Book It

So, I've wanted to join a book club FOREVER, but my being out of school for so long, paired with the large amount of books I already have sitting on my shelf (some of them still waiting to be opened after 5+ years), has prevented me from doing so.

Are any of you in a book club?  What would you recommend for the someone like me who is craving bookish socialization, but who also likes to follow her own reading agenda?

If this one has like a "beginner level," I think I could get into it  -- I think I've even brought it up before... 

http://www.lkwdpl.org/bookclubs/knitlit.htm

Anybody out there in Lakewood who wants to do this with me (pending, of course, that my work schedule can be rearranged on Tuesdays)?

Lemme know!  :)

Read It Again!

The most reliable demand of my childhood.  "Read it again, Mom!...Again, Dad!"  Whenever I picked up a book, you could bet that I'd be reading it again in an hour...a day...a week...and so on as I grew.

One of my best girlfriends from gradeschool once asked me why I was rereading something.  She hardly ever reread books. But the books I read were The Animorphs.  She read Jane Eyre, and The Lord of the Rings, and who knows what other giant novels.  And let's face it, giant novels are daunting.  The thought of rereading them, even your favorites, can be discouraging.  I remember reading in one of the Baby-sitters Club books that Kristy's grandmother rereads Gone with the Wind once every year.  I read Gone with the Wind and it took me a year to get through.  But ever since I read that Baby-sitters Club book (damn you, Ann M. Martin for writing so well for an audience like me), I wanted to have a book like that.  One I loved so much that I could reread it once a year and never be sick of it.

Sure, I have Charlotte's Web and The Outsiders...but not since I became an adult have I found a rereadable book that fits the once-a-year must-read criteria.  And in truth, my thirst for new reads surpassed my yearning for old favorites around the time I turned 15.

So what do you do when you dream of the perfect book?  I need recommendations stat.  What are your rereadables?  How do I get back in the swing of it? Halp!

Share Stuff...Monday?!

(Title links to A Journey Journal of Sorts' most recent post on romantic beach reads -- I found the entry quite charming, so I'm sharing it with you today!)

Speaking of love affairs, I spent the majority of my weekend reading, and it was FABULOUS.  It was so stickily hot and stormy outside...the perfect weather for curling up in a camping chair on the porch with a great book, letting the warm, dry breezes sweep over you.  Too hot to do anything but relax and delve into a good story. A date with words.


And really, just like a whiff of someone's cologne can cause a fond tug on your heartstrings, there are certain times of day, or there is certain weather, or certain lighting, that bring to the surface a real craving for time with a good book.  Then, just like you'd be completely wrapped up in a relationship, those times of day, or that weather, or that lighting can prompt you to get just as lost between the pages of your latest summer fling -- I mean, read.

For me, my nostalgic rendezvous with reading is usually inspired by two scenarios, the first being very specific: Mid- to late-afternoon on a day that's been hot and sunny, but that's also had the building anticipation of a huge downpour.  The sky is a clear, deep blue, but the white puffy clouds that have been gathering all day have increasingly violet underbellies.  You can just feel the moisture in the air, and there's nothing better than looking up from your book to watch the storm roll in, release the rain, and roll back out.

The second is on first waking up to the light outside your window -- a bright, sunny morning.  It can be early morning or late morning.  And you know that all you want to do right then, before you shower or anything, is to pick up your book right where you left off the night before.  To open the blinds a little, maybe even the window if it's a sweet, breezy day, let the sunlight be your lamp and just get lost for an hour or two.  It's like being able to choose a great dream.  Snuggling under the covers and smelling the air blowing through your window screen.  Now that is pure romance.

What turns you on?

A New Month, a New Look

Hello!

Hope you like the new layout.  I'm pretty pleased with the new templates and advanced design capabilities from Blogger in Draft.

I chose the new loose leaf look before I even realized April is National Card and Letter Writing Month.  I was just thinking how appropriate it looks: If I'd been writing reviews of books back when I was a kid, I would have done it in a notebook or journal.  I've always been very comfortable writing on ruled paper.  But, since it is National Card and Letter Writing Month, I'll take the design in that direction tonight and make this post a letter to you, my lovely readers.

