’s an important part of my daily routine. If I have to choose between watching a movie and reading, I’ll choose reading almost every time. There are times that I just neglect everything and read, if the book is really interesting.
Jana: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to people who say they don’t enjoy reading or don’t have time to read?
Miranda: There’s something for everyone. From graphic novels to short stories to finding a genre you like, look for something to read. My ex-husband doesn’t like reading as a rule, but he enjoys reading about sports, so we always got the newspaper so he could read that. Figure out what you’re interested in, and start there. characters

 

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Filed Under: Books Tagged With: Bloggers, books, Interviews, reading

This week in…: Volume 27

August 14, 2015 by Jana 20 Comments

this week

This week in reading…Thanks again to everyone who participated in Show Us Your Books. Next one is September 8. Since Tuesday, I’ve finished I Regret Nothing, am halfway through Inside the O’Briens and A Little Life, and picked up The Oregon Train: A New American Journey and Some Girls Are. Good stuff.

This week in listening…While I’m still listening to my rock standards, I’m trying to incorporate some new songs into my repertoire. Like these:

This week in shit my husband says…In response to my explanation of the term “ship” as it pertains to wanting fictional characters to get together. He replies: I’ve shipped someone somewhere. You don’t need to know why.

This week in sweet ass deals…My husband is an Orioles fan. I am a Mets fan. Every so often, the stars align and they play one another during the regular season. This summer is that special time. We knew we wanted to go and I managed to find us tickets in decent seats for $10 a piece! Plus we prepaid for parking which is exponentially better than driving around Baltimore on a game day trying to find a garage and that also was $10. So 3 tickets and parking (plus the requisite ticket fees) cost $50. That’s basically less than one normal ticket. And I can go to Camden Yards wearing a Mets shirt and not fear for my life!

This week in confusion…Am I the only one puzzled by the outrage at Target for doing away with gender designations on their toy aisles? Doesn’t this sort of fly in the face of the gender equality, girls can do anything boys can do mentality we’re trying to adopt? I mean, if we truly want it to be okay for girls to play with dinosaurs and boys to play with dolls, why wouldn’t we put them all together with no gender labels distinguishing between the two? And as for the people who truly believe that mixing the toys together will cause gender identity crises in children…well, Ron White says you can’t fix stupid and he’s completely correct. What you can do, however, is educate them and hopefully change their ignorance to understanding. Also, it’s fucking toys. Can we all calm the hell down?

This week in I’m not sure what to think…Did you guys see the viral video pregnancy announcement where the husband used pee the wife left in the toilet to do a pregnancy test and surprise her with the positive test? Then did you see how they posted a video a few days later where they said she had a miscarriage? To be honest, I’m struggling with the whole thing. First, because it sounds like absolute bullshit that he was able to get a positive test from urine diluted with water. Also, it’s fucking gross that he did that if it’s actually true and it’s even more disgusting that she doesn’t flush after she goes (the excuse that she doesn’t want to wake the kids? How loud is their toilet? Do the kids sleep in the bathroom? I can’t make sense of this) but that’s another discussion. Second, I watched the video announcing the miscarriage and it just seemed…off to me. I’m not saying that everyone grieves the same way but I can tell you that after mine, my first instinct was not to film a video just a few hours later and share it with the world. And some of the comments they made smacked of attention seeking behavior rather than genuine grief and pain. And I hope to god that they’re just completely narcissistic (which, from reading a bit about them, they really and truly are. Exhibit A: A video they posted titled “Good Looking Parents Sing Frozen” or something like that) and not lying because if they are…well, that’s a slap in the face to those of who have experienced it. And it’s disgusting. And despicable. And reprehensible. Miscarriages are not something to fake for attention or fame. And if it makes me callous and heartless that I don’t believe them, I can live with that. But my spidey senses are tingling from this story.

This week in internet reads…Two great ones from Buzzfeed: 37 things you’ll only understand if you went to college in the 90s and 19 things only women who love swearing will understand. This post on things I’m too old to tolerate. This one from the Huffington Post with 22 habits to make your life more peaceful every day. And finally, since I’m trying to find classics I want to read, I liked this list with 25 American classics everyone should read.

