12 Books on my List!

My previous post was in reference to making goals (including reading goals) and I suggested that you base your goals on an easy 12; one a month.  You can modify this, of course, to fit your own lifestyle, but it's a start if you're new to goal-making and the successes and boost to your esteem come December when you realize what you've accomplished.

This year I made a goal on Goodreads to read 45 books.  I easily finish 12 a year as I have been practicing goal-making for years, and know what I am able to accomplish with reading in 365 days.  This year instead of 40, which is often a goal now, I added another 5 to my list as a means of challenging myself and pushing just a wee,-tiny-almost unnoticeable-but definitely beneficial, extra few books.  I keep my options open as the year unfolds because I stumble across new ones, receive recommendations, and there are always books being newly published.  But, I like to pick 12 that I could focus on reading, for sure, within the year.

These are my 12 -for sure- choices:

12.  Reading Like a Writer - Francine Prose  
I love that USA Today's quote about the book is, "A love letter to the pleasures of reading."   How delightful is that?  I have a feeling this could be, potentially, one I read again and again.  But we'll see, I'll read it first and then decide. I wonder if I should start with this and get my pleasure-of-reading machine warmed up?

11. Novel Destinations; Literary Landmarks from Jane Austens Bath to Ernest Hemingway's Key West  - Shannon McKenna Schmidt & Joni Rendon
My husband and I recently visited Hemingway's home recently (with his 50 polydactyl cats!).  I was in love with that entire experience, and am so excited to learn of other literary landmarks I can learn of and seek to experience.  Wouldn't it just be exhilarating to plan a holiday around visiting these landmarks?  A type of literary bingo, or scavenger hunt.  I wonder if my husband would go for that?

10.  Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
I am wholly embarrassed to have to admit that I have never picked up, or read, Pride and Prejudice.  Am I the only one on earth who hasn't?  I feel as though I just exposed myself in holed underwear.  How humiliating to NOT have read this classic yet.  I must rectify this soon!

9.  The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern
I picked this up in 2012, with all, and good, intentions to read it, but with book club reading requirements and other reads stacked up on my bookcase, this one never found it's way into my hands with a purpose to start and finish it.  The premise seems interesting to me.  I am hopeful that it lives up to the hype.  I often stay very clear of best sellers until they have lost their attention in media and bookstores.  I like to read what others don't often come across when first entering a bookstore's front door.  If it's brand new, I probably won't read it for years.  Probably.  Sometimes I make an exception, such as with the Night Circus. 

8.  Our Glad - Joyce Warren
This old book (1957) has been on my bookcase awhile.  I found this treasure at a second hand book sale and it caught my attention simply because of the word, 'glad'.  I surmised that it must be a happy book to read.  I read a note about it on Goodreads and the end of the summary says, "most of all it will leave readers feeling happy."  Mmm, that confirms it; a happy, glad-full read!!

7.  Against the Tide - Elizabeth Camden
Sometimes all that satisfies me is falling into a historical mystery.  Reviews by readers are all quite excellent; four or five stars from what I could see. I decided that it may be a nice escape read!  Nothing too challenging, and probably great for a snowy, winter weekend when all I want to do is drink hot chocolate and stay in my pj's all day. Maybe I'll invite my little cat to snuggle onto my lap.   

6.  Postcards from Cedar Key - Terri Dulong
Since my husband and I travelled to Florida recently and fell in love with all things Key West and Florida Keys on the whole, this is a read that I am hoping will transport my imagination there, back to where we had a glorious week of R&R.  There is chocolate and knitting as part of this fictional tale, so it promises to be up my alley!

5.  Party of the Century: The Fabulous Story of Truman Capote and His Black-and-White Ball - Deborah Davis
A few years ago I read the Truman Capote biography by Gerald Clarke.  I could not put it down. In fact, once my library book was returned, I promptly went out and bought the bio for my library. Capote captivates me.  I love glamour and any thing "fabulous".  The book promises to talk of guests and party details that I am quite sure will have me begging for time travel so I could don my best black dress, sparkliest bling, and clutch my black velvet evening bag within it, secreted a bright red lipstick.  In fact, I may dress like that, just to read it.  I'll drink a flute of Champagne of course.  Why not?

