Friday, January 06, 2012

Friday Reads - 1st Edition

I always love the start of a new year. I like to pretend that everything is starting fresh. I did finish one book that I started in 2011, but generally I tend to put all those books that have been laying around sort of read back on the shelves and start with new ones. I am finding that I am excited about reading lately. I hope that this continues.

Currently I am Reading:

Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold. I chose to read following the list Marg posted on her blog for lack of any other list in my immediate range. I know I had a list of my own when I first downloaded the books onto my eReader, but I have no idea where I saved it. So, this is her Vorkisagan series. I have heard lots of good things about it and last year you were able to download all of the books (for the most part) as free e-books. As you can tell I am doing a bang-up job of NOT starting any new series as it is still January and this is a really long series. It works as part of Carl's Science-Fiction Experience, though.

Then, I bought an mp3 player with Christmas money so that I could start listening to audio books. Unfortunately, my library doesn't have a huge selection that are mp3 compatible and I am not sure if I want to start using places like audible.com. I obviously should have done some research before buying the mp3 player, but live and learn. In the meantime I am listening to Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. I am thinking I will be buying a paper copy of this book before the year is out because I all ready want to reread it. The big reason I am slack with audio books is because I tend to get distracted and discover I have no idea what is being said in the book. I am sure I will get better, but I really enjoy this book and want to pick-up on the few things I overlooked listening to it. Also, for lack of a better category I am calling it science-fiction and also counting it for the Science-Fiction Experience.

My bookmark is also sticking out from:
Naked by David Sedaris - For the Essay Reading Challenge
Noisy Outlaws, Unfriendly Blobs, and Some Other Things featuring stories by Various Authors - A Christmas gift from Debi.

What are you currently reading?


Books in my (hopefully) not so distant future:

I am considering:
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami (Possible group read with Care and Maree)
Q's Legacy by Helene Hanff (Care lent me a copy)
Child of the Prophecy by Juliet Marillier (Buddy read with Melissa)
Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold (For the Science-Fiction Experience)
Betrayal in Death by J.D. Robb (For the Science-Fiction Experience)
Foundation by Isaac Asimov (For the Science-Fiction Experience Read-Along)

And who knows what else...

Lastly, even though the Science-Fiction Experience isn't really a challenge, I still should post and say that I am signing up!
January 1, 2012 - February 29, 2012

Hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings.

This is not a challenge, so there are no rules. The point is to just have fun.

My List:
1. Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold (Completed January 6, 2012)
2. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (Completed January 8, 2012)
3. Foundation by Isaac Asimov (Foundation Series, Book 1) (Completed January 12, 2012) (review - Part 1)

Also, I found another challenge and I am only joining in because if you want, you only have to read one book.

January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Hosted by Alison.

What She Says:
  • Runs from January 01 2012 to December 31 2012. Jump in whenever you can.
  • You don’t have to have a blog to participate.
  • Read as many or as few books as you’d like. [I'm shooting for all 15 in my collection]
  • Physical books, ebooks, audiobooks are all welcome.
  • His children’s books are the primary focus of this challenge. You are welcome to read a few of his adult books to count towards the challenge.
  • For bonus fun please feel free to watch the movie adaptations in addition to the books.
My Thoughts: My library has pretty much everything by him. I have read a bunch, but it has been years, so I am excited to be able to go back and read even 1 or 2 that I haven't picked up since I was young. The only one I have even read in blogging days was The Witches.

My List:
1.

***Edited to add: Casey****
Not just the guy gets excited about new tools... For Casey, the box is the best thing ever!
Casey discovers a balloon.
Speaking of Casey, she is hanging from the curtains at the moment, so that's it for the pictures for now!

36 comments:

  1. wow, you are coming out of the gate full speed!! lol... I know you will enjoy everything you can get your hands on.. I don't think I remember you not liking a book!
    (of course I could be wrong I usually am lol)

    I hope you have a great reading year kelly!!

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    1. haha, well, there were a few bad reads early last year, but it got better. :)

      I hope you have a great reading year, too!

      Delete
  2. Ooh, I want to read some of Bujold's sci fi, particularly the Vorkosigan series. I think I would like it a lot.

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    1. I think you would, too. I somehow got the whole series as a free download last year from the author herself. I now have no idea how...

      Delete
  3. Anonymous5:59 PM

    I'm excited to have you on board, Kailana! Can't wait to see what book you decide to read.

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    1. I am looking forward to it! I also have his biography...

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  4. I've heard lots of good things about Ready Player One. Hope you enjoy it! And I hope that you get the chance to read the J.D. Robb book (I've been in the mood for one myself). Enjoy!

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    1. Ready Player One is so much fun I have the book on a list to buy next time I let myself buy books. I want to own a physical copy for future rereads... I haven't read J.D. Robb since early last year, so really should get around to her!

