• Home
  • About Me
  • 5* Elements
  • 2019 Reading Challenges
    • Other Reading Challenges
    • 2013 Reading Challenges
    • 2014 Reading Challenges
    • 2015 Reading Challenges
    • 2016 Reading Challenges
    • 2017 Reading Challenges
    • 2018 Reading Challenges
  • My Bookish Lists
    • My Classics Club List
    • Reading the Newberys
    • Reading My Own Books
Smiling Shelves

Armchair BEA Friday

5/30/2014

12 Comments

 
Picture

Topic of Choice - Reading Off My Own Shelves vs. Library Books

I am a load-up-at-used-book-sales kind of book buyer. I don't often buy brand new books, and if I do, I use a gift card. And I very rarely pay full price for them. So suffice it to say that I own a lot of books. Many of them are spontaneously bought books - ones that I had never heard of before but looked as if I could be interested in reading them someday. And they only cost a quarter, so why wouldn't I pick them up?

On top of that bad habit, I love library books. There's just something about entering a huge building full of free books that I can't resist. There's nothing wrong with loving libraries. But when I am constantly filling my own bookshelves, but hardly ever reading anything from them? That's not so good.

So I entered the Mount TBR Reading Challenge this year, hoping to read 36 books that I own. It doesn't sound like a lot, but it's a plenty high goal for me. I'm not quite two-thirds of the way through, and I'm discovering something strange. Rather than feeling "forced" to read off my own shelves, I want to. I'm avoiding libraries. I like the feeling of accomplishment I get when a book on my shelf is no longer unloved. I'm sure I'll finish my reading challenge this year. But more importantly, I may have found a solution for my overflowing yet neglected bookshelves. I'll just keep chipping away, one book at a time.

Middle Grade/Young Adult Books

I love middle grade books. I teach fourth grade, so I'm kept fairly in the loop about what is popular in middle grade fiction. Right now (at least for the boys in my class), it's the Origami Yoda books. And while I haven't read any of these myself, I love the concept. Origami and Star Wars and puns galore! I also love introducing my students to some classics during our daily read-aloud time. We start in September with The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden, and the kids still remember Chester and Tucker by the end of the school year. We read our way through The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary and enter the crazy world of Louis Sachar's Sideways Stories from Wayside School. I love hearing their reactions to the funny and serious moments. These characters are real and living to them. There are some stories that never get old, no matter how many times you read them.
12 Comments

Armchair BEA Thursday

5/29/2014

12 Comments

 
Picture

Beyond the Borders

I'm one of many readers out there, I'm sure, who don't do very well with reading as diversely as we should. I read a lot of books about Europe, but those cultures are not hugely different from mine, as an American. Last year, however, I read a book by a Chinese author that opened my eyes to how ignorant I was about China. The book was called The Mao Case by Qiu Xiaolong, and the only reason I picked it up at the library was because the author's name started with an X, and I needed that to complete my A-Z Challenge. I have to admit I didn't like the book very much, but that was only because it was in the crime genre, and that's one of my least favorite genres. It did, however, stir in me an interest in Chinese culture and history that I didn't know I had before. I haven't done much to act on that interest yet, but I am certain that the interest isn't going anywhere and will be satisfied and grow eventually.
12 Comments

Armchair BEA Wednesday

5/28/2014

12 Comments

 
Picture

Expanding Blogging Horizons

Since I've been blogging for less than a year, I still feel like I'm new to this whole venture. I've got to get a better handle on the blogging part before I can expand my horizons too far. Next on my list, though, is the social networking part of the blogging world. I'd like to start a Facebook page for my blog. And I know that Twitter is huge, so that should probably come next. It's kind of overwhelming, though. The few Twitter chats I've read have been pretty confusing. I can only imagine that participating will be more so - and yet incredibly fun at the same time!

Novellas/Short Stories

Honestly, short stories has never been a genre that I've had much love for. But like with anything else book-related, I know that can change if I just find the right book! I'll be on the hunt today for recommendations. I'm sure I'll find some good ones!
12 Comments

Armchair BEA Tuesday

5/27/2014

18 Comments

 
Picture

Author Interaction

I've never really been to a big author event (partly because I live in the middle of nowhere). So I don't have a lot of experience with this. And as a rather shy person, I'm not entirely sure what I would do when and if the opportunity presents itself. I definitely have some authors I would love to meet someday. Hopefully I'll get the chance. I'm looking forward to reading everyone else's tips and experiences to help me out!

