20 posts tagged “thursday”

Suggested by Janet:

How about, “What’s the worst ‘best’ book you’ve ever read — the one everyone says is so great, but you can’t figure out why?”

Well, honestly, I don't know.  If a book doesn't get me hooked in the first 30 pages or so, I put it down for good.  It doesn't matter if it 'redeems' itself in the middle/end.  If the beginning is crap - I'm done. I don't waste my time.  

The only books I can think of right now that are not as 'awesome' as people say are the Twilight books.  They are just fanfic...it's not great writing.  I enjoyed the first one.  The characters are interesting to me.  I love character studies and highly descriptive writing, so I did like that aspect of Twilight. The middle books were ok, but the last book was positively atrocious.  I understand why the teens are loving them though...it's that little obsession that all teens have.  Mine was New Kids on the Block. ;)  I didn't go nuts over them or anything, I've never been that kind of person.  I really dislike that kind of behavior....it's not flattering.

The thing is, while I'm glad teens are reading - I'm appalled that they say things like "omg, they are the best books ever written!".  WHAT?  Someone needs to introduce these kids to classic literature, STAT.  When you read a book and there is layer upon layer of brilliance...THAT is great writing.  Twilight is just a nice, cute, safe story - not great writing.  But, I'll enjoy the frenzy of Twilight while it's here.  It's fun, anyway.

Although, I'll be avoiding any store that sells DVD's this weekend though - mass chaos.  Mass chaos.  I have no interest in being in a room full of screaming children. LOL

On a side note, there are some books that are 'hyped' up that really are amazing books.  The Road by McCarthy is one of them.  The Book Thief by Zusak is another.  Both of these books are written brilliantly.  Not only are the stories within great stories - beautiful portraits of humanity, hope, death, love, etc...but also, the authors were very clever in how they formatted the books.  The physical experience of reading these books is wonderful. 

In The Road, you are thrust into this stripped down, wasteland of a book - very little punctuation and structure...just like the world you are reading about.  You EXPERIENCE the loss, the emptiness, the alarming oddness of it all with the characters.  It took a while to get comfortable enough to read the book - and even then, you never really get comfortable.  Just like the characters, we experience this unnerving story in an unnerving way.  It's moving.  It's poignant.

The Book Thief does the same thing.  It's as if you are the diary that the narrator is writing upon.  Scribbles.  Thoughts.  Random sentences and random ponderings.  Descriptions of images.  It pulls you in and you are experiencing these memories with the narrator - like an elderly person telling stories of their youth.  Partial - something are faded, some things are vibrant.  Sometimes they remember the smell more than the conversation.  Sometimes colors are vibrant, even if the memory is not clear.  This is the way of human memory.  The author did a great job developing a visual style in the book that allows us to experience these memories with the narrator.

Maybe the stories aren't for you - the pain and the dispair.  But there is hope, happiness, love as well.  What makes these books great is that they are accurate portrayals of humanity.  Real, raw - nothing is photoshopped or airbrushed.  It's honest.  Heartbreaking.  Hopeful.  Human.  I think, if you read these books and allow yourself to actually EXPERIENCE them....you will understand how they are great peices of art.

Mariel suggested this week’s question.

Are you a spine breaker? Or a dog-earer? Do you expect to keep your books in pristine condition even after you have read them? Does watching other readers bend the cover all the way round make you flinch or squeal in pain?

I cannot do that to a book!  I do NOT dog ear my pages.  I do not break the spine if I can help it.  I tend to read hard cover books just because paperbacks always get out of shape when you open them...and that drives me crazy!  lol

I try to keep my books in good condition.  If' I've put money into the investment, I'd like them to last and possibly be handed down to future generations.  Books are meant to last and be read again and again.  :)

But all this is not to say that I don't have many old books, that were tattered and damaged when I got them.  They have a special appeal to them...character.  But, I would never purposefully damage a book just to save the page or whatnot.

