I think I need to set aside more than just train time for reading… there are so many books I want to read! I’m already planning three ahead of the one I’m reading now! I guess the thing about this time of year is it’s the worst for sitting outside and reading (one of my favorite summertime pastimes), and I don’t really have a great place in my apartment to just curl up with a book. Maybe I should get back in the Bean habit? Though it seems that whenever I’m there and in the mood to linger, there isn’t a seat to be had. I’ll figure it out.

In the meantime… Now reading (almost finished, though): Ender’s Game

On deck: Ender’s Shadow (Technically the 5th book in the series? I don’t think I’ve ever read them in “proper” order.)

Further reading that I can’t wait to sink my teeth into: The Complete Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Though I also kinda want to get this edition and that’s not ‘til May, so maybe I should shelve – har har har - this one for now) & Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (because the movie was excellent.)

So apparently I’m on an Ender Bender and then a “Benedict Cumberbatch Plays Someone in This Book in a Television or Movie Adaptation” theme. Cool!

My mom alerted me to the fact that there are giant books that are also furniture. And they’re called Big Cozy Books. And I will, someday, some glorious day, own them. Until then, word on the street is that there are some pieces at the Boston Public Library and the Brookline Public Library. Oh no, another reason to go back to Boston!

Anyone up for a bookish adventure? Also to go with and make me look less of a creep for hanging out in what will probably be the children’s section?

Stylish Summer Reads

jcrew:

enjoy rereading a classic novel during the
dog days of summer with one of these cool
vintage book covers in hand
(post by Katie Boiano)

Me gusta.

This book totally made me want to run away to sea as a child. (Not that I’ve lost any of that desire over the years…)

This book totally made me want to run away to sea as a child. (Not that I’ve lost any of that desire over the years…)

Until Shrimp, I didn’t know it was possible to care so much for another person that your heart just wants to combust with happiness every time you are around that person.

Gingerbread (via ashajay) (via koriannespeaks)

I love Gingerbread so much, as previously mentioned, and as evidenced by the well-worn copy that’s sitting about a foot and a half from me right now. Cyd Charisse has been one of the most influential (both consciously and not) fictional characters in my life, just sayin’. Oh, and Gingerbread was my first introduction to the writing of Rachel Cohn, which was, in a word, life-changing.

siobhanvivian: my vacation book pyramid: american wife. all the stories of muriel spark, the rehearsal, the code of the woosters, and uglies.  I haven’t read the other four, but Uglies was sooooo good. I didn’t know what to expect from it, but it totally blew me away and I loved the whole series.

siobhanvivian:

my vacation book pyramid: american wife. all the stories of muriel spark, the rehearsal, the code of the woosters, and uglies. 

I haven’t read the other four, but Uglies was sooooo good. I didn’t know what to expect from it, but it totally blew me away and I loved the whole series.

I resisted these books for a while– trust me, I worked in a bookstore and could see them from the counter. Books called “Pretties” and “Uglies” smacked of crappy pre- and teenage crap that I am not exactly a fan of (we are ignoring my addiction to Gossip Girl and the A-List novels) and so after a few cursory glances I pretty much ignored them, outside of selling them to young folks once in a while. Until winter break, when the author, Scott Westerfeld, was on NPR. And, if he’s good enough for public radio, who am I to judge? I have my library card number memorized (what, you don’t?) and so reserving the first book (Pretties) was as easy as pie. Once it arrived I tore through that shit like nobody’s business, and first order of business after obtaining my Boston Public Library card (which is so getting used so much its wee head is spinning) was reserving and reading the next three books. You can read summaries on the book site or Wikipedia, so I won’t waste everyone’s time failing at writing one, but the general gist is that they take place about 300-ish years in the future, in a society that surgically alters its population at various points in their lives (“uglies,” “pretties,” and “specials” are all states that people can be in). The books explore things like control (mind- and otherwise), conformity, dependence on technology, and a whole slew of other deep-sounding things, all with a whole crapload of action, adventure and maybe a little love thrown in there to keep things exciting. All four books are gripping, well-written novels that I reckon would appeal to anyone, even if you’re not of the age of the main characters (15-18ish, probably) or of a particularly science-fiction-minded sort. In my not-so-humble opinion, Scott Westerfeld deserves every one of the accolades (SAT vocab word, yo!) he’s received in regards to these super-duper literary specimens. Read them. NOW I hope that you’re OK with being somewhat affected by them, however. Not only do the characters have certain ways of speaking that may or may not rub off on you (I’ve been having issues not referring to things as “brain-missing” or “nervous-making”), but there’s a chance you might find yourself considering other things, like body image and perfection. I didn’t, but after I finished Extras and immediately went online and plugged into my twitter, my tumblr dashboard, and my Google Reader, checked my email, Facebook, MySpace, etc etc etc, I got the uncomfortable feeling that I was thisclose to the technology-soaked, plugged-in, totally-connected future in the books. And I can’t say I minded. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go surge my eyes and finally get rid of this sad-making brown. Oh, and if anyone’s seen my hover-cam, can you ping me? Thanks. xoxo Charlotte (Face Rank 46,707)

I resisted these books for a while– trust me, I worked in a bookstore and could see them from the counter. Books called “Pretties” and “Uglies” smacked of crappy pre- and teenage crap that I am not exactly a fan of (we are ignoring my addiction to Gossip Girl and the A-List novels) and so after a few cursory glances I pretty much ignored them, outside of selling them to young folks once in a while.

Until winter break, when the author, Scott Westerfeld, was on NPR. And, if he’s good enough for public radio, who am I to judge? I have my library card number memorized (what, you don’t?) and so reserving the first book (Pretties) was as easy as pie. Once it arrived I tore through that shit like nobody’s business, and first order of business after obtaining my Boston Public Library card (which is so getting used so much its wee head is spinning) was reserving and reading the next three books.

You can read summaries on the book site or Wikipedia, so I won’t waste everyone’s time failing at writing one, but the general gist is that they take place about 300-ish years in the future, in a society that surgically alters its population at various points in their lives (“uglies,” “pretties,” and “specials” are all states that people can be in). The books explore things like control (mind- and otherwise), conformity, dependence on technology, and a whole slew of other deep-sounding things, all with a whole crapload of action, adventure and maybe a little love thrown in there to keep things exciting.

All four books are gripping, well-written novels that I reckon would appeal to anyone, even if you’re not of the age of the main characters (15-18ish, probably) or of a particularly science-fiction-minded sort. In my not-so-humble opinion, Scott Westerfeld deserves every one of the accolades (SAT vocab word, yo!) he’s received in regards to these super-duper literary specimens. Read them. NOW

I hope that you’re OK with being somewhat affected by them, however. Not only do the characters have certain ways of speaking that may or may not rub off on you (I’ve been having issues not referring to things as “brain-missing” or “nervous-making”), but there’s a chance you might find yourself considering other things, like body image and perfection. I didn’t, but after I finished Extras and immediately went online and plugged into my twitter, my tumblr dashboard, and my Google Reader, checked my email, Facebook, MySpace, etc etc etc, I got the uncomfortable feeling that I was thisclose to the technology-soaked, plugged-in, totally-connected future in the books. And I can’t say I minded.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go surge my eyes and finally get rid of this sad-making brown. Oh, and if anyone’s seen my hover-cam, can you ping me? Thanks.

xoxo
Charlotte
(Face Rank 46,707)

California girl with a Boston heart living the dream in New York City.