What's on your Nightstand?

What's on Your Nightstand.

I have always been a library user, but I also have a huge book collection with a huge TBR pile sitting around, so usually, I have a book I own on my actual nightstand, but this week, I went to the library and checked out some books, so I decided to showcase these for this blog post.
The titles are pretty much random choosings from the shelves of the library. Last night after dinner, I was trying to get a new picture for my blog header, and just happened to take a picture of some of my library books... (notice I did not use this as my header. I used the birds at my kitchen window birdfeeder instead ).

So, does anyone see any good titles there in my library pile? Anything I should definitely read before returning them to the library? I have a bad habit of doing that...I'll check out 10 books and read one.... and I don't want to let a great read escape me, so if you see something I shouldn't pass up, let me know.

These aren't exactly on my nightstand, but rather, in the closet....of what used to be my son's room (he's married now and expecting twins in June). It's my "children's library". Now it will be my Grandchildren's library. (I'm expecting a 3rd grandbaby this year too, from my oldest son and his wife) Right now it's just a messy closet. ( I was thinking maybe I could get a good picture for a header out of it, but no.... )
I am lucky to have friends and family who have children who like to read, so, while it might be messy, they love to go up there with me looking for a book to borrow and find a whole lot of treasures while browsing.


Those are my nightstands for this month.
You can check out other posts here.

Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesdays

I'm joining in on a new (for me) weekly meme, "Teaser Tuesdays".

Here is what you do...
Grab your current read
Let the book fall open to a random page
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Be sure not to give a spoiler!! (very important)

The book I'm currently reading is "Birds of a Feather" by Jacqueline Winspear. The sequel to "Maisie Dobbs" and here is my teaser..
page 213

She closed the door behind Maisie and led her to the drawing room, where a teapot and two cups were set on a tray with some biscuits.
Maisie took a seat on the settee and once again removed her gloves. Despite extra clothing she still felt the cold, in her hands as much as in her feet.

If you want to check out all the "teasers" for good suggestions on what to read, check out the blog Should Be Reading.

Musing Mondays

The question for "Musing Mondays" this week is:

How many bookstores do you frequent? Do you have a favourite? If so, which one and what makes it so?


We live in a very rural community in Northern Nevada. We don't have a bookstore. We have a Wal-mart. And 2 grocery stores.
Having said that, I do have to say we are not an illiterate community... we have a effective and much used library system and I am in 4...COUNT 'EM.....4 bookclubs.

Sadly, I do engage in quite a bit of "on-line" shopping. (not so good for the city tax base, but when I want a book, I want it NOW )

When we go into Reno, I don't leave without visiting Barnes and Noble or Borders.
I love them. I've had to get over my guilt about visiting the "Big Chains" of bookstores. They are big, they have a lot of books, and they are convenient for me. As is Amazon.

But when I go home to visit my mom in Washington state, there is an independent bookstore called "The Bookworm". ( I don't see where they have a website )
I LOVE THAT STORE, it is my absolute favorite. I've been going to the Bookworm (used and new books) since I was first married, 31 years ago. It has grown and changed location a few times....but it can never hide from me, I always find it.
I just love it. I don't know what makes it my favorite. Well, it has a rack of "staff recommended" that I always purchase something from. It used to have a rack like that in every "theme" room of the store. Way back when I was first married I used to read a lot of romance, (have since given it up because how can anyone compare to the man I married. LOL ) and I liked having recommedations for romance. And all ther other genres as my reading tastes grew and changed.

When I go to Portland, Oregon to visit my friend, I have to make a stop at Powell's Bookstore. I'm sure you've heard of Powell's. The Original. I could spend a week in that store.
When we went up last May for a wedding, I spent a whole afternoon there. I had tucked $100 bill inside my wallet for just that purpose. I went over!! Which isn't hard to do, but since they were 95% used books, I got a ton...sacks and sacks of them.

Those are the bookstores I frequent, when I can.

If you want to play along with Musing Mondays, check out Rebecca's blog here.

books and all that jazz

I can't keep apologizing for being away so long, can I? Must I?

I belong to a book club here in our little town, "The Literary Guild". It's been here forever...I am in the youngest group of ladies who belong. I will be 50 this summer.
It is a luncheon meeting, and we don't all read the same book, but someone signs up to give a "book talk" during the lunch. We all listen attentively, our faces rapt with attention. I am sure way back in the beginning they all wore hats and gloves.
There is no doubt in my mind. I feel guilty when I show up in my jeans. (even with a nice jacket)

One of the things or services we do...actually it's the only one we do....is give a dictionary to every 3rd grader in our county. We all donate money towards that and pass them out in the fall with our name inside "The Literary Guild".
The teaches will have their students write thank you notes and just last week at our literary luncheon we read them.

