7 posts tagged “books”

Haven't been online, boo bah, yadda yadda yadda. This will be fairly short as it seems in the week that I haven't managed to blog everyone one my bloglines has had a million things to say... I plan on going to bed in about 40 minutes but I don't expect to manage to get much read by then.

Work's been pretty good this week. We had a whole day meeting on Monday which was a nice ease into the working week. The rest of the week was pretty hectic culminating in my first thankfully non-major filling in of an incidence form (turns out violence happens outside of hospitals too). I've got another busy week this week, though am only now realising the stupidity of arranging to go on some observations in Malvern at 9am on Friday (means leaving about an hour earlier than normal). One of my colleagues has also recently got engaged so there've been some really nice off topic moments within the office.

Out of work I have mainly been sleeping, or wishing it was time to sleep already. I had assumed that by now I could just bounce straight back from a routine infection but it seems not. We've been a little busy this week as it's been Richard's birthday - he was playing a gig on the day so we went out the night before instead for a meal.

I read the last book I'd received for Christmas / Birthday so I'm now on the ones I received at a huge discount from Mango after they messed me about a lot. I can always be bought off with books. The one I'm reading at the moment is the new one by Kirsty Crawford, "The Secret Lives Of Husbands". I read her first novel and felt all of the way through that there was something missing... I have to say that I'm feeling the same about this, though I can't put my finger on what the problem is.

I've been away for a while, no exotic trip to blame though sadly. I've spent the last week at home ill and unable to go to work which has been sad. Yup I'm still sad enough to get excited on a Sunday because it means tomorrow I can go to work. I'm well enough to go back tomorrow though, so I'm happy once more.

I haven't really done anything of note, so I thought I'd just pop by and update about my reading challenge. Thank you to everyone who has recommended a book (or books) - there are some brilliant books on my list already :-D In answer to one question that was asked, I don't mind fiction or non-fiction. I tend to read mainly fiction, but the whole point of this is to expand the range of what I read.

Please keep the recommendations coming!

P.S. Yes Keris I definitely would like to borrow 'Dirty Sugar Cookies'. I don't mind sending it on to Diane, or Diane having it first. Whichever is easiest!

I've decided (in a moment of madness I'm sure) that this year I'm going to broaden my literary horizons. Why? Well to be honest I haven't a clue, I just thought it would be an interesting thing to do. Also I was inspired by Keris' 52 Book Project, and I felt that if I was going to keep subsidising the library then it would be nice for it to have a purpose.

So how can you help? Well I'm asking everyone to recommend a book that they think I should read. I promise that I will read them before Big Ben strikes the beginning of 2008. I'm open to whatever you lot want to throw at me, so get recommending.

Thank you!

I heard Billy Joel's "She's Always A Woman" last night on the radio. I seem to remember a couple dancing to it on one of the TV dance shows, but I haven't got a clue who the couple were, what programme it was, or even what dance it was other than it was something ballroom. Can anyone fill in any of the gaps? (Toni I think I'm pretty much relying on you here!!)

I've not got much to say about the weekend as it's stood - nothing's really happened. There was that heart stopping moment when Angel scored an own goal and Villa could potentially have lost their unbeaten run, but thanks to our marvellous captain Barry we came away with a point.

I got a bag full of books back from my uncle. I lent them to him after he had his hip replacement operation last November. I was quite excited to find a number of books I haven't read (it had been so long that I had forgotten what was in it) - many of them from the pile I got from dad's workmate (boring story - I'll skip it). I'm just reading my last library book at the moment and then I'm going to collect together the books I now own that are unread. It seems I'm going to spend the next month or so up to my eyes in crime thrillers and fictional serial killers - well it makes a change from back to back chick lit I guess, but at least I have the new-old Penny Vincenzi to throw in the mix.

What's your favorite thing to shop for? 
Submitted by JadedButterfly.

