Killing me slowly (or what has happened to my brain?)

(Order the above print "brainrot")

So, I have always considered myself above average when it comes to my choices for reading material- more literary than the average bear if you must. In high school, I was the one reading Jude the Obscure and enjoying it, not because it was on the reading list, but because it had the word "obscure" in the title and looked interesting. Same with "The Picture of Dorian Gray", "Wuthering Heights" and many other classics that were never required reading. Sure I read Steven King novels in there too, but I enjoyed the great works of fiction just as much if not more.

Off to college- the same pattern continued, but with less Steven King and more fantasy/science fiction material since by then Shane had already influenced my reading preferences. Still lots of classics that I thoroughly enjoyed. After college I went into the workforce and didnt have much time to read, but did enjoy reading some biographies of presidents and other somewhat educational books aloud to my residents.

Then I discovered mysteries. And forensic crime novels. And travel memoirs. And memoirs in general. Out with the classics, in with the junk (in many cases.)

This year I am on track to read 100 books- I am at 27 at this point. However, some of the books I have tried to read that have been deemed "Classics" have done NOTHING for me. Very rarely in my life have I started a book and not finished it. Something about the principal of the thing and refusing to be beaten. "Wise Blood" by Flannery O Connor- I couldn't get past the 5th chapter. Shane read it and assured me it was just like a Cohen Brothers movie without the funny, but I was not getting it. "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy, while not yet a classic, I hated it as of chapter 4. Now I am doing my best to avoid "Catch-22" despite the fact I am on page 50 something and have been assured by numerous book reviews that it is one of the funniest books in the history of the world. My friend Kristen (who also recommended "Wise Blood") thoroughly enjoyed "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell" which is also doing me in. That lovely volume is 900 pages- I am on 75 and dreading the next 800 plus.

I am not sure if my brain has re-wired itself to prefer the junk fiction of the day, or if I prefer to read things that travel at a quick clip so I can be on to the next book, but it has been a rude awakening for me.

So, there will be much rejoicing if I can finish the two most recent attempts. Just to break the monotony I am also reading "I Am America {and You Can Too!)" by Steven Correll. A blatant little humor may be the spoonful of sugar to make the medecine go down.

"I've got a map on my wall...

but that don't make me a world traveller!" (If you catch that reference you are some kind of good!)

Some of my all time favorite genres of books are travel/extreme sports books. I discovered many of these authors/books in my former life working with senior citizens, and have enjoyed them since. Since I have a small child and am a stay at home mom, it's a good thing I like to read or my mind might never get to leave Memphis and travel the globe.

Bill Bryson
Bill is one of my favorite travel authors. Before you run out and pick up one of his books however, be ye warned that some of his books contain some really bad language- especially the hysterical "A Walk in the Woods". (Though if I was stuck hiking through the wilderness with a neurotic guy from my past my language might be less than Godly as well.) All his books are written from first-hand experiences travelling the globe, and my favorites are "I'm a Stranger Here Myself" and "Notes from a Small Island." He has also authored a number of other books on subjects sich as grammar, and a short history of nearly everythin.

Tim Cahill
Tim is another travel writer I have really enjoyed, and his works are geared toward more adventurous trips around the world. Often the subject matter of his books is focused on getting out of some situation he shouldn't have gotten into to begin with. Favorites are "Not So Funny When It Happened" and "Pass the Butterworms Please."

John Krakauer
Krakauer's writing is not your typical travel genre. His book "Into the Wild" was just made into a major motion picture, and his "Into Thin Air" is a remarkable tale of survival on Mount Everest. Both are certainly worth the read.

Climbing High
This is another book in the Everest Genre- she was the first Danish woman to climb Mt. Everest, as well as being on the same expedition in 1996 that was chronicled in "Into Thin Air".

One Year Off
True tale of a family who sold everything and took off around the globe. Next time I get annoyed traveling 3 hours with a 4 year old I can think back and be glad I am not in Delhi with a toddler!

What Does Carol Channing Know Anyway?

Whoever wrote that "Diamonds are a girl's best friend" must have had an awfully shallow gal. In our house, not much makes me happier than a good book. Books help keep your brain from turning to mush (important when you spend all day with a 4 year old), help you unwind (did I mention that 4 year old?) and are the perfect opportunity for a little "me time".

