Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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What else are you reading? (June 2010 - May 2013) *closed*
Antonella wrote: "The alphabetical order helps to avoid buying the same book twice especially it you don't read them for some years after you bought them ;-)). I only keep essays ordered by subject, because in mos..."
I did put my books into alphabetical order, and then ran into problems fitting in the new ones I bought (after I'd read them so was moving them from the TBR pile). How do you deal with that? I ask because I'm in the process of moving so could adopt a new and better system as I unpack! (Once I've had bookshelves built, that is...)
I don't know if I understand the question. Do you mean the fact that to insert new books I have to move all other books on the shelf? I just leave the books a bit loose and insert the new books as soon as I buy them. There is often place for single books on a shelf. It's just when I insert many book together that I really have to move all the others.
Antonella wrote: "I don't know if I understand the question. Do you mean the fact that to insert new books I have to move all other books on the shelf? I just leave the books a bit loose and insert the new books as ..."I think I must buy too many books! I left some space on each shelf as I put the books on, but slotting new ones into the correct alphabetical place soon became impossible. Short of taking them all out and starting again I couldn't maintain the alphabetical order. It became a major problem whenever I discovered a new author - if I find someone I like I tend to get as many of their books as I can and read them one after the other. Fitting a whole new set of books into place was a nightmare.
Oh, then I had understood the question. It's just that you take book collecting to new heights ;-))
Goodreads has been a huge help with keeping track of what I have and don't have. As soon as I buy a book, it goes on my TBR shelf here. And anytime I hear about a book that sounds interesting, it goes on my "wishlist" shelf. So far I haven't accidentally double purchased. If Goodreads disappeared, or if a virus or mistake wiped my shelves, I'd be in trouble, though.
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I read that about a year ago and it was a fabulous book! But you're right, it's not a romance by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, I had to stop reading it part way through, and it was sitting on my coffee table for probably two years or more before I was able to pick it back up again and finish it.
I highly recommend it, but not as a romance. Even if I sorta did read it like one. The ending was horrible. And I don't mean she shouldn't have written it the way she did, but what happens is terrible. I probably cried over that one. I really was hoping for a HEA and got the exact opposite!
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These days you could easily use a spreadsheet, but back in the days of earlier computers, I used a simple word processing program and listed all of my books in alphabetical order by author's last name, and then listed the number of the shelf or crate they were on. This file was changed and updated as needed and was awesome when I went to college. I could call home and say I want X book on Y shelf and it case you have trouble finding it, it should be Z books away from the left side of the shelf. My mom was amazed because the book was always right where I said it would be.
I need to go back to that just in case something does happen to GR, but back then, everything was shelved together regardless of what it was. Right now, I've got things in two basic divisions: fiction (shelved by author's last name) and nonfiction (shelved by subject only, and shelved loose within the subject.) Of course, I have a whole bookcase dedicated to Dean Koontz(shelved by pub date!), so he's separate from all of my other fiction and nonfic. Then I had to have a special bookshelf dedicated to Brian Jacques' work, so he's on his own now too. And up until last week my MM was on it's own taking up two bookshelves (two LONG) bookshelves above Brian. But I also have a huge pile of TBR MM on my coffee table and realized they would need a home too and the two shelves were getting full. So, I took off the VHS tapes (OMG, yes, I still have those!) off the top shelf of that four shelf bookcase, moved them to another place altogether, and now have three shelves (LONG shelves!) dedicated to MM. All of my other fiction takes up two more bookcases and is not separated out by genre or anything.
As a RL librarian, I'll admit, I love doing the little things with the books like shifting them over to make more space, or moving shelves around. So for me, if I suddenly were to acquire ten new titles by one author, I'd have fun moving everything around trying to find space for those books. My MM shelves each have enough room now for the new books when I get them done. I think that's what you need to do. Make sure there's enough extra shelf space.
A sad thing can also turn into a good thing for you. Our local Borders Bookstore was closing and I was able to get shelf dividers with the letters that stick out on them. I bought a set for the public library (so that we could keep our graphic novels in proper alphabetical order - hey, our shelvers shelve them properly now, and the patrons seem to like them too!) At home, I simply use them in my nonfic collection to keep subjects separate. But you could easily use them for your fiction too. They look kinda dorky in my apartment, but they work, and that's what's important to me! I like being organized with my books.