And yes, I hate when people bend the cover all the way around.  Ugh!  Especially people who do it to the library books.  HELLO.  You're not the only person who wants to read that book...take care of it!  You know libraries don't charge for services..and we don't have much of a budget either...it costs a lot to buy books.  Please respect them!

Thursday Thunks
1. Have you ever not thought about the possibility of suicide?

Have I ever NOT thought about it?  What?  Are you assuming that I DO think about it?  What kind of question is this?  LOL  I have never thought about it and I never will.  It is wrong.  It does not solve anything.

2. How many dogs have you owned in your life? What kind? What were their names?

11?  I might be missing a few.  Mostly mutts...but 3 of them were/are Shelties (2 are still alive).

3. In one word, what do most people describe you as?

Positive

4. Do you watch HouseMD? Why not?

Nope.  Watched a few episodes..it's alright.  I'm not really a TV person.  I watch my geek shows, like Smallville and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.  :)

5. What irritates you most about your neighbors?

My neighbor across the street works overnight, so at 1am, he's out there warming up his car for a half hour...and he doesn't have a muffler.  If I'm actually trying to get a good night's sleep, he wakes me up without fail.  grrr

6. Have you ever called someone in for some sort of abuse or neglect on humans, animals or property?

Yeah, I've called in people about animal abuse and once on property damages.  I don't stand for that kind of thing.  It's wrong to say nothing.

7. What color is the sky in your world?

Whatever color God decides it should be today.  :)

8. Did you see those 2 planets that everyone is talking about this week?

Everyone is talking about 2 planets?  lol

9. Would you like to submit your own question for future Thursday Thunks?

I suppose if one ever came to me, I would  :)

10. Do you have a skin condition? Are you gonna tell us what it is?

I have sensitive skin...allergies.  Cats, nut oils, wool, many soaps, jewelry, etc...can't touch any of it without a reaction.

11. Have you ever had an STD?

nope

12. Do you do any crafts?

I sew sometimes.  I draw and paint.  I make other little crafts as I find projects.

13. Peanut Butter & Jelly - what flavor is the jelly?

I HATE Peanut Butter and Jelly.  Who thought of putting those two things together?  EWWWW.  I like Peanut Butter.  I don't like Jelly.  I do like some all-fruit preserves....now and then.  Raspberry, Tomato, Apricot

14. Stripes or polka-dots?

wavy lines.  ;)

15. What accent drives you crazy? Is it a good crazy or a bad crazy?

hmmm, never really thought about it.  I honestly don't know.  :)

From Booking Through Thursday:

BTT

I’ve asked, in the past, about whether you more often buy your books, or get them from libraries. What I want to know today, is, WHY BUY?

Even if you are a die-hard fan of the public library system, I’m betting you have at least ONE permanent resident of your bookshelves in your house. I’m betting that no real book-lover can go through life without owning at least one book. So … why that one? What made you buy the books that you actually own, even though your usual preference is to borrow and return them?

If you usually buy your books, tell me why. Why buy instead of borrow? Why shell out your hard-earned dollars for something you could get for free?

Whoops!  I'm a little late.  hehe

As a librarian, I obviously use the library on a regular basis..but I do own a TON of books.  I have lots of reference books at home - so I have quick access to them.  I've kept a few of my textbooks from degrees that I've gotten, because they had good information in them.  As far as novels go (and even some non-fiction)...I buy for two reasons.  Sometimes I buy something because I want to travel with it.  I don't travel (far) with library books.  I'm pretty careful with library books.  Sometimes, I'll end up giving the book away or selling it or trading it.  I keep some too though. 

