What is Reading? and Audiobook Review of The Book Thief

Suggested by: Thisisnotabookclub

What is reading, anyway? Novels, comics, graphic novels, manga, e-books, audiobooks — which of these is reading these days? Are they all reading? Only some of them? What are your personal qualifications for something to be “reading” — why? If something isn’t reading, why not? Does it matter? Does it impact your desire to sample a source if you find out a premise you liked the sound of is in a format you don’t consider to be reading? Share your personal definition of reading, and how you came to have that stance. Continue reading »

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

There are hundreds of book blogs reviewing The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I didn’t really read any of them before I began this book. What I did read was my cousin’s suggestion that I read it, along with some comments she had. She wrote:

It addresses orphans and hunger and family separation and Jewishness during World War II Germany. But it doesn’t bludgeon you with horror upon horror, then wallow in the pain. This is not one of those books that introduces you to characters only so you can more fully appreciate how the events of the story are the worst possible outcome for that person. It shows the beauty and triumph amidst gray life and thereby reveals the preciousness of love and relationships. Despite the subject matter, each time you put down the book you’ll feel a little warm glow in your heart.

I think she explained it wonderfully: she didn’t reveal a number of details about the plot, but she perfectly explained the emotions. I felt those same emotions as I read it. Because I didn’t know too much about The Book Thief before I read it (and most other reviews I’ve read after-the-fact reveal far too much), I was surprised and delighted by this book when I did pick it up. Continue reading »

Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling

I read Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories because I wanted to read this Nobel-prize winning author and also because I remembered the imaginative premise of his magical world and wanted to experience his world as an adult. I very much enjoyed reading them again, although there are some “politically incorrect” stereotypes in them I hadn’t expected. Continue reading »

Blogging as Storytelling and Blogging Tips from an Unprofessional

Dewey at Weekly Geeks asked us what other forms of storytelling we enjoy. I certainly love reading books, stories, poems, nonfiction, etc. Some people are discussing theater and that is certainly on my list: the performance of great literature. I’ve never been a fan of television (we don’t even have one right now), and I don’t usually enjoy movies.

In a world besides books, however, I think the story telling I would rely on is blogging. Continue reading »

Home Buying for Dummies and Three Other Books

We found out two weeks ago that we’re moving back to the USA (from Australia) next month. I began the process of searching online for an apartment we might want to rent. Our former home was one bedroom: we are now a family of three. That won’t work.

Lo and behold, I found that buying a home and paying a mortgage would be a similar cost to renting. It just might be the time to buy, thanks to the low cost of homes right now. It is truly a Buyer’s Market.

However, I know nothing about real estate and mortgages. The thought of closing on a mortgage and owning a hugely expensive piece of property fills me with dread. I am pretty clueless. I decided to jump right in to some books to get me started and to get me ready. Continue reading »

Social Issues in Literature: Depression

Depression is one of the most common social and emotional problems around the world. One in five people will experience major depression at some point in their lives. Women are especially susceptible (especially after childbirth), but everyone can and does succumb to periods of discouragement for any number of reasons.

Because depression is such a part of life these days, it is incredibly common in literature and in nonfiction. Continue reading »

The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter

I thought I was going to love Beatrix Potter’s tales. Who doesn’t love Peter Rabbit? To my surprise, however, I didn’t love her stories. Continue reading »

Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton

I’ve been in a short story mood lately. I picked up G. K. Chesterton’s Father Brown (a collection of 18 of the 49 stories about Father Brown) when I saw it on a display at the library. I’d read somewhere, maybe on a book blog, that one should read Father Brown because it’s the definitive mystery short story, in the mode of Sherlock Holmes. Continue reading »

Reading Habits: Who What When Where Why How?

I am often in the middle of a half a dozen books: I can’t understand people who are reading just one thing at a time. I enjoy a variety of books, and I feel like I need a variety of books in my head at one time. I don’t try to rush through books, but sometimes I can’t put them down. Continue reading »

Childhood Reads

For this week, Dewey suggested we reflect on a book from our childhood. I could write about any number of books, but here is one that somehow, I haven’t forgotten, although I haven’t read it since third grade. Continue reading »