Booking Through Thursday

Booking Through Thursday

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Booking Through ThursdayBooking Through Thursday asks — I was wanting to try a certain author and wished I knew someone who had read her works so I could get a recommendation when it occurred to me that having a “YOU ask the question” Booking Through Thursday might be fun. Each participant could ask a question they’ve wanted to discuss with other readers. Perhaps, like me, you’d like a recommendation of a certain author’s best work, or perhaps you LOVE a certain genre or series but no one else you know does and you’d just like to discuss it with someone. Or perhaps you want to try a new genre and would like recommendations from seasoned readers.

Hmm…the possibilities are endless but I am going to limit myself to a single topic. And that topic is — vampires. I like vampire stories but I tend to stick with the classics and a few interesting new releases but I would like something off the beaten path. Halloween is approaching and a good vampire book would be the perfect read this month. I know a lot of people have read Charlaine Harris’s southern vampire mysteries but I don’t know much about the series so I haven’t picked any up, mostly because I don’t know where to start and there’s a ton of books. Even beyond that though, I’d like something different, dark, sinister, intriguing, and interesting. And PLEASE, do not mention Twilight. I have nothing against the books, I’ve read them, but I don’t really get it so anything but that. 🙂

If it helps, here’s what I’ve read:

Dracula by Bram Stoker

The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan

Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange

Dracula the Undead by Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

Booking Through Thursday

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Booking Through ThursdayBooking Through Thursday asks — Two-thirds of Brits have lied about reading books they haven’t. Have you? Why? What book?

I have to say yes, but it was completely unintentional.

You know how you get in conversations with people and they mention a book and you say, “Oh, yeah, I read that one.” And then you start thinking while they’re talking and saying to yourself, Did I read that? I think I did. Maybe not. I know it’s on the shelf but that’s not an indicator of it actually being read. It’s just on the shelf. And this goes on in your head while the other person is talking about the book, some nuance of a character or plot, and you’re rummaging through a messy, over stacked shelf in your head wondering the whole time if you read it while nodding politely to make it appear as if you’re still listening although that boat sailed. You know, something along those lines.

So, what books? For some reason Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cites keeps popping into my head and I don’t know why. I’ve made valiant attempts to read it several times but I have never gotten far and by that I mean – “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” That’s all I remember.

If you’re interested in the Reuters UK story it’s here. The book most Brits lie about is 1984 by George Orwell. Now THAT one I have read! 🙂

Anything you’d like to fess up to?

Booking Through Thursday – Recent Sadness

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Booking Through Thursday

Booking Through Thursday asks — What’s the saddest book you’ve read recently?

Hmm, I have to say…I don’t know. I’m going to interpret loosely and name several books that were emotional reads for me even if they were not necessarily sad books.

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger was sad but I think that it had more to do with the acts of the characters than anything specific in the book that made me misty eyed. I just felt sorry for everyone, with the exception of one character which was a nice bright spot. However, The Time Traveler’s Wife, now that was a sad book. I also found Rooftops of Tehran by Mahbod Seraji to be an emotional read as well. I think I’m going to stop there otherwise I could be here all day.