The other reason is the main reason: If I loved a book, I want to own it.  After I've read a book and been to that world, I want to return sometimes.  And it can be at really random moments too...like 2am.  When I have that need to go to that world, I need to go at that moment.  I've stopped doing the dishes to run and read a chapter of a book before.  Seriously.  :)  And that's the other thing.  I won't read a book cover to cover very often.  I read it cover to cover, and then I'll go back and read my favorite chapters or sections.  It's usually a year or so before I actually read the book cover to cover again...if ever.  But, if I love that book, I want to own it so I can read whatever section I want, whenever I want.

There's nothing like owning a book either....every time you go back to read again, you remember the placement of the words on the paper, where the page turns were, how the book felt in your hands.  These all become part of the experience of the book...the memory.  It's not quite the same to return to a book you've loved and it's a different copy.  You have to start those memories all over again!  :D

Here are just some of my books.  I have 5 of these shelves full.  :)

1. Today is the biggest day in your chosen career. You have THE job interview. Everything must be spot on. As you are getting dressed, you realize Oops!, you forgot to do laundry. You have NO clean underwear. What do you do? Go commando, wear yesterday's dirty undies, wear them inside out, buy new ones on the way to the interview or just say screw it and go back to bed?

Buy new ones on the way to the interview...and change into them in the bathroom at the store.  LOL

2. If you took a fully cooked turkey and a ripe watermelon and dropped them from 50 ft up, which would make a bigger splat and mess?

The watermelon would probably make a bigger splat - that juice would go far.  But, I think the turkey would be more messy because it's kinda slimy and greasy.  Watermelon isn't so bad on that front.  :)

3. An ex lover, friend, or spouse is in a serious accident, they have lost their current memory and think you 2 are still together. S/he keeps calling for you from their hospital bed. The family calls begging you to come visit until s/he regains current memory. Do you go?

I guess it would depend.  If it ended very badly, then no.  That would not be helpful for the ex and their recovery.  But, if we had parted on good terms...still friends, or at least no hard feelings...then sure.  But, I'd be honest from the beginning...'we aren't together'.  I'd just be there as a friend.  If there were no hard feelings and I had found out about the accident, I would want to be there regardless...so it's not really a question.

4. You have the opportunity to meet your favorite famous person. You have heard the person isn't nice in real life. Do you go ahead and meet them or choose to keep your fantasy of them real to you? Why or Why not?

Well, first, I don't trust the 'grapevine'...so I would never assume someone was a jerk just because people say they are.  Especially with celebrities, people can say spiteful stuff.  I'd take the opportunity to meet anyone, really.  I mean, the point of life is to meet new people and learn, right?  If I could meet my favorite artists, I would certainly take that opportunity...but only if it was more than a shake of the hand or an autograph.  I'd be interested in talking art with them.  :)  I don't understand the whole autograph thing....why do I want someone's handwriting?  What will I gain from touching someone's hand in passing?  That's just silly.  lol

5. Do you like lemons? Do you use them to clean with or just as a food source?

I love lemons.  I use them for both cleaning and eating.  I like to eat lemons straight up.  They are yummy!

6. If chosen to be in a horror/suspense movie, would you do it? If so, would you be willing to be the first person killed in the movie?

It would all depend on the movie...but most likely not.  I wouldn't want to be associated with a movie that was all about gratuitous sex and violence...that's just not necessary.  If it was a psychological thriller with a good story and something is 'learned' from the story...something is understood about human nature or whatnot...that would be something I might consider.  And sure, I wouldn't mind being the first person to die.  lol

7. It's raining. It's cold. You cannot leave the house. How do you spend the day?

Why can't I leave the house?  I tend to wait for rainy and cold days to leave the house.  I lock myself in the house when it's not rainy and cold...because I hate the heat and the sun.  But, when I am indoors, I spend the day reading, watching movies, cleaning, listening to music, organizing things, cooking...stuff like that.  :)

My first Thanksgiving dinner is with my brother and his wife.  I'm running a little late, but I thought I'd post my self portrait real quick.  This is what I'm wearing today.  Casual, comfy...ready for lots of Turkey!!!  :D (please ignore the laundry!  LOL)

This week we will answer some unusual questions, brought to you by Kimber, the color blue and the number 7.

