Tag Archive | Bay County Library System

Summer Reading/Summer Blogging

English: Photo of Bonnie Jo Campbell

English: Photo of Bonnie Jo Campbell (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As usual, I’m not sure where to begin.  This summer has personally held some nasty surprises for what passes for my life.  Then again, I suppose I have to start somewhere if I am going to achieve anything at all.  I’ll spare everyone the details for now, so I’ll get right to the point.

Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde has unfortunately suffered as a result.  I’m trying to get things back on track.  It just may take a while.  I’ve sorely neglected the feature that inspired so much this year:  My Life In Pop Culture.  I’ve also neglected to do my part for two new blogging award nominations I received as of late.  Blogging awards are a wonderful way to show appreciation to those bloggers nearest and dearest to your heart.  I’m honored to have received them.  Thank you for the nominations!  I’m looking forward to correcting this error on my part as soon as possible.  Also, I’ve been haphazard in sharing some of my favorite bloggers here.  I’m finding it difficult to balance my own blog posts with reblogging wonderful posts from the likes of Childhood Relived.  I somehow have to strike a balance.  I love creating my own content, of course; at the same time, I come across so many wonderful/funny/inspiring posts, I instinctively want to share it with the most wonderful audience of all:  my readers.  When I reblog, I do it out of sheer admiration.  I just want everyone, readers and bloggers alike, to realize that fact.

And then there are books.  I’m not sure if many of you’ve paid attention to my running reading list stuck to the top of my blog, but I’ve had my nose stuck in various books for the last two months.  It can be blamed on learning how to borrow e-books for my Nook Color from the Bay County Library System.  I’m getting a lot of mileage out of my Nook Color.  I love it to the point where I’m seriously considering asking for a Kindle Fire for Christmas and/or my birthday.  I love to compare/contrast.  It isn’t that I favor e-books over hardcovers or well-loved paperbacks – nothing will ever replace the feel and heft of a physical book – I just read that much more with an e-reader.  My next experiment:  Audio books on my laptop and/or Nook Color.  This may sound stupid, but at times I wish I could commute via Metro instead of having to personally drive 40 minutes each way to work every day.  Think of the reading time I could get in if I lived in a large city!  Ah well.

The books I’ve read so far this summer will have a lasting impact on me, my writing, everything.  I love them that much!  Each one deserves its own post and review.  The problem is that I never feel I do a book justice when I review it.  I always seem to leave something important unsaid – and that infuriates me.  Just don’t be surprised if I finally establish a series of book reviews here.

I hope to soon create a flexible schedule/outline for content.  Stay tuned, as always.  I still plan a series on Linda McCartney’s photography, Paul McCartney himself, and more.  That, of course, doesn’t even begin to cover politics.  I also, regrettably, haven’t written a personal post about Turner Syndrome, outlined my thoughts on reproductive rights, and so much more.  I just need to get organized and go for it.  What saddens me is that people are clicking on those links to Turner Syndrome and Reproductive Rights only to find nothing there.

By the way, I’m well on the way to achieving my reading goals for the year.  I’ve read 17 of the 25+ e-books I pledged to read in 2012.  I’ve read a total of 28 books, both traditional and e-books, out of the 60 I hope to read in 2012.  With five months to go, my goals are in sight!  That is a wonderful feeling after coming so close to my goal of 48 in 2011.  Oh, and congrats to Bonnie Jo Campbell, one my favorite Michigan authors and the author of one of my favorite books, Once Upon A RiverOnce Upon A River was selected as a 2012 Michigan Notable Book!  Well deserved.  I discuss Once Upon A River here.

Book Hunting At Its Best

Cover of "The Cult of the Amateur: How To...

Cover via Amazon

Every August the friends of the Bay County Library System holds a huge library sale that is normally spread out over at least three days.  It is one of the largest library book sales in the state of Michigan.  Until this past year it was held in an old mall.  With the sale of the mall to a local developer, the sale held this past August moved to an unused elementary school.

While I don’t attend every year, I attend more often than not.  What could be better for someone who loves to read as much as I do?  There is nothing like rummaging through hundreds of used books looking for gems.  Admittedly, I currently have too many books and not nearly enough shelf space.  In years past, I went a bit overboard at the sale and still have books I have yet to read.  As a result, I tried to show a little restraint last summer.  Below are the books I plucked this past August.  I ended up with all of them for less than $10.

That said, I tend to be picky.  I rarely select paperbacks unless they are in pristine condition and the content compelling.  Hardcovers have to be close to like new condition or I will pass it up.  I use the books from the sales as a means to read books I otherwise would never pick up as well as a way to discover new authors.  I never go into a sale with a plan.  I just wander endlessly until something catches my eye.

As an avid fan of American Pickers, I tend to think of it as a form of picking and an adventure in its own right.  I just might have to attend again this coming August, even if I only select a handful of books.  It may be time to pass some books along.  I love the thrill of the hunt and the fact that I’m helping out the library system as well.

The Loot:

American Mania:  When More Is Not EnoughPeter C. Whybrow, M.D.

Blood DiamondsGreg Campbell – DONE

The Cult Of The AmateurAndrew Keen

HurricaneJames S. Hirsch

Mañana MañanaPeter Kerr

Passport Diaries Tamara T. Gregory

The Weed That Strings The Hangman’s BagAlan Bradley

*  It was sad to note as I compiled this post that I’ve only read one of the books thus far.  On a positive note, as I researched the links, I noticed a few of the authors listed above have new books coming out this year.  I can’t wait to dive in!

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