This week in funnies…couples arguing mosquitoes die group text short temper

 

Have a great weekend! Hope you all get to do something fun and/or relaxing!

 

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Filed Under: Life Tagged With: books, favorites, random, weekly wrap-up

Interview with a bookworm: Jenniemarie from Another Housewife

August 12, 2015 by Jana 13 Comments

So this week’s interview is a day late instead of a day early but if anyone can understand a glitch in a schedule it’s this week’s interviewee, my good friend of many, many years, Jenniemarie who blogs about faith, parenthood, and whatever else is on her mind at Another Housewife. Fun fact: I’ve known her for roughly 7 years and we’ve never met in person. But that should change in June and I cannot wait. interview with a bookworm

Anyway, you came here for the books not the rest of my blabbering. So here you go:

Jana: Why do you enjoy reading?
Jenniemarie: I started reading as an escape from my dysfunctional life as soon as I started school. Reading allows my mind to get lost in another world or gain knowledge my world then and now may not have otherwise discovered.
Jana: How do you decide what to read?
Jenniemarie: Every which way I can. Friends, blogs, etc.  Although recently my favorite books have come from our libraries display of suggested reads.  Whoever is in charge of selecting those books is my hero.
Jana: Who are some of your favorite authors and/or genres?
Jenniemarie: I like to consider myself an eclectic reader but I do have an insane addiction to memoirs and favor non-fiction.  I will read anything Lysa Terkkeurst writes and I am currently a Jen Hatmaker stalker. images
Jana: What’s your favorite book or a book you always recommend?
Jenniemarie: I am currently on the launch team for Jen Hatmaker’s new book For The Love coming out in August so I have been recommending that like crazy BUT I have read it several times over and I will be handing it out to all of my friends regardless of my obligation.  My favorite marriage book of all time is For Women Only and my favorite recent fiction reads are The Girl on the Train and Eleanor and Park.
Jana: Do you watch movie adaptations of books? What do you think of them?
Jenniemarie: If I really enjoyed the book I will watch the movie. I want to see how the directors interpretation differs from mine.  I never have a high expectation of the movie because the book is always, always better.  Now that my daughter is 13 we pass YA books between each other. I love being able to talk about the book and then watch the movie and discuss the differences.
Jana: Ebooks, paper books, audiobooks, or a combination? Why?
Jenniemarie: Paper books. I love books. I love the smell, the feel and the physicality of holding the book I am reading.  That and I am challenged by technology and do not own anything more sophisticated than an iPhone and a 6 year old HP Laptop.
Jana: Do you use the library or buy books?
Jenniemarie: I abuse our library.  My daughter and I are giddy about our library being less than a mile away from our new house! My bank account is the only thing that holds me back from buying all the books. I tend to buy books I know I will highlight the heck out of and/or need to teach my class.
Jana: Does it offend you when people call you a bookworm or book nerd? Why or why not?
Jenniemarie: No. It’s a badge of honor. I see it as a compliment and smile.
opened book
Jana: How do you find time to read?
Jenniemarie: I make it a priority. I read 9 books in June while working a part-time job with three kids home all day on Summer Break and packing a ginormous house we have lived in for 6 years. I always, always have a book with me.
Jana: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to people who say they don’t enjoy reading or don’t have time to read?
Jenniemarie: I would say keep trying. I bet they just haven’t found the right genre/author for them. Challenge yourself to a chapter a day. If a book is good enough you will soon be reading more than that chapter. I think some people just enjoy reading more than others, like runners. It’s okay. I guess.

 

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Filed Under: Books Tagged With: Bloggers, books, Interviews, reading

Show Us Your Books–August edition

August 11, 2015 by Jana 58 Comments

BOOKS! ALL THE BOOKS!!!

In the interest of keeping things rolling because I know you all have many, many posts to read and even more books to add to your TBR, I’ll just say thanks for linking up with me and Steph, leave your links after my reviews, and happy reading!

book button linkup

Quick summary:. This was the month of average books. It started off strong and then, by the end, took a turn into Meh Town which included a stop in Oh God Please Make it Stop-ville featuring The Rosie Effect (the sequel to The Rosie Project, which I loved) and that ended in me storming out in a big DNF huff. I was pissed at that book, and more pissed with the author who managed to turn two quirky, likable characters into two people I could give zero fucks about.