Little Women is going well; I have only 300 pages left.  I'm hoping to be finished with it by mid-April, but depending on my work schedule, it may take me until the end of the month.  I don't want to give too much away for my review, but so far it's been very pleasant reading.  I'm fast approaching the part where I quit reading the first time, though, and I'm hoping that won't happen to me again on the second go-around.  I suppose we'll see soon enough.

Right now I'm sort of organizing more post ideas.  The spring and summer are my favorite times of the year for reading, I think, as they probably are for most people.  Something about being outside in the sun with a good book is just so relaxing for me.  It gets me out of the bathroom, anyway. ;)  I like that I can fully appreciate the laziness of summer while educating myself and keeping my mind busy at the same time.  That is called two birds with one stone.  Consider me a proponent.

Anyway, hope your April has been going as well as mine so far.  I just wanted to check in with you and see how y'all are doing.  Come back soon!

Love,
Amelia

Books in the Bathroom: An Exercise in Sociology (Or Psychology. Some kind of -ology.)

*WARNING: A more delicate reader may feel slightly nauseated by the end of this post.*

We all remember the Seinfeld episode "The Bookstore."  Jerry, George and Kramer are browsing in Brentano's when George announces, "I'm gonna hit the head."  While Kramer and Jerry continue their conversation about rickshaws, the camera lights on George: he selects a large book of French Impressionist paintings from a shelf, and carries it with him into the men's room.  In a subsequent scene, George emerges from the restroom and begins to place the book back on the shelf, but before he can do so, he is confronted by a Brentano's employee: "Did you take that book with you into the bathroom?"  George blinks a few times before responding, "What do you want to hear?"  He ends up having to purchase the book, which costs him $100...and that, we find out later in the show, Brentano's has permanently "flagged" so it can't be returned or donated.  "How dare they?" George asks Jerry later at Monk's.  "I got news for you.  If it wasn't for the toilet, there would be no books."

I find this storyline hilarious and intriguing at the same time.  Why are people so polarized when it comes to books in the bathroom?  Being a bathroom-reader myself (I decided I am finally over the stigma -- and oh yes, there is a stigma), of course I don't see the problem.  So in this respect, I am like George.  At the same time, I know there are people out there who do have a problem with books in the bathroom.  Refer back to "The Bookstore."  In the middle of the episode, we see George trying to sell his flagged book of paintings to Elaine (at a $25 profit).  Jerry walks in, sees the book, and exclaims, "What is that doing on the table?...I'm not eating anything in the vicinity of that book...That book has been on a wild ride.  George took it into the bathroom..."  Upon hearing this, Elaine loses it.  "All right!  Everyone clear!" she shouts as she stands up to exit, raising her arms.  "Biohazard, coming through!  Clear, clear!"  This display brings George to ask Jerry, "May I ask, what do you read in the bathroom?"  Jerry answers, "I don't read in the bathroom."  George retorts, "Well, aren't you something."

So it's clear that people's opinions differ drastically on the subject.  And while the Seinfeld episode is an excellent reflection of the feelings we see surrounding this issue, I decided to to see if I couldn't figure out first-hand what really drives the emotions behind the situation.  Of course, I am not so over the stigma that I surveyed complete strangers, so these results are probably overwhelmingly biased.  However, they are all anonymous, and so that should be good enough, right?  I'm about as good at social science as I am at math.   And speaking of math, this sentence is going to serve as my disclaimer on percentages.

Bear with me.  Here come the results.