Absolutely without a doubt, books. Even having little or no money for the last few months hasn't hampered me - I've just had to restrict my purchasing to Tesco and WH Smith's book of the week! I have been known to disappear into a Waterstones and re-emerge hours later with a relatively small number of books bought but a whole heap added to my mental 'to read' list. I love the way that many Waterstones have taken over fab old buildings (The main one in Brum used to be a bank) and so you have a shop with stained glass and high ceilings and sweeping staircases full of books on every subject!

I went to the library yesterday. I came back with a huge bruise on my foot (you'd think I'd learn about dropping books on my foot after last time) and a bag full of books. Incidentally anyone who got the free 'summer' bag from New Woman a few months back - just the right size for a dozen books! Beats an old carrier after all.

Last night I started reading 'Working Wonders' by Jenny Colgan. I know a lot of people aren't that fussed by her books, but I really enjoy them. They're very light and funny, and this one is no exception. I think though I'm finding it funnier because of where its set. The main story follows a team trying to win City of Culture status for their city... Coventry! Which is funny in itself but to me funnier still as my opinion of Coventry has been marred by my allegiance to Birmingham on a city level, and Villa on a footballing level. Add to this the fact that they're competing with Slough (having just spent the last 5 years in Reading) and some genuinely amusing moments and I spent a couple of hours with my hand stuffed in my mouth to stop me laughing out loud and waking my parents!

I feel like I should be doing something today, but I'm not inspired as yet. I have to spend some time working on a project that must remain unnamed (its a surprise for someone) and I have to spend some time with my head in a textbook. The problem is that now I have a car I just want to go places!

EDIT: This is hilarious!!

Here goes, the QotDs that I wished I'd answered!

What's the nerdiest thing about you?

I spend a long time thinking of how to answer this question. Like many of the people who answered this before me there are a number of possible answers. I think however the nerdiest must be my obsession with a couple of tv shows, 'Buffy' and 'Dawsons Creek'. I have watched them repeatedly, own more tie in books than I care to admit, give precious bookcase space to guides (both official and unofficial) and need to only see a brief snippet of an episode to know which one it is (always name, often number).

What books are on your nightstand?

Whilst on holiday I read 'If You Could See Me Now' by Cecelia Ahern (much singing), 'Mercy' by Jodi Picoult, 'The Learning Curve' by Melissa Nathan, 'The Devils Feather' by Minette Walters and 'Mortal Causes' by Ian Rankin. I'd be hard pushed to choose a favourite, but I can say I was disappointed in the new Minette Walters. I can't tell you exactly what was wrong, there just seemed to be something missing.

Coming up I have the first 5 books Nicholas Sparks has written (decided it was about time I read his stuff), and 'Tuesdays Child' by Louise Bagshawe (£1 from a great shop in Hay-on-Wye). I should be getting a bag of books back from my uncle fairly soon, I can't remember exactly what's in it, some good crime / thriller writing though I think.

What is your browser's default home page set to?

I'm going to have to agree with everyone who said 'Google' - how boring and practical. I also have the toolbar and find myself confused when I use a computer that doesn't have it!

What's your favorite way to keep in touch? Phone, snail mail, email, text message, Vox, _____ ?

With very few exceptions snail mail. I know its an old fashioned thing now, but I love to write letters and cards and to receive them. I hate the fact that everything's mechanised - whilst I was at uni some of my best pick-me-up moments were when I received a letter from someone, an email just isn't the same.

What is your favourite way to relieve stress?

It depends on the cause. Knitting is a great stress buster, but sometimes going for a drive does the job even better - just getting away for a few minutes. I also find singing good - different things for different reasons. I should bang on about the values of relaxation exercises (stress affects the voice) but I've taken that hat off for now!

What is your favourite children's movie?

This is a really difficult question to answer. I at least enjoyed virtually all of the Disney movies, and have loved all of the computer animated ones we've been inundated with over the last few years. I've also recently loved watching the Princess Diaries films, but I think my favourite children's movie has to be 'Mary Poppins'.

What's your favorite song to sing karaoke-style?  If you don't have one, why not?

Finally we come to today's question. I don't think I can say I have a favourite, I've sung karaoke willingly on one occasion and unwillingly on another. I've watched other people do karaoke plenty over the last few years that's enough for me!