Why I Blog About Books

In case you're just joining us...it may seem strange to encounter a blog about books that isn't quite a review site, that rarely covers new or soon-to-be-published titles.

Well, strange isn't the worst thing I've been called ;) 

What RU Reading is About What I've Been Reading

...or wanting to read. Apparently, there's an endless supply of books, but sadly, and clearly, our reading time is quite limited. I started this blog primarily because my "to-read" (2R) list got too dang long to keep anywhere else (- though I do love Amazon's wish list feature - ) and also because it gives me a sense of satisfaction to publicly declare that I have finished a book I started (even when I started it a long, long time ago).

It's Not Really a Book Review Site, But...

Books by kennymatic from Flickr.com 

Another reason I started this blog was to share with readers my opinion about whether or not they should invest their precious reading time in a particular title. I know, ostensibly, any review is supposed to do that. BUT. I also know that most reviews are purposely positive - they are written to make you want to read the reviewed title. (Sorry; it's true. Consider this a book reviewer's confession.)

So Many Books/So Little Time

What I aim to do is to give you a good idea about whether a book is really right for you - or maybe, for someone you know. Because besides "just" reading, sharing our vast ocean of reading material is also a joy.

That may explain why in some quasi-reviews here, I mention that a book - perhaps one I did not absolutely love - may appeal to someone with different interests, a different perspective, or a different educational background. Then there are books I think EVERYONE should read.

Hey, different strokes make the world go 'round.

I'm not crazy about mysteries, but know many who are big fans. I like nonfiction more than fiction. What about YOU?

What ARE YOU reading, my friends? HOW do you like it? Is it worth your time? Would you recommend it to a friend who might like it more than you do? I would love, love, love to hear from you. Comments below come directly to me; you're also welcome to post a comment at my reading/writing/tail-wagging Facebook Page or tweet at me anytime.

Thanks for sharing your page-turning journey with me!

Here are a few of my "must read" books:

Guest Reviewers Wanted!

Look, I'm still working my way through The Kitchen God's Wife. And the back issues of National Geographic are piling up... if you're tearing through your 2R list, stop. Jot down a few notes about the things you've read that were worth your time, and why. Who would love them. Who might not. That's what I try to do here - and I could really use some help! 

#guestreviewerswanted!

Please drop me a line and share your suggestions here, for the sake other time-crunched readers. Thanks!! 

Tidying, Joy, and What ARE you reading???

I've been feeling extra busy lately. Since reading The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,  I realize I have some closets to sort through. (If I'm not back next month, please send a search party.)

In fact, I didn't read the whole book because (1) I got really excited and cleaned out my drawers and a bookshelf!! and (2) I had to return it on time because someone else requested the book from the library. Clearly, the title struck a nerve. A dysfunctional one, at that. But no worries, Psychology Today is on top of it.

So, if you're just hanging out here reading book reviews (when you really should be discovering the joy in trashing all that stuff you've collected over the years), check out Marie Kondo's petite primer on paring down and prettying up your collection of ... well, stuff.

What's that? don't feel like cleaning out the closets today? Why don't you write a book review, then?

Guest reviewers always wanted!! Please contact me on Facebook or Twitter. Please?!

Thanks! 

A Mini-Review and Important Nugget of Advice

Marie Kondo's self-help book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, like many runaway bestsellers, is not packed with groundbreaking new research or information. It is a commonsense argument, presented in an undeniably logical and appealing way. 

Synopsis: 

You have too much stuff. You'll feel better when you ditch a ton of it. Get 'er done. 

Image: https://konmari.com/books

Well, you see now why the book is such a hit. It's a clearly a great idea, and Kondo has a better way with words than I do. 

She also offers a bunch of very practical, how-to tips her a small and unassuming little book - in itself something of a study in design, methinks. 

I particularly appreciated her detailed descriptions of not only which clothing items should be folded or hung, but precisely how. I've been twirling my shorts and shirts into tight little less-likely-to-wrinkle shapes (that remind me of egg rolls) ever since I read it. 

And I truly appreciated the firm but gentle lectures that pop up every few pages. Damnit! How did she know that I still have clothes I haven't worn in the past 4 years? Well, she's right - no joy in those...

I have to admit that I took off into closet-projects before I finished reading the book; so this can't be a proper review. However, I think it's only fair that I get points for taking the intended action. 

Rather than sum up the title here then, I'll leave you with some very important advice: 

Don't give the book to your mother as a gift. 

I have it on very good authority that when you give this particular title as a gift to the woman who has spent your whole life cleaning up after you, she is likely to use it immediately - to smack you in the head. 

So noted? OK. Well. Why don't you go see about one of those closets now, mmmmhm? 

