Tag: Musing Mondays

Musing Mondays: Keeping Books

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Today’s Musing Mondays post from Just One More Page is about keeping books.
 
Do you keep all the books you ever buy? Just the ones you love? Just collectibles? What do you do with the ones you don’t want to keep?

I keep almost all of them. I usually only buy books that I’m fairly sure I’m going to enjoy (based on the synopsis, reviews, recommendations or because they’re written by an author whose work I’ve previously enjoyed) and I’m lucky in that I like – or even love – most of the books I buy. I know I’ll probably want to read them again one day, so I keep them on my bookshelves.

I don’t have any particular method for disposing of the books I don’t want to keep. A few examples: I used to have a beautiful 26-volume set of encyclopedias, but with Google and Wikipedia taking over everything, it had been years since I used them so I gave them all to charity. I also sold all my Sweet Valley High books on eBay, and gave away my Babysitter’s Club books to someone whose daughter wanted them, but there are a lot of other books from my childhood and teens that I can’t bear to part with even if I never open them again.

I really don’t like having to get rid of books just because I don’t have space for them – I know if I ever have a house with a spare room I’ll regret not keeping them all!

What about you?

Musing Mondays: Reading at School

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This week’s MUSING MONDAYS question:

What books did you read while in school? Were there any that you particular liked, or even hated? Did any become lifelong favourites?

Here are a few of the books we read at school. I’m sure there must have been lots of others, but these are the only ones I can remember at the moment!


Beowulf: A New Verse Translation

Beowulf – I remember reading this at school when we were 11 or 12 – it would have been an abridged version, though, and definitely not in the original Old English!

The Pearl

The Pearl by John Steinbeck – I’ve had a copy of this on my shelf for years but have never read it since I was at school. Maybe I should try reading it again sometime.

Frankenstein's Aunt (New Windmills)

Frankenstein’s Aunt by Allan Rune Pettersson – I didn’t enjoy reading this at all. I suppose the teacher chose it thinking it would appeal to 12/13 year olds – but it didn’t appeal to me.

Across the Barricades

Across the Barricades by Joan Lingard – We read this in Year 10 (age 14/15). Considering this would have been in the 1990s when Northern Ireland was often in the news, it was quite an appropriate book to read – the story took place in Belfast and the two main characters were Kevin, a Catholic boy, and Sadie, his Protestant girlfriend. I can’t remember much about the story, though.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor – This was one of the best books we read at school. It reminded me of To Kill A Mockingbird (another teacher had recommended TKAM to me the previous year and I loved it).

Shakespeare – Like most English classes, we also read some Shakespeare – Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth.

I also read Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Animal Farm and Silas Marner, but these were books that my English teacher told me I should read, rather than books I had to read.

I won’t list everything I read outside of school, as there would be far too many books to mention here!

Musing Mondays: Books for Christmas

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This week’s MUSING MONDAYS post:

With the holiday season now upon us, have you left any hint – subtle or otherwise – for books family and friends might buy you for Christmas? Do you like to receive books, or do you prefer certificates so you can choose your own?

I love receiving books for Christmas – in fact I would probably be quite happy if I received nothing but books! My family don’t like buying me books without asking first, as they wouldn’t know if I’d already read them, so I usually have to choose the books myself. My Amazon wishlist is growing longer by the day so I always have plenty to choose from!

Musing Mondays: Bookshelves

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Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about your bookshelf…

Does your house have a communal bookshelf? If not, is your bookshelf centrally located so everyone has access to it?

No, we don’t have a communal bookshelf. I have my own bookcase in my bedroom, but any member of the family would be welcome to come and borrow a book if they wanted to.

My bookcase is almost full and I haven’t really got anywhere to put another one. I already have books in boxes, on my desk and on my bedside table. I think I’m going to have to reorganise the layout of my bedroom before I can accommodate any more books…anyone else having the same problem?

Musing Mondays: Social Reading

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This week’s question…

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about social reading…
How much of your reading do you share with others (outside of blogging?) Do you belong to a book or library club? Do you trade books with friends? Do you tell others what you’re reading?

I don’t belong to any book/library clubs. I’m sure it would be fun and interesting, but I just don’t think I would have the time.

My family usually know what I’m reading as it’s not a secret, and sometimes I try to recommend books to them, but they’re not really interested in the type of books I read so I don’t have much success. It would be nice to have somebody to discuss books with, but that’s one of the good things about the internet and the book blogging community!