That out of the way, here’s the rest of what I read:

Dirty Rush by Taylor Bell. I knew I was going to hate read this book and I most definitely did. It was offensive in ways I didn’t know were possible, perpetrated every single stereotype of the Greek system ever created, and took such a bizarre, ridiculous twist, I didn’t even know how to process it. As a sorority girl at an actual college in Delaware (where the book takes place, which I wasn’t sure was an attempt to make fun of Delaware or simply such a nondescript place no one would question anything), I did not experience anything like she describes. Then again, I am old and maybe things have changed in 20 years. That said, whoever wrote the book is a great writer and definitely has a flair for language.

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes. Easily my favorite book of the month. I don’t know what it was, exactly, that made me love but you know how sometimes you just read a story and fall in love with the characters and the plot and the setting and the whole thing just makes sense to you? That’s how this book was for me. The only problem I had–and it’s a Jana problem, not a book problem–was that I kept confusing Jojo Moyes with Liane Moriarty and found myself often wondering why the book was taking place in England and Scotland instead of Australia. Once my brain reconciled that, we were all good.

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin. Having enjoyed The Storied Life of AJ Fikry, I was excited to read another one of her offerings. I liked the book well enough, and the story definitely grabbed me, and I found myself rooting for the characters at times, and her description and portrayal of depression was heartwrenching and accurate (although nothing along the lines of All the Bright Places), but it just didn’t grab me like AJ Fikry did. I will read more of her books because I like her as a writer.

Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler. What a great book this was. Beautifully written and happy and sad in all the right places with imagery that immersed you in the setting. It reminded me of a Dean Bakopolous book which is funny because in the acknowledgements, the author thanks Dean, who he had as a teacher (yes, I read the acknowledgements. I know. I’m a huge dork) so it all made sense. My only issue with the book is that one of the characters, Ronny, needed more page time, and I would have liked a little less page time for Beth. Second favorite of the month.

My American Unhappiness by Dean Bakopolous. After falling in love with the first two books of his that I read (check out last month’s post for my reviews), I had high hopes for this book. It disappointed me. The main character, Zeke, is a douchebag asshole and completely unlikable in every sense of the word. I found myself literally cringing when he spoke and, towards the end, pitying him in a way that probably isn’t healthy for a fictional character. However. I’m intrigued by the whole premise of the study of unhappiness and I want it to be a real thing. Also, Dean Bakopolous, I still love you. We’re all allowed one mistake.

The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion. Let’s never speak of this book again. I’m not even linking to it.

This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp. I got this as an ARC from NetGalley. So, this book had so much promise. I’ve read fictional accounts of school shootings before (Nineteen Minutes, The Hour I First Believed) but nothing like this. The story is set inside the 40 something minutes the shooting takes place, told from the perspective of 4 different characters. Unfortunately, the storytelling was completely disjointed and hard to follow at times, and the characters were fairly underdeveloped. The author pulled it together at the end, mostly, but it took a lot of work to get there. That said, it’s a short, quick read and probably an important one.

I Know How She Does It: Successful Women Make the Most of Their Time by Laura Vanderkam. Let me say up front that I love Laura Vanderkam’s in-depth study into time management. I think it’s important research and, if you’re a poor time manager, she provides highly valuable information. However, she comes at everything with a very privileged, educated, upper middle class perspective, and it shows in her suggestions. So if you’re a working mother of 4 making an average income at a non-flexible job or a single mother of 2 working second shift and a part-time job, her solutions might not work for you but you might pick up some valuable information. But just beware of the perspective.

In line for next month: I Regret Nothing, A Little Life, Girl Waits with Gun, Remember Mia, Confess, and two more whose titles have left my brain right now, plus a bunch of books for work.

Now it’s your turn. Show us your books! Nonbloggers, let me know in the comments what you’ve read recently and if you recommend them or not.

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Filed Under: Books Tagged With: books, linkups, reading

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Jana

I'm Jana ...

A book reading, nail polish wearing, binge watching, music loving, dog owning, reluctant cheer mom.
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