The Library

[Fiction2Fitness]

Because reading is what? Fundamental.

Okay, maybe I've been watching too much of Ru Paul's Drag Race but still, I do enjoy reading books. Since a few of us have mentioned either having reading goals for 2019 or just mentioned how we might want to read more, I figured it couldn't hurt to try and have a post here. Plus this forum is a little lackluster. Not sure this one will do any better but why not give it a try.

Right now, I am listening to a book from the library called Visionary Women: How Rachel Carson, Jane Jacobs, Jane Goodall and Alive Waters Changed Our World. It's very long though only really have about 4 chapters. Each one is dedicated to one of the women and basically is a biography of its own. I've had to check it out twice so far as only get 21 days for the audiobook on my phone and have just made it to Goodall, as it goes in order from the title. Very interesting though. I didn't know much about Rachel Carson aside from that she wrote Silent Spring. Plan to check out one of her books on the ocean in the future.

Next for audio books I have a fiction one called The Apothecary. It is a young adult historical fiction. Should be interesting for my commute to work.

Also want to read some of the paperbacks I own. For nonfiction, first on the list is Why Gender Matters: What Parents and Teachers Need to Know about the Emerging Science of Sex Differences. Should be interesting to see what was put out about gender back in 2005. Still trying to decide on a fiction book. Want one before I just into the 4th book in the Wheel of Time series since that one is around 900 pages.

I keep track of my books over on Goodreads and recommend it for anyone who isn't already on the site.
goodreads.com


What are you reading?

[mavd]

Listening: The Shelters of Stone (Book 5 of Earth's Children series by Jean M. Auel). This is a historical fiction series set in the ~30k years ago following a very innovative woman and her travels across Europe. I already listened to the series several years ago but there is tons of detail and I enjoy repeating my favorites. Plus, kick ass feminism and environmentalism hidden all over the story.

Reading: The Book of Night with Moon (apparently this is part of a young adult fantasy series I hadn't heard of called Young Wizards, but I picked it up unknowingly and it's written for an adult audience). It's about cat-wizards so obviously I was drawn to the subject. I'm only ~30% in but it seems to be developing very slowly and I'm not hooked yet, likely because I am expected to have read the other novels.

[Fiction2Fitness]

Listening: The Shelters of Stone (Book 5 of Earth's Children series by Jean M. Auel). This is a historical fiction series set in the ~30k years ago following a very innovative woman and her travels across Europe. I already listened to the series several years ago but there is tons of detail and I enjoy repeating my favorites. Plus, kick ass feminism and environmentalism hidden all over the story.

Reading: The Book of Night with Moon (apparently this is part of a young adult fantasy series I hadn't heard of called Young Wizards, but I picked it up unknowingly and it's written for an adult audience). It's about cat-wizards so obviously I was drawn to the subject. I'm only ~30% in but it seems to be developing very slowly and I'm not hooked yet, likely because I am expected to have read the other novels.

ooo Both sound interesting. I haven't read many historical fictions but started listening to one earlier today. I also eventually want to get back to reading Iron Cast, which was set in the 1920's and is YA fantasy/historical fiction. The cat-wizard one would interest me too but understand the struggle when coming in mid-series.

[mavd]

I've made zero progress on my cat-wizard book, the lack of desire to crack it open has me leaning toward DNF at this point. I picked up the complete scripts of "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" and the sequel, "Crimes of Grindelwald" around Christmas, so I think I'll move on to those now. I did wrap up my audiobook, "Shelters of Stone" and move on to the last book in the series, "The Land of Painted Caves."

[mavd]

Ohh I also want to add, I chuckle at "hidden feminism". The society of the "Children of Earth" believe that conception is magical and only needs women, so there was a big stretch talking about how it must suck to be a man and feel worthless all the time. Bf was listening in at that point and was very pouty.

[Fiction2Fitness]

I've made zero progress on my cat-wizard book, the lack of desire to crack it open has me leaning toward DNF at this point. I picked up the complete scripts of "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" and the sequel, "Crimes of Grindelwald" around Christmas, so I think I'll move on to those now. I did wrap up my audiobook, "Shelters of Stone" and move on to the last book in the series, "The Land of Painted Caves."