• There are more people who read in the bathroom than don't.
• Those who read in the bathroom do so: to pass the time; to continue reading something interesting; because it goes well with a bubble bath; because it is one of the few places/times where they can feel peaceful and secluded; because it is easier to concentrate on reading; because they do it out of habit; and to distract themselves from what they're really doing in the bathroom.
• Those who do not read in the bathroom do so: because it is not comfortable; because they have pets who follow them in that are better at entertaining them; because they are not in the bathroom long enough to read; and because the reading material they find in the bathroom usually does not interest them.
• Those who read books in the bathroom also like to read other materials in the bathroom, ranging from magazines and comics to toothpaste tubes and lotions.
• 50% of those polled who do not read books in the bathroom will read other materials if they are available in their own bathrooms -- every person included in that 50% mentioned bath & body products as "preferred" reading materials.
• 100% of those polled who read books in the bathroom like to read in general.
• 90% of those polled who do not read books in the bathroom like to read in general.
• Of those that read books in the bathroom, most are more comfortable reading indoors (on a couch or a bed, and in a bus station, car, or airport were the most popular answers).
• Of those that do not read books in the bathroom, most are more comfortable reading outdoors (on a blanket, at the beach or pool, in the sun, on a balcony, at a park).  The second most popular reading location for those who do not read books in the bathroom was in bed.
• I found that the size of a person's bathroom is not a factor in their tendency to read books in the bathroom.  Most everyone surveyed described their bathroom as "tiny," "small," or "not big."
• I found that approximate daily bathroom time (used for activities like showering, readying for work, etc.) is less for those who do read books in the bathroom -- between 15-30 minutes.
• I found that approximate daily bathroom time (used for activities like showering, readying for work, etc.) is more for those who do not read books in the bathroom -- between 30 minutes - 2 hours.
• I found that most of the people who do read books in the bathroom are either indifferent or do not care for the way their bathroom is decorated.
• I found that most of the people who do not read books in the bathroom are either indifferent or are happy with the way their bathroom is decorated.
• Of the people who do read books in the bathroom, 70% consider their bathroom a sanctuary.  30% consider it a place to get things done.
• Of the people who do not read books in the bathroom, 10% consider their bathroom a sanctuary.  90% consider it a place to get things done.
• Of the people who do read books in the bathroom, 70% currently do not take baths.  90% would read in the bath if (or when) they bathed.
• Of the people who do not read books in the bathroom, 80% do not take baths.  0% read in the bath. [COMMENTARY: there were a few respondents who said they listened to their iPod in the bath because they were afraid of getting a book's pages wet.  But aren't iPods harder to replace if they get wet?  Books dry out.  Electronics just get ruined.]
• Of the people who read books in the bathroom, 90% prefer to meander through life when it's possible (excluding work).  10% prefer to keep schedules.
• Of the people who do not read books in the bathroom, 80% prefer to work with schedules, even for the occasional weekend plans.  However, for free time (or "me-time"), 40% prefer to meander.
• I found that favorite colors/colors people are more attracted to do not have any bearing on the tendency to read in the bathroom.  Most everyone surveyed listed blue, green, red, and purple as their favorite colors.
• I found that lighting in the bathroom has no bearing on whether or not people read in the bathroom.  Even those with poor lighting read in the bathroom. 90% of people who do not read in the bathroom have good lighting.
• 80% of those who do read books in the bathroom would not choose to watch movies or watch TV in the bathroom over reading.
• 40% of those who do not read books in the bathroom would choose to watch movies or TV in the bathroom over reading.  33% prefer movies/TV over books, 33% do not prefer movies/TV over books, and 33% are on the fence.  I still don't exactly understand what happened to the remaining 1%, even after the B/F explained it to me.
• Of those who read books in the bathroom, 100% will read while they eat.
• Of those who do not read books in the bathroom, 50% will read while they eat.
• Of those who read books in the bathroom, 100% are likely to read materials in other people's bathrooms.
• Of those who do not read books in the bathroom, 10% are likely to read materials in other people's bathrooms.
• The people who do not read books in the bathroom say about those who read in the bathroom: don't take too long if I need to use the space; it's acceptable to read in the bathroom; don't leave books in the bathroom; reading on the toilet is gross; reading in the bath is acceptable.
• The people who read books in the bathroom say about themselves: it doesn't come up in conversation; close family know I do it; I hide my bathroom reading from non-family members; I do not hide my bathroom reading from non-family members.
• Everyone surveyed has a friend or friends that read books in the bathroom.
• 50% of people who do not read books in the bathroom buy their own books rather than borrow from the library.
• 50% of people who do read books in the bathroom prefer to buy their own books rather than borrow from the library.  
• 50% of people who do read books in the bathroom read their library books in the bathroom.
• 50% of people who do read books in the bathroom have been late for things because they were reading in the bathroom.
• 0% of people who do not read books in the bathroom have been late for things because they were reading.  50% of people who do not read books in the bathroom have been late for things because of other bathroom activities (fixing hair was the number one reason mentioned).
• 0% of those who do not read books in the bathroom think they will ever start reading books in the bathroom.
• 100% of those who do read books in the bathroom believe they started reading in the bathroom at an early age (7-8 years old; as long as I can remember; 10 years old).

