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As a side note, I know your main focus is blogging and most if not all others who read your points are bloggers, so I feel no slight, just like to let you know that even as a non blogger I get something out of what you have to say. :-)
Not sure why but I seem to be reading a lot about the sociological aspects of housework and natural selection these days.
Sociological aspects of housework... Is this a hint of what to expect from your blog?
James Patterson's Alex Cross series would also please the crime/action thriller fans. I'm definitely a Cross fanatic!
When you mention "magical words", I think of the TV show Criminal Minds. Every episode begins and ends with a great quote by someone famous and it is always thought-provoking.
Yay, I have yet to sample J. Patterson's books. So many goodies I've to read and so little time!
Thanks for this lovely comment, Veron. ",)
Suggestion: why not give away some of the books you cringe at reading? Give them to your top commentators. Ahem, ahem.
Or the reader who has the most first comment for a given period. Let's see if there's a stampede like in other blogs. "Base! I'm first!" I've seen a lot of those lately in Pinoy blogs and they're a funny lot. Can you make a post about that? You're a naughty boy. It's right up your alley. LOL
I know how you feel, Badongskie. If there's a small claims court for unreturned books, I'd most likely hail my friends to court. And this goes way back to college days.
Thanks for a cogent post. I am pleased to have found you via Meredith Bell.
Thanks a lot, Steven.
I also joined a local book group as a way of broadening my horizons and reading new things I wouldn't normally look at and it's great to talk about the books because we learn so much by discussing things together.
I've had writer's block all week with my blog. I've started several posts and given up on them all. Thanks for making the link between writing and reading (doh!) I hadn't realised that the reading I do enriches my writing. Off now to write my next post.
It does help our writing. So many great things are distilled for us by the masters. Our only role is to partake and make them a part of our system. I hope you've not erased those posts so you can get back to them when you find a new approach or insight how to tackle them. :) Thanks for your wonderful comment, Jude.
Graffitis, signages, even menus lols, seriously (but I really do that), back in the days, I read a lot of mystery books - alfred hitchcock, sci-fi, detective stories, and more sci-fi. No mushy romance novel for me. Romance is innate to me, I don't need motivation lols
Then I switched to inspirational, personality development, self-improvement, and technical books... no obvious effect, but the stock knowledge do come in handy from time to time.
I really would love to read books again, I still have a lot I haven't read. I don't know why, but it seems I got a shorter attention span these days... or maybe because I haven't myself reading eyeglasses yet :)
but if I do get that chance, I'd love to get more sci-fi
Yeah, technical books. I'd read them when I really want to hurt my brain. LOL.
Hey, Roy! Great books are online. A lot of them you can read for free. The classics are already online. This makes a perfect excuse - if you can find the classics online then there's hope for online reading. Maybe sci-fi books are already here. I will check. By the way, do you like Isaac Asimov books? They're great!
"I was here" has already become a cliche... one rare graffiti that I get to read on restrooms was "I know what you're holding right now!" lols
Oh yeah, I've heard about books online, haven't seen anything free so far though
There are free classic books online. And you can read them for free. Some websites even read and look like books. You click something to turn the page! :) I'd look for them, Roy.
hey, what is this, is this for real??? 32 Retweets???!!! Holy Cow!
honestly, if it weren't for the sweating I experienced during a class recitation on The Cask of Amontillado, I might not be able to recall him either lol
I looked up O. Henry on wikipedia - William Sydney Porter, now that name sounds familiar ;) read about The Gift of the Magi, and I think I remember that story.
it would really be a delight if I can be consistent and adopt "O. Henry endings" ;)
now I want to read his works Jan!
Lined up - a couple of business book. :p Haha!
I insist I need a two-seater couch and a floor lamp before I can get into the reading groove. Until I can afford these two luxuries, I might have to stick to reading bloggies, Facebook updates and Tweets... lol.
Just kidding. ;)
Para naman kukunan ng footage for Cannes Film Fest ang reading set up mo. LOL
I like my imaginary reading setup, although I can imagine I would spend more time sleeping there than actually reading. ahaha!
To round it up, I'm looking forward to reading The Lost Symbol, the recent novel by Dan Brown.
Let me tell you, there's nothing like exercising the mind with the cases of M. Poirot. It kept me on guessing who's the culprit... hehehe...
Oh, I love Perry Mason too! Super! Used to collect books of him. Earl Stanley Gardner, right? Just don't know if I spelled that correctly. Anyway, I'd like to re-read them again. I still do watch shows of Perry Mason on TV, though. I used to like Grisham too, before he went somewhat drama. Right now, I'm looking forward to reading Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol". But that won't be too soon, I guess, because I'm waiting for the paperback; hardbound is so expensive.
You got it right, Dee. And now that Perry Mason's name came up, I kinda miss Della Street, too. Ahehehe. Grisham has gone emo? That's funny - but what's wrong with drama, Dee? As long as it's happening on the page and not in our life, I'd say bring it on! ... Yeah, I know what you mean, of course. Just kidding you.
I've only read one Dan Brown book. I maybe wrong and a fool for saying this, but I find his Da Vinci Code sucky. It's a page turner all right, but I found it lacking in passion. A very mechanical book. Well, there's that... But I'm glad you're here. But how is Luke - my primus inter pares? :)
The last book I read was the book you gave me Bro, that of John Grisham.
Hay, no time to read....
Books are your best of frieds, counselors, etc...oooppsss, I totally forgot the next lines which means I have not been to the library for a very long time, a place I used to frequently spend my whole day looking for good books. Holy Cow!
Well, my favorite book...hmmm...books written by Nick Joaquin, ahm, poems by Pablo Neruda and Jose Garcia Villa, ahm...sometimes FHM...is that considered a book? Wahahha!
