Library Summer Reading Programs Completed!

I approached my library summer reading programs with the goal of reading lighter things, but also to read a variety of different kinds of things. I sometimes find that I read the same types of books, and my goal was to get out of my comfort zone a little bit. It was a mini-challenge for the five or six weeks of the summer.

For one the programs, I succeeded in reading books that didn’t count for any other challenge. For the other, I just kept track of the books that I read; they did count for other challenges. I tried to have a variety of books, and I did. It was fun. Continue reading »

Reading Journal (5 August): Library Loot

I love libraries, and I particularly love my library system. I’ve found that I can get any book, essentially. The one I wanted to read this month that they didn’t have in the huge system (Abraham Lincoln), I requested, free of charge, via Inter-Library Loan. It came within a week.

I’ve found that since I started “reporting” to you what I read each week, I’m being less irresponsible with my library requests. I used to just put a hold request anytime I wanted a book, and then I’d pick it up, change my mind and return it. Now I’m thinking more carefully about what I’ll actually get done before I have to return it to the library. I’m being more responsible. I’m not starting (or even requesting) books that I don’t intend to finish.

I’m checking out fewer books as a result, but I feel good because I know I’ll get to them. I even went to the library today and didn’t get any new books for myself! Of course, I also go through 5-10 picture books for my son every week!

What’s your library loot plan?

Do you just get whatever you want on a whim, do you browse at the library, or do you plan and structure your library pick-ups to only get what you are planning on reading that week?

How many books do you normally have checked out at a time? How many of them do you read? Continue reading »

Reading Journal (June 17): Reinforcements

I have been struggling to read The Arabian Nights.

I enjoy it. It has a rambling fairy tale-like feel to it as the story within a story turns into yet another story and as magic alternately saves and destroys the day. Because it is from a different culture, I’m finding it fascinating to think of this as the stories of a cultural heritage. I’m glad I’m reading it.

But at the same time, it’s a story in a story in a story on to eternity; it feels repetitive; it’s long-winded; it’s just plain challenging to read. I almost gave up on it. But I did not.

I remembered that Eva mentioned a companion volume (by Robert Irwin) to The Arabian Nights in her library loot last month, so I decided to find it at my library too. Reading commentary helped when I was reading Julius Caesar last month, so I figured why not?

Apparently, I’m not alone in struggling through Arabian Nights, so now I don’t feel so odd calling in for reinforcements. Here’s what Irwin says in the introduction:

According to a superstition current in the Middle East in the late nineteenth century when Sir Richard Burton was writing, no one can read the whole text of the Arabian Nights without dying. There have indeed been times (particularly when toiling through Burton’s own distinctly unattractive translation of the Nights) when I thought that I might slit my through rather than continue with this enterprise. However, I am still alive. It may be that I have acquired some sort of literary stamina [as a child]… (page 1).

That was a relief to me to read that even the expert writing a companion guide to Arabian Nights struggled through it at times.  I’ve determined to read the companion volume as I continue reading The Arabian Nights. (Thanks for the idea, Eva!) I look forward to being able to say that it helped to get the literary stamina for which ever book I next think is going to kill me. I’m going to read it! I will not die!

What book did you think was going to kill you? Did it kill you, or did you pull through?

Do you turn to commentary or companion guides as reinforcements to get you through your challenging reads?

This week, I also signed up for my summer reading program: I need to read six books (audio counts). I also signed up my 20-month-old son up for their baby program: among other things, I need to read him five new books, sing him a lullaby, and recite him some Mother Goose. I think it’s an adorable program! Are you and your children joining your library reading program? Continue reading »

Dear D____ Public Library,

I really love your library system in many ways. It is so great that I can request any book in a Chicagoland library and receive it within the week. That pretty much takes care of any book I’ll ever want to read! I like to visit your branch and browse. Your children’s room is likewise chocked full of books, and my son likes finding himself a board book. That was smart of you to put it within his reach! He likes to dump them all out of the bin. He has yet to learn how to put them back in.

But I have a complaint. Continue reading »

Why ARCs?

A few weeks ago, a publisher contacted me: Would I like to review ARCs for my blog?

I’ve only been book blogging for a few months, so I was flattered they found me. I have an online presence! The publicist was able to answer my questions about ARCs, mostly. But I’m realizing that I don’t really want just any free books. Continue reading »

Too Young for Books?

Yesterday at the library, after I returned our books, I stopped briefly by the board books and found a few appropriate book for my eight-month-old. I gave him The Airplane Book as he sat in the stroller. He grabbed it and held on.

I found the book I was looking for in the fiction aisle and was turning to go when a grandmotherly lady stopped and looked at my son. I’m used to this at the library: grandmothers, kids, toddlers. Everyone loves a baby! She asked if he’s a boy or a girl. I told her he’s a boy and smiled at her.

“Humph. A book for him! He’s a bit too young, don’t you think?” she said in a low voice as she turned away.

I had already started pushing the stroller to the checkout when I realized what she had said.

Too young for a book?

I read my son Winnie-the-Pooh when he was 4 months old and I’ve read to him every day since. Granted, most days now he “talks” loudly over my voice or ignores me or tries to eat the book, but I still read to him every day.

Is there such a thing as too young for books?

I think not.