Lots of results.  Lots of miscalculated percentages, but they are probably close enough.  So if you can take it, here is what I learned:

I thought it was interesting that favorite colors weren't more reflective of personal decision/action regarding this issue.  That was my most psychological question.  I was more pleased with the results of the timetables question.  It seems that those who do not read in the bathroom were quicker to say that though they like to meander during their free time, they do prefer some planning, even when out with friends.  I was thinking the results would actually work out that way.

The most surprising result by far was that people who like to read in the bathroom seem to prefer to read indoors in general; and that those who do not read in the bathroom prefer to read outdoors.  That was a stark contrast I was not expecting.

Another surprising result for me was the amount of time people spend in the bathroom for other reasons.  It seems like those who read in the bathroom get their "bathroom time" in that way.  Those who do not read in the bathroom utilize their "bathroom time" in other ways (such as getting ready for work).  I am making an educated guess that both exercises are relaxing, but in different ways.  For those who read in the bathroom, the reading is what relaxes them.  For those who don't, they spend more time fixing their hair, doing makeup, showering...things that are necessary to their daily routine (schedules), but things that are also relaxing in their own way.  Brushing teeth and hair can feel nice.  Showering can definitely be relaxing.  Putting on makeup can become an escape because of the concentration you have to put into it.  Verrrry interesting, folks.

And I bet you'll all think twice now before borrowing a library book.  Although I will say 50% is less than I expected for that category.

So what do you think?  Are you a Jerry or a George?  Were there any results that surprised you?  Where will all this new-found knowledge take you next?

I don't know about you, but I'm headed to the bathroom.

Library Lovers' Month Has Officially Begun!

I really wanted to write a good post for today, all about libraries and how much I value them and what they bring to our communities.  I was even going to entertain you all with the story of whomever invented the first library, but it turns out that no one on the Internet definitively knows who that was.  You type in "Who invented the library?" on Google, and you know what turns up?  Who invented the toothbrush, who invented radio, and who invented the automobile.  Type in "Who invented the library system" and you get two results on cell phones and about 5 on the Dewey Decimal system, which is closer, but not what I was looking for.

Honestly, I am not really feeling the writing vibe today anyway.  Even what I'm writing now is frustrating me to no end. 

What I should point out is that libraries always have a lot of cool activities going on, so you should look up your local branch and see what you can do to appropriately celebrate Library Lovers' Month.  Most libraries' web sites will have a calendar of events, and then it's all fair game from there.  Here is Lakewood's:

http://www.lkwdpl.org/calendar/

Like on February 16th apparently there is a meeting of the Knit and Lit Book Club.  How do I join that club?  And do I have to know how to knit anything besides a scarf?  These are things I should research during Library Lovers' Month.

And since I cannot think of a way to end this post either, or even find a relevant library video on YouTube, tell me...what do you love about libraries? How do you plan on celebrating this month?

Book Guilt

"I love paperback too, except when I borrow it from a friend. Seems it always comes to me in pristine condition, especially from one fastidious friend, and I just KNOW it's going to be looking dogeared and disheveled when I give it back! Book guilt. Perhaps the best kind."

Does anyone else suffer from the seemingly incurable Book Guilt?  The above quote is actually a comment from not undecided, left on my very first blog post here at the 1kDEP.  I've been meaning to write about this for some time, because I feel it is a fairly universal experience.

I've mentioned before my history of book sabotage.  Stains, wrinkles, tears, even corners nibbled away by my guinea pig.  A book that falls into my lap is doomed from the beginning.  No matter how careful I am, a book I read will never remain in the same condition in which it starts. (This applies even to hardcovers.  I don't know how many book jackets I've lost.)

