Booking Through Thursday: Reflection on 2009 Reads

It’s the last day of the year, and you know what that means … nostalgia and looking back.

What were your favorite books of the year? (Books that were new to you in 2009, if not necessarily published this year.)

I don't have any favorites, because I have read so many great books this year (at least until I started work again) One of the stand-outs though was "The Four Hour Work Week" By Tim Ferris - does this really need any further comment? It is inspiring to say the least, and something I want to work towards!

A surprise like was "Crime and Punishment" by Dostoyevsky - had been putting this book off for so long as I had assumed it would be a chore to read it. However, it turned out to be delightful, and one of my all time favs.

And I was excited to find "The Law and the Lady" by Wilkie Collins in a Borders store over here - I can read his books over and over again.

I hope that next year's reflection on books read wont be solely dedicated to dry legal journals.

Booking Through Thursday - History

Given the choice, which do you prefer? Real history? Or historical fiction? (Assume, for the purposes of this discussion that they are equally well-written and engaging.)

I have a dilemma when reading historical works - I always feel that to understand what I am reading, I really should have a better understanding of some earlier chapter of history. But where should I actually start? At the dawn of time and work my way down the ages?

Last year I read a book called "A Short History of the 20th Century" (by Bill Bryson, I think...). This easy to read, novel sized work provided a snapshot of all the momentous events of the century, and while it left me wanting more detailed analysis, it gives a great framework for understanding the context of those events.

I don't really go for historical fiction, although I enjoy the stories, I am concerned, as other responses have suggested, that I might pick up erroneous ideas of history - my historical knowledge is sadly lacking, I don't need to fill the void with errors! In some cases though, historical fiction can open your mind to the real impact that history has had on real people. When I read "The 19th Wife" by David Ebershoff, I realised I had never considered what it would be like on a daily basis to live in a polygamous relationship and I was deeply touched by the emotions that the female characters underwent as the first, second or third wife. Historical fiction is able to go behind the the names, dates and numbers, to look at the personal aspect of history.

Some of the best historical insight to be gained is through autobiographies that provide a strong sense of history - "Wild Swans" springs to mind. I really enjoy this kind of work, where you gain an insight into the history of a certain time, and a very vivid personal account of the way that those events effect everyday people.

The Simple Woman's Daybook 26 December 2009

FOR TODAY
26 December 2009

Outside my window...isolated patches of blue, plenty of billowing cloud
I am thinking...how nice it is to have a lazy day to relax and enjoy quiet time with AV
I am thankful for...not feeling too homesick for the first Christmas away from family
From the kitchen...leftover roast meat and vegetables
I am wearing...comfy new pj's and ug boots
I am creating...abstract plans about becoming more creative
I am going...out for coffee later with AV
I am reading...What's Wrong With the World - Chesterton
I am hoping...for a less stressful work week this week
I am hearing...the fridge rattling and my husband clicking keys on his computer
Around the house...books lying open, empty tea cups and candles
One of my favorite things...my new dressing gown - toasty warm

I am pondering these words... "The sky must be invoked; and to begin everything with the weather is a sort of pagan way of beginning everything with prayer." Chesterton, What's Wrong With the World.
A few plans for the rest of the week: gym at least 3 times this week to work off Christmas excesses, finishing my book
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...our Christmas Tree on Christmas Eve, and the warm glow of candles.

Play along at The Simple Woman's Daybook: http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

I'm Back!

Hello Lovely people,

I have missed blogging so much since I started work. It is a full time job and then some, with additional stress to bring home in the evenings and on weekends, and honestly, it hasn't left me with much energy to do anything much in my personal life.

That needs to change.

Since I came back from my recent trip home to Australia, I have been waking up much earlier, going to the gym and having a bit of quiet time before work. I am thinking this should become blog and reading time.

Anyway, that's the plan. Maybe even a resolution for New Year?

