Thursday, July 22, 2010

What on Earth am I Reading?

It's time to check out book blogs!  Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books has asked her fellow book bloggers to talk about the book we are currently reading.

Wait a sec.  I'm supposed to be reading only one book?  Shoot.  Failed that one.

This is what's happening around here:

Rooted in Barbarous Soil: People, Culture, and Community in Gold Rush California (California History Sesquicentennial Series)I am making my way, bit by bit, through Rooted in Barbarous Soil: People, Culture, and Community in Gold Rush California, which is fully textbook status.  It's only 384 pages, but since it's printed on huge 8x10 paper, it should count as more.  It is mostly very interesting, in a I-need-to-know-about-it-because-I'm-writing-about-it way.  I grew up in Gold Rush country, and since that's pretty much the only history I remember from my fabulous education, I thought I had a good idea of what I was talking about.  This is one of the books that is changing my mind.  But slowly.  Very slowly.


Lewis's Mere Christianity (Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis (Paperback - Feb. 6, 2001))I recently finished a classic (The Master and Margarita) and then blew through two Junior Fiction titles in a day, so I started reading Mere Christianity.  I'm enjoying it, like how it's written, happy to finally be reading some nonfiction C.S. Lewis, but honestly the aforementioned titled has taken some of the Non-Fiction Zest out of my sails.  I want to continue with it, but am itching to start another fiction title.


Ramona ForeverRamona ForeverI am also reading Ramona Forever aloud to my girls.  I Ramona.  Always have, probably always will.  It's not that I identify with her problems so much (my eldest daughter definitely does) but as a girl I drew great comfort in the fact that someone else out there felt out of place.  


Since we are on the subject of great old children's titles, can I just say that it really (really) bugs me when they update the classic cover artwork?  Please (please) don't try to make Ramona Quimby or Laura Ingalls look like they were born in 2001.  Kids aren't that dumb--they'll start reading the book and realize something is a little wonky about the illustrations.


Anyhow, it's a good thing Jennifer asked this question now, and not tomorrow...tomorrow I will certainly have added a title or two.  I seem to be unable to read only one book at a time.  If you are hopping by, leave me a comment--I'd love to check out your blog!

14 comments:

  1. Just hopped in to say hi. I love Ramona. I am your newest follower. Have a great weekend. kittycrochettwo.blogspot.com

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  2. Stopping by via the hop! Nice blog you have here. I am trying to connect as a follower but the widget (or my internet) seems to be having trouble. I will come back later to see if it's working then. Have a great weekend! :)

    Rachel
    And the plot thickens...

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  3. Hi! Just Hopping by - I'm a new follower :). I'm giving away an ARC of Lauren Kate's Torment, plus seven other books on my blog so do check that out if you decide to stop by.
    Have a great weekend,
    Carly x

    http://carlybennett.blogspot.com

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  4. Hi there, *waves* visiting in th spirit of the hop! Your blog is absolutely too cute <3 Sure to stop by some other time too! Happy Reading and have a great weekend!

    Take Care,
    Lisa (Badass Bookie)
    http://badassbookie.blogspot.com/

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  5. Stopping by to return your visit, and what a marvelous place you have here! Good luck getting through your textbook (I also have a habit of picking up giant history books whilst others stare incredulously). Have a great weekend!

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  6. Hopping by and now following. I will come back and check out all your book reviews for sure.

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  7. Just hopped by and started following; I really like what I've seen of your blog so far. Happy hopping!

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  8. Fun blog! I'm going to look around for a while. I've been meaning to read the Ramona books for a while. The only one I've read it Ramona the Pest. My teacher read it to the class in 4th grade, and this boy in my class was forever after 'boinging' my curls... Sigh.

    Oh ya, and I too also DESPISE it when they update the covers and such. Grr. Sometimes, it's better just to leave it be!

    If you get a chance, I'd love to see you over at my blog! Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing

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  9. Am here via the Hop and consider me a new follower!

    Love your choice of books looking over your blog. I'm especially fond of C.S. Lewis. If you ever get the itch to read a mythical retelling of his (Cupid and Psyche), try Til We Have Faces. It's one of my favorites and it seems like very few people have read it.

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  10. Hopping on by to say Hello!

    Twisted

    literarydaydreams.blogspot.com
    Personal Book Blog

    ikissbooks.blogspot.com
    Group Book Blog

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  11. I haven't thought about Ramona in years! I used to love her. And her name: so cool. Hope you have a great weekend, Melody!
    Best, Lyndsey

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  12. I agree about new titles for old books - they should still look like the period they deal with. I don't mind the new Baby-Sitters Club books but they don't have people in new looking clothes either.

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  13. Thank you all for visiting and leaving me comments--I had fun checking out your blogs.

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I'd love to hear what you have to say, leave a comment!