More Than Just Words

I have only just recently entered the world of audiobooks. About two months ago, I started running. I needed something to listen to, so naturally I turned to audiobooks. They are also a great help in getting through weeding the garden! I've only listened to a few, and it seems to me that the narrator can make or break the experience of the book. I just listened to a Librivox recording of Kilmeny of the Orchard by L.M. Montgomery. Because it was read by volunteers, nearly every chapter switched narrators. I liked some better than others, and it was incredibly distracting to suddenly have a new voice telling the story. I also like it when the author of the book narrates the audiobook. Such was the case with My Lucky Life In & Out of Show Business by Dick van Dyke. How fun to have a memoir told by the person who lived it all! What better way is there to experience such a book?
18 Comments

Armchair BEA Monday - Introduction

5/26/2014

12 Comments

 
Picture

Introduction

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging? Where in the world are you blogging from? 
   My name is Julie, and I blog from the great state of Michigan where it is finally spring. (Actually, today it's quite summery.) I discovered the world of book blogging about a year and a half ago. I can't believe there was a time in my life when I didn't know about this community of book lovers! I started blogging almost a year ago (June 9 will be my first blogoversary), and I am enjoying it immensely.
2. What was your favorite book read last year? What’s your favorite book so far this year? 
    My favorite adult book that I read last year was Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan. If you haven't read it yet, do so as soon as possible! My favorite kids' book was Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein. It's like Willy Wonka with books! My favorite book so far this year was The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. This was the third book we read for my fledgling book club, and it was so much more than I expected. I love when books surprise me like that!
3. What does your favorite/ideal reading space look like?
    Depends on the season. Right now, a blanket in the sun is the perfect spot to read. In the winter, I love cuddling up in my chair in my own library. Of course, I have to fight the cats for the right to sit in the chair because it's also their favorite place to be.
Picture
4. Share your favorite book or reading related quote.      
     I love bookish quotes, but here's my absolute favorite: "The love of learning, the sequestered nooks, And all the sweet serenity of books." (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow) I discovered that quote in college, and I have plans to put it on the wall of my library.
5. If you were stranded on a deserted island, what 3 books would you bring? Why?
     Three books? All I get is three books? That's tough. The Bible would be number one, of course. That's really all I need to get me through. I would want all of Jane Austen's books, but I suppose I can narrow it down to Northanger Abbey (my current favorite of hers). I've got to bring something by Jasper Fforde to make me laugh, so I'd bring the first book in the Thursday Next series, The Eyre Affair.
12 Comments

Saturday Snapshot - Hot Air Balloons!

5/24/2014

9 Comments

 
My husband and I went out for dinner last night, and stumbled upon a hot air balloon festival. What a great surprise! We saw several hot air balloons launch. Then when it got dark, 13 of the balloons gathered in the field and had a "glow." People could walk around right by the balloons and talk to the pilots. It was an awesome and unexpected evening!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Saturday Snapshot is hosted by West Metro Mommy.
9 Comments

The Daughter of Time [Review]

5/22/2014

3 Comments

 
Picture
The Daughter of Time is really not an indicative title at all. It talks neither about daughters, nor time. Instead it’s a book about Richard III. You know, the king of England who’s notorious for killing his two nephews (those darling Princes in the Tower) in order to secure his throne. The book’s purpose is to clear Richard’s name, something which, I must say, the author does quite successfully. I’ve been fascinated by Richard III since reading Shakespeare’s play in college. I’ve even visited the Richard III Museum in York, England. The curators of the museum try to do exactly what Tey tried to do: clear poor Richard’s sullied name.

The book is set up as a mystery. It’s the fifth book in a series about Inspector Alan Grant. Except the famed inspector spends the entire book in a hospital room, recovering from an injury received at the end of the last book in the series (I’m guessing at that last bit, but it seems logical). In order to keep himself amused, he tackles the mystery surrounding King Richard III. It’s a short book, but an impressive one. An awful lot of research must have gone into the writing of it. But I think the most impressive thing is how intriguing a book it was. I kept reading eagerly to the very end – even though it’s a detective book in which the detective never leaves his room. You’ve got to be an awfully good writer to make that setup work. Josephine Tey definitely does.

If you’re looking for some real history that’s easy to read (although the family trees are incredibly confusing), try The Daughter of Time. And decide for yourself – was Richard III guilty or innocent?

Picture
Learning
Plot

3 Comments

The Cello Suites [Review]

5/20/2014

4 Comments

 
Picture
This book reminded me how much I love classical music, and how long it has been since I’ve listened to any. I was a music minor in college, and for a time, seriously contemplated pursuing a graduate degree in Music History. Looking back, I’m glad I didn’t go that route. But I am also exceedingly glad that books like The Cello Suites can rekindle that love in me.

For many years, Bach’s Cello Suites were viewed as nothing more than exercises for cello students. Then one day, a teenage cello prodigy discovered an old copy in a dusty music store and turned them into beloved pieces known worldwide. Today, they are viewed as the pinnacle of a cellist’s achievements.

This book is divided into six sections (one for each suite), and then each section is divided into six chapters (one for each movement within each suite). You’ll know I’m a geek when I say that that structure is one of the things I love most about this book. The first three chapters of each section are devoted to Johann Sebastian Bach, his family, and his trials as a composer and a musician. This biography is handled well, especially when discussing all his musician children of multiple names (it can get rather confusing). Although the biography spans Bach’s whole life, Siblin still keeps the focus on the Cello Suites and their possible origins.

The next two chapters of each section focus on Pablo Casals, the Catalonian cellist who made the Cello Suites famous, even turning them into a political statement. (In the wake of World War II, Casals wouldn’t perform in any country that recognized Franco’s regime in Spain.) Casals was truly a remarkable man and a phenomenal musician, as Siblin’s biography of him clearly shows.