4.  The Waldorf-Astoria; America's Gilded Dream - Ward Morehouse III
My mother gave me this book awhile ago.  She found it on a shelf of free books.  She read it and told me it was a must-read; that it would satisfy my inner voyeurism for the glamorous lives of the moneyed and mighty.  I haven't had the opportunity to read it just yet.  Maybe I should correct that... I haven't been in the mood to read this one.  The way she explained it, this book has some delicious stories about the New York hotel.  To be in the mood for this, I   need to have a whole day (without a single responsibility) to snuggle into my reading nest with something decadent and sinful to snack upon.  I want to get my mouth all covered in melted chocolate and my eyes a mess with all the salacious details of the pleasures and scandals it has to share.   It's a biography of the hotel.  Which, interests me a great deal.  A biography of a building.  Interesting.  

3. A Tramp Abroad - Mark Twain
I like reading travelogues and from what I can understand from this book, it's a series of anecdotal sketches of his travels in Europe.  Originally published in 1880, it is more than one hundred years old.  I am not sure what this book will truly offer yet, but I expect it will make me yearn for a vacation.  

2.  Judge Crater, the Missingest Person; How He Disappeared and Why They Couldn't Find Him - John Winslow Gibson
Recently my husband got me started on the Sci-Fi show, 'Enterprise'.  I had never seen it, not being a huge fan of science fiction for the most part (except original Star Trek; Captain Kirk was *hot*).  On one episode in season one of 'Enterprise', one of the characters mentions this Judge Crater and how he went missing.  I needed to know if that was really true.  It was.   How had I never heard of this man?  The story seems extremely interesting to me.  I also have ordered another book about this, and plan to read it this year, Vanishing Point; The Disappearance of Judge Crater and the New York He Left Behind, by Richard J. Tofel.  

1.  52 Loaves; A Half Baked Adventure - William Alexander
I happened across this one day when seeking out a new memoir.  Memoirs about obscure experiences seem to be on the top of my happy-to-read list the last few years.  The premise of this book sounds interesting enough; Mr. Alexander seeks to perfect a type of bread he ate at a restaurant. I may choose to stop at my favorite bakery for a loaf (or two... ya know, just in case I don't like the first loaf... *chuckle) to enjoy with a bottle of wine and some chili chocolate for dessert, in order to experience this book, entirely.  f I like this book and Mr. Alexander's writing style, I may also venture into his other book, The $64 Tomato; How One Man Nearly Lost His Sanity, Spent a Fortune, and Endured an Existential Crisis in the Quest for the Perfect Garden.  If for no other reason that this is probably the longest title of a book I've ever picked up!  


I hope you have selected some excellent books to read this year!  I'd love to know what you are planning to read.  It's nice to learn of something from others, that perhaps I had never heard of, or happened upon on my own.  Happy reading, and good luck with your goals for this coming year!!

IT'S A FRESH NEW YEAR!!

" A man practices the art of adventure when he breaks the chain of routine and renews his life through reading new books, travelling to new places, making new friends, taking up new hobbies and adopting new viewpoints."

 ~ Wilfred Peterson

A new year!!  A great quote for a new year... I especially like the word "NEW" in everything Peterson notes; new hobbies, new places, new friends... and BOOKS.  I suppose with everything, we look to try something new.  A fresh year is a great time to set goals and plan to do those new things that we instinctively know would give us joy, help us be better people or challenge our boundaries.

Every year I make goals.  Call them resolutions.  Almost always call them a success.  Seriously.  Success comes in making reasonable goals and then adding a few easy to achieve challenges.  We so often try desperately to begin a new year with resolutions that are so beyond the scope of possibility (unless you devoted all your time to them for a whole year) that we begin by setting ourselves up for failure.

I like the number 12.  Do one thing a month.  For example, if you choose to read one book a month; 12 books a year.  Or, you may choose to try a new recipe every month, therefore 12 recipes a year.  Now if you have time and are adventures, do one thing, for different types of actives a month... 12 books AND 12 new recipes.  These are very possibly attainable.