Gosh, I could write a whole dissertation on this if you get me going. You should have told me to stop three hours ago! lol. ;-)
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It's a very good book, but it's still kinda mystifying too. I like her writing, and yet... gosh, she likes her adverbs, doesn't she? lol. She's a good writer but sometimes I feel like nothing is happening while as the same time I feel like everything is happening. I don't know. What I do know, is that I'm not putting it down any time soon. If I need to, I might take a break while I'm home for a week, if only so I can take it on my next week-long vacation.
Is it MM? That's a question I know I kept wondering before I started reading it. It is. And it isn't. And that's the best I can come up with. If you're wondering, you'll just have to read it to find out. And see what you think. Once I'm done reading it though, I'd be real curious to know what others think of it!
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We have bookshelves in every room of the house except kitchen and bathrooms (no kidding, they are even in the corridor) but the way I shelve books is not really organized. I hope I'll always remember where those are, lol!
When I moved eight years ago I organised my shelf alphabetcally, those books that were allowed to stay upstairs, that is. I moved from a big house to a much smaller apartment so there is no way there was room for all of them. I can not throw them out though, so I put hundreds in boxes and moved them into the basement. Since then I have not stopped buying books of course, so the system is in danger of disintegrating. I actually sort of love that chaos feeling though :). Kindle has helped keeping a semblance of control, but I still buy the occasional book in paper and can't see myself quitting anytime soon. So the chaos will continue I guess.
Antonella wrote: "Oh, then I had understood the question. It's just that you take book collecting to new heights ;-))"I'm afraid so, yes. I have been using Kindle to conceal my addiction, but I buy a lot of non-digitised books second-hand (usually when I find a new author).
Jordan wrote: "Oh gosh, shelving books... I've had vast experience doing this since I was a kid. These days you could easily use a spreadsheet, but back in the days of earlier computers, I used a simple word pr..."
What an excellent dissertation! I divide my books into fiction and non-fiction too, and by subject within bin-fiction. I like the idea of a location catalogue - maybe that's the approach I'll take in my new place.
Can you use Goodreads to do that? I've been toying with the idea of properly cataloguing all my books as I unpack them, into a special program bought for my Macbook computer, but I would prefer to simply (!) update my lists here.
Darkm wrote: "We have bookshelves in every room of the house except kitchen and bathrooms (no kidding, they are even in the corridor) but the way I shelve books is not really organized. I hope I'll always remem..."
This is how I imagine my new home! Can't believe you don't use the kitchen too... Where are your cookbooks?
Karen wrote: "Oh, Jordan! Now I feel even more disorganized. For many years I had a reputation for being very, very organized and skilled at organizing. Friends even hired me to do their homes or offices. But sl..."Karen - I had always thought that "organised" was euphemism for "does not hoard", and I think you just proved it! But at least you can still fit it behind pretty drapes of fabric.
Anne wrote: "When I moved eight years ago I organised my shelf alphabetcally, those books that were allowed to stay upstairs, that is. I moved from a big house to a much smaller apartment so there is no way the..."I'm moving from rented accommodation to owned, so can put up some floor-to-ceiling bookshelves to replace the several normal-sized ones I had. So I plan to unpack the boxes of books which had accumulated in the spare bedroom and in storage. I suspect I may be over-optimistic in hoping to have all my books out, but I'm going to try. Maybe the re-reading of old friends I re-discover (and of the TBR which will look huge finally put in one place) will inhibit the buying of new books. Maybe.
Hj wrote: "Anne wrote: "When I moved eight years ago I organised my shelf alphabetcally, those books that were allowed to stay upstairs, that is. I moved from a big house to a much smaller apartment so there ..."You can hope of course, but I have to say that even when I had room for all my books on shelves where I could see them, it never worked as inhibitor to buying more :), I love floor to ceiling book shelves and I find that homes with books everywhere are the homes I find the most homely and welcoming. So the minmalist trend with bare walls doesn't work for me.
Hj wrote: "I'm moving from rented accommodation to owned"Congratulations, it's a big step!
Anne wrote: "I love floor to ceiling book shelves and I find that homes with books everywhere are the homes I find the most homely and welcoming."Absolutely! I've just been guest in a friends' friends house (is this English?). The owners were not there, but I felt we would get on well: the house was full of books, many of them I also own or are on my wishlist. I felt instantly connected to them.
Hj wrote: "Darkm wrote: "We have bookshelves in every room of the house except kitchen and bathrooms (no kidding, they are even in the corridor) but the way I shelve books is not really organized. I hope I'l..."