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...5 minutes ago, sheeting rain (in the desert no less!) now, clearing blue and some wispy cloud. Love it.
I am thinking...about how to make this Advent and Christmas time a special one away from home and in a foreign country.I am thankful for...the lovely time we had on our recent trip home, catching up with beautiful family and wonderful friends
From the kitchen...it is still relatively early - so just a steaming mug of tea so far
I am wearing...3/4 trackies a tank and a pashmina
I am creating...a dent in the housework that built up over the last week
I am going...to church later in the day

I am reading..."Calm at Work" by Paul Wilson - we'll see
I am hoping...that there will be more rain later in the day - it seems to have cleared completely now
I am hearing...hindi music, constructions noise from next door, and the winding down whir of the washing machine
Around the house...things are everywhere, washing hanging on the dryer, suitcases waiting to be stored, several pairs of flip flops scattered about
One of my favorite things...the candle burning down to almost nothing beside me
A few plans for the rest of the week: work, work, work and a nice dinner for hubby when he comes home on Monday
Here is picture for thought I am sharing... beautiful wide open aussie spaces

This was my first entry for the Simple Woman's Daybook. To join in, visit http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Going to Goa!

I am going to India! Yay!!!! I have been wanting to go for so long, and now I have an opportunity. Unfortunately it is for work, not for pleasure, and so I can't bring AL with me. I think he is a little envious.

Our work is holding a retreat in Goa, and I am lucky enough to have been invited along. I heard it is the monsoon season over there right now, and I can't wait to see rain again. The forecast for all of next week is rain and thunderstorms!

Hopefully I have an opportunity to take some pictures, because it has been way too long since I had the camera out, and I really want to show you all some more scenes from this part of the world.

Now...what to pack...

The Countdown has begun

Well, actually for me, the countdown began a while ago. But in 19 days, the Dubai Metro will officially open! Yay!! There is a stop right outside my apartment, and one right outside the zone where I work, so commuting will become much easier. No hanging around for hours after work if AL has to work back or gets stuck in traffic - I can pop on home and have dinner waiting for him.

Also, weekends are going to be better, because we won't need to worry about finding a car park at our favourite end of town, and all the malls have a station next to them.

I am looking forward to being mobile again, and getting out and about to meet people without relying on cabs or kind friends to pick me up.

I am just hoping that the station near our apartment opens on time - not sure I can bear waiting another 6 months for my ticket to freedom!

Will have to add some pictures of the near complete stations soon!

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Its Off to Work We Go

It is incredible how quickly you settle back in to the daily grind of getting up, having a shower, swallowing some tea and breakfast (if you're good!) and walking out the door. Clocking in at work, making a tea while your computer switches on, then switching off almost everything personal about you while your eyes glaze over in the soft blue glare. Clocking out at 10 minutes past leaving time (if you're lucky) and heading home to a messy house that needs sweeping, but maybe tomorrow, falling into bed and dreaming about the day that was and the day that is to come.

Sorry I haven't posted lately...

I know, it has been ages since I posted anything. I feel really bad, but there has just been no time.

I have a new job, which is a relief at least on the financial side of things. But I miss my free time to read and write and browse other people's offerings.

Don't get me wrong, I read and write a lot at work, and I guess you could say I follow other people's offerings as well - their complaints and legal disputes and litigious bickering.

The Court Rules are certainly not as riveting as The 13th Tale, for example and writing letters to the other side, while often involving a little imagination, do not really spur the creative spirit.

Oh well.

By the way, I am writing this in my blogger tool in Gmail, so keen to see how it works. Its great because I don't have to wait for my blog to load to be able to give a quick update.

Anyway, hopefully some more updates shortly. Will have to make more of an effort to find interesting things to experience and blog about.

Booking Through Thursday - Preferences

Which do you prefer? (Quick answers–we’ll do more detail at some later date)

• Reading something frivolous? Or something serious? Serious!
• Paperbacks? Or hardcovers? Paperbacks.
• Fiction? Or Nonfiction? More likely to read fiction
• Poetry? Or Prose? Prose
• Biographies? Or Autobiographies? Biographies
• History? Or Historical Fiction? History
• Series? Or Stand-alones? Usually stand-alones.
• Classics? Or best-sellers? Classics.
• Lurid, fruity prose? Or straight-forward, basic prose? Lurid & fruity, as long as there is a purpose to it!
• Plots? Or Stream-of-Consciousness? Got to have a plot. Think Dickensian plots.
• Long books? Or Short? Long.
• Illustrated? Or Non-illustrated? Either.
• Borrowed? Or Owned? Owned.
• New? Or Used? New if I can afford it.