For years I worked on this principle of 12. Every knew year I would always keep my standard 12... 12 new books, 12 new recipes, 12 easy lifestyle changes (like drinking more green tea, or walking to get coffee instead of driving there), 12 new things I had never done before (could even be attending a new restaurant).  I would add items like lose 12 pounds a year.  This is a good goal!!  Instead of setting myself up to lose an almost impossible 50, and gaining 10 more because I was so depressed I'd eat my way through a 10" cheesecake, losing 12 actually meant I lost 12 and kept off an inevitable 10 more I could have gained.  Perspective helps with success!!

Over the last few years I desired to add a few challenges and desires as well.  For example, I wanted a new, romantic Amsterdam-style bicycle.  I made that desire to purchase one, a goal.  Further, I found some fun activities I wanted to try... such as registering for sock of the month club (Soulmate Socks), or making it a point to head to the mountains for a day to settle into a cafe to just read and enjoy green tea with my spouse. These goals were exciting so easy to work for, and towards.  Dread had no part in the process.

When December rolls around, you can count off your successes on ten fingers and ten toes, plus!  Resolutions need not be difficult.  Add one yoga class to your week.  Drink green tea and have Quinoa once a week, or every second week if you feel too threatened by a one-week goal.  Make those TWO things, part of your 12 easy lifestyle changes.  Now you only need 10 more.  The whole point is simple;  make them fun; make them easy.  

Now this is book blog... so I challenge you to read more!  12 books if you can handle one a month!  Celebrate if in December you found that you read 13, or 15, or 24!!   If you want to, and you're used to reading a couple a month or one a week, then make yourself a goal to read as many as you know you can already handle.  For a challenge... add just five more.  

Share your goals!!  It helps to tell someone what you're up to.  It's a mental accountability!  Plus, your friend may want to make goals like you are and you can challenge each other, and even participate in the fun activities on your lists!

I hope 2013 is an excellent year for you!!  Good luck with your adventure in succeeding!!

Goodreads

Likely, if you're a book-lover, you have already discovered  Goodreads.  Goodreads is a type of social-networking site for book connoisseurs, which allows for recording your own virtual library, keeping a list of books you want to read in the future, and sharing discussions about books with people you know and people you'll meet on Good reads.

One way I utilize Goodreads is for book reviews.  Many times I'm wandering through a bookstore, or trying to find a new Audible book to read and am not sure if it's worth purchasing.  I have the Goodreads app on my phone, and a few clicks and I soon can read what others are saying about the book that I am considering.  It's been so helpful!

Need a book club?  Many book clubs are offered on the Goodreads site and they do not all require that you show up at a cafe and find a chair.  Many are virtual so you can be part of choosing the month's book, read the book and then join discussions online.  Great for those who want a club, but don't want the commitment of a night out.  If you are the 'night out' sort of person, there are clubs for you too!  Check out ones that are advertised in your area.

You'll find much more on this site that I have tempted you with here... I highly recommend you try it out!

Little Free Libraries!

This weekend my mom and I enjoyed finding a Little Free Library in our community.  Little Free Libraries are popping up all around the world (see Little Free Library).  We made sure to hop out of our vehicle and check out the treasures found within the tiny, almost bird-house-like box filled with 20 or so random books.  

An important part of the life of a Little Free Library is to be sure to give as well as take.  While we had no books with us as we passed, I have a few to take the next time I go by.  And I will... it's a delightful stop to make in life.  Free books to take and share.  Wonderful!

Book Crossing

While doing some research for books and writing, I came across the site for Book Crossing (www.bookcrossing.com).  Now, I am none too pleased with myself for only discovering this in the last while (I blogged about this earlier but here's a bit more about it).


This site is fun for book lovers for sure.  I signed up right away! If you aren't familiar with Book Crossing, the premise is very simple.  


1.  You can hunt for books left by Book Crosssing members,  
2.  If you find them, read them,
3.  Send them out into the wild again for someone else to read.


Basically, it's just hunt, find, and release.   The beauty of this concept is that there are members of Book Crossing all over the world.  You could be on vacation anywhere, check the Book Crossing site and determine where (if any) books are released in the area.  It's like geo-caching for book lovers!  Search and find today!!

Mini Libraries Sprout Out on Calgary Lawns

This is great!  A "Little Free Library"  Love it!!  If you are in the Calgary area.... please check it out!

