Banished Words, a Library Sale, BookExpo Plans, and Other Bookish Thoughts This Week

Books That Arrived in the Mail (or Have Been Awaiting Me on the Shelf)

I got a nice little stack of books in the mail this week, and when I went to set them on my (upcoming) TBR shelf, I had a little shock: there were six books I received during the end-of-the-year Cybils rush that I never got around to reading and reviewing. I hereby vow to read and review these...well, soon. Very soon. Promise.

These are the books that arrived this week: The Rock Maiden: A Chinese Tale of Love and Loyalty; Star-Crossed by Barbara Dee; Effie Starr Zook Has One More Question; and The Fall of Lisa Bellow.

Here are some that have been lingering on my shelf, that I have somehow forgotten to read and review (oh dear!):

BookExpo Plans

I registered as media for BookExpo yesterday. I'm terribly excited and terribly nervous. It's one thing to go to BookExpo in Chicago; I know Chicago. It's another to go to...New York City. Whew. I don't know NYC. I looked up hotels and checked out flights. Just for grins, I looked into staying at the Library Hotel. Mighty pricey. But oh-so cool for all of us bookish types. Maybe one night?

Are you planning to go to BookExpo?

Banished Words

I ran across a crazy article on banished words last week. Every year Lake Superior State University makes a list of words that it is asking to banish because of "mis-use, overuse, and general uselessness."

I'm apparently so out of it that some (lots) of these words are completely unknown to me. Do you know about a dadbod? How about on fleek? Listicle?

The ones I do know are appropriately annoying, so I concur with LSSU (if concur is still an un-banished word) about guestimate and historic. Even though I'm not horribly familiar with 831, I agree that when you tell someone you love them you shouldn't use numbers.

What would you put on a list of banished words?

What I'm Reading

I'm reading (and enjoying, if that is the proper word) Lincoln in the Bardo. I've also started Effie Star Zook and The Fall of Lisa Bellow.
How about you? Are you reading anything good today?

What is the Sunday Salon? Imagine some university library's vast reading room. It's filled with people--students and faculty and strangers who've wandered in. They're seated at great oaken desks, books piled all around them,and they're all feverishly reading and jotting notes in their leather-bound journals as they go. Later they'll mill around the open dictionaries and compare their thoughts on the afternoon's literary intake....That's what happens at the Sunday Salon, except it's all virtual. Every Sunday the bloggers participating in that week's Salon get together--at their separate desks, in their own particular time zones--and read. And blog about their reading. And comment on one another's blogs. Think of it as an informal, weekly, mini read-a-thon, an excuse to put aside one's earthly responsibilities and fall into a good book. Click here to join the Salon.

The Sunday Post is a meme hosted by Kimba at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news and recap the past week.

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at The Printed Page. We share books that we found in our mailboxes last week. 

 It is now being hosted here.

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews in which you can share the books you've acquired.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between!  This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from! I love being a part of this and I hope you do too! It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is now being hosted at The Book Date.

Laughter Yoga

For more wordless photos, go to Wordless Wednesday.

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads. To participate in Saturday Snapshot: post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken and then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky at West Metro Mommy Reads.

Books I Loved (Much) More Than I Thought I Would

H is for Hawk
I hate violence. This is a very violent book. But deeply true.

March by John Lewis
A graphic novel which I'm not wild about AND it's the story of the Civil Rights Movement, which doesn't sound engaging. Wrong, wrong.

I, Claudius
The story of a stuttering Roman emperor doesn't sound compelling.

Lab Girl
I'd never expected to be captivated by an autobiography of a science nerd.

Lonesome Dove
A western? Really?

True Grit
Please. Another western? And, c'mon, I've already seen the movie. This book is going to surprise me?

A Wrinkle in Time
I think I've spent the last fifty-something years since I read this book trying to find a book as wonderful.

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus
This was my introduction to the amazing-ness that is Mo Willems.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Nothing prepared me for the power of this book on my life.

Tenth of December 
Author Khaled Hosseini puts it best: "Saunders makes you feel as though you are reading fiction for the first time."