I think I ended up DNF'ing a couple of books last year. Just couldn't keep going on them. I liked the movie for Fantastical Beasts so the script would be kind of interesting. Haven't watched the sequel though my sister has seen it many many times already.

Ohh I also want to add, I chuckle at "hidden feminism". The society of the "Children of Earth" believe that conception is magical and only needs women, so there was a big stretch talking about how it must suck to be a man and feel worthless all the time. Bf was listening in at that point and was very pouty.

heh, that is kinda funny. I'm actually using that approach just a little in some of the ones I'm writing. Like for example, my snow white story it's a world where it's usually a female heir to the throne due to the women having a stronger, more understand connection and abilities with magic. However, the main character who is the heir (Snow) is a boy and struggles because everyone doubts him due to his not being a girl. He does have some magic, as does the huntsman, though so part of the climax will include revealing that.



I'm still listening to Visionary Women but am finally almost done. It was interesting but a touch boring at times. I learned a lot about Jane Goodall that I didn't know, same with the part about Rachel Carson. Right now it's on Alice Waters, whom I'm not as interested in though she was involved with an organic food movement. I want to read Silent Spring at some point but even more so, I want to find Carson's early books on the ocean. That and maybe read a couple other biographies of strong women in history.

[jay283]

Going back to my childhood days and considering reading unabridged versions of Ben hur and the like.

[Fiction2Fitness]

Since it got mentioned over in the journals, I'll add this here. We can discuss reading nooks and other reading things too. Dream libraries, etc. Whatever people want. So, here is a link from some reading nook inspiration:

http://www.home-designing.com/best-c...nooks-for-home

[Fiction2Fitness]

Finished listening to Visionary Women. It was interesting overall, though the parts about Jane Goodall and Rachel Carson held my interest a bit more than the other two since I was familiar with them before checking out the audiobook. Still, it was good to hear about the roles the four different women have played and ways they managed to stand out despite it not being seen as something women should do.

I'm always reading a book called Rad Women A-Z: Rebels, Trailblazers and Visionaries who Shaped Our History... and Our Future! It's an ebook I borrowed on my Ipad that's kinda like a picture book and discusses one woman per letter of the alphabet. Quicker read than the audiobook, which I had to take out 3 times (since get 21 days per lease) in order to get through the whole thing.


Reading Progress for 2019 = 1/25 books overall, 1/10 nonfiction

[LunaLifts]

That book nook link is like book nook porn. So many gorgeous set ups! I can't wait to have mine, definitely needs a seat by a big window, and a shelf/spot for coffee/tea and snacks. It's going to double as my art room, so a bench seat would allow me to position my desk so I can see out the window too (with a lot of greenery, trees, and plants outside of it for inspiration).

It'd be cool to have an outdoor space I could use for both as well, but it'd have to be something that can hold up in our weather, or that I can easily disassemble and store away during the winter. For reading outside I wouldn't mind having a hammock, that'd be so cozy.

Sorry to bring up the art stuff too, it's off topic, but it's related to how I'd use the space, so I hope that's alright in this context.

Congrats on getting one book down on two of your goals. Still debating my reading goals since my art has become priority numero uno. Still considering tackling Hitchhiker's Guide, but my multiple failures with it make it hard to want to go at it again.

[Fiction2Fitness]

That book nook link is like book nook porn. So many gorgeous set ups! I can't wait to have mine, definitely needs a seat by a big window, and a shelf/spot for coffee/tea and snacks. It's going to double as my art room, so a bench seat would allow me to position my desk so I can see out the window too (with a lot of greenery, trees, and plants outside of it for inspiration).

It'd be cool to have an outdoor space I could use for both as well, but it'd have to be something that can hold up in our weather, or that I can easily disassemble and store away during the winter. For reading outside I wouldn't mind having a hammock, that'd be so cozy.

Sorry to bring up the art stuff too, it's off topic, but it's related to how I'd use the space, so I hope that's alright in this context.

Congrats on getting one book down on two of your goals. Still debating my reading goals since my art has become priority numero uno. Still considering tackling Hitchhiker's Guide, but my multiple failures with it make it hard to want to go at it again.

I'm okay with off topic. I want a room that is a library/writing/art studio myself.

