Booking Through Thursday - Ideal Reading Spot

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This week's question...

I want you to think about your ideal reading experience. Think about the location. (Your bed? Favorite chair? The beach? Indoors or outdoors?). Think about the sounds. (Is there music playing? Happy children playing in the background? Utter silence?) Is there a snack or beverage nearby? Are you alone or with friends/family (presumably being quiet enough for you to read in peace)? What kind of lighting is there? Are you dressed in something ultra-comfy? What’s your position? Curled up? Stretched out?

Now … describe it so that we can all feel exactly how perfect it is … and why.

My answer...

Mmmm...interesting question...

First, I like to read inside. There are less distractions. Plus, I hate bugs and end up spending more time brushing them aside than reading. I prefer to be lying in bed, alone with no music or anything in the background. I need total quiet so I can be totally transported into the pages of the book. I don't eat while I read, but a cold beverage nearby is good (if it's winter then a hot beverage). I'd be wearing something comfy either sweats or a nightshirt. Sometimes with a cat lying by my side.

One thing I should be doing - shutting down my computer. As long as it's on, I easily can be led astray, stop reading and go online. Have to stop that.

So, how about you?

Booking Through Thursday - Other Hobbies

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This week's question...

What’s your favorite hobby OTHER THAN reading?

My answer...

Yes, I love watching movies and TV...is that a hobby? It takes time from my reading so I'm going to say yes :) Also, blogging and doing computer stuff online.

I also like to collect things like Barbies, I Love Lucy stuff, cat stuff and teddy bears.

Now, if I just had time to do everything I like.

Booking Through Thursday - Sports

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This week's question...

1. Do you read books about sports?
2. How about AT sporting events? (Kid’s soccer practice?)

My answer...

I love baseball and the Yankees, so I will read books about them, if they interest me. I do love reading sports romances - I prefer baseball romances, but I will read other sports too - football, hockey, basketball, etc. I'm familiar with all those sports even if they aren't favorites of mine.

As for reading at sporting events, the only time I go to sporting events is to see a Yankee game and I get too caught up in the game to even want to try and read. I don't have children so going to kid's sports practices aren't an issue for me. I probably wouldn't read there anyway because there would be too many distractions.

Booking Through Thursday - Moods

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This week's question...

Does your current mood affect your reading? Affect your choices? I know there are plenty of books I enjoy, but only if Im in a particular kind of mood–or books that can lift me out of a bad mood without fail. Surely I’m ot alone?

My answer...

Definitely! I'm a very moody reader :) There have been times I'd start a book, but couldn't get into it so I'd put it aside. I'd go back to it a few months later and it ends up being a 5 star read for me. Sometimes it's all about the frame of mind for me.

Booking Through Thursday - Current Events

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This week's question...


One of those quick, easy questions that I ask periodically because the answer is always changing:

What are you reading right now? (And, is it good? Would you recommend it? How did you choose it?)

My answer...

I'm reading



I just started reading it, so I can't recommend it right now. I'm only 24% through it on my Kindle. So far, it's a good story but you can't really tell much so early in the book. It's a novella, so it's pretty short. I'm reading it for a review.

Booking Through Thursday - Love

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This week's question...

Not the kind of “love” question you’re expecting for Valentine’s Day. No, what I want to know is:

What do you love most about reading?

My answer...

I like this question - it's not your typical, "What is your favorite romance book?" This is a little different and I'm looking forward to reading everyone's answers.

Here's my answer...I mostly read fiction. I like to escape out of my own world and go somewhere else. I want to be absorbed into a story, whether it's realistic or not. It gives me a few hours to forget about my own troubles, relax and concentrate on something else. I think we all need some kind of outlet to get away from "real life" whether it's reading, knitting, crocheting, watching TV, movies, etc. etc. etc.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE!!!!!

Booking Through Thursday - Influence

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This week's question...

Do other people influence what you choose to read? When a family member recommends something, or a friend says they hated a book you were planning to read … does it affect your reading choices?

My answer...

If it sounds like a book I'd like, I would add it to my wishlist but I wouldn't stop whatever I'm reading to read it. With reviews and blog tours, I don't often get to recommended books for awhile. However, I definitely add them to my list.

If they say they hate a book I'm planning to read, it doesn't effect my reading. I'll still read it. (Actually, I'm more likely to read a book that people are bashing just to see what the fuss is. LOL)

Reading is a very subjective thing - what's the saying? "One man's trash is another's treasure" or something like that. One person might love a book, while I hate it or vice versa. So, no, it will not stop me from reading something if it's on my list.

Booking Through Thursday - On Loan

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This week's question...

Do you lend your books? Are any out on loan right now? Do you have any that have been loaned to you? Do you put a time limit on these? Do you think people should make an effort to read the loaned book quickly?

