Reading Journals | Uniquely Yours Craft Journal

Where do you find your next book?

06 Nov 2019 Comments Off on Where do you find your next book?

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Reading Journals Tags: books, Good Reads, Library

Dear Fellow Journalers,

It occurred to me this week while I was reading the last few pages of my latest read “The British are Coming” by Rick Atkinson, that my book challenge on Good Reads was coming to an end. My list of titles this year was eclectic to say the least: 8 true stories, 3 Cozy Mysteries, 6 Fiction, 3Self-Help, 1Western among others.

I bet your list of read books is about the same as mine. I also can attest to the fact that my TBR (to be read) pile of books has grown also. So I thought I’d take a look at our Reading Journal and bring you an update on articles I have found over the year.

Where do you find your next great read?

According to a recent library article there are (believe it or not) somewhere between 600,000 and 100,000 books published every year in the US alone.Now, if you were to purchase all your favorites from B & N ( Barnes & Noble) you’d be feeding an expensive hobby. Luckily your local library has come to your rescue. Most libraries in the US belong to a consortium which means if they don’t have the latest “xxyy” title, they will check the other 30 or so libraries in the group. There are also hold systems, so you can get your hands on “xxyy” eventually. Also, have you checked your library book sales?

If you have a Kindle or other e-reader you can download. books from apps like OverDrive, Amazon, Libby, or RBDigital. If your community has a used book or Thrift Store, you will find books of all kinds at the fraction of the original cost. Lastly, you can start a book swap with friends.

One of the ways that I have kept prices down are to keep a wish list of books on my Amazon wish list. Once a month I check the prices against my library catalog and other apps. When the price point is close to my comfort level, I buy it or borrow it if I can.

What have you read lately?

~Sallie

An interview with John Grisham

23 Oct 2019 Comments Off on An interview with John Grisham

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Reading Journals Tags: John Grisham

Dear Fellow Journalers,

I always find it interesting to read about authors and their perspectives. Here is John Grisham…

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Long Story Short with John Grisham
By Emma Cubellis|September 13, 2019

When describing your identity, does the word “reader” find a place on that list? Ours, too. Which is why we’re so fascinated by the reading habits, histories, and preferences of other readers. Long Story Short offers a glimpse into authors’ lives as readers — from the people who helped them fall in love with reading to their all-time favorite books. Read on for this week’s installment of Long Story Short with bestselling author John Grisham, whose new book, The Guardians, hits shelves October 15.

The person who helped me fall in love with reading was: my mother. She did not like television, so I grew up in a home filled with library books.
One book I love to give as a gift is: Okay this might sound a bit self-centered, but I kept about 100 first editions of A Time to Kill. They are quite rare. Once or twice a year I give one as a gift.
If I could write like one other author, it’d be John Steinbeck, my all-time favorite because: he wrote about the little guy, and he did so with such clarity.
One book I think deserves more attention is The Little Drummer Girl by John le Carré because: I love the book, and it had a profound impact on me as a writer, and it is still timely.
The friends I always turn to for reading recommendations is Talmage Boston because: he’s a lawyer/writer in Dallas and reads everything. And my wife, Renee. We compare notes on books everyday.
If I’m not enjoying a book, I put it down — too many books, too little time. I will give any book I start 50 pages to hold my attention. Sometimes 100. After that, I will happily toss it and pick up the next one in my pile.
One book that absolutely shocked me was American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins because: I just read an advanced copy. The book will be published in January. It is the astonishing story of a mother and child fleeing Mexico and trying to get to the border.
My favorite place to read is: On the porch, in the summer, with coffee in the morning and wine in the afternoon.
If I could only read one book for the rest of my life, it’d be: Why would I want to do that?
The book I’m currently reading is: The Border by Don Winslow, and the aforementioned American Dirt, and Race Against Time by Jerry Mitchell.

Courtesy of BookBub

Sallie

Revisit Reading Journals

04 Sep 2019 Comments Off on Revisit Reading Journals

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Reading Journals Tags: challenge, Good Reads, Reading journal

Dear Fellow Journalers,

I thought I’d revisit some old journals that we have talked about in the past. One of the most read series of posts has been the Reading Journal.While much can be said the idea of a Reading Challenge caught my eye. Our local library sponsored a Summer Reading Challenge for adults and children this year and I thought I would share some of the book themes they suggested. This challenge is not so much as how many books you read ( Good Reads) but in what types.

Read a book with more than 500 pages.
Read a genre you don’t usually read.
Read a book published from a decade before you were born.
Read a non-fiction book about science.
‘re-read a book you read in high school.
Read a travel book.
Read a book with a type of food in its title.
Read a book with a decorative cover.
Read a poetry book
Listen to audio book.

~Sallie

Book Shelves Galore!

31 Jan 2019 Comments Off on Book Shelves Galore!

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Paper Daydreams, Reading Journals Tags: book shelves, Organizing

Dear Fellow Journalers,

As many of you know, I am a crafter. When I see an article or Pinterest post about organizing crafts I get very excited. But when I see an article about book shelves well that’s a different Story!

~Sallie

I thought you might like this article I found on BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/blog/2016/12/28/organized-bookshelves-for-new-years-resolutions

How to find a Read-A-Like

23 Jan 2019 Comments Off on How to find a Read-A-Like

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Reading Journals Tags: NoveList

Dear Fellow Journalers,

If you read series books, I have mentioned my favorites in the past (Murder She Wrote, Cosy Mystery series from Joanne Fluke and Miranda James) when you’re either waiting for the author’s next book or just wanting to find a read-a-like, where do you find it? This article from the Cheshire Library Blog may help you.

~Sallie

New post on The Cheshire Library Blog

How to Find a Read-alike by Mary

If you are like me, when I find a series I love I burn through it in record time and then am left mourning that I have finished the series. Finding a new series can be difficult, so invariably I turn to NoveList for help.

NoveList is an online database that offers recommended reading lists. You can sort by age and genre and even by topics such as “fast-paced and amusing” or “moving and haunting” and even “snarky and compelling”. However my favorite part of NoveList is the Read-alike links.

If you type in a book title or author, NoveList will produce a list of results that include three very handy links: Title Read-alikes, Author Read-Alikes and Series Read-alikes.

What is a Read-alike?

A read-alike is a book, author, or series that shares some of the basic characteristics of another book, author, or series. It means that if you enjoy, say, author Marcia Muller, you may also like books by Laurie R. King, Kate Wilhelm, or Iain Pears,

For example, type in Lord Peter Wimsey (one of my favorite British mystery sleuths), click on Series Read-alikes, and you will get a list of recommendations that include the Phryne Fisher mysteries by Kerry Greenwood (stories that have also been turned into a wonderful BBC drama: Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries) and the Adam Dalgliesh mysteries by P.D. James, among many others.

Bingo! Two more series just waiting to be devoured.

Try NoveList. It works!