CHECK OUT THE LINK HERE:  Mini libraries sprout on Calgary lawns

Books and Breakfast

Books and Breakfast. My husband (seen above) and I enjoy breakfast or a later brunch on weekends. In fact, this is one of our favorite activities. We connect, enjoy a leisurely meal, and are able to spend some quiet, down-time together. On ocassion, we take a long something to read. On these book-reding days, we enjoy extra coffee or a second latte as we flip pages and absorb words.

While we may be doing our own thing; finding our attention focused in our own book topic, we're spending time together, our feet or fingers always touching. I think this Saturday calls for another such event!! Oh yes.

And you, as a book lover, should schedule time too. A few great Calgary & area diners / cafe's that we suggest:

• AKA Wine Bar (Great brunch on weekends) - 709 Edmonton Trail NE, Calgary, Alberta
• Diner Delux - 804 Edmonton Trail NE, Calgary, Alberta
• Bumpy's Cafe - 1004 8 Street SW, Calgary, Alberta
• Heartland Cafe - 825 - 1st Avenue NE, Calgary Alberta
• Communitea - 1001 - 6 Avenue, Canmore, Alberta
• Galaxie Diner - 1413 - 11 Street SW, Calgary, Alberta
• Dairy Lane - 319 - 19 Street NW, Calgary, Alberta

Wherever you live... find somewhere that makes a freshly pulled espresso latte, or makes fresh, loose leaf tea; settle in with your spouse and read! Make a great day of it.

An unexpected blog attachment

Blogging about books is challenging when my cat, Chaz, wants attention and a nap on a lap.  She's a great lap warmer when book-reading, however!

Great Poster!

I found this on poster on Pinterest.  I looked up the original source and foud that this print can be ordered on Etsy; "Handmade by Agadart".  If you love it, like I do, order it!! Support an artist!

The 52nd Poem - by Thomas Trofimuk

A few years ago I walked downtown to the Stanley Milner library in Edmonton, Alberta.  I enjoyed the walk downtown as it was exercise with a mission; that being to return library books and find another (or more) to bring home.  On this particular February day, it was winter...mildly snowing and early afternoon.  I was in a particularly happy mood to start with, but as my library visit went on, the better my day unfolded.

After finding myself at the library and returning my books that day, I wandered around to look at the library's displays.  As many libraries do, tables with books with themes or a special focus are laid out for book-lovers to devour.   I love these types of tables because many times the library employees pull out books that you didn't even know would interest you, or that you even happened to stumble upon by yourself.  This happened on my trip to the library that snowy February.

Sometimes, taking a mid-day vacation day to enjoy favorite activites is worth its weight in gold.  I felt relaxed that day, the thought that maybe I would find something to pack along to a cafe, fall into a chair with a latte and read.  As I handled the books on the display (romance theme; February, of course) I picked up 'The 52nd Poem' by Thomas Trofimuk.  Thomas Trofimuk was a local Edmontonian.  The book had been written with romance at it's heart and with local neighborhoods and businesses noted without.  I became very interested, very fast in this book. 

I held it in my hand as part of the decision stage... I thought about the theme, the locality of author and setting, and during my thought process, found myself handling the cover, feeling the torn-edge style pages, and adoring the mountains pictured on the front.   Within only a couple moments I was checking the book out and tucking it into my book bag (fun book bags - a must!! More on that in another post).

With book, bagged and in tow, I wandered out into the snowy day.  I found myself wandering streets with a huge smile on my face. I wandered to a cafe I hadn't been in before.  I wanted a new experience.  I found myself in a 2nd Cup Cafe along Jasper Avenue.  One I had passed many times, but never entered as usually on days like this, I was working and not near this cafe.  On this day however, I puled over the door, found a cozy chair, bought a latte and settled into read, 'The 52nd Poem'.  From the beginning; hooked.

Now, a review of the book; not the point here.  Rather, the point of this blog post is to relate the joy of finding a book that delights you to your core, and that having the experience of that book being as memorable as the words on the page.  That day was a perfect book-reading day.  I do need to point out, that as soon as I finished th book, I went out and bought it.  It now lives on my bookcase as a very valuable member. 

I encourage you to read it.  part of the reason I loved the book was the hunt, the locality, the ambient cafe / vacation day and romantic, cozy snow.  The story is good, the romance tugged at my heart.  Give it a sample.... but be sure to find a great spot to sit, add your favorite drink to the table beside you and get lost for a few hours in a love story.