My Answer...

No, I don't lend books.

Years ago when I lent a book, I never got it back. Or I would get it back in bad condition. Yes, I do think people should make an effort to read the loaned book quickly. I feel if you borrow something from anyone, you should do your best to return the item in a timely manner whether it's a book or anything else. (And return it in the same condition you borrowed it!)

Booking Through Thursday - Winter

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This week's question...

It’s the depth of winter here where I live right now … what books do you like to read when it’s snowy and white? What books do you read to evoke a real feeling of winter (good or bad)?

My answer...

I like to read books set in whatever season I happen to be in at that time. Around Thanksgiving/Christmas - I like to read books with those themes (usually a cozy or romance). During October, I like to read spooky/paranormal type books because of Halloween. During the winter, I like to read books that are set around storms - usually snow. Although I've learned that, in real life, there's nothing romantic about a blizzard. LOL

All that being said, since I began reviewing, this hasn't worked out at all for me. I think I only read two holiday books between Thanksgiving and Christmas (and one was for a review). Before I was reviewing, I would read primarily holiday books from Thanksgiving through January (or until I got bored of them).

OTOH, when the weather is cold or stormy here, it's not a terrible thing to read a book set in a warm climate. For a few hours I feel like I'm getting away from the dreary winter.

What do you prefer?

Booking Through Thursday - Gifts

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This week's question...

Do you like to give books as gifts?


My answer...

No. I don't really have anyone who reads the way I do and, even if I did, I wouldn't give them a book. I would give them a gift card to choose their own book. The only type of book gift I would be is if it was maybe a coffee table book or something special. Otherwise, I don't know what someone may have read or has no interest in.

A few times I've been given books that weren't my genre at all and were...well...too boring for me to even try. LOL Then then giver would keep asking if I read it and how I liked it, etc. Or I've been given books I already have or read. I'd rather get a gift card and choose my own books.

Booking Through Thursday - Reading Resolutions

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This week's question...

Any reading resolutions for the new year? Reading more? (Reading less?) Reading better books? Bigger books? More series? More relaxing books?

And hey, feel free to talk about any other resolutions you might have, too … or why you choose NOT to have any.

My answer...

I don't call them resolutions anymore. I call them goals. I rarely ever stick to resolutions but somehow calling them goals seems more doable.

I already posted my reading goals earlier in the week, but my main one is to do less reviews and read more books for my own enjoyment. I'm not making any goals about the types of books - better, bigger, etc. I do plan to do better with challenges this year, which is why I joined fewer of them - still I joined alot but not nearly as many as I've done in the past. I figure this way it might be more manageable. With all those challenges in previous years, I tended to lose track of them. One other goal is to read at least 100 books (whether they are for reviews or just because I want to read them). I tried for that this year but fell short.

As for personal goals, my only one is to make more time for my own writing and complete a manuscript or at least get a good portion of it done.

That's it...what about you?

Booking Through Thursday - Contemplation

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This week's question...

So … you’ve just finished reading a book. For the sake of the discussion, we’ll say it was everything a book should be—engaging, entertaining, interesting, thought-provoking. The kind you want to gush over. The question is—do you immediately move on to your next book? Or do you take time to contemplate this writerly masterpiece and all its associated thoughts/emotions/ideas for a while first?

My answer...

Unfortunately, these days, I have no time for contemplation. No sooner do I finish reading a book then I have a review or tour scheduled and I have to get started reading the next one.

Even before I started reviewing, I don't think I actually savored a book before going to the next one. I think I always went to the next one. I found the problem was if I read a really great book, then went to the next one - I couldn't get into the next book right away. No matter how good it is, it was never able to measure up to the first one that I read and loved. Yet, I still never gave myself much time between books.

How about you?

Booking Through Thursday - Records

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This week's question...

Do you keep a list of the books you’ve read? How? In a journal? Through one of the online services? If so, WHY? To keep good records for future reference? To make sure you don’t accidentally reread? If not, why not? Too eager to move on to the next book? Too lazy? Never thought to bother?

My answer...

Yes, I've done it for years way before I was ever online. I keep track for two reasons - one is to make sure if I've already read something (you know how sometimes you'll start reading something and suddenly realize you already read it? This way, I'd know for sure.) and the other is to see how many books I've read in a year. I always liked to have an idea. Also, I give them my own personal ratings so I can keep track of authors, genres, specific books that I've liked or hated in the past. It helps me know what to stay away from or maybe even to look for.

How do I keep track? I have a notebook that I hand write everything I read in. I've kept this for years. I just write the titles, authors, date read and give it my own rating. I used to keep a database in Excel which was almost like a bible for me, but that got corrupted before I could save it and it was too much work to restore. I figured I would be better off spending that time on reading and not fixing a database. I do keep track on my blog, Shelfari and Goodreads too. I think Goodreads is probably my most accurate online service. I don't always update my Shelfari.