I confess I don't have them, I'm just starting to learning/loving cooking now, so most of the recipes are on my laptop :)
Congrats on your moving :)
Darkm wrote: "Congrats on your moving :) "Thank you! I'm talking as though it's certain; in fact I'm still in the long, slow, process which is conveyancing in England.
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These days you could easily use a spreadsheet, but back in the days of earlier computers, I used a simple word pr..."
I admire your determination, Jordan! I think you are my new idol!!! :) THAT is what I would have loved to do with my books (and CDs) some day. The reality is that I have books organized by subjects: poems, visual art, travel, garden, cooking, kids, m/m, horror, paranormal romance, hobbies and so on... hubby's cartoon collection taking a lot space. ;)
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I bet you are going to have a Chrismassy feeling while opening all those boxes! :)
Darkm wrote: "We have bookshelves in every room of the house except kitchen and bathrooms (no kidding, they are even in the corridor) but the way I shelve books is not really organized. I hope I'll always remem..."
Why not the bathrooms? It's one of the places where I read more and I'd love a shelf with a few books there :-)
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Congratulations, it's a big step!"
And one of the best steps you'll ever take.
Remind yourself of that when the pipes start leaking beneath the kitchen floor.
Seriously, though. Congratulations.
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..."
It depends on the bathroom set up. Damp can be very hard on books.
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..."
It depends on the bathroom set up. Damp can be..."
Er, I am thinking of the SHOWER MIST AND STEAM FROM THE BATH, thank you very much!
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These days you could easily use a spreadsheet, but back in the days of earlier computers, I used a..."
I'm not sure you can do much here on GR for that. What comes to mind is creating new shelves in your list, but you couldn't get very specific. I mean, you could number all of your shelves, for example, and then list those shelves here on GR: "Shelf #1" or "M/M Shelf #1" maybe.
Normally, I'd shelve my M/M with everything else, but that's the one genre I have the most books in. That's why that one has it's own shelves and why my other fiction books don't. I just don't have enough books in any one genre (aside from MM of course) to do that. Plus, I'm in a very small apartment with slanted floors, so I can't even have tall bookcases. The ones I got are no higher than my shoulders, just because I don't need the cases tipping, or the books sliding off!
However, with that said, I LOVE floor to ceiling bookcases. I just spent a few days in North Carolina at the Biltmore Estate this week and going into that library, I fell in love! Floor to ceiling cases, and a set of spiral stairs leading up to a mezzanine level with more books!
Not only that, but at the inn on the estate where we stayed, they have a library dinning room. So while we had a late-night dinner one night, I started browsing the books I was sitting next to. None of them were new, of course. Most seemed to be nonfiction from the 50's and 60's, but even those out of date books can be fun to browse through.
Someday I'd like to have more room for books. Yet, I don't want to have to deal with leaky pipes in a house. I'd rather have someone else deal with it for me! ;-)
Even so, big congrats to owning your own place. That's something really special. Just think of all the places you can keep your books.
Josh wrote: "Antonella wrote: "Hj wrote: "I'm moving from rented accommodation to owned"Congratulations, it's a big step!"
And one of the best steps you'll ever take.
Remind yourself of that when the pipes ..."
Thank you, Josh!
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And to think that I might never have read it scares me.
So... thank you, Josh. And thank you, Manu, for the mental support during my reading process! ;)
Josh wrote: "Josh wrote: "Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "Why not the bathrooms? It's one of the places where I read more and I'd love a shelf with a few books there :-) ..."
It depends on the bathroom set up..."
LOL!
Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "Darkm wrote: "We have bookshelves in every room of the house except kitchen and bathrooms (no kidding, they are even in the corridor) but the way I shelve books is not really organized.
I hope I'l..."
Because I'm always worried the steam may ruin the books :)
Johanna wrote: "I just finished reading The Charioteer five minutes ago. It left me quite speechless, but I'll try to gather my thoughts before December. ;) Right now I feel astonished and wide-eyed, so I suppose ..."Thank you, but I just told you to keep on reading ;)
Darkm wrote: "Josh wrote: "Josh wrote: "Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "Why not the bathrooms? It's one of the places where I read more and I'd love a shelf with a few books there :-) ..."
It depends on the ba..."
Steam has never ruined books! ;P
Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "JI just told you to keep on reading ;)"Don't be modest! I seem to recall some of your comments when I thought: ''I'd' like to be able to 'see' a book like Manu does!''.