Year of the Dragon - Current Read

This year I am seeking activities and adventures that have to do with Dragons.  As this is the "Year of the Dragon" on the Chinese Astrological calendar, I thought this year it would be fun to study, investigate and experience the theme of the Dragon.  I started another blog, www.the-year-of.blogspot.com (also linked along the side-bard of this blog), where I am recording my adventures.  I invite you to check it out!!

This book, which is not only a very popular best seller and most recently a movie, has been on my bookcase, waiting to be read for quite some time.  In some ways, I am delighted to be startng it now, as the 'Dragon' part of the title makes it timely to read this year.  I have just started it.... excited to get into it soon!!

Book on a Dumpster

I noticed this book left on the side 'handles' of a dumpster while on my regular walking route.  Delightful.... Free book!!!  (or, germ infested disgusting tale of leave it alone and walk away).   I chose to look at this at a gift that somebody, instead of discarding to it's dumpster death, left it in the event it got a second life. 

As a note, didn't take it.  The topic didn't excite me.  But, as a point of interest, books regularly did pop up there from time-to-time and I did take one once; a biography of Queen Elizabeth. 

If you, like me, are excited about finding books, for free, around as a type of treasure hunt.  Please check out, www.bookcrossing.com

Excerpt from another Blog I wrote...

In the theme of my previous blog, this blog invites the delight of reading and the experience of loving books.  I wanted to share it here.  It came from my journal blog and am re-posting it because as I re-read it today, I was shivering again with joy about the bookstores I've visited.  Enjoy only after brewing something warm to sip...it's a chilly one in Calgary tonight!!


I find that I miss my page-ed friends when I am too busy to read, or when my other interests seem to take a priority. I find I begin to miss the smell, the feel of the paper, the weight of them in my hands. I miss the solace of finding myself walking through the pages – experiencing places I have never been (or will ever go), developing new ideas from a concept laid out in words, testing my theories and beliefs based on a new emerging view, or traipsing through an English mystery so strange, eccentric and frightening that it yearns for pots of Earl Grey Tea and Shortbread cookies to comfort me.


Delightfully, I am a cat-parent. There is nothing more charming than adding a warm, purring cat to nestle with you in your cozy den, blanket wraped around you as you wind your way through a juicy novel. Flick on a fireplace and get your spouse to make you a latte and, well… it’s an escape that I think could compete with a week on the beach to relax.


Bookstores themselves are intoxicating. I have spent many a day in Chapters, which I love. But I also find that second hand bookstores with their messy mazes of cluttered columns of tomes give a type of mysterious realm. I have been in some bookstores that were so strewn and unorganized that they were like being in another world. I’ve often read about bookstores and been so enraptured with the shelves and mazes of books that I’d wish to be there… and when I’ve stood in such a book store, am lured in a type of hypnotic state to wind around and around and around – looking for nothing in particular but to just experience the mess of words in leather and paperback covers.


One such bookstore in Winnipeg completely distracted me from reality. Two actually. One was organized and very eclectic; inviting couches that looked like they came from my grandma’s basement were tucked throughout. It was weird and wonderful and creepy. Another was just a fire hazard. But it appeared to have been there forever and it was so dusty, dirty and ugly that I was drawn like a moth to a flame. I couldn’t look away or peek in; I just had to be part of it. Incidentally, I bought books in both; two out of print books from my youth! Very exciting.


Last week I went through ‘Audrey’s Books’ in Edmonton as it was just down from my hotel. It was a neighbourhood bookstore for me when I lived in Edmonton and delightfully as a book member there I had a $21.00 credit. I took full advantage of that; spending two nights after work leisurely wandering the shelves – scanning for a treasure. I found a couple. Not sure if they’ll be good or not, but I had reason I wanted them, so for that moment; it was enough.


And treasure hunting is just another aspect. Just like the two out of print books I found in Winnipeg or the treasure hunt of finding ‘something’ that interested me to spend the $21.00 credit on, the hunt is part of the experience. Years ago I read a book that a friend referred to me called, ‘An Italian Affair’, by Laura Fraser. It was very fun to read. And I found a type of commonality with the author and loved her style of writing (second person). I decided that I needed to own the book, not just borrow it over and over from the library. There I began my search. I wandered into every second hand bookstore, the thought of that book on my mind.  I needed to seek my ‘holy grail’. It wasn’t a necessity, but it was a hunt. Two years ago I received a package, wrapped in thick, brown paper in the mail at Christmas – I opened it up and there it was… no sender identified. It was a mystery, which ensued for quite awhile. The whole thing was as exciting as many books I had read!! I found out later that a friend from the Yukon (whom I love dearly) knew of my quest and found it online, ordered it and sent it anonymously. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!