My college roommate, who is self-diagnosed with the same condition, softens the reality of the situation by saying she "makes love" to her books.  I am less subtle.  If she makes love to them, then I fuck them hardcore.  She got me this journal for Christmas a few years back, attractively titled Wreck This Journal.  I think it was meant for readers like me to take all their rage out on this one book, and quit bullying the others in their collection.  Great idea -- that book is a mess.  But I still can't stop ruining everything else I read.

Now, my own books I have no problem screwing up.  I carry them everywhere because I love them.  They become like my security blanket.  They are mine, I bought them, I adore them, and if I ever read them again, I can look at those stains or those pig nibbles and remember how great it was to read the book the first time through.  The wounds to the pages are like badges of honor.

However.  As a consequence of my habitual display of affection, I become that much more terrified to even touch the books belonging to other people.  It really is like being in a relationship.  A sick sick relationship.  Imagine I'd dated the B/F for so long, it gave me a weird feeling to even shake the hand of some other guy.  That's how I am with books.  I know how to treat my own, I know what they can take, and what their limits are.  But other people's books are so foreign.  I don't know how to handle them, so I avoid handling them at all.  Plus what if I came across some of their book stains?  It's like walking in on them.  It's weird.  And so whenever someone asks me if I'd like to borrow their copy of Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, or Ariel, or Beaches, I immediately shy away, waving my hand, saying, "Oh, no, that's ok.  I'll just ruin it."  What makes it worse is that they never believe me.  People who own books love to let other people borrow them.  But they have no idea what I'm capable of.

Thus, Book Guilt.  Months ago, I finally built up some courage and borrowed a book from not undecided, which she'd recommended to me via Shelfari -- The Secret Life of Bees.  Turns out she'd actually borrowed it from her sister.  Double whammy.  The book was already pretty well worn, but I handled it with my kiddiest of kid gloves anyway, and made sure to worry the entire time I was reading it.  Don't forget this isn't yours.  You have to give this back to somebody.  This has to look good.  I don't think I ever put my whole palm on that book the entire time I was reading it.  Fingertips only.  But you know what?  I got it back to her sister in relatively the same condition in which it'd been lent to me.  That was the first time that ever happened to me.

So maybe you can overcome the book guilt after all.  I smell a New Year's resolution.

Twitterature

My mind has been on Twitter a lot lately.  One hundred and forty characters (INCLUDING SPACES!!!).  Retweeting.  SMS.  Hashtags.  Trending topics.  Followers.  For all the simplicity of Twitter, it's sometimes exhausting to think about.  I don't 'tweet' as often as some.  I don't always like being bombarded with status updates, and I don't like bombarding other people.  If I want to receive a constant stream of information, I will call someone, or make plans to meet in person.  I like to think I'm old-fashioned.

This is not to say I don't appreciate Twitter.  I love hearing what my SIL is up to all the way down in Dayton at 3 pm on a Tuesday, and I love the @FakeAPStylebook guidelines my good friend from college retweets on occasion.  I even enjoy following (haha) the latest headlines -- that's when I really appreciate the 140-character limit.

More and more, I am understanding the doors Twitter has opened for the lines of communication, and the standards it is setting for the future.  Major companies all over the U. S. (if not the world) are using Twitter for networking purposes.  Friends and family are using it to keep in touch.  Remember when email got big?  We were all overwhelmed by the idea of a delivery system that was so fast-paced and impersonal.  But here is why I believe that Twitter is so revolutionary: not only is it breaking new ground in the way we communicate, it's keeping us comfortable at the same time.