Bet some of the regualrs could have guessed my responses!

Booking Through Thursday - TBR

Follow-up to last week’s question:

Do you keep all your unread books together, like books in a waiting room? Or are they scattered throughout your shelves, mingling like party-goers waiting for the host to come along?

No, all my books are kept together, whether I have read them or not. After taking the photograph for the last Booking Through Thursday response, I did put all the "to be read" books at the front of the shelf, and all the "read" books at the back. I don't know how long that will last though. It is convenient, because when I need a new book, I can see at a glance the choices I have. I like the "books in a waiting room" analogy, although that would imply there was some method about which book I would choose to read next, (Mrs Dalloway, this way please!) and that is not something I have ever been able to do - a choice of reading material is very spontaneous for me, and reflects my mood more than anything.

Booking Through Thursday - Unread

This is the prompt today: “So here today I present to you an Unread Books Challenge. Give me the list or take a picture of all the books you have stacked on your bedside table, hidden under the bed or standing in your shelf – the books you have not read, but keep meaning to. The books that begin to weigh on your mind. The books that make you cover your ears in conversation and say, ‘No! Don’t give me another book to read! I can’t finish the ones I have!’ “

This is not truly reflective of my "to be read" pile - you have to bear in mind that I am living in a new country, and so do not have all my books with me. These ones are mainly used books that I have collected from sales while here. The 2 piles on the right are the ones I intend to read ASAP, and the ones on the left, I will get around to eventually! A very mixed selection, so always a lot of choice. I don't mind how big my TBR pile gets - it is good to have the right book to hand when the need arises.

Book Club - The Island

We had our 4th bookclub meeting last night. Our book was "The Island" by Victoria Hislop. It is a novel about discovering family secrets, including the taint of leprosy and murder! I was dreading reading it - it just sounded like the worst kind of chic-lit, but I made the effort, and although it was a very light read, I quite enjoyed the plot of the book. The writing style was a bit amatuerish though, and could have done with a bit more editing I think.

Surprisingly most people in the group didn't really enjoy the book, even those that had been looking forward to it so much.

Today I read a book called "Even a Moron with a Dream" by Pathman Senathirajah, a network marketing guru from Malaysia. It is a book designed to inspire people to pursue their dreams, with a particular look at network marketing. He definitely has some interesting ideas, although I don't agree with some of the things he says. I did like his point about taking small steps every day towards your dream, just so that you get things moving, and prove to yourself and others that you are working for this goal and not just wishing out loud.

I am still trying to get through "Bliss" - it is not really doing it for me. I think my reward when I finish it will be to read "Vanity Fair".

Booking Through Thursday - Celebrities

Do you read celebrity memoirs? Which ones have you read or do you want to read? Which nonexistent celebrity memoirs would you like to see?

In high school music class we were encouraged to read about famous musicians and to report on them to the class. I remember reading about Ray Charles. I had no idea who Ray Charles was at the time, but remember taking his autobiography with me on a camping trip during the holidays, and I was so blown away by his story.

Last year I read the autobiography of Sidney Poitier, which was incredibly well written and insightful.

I don't go out of my way though to read celebrity memoirs usually, as they are often just read like "I did this, and the I did this and then that went wrong and then I did this..." Unless very well written and honest, and not just a fleshed out version of a career, autobiography can be a bit tedious and self-serving. Much prefer to read biographies about celebrities.

Can't think of any celeb whose life story I am dying to read right now...it seems like as soon as a person gains any sort of fame or notoriety these days there is a rush to put out a book about them. So, no, am more than happy to wait for the next celebrity read to fall into my lap.

Sunday Scribblings - Boys and Their Toys

The prompt this week is "Toys". A bit late I know, but was sick all day yesterday and didn't feel up to being creative. Not sure I'm much better today, but here goes:

The two women seated themselves in the shade of the verandah and watched their husbands inspecting the glistening new tractor, wondering how long it would be before mud spatters besmirched the shiny red paint.

The older woman nudged her daughter-in-law and grinned at the sight of her 3 year old grandson who was following the proceedings, kicking the tyres in an experimental way, hands on hips and trying to maintain a serious face. His eyes sparkled with delight though, as he was hoisted into the cabin, his own dusty tractor tucked under one arm, forgotten momentarily.