[mavd]

+1 on nook-porn! That's making me want to build a book wall in my living room. Don't know how the bf would feel about losing his gaming space though....

Made some progress on my patio/nook last weekend. It started with a really ****ty, moldy, uneven tile job. We finally got all the tile and moldy grout up and we're back to subfloor. I literally gave it blood, sweat, and tears as I punctured my pinky on a tile sliver and had a very "Carrie" moment. Can't believe such a small digit could bleed so much. Spray patterns. That is all I'm going to say. This weekend the plan is to lay some waterproofing materials down to ideally avoid moldy disgustingness in the future.

Other things I want in my reading space: Lots of pillows. A tray or table for wine/coffee. Warm tone light. Succulents.

[fitfanatic123]

I love reading!

I'm in a book club that meets once a month - we just finished reading Jodi Picoult-Spark of Light (I didn't really like it that much and I usually love her books) and The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah (I enjoyed this one but it was kind of long).

The next one we are reading is called "Where the Crawdads Sing".

I read the book club books really fast because they are light reads... so I'm also going to read the Harry Potter series because I've never read it before OR seen the movies and I feel like they were such a huge staple in pop culture that I should read them lol. I'm mostly done with the first one, it was just okay, i'm hoping it picks up.

Other than that, i have a huge list of books i want to read this year!

Happy reading!

[mavd]

Haven't made time to actually read, but finished listening to the Shelters of Stone (repeated a few of the plot devices of earlier books which was annoying). Started "Going Rogue: Spells, Swords, & Stealth" by Drew Hayes. It's book 3 in a series about a Dungeons & Dragons type of game, where half the book characters are people playing the game and half are NPCs that are starting to realize they're being controlled by an outside force and start adventuring in their own right. It's exceptionally nerdy but good, and the narration is on point.

Good progress on the nook/patio this weekend. Put down a waterproofing layer and started redoing the electrical so that we can have better lighting (fairy lights!). I really should be keeping track of budget because it is starting to add up and I haven't even gotten to the expensive part (buying decking and custom made seat cushions).

[mavd]

So I finished "Going Rogue" and almost am done with the next in the series, "Siege Tactics". These are 13 hours each so uh yeah.... you can see how I spend my time.

I also finially picked up the screenplay for "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" yesterday and promptly read half of it in one sitting. I've seen the movie too many times so I'm literally just playing the movie in my head. I was hoping for little insights, but they executed the screenplay pretty much exactly down to the set detail so nothing so far. Only other time I read a screenplay I hadn't seen the play live ("Harry Potter and the Cursed Child", notice a theme?). At least there are really great illustrations in the margins for this one, so not a total wash. The next one, "Crimes of Grindelwald" isn't out on DVD yet so I've only seen it once, and I suspect I'll have missed some things and have more "AHA!" moments to enjoy.

[Fiction2Fitness]

So I finished "Going Rogue" and almost am done with the next in the series, "Siege Tactics". These are 13 hours each so uh yeah.... you can see how I spend my time.

I also finially picked up the screenplay for "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" yesterday and promptly read half of it in one sitting. I've seen the movie too many times so I'm literally just playing the movie in my head. I was hoping for little insights, but they executed the screenplay pretty much exactly down to the set detail so nothing so far. Only other time I read a screenplay I hadn't seen the play live ("Harry Potter and the Cursed Child", notice a theme?). At least there are really great illustrations in the margins for this one, so not a total wash. The next one, "Crimes of Grindelwald" isn't out on DVD yet so I've only seen it once, and I suspect I'll have missed some things and have more "AHA!" moments to enjoy.

The Going Rogue sounded interesting.

I've never read screen plays, well I guess I mean for pleasure. I've been in plays and looked for bits to use for speech team when I was younger. But haven't read any in years. Haven't read any of the harry potter books either though I have seen the Fantastical Beasts movie. That one was decent.


I finished listening to The Apothecary. It was quite fun with soviet spies, threat of bombs, avian elixirs and such. Quite action packed. I really need to get some more things going on in some of my stories. The past couple of scene have been lacking in conflict. Granted I don't need explosions or anything but do need stuff to happen. Not sure what I'll listen to next. Need to get reading the Wheel of Time book if I'm going to get anywhere in the series.