While on my quest one time, I found a book for a friend in Ottawa. I had been invited to go to visit him and we were going to spend time in Montreal. As a thank you, I wanted to get him something special for letting me crash and for taking me on an adventure. While on my quest for, ‘The Italian Affair’, I came across a very old, very banged up copy of a book called, ‘La Famille Plouffe’. Since this was a family name, I thought it an unbelievable find. I had zero idea what it was about, as it was in French. I presented it to him as a thank you gift and he was delighted. Books can be a great gift – especially when they are eerily personal. And how a book so perfect to a situation or time can eerily find their way into your life, without you even expecting it.


I often find this… I will have something going on in my head – life and I’ll come across a book that perfectly fits / speaks to where I’m at. It amazes me really. Like I’m being lead to a certain place in that bookstore at that precise time to find the answer. Some say it’s the ‘Universe’ leading you there. I like to just imagine it as a mystery – delightful happenstance.


I love poetry and art books. Books that have word pictures and actual pictures. I love biographies and mysteries and the occasional tear-jerker (occasional… many times I find these dramatic stories too hard to handle in a world that proclaims sad on every news channel and news paper). I love books about words and books. Oddly. I love cookbooks and historical reads. So vast my love of book genres that it is difficult to say I love only this type or that.


I love talking books to people. I love sharing what I’ve learned from books. Book clubs are especially fun. A friend invited me to one just today and I am anxiously considering it. I love that books seem to ignite discussion, “Oh, I just read the best book”, “Did you read….?”, “What books are you reading?”, “I just came across this great quote (idea, story).” It’s just delightful, really.


Books can be shared together. For example, I am reading a book to my husband, ‘The Know it All’. We’re slowly getting through it. We’re kinda into a few TV series (including Iron Chef, 24, and some British Commedies) so sometimes those seem to absorb our time more that the pages of the book. My mom and her best friend (before she passed away) used to go to the park, pack a picnic in a fancy cookie tin, and my mom’s friend would read to my mom. Then they would discuss it. A very personal / best friends only book club. My Friend and I, when she lived in Regina, would send each other books in the mail. We would always wrap them in brown paper, and my creative friend always included new coffee recipies on a card with instructions on where / when / how to read the book, “read from start to finish – no interruptions, have Kleenex on hand, make a vanilla latte”. She, of course, read the book first and wanted to share that joy with me. Then, after I read it, we discussed it. I remember reading, ‘The Notebook’, and after it was over and I had cried all my 8-glasses of daily water intake out my tear ducts, remember discussing the book with her and how she felt after she read it.

Even writing this blog note about books makes me wish I was speeding towards a comfortable chair and cracking open the pages where my latest bookmark (a photo of my husband gently and longingly kissing my cheek) marks my spot. I imagine the cup I would find to house a hot ‘Wonderful White’ tea (that I am QUITE into these days from Teopia), and of course, settling into my read after plucking the cat up from her dozing sleep to a spot beside me.  I shall do that when I get home. I shall, I shall, I shall.

The Reading Chair

BoOkS

Can I just say how much I adore books? I am excited to say that this week I am expecting an arrival of books from Amazon! Why Amazon? Well, sometimes it’s fun (in and of itself) to shop for books in different ways.

There is of course, shopping for books in Chapters or Indigo (or the like). Shopping in this way involves other fun experiences such as looking at unique gifts and sipping on a Starbucks latte. You can find a chair (sometimes) to sink into and skim read the book you think about purchasing. You can take your Tim with you and make it a date! It’s super fun to separate in the store; each with a latte in hand, and then arrange to meet up in 20 minutes to a half an hour to see what treasures each has unearthed. Some would say it’s a hoot! (points to self).You can enhance your book experience looking at journals, magazines, and music. It’s a good experience for sure.