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  5. I love the cover of Falling Free. It's so 1980s. :-)It sounds like you're off to such a great start.

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    1. Yes, it is a fun cover. It is not the one I have, but it is the one I enjoyed. :) I am looking forward to more from the series.

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  6. Ready Player One is great!! And I do use Audible and really like it. I tend to only listen to audios when walking the dog so one book a month (plus the two free when you sign up) tends to work out for me. At $16 a month, I think it is a bargain as audios are just way too expensive. If you don't have a good library system (and I don't), it is a great way to go.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I don't have a good library system either... I will have to think about it some more. I have a couple to listen to for the moment, so I will probably wait until I need a new read and decide then. :)

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  7. You will get better at listening to audio books, but it won't take you long. I loved Ready Player One.

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    1. Yes, it is a work-in-progress. There are times where I just seem to zone out and then I am like, wait, I am supposed to be listening!

      I am really enjoying Ready Player One...

      Delete
  8. Aw, Casey is so cute :p I hope you have better luck with 1Q84 than I did :( Just couldn't get into it. And yay for reading Sedaris!!! I love him :D

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    1. You know, I think you would really like Ready Player One. I can't remember if you have it. I am liking 1Q84 so far and the Sedaris. :)

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  9. Hehe Casey is so cute! I hope I get to meet her someday!

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    1. I hope you get to meet her, too!

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  10. Good luck with your challenges. Weirdly my grandson got that exact boxed set of Roald Dahl books for Christmas. It would too bizarre of me to start borrowing a 5 year old's books... ;-p

    I want to do the sci fi experience too, just need to get a post up next week. I also have a Lois McMaster Bujold book I want to read - The Warrior's Apprentice.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. lol Well, they are books for all ages, soooo... :)

      I have always wanted to read Bujold but then never got around to her.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous10:14 AM

    I'll second what Jenners said about audible.co. They have a great selection and compared to the price of audio at the bookstore I think it's quite a deal. Plus, you can quit at any time...they don't lock you in.

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    1. Yes, the more I hear and think about it, the more I am very tempted by it... I want to finish this audio first, though.

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  12. Ha - I just commented on Hilcia's blog saying how much I *love* the Vorkosigan books.

    I actually read FALLING FREE last, just because it is not really connected to the other books, just set in the same universe. But I really hope you continue with the series.

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    1. I just am following the chronological order for lack of a better idea. lol I am glad I finally started!

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  13. On of my 2012 reading goals is more Bujold...I didn't fall hard for the first Miles book I read, but I plan to keep trying....

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    1. I hope you like your next book better. I hope I like the first Miles book, actually. I haven't actually read anything with him in it yet.

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  14. Casey is just adorable. I love how something as simple as a box can keep them entertained for hours!

    I cannot wait to read your thoughts on READY PLAYER ONE!

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    1. Yes, we taped the box up and now it is as good as new once again. She was baffled by the tape... The only thing is she is ripping little pieces of it off and they are often all over the floor...

      I am really loving Ready Player One!

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  15. I loved Ready Player One and have been wanting to read Falling Free as well. I've got it checked out from the library but it's due soon and I don't think I'm going to get to it in time.

    Thanks for signing up for my guest post series! I wanted to stop by and let you know that I just sent you an email about it (in case it gets snagged by the spam filter).

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    1. I am loving Ready Player One so far. :) Falling Free was good, too. You will have to get it from the library again!

      Thanks for stopping by. I am looking forward to my guest post. :)

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  16. Casey is so gorgeous!! Have you guys played with a laser pen yet? Maggie LOVED chasing that little red light around and we loved watching her.

    Glad you're enjoying Ready Player One so much! And don't give up on the audio--it takes lots of practice and patience. Someone once told me I'll need to LEARN to listen and it's true. (though I still struggle sometimes).

    ReplyDelete
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    1. We had a laser pen but it randomly stopped working. It figures. She loved it, though. I need to buy another one...

      I do need to learn to listen. I am sure I have missed some things with Ready Player One, but I am enjoying the experience so far!

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  17. Ready Player One was one of my favorite books last year. I read it but I heard the audio was excellent.

    I'm going to try and fit in a few scifi books for The SciFi Experience. I have Neuromancer in audio so going to listen to that one first. Somehow I never got around to reading that book.

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    1. I had heard good things about the audio of Ready Player One, too, so I decided it was a good way to get into audio books. I will probably reread it in print one day, too.

      I have Neuromancer on my TBR pile somewhere that I really should read one day.

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    2. Neuromancer is a difficult book to read and I'm finding it even more so in audio. I'm 3/4 through and am using the back button a lot on my mp3 player. For me, it's requiring a lot of concentration.

      Delete
    3. hm, not a good idea for me to listen to on audio then. One day I will have to crack open my paperback copy!

      Delete

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