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Four ✭✭✭✭✭ Reads, Plus My Favorite Love Story, Tadpole's Promise

I've read 56 books so far in 2017 and 16 of them have been five star reads. That seems pretty remarkable. How can I account for this? The best reads have mostly been books I didn't get around to reading from last year. Oddly, the best books are not books I thought I'd love. I know nothing about hunting with hawks, for one, and who'd have thought I'd be so taken with a children's book with a scarecrow for a main character? cover title author review H is for Hawk Macdonald, Helen I'm not a hunter, and I'm not mad for animals, but great writing is great writing, and this book is great writing. Helen Macdonald's dad collapses and ...more [edit] Utopia Drive: A Road Trip Through America's Most Radical Idea Reece, Erik I've always been completely fascinated with utopias, and I've secretly longed to join one or start one. I'm a natural reader for this little travel na ...more [edit] Worzel Gummidge Todd, Barbara Euphan Worzel Gummidge is a classic not-quite-human, not-quite-other character, who is able to be in the world without being of the world, who throws out bri ...more [edit] Homegoing Gyasi, Yaa Two sisters in Africa. One becomes the wife of a white man who rounds up slaves. And the other is captured as a slave. Each chapter moves forward a gen ...more [edit] I finished four books this week and every one of them was a five star story. I'm reading two George Saunders books right now and I'm pretty sure that both of these will also be five star reads. I can't explain it, this Amazing Book Phenomenon, but I say, keep on coming, great books. I almost forgot...I also read my favorite picture book love story, Tadpole's Promise, to many of my classes this week. I snapped a picture of the typical reaction of a class to the story...Don't you love this?!

What are you reading today?

What is the Sunday Salon? Imagine some university library's vast reading room. It's filled with people--students and faculty and strangers who've wandered in. They're seated at great oaken desks, books piled all around them,and they're all feverishly reading and jotting notes in their leather-bound journals as they go. Later they'll mill around the open dictionaries and compare their thoughts on the afternoon's literary intake....That's what happens at the Sunday Salon, except it's all virtual. Every Sunday the bloggers participating in that week's Salon get together--at their separate desks, in their own particular time zones--and read. And blog about their reading. And comment on one another's blogs. Think of it as an informal, weekly, mini read-a-thon, an excuse to put aside one's earthly responsibilities and fall into a good book. Click here to join the Salon.

The Sunday Post is a meme hosted by Kimba at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news and recap the past week.

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at The Printed Page. We share books that we found in our mailboxes last week. 

 It is now being hosted here.

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews in which you can share the books you've acquired.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between!  This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from! I love being a part of this and I hope you do too! It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is now being hosted at The Book Date.

The Texas Star

Yes, another gemstone cut by my husband.

For more wordless photos, go to Wordless Wednesday.

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads. To participate in Saturday Snapshot: post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken and then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky at West Metro Mommy Reads.

Love Stories I Love (and Hate)

I don't read a lot of genre fiction, but (who knows why?!) I adore love stories. Although I generally will permanently close a book after a few pages of sappiness or trite story lines, I can put up with a lot if the story is a romance.

Some of my favorite reads ever have been romances. Here are a few love stories I've loved...

Gone With the Wind

Pride and Prejudice

The Fault in Our Stars

Me Before You

Memoirs of a Geisha

Girl With a Pearl Earring

Age of Innocence

I'll Give You the Sun

Tell Me Three Things

Our Souls at Night

Everything, Everything

All the Bright Places

Eleanor & Park

The Rosie Effect

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

The Remains of the Day

As Simple as Snow

Possession

I'm always on the lookout for a good romance. Although...

Don't slam me, but I'm not really a fan of these love stories:

Outlander

Jane Eyre

Twilight

Bridges of Madison County

Time Traveler's Wife

What romances have I missed? 

A High-Tech, Voodoo Donut, No-Books-Finished Week

I've spent a glorious week at TCEA in Austin, a technology conference for teachers, librarians, and administrators. I learned about new gadgets that are coming soon, apps for iPads, Chromebooks for primary students, and revamping a library. I should have demo-ed here some of the cool things I learned but I'm eager to get a little reading in today. I did make a Pinterest board so, hopefully, I can refresh my memory soon and try some things with my classes. I finished nothing last week. Instead I spent my time trying new apps and visiting Voodoo Donuts (twice!) and recharging. Here are the books I hope to get to this week. Since Tuesday is Valentine's Day, I'll be doing readalouds with some of my favorite love stories: Martina, the Beautiful Cockroach and Here Comes Valentine Cat, along with my perpetual love story favorite, Tadpole's Promise. Hope you have a great week!

What are you reading today?

What is the Sunday Salon? Imagine some university library's vast reading room. It's filled with people--students and faculty and strangers who've wandered in. They're seated at great oaken desks, books piled all around them,and they're all feverishly reading and jotting notes in their leather-bound journals as they go. Later they'll mill around the open dictionaries and compare their thoughts on the afternoon's literary intake....That's what happens at the Sunday Salon, except it's all virtual. Every Sunday the bloggers participating in that week's Salon get together--at their separate desks, in their own particular time zones--and read. And blog about their reading. And comment on one another's blogs. Think of it as an informal, weekly, mini read-a-thon, an excuse to put aside one's earthly responsibilities and fall into a good book. Click here to join the Salon.