I like of course novels by Tom Clancy, and that one you gave me, who was the author again? Ooouuchh! I haven't opened a book for a century now, my memory does not serve me well!
Can we now call the ambulance?
"Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for."
No need for an ambulance. I'm no Doc Z but I recommend IV therapy to keep you recharged and up and running. :)
Do you have a hot nurse here on your blog on stand-by for commenters who are not feeling well? Wahahah!
You were surprised I got 32 retweets (currently 34) for this post. I'm a member of Daniel Scocco's Retweet Club. So don't be surprised.
Daniel said he might be accepting more members. Email Daniel to let him know you're interested so he can put you in his waiting list. The requirement is that you have at least 500 Twitter followers.
Jan, I'm onboard. I am going to close my laptop, make myself some lunch, pick up my current dead tree and see if can make it to at least page 250 before I do another thing. You have inspired me. (Also, I'm getting pretty hungry.)
My stomach, however, is a tough taskmaster. Unlike yours, I can't function running on empty. :)
Thanks for sharing, Kay Lorraine.
I like that quote from Ms. Elizabeth Hardwick. :D
When I was still in grade school until high school, you can ask me to do anything from writing, drawing, coloring, posting, etc. but not reading. I really get bored and sleepy as I started reading any book.
I truly appreciate reading when I already graduated from college. I became a learner and believe that learning shouldn't stop after graduation. I became thirsty for more knowledge, and books have been my quencher ever since.
Today, I always bring one book with me. What I'm reading now is "The Purpose Driven Life." -- Thumbs-Up!
I believe books won't just affect your writing, but also affect how you live.
Jed, are you married already? I've read somewhere that guys who have books with them instead of laptops are considered more sexy or attractive by the ladies. True? ahehehe. Is it hearsay? You find for the defense? lol
Ahahahaha. Kumustamos!? Sabay ganun eh noh? :)
"Harrison's Principle of Internal Medicine - I even highlight lines, but when I read them again, I forget what they're supposed to be. Duh!
Okay, now truth be told, I read of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "Sherlock Holmes." I always have a version in my mind that Watson was the detective. He he he. Then moved to Perry Mason.
I also read the Tolkien books but never finished the hobbit. I need to find out that there's a movie, then I'd rush to finish it before the premiere night.
For poetry, there's Edgar Allan Poe. "A Dream Within a Dream" cool poem, very err, dream like. Ah! Francis Schudellari writes brilliant free verses. He's a blogger.
LJ, I can't produce any wise words here, I just blurted out these authors at the top of my head. Anyway, I am more profound when I'm sick or drunk - me thinks.
Z
I heard this so many times. Is it not writing a gift? If writing is a gift then I have none at all.
What am I reading? I mostly read manuals - the how to kind of books - step by step instruction - this would lead me to the question how on earth could I write intelligently? That is why sometimes scraping (copy and paste) is just so tempting... darn it!
Anything can be mastered through persistence and industry . That's the good news. Blogging requires us to be diligent. Writing every day or every other day. Even when we're not writing our posts and just commenting on other blogs - that's a fine way of honing our writing skills, too.
I shared all the adventures of Rigor, Astrobal, Panday, Totoy Bato and more. I've known Barok even before I've known Tarzan.
Maybe they have a lot to do with my wayward imagination.
What's good about that then was that I was able to balance it with Sesame Street on TV ;)
If fiction, I have not read any book for the longest time. Fave authors include John Grisham, Jeffrey Archer and Jane Austen. The later, I love her wit. Isabel Allende, i like too.
on a recent visit to powerbooks, i found myself picking up Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman. and i finished it in four hours straight. just like magic, my love returned to me, and i realized it had never been gone in the first place. books are wonderful things. and while reading bits and pieces on the internet is always fun and interesting, curling up with a good book is a far more enriching experience.
the downside is, it takes you away from blogging and bloggers for at least a few hours. imagine that - hours! :P
Yeah, a few hours away from blogging is hell. :)
Can't say I spend much time on fb/twitter/etc. Probably should spend more.
A man after my own heart! I do love those real, live, hold 'em in your hands books.
Working in the library as I do, one of my tasks is to finish up the processing of new books and putting them into circulation. I've used this as an opportunity to check out an read books that I otherwise would never have looked at.
I've recently read some great fiction from authors I've never read before and I've read some great non-fiction books like how to build a spaceship in your back yard.
Totally committed to reading books, my friend.
George
But, there had always been the desire in my subconscious to read a book. Probably 'Tuesdays with Moorie' or the like. Soon Jan. Soon.
Sure I read a ton of blogs (I think I'm subscribed to about 400+; I don't read all of them obviously, I've learned to skim!). I check in on Status updates with friends and all but I also definitely take the time to read something new and keep fresh.
was being democratic with my blog reading choices. Four hundred is a tough
one to beat. I've got less than 200, I think. But I rarely pare it down no
matter how unmanageable my reader has become. It's like my database -
typing a keyword on its search box and there it is spewing out a surprise
article or two.
I skim blog titles, too. But I find myself lost in a post without sense of
time when a piece is particularly well written. That's a skill I have yet
to master - scanning a post.
A Paulo Coelho novel perhaps.
Love Toni Morrison, for instance, while Joyce Carol Oates truly puts me to sleep.
thanks thanks
by the way, ur blogs are worthy of reading. great job
I'm not sure how much it helps my blogging, but it helps me relax and it helps my creativity... so in the end, I think that my writing is better because of my reading.
What I enjoy the most, are thrillers (I know, they are not anything like Toni Morisson or Joyce Carol Oates) from authors like Jefferey Deaver and Lee Child.
One day, I hope to write my own novel :-)
- jens -
But, (un)fortunately most of them happen online these days!