What vegetable would you serve with a plate of fried grasshoppers?

Oh my...  o.O  Something really strongly flavored...so it would overwhelm the taste of the bugs.  Maybe some jalapeno's

If you realize your house is on fire while you are using the bathroom, do you wipe or just run for the door?

LOL.  I think I'd just run for the door.  I can always buy new undies.  ;)

Why is there a light in the fridge but not in the freezer?

I don't know.  They make lights for commercial freezers, so why not residential ones?  But honestly, do we really need a light in the freezer or the fridge?  I pull stuff out and close the door first, before I read the labels.  Don't leave the door hangin' open...that's a waste of energy.  :)

When thinking about yourself, what color do you see yourself as?

Uhhhmmmm.....  ??  Green, maybe.  My eyes are green and most people notice my eye color.  :)

Why are people able to have unprotected sex with someone, but afraid to tell them if they have an STD?

Wow, seriously?  I practice abstinence until marriage, so I'm not familiar with this behavior.  I imagine that having unprotected sex is a pleasure thing.  People doing stupid things to have a quick 'fix' or 'high'.  Maybe people don't want to admit to an STD because they are embarrassed, or think that the information would take the 'fun' out of things.  And, I would certainly hope it would take the fun out of things.  People who don't tell about an STD are losers.  Is that simple enough for you?  Own up.  Don't hurt others.

I haven't posted a self portrait in a while.  I was playing around with my scarves tonight...since it's cooler now and I can wear them again.  :)  I thought this shot came out kinda cool.  :)

 
Welcome to the October 16th version of Thursday Thunks!
Where we make you think a little bit before you blog!

This week we will answer a few random things:
What was your favorite toy as a child?

Wow.  I have no idea! We moved a lot and had to start over a lot, so my toys changed.  I have fond memories of my She-Ra dolls and unicorns....WAIT!  I know, I know!  The little Hot Wheels (or whatever it was) car that I bought from my brother for 6 cents.  It was a rusty colored charger with doors that opened.  I don't know why, but I loved that thing.  I negotiated with him for it.  He wanted a dime.  I said I'd give him a nickel.  We agreed on 6 cents.  hehe  I think we were around 9 years old.  I still have that car.  It's in my storage garage though.  :)

If money was no object, but you could only buy ONE thing, what would you buy your spouse/significant other?

I don't have a significant other.  I would buy my parents a new car though.  And my father & step mother.  They all have cars that are falling apart.

What about your children?

I also don't have children.  I have a nephew though and another nephew/niece on the way.  I would give them college tuitions and trips around the world.  :)

Now, if you only had $10 to buy one thing, what would it be?

Groceries

What's on your refrigerator?

Pictures of my family (mom, cousins, nephew, etc...); mom's dress code list; coupons; lots of magnets

What's on top of it?

bananas, a butternut squash, and a cranberry colored canister....which I haven't a clue what's in it.  LOL

Go look in it. Whats in there that would gross the rest of us out?

Hot dogs! Ok, so they only gross me out.  They are in there for my dogs.  They are very special treats for my dogs...they love them.  I can't even handle the smell.  I won't touch them.  Seriously, I'll put on gloves and use tongs and towels and stuff.  Gag me.

But, you all probably would be more grossed out my my soy milk.  But, it's yummy, I promise!  :)

Oh, and mom's egg nog, which makes me want to vomit.  That stuff is so vile!  EWWWW!

Whats your favorite type of potato?

hmmm, Twice Baked or grilled with cabbage and onions.

Do you have an address book? Do you write in it or do you just stick return addresses/envelopes in it?

No, I use my phone and iPod for addresses

Look up. Do you like your ceiling?

Not really.  It's got that ugly popcorn thing going on.  And there is a big light fixture that doesn't even work.  lol  I have three lamps in here and you still can't see anything.  :)