Booking On Thursday - World Patriotism

Image from Shannon McGee.  Item sold on Confuzzled Designs Etsy store.

So, Fourth of July here in the USA … Do you ever read books that could be considered patriotic? Rousing stories of heroes? History? Brave countrymen & women doing bold things?

What would you recommend if somebody asked you for something patriotic–no matter what your country?

Be as specific or as general as you like?

I would say that I have read some things patriotic of the USA.  I have read some of the childrens series Dear America.  I mostly stick to kids right now because I feel I learn more because they are easier for my brain to digest at the moment.  Although if I found some thing was interesting in adult format I am sure I would do okay with it. 

As for recommending somebody for something patriotic no matter what country... Well I am not sure this what you meant but I looked up History of the World books on a couple of websites.  There are quite a few that looked interesting. 

The History Of The World by J.M. Roberts & O.A. Westad

The World Is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman

Mental Floss History Of The World by Erik Sass & Steve Wiegand

These are the three that looked interesting to me and that I might read someday. Are there book you find interesting on the subject of Patriotism?

   

Booking Through Thursday - Mood

Does your current mood affect your reading? Affect your choices? I know there are plenty of books I enjoy, but only if Im in a particular kind of mood–or books that can lift me out of a bad mood without fail. Surely I’m ot alone?

I am not sure if my mood affects me reading but I know it affects my writing reviews. I notice when maybe I am not in a good mood that my reviews are more negative.

Booking Through Thursday - Vacation Reading

Event that takes place at
http://btt2.wordpress.com/

Do your reading habits change when you’re on vacation? Do you read more? Do you indulge in lighter, fluffier books than you usually read? Do you save up special books so you’ll be able to spend real vacation time with them? Or do you just read the same old stuff, vacation or not?

I tend to read less on vacation spend more time with family.   Only time I do read on vacation is sometimes at a poolside or beach.  That is when I use to read stuff like V.C. Andrews now I don't read that particular author any more so I would probably read pretty much anything I would be currently reading. 

Booking Through Thursday - Dog Days

Since my dog is turning 10 today … what animal-related books have you read? Which do you love? Do you have a favorite literary dog? (Snoopy, anyone?) 

Most recent animal related book I read was probably One Good Dog by Susan Wilson you can read my review here.  I would have to say my favorites where the ones I read as a child and read over and over which would be Charlotte's Web by E.B. White and Old Yeller by Fred Gipson.  Oh and 101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith!    My favorite literary dog??? hmmm....snoopy is a good one not sure I can top him.  Odie is cute too.  Those are the only ones coming to mind. :-/

Booking Through Thursday - Soundscapes

What, if any, kind of music do you listen to when you're reading? (Given a choice, of course!)

I listen to basic channel on the TV called Soundscapes.  Because regular music with vocals causes me problems at times and I can't listen to it because of my mental instability (Schizophrenia).  Believe me it just causes bad thoughts and it sucks because I use love music and TV.  Now I watch and listen to them much less.  

Booking Through Thursday - Cutting Edge Tech

With the advent (and growing popularity) of eBooks, I’m seeing more and more articles about how much “better” they can be, because they have the option to be interactive … videos, music, glossaries … all sorts of little extra goodies to help “enhance” your reading experience, rather like listening to the Director’s commentary on a DVD of your favorite movie.

How do you feel about that possibility? Does it excite you in a cutting-edge kind of way? Or does it chill you to the bone because that’s not what reading is ABOUT?

I have to admit I am still not aboard the e-book train and I don't have a kindle or a nook but the thought you bring up does excite me a little and the technology as I look at the new nook ....I don't know it might win me over.   But I don't think it will ever win me completely over I still love the feel of books in hand. 

Booking Through Thursday - Owned or Borrowed

All things being equal (money, space, etc), would you rather own copies of the books you read? Or borrow them?

I would probably rather own then borrowed but more then likely after I read them I would swap for other to have what I have bought and for me to have room for more. 

Booking Through Thursday - Pushing through a Rut

Do you ever feel like you’re in a reading rut? That you don’t read enough variety? That you need to branch out, spread your literary wings and explore other genres, flavors, styles?

I use to feel like that but my reading styles have changed so much over the past years of having this blog and my illness that I have just changed the way I read and what I read.   I branch out so much more then I use to and yet some things I don't read at all.  Like horror I had to stop reading for now even horror movies I have kinda stopped watching.  They actually scare me more now and that use to be the fun of it now it is not so much.

Booking Through Thursday - Censoring for Age?

In contrast to last week’s question–What do you think of censoring books BECAUSE of their intended age? Say, books too “old” for your kids to read?

I do believe that some censoring should take place.   I don't know at what age because that depends on the maturity of the child.  Every child matures differently.   I don't think I would want the kiddies reading erotica to early....but if the kids are looking for that type of stuff then it's time to have the big talk about bird and bees if that hasn't been done yet.  So again I say it depends on the child's growth.

Booking Through Thursday - Do You Read Your Age?

Do you read books “meant” for other age groups? Adult books when you were a child; Young-Adult books now that you’re grown; Picture books just for kicks … You know … books not “meant” for you. Or do you pretty much stick to what’s written for people your age?

Well if you haven't been to this blog before I guess you wouldn't know the answer to that is Yes. and Yes...I really don't think children books are always for children.  I mean if you think about it an adult is writing usually a story he/she would have liked to read as a child or to read now so in someways they are for the children in all of us.   

Booking Through Thursday - Book Not Coming to Theatres Soon!

And–the reverse of last week’s question. Name one book that you hope never, ever, ever gets made into a movie (no matter how good that movie might be).

