Category: Uncategorized

I have written in the past about how bleak the construction industry is getting and how the company I work for seems to be on its last leg. I am not one to let the grass grow under me, nor am I one to lay down and give up so it should come to no surprise that I now have a new job! I am now working for The Department of Forestry, how cool is that? Not only do I now have a retirement package, benefits and a federal funded job, I get to work with fire fighters and conservationists. The women who interviewed me seem to be just like me, quirky, fun yet hard working. I start May 11. I am so excited I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas day!

In between my job hunt and school, I did manage to review a book.

You Wanna Go to Willard? is the “fictional” life story of the author Linda Holbrook. It is advertised as one woman’s struggle “to find happiness she wanted and desperately needed” (from the back cover).
I asked to review the book because it sounded promising, I was hoping to read a story that would inspire me as I struggle through the first part of my middle years, but unfortunately, what Holbrook writes is yet another story of dysfunctional family life. Welcome to the club Holbrook, sorry to lay this on you, but many, Americans come from dysfunctional homes, your story is tame compared to some. Bastard of out Carolina and The Glass Castle are two books that show just how horrible family life can be, yet the authors’ of these books manage to make something out of themselves. I just cannot feel pity or joy for Holbrook, her story is not that moving or inspiring. Perhaps if Holbrook had broke from her sister or at least had it out with her over her- sister’s confession Holbrook would have seemed inspiring, but instead she lets the confession go, then drifts from her sister as a lot of sibling do. Holbrook is very brave in writing her life story and I applaud Holbrook for writing a book, unfortunately her story is all too familiar.

This is the first time I have read a book for review that I truly could not find anything positive to say. I need to figure out how to review for a disliked book. Any suggestions? What do you other reviewers do when faced with writing about a terrible read?

Thanks to Jessica at bookreviewbyjess for this questionnaire. What a fun way to get to know more about our reading tastes and styles. I changed the questionnaire to fit my reading style. Please feel free to fill it out on your blog then link back to me. I would love to see how other people feel about books and reading.

Hardback, trade paperback or mass market paperback?
I really like the trade paperback. The print is big enough for my eyes, the book is light enough to carry around. I do admit though I prefer hardback when it comes to my history collection

Barnes & Noble or Borders? We have a Borders in my home town but unfortunately the staff seems to be made up of young people who have a distain for books. Not too long ago I went in looking for The Hounds of Baskerville. I asked the clerk where the Sherlock Holmes were kept and all I got was a blank stare. Finally he asked “who is Sherlock Holmes?” At least when I go to B& N I am always assured to be waited on someone who reads or who has read.

Bookmarks or dog-ear?
I love bookmarks but will dog ear a book out of shear desperation

Amazon or brick-and-mortar?
No not Amazon. Their ship time is far to long. I will use Powell’s Books or Barns and Noble. If my town had a local independent book store I would shop there first. Sadly it is getting harder and harder to find indi book stores.

Alphabetize by author, or alphabetize by title, or random?
First by subject then by size.

Keep, throw away, or sell? It depends on the book. Some books are worth keeping. Most of my science, history and religious books are keepers. When a work of fiction really moves me I may keep it other wise the book is given away or swapped at Paperback Swap.com

Keep dust jacket or remove it?
Keep them. Too me taking them off is the same as undressing a book.

Read with dust jacket or remove it? Back in the 80’s when I was a Stephen King fan I removed the dust jacket while reading, now keep it on.

Short story or novel?
I love novels but a short story is just what I need when I am in a reading slump.

Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket?
I tried reading the first Snicket book to my then 11 year old son. We both agreeded the book was far to depressing to be classified as entertainment. We have both read the Potter series.

Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?
I like to read in bed so often times I have to stop when I become too tired to carry on. I try to stop at chapters but don’t always succeed.

“It was a dark and stormy night” or “Once upon a time”?
Bothe sound like the opening to a fairy tale. I would take a dark fairy tale over a light one any time.

Buy or borrow?
Borrow from the library only. I hate borrowing books from friends. I feel pressured to read the book right away.

Buying choice: book reviews, recommendations, or browse?
A little of all three. A good recommendation is normally followed by me reading more reviews. When I browse I go by the first few lines in the book or the blurb on the back jacket.

Tidy ending or cliffhanger?
Cliffhangers are for shows like Dallas. Books need endings, tidy or not!

Morning reading, afternoon reading, or nighttime reading?
If the book is compelling enough I will rearrange my whole weekend to accommodate my reading of it.

Stand-alone or series?
Both are fine. My favorite author Salman Rushdie does not write a series, but it would be great fun if he did!

Favorite series?
Has to be Terry Pratchett’s Disc World.

Favorite children’s book?
I have to pick one? Can’t do it. I loved Nancy Drew, Black Beauty, James & the Giant Peach of course just about anything Dr. Seuss wrote. My favorite children’s book when reading to my infant son was Winnie the Pooh.

Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?
Little Miss Strange by Joanna Rose.

Favorite books read last year?
Every Rushdie I read last year.

Favorite books of all time?
Dante’s Inferno, Rushdie’s Satanic Verses and Karen Armstrong’s A History of God

What are you reading right now?
Doubt; A History by Jennifer M Hectch.

What are you reading next?
I never have a set plan for my reads. It may be the autobiography of St. Teresa or it may be the second installment of the Charlene Harris’ Southern Vampire series. You never can tell with me!

Favorite non fiction books to re-read?
The Battle for God by Karen Armstrong and a Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

Favorite fiction books to re-read?
Dante’s Inferno, Rushdie’s Satanic Verses and Diane Sutterfeild’s The Thirteenth Tale

Do you ever smell books?
Almost every time I pick up a new one, weird huh?