Ya gotta love 3rd graders.
These are some of the lines...

"Dear Literary Clud..."

"Hello. I live in Nevada. Do you live in Brazil?"

"PS: my favorite part is the L's"

yep, ya gotta love the "L's". hahahaa... they are such cute letters. The ones from the 3rd graders, not the "L's"
**********

Next week, my two other book groups meet...the ones where we do read the same book and discuss. Usually they don't' meet the same week, but this month they do, and for some reason, I am hosting both of them.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society on Wednesday, and
The Lace Reader on Thursday.

I liked both books, but I LOVED Guernsey. Just loved it. I've read it two times. It was that good. Usually I don't reread a book, because I have so many still in my TBR pile.
Exceptions are "Jany Eyre" and "Little Women" and "Seventeenth Summer" (first read in my 8th grade year) and "Mrs. Mike" (also first read in my 8th grad year).
Oh...and "The Godfather" (surprisingly, also in my 8th grade year. My parents had no idea)

Interesting... I went from "Seventeenth Summer" where she kissed a boy on the 3rd date and didn't want us, the readers,to get the wrong impression of her... to "the Godfather" where Sonny Corleone taught me about adultery and oral sex, not that I understood any of that, but funny how the two had the biggest impression on me. I wonder.......

Booking Through Thursday...Storing my books

Today's Booking Thru Thursday question is:

“How do you arrange your books on your shelves? Is it by author, by genre, or you just put it where it falls on?”

It is 5:00 a.m. I want so badly to go take pictures of all my bookshelves, book baskets, book closets and book hiding places. But...it's 5:00 a.m.
I have a husband asleep in one room and a son asleep in another.
And well, I would probably be embarrassed to actually see in pictures how many books I have.
In the Library Thing, I have cataloged over 400 books. I never finished that project and I have bought more since then. And that didn't include my "children's" book collection (which I would say is close to 200) or my cookbooks collection ( you can check that out here ), which is just over 200.

I must state right here, that my house isn't as unorganized as it sounds. And anyway there is a whole decorating style that tells how and encourages us to decorate with books.
Check out this book: House Beautiful's Decorating with books. In the book .....
Hueston encourages readers to keep books "stacked on an ottoman, piled on the floor, lined up on a bench, or ... draped over a ladder," in addition to keeping books "confined to shelves and tabletops."


Hooray for me!!! Because...um no, my books are not arranged nicely by author or genre on a bookshelf. I try, but for the most part, no.

And just last night, I asked my husband if he could build us some bookshelves. I want one whole wall in our bedroom.....floor to ceiling...as our headboard.
He just rolled his eyes at me.

It is 5:30 a.m. now, and I'm off to Reno and the bookstore. Have a good day everybody!

A fun question

Jen at Jen's book Thoughts
had a question on her post the other day....Saturday, I think it was,
but it was such a fun question for me to comment on!

You'll need to read her post to get the whole story, but to make it short and sweet, she asked, "If you were wrongly accused of a crime, what fictional sleuth would you hire to clear your name?"

I wrote a hurried comment to her this morning before going off to work. But seriously....I could ponder stuff like this for hours. Sometimes even days. (I am taking the Beatles class...remember? ), so I gave the short answer.

YOU think about it and then comment on it. Over at Jen's blog. Because it was her question.
But leave me an clue as to your answer...okay? A comment letting me know you answered her.

Oh...and my answer?
Here it is as seen on Jen's comment page. :~)

I stopped at "A" for Alibi also, but probably not for the same reasons as you did. (It wasn't my favorite, but I just had so many more in my TBR pile. I might read another one in the future )

This is a fun question!! Although I've discovered that I lean towards the cozy mysteries. (if that's the correct word)
What sleuth would I hire to clear my name?
The trouble with "cozies" is that there is rarely a sleuth for hire...they are mostly homemakers, librarians, bookstore owners who come upon murders. All the time.
Stephanie Plumb? no, she's a bail bondsman.
Deborah Knott? no, she's a judge.

I need to change gears...
Peter Decker? He's a police detective...I can't hire him.
Okay... I would hire Tess Monaghan! She would be my choice.

So now it's your turn! Go to Jen's page and comment. (and let me know what you said)

Musing Mondays

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about book reviews…
Do you read any non-blogging book reviews? If so, where (newspaper, library etc)? Do you have any favourites sources you'd like to share?

I don't read many, but I do read a few. Most of the non-blogging book reviews I read are to get a feel for what's new and good in Children's literature. I used to be a Children's Librarian in a school library, and have worked in public libraries and I have a deep love for Children's literature.

I try to keep up with the Horn Book

and the School Library Journal

Other than that, I read the Sunday section of our newspaper, which spotlights popular authors and books.

Mostly now, I use blogs to get suggestions for good books and book club choices.