Communal Bookshelf

Does your house have a communal bookshelf? If not, is your bookshelf centrally located so everyone has access to it?
I do not have a communal bookshelf other than the few books that sit on the coffee table in the living room. Living in a city condo doesn’t afford to show off all my books in [...]

Social Reading

How much of your reading do you share with others (outside of blogging?) Do you belong to a book or library club? Do you trade books with friends? Do you tell others what you’re reading?
Reading used to be a private enterprise because my attachment to books and tireless perusal were such bewilderment to friends. Books [...]

Blurbs and Praises

This week’s Booking Through Thursday concerns with blurbs. Honestly I do not pay attention to blurbs . I usually turn to the first chapter and start reading to get a feel of a book. In light of this blurb issue, that is pertinent to the book that I current peruse, I do want to say [...]

Taking Notes

Do you take notes while reading – either for your reviews or for yourself? How/where do you make these notes (on the page, post-its, scrap paper, notebooks etc)?

I take my reading notes very seriously because it is the act of conversing and interacting with the authors and their words. Notes are testimony to my personal [...]

Questions for Authors

If you could ask your favorite author (alive or dead) one question … who would you ask, and what would the question be?
The recalcitrant self in me strikes again because I simply cannot resist asking just one question. The inquisitive mind will disclose some of the questions that still make me contemplate every now and [...]

It’s a Gay 24 Hour Read-a-Thon!

Are you planning on participating in the upcoming 24 Hour Read-a-thon (either as a reader or cheerleader)? Have you made any preparations for the event? And, veterans out there, any tips you’d like to share with the newbies?
I’m a newbie myself since I couldn’t make any of the previous read-a-thons. All I know is [...]

Weeding Out Books

When’s the last time you weeded out your library?
I haven’t been weeding out books from my collection as much as I have wanted. I have been accumulating books I have read all summer, after the last weeding during spring break. I tend to let books sit around until they have gravitated in me. By gravitation [...]

How to Approach Book Lists, a Monday Musing

This past week, Borders re-released it’s 100 Favourite Books of All Times. Do you vote in these kinds of polls when they arise? Do you look through the list, or seek out books featured?
I’m not aware of such a poll, at least not Borders in the United States. Although any list of favorite titles [...]

Ask Matt Anything

This week’s BTT question calls for reciprocation on readers’ part. Each participant could ask a question they’ve wanted to discuss with other readers. I want to answer some of the questions on BTT site.
1. Bluestocking started Cafe Blue to discuss anything by Jane Austen. It looks like I have to pay visits to her cafe [...]

Reciprocating “You-Ask-the-Question” BTT

This week’s BTT question calls for reciprocation on readers’ part. Each participant could ask a question they’ve wanted to discuss with other readers. Are you ready for my question?
About two years ago I discovered some new authors (to me) from the Outmoded Author Challenge. Elizabeth Bowen, May Sarton, and Malcolm Lowry to name a few. [...]