Mission

Bibliophiliac is the space where one passionate, voracious reader reflects on books and the reading life. You will find reviews, analysis, links, and reflections on poetry and prose both in and out of the mainstream.

A book must be the axe for the frozen sea within us. Franz Kafka

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Sunday Coffee

This weekend I brought home the obligatory big bag full of ungraded papers. Those papers stayed in my bag until this evening, and now they are on the big worktable I use, just giving me the stink-eye.

I started reading The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest yesterday. I read the first two books in the series so long ago I can't remember (could it be two years ago?). Then I just didn't pick up the third book. I suppose I had teaching, and review obligations, and so on. Now I am in the mood for a palate-cleansing break from Literary Greateness. Once in a while I like to pick up a book that offers the kind of plot-twisty escape where you just don't want to put the book down. So that's where I've been today. Along with doing laundry and watching television without the sound. My husband thinks this is weird, but it is my favorite way to watch tv.

I'm some kind of throwback to another era apparently. I'd rather get absorbed in a book than in multi-tasking and social media. I feel tremendously guitly about minor infractions. I still believe in the concept of privacy. I have a Nook, but I also go to the bookstore and look at books. Even better, I love to go to used bookstores, and look at (and buy) books that have been owned and read (and scribbled in) by other people.

When I finish the Stieg Larsson book I have stacks of books I'm wanting to get to. Last weekend I picked up a Europa title by Seve Erickson called These Dreams of You. Europa books always have such beautiful design.

I'm more than a little behind in reviews. At this point I may just do a couple of multi-book review posts. I will be posting my review of Andre Dubus III's memoir Townie this coming week. There will also be an interview with Dubus coming soon (this is where I slip into fangirl mode-I can't help it, I think it is awesome).... I sent my questions to the publicist on Friday. I really loved Townie (my copy is so marked up), and I worked on those interview questions. They probably sound like they are written by an English teacher, but I hope I read as a reader and a writer.

There are several challenges I'm taking on this year. I think Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest will be for my Mount TBR Challenge, and I'm thinking about James Cain for the Smooth Criminals challenge. Oh, if only I could spend my days just reading and writing (throw a little drawing and painting in, and I'll be happy).

Oh, here's a cool thing before I go. Steve Himmer, author of The Bee-Loud Glade, is sending me a book. Just because I live on an island. It happened on twitter, and forget what I said about being from another era. So I'm looking forward to reading Steve's book (about which I've heard some good things). Not looking forward to Monday so much, but I'm always okay with it when it gets here. Can't wait to see the response to my interview questions from Andre Dubus III. And want to spend much more time reading than seems practicable for my life....

5 comments:

bermudaonion said...

At least the school year's over half over! I love social media and the internet but still love to get lost in books.

bibliophiliac said...

@bermudaonion-thank you so much for saying that! You're right-I only have four months to go!

jaylen watkins said...

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Interview Questions

Sam (Tiny Library) said...

This is why I sometimes leave my work at school - so that it can't stare across the room at me and judge me for not doing it!

bibliophiliac said...

@Sam-I know! I need to just leave those papers at school sometimes....