The last chapter of each section follows Siblin’s journey into the world of classical music. He tries everything from attempting to learn the cello himself to attending concerts and workshops devoted to Bach’s works. His love for Bach’s beautiful music shows through on every page.

You don’t have to be a classical music lover to enjoy this book. You just have to be someone who enjoys a good story – and even more so when the story is true.

Below I’ve embedded two videos. The first is Pablo Casals playing the Prelude from Bach’s Cello Suite #1. This is probably the most familiar of all the movements in the six Cello Suites. If you want to listen to Casals playing all six suites, you can click here.

The second video is the Piano Guys’ version of that movement. Siblin discusses the evolution of classical music into popular culture, and here’s a great example of that! (Besides, I like the Piano Guys.)  
Picture
Learning

4 Comments

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

5/19/2014

10 Comments

 
Picture
This weekly meme is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.
So I didn't do an It's Monday! post last week because nothing had changed. I was still reading the same book, still had the same book coming up. Life has been busy! Thankfully, I was able to squeeze a few more reading moments this past week, so now I have something update-like to share!

My Recent Posts

The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig - Review
My Classics Club Spin List (Looks like I'll be reading The Count of Monte Cristo!)
Library Book Sale Goodies (There are always treasures to be found at library book sales!)
Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo - Review
Longbourn by Jo Baker - Review

What I Read in the Last Two Weeks

Picture
Picture
Bucking the Sun by Ivan Doig
A Romance on Three Legs by Katie Hafner

What I'm Reading Now

Picture
Picture
Kilmeny of the Orchard by L.M. Montgomery (This is my audiobook for running, so it'll probably show up on this list for awhile.)
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken (for the Reading to Know Book Club)

What's Coming Up Next

Picture
Living in a Foreign Language by Michael Tucker (Getting in the mood for our vacation to Italy this summer. . .)
10 Comments

Longbourn [Review]

5/15/2014

4 Comments

 
Picture
I love Pride and Prejudice. It was my gateway book into Jane Austen the summer before my junior year of high school. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve reread it. And watched the BBC adaptation. Pride and Prejudice holds a special spot on my bookshelf and a special place in my heart.

So when I heard about Longbourn – the servants’ version of Pride and Prejudice – I immediately added it to my to-read list, although with some trepidation. How could it ever live up to Jane Austen?

Honestly, it didn’t. But it didn’t have to. Longbourn tells an entirely separate story from Pride and Prejudice. The Bennets are only incidental, providing inconveniences and work. Telling their story is not the purpose of this book. The lives of the servants take center stage.

Mrs. Hill becomes a living, breathing person. She is much more than just someone who hands Mrs. Bennet the smelling salts. She has hopes, dreams, and a history (a very unexpected one!). Sarah, the housemaid, wants so much more out of life than what she currently has. But how will she find it? By following Bingley’s exotic and tempting footman to London? Or by getting to know James, the mysterious footman at Longbourn whom no one seems to know anything about?

Jane Austen has been criticized for leaving the “real world” out of her novels. Life is not all tea and parties. Longbourn attempts to put the history of the time back in. The slave trade is mentioned, and the war with Napoleon is dealt with in much more detail than I expected. You would think that a book about servants would be even more inward-focused than one about the higher class, who at least are free to travel around the country. Not so.

Jo Baker treats the Bennet family with respect, but not kid gloves. You don’t need to fear that your perception of them will be dashed, but your eyes will be opened to the differences in class that were simply taken for granted in that time. Above all, you will learn that a servant is no different from anyone else in their hopes and fears. And you will get to know the servants of Longbourn quite well, and love them as part of the Bennet family.

Picture
Characters

4 Comments
<<Previous
    Picture
    My name is Julie, and I own a lot of books. As in, they are stacked on the floor because I've run out of room on the shelves. And those shelves? There are so many books on them that they smile -- not sag; smile. This blog will cover book reviews and all manner of other bookish things.

    You can contact me at [email protected].

    Picture
    What are 5* Elements all about?

    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Follow on Bloglovin

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Currently Reading

    Clara and Mr. Tiffany
    A Little Folly

    2019 Reading Challenge

    2019 Reading Challenge
    Julie has read 9 books toward their goal of 75 books.
    hide
    9 of 75 (12%)
    view books

    Archives

    November 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013

    Categories

    All
    5* Atmosphere
    5* Characters
    5* Learning
    5* Learning
    5* Meaning
    5* Plot
    5* Plot
    5* Voice
    5* Voice
    5* Writing
    Book Club
    Book Club
    Challenges
    Children's
    Classics Club
    Fiction
    Historical Fiction
    It's Monday
    It's Monday
    Library Loot
    Life
    Newbery Reading Challenge
    Nonfiction
    Read A Thons
    Reading
    Review
    Saturday Snapshot
    Smiling Shelves Soapbox
    Stacking The Shelves
    Top Ten Tuesday
    Travel
    Young Adult


    Picture