Booking Through Thursday - Hot!

Now that summer is here (in the northern hemisphere, anyway), what is the most “Summery” book you can think of? The one that captures the essence of summer for you?

(I’m not asking for you to list your ideal “beach reading,” you understand, but the book that you can read at any time of year but that evokes “summer.”)

I can't really think of a book that evokes summer for me.

Hmmmmm. Thinking, thinking.

Nope. The only thing I can come up with is The Wind in the Willows. Thinking about the book itself doesn't immediately conjure summer images. However when reading the descriptions of the changing seasons, I can almost smell the grass, and feel the warmth of the sun.

Thinking about summer, though, makes me think about long holidays from school or uni, spent lying under a cloudless sky on prickly green grass, with a Charles Dickens, or Jane Austen novel, or sometimes a motivational book.

I miss having a patch of grass out the back!

Happy Birthday AL!

To my beautiful husband who celebrates his Birthday today - all my love and best wishes for a wonderful day, and a happy and successful year ahead.

Thank-you for the joy that you have brought to my life, for the laughter that we share, the support through challenges and the daily companionship.

I love you!

Sunday Scribblings - Vision

This week's prompt for Sunday Scribbling is Vision.

Always healthy, always strong.

No pills or potions.

Just sensible eating and a generous pinch of common sense.

No walking stick, no need for glasses.

Perfect vision.

Until the day the world went dark.

Happy Birthday Inge!

A big birthday hug for my German teacher from High School who celebrates her birthday today! Learning German was an experience that opened a whole new world to me, and which helped shape the wonderful life that I have today! Herzliche Glueckwuensch Zum Geburtstag, Inge!

Booking Through Thursday - Sci Fi/Fantasy

This week's prompt: One of my favorite sci-fi authors (Sharon Lee) has declared June 23rd Fantasy and Science Fiction Writers Day.

As she puts it:

So! In my Official Capacity as a writer of science fiction and fantasy, I hereby proclaim June 23 Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Day! A day of celebration and wonder! A day for all of us readers of science fiction and fantasy to reach out and say thank you to our favorite writers. A day, perhaps, to blog about our favorite sf/f writers. A day to reflect upon how written science fiction and fantasy has changed your life.

So … what might you do on the 23rd to celebrate? Do you even read fantasy/sci-fi? Why? Why not?

I haven't read much Science Fiction, but recently I picked up some Stephen Baxter at a used book sale. I have to say I am struggling a bit to finish it. Maybe I just need to find the right author. I am looking forward to reading some other comments on this topic to hopefully get some new reading ideas.

Fantasy on the other hand, I love! I read a lot of fantasy in high school, for some reason our school library was well stocked in that department. I don't really remember any of it, or even the authors, but do remember it was an enjoyable read. I love being able to escape into a different world, one where good is very good and evil is recognised as just that. Where an ordinary person is compelled by circumstances to become a champion of good, and where (at least in all the fantasy I have read!) good always defeats evil.

I only discovered Lord of the Rings in uni, when my brother gave me the trilogy as a Christmas gift. The first time I read it, I didn't really enjoy it. But then a few months later I was stuck with nothing to read, and turned to Tolkein, thinking it would at least fill up my spare time. This second reading, however, changed my view completely - all of a sudden, I loved LOTR! I still enjoy re-reading it from time to time.

At around the same time, a friend gave me Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, and as soon as I got to the end I rushed out to buy the rest that had been published up to that date.

More recently I discovered Sergei Lukyanenko's Night Watch. I thought this was like Harry Potter for adults, and again had to rush out and read the rest of the series. I love how he twisted perceptions of who was good and bad, what was right and wrong, and what was merely compromise.

That's about it though - I would like to read more fantasy, but there are just so many authors out there, and I don't know where to start - recommendations warmly welcomed! As for what I will do on the 23rd to celebrate Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer's Day, I don't know. Would love to re-read some of these authors, but I don't have any of their titles with me. Will have to go digging and see if I can find any fantasy in my TBR stash. Or maybe I will try my hand at some fantasy writing - that would be an appropriate challenge...