With reading in decline in the USA I made a goal for myself to read 100 books in the year 2008. This may sound like a tall order, but in reality that is only 2 books a week. I am a quick reader, and can easily finish a novel in 3 days, quicker if I am really into it. Since 1998 I have attempted to keep track of all the books I have read. Some years I read like gangbusters, while others I simply did not record many of the books I completed. All in all, I actually wrote down 297 books that I have read in the past 9 years- and that is not counting the ones I read multiple times (Harry Potter Series, Gone with the Wind etc.) In 2006 alone I read 78 books!

I wish I could say that all that reading was spiritually uplifting, brain energizing, or at least literary classics. However, I am a huge fan of junk fiction... and my list is full of popular authors-especially in the Forensic Science and Medical Mystery genres. I don't think there is a book out there by Patricia Cornwell or Kathy Reichs I have not read. That being said, I also have a very eclectic list of authors that I really enjoy that are worth mentioning. Maybe you will get an idea for some reading yourself in 2008.

(I'll be doing a week of authors sort of like I did the musicians and games.)

Jean Pendziwol's "Dragon" Safety Books for Kids...

Coleman was studying Dragons for "D" week today, and these two books were among the ones we got from the library and read. They were both really cute and dealt with safety issues for kids without being scary. It also opened up a great opportunity to talk about safety rules.

Once Upon a Dragon is a great story about stranger safety. A child and her friend the dragon are playing at the park when they find themselves in the dragon's book of fairy tales. As they move through the chapters of the fairy tale book, they are approached by many classic characters, each of them encouraging the dragon and child to do something unsafe. (Going into the gingerbread house from Hansel and Gretel- never go in a stranger's house!; Taking an apple from the witch in Snow White- never take food from strangers!; Cindarella's carraigeman trying to get them to take a ride to help rescue the 3 little pigs- never take rides from strangers!)The child reminds the dragon the safety rules each time, and they arrive unscathed at the end of the book, where they ask the good witch wearing a blue uniform with a star wand (policelady with star shaped badge) for help. She gets them safely out of the story, and they go home with Mom. There is a cute little poem at the end about safety and a section for parents to read and tips to discuss with kids.

No Dragons For Tea follows along the same lines, but is related to Fire Safety. Same basic premise where the dragon accidentally starts the tablecloth on fire during a tea party and the child gets him out of the building safely teaching him important tips along the way (crawl on the floor, don't hide, meet at the tree, don't go back in the house for anything, go to the neighbor's and call the police.) There are again tips and a poem at the end to reinforce what the kids learn. Discussing this Coleman learned that if our Fire Alarm goes off he is to go to the mailbox and wait there for Mommy and Daddy. (It is also a good reminder to let your kids hear what the fire alarm sounds like and not to be afraid.)

I just noticed there is a 3rd book in the series called A Treasure at Sea for Dragon and Me dealing with water safety.

Great books that I will end up adding to our library (if I can find 'em cheap) and certainly worth a read from your local library.

Paperback Book Swap/ Swap a CD

I love to read. A LOT. However, I am cheap in a lot of respects, and would much rather pick up books for a few pennies at yard sales or use my library card. Many of the books I have wanted to read in the last few years are not available at the local library, and I refuse to pay big money for them unless they are a classic or something I want to keep a long time. That is why I love PBS.

The way it works is simple... just type in the ISBNs of books you want to get rid of. Make a wish list of books you'd like, or order them off the site if they are already available. When a book is requested from you, you simply click a couple of places, a page prints out for you to wrap up the book, you take it to the post office and pay the shipping. When the book is received, you get a credit good toward another book for yourself. It's that easy.

There is a sister site called Swap a CD.com that is a similar format but with CDs. The credits can move back and forth between the two sites, so if you are getting rid of a lot of books you can get CDs and vice versa.

So far I have had only good experiences with both sites. You get automated email reminders and it is a great way to get your hands on some things you want for CHEAP.

And that is my middle name.

http://www.paperbackswap.com/

http://www.swapacd.com/