Musing Mondays: Out of the Blue Reads

Musing Mondays by Should Be Reading

Q:

Have you ever found a book out of the blue, read it, and then had it be surprisingly good — one that stuck with you for years? If so, what book was it?

A:

I remember I found The Perks of Being a Wallflower up north at a small store in Lexington, MI.  It was not at a book store, but at a random fudge shop (I think it was a fudge shop; it definitely was not a book store).  I remember I saw it on it’s own shelf and there were like a few copies.  I picked it up, looked at the cover, and decided to buy it on a whim.

This book ended up becoming one of  my favorite books of all time!  It has stuck with me for years, and I have read it quite a few times.  It has been a special book for me, and will continue to be for my entire life.

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What is your answer to today’s Musing Monday?

Musing Monday: Good Description, Bad Cover

Musing Mondays by: Should Be Reading

Q:

Would you choose to review a book if its description sounded interesting but the cover was terrible?

A:

Of course!  Don’t get me wrong, a good cover is nice, and a lot of times I buy a book solely based on the cover, but I also own an e-reader, and when reading Ebooks you barely see the cover.  So I would definitely review a book if the cover was terrible.

For me, my imagination runs wild with the contents of the book, not just with the cover.  So if the book was worth my time and review, and if I truly enjoyed it, I would disregard the terrible cover and review it regardless.

But if the review was for an author I knew, and the cover was uninteresting or bad, I would probably tell them to spice that baby up a bit before it hit the shelves!

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What about you?  What is your answer to today’s Monday Musing?

Musing Monday: Reading Anywhere

Musing Mondays by: Should Be Reading

Q:

What book do you wish you were reading right now? Where would you take it to, if you could go anywhere to read for a while?

A:

I’m actually content with the book I’m reading at the moment: When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals.

However, I do wish I could read it in the Amazon or the African forest while I sit next to Jane Goodall!  I know it’s far-fetched, but hey, a girl can dream!

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What about you?  What is your answer to today’s Monday Musing?

Musing Monday: Heading to the Bookstore

Musing Mondays by: Should Be Reading

Q:

When you walk into a bookstore — any bookstore — what’s the first section you head toward (what draws you)?

A:

Well, it really depends on what I’m looking for at the time.  Usually, I’m looking for non-fiction, whether it’s animal stories, memoirs, humor, etc.

I usually head straight for the “book deals” of the day like Borders Books (oh Borders, how I miss you) had.  I’m 100% for putting my money down for a book, but come on, who doesn’t love a good deal?!

After I check out the deals, and if I can’t find any, then I go to the section of whatever genre I’m interested in at the time.

I just LOVE going to bookstores.  The smell, the atmosphere, the like-minded people, everything.

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What about you?  What is your answer to today’s Monday Musing?

Musing Monday: Series

Musing Mondays by: Should Be Reading

Q:

• Do you read books that are part of a series?
• Do you collect all the books in the series before starting? What if the series is brand new, and the only book that’s been published so far is Book one? As subsequent books in the series are published, do you go back and re-read the preceding books?

A:

I think the only books I have read, and collected, which were part of a series was Harry Potter.

And since I’m an organized spaz, I had to go back and re-read from the first book before I could read the newest book.  So with that said, I have read each Harry Potter book about 6 times.  But of course, I didn’t mind!  :)

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What about you?  What is your answer to today’s Musing Monday?  Let us know in the comment section below!

Musing Monday: Love Story

Musing Mondays by: Should Be Reading

Q:

What is your favorite romantic book –or book that includes a love story? (an adult romance, young adult, kids’ story, anything)

A:

I really had to think about this question since I don’t usually read romance.  Scratch that, I NEVER read romance.

However, as I went through my mental list of the books I have read, one that really stuck out was not a typical love story between a man and a woman, but instead a love story between a dog and his owners.

Those who have read The Art of Racing in the Rain can definitely say that it is an absolutely beautiful love story.  No, it’s not Twilight, or not a story with a shirtless Fabio, however if you are looking for a sentimental, tear-jerking read, then I highly recommend you read The Art of Racing in the Rain.

Musing Monday: Thinking About the Next Book

Musing Mondays by: Should Be Reading

Q:

How far along are you in your current read before you start thinking about what you’ll read next?

A:

Usually, I debate each book before I even start to read them.

I have a massive TBR pile and I never know which one to pick next (my TBR list is the only thing I’m not organized with).

I debate with myself saying, “Should I read this one now?”  ”What about that one, it looks better.”

However, usually once I start reading whatever I finally choose, I’m satisfied with it and I don’t think about my next read until I’m almost finished with my current one.  Unless of course I don’t like the book I’m reading, and then I just hurry through it so I can get on to the next one!

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What is your answer to today’s Monday Musing?  Tell us in the comment section below!

Musing Mondays: Electronic or Print

Musing Mondays by Should Be Reading

Q:

What devices –if any– do you read books on? Do you find it enjoyable, or still somewhat bothersome? Or: If you only read the print books, why haven’t you chosen to read on any devices?

A:

Usually, I read my stories in good ol’ fashioned print books – hardcovers are my preference – however, I do own an E-Reader and do download books onto my  iPad Kindle.

The E-Reader and Kindle are very convenient, especially since I am either on the metro or train a good part of the day.  They are compact, a lot lighter than a hardcover, and are easy to read.

While I do have both those electronic reading devices – though I always said I would never get one – I would always choose a print book over electronic reads any day!  I love the smell, feel, and look of a dusty, tattered book, and the day when there will be no more print books will be one sad day.

Musing Monday: Book Recommendations

Musing Mondays by Should Be Reading

Q:

What’s one book you always recommend to just about anyone?

A:

I recommend them by genre.

If someone is looking for humor, I recommend At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream by Wade Rouse.  This book is so hilariously funny that it is literally impossible not to laugh out loud while reading it!

If someone is looking for travel, I recommend either Tales of a Female Nomad by Rita Golden Gelman or The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner.  Both are very good travel narratives, though different.

If someone is looking for a true animal story, I recommend Unlikely Friendships by Jennifer Holland.  The pictures alone are worth the read.

If someone is looking for a good fiction read, I recommend a few: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein - an absolute beautiful read; The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini - everyone who reads this book loves it; and Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen - love, love, LOVE this book, though I will never see the movie because the book is so damn good!

These are just a few of my normal recommendations.  I have many more, however at the moment, these are the ones that come to the mind.

Musing Monday: How Much Do You Read?

Musing Mondays by: Should Be Reading

Q:

How many books do you read in a week? Month? Year?

A:

I honestly do not keep track.  Lately, well before NaNo, I was reading about a book a week.  And now that NaNo is over, I am getting back into that habit and routine again.

I have to say that I don’t just read to go on to the next one, or to prove that I can read so many books in a month.  I may take forever to read a book either because A) it sucks and I just can’t get into it, but I have this OCD thing where I must finish every book I pick up, or B) I love the book so much that I don’t want it to end.

Then, there’s the instances when I read the book superman fast because A) I want to finish that sucker because it sucks so much, or B) I love the book so much that I can’t put it down.

It really does all depend on the book.  So I can’t really give you a definite answer to the question, but if I guesstimate, probably a book every week or every two weeks.  Also depends on how busy I am and what mood I am in.