Sunshine and Roses: BTT

This week's BTT is the reverse of last week’s question:

Imagine that everything is going just swimmingly. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and all’s right with the world. You’re practically bouncing from health and have money in your pocket. The kids are playing and laughing, the puppy is chewing in the cutest possible manner on an officially-sanctioned chew toy, and in between moments of laughter for pure joy, you pick up a book to read . . .

What is it?

Honestly? I usually will pick up whatever book I'm currently reading. Right now I'm reading two books--Travels with Charley and Howards End. I had some great news yesterday about a job offer, so I came home and read Travels with Charley--the more entertaining book of the two. I don't think I really read for my moods, but I definitely don't want to read something that is depressing (or boring like Howards End) if I am in a superhigh mood.

Comfort Food - Booking Through Thursday

Okay . . . picture this (really) worst-case scenario: It’s cold and raining, your boyfriend/girlfriend has just dumped you, you’ve just been fired, the pile of unpaid bills is sky-high, your beloved pet has recently died, and you think you’re coming down with a cold. All you want to do (other than hiding under the covers) is to curl up with a good book, something warm and comforting that will make you feel better.

What do you read?

Hmmm, this is kind of a difficult question for me since if I am that down I will usually go for the movies instead of the books. If we are talking movies, my first picks would be Pride and Prejudice, Love Actually, Moulin Rouge, When Harry Met Sally, While You Were Sleeping. If I'm down, I don't have the energy to even pick up a book. I also don't tend to re-read books since I'm paranoid that I'm eventually going to run out of time and not be able to read all the books I want to read. Hmmm. :)

But a book that can always pick me up and make me feel loads better about myself and my situation is Bridget Jones. It is one of the few books that I've read more than once and will probably read again and again. I think good ole Bridge can make any down girl feel a little better.

What do you read/watch? Go here to play!

Best Moustache - Twirling (BTT)

HOLY THURSDAY BATMAN! I can't even remember the last Thursday that I was actually in town! So yeah...its Thursday! Which means tomorrow is Friday and then Saturday and hubby and I are headed to Taos for a week and a half. So, in honor of Thursday, here is today's BTT:

Who’s the worst fictional villain you can think of? As in, the one you hate the most, find the most evil, are happiest to see defeated? Not the cardboard, two-dimensional variety, but the most deliciously-written, most entertaining, best villain? Not necessarily the most “evil,” so much as the best-conceived on the part of the author…oh, you know what I mean!

This is such an interesting question--one that is going to take some deep digging.

I think that Bradley Headstone from Dickens's Our Mutual Friend is a great villain, but on the same token so is his "match" Eugene Wrayburn. I love love love this book (I can hear all my fellow grad students groaning!). Ok, now that I'm thinking this one over, Eugene seems much more villainous than Headstone even though I like Eugene more as a character. But he is conniving, conceited, deceptive, taunting--in comparison Headstone who should be the villain is just pathetic. OH, just go read the book!! Dickens writes such great characters in this novel.

Who do you think is the best villain?

Desperation - Booking Throuh Thursday

Today’s question is suggested by Carrie.
What’s the most desperate thing you’ve read because it was the only available reading material?
If it was longer than a cereal box or an advertisement, did it turn out to be worth your while?

I must say that this is an interesting question. I don't think I've ever been that desperate. At home I have stacks and stacks of books that I haven't read. If I go to my parents' homes, they have stacks and stacks of books I could also devour, but most of the time I travel with the book I'm reading and an extra in case I finish (and sometimes two in case my back up turns out to be a dud).

Well, I guess the other day I was visiting Mom, and while I was eating my cereal I found myself reading the Victoria's Secret catalog sitting on the kitchen table. I say read, but I do find myself reading about the products instead of just looking at the pictures. Wow, I guess I was desperate! Most days I check email or such while eating breakfast. Sometimes while in the shower I read the shampoo/soap bottles, but mostly in french (which I don't speak), because I like to see if can understand what it says. I'll stick to my books, thank you.

Happy BTT everyone!

School's out for Summer (BTT)

Its that time again--Booking Through Thursday time!

Since school is out for the summer (in most places, at least), here’s a school-themed question for the week:

1. Do you have any old school books? Did you keep yours from college? Old textbooks from garage sales? Old workbooks from classes gone by?


2. How about your old notes, exams, papers? Do you save them? Or have they long since gone to the great Locker-in-the-sky?

I made some bad choices as an undergrad, mostly because I was flat broke. I sold back a lot of my books. Well, I sold all of them back except for my English books (with the exception of some of the bigger survey books). I don't regert selling back most of the books (for the GE courses), but I do regret getting rid of my upperclassmen history books (although I did keep a few). What can I say...I needed the cash. I have ALL of my books from grad school (since by then it didn't matter if I was broke or not...). My husband, however, has all of his textbooks and still buys them at Half Price Books, which I don't understand.

Old notes. This still really puts a thorn in my side. Hi, my name is Trish, and I'm a pack rat. I saved EVERYTHING from school. But then after I graduated and it was looking like I wasn't going to go back to school, my mom talked me into just throwing everything away. She said it would make me feel freer. Well, it did for about .5 seconds. :) I have ALL of my notebooks, handouts, quizzes, everything really, from my grad years (including the papers that my students wrote--not sure why I can't part with those). Pack rat I tell you. I really wish I had my old undergrad English notes at least--because I've revisted many of the works and will continue to do so.

In terms of books, I never get rid of books and I don't even like lending them out all that often because I don't get them back (don't even get me started on this!!). One day I'll probably be buried in books, but I just can't bare to part with any of them. I don't go to the library for books because I like to be able to revisit if I want to (you never know...).

Great question!!

Booking Through Thursday - Dessert First

There are so many fun blogging things that I had no idea about! Yeah for new discoveries--and I have Stephanie to thank for introducing me to Booking Through Thursday on her blog.

Today's Meme:

• Do you cheat and peek ahead at the end of your books? Or do you resolutely read in sequence, as the author intended?


• And, if you don’t peek, do you ever feel tempted?

It usually takes a really great book for me to want to look ahead to find out what happens--and unfortunately its been a while since I've read a book of that kind of caliber (please give me some suggestions!!

But even if I am tempted, I read the book as the author wanted it to be read (afterall, they are not "Choose Your Own Adventure"!). There have been times that I have been so eager to find out the ending of the book that I've had to cover all of the page except what I am reading so my eyes won't wander around looking for clue words. I often find myself doing this with Jodi Picoult books--slowly moving my hand down the page until I can be rewarded with the answer to the conflict. For me, part of the thrill in the book is NOT knowing what is going to happen. I don't think I would want it to be any other way.

God I love those books! Any suggestions?