Second-hand bookstores are a most charming way to shop! If you hit it just right, you can end up involved in more than just a bookstore. You may step into a piece of history like finding it tucked into an old, historic building; finding a long run bookstore which is family owned and been around for a century; or a bookstore that has it’s own famous character, entertaining world-renowned authors to visit for signings. Within second-hand bookstores you may find a resident cat or two. And that soft, purring charm is just so inviting to wanting the body to slow down and savor the experience. You may notice out of print books, books with inscriptions, books with torn covers, books with immaculate ones (that may have been owned but never read!). Finding a second-hand bookstore can be more of an experience than a single destination… for something happens after you’ve been in one; you end up wanting to find more. If you’re treasure hunting, second hand bookstores are the best way to do it.

That is… unless you find books at yard sales or garage sales. I have located some real gems tucked into plastic grocery store bags, handles hanging from a discarded exercise bike on the lawn of a neighbour. The $0.25 price is a steal for out of print books or something you’ve always wanted to read, but had never gotten around to it. $0.25 makes the ‘never got around to it’, happen; at least…getting into the house to the reading pile.

Books purchased while waiting have a different flavour altogether. Standing in lines at grocery stores (viewing the rack), a book found at an airport magazine shop, or one at the gas station in ‘out-of-the-way-somewhere’ when Tim buys gas… all have a uniqueness all their own. I can show you in my library which ones I bought where and what I felt when I bought it. One time I recall being at a bible camp (as a counsellor). The kids were driving me bonkers!!! I needed some alone time. We had to go get supplies so a few of us went to the lake store (those are so fun!) to pick up stuff for the group. While there I saw a rotating metal bookcase filled with paperbacks. For some reason, I just needed a mystery right then!! For $7.99, I brought back a slice of quiet repose. Once the kids had settled into watch a movie, I slipped off to a side room with a light and started my book. I read it off and on through the weekend (in the bathroom, once the kids had fallen asleep, and while we had those few alone times we were granted while the kids did their gratis (chores). De-light-ful!

Now these days I am also into searching for and purchasing books on my iphone / ipad. I have discovered that having a book around at all times, in my hand, is just more delight than I can say. I have read a number of books, in a short while, from my phone. There are always waiting times when you say, ‘ahhh, wish I would have brought a book!’. Well friends… I did. And I just click and read away. Doctor’s offices, restaurants, movie theatres, the dentist. And if Tim goes into the bank, or is gassing up the car… I can get a few pages done. Love it! I have a number of different apps on my phone for books and it’s fun to compare-shop for best prices. Also, sometimes the selection for different genres is better with one or the other. I have a number of tomes on the go!

There’s the borrowing of books too as a type of ‘shopping for books’. I have stumbled on some amazing books, fun books, interesting books, and even some remarkably horrible books in this way. I love looking at the suggested titles they have out. One time, in the spring/winter when I lived in Edmonton, the public library had a bunch of romance books out (maybe it was around February; not sure). Anyway, I came across one by an Edmonton author titled, ‘The 52nd Poem’. It intrigued me; guess I was in the mood for it… and I checked it out. I tucked it into my library bag and walked into a coffee shop. I sat there for much of the afternoon and devoured it like a piece of chocolate cake. Couldn’t get enough. In fact, it was so enjoyable; I bought the book the next week! The experience of stumbling across it, having a day to just read in a coffee shop, and it being a local author were all the exacting pieces of making that particular book, “buy worthy” (my term – sticks out tongue).

There’s a thing that the Calgary library does (for kids mostly) and to which I find most interesting. They have grab bags which contain books and often related materials like videos and audio. In some ways I wish I had a kid so that I could grab a bag and enjoy it as a full library experience. (reader note: I said some ways; which in fact is such a small measurement, it barely registers – this wasn’t a hint I wanted any children or are having any… make no inquiries please).

One thing I love to do to ‘shop’ at the library is see what other people are sitting behind and staring into. Okay, I do this a lot, everywhere. If I see someone’s face with a book over it, I take special note of the title and make sure to check it out (if it looks interesting to me) next time I am in a bookstore, online, or at the library. I must look ridiculous sometimes bending down or craning my neck to see the title when it’s skewed from my immediate view. I can’t help myself. I need to know what’s got their attention and why the book mark is half the way through… it must be good, so therefore I must want to read it.