[Healthymom5230]

I love reading!

I'm in a book club that meets once a month - we just finished reading Jodi Picoult-Spark of Light (I didn't really like it that much and I usually love her books) and The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah (I enjoyed this one but it was kind of long).

The next one we are reading is called "Where the Crawdads Sing".

I read the book club books really fast because they are light reads... so I'm also going to read the Harry Potter series because I've never read it before OR seen the movies and I feel like they were such a huge staple in pop culture that I should read them lol. I'm mostly done with the first one, it was just okay, i'm hoping it picks up.

Other than that, i have a huge list of books i want to read this year!

Happy reading!

I will admit that I read every single Harry Potter book (much to the dismay of my children at the time---lol). You can say what you will about Harry Potter but those darn books were addictive and super entertaining. It was agony waiting for the next installment--lol

[Healthymom5230]

Confession: I read every single Harry Potter book in record time (much to the dismay of my children at the time---lol). You can say what you will about Harry Potter but those darn books were addictive and super entertaining. It was agony waiting for the next installment--lol

In keeping with the spirit of this post and the forum overall theme, I enthusiastically share the book below (albeit nonfiction--lol) with you that is improving my life significantly.

*sorry but you have to copy and paste the link below as I have not yet made 50 posts to the forum (I am still a newbie to this forum but happy to be here nonetheless)

Enjoy and toast to good health and happy reading !!!

[Fiction2Fitness]

Started listening to audiobook on the way to work by same author as the paperback one I haven't gotten far in, Gender Matters. The audiobook is Girls on the Edge: The Four Factors Driving the New Crisis for Girls by Leonard Sax. It's a little more interesting than the gender one but haven't gotten that far on either. He speaks more towards parents, which I'm not one so that's a little different. We'll see how it goes on the morning commutes.

[mavd]

Just started "Vox" by Christina Dalcher (audiobook) and "The Forest of Hands and Teeth" by Carrie Ryan (text). Too early to say much about either except they're both dystopia novels, my favorite non-HP genre.

[Fiction2Fitness]

Just started "Vox" by Christina Dalcher (audiobook) and "The Forest of Hands and Teeth" by Carrie Ryan (text). Too early to say much about either except they're both dystopia novels, my favorite non-HP genre.

I liked Forest of Hands and Teeth a lot. Not even really a fan of zombies in general but her approach was interesting. I've also read Dead-Tossed Waves, which is book 2 and interesting. Haven't read The Dark and Hollow Places (#3).

Think the only complaints have seen come up at times for first person YA is sometimes viewed as selfish in some decisions that get made or where their focus is but makes sense in a way. At least I didn't mind it when read the books and others in YA. Though first person isn't my preference in POV in general.

[mavd]

I liked Forest of Hands and Teeth a lot. Not even really a fan of zombies in general but her approach was interesting. I've also read Dead-Tossed Waves, which is book 2 and interesting. Haven't read The Dark and Hollow Places (#3).

Think the only complaints have seen come up at times for first person YA is sometimes viewed as selfish in some decisions that get made or where their focus is but makes sense in a way. At least I didn't mind it when read the books and others in YA. Though first person isn't my preference in POV in general.

I agree on the YA/selfish comment, but they're teenagers so that seems pretty accurate. I end up reading a lot of YA because I like dystopia/post-apocalyptic and there's more options in YA than adult. Especially because (let me sound sexist af for a minute) I just CAN NOT read books by male authors 99% of the time and they seem to dominate adult dystopic fiction. I try and there's a few male authors that I like, but most of the time I find their female characters too one-dimensional. Like they just don't understand how a female mind works.

