Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Biblioholism

I have mentioned before my craving for books. I can not read a book on the computer or - horrors - on an IPOD like some I know. I do not even like books on tape.

No, I am an old fashioned fuddy duddy with my books. I need to hold them, feel the weight of the words, feel and hear the paper as the pages turn. Watch the bookmark move from front to back.

Even if it means sneezing my way through a dusty old copy of Maugham's Of Human Bondage which I am doing now.

I just recently finished another go-round with Harry Potter, then fed my need for something new with the delightful The Tales of Beedle the Bard, made more delightful by the proceeds going to a children's charity.

Still lingering on my bedside table is Mark Twain's The Innocents Abroad, a laugh-out-loud inducing travelogue, once you hone in on Twain's sense of humor.

Also at the bedside is Philip Pullman's Count Karlstein, a world full of odd characters beautifully drawn with words.

We watched movie rendition of The Secret Life of Bees last night and I found it very well done. It made me want to re-read the book, but I'm afraid. On first reading, I found it such a perfectly written book, that I'm afraid some how a second look will break the spell.

So, any recommendations? What are you reading that is good?

Thor sez: I'm reading over your shoulder and I think I could get away from the Demon Huntsman*!
(*from Count Karlstein by Philip Pullman)

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I went to the library today. I picked up a random assortment of brain candy. Mostly quick reads, as the kids seem to have killed my patience for novels that drag, but I did find a John Irving I hadn't seen before. Purely for fun I have enjoyed Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series in the past and I picked up one to reread.

I'm currently reading the kids Beverly Cleary, out of sequence, but they don't seem to mind and even my husband enjoys Ramona. I appreciate that she uses a rich vocabulary, but still entrances my 5yo and makes him beg to take a turn reading a paragraph or two.

Pat said...

Yeah, I liked the Outlander series too, until I started getting bored with all the detail. Beverly Cleary's a terrific writer - I think I'll go hunt up Ramona to re-read.

So you really liked Beedle the Bard? I was thinking about reading it but resisted because it looked like a "kids" book...

JanetLee said...

Pat - I did like Beedle the Bard, even though it is a children's book, well the 'wizarding stories' are for children. The 'notes' by Dumbledore on each story, I found very amusing.

I've not read any of the Outlander series, maybe I'll check it next.

Anonymous said...

Pretty much anything John Jakes...and just finished the Notorious Mrs. Winston by Mary Mackey.Pam, South Bend

Marcheline said...

Dune, by Frank Herbert.

Loved Beedle the Bard - especially the notations by Albus Dumbledore!

Outlander series by Gabaldon is THE BEST FREAKIN THING EVER (next to Harry Potter of course)