Unlike some other social media sites, Twitter's technology is simple -- each user gets a profile and their own page to fill up with tweets.  On this page you can also see tweets from those you want to stay in touch with, or follow.  You can choose your own level of involvement: you can send and receive tweets on your cell phone, BlackBerry, or just stick to the web if that's what makes you happy.  And Twitter is faster than even sending an email; businesses, and regular people like me, value that.  I may be old-fashioned, but I'm not ashamed to admit that I'd prefer writing a 2-sentence update every day, rather than wracking my memory to churn out an extensive letter every month.  The best part is, Twitter has that personal feel to it.  The people you follow are familiar to you -- from your closest relatives to your coworkers. Or they are companies or organizations of major interest to you.  And because the beauty of Twitter updates is in their brevity, it's easy to want to stay connected.  There's no doubt about it, I do feel a special bond with all of my other Tweeters.  It's like we're in our own little club, even though I know millions of people all have members only jackets just like mine.  But I'll admit it.  I do love Twitter.

But then I worry.

Have you seen this book called Twitterature?  Written by two college students, Alexander Aciman and Emmett Rensin, the premise of this book is "The World's Greatest Books in Twenty Tweets or Less."  When I first heard this concept, I thought it was genius.  The approach sounds hilarious, in that "Oh, man, I've got to see what this is about" sort of way.  I mean, that is some love of literature, to have learned it so well that you could condense it that much...And then I see the Editorial Reviews on Amazon:

"Do you hear that? It's the sound of Shakespeare, rolling over in his grave."
--The Wall Street Journal

"Twitterature makes me want to punch someone, preferably the 'authors'. They're in Chicago. I'm gonna take a road trip..."
--@damig, Twitter

"JUst f*#%&ng shoot me now..."
--Mike C, grouchyconservativepundits.com

Yeah.  And after seeing a fellow Shelfari user point out that "unfortunately the writers have chosen to poke fun at the novels they're condensing, in addition to...well, condensing them. Most of the jokes fall embarrassingly flat..."  I guess I'm not so convinced anymore that the explosion of inspiration I imagined Twitter providing will actually transfer seamlessly to a physical paper page.

I find it curious how people need to take a communication tool and inject it into every other related mechanism that's been out there previously.  Twitter is a useful tool, but I don't believe it can be molded to the expectations we have set for books.  That's not what it was intended for.  I can argue that Twitter is an expansion of literature, which I thought was where Aciman and Rensin were heading with Twitterature.  Literature was formed, I assume, for communication -- to present ideas.  I just think we should be careful when thinking about using new technology to enhance the tried and true.  I must admit, it was fun to imagine the marriage of Twitter and a book.  But now that I've had a chance to ponder, I realize it's like incest.  You can't marry the son to the mother anymore.  You end up with a child who can't even read, and then I won't have anything to blog about.  Do people push books and Twitter together because deep down they fear the change?  Or are they trying too hard to make the new technology even more accessible?  It's a whole new world out there, and that is scary.  But you know what's nice about it?  It's the only one where we'll still able to stand in two places at once.

Share Stuff Saturday: Math is Important

I was just reading through yesterday's edition of Five Star Friday, and happened across this blog post from Centre of the Universe - The Dreaming.  It breaks down the cost of publishing a book (in Canada).  Just in case any of you (and by "any of you" I mean "me") forgot what it takes to make it in this industry, here's some interesting reading that should jog your memory.  I am definitely never going to complain about retail prices ever again...at least, not in Canada.  I also learned that publishers are pushing more and more for their printers to use "greener" paper stock -- but of course, this insistence to do the world good is still coming at its explosively high price, since a lot of printers don't keep this stock on the floor.  How Catch-22 of everything.  Anyway.  Enjoy.

http://www.cenobyte.ca/words/2009/12/math-lesson-about-books.html

Books for the Holidays

I started doing my Christmas shopping last weekend, but it was nearly impossible because I don't have anyone's list yet (yes, the family goes by lists, we take all the fun out of everything, blah, blah, blah.  I tend to end my list with "And lots of surprises!"...just to mix it up a little).

Anyway, I stumbled across this web site called Buy Books for the Holidays a few weeks ago, and I wanted to share it with you, as we'll all soon be struggling to claw ourselves out from the hellish pit more popularly known as the holiday shopping season. I think the concept of buying people books for the holidays is pretty cool, for two reasons: A) it will relieve me from the humdrum, mindless shopping fueled by THE CHRISTMAS LIST; and B) who doesn't like "lots of surprises"?  Everyone's list should end with lots of surprises.  The web site is really cool, giving new gift ideas every week, which are often organized by age group or trend.  The site also features some great bookish charities, reminding us that giving, the biggest hallmark of the season, extends beyond the close circle of family and friends.