That is a hard question.  I guess I would have to answer it with any book that I did like and gave 2 or 1 star too. I don't to bash any books by naming them because I have already reviewed some that I can think of  and I hate giving that 2 or 1 star but I have to be honest.    I can't really think of any good books that I would not hope to see as a movie because if they are good they play as movies in my head so putting them on screen is usually a bonus. 

Booking Through Thursday - Movies For Sale (um...not really)

If you could see one book turned into the perfect movie–one that would capture everything you love, the characters, the look, the feel, the story–what book would you choose?

Most of the good ones I have read have been turned into pretty good movies like Charlotte's Web, Old Yeller,  and Interview with A Vampire(just the ones that come to mind)    The one I would like to see become a movie I missed place and haven't even finished the book yet.... Magic Kingdom for Sale by Terry Brooks.   Starts out with a great mixture of fantasy and reality.... IMDB actually had this at one time up that it was going to be made a movie but I see it is not there now.   Oh welll ....maybe after I find it and finish reading it they will do it. ;-)

Booking Through Thursday - Judge a Book Cover?

Booking Through Thursday takes place Booking Through Thursday Blog

Asks : CAN you judge a book by its cover?

I don't think you can judge an actually book by it's cover.   Certainly you can pick one out because of it's cover.  I don't know if I would judge it....and say that book looks like it sucks...but I might say that book doesn't look up my alley...so is that judging really or just weeding out what you like.   Geez...maybe you can judge a book by it's cover...?  What are your thoughts?

Booking Through Thursday - The Nongrammar Monster In Me

In honor of National Grammar Day … it IS “March Fourth” after all … do you have any grammar books? Punctuation? Writing guidelines? Style books?

More importantly, have you read them?

How do you feel about grammar in general? Important? Vital? Unnecessary? Fussy?

 I am horrible with grammar.  I don't have any books and to be honest they would probably confuse me more.

Just lately I try to remember to read over my posts to edit them (except reviews which are edited by my husband Thorin). I tend to skip words in my postings, the Nongrammar Monster eats the words up after I write them down.  It likes short words like,: the, an, and, of,...  etc.

Booking Through Thursday

Tami inspired this week’s question:
What book do you think should be made into a movie? And do you have any suggestions for the producers?
Or, What book do you think should NEVER be made into a movie?

I started reading book a while back called Magic Kingdom For Sale by Terry Brooks and as I was reading I thought it would make a great movie. And looks like according to IMDB they are planning to make and release in 2010.

One book I don't think should be made into a movie (even though I know it already as been) Slaugherhouse - 5 by Kurt Vonnegut. That book is confusing enough the movie is no help.

Booking Through Thursday - Collectables

• Hardcover? Or paperback?
• Illustrations? Or just text?
• First editions? Or you don’t care?
• Signed by the author? Or not?

If I am looking for a classic I prefer hardcover but most of my books are paperback.

I like Illustrations with my classic hardcovers and most other book too.

I would love to have a first edition of any old book. But even if I did have one I wouldn't have a good place to keep it safe.

I collected signed books that are signed to me. I giveaway general signed books.

Booking Through Thursday - Storage

This week’s question is suggested by Kat:
I recently got new bookshelves for my room, and I’m just loving them. Spent the afternoon putting up my books and sharing it on my blog . One of my friends asked a question and I thought it would be a great BTT question. So from Tina & myself, we’d like to know “How do you arrange your books on your shelves? Is it by author, by genre, or you just put it where it falls on?”

I use to arranged my books by last name of author before I was married and have tried to do it after but we just have to many books it gets out of hand. So now I just put it where it falls.

Booking Through Thursday - Author Blogs

Suggested by Barbara H.:
A comment on someone else’s BTT question this week inspired this question:
Do you read any author’s blogs? If so, are you looking for information on their next project? On the author personally? Something else?

I follow a few author blogs . Most of the time it starts out because I met them. Then it ends that they have such great personality that I enjoy reading what they have to blog about and it is a bonus that I get to hear about there upcoming projects.

Here are the authors I follow

Christine Norris - Blog - Website

Elaine Coridae - Blog - Website

Laurie Halse Anderson - Blog - Website ( I haven't met her yet just kinda came across her blog.)

BTT - Too Much Information

Have you ever been put off an author’s books after reading a biography of them? Or the reverse - a biography has made you love an author more?

I think the only author biography I have ever read was on Margaret Mitchell and I loved it. When I read Gone With the Wind I had to read everything about her and I did. Reading the biography didn't make me not want to read about her just the opposite. I haven't read many biographies I am about due for one it has been many years. In fact I can count the biography I have read on one hand. Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, and Margaret Mitchell...not many huh? There are many I am interested in though.

Booking Through Thursday - Digital Age

I also posted my answer in the comments but if any one else wants to see...

First. Go read this great article from Time Magazine: Books Gone Wild: The Digital Age Reshapes Literature. (Well worth reading.)

Second. Stop and think about it for moment. Computers and digital media are changing everything we do these days, whether we realize it or not, and that includes our beloved books.

Third. DISCUSS!

Tell us what you think. Do you have an ebook reader? Do you read ebooks on your computer? Do you hate the very thought? How do you feel about the fact that book publishing is changing and facing much the same existential dilemma as the music industry upon the creation of MP3s?

I do not own a kindle or an ebook reader. I have bought and read some books in PDF format. I usually struggle with reading that format because while I like being on the computer reading digital format has it down fall on your eyes. I also love the feeling of actually paper bound books but while I love the smell the feel, I also know it is killing our trees. So maybe the digital age of book isn’t a bad thing because of that

Here’s what i can’t see buying digital books for kids. I think for kids they are always going to have the bound book. I can’t imagine a picture book in a kindle. But maybe they do do that.

On the self publishing note I think is great self publishing is doing so well. Give me hope if that is the direction I plan on going with my books.