Edit: I didn't actually read the description of the Forest and didn't realize it was a zombie book until page 3 lol

[Barbelle92]

I've just finished 'The Flight of the Falcon' by Daphne du Maurier! I discovered her back at uni when 'Rebecca' came up on our reading list, and have been hooked on her writing ever since. I don't think I'll be able to rest until I've tracked down a copy of all her novels haha. Think I'm going to move onto an audiobook next though - Mel Robbins has a new one out called 'Take Control of Your Life,' which I'm quite excited for. I'm really trying to get back into a reading habit as I feel I've lost a lot since I fell out of it... it's a great escape from everyday life sometimes, too

[mavd]

I've just finished 'The Flight of the Falcon' by Daphne du Maurier! I discovered her back at uni when 'Rebecca' came up on our reading list, and have been hooked on her writing ever since. I don't think I'll be able to rest until I've tracked down a copy of all her novels haha. Think I'm going to move onto an audiobook next though - Mel Robbins has a new one out called 'Take Control of Your Life,' which I'm quite excited for. I'm really trying to get back into a reading habit as I feel I've lost a lot since I fell out of it... it's a great escape from everyday life sometimes, too

Adding to my list....


Vox was soooooooooooo bad. Sooooooooo bad. Like a really poorly executed knockoff of The Handmaid's Tale. I'm not sure what our rules are for spoilers but the timelines were completely preposterous, and the "science" was a mix of highly technical terms in the authors field (linguistics) and complete idiocy in at least 4 other branches of science (medicine, chemistry, biochemistry, psychology....).

[Fiction2Fitness]

Put aside to the two psychology books by the same author. Started reading one I had a paperback of and ended up trying to listen to a different one with an interesting title on my commute but just can't get into them. I think he has some good points to make. However, the one about teen girl issues is a bit outdated already cause the main image issue of posting and being fake online he talks about is Myspace. So yeah, maybe it needs an update. Might pick them back up some day in the future.

Instead I started listening to a fiction book I found on the library app. I liked the sound of the title though it's a bit of a sad YA book as the main character's mother dies (commits suicide) at the start of the novel. The book is about her dealing with the loss and trying to find answers by going to Taiwan to meet her maternal grandparents she'd never met before. The book is called "the astonishing colors of after" and it has an artistic focus with how the main character views the world that I really am liking.

[AnnaLYST]

Great thread! I planned 100 books for this year. At the end of January my 9-yo son came to conclusion that I don't have enough time to read and decided to join me to increase chance of success .

Lately, I've returned to my gratest hobby which is physics and read through Feynman Lectures on Physics and a few books on Higgs bozone. Last year I returned to Forgotten Realms and Dungeons&Dragons which I loved as a teenager. That was fun as hell.

[mavd]

Great thread! I planned 100 books for this year. At the end of January my 9-yo son came to conclusion that I don't have enough time to read and decided to join me to increase chance of success .

Lately, I've returned to my gratest hobby which is physics and read through Feynman Lectures on Physics and a few books on Higgs bozone. Last year I returned to Forgotten Realms and Dungeons&Dragons which I loved as a teenager. That was fun as hell.

Ahahaha I love your username. Are you a physicist? I've got a PhD in Chemistry. Go, nerds, go!

Burned through a few fluff novels my sister had purchased on audiobook. Finally moved on to a book by one of my favorite fluff authors, Molly Harper. It's called "Changeling: A Novel of Sorcery and Society" and so far it's a bit of Hogwarts-meets-Regency Romance.

[anandagirl]

Don't let this thread die

I listen to almost all books, which is a bad thing because I have a BUNCH of books that I plan to give away when I actually read them LOL

Most recently I started listening to Tana French - Stephen King said that The Witch Elm was one of his favorite books so I read that one first. I'm currently on The Secret Place. Also been revisiting the works of Margaret Atwood who was one of my favorite authors in high school, and just finished the MaddAddam trilogy. I also highly recommend The Monk of Mokha by Dave Eggers.

[Fiction2Fitness]

Don't let this thread die

I listen to almost all books, which is a bad thing because I have a BUNCH of books that I plan to give away when I actually read them LOL

Most recently I started listening to Tana French - Stephen King said that The Witch Elm was one of his favorite books so I read that one first. I'm currently on The Secret Place. Also been revisiting the works of Margaret Atwood who was one of my favorite authors in high school, and just finished the MaddAddam trilogy. I also highly recommend The Monk of Mokha by Dave Eggers.

Sorry I haven't been reading. I really liked the book I'm still in the middle of but didn't want to listen to it on the commute. Need to get back to reading though.

[anandagirl]

Sorry I haven't been reading. I really liked the book I'm still in the middle of but didn't want to listen to it on the commute. Need to get back to reading though.