Recommendations are a great way to shop for a book. Why just this week I got a book based on someone else’s love of it. I found that recommendation via a facebook status. But I’ve also had them come from chats during my book club, a candidate on the courses I was teaching, a friend, my mother, a lady in line for the checkout while I was shopping, a librarian, etc. Recommendations often send me running with my wallet to purchase the book. Tell me it’s good and it may end up on my bookcase. Be warned though, if it’s not good… I’ll always hold a grudge. (haha).

I shop for audio books on my phone as well. I love these too for a different sort of reason. I have a very long commute so it’s nice to have the option to listen to a story, get caught up on a current event, or do some self-help (like a therapist in the passenger seat!!). Tim is into this too and it’s fun for us to discuss what each other is reading…’er listening to. We’ve read a great many books this way.

But what started this whole diatribe was telling you I’ve got books from Amazon coming this week. And shopping online for books is a different sort of delightful. I love searching topics, then seeing what other people ‘bought’ and having the computer suggest what I might like based on what I put in my shopping cart. I enjoy coming across a gem by accident. I like the option of buying new, buying used, or adding something to a wish cart (not buying right now, just looking and remembering the next time you sign in). I like that I can share my wish list (like a gift registry). I like that the package arrives later… joy deferred (as I like to say; Tim will tell ‘ya).

This past week was stressful for a number of reasons. I worked very, very hard this past week… and still am. It’s month end, year end, quarterly end. At one point I think I had 7 reports due in a month. I think I still do… ahhhh. Anyway, I won’t get into all the details, suffice to say that I needed some quiet time to put my feet up, stretch my neck, wiggle my fingers and then type wishes into Amazon. Ohhh, I found some wonderful things! All while sitting in my flannel pj’s, the cold chill of winter outside and me al tucked in my cozy den to read.  I drank a few cups of coffee, arranged the sleeping cat around the keyboard as I typed, and every so often found something new for my shopping cart. Opening the box is going to be a happy time!

First Post of New Blog

It's Sunday night... I have settled into my 'cozy den', with it's soft light and excellent spot nearby to read.  Soon.  Blog first, read later.

This blog is not my first attempt at blogging.  In fact, I have a number of blogs; one since 2006.  This site, however, has a sole focus of books.  If you love to read, this site could, very possibly become your favorite (blatant, self-promotion).

My mother encouraged reading in our family as part of daily routine.  We started early, nibbling on Dr. Seuss and Richard Scary.  She read to us, and made us read on our own as a way to nurturing our love for reading, and our education in grammar.  My brother and I went different directions with our interests as we grew out of the children's section and I soon delved into pre-teen mysteries by Alfred Hitchcock, followed by the juicy Judy Blume books that scared me to death with their discussion of periods and life changes. Whatever the genre, I was hooked.  In fact, I was often scolded by my teachers for hiding books in my desk and pretending to listen to the instructor, while instead, devouring page up on page of library check-outs.

As an adult, I found more ways to enjoy reading.  Book clubs, and sites like Book Crossing (http://www.bookcrossing.com) and  smart phone apps like Goodreads had me adding adventure and social networking to my reading experience.  I felt like I could layer upon my enjoyment, heaps and heaps of book-related adventure.  And now I'm adding blogging to my passion.  Read and report!!  I will admit, that book reports in school were no task for me; rather they were one of my favorite to-do's.

It may take awhile for me to build this site up, but stick with me.  Settle into your own cozy den and find books to surround yourself with and read until there is content galore here to satisfy your reading tooth.  I promise to be as faithful as I can to this blog.

As a blog particpant, feel free to comment.  If you didn't love a book that I did, tell me why.  In the book club I attend, I often learn a great deal from others who liked or disliked a book, contrary to my own opinion.  The Road, which is a book I will be soon reviewing, was one such animal.  My opinion was grim, whereas another in my club was thoroughally engaged in the story and theme.  I learned a lot from him, about that book.

We will never, all, have the same opinion. And that's the beauty of books as a topic.  It creates dialogue, helps us to consider life and love and beauty in ways we may never have looked at before.  This journey is going to be a delight, isn't it?  I am excited about it.  (you can't see me, but I am smiling; a lot!)  Happy reading and reviewing!!