So, how about you?

Booking through Thursday -

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This week's question...

Do you bring the book(s) you’re reading with you when you go out? How?
Physically, or in an e-reader of some kind? Have your habits in this
regard changed? (I know I carried books with me more when I was in
school than I do now–I can’t read while I’m driving to work, after
all.)

My answer...

Yes, I always carry books. Depending on my current read - if it's on my Kindle or Nook, I'll take that with me. If it's a print book, I'll take that. I've always carried my current read with me - I figure I never know when I'll be waiting for something and have some time to kill. It doesn't happen often, but I like to be prepared :)

Booking through Thursday - Current Read

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This week's question...

Quick–what are you reading right now? (Other than this question on
this website, of course.) Would you recommend it? What’s it about?

My answer...

 

I know I've been reading this since last week, but I've been reading slowly the past couple of weeks.  It has nothing to do with the books I'm reading, it's about lack of reading time :(

However, this is a wonderful Southern cozy mystery.  The main character is Reagan and she's going through a messy divorce with her ex leaving her with nothing.  She has to sell her beloved designer clothes to make ends meet and ends up opening a consignment shop.  Of course every cozy mystery has to have a dead body and Reagan finds one in her ex's car.  This book will be released on October 2nd and I'll have a much better review of it (along with a giveaway.

It's a fun book and hopefully I can relax over the weekend and finish it.  Relaxing time is never easy to find, is it?

Booking Through Thursday - Talking About Reading

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This week's question...

Do you like to talk about what you read? Do you have somebody to talk WITH?
(Because not everybody does. I haven’t had someone to really chat about a book with since college.)

My answer...

I talk to people online, but not that much. I don't usually get into any indepth conversations about books. As for at home, nobody reads like I do so I just go onto the next book.


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Booking Through Thursday - Picking and Choosing

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This week's question...

A while ago, I interviewed my readers for a change, and my final question was, “What question have I NOT asked at BTT that you’d love me to ask?” I got some great responses and will be picking out some of the questions from time to time to ask the rest of you. Like now.

Two questions about selecting your books.

Pooch asks:

Overall, what factor most influences your choice of your next read?

Sefcug asks:

What is it that makes you want to read a book by an author you have never read before?

My answers...


Lately, the big factor in my deciding what to read is based on what's next that needs to be reviewed or what's the next blog tour scheduled. I'm hoping to eventually catch up and - if/when I do - I usually choose my next book based on my moods. I'm a moody reader. So, it's been a bit difficult with my reading schedule lately.

As for what makes me want to read a book by an "unknown-to-me" author...mainly it's the story, but also recommendations by fellow bloggers. If I run into a review that sounds interesting, I'll try it out.

Booking Through Thursday - Reading

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This week's question...


A while ago, I interviewed my readers for a change, and my final question was, “What question have I NOT asked at BTT that you’d love me to ask?” I got some great responses and will be picking out some of the questions from time to time to ask the rest of you. Like now.

Two questions about your reading habits that just seem to go together.

GigiAnn asks:

Do you have a favorite season of the year that you read more? (Example: during snow storms, rainy weather, or sunny and warm weather) Sorry, that was the best I could come up with.

Lisa asks:

Where is your favorite place to read? On the beach? Inside/outside?

My answer...

I don't really have a season when I read more. I do read more when I'm on vacation, but the weather doesn't really effect how much I read. Although sometimes I will choose my books based on the weather. It sometimes seems strange to read a book set in a snow storm when it's 100 degrees outside. LOL But...most of the time it doesn't really matter.

My favorite place to read is inside. I get too easily distracted when I'm outside trying to read.

How about you?

Booking Through Thursday-Series or Stand-alone?

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This week's question...

A while ago, I interviewed my readers for a change, and my final question was, “What question have I NOT asked at BTT that you’d love me to ask?” I got some great responses and will be picking out some of the questions from time to time to ask the rest of you. Like now.

Vampira2468 asks:

Series or Stand-alone?

My answer...

I don't really have a favorite. If the stories are good, I'll read either a series book or a stand-alone. I do love series books though. I think that's why I love the cozy mysteries so much. Generally, they are a series of books with the same characters in the same location. With each book you see a growth in the characters and it's like re-visiting old friends. But...I like any book with a good story - series or stand-alone it doesn't matter.


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Booking Through Thursday - Periodically

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This week's question...

So other than books … what periodicals do you read? Magazines? Newspapers? Newsletters? Journals?

Do you subscribe? Or do you buy them on the newsstand when they look interesting?

My answer...

The only magazine I subscribe regularly to is Romantic Times so I can see what books are coming up in the near future and make my shopping list. Other than that, I just read things online when I see them.


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