I'm looking forward to the discussion in BoM, although before I'll have to finish the book.
*blushes furiously*
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Don't be modest! I seem to recall some of your comments when I thought: ''I'd' like to be able to 'see' a book like Manu does!"
I wholeheartedly agree with what Antonella said!!! (And you look cute when you blush...) *grin*
Just finished The Druid Stone by Heidi Belleau and Violetta Vane. It's kind of multi-genre...m/m fantasy romance adventure story. The book goes in all these directions that were *really* surprising, but the characters were great, the story was very heart-stopping, and the developing relationship and romance very engaging. I'm still in that weird stunned, breathless state after finishing a good book.
I am reading The Only Gold. Such a wonderful book, all her books are very well written and I believe well researched at least she makes those times and places come alive for me
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My niece loaned me a paperback of Robin Mckinley's Sunshine that I read on the plane. I've been reading it over the past three weeks, slower going since I need very good light to read a trade pb these days (unlike reading on my iPod in the dark). It's an urban fantasy/alternative America vampire tale, one of my favored genres. It was published in 2003, a tough year for us, which likely explains why it didn't find it sooner.
The ebook I read was Whatever The Cost, long, angsty, and strangely written. Stuck with it — in the way I've often watched a film I was looking forward to that is playing out like an impending train wreck. It's written in passive third-person omniscient (my best guess), which was so odd and distancing that I wondered if that was exactly the author's intent. Angst, sex, ominous suspense, two deeply conflicted HMs, and numerous implausibilities. Kudos to the author for managing to make the sex-for-pay scenes not at all sexy (one exception with a likable john), in contrast to the HMs scenes together. In fact I felt pruriently voyeuristic reading one scene, which was not pleasant, but thought-provoking. I am however very thankful for the kilt with boots imagery. ;-)
Well, that was long. Seems that a flawed magnum opus needles my mind as insistently as a masterpiece...
I just started Josephine Myle's The Hot Floor. Looking forward to our All She Wrote discussions!
ttg wrote: "Just finished The Druid Stone by Heidi Belleau and Violetta Vane. It's kind of multi-genre...m/m fantasy romance adventure story. The book goes in all these directions that were *really* surprising..."I liked The Druid Stone, too. Heidi mentioned the other day that they're working on a sequel with Michael.
Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "I haven't touched a Stephen King's book in 6 years and I'm reading 11/22/63 and liking it."IMHO, it's the best thing he's written in a long, long time. (Don't get too excited. The Dome was awful.)
Jordan wrote: "Aleksandr wrote: "Yep. I'm just reading As Meat Loves Salt, and that is most definitely literary fiction, as I can't abide the main characters, and things seem to end badly, and it's very much abou..."I read it a number of years ago and was very disappointed with where it went.
Have a good REC for you! THE WISHING CUP by JM Gryffyn. (No vowels, must be Welsh.) Anyway, it was a thorough pleasure, an entirely satisfying romance. Takes place in the Valley of the Kings, in the 20's. A dig and two very appealing leads. The author's knowledge of Egyptology/archeology made the story that much more fun.
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I totally agree, Anne. I really enjoyed that one as well. I have another in my TBR queue.
I just finished The Time of the Singing. It didn't work so well for me. The authority figure working out his/her sexuality with hormonally charged young adult, does NOT work for me. If you like theme of coming to terms with spirituality and sexuality, I would recommend Born Again by Alex Whitehall (free on-line) and, of course, K.Z.'s A Hole in God's Pocket.
Oh well, ya win some an'ya loose some. 8)
Johanna wrote: "Antonella wrote: "Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "I just told you to keep on reading ;)"Don't be modest! I seem to recall some of your comments when I thought: ''I'd' like to be able to 'see' a b..."
I agree with you both :)
Candice wrote: "Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "I haven't touched a Stephen King's book in 6 years and I'm reading 11/22/63 and liking it."IMHO, it's the best thing he's written in a long, long time. (Don't get ..."
LOL, I had strong recs on Under the Dome :)
I liked 11/22/63 very much, but while he's great in the telling of the story, he didn't even try to explain the inconsistencies of time travel, even if he acknowledged them. Too easy :)
Darkm wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Antonella wrote: "Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "I just told you to keep on reading ;)"Don't be modest! I seem to recall some of your comments when I thought: ''I'd' like to be a..."
Troppo gentile ;)
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Q&A with Josh Lanyon
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I only keep essays ordered by subject, because in mos..."
LOL. :)