# 

Help Wanted!

Who's reading what out there? What would you like to tell the world about it?

Totally open to guest bloggers... 

Your Recommendations Should Be Here

This is a shameless plea for guest posts.

I started this blog so long ago I can't remember exactly when, but I remember exactly why: Because there are too many books and too little time, to read books that aren't good for you - whatever that means.


OK, there was another reason, and that was just to keep track of what I read. My memory ain't what it used to be, you know.

Anyway, thanks to a few new developments in this particular chapter of my life, managing my blogs has fallen way, way, way down on my list of priorities. In other words: HELP!

If you've ever wanted to post a book review at a piddly little blog with a great big goal of helping readers find books that they'll enjoy, learn from, and later enthusiastically recommend to others, this is your chance!

Wanna write a guest post/commentary/book review? Contact me in comments here, on the Facebook page devoted to this blog, or on Twitter. Thanks!

~Diane Stresing

Warm Up with a Trip to Summer Falls

Has the current deep freeze made you feel like you need a doctor?

Try Dr. Who, in Summer Falls.

Image from http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/summer-falls

Not only does the title recall higher temperatures and the book get a good review, this guest post received a very warm welcome when it initially published last May. In fact, it was the most-read post of 2013!

So, what are you waiting for? Summer?

Are White Chicks All That? Notes in the Margin & Unfinished Books of 2013

DON'T LOOK NOW but there are only 27 more reading days left in 2013. Sadly, Hilton Als' White Girls is going to be on my list of unfinished books this year. And it's a long list. ~ sigh ~

Why didn't White Girls make the gotta-finish pile of books? As much as I enjoyed (all 100+ pages of!) the first essay in the compilation, Tristes Tropiques also made my head hurt a bit. On some pages, I felt lost; then Als threw me a line and I got hooked again. One that grabbed me:

Rube's Cubes from Agweb.com

Our love was a confusion of non-twinning, that is, we didn't recognize anything of ourselves in the other. [p 17]

A fine line, isn't it?  But there's a big pond of brilliant writers and too many of them beckoned me at the time.

Addicted to Nonfiction?

In addition to Ann Pachett's tempting Truth and Beauty and her dear friend's Autobiography of a Face, I'm determined to close the year with no un-read issues of National Geographic and CRJ. And that's a daunting task.

Bridget Jones' New Tricks 

Sometimes it's easy to dismiss a book. I mean, you know right away if something isn't worth your time, right? Well, I thought so until the NYT made me think again about the middle-aged Bridget Jones. Dagnabbit.

What about you? I'm always open to guest bloggers -- whether you'd like to gloat about all the books you've read this year or wallow in the guilt of a too-tall stack of unfinished books. Or play a game, like Guess Who Has the Most Library Late Fees? That's always fun.*

Contact me if you wanna be my next guest poster!

~Diane Stresing

* I swear, it wasn't me! 

Why the Internet Won't Kill Reading

The internet is a terrible distraction for me. I'm not into online gaming, shopping, or porn, so what's the problem?

Reading.

Why, just last week, when I could've been reading War and Peace, I was wasting/investing my time elsewhere, learning about dogs getting MRIs (don't worry, they pawed consent forms) and what to do with an avocado pit. I also got a little civics lesson from California (good news!) and a hopeful but admittedly speculative look into Iranian politics, courtesy of Fareed Zakaria.

With so many delightful reading distractions it's no wonder it can take 10+ hours just to answer the day's email.

What about you? What have you been reading lately? Actual books on your nightstand, a Kindle or iPad, or countless articles as you surf the web?

Whatever it is, if you want to blog about it, I'm very open to guest posts. You know, having you write this blog gives me more time to read online :D

Quetching about Not Reading

Not kvetching; quetching. But whatevs. Who has time? Another long weekend is here, so it's a good time to read ... or at least to quetch about not having time to read. I've just loaned out A Fine and Private Place, so it's off my shelf and no longer taunting me ("thought you just couldn't wait to read this! Ha! I've been here a year!") and I've been reading lots of cool stuff on screen (solar planes that fly at night!) and work stuff (there's always work stuff) but lately I've not gotten to read much that I really want to read.


I'm holding out hope I'll soon get to pick up Gone Girl.

Meanwhile, what have you been reading? Wanna talk about it? Or better yet, blog? Yep. This is another cry for help. Guest blogging, anyone?

Don't worry, I'm not exactly without options :D As a matter of fact, I've just scheduled a totally awesome guest blog that you, lucky readers, will see on Tuesday. Hint: it involves Time Travel. Which I'm totally going to learn how to do someday. When I have time.

(See you then.)