The Sunday Post is a meme hosted by Kimba at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news and recap the past week.

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at The Printed Page. We share books that we found in our mailboxes last week. 

 It is now being hosted here.

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews in which you can share the books you've acquired.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between!  This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from! I love being a part of this and I hope you do too! It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is now being hosted at The Book Date.

A Valentine for Valentine's Day

Yes, my husband cut this gemstone, too.

For more wordless photos, go to Wordless Wednesday.

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads. To participate in Saturday Snapshot: post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken and then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky at West Metro Mommy Reads.

Books That Could Use a Little More...Paris

Almost any book would be a little better if it were set in Paris. Here are a few suggestions....

I loved Lillian Boxfish, but why couldn't she have taken a walk in Paris?

Humans of New York was great, but how about Humans of Paris?

Do we really need to go past the city limits of Paris to see the Lonely Planet's Beautiful World? 

The Almost Perfect People of Scandinavia? What about those of Paris?

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki wouldn't have been colorless had he lived in Paris, I think. 

Why couldn't the Ingalls family head to France instead of trying to traverse and settle the wilds of the American prairie?

Holly Golightly's main problem may have been that she was in the wrong city.

I can see Gatsby living quite happily in Paris. Now that would be a Great Gatsby.

As would Fancy Nancy.

I bet they'd let the Pigeon drive the bus in Paris.

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

A Super Bowl-less Super Bowl Sunday

It's Super Bowl Sunday and it's a day....well, if you don't love football, like me, you already know what I'm going to say, so why say it, and, if you do love it, you aren't reading this. It's probably among the sports-minded that I find myself most often having to channel my inner Martin Luther King, Jr.

Which is all really to say that I've been reading in a frenzy since the beginning of the year. I know many people can't read when the world is topsy-turvy, and I'm sorry about that, but I'm just the opposite; I can't seem to do anything else. I've already read a ridiculous seven books this month, and I'm deep into five more:

The Art of the Pie; H is for Hawk; Homegoing; March, Book Three; Tenth of Dec.

Rather than talk about what I'm reading or...heaven forbid...football, let me catch you up on my adventures with the Inprint Reading Series. At the October reading, with Ann Patchett and Lauren Groff, I ran into a woman I met last summer at the Writers' Retreat in far west Texas. She oh-so-kindly invited me to join her circle of friends for dinner before the next Inprint author reading in November, and I did. And then she invited me again in January, and I did. What a lovely circle of friends she has. Literate, of course. But they also see films (not movies) and go out to eat and volunteer in hospitals and even march for Truth and Justice. Just being in the presence of these women gives me hope again that right will triumph in the world. 

And who have I seen at Inprint? In November, it was Rabih Alameddine and Juan Garcia Vasquez. Both are immigrants, Alameddine from Lebannon, and Vasquez from Columbia.  Both know the deep value of writing in a repressive culture. Alameddine tells us. "You're an easy audience. Where I come from, we heckle much better." Vasquez believes writing is a contact sport. Alameddine says the writer has to be both part of the culture and separate from it. "Good literature," Vasquez says, "doesn't come from certainties, but from questions." Vasquez says many people tell him they want to be writers but they don't want to read; what should they do? Vasquez quips, "Run for president."

In January, it was Annie Proulx. Barkskins is her tenth book. Proulx was trained as a historian, so she starts a book with a place. "Once I have the place," she says, "characters appear." She can spend days on a single sentence, on the precise word. "I know the ending before I know the beginning," she tells us. Ironically, she seems to have developed an allergy to trees while researching Barkskins, and her reading was kept short, perhaps due to that.

Thank you to all who recommended March. I think I'll spend a little time today on Book Three.

What are you reading today?

What is the Sunday Salon? Imagine some university library's vast reading room. It's filled with people--students and faculty and strangers who've wandered in. They're seated at great oaken desks, books piled all around them,and they're all feverishly reading and jotting notes in their leather-bound journals as they go. Later they'll mill around the open dictionaries and compare their thoughts on the afternoon's literary intake....That's what happens at the Sunday Salon, except it's all virtual. Every Sunday the bloggers participating in that week's Salon get together--at their separate desks, in their own particular time zones--and read. And blog about their reading. And comment on one another's blogs. Think of it as an informal, weekly, mini read-a-thon, an excuse to put aside one's earthly responsibilities and fall into a good book. Click here to join the Salon.

The Sunday Post is a meme hosted by Kimba at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news and recap the past week.

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at The Printed Page. We share books that we found in our mailboxes last week. 

 It is now being hosted here.

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews in which you can share the books you've acquired.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between!  This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from! I love being a part of this and I hope you do too! It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is now being hosted at The Book Date.