I think what I like most about this idea is that it actually forces you to really think about the person you're buying for.  Books are very personal, very intimate items.  It's very hard for one person to comprehend another's taste.  I feel like even if the person you're buying for has been your best friend since you were three years old, you still have a pretty good chance of f*ing it up.  That's why I always asked for gift cards to Borders or Barnes & Noble.  Not even Santa Claus knew what I liked to read...and he knew it all.

I'll bet it's because books are our great escape.  We read when we want to get away from the world we're in...or to draw us closer to a part we don't yet know much about.  Even when we read a book for the familiarity of its topic we're escaping, in a sense, because we're withdrawing deeper into a part of ourselves.  To make things more complicated, our fantasy destination is always changing.  For instance: sometimes I'll be in the mood for a lighthearted YA novel, sometimes I'll be in the mood for symbolic literature, sometimes I'll be in the mood for girly chick lit...sometimes I'll just feel like learning something.  And sometimes -- not often -- I'll even feel like reading nothing but the funnies.  Hell, yesterday all I felt like doing was finishing a crossword puzzle.  That's the kind of book I needed.  That's the kind of escape I was craving.

So how do you buy books for someone, when your theories on what they will and will not enjoy have a 96.8% chance of blowing up in your astonished but good-intentioned face?

Here's how I plan to do it:

1. Don't think too much.  Let the ideas come naturally; let them spark in your mind.  (I'm convincing myself this provision is necessary, despite how worrisome it makes me...the Dec. 25th deadline and all.)
2. Take a lot of time to browse.  Plan a day if you have to.  You won't know what to buy if you don't know what's out there.
3. Don't set limits, especially on things like "year published."  Some of the best books I've ever read were at least 5 years off the presses.  This does not mean throw all caution to the wind.  For example, if you're going to buy a history book or a book about science, pay attention.  Some genres will be best read if the information is up-to-date.
4. Know what you like to read, but don't use your preferences as a defense for buying the same book for someone else.  You and your friends or family may have similar interests when it comes to reading, but you may not enjoy the same authors.  I feel that the holidays are not a time to be making recommendations, because I often get the impression that recommendations are just another way of saying, "Hey, I love this book.  Everyone else should also love this book.  Here, read this book, because I love it."
5. Look through old journals or old photo albums, watch old videos.  It may jog your memory and give you an idea by reminding you about the person you love...and what they love.
   
6. Pay attention.  Take a real interest in your conversations with the giftee and see if you can't transform it into a book.  If your Secret Santa loves knitting, there's a sweet-looking murder mystery series out that has knitting as a central theme.  Could be by Maggie Sefton?  I can't remember.  Anyway, get creative.  Just because she likes knitting doesn't mean you have to buy her a how-to book.
   

And that's all I got!  I know the list makes it look like I've done this a million times and really have my shit together, but I am just as lost as you.

But it's fun to get lost among books, isn't it?

Classically Challenged

It has recently been preying on my mind that I am not very familiar with "the classics," especially the ones written by popular female writers.  You know -- the books that are categorized as the novels "Every Girl Should Read."  They seem to be popping up everywhere, in the most peculiar forms.  From Pride and Prejudice and Zombies to the movie I just rented, The Jane Austen Book Club (cute, in that chick-flick, straight to TBS sort of way), "the classics" are pervading my every thought lately when it comes to books.  I tried reading Sense and Sensibility and Wuthering Heights when I was in gradeschool, but couldn't wade my way through.  Now that almost a decade has passed since then, I've decided it's high time I get around to reading these beautiful works by their beautiful authors.  In high school, our substitute AP English teacher told us we'd never make it through college without reading Jane Eyre.  Well, I made it.  Or did I?  No wonder Wide Sargasso Sea never made any sense.

Anyway, that's what I'd like to find out.  Did I really make it, having skipped these so-called "life-changers"?

Next on my list of books to read: A Classic.