UPCOMING EVENTS, ETC.

I am eager to start working on this site for Bloggiesta, even though I have until late September.  So, of course, I had to do a couple of “cosmetic” things, like changing the theme, header, and background.

Instead of fussing over these technical issues, I should focus more on my reading, which includes some print books on my nightstand that I am reading, a bit at a time.  I’ve been working on America’s Queen and Home for a while.

I’m almost finished with Home!  I might even have a review up by the end of the day.

I could also do a little housework, but no…scratch that!  There is plenty of time…later.

So…many things to ponder, which means that I will waste some time trying to decide.  Do you find that trying to choose what to do next leads to fewer things accomplished?

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INTERNET TROLLS, ETC.: OUT OF THE SLIME…

Good morning!  I’ve been playing around with my blog header here…and I’m not sure that I’ve settled on this one.  But time will tell.

Meanwhile, I was reading e-mails and got one of those comments on an Amazon review.  I should change the notifications so I don’t get those, but then again, I like to know what the trolls are saying.  LOL.

The person said that my review should be ignored, since I was a “paid reviewer,” and gave away too much info.

Of course I had to respond and point out that the description written before “my thoughts” came straight from the product page…and BTW, I am not a paid reviewer.

I don’t usually let comments unsettle me, and mostly I ignore them.  But I had to correct her assumptions about my review being “paid.”  If only!

I know that some book reviewers have opted not to post on Amazon…trolls seem to linger there and come out of the slime occasionally.  I should be grateful that it doesn’t happen a lot.

 

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So…now that I’ve vented about that, I can go back to reading Mrs. Fletcher, which I’m really enjoying.  A mother (Eve Fletcher) whose nest is now empty; her college age son who is struggling with his first year, mostly the social aspects; and a group of interesting new friends that Mrs. Fletcher has discovered in an unexpected place.

 

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Do you find yourself venting occasionally at comments on the Internet?  What do you do about them? 

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OFF TO THE SHORE: THE BOOKS ARE COMING, TOO….

 

It is almost time for my trip to the beach!  You’d think I’m going for a week or more, the way I’m gathering things together, making lists, etc.

All week long, these pieces of half-packed luggage have been sitting by my bed.  Whenever I can tuck something away, which has to be an item I won’t be using again before I leave…in it goes.

At least I have refrained from bringing out my large luggage…my daughter has reminded me that other people will have luggage in the van.  LOL.

One thing I haven’t forgotten…books.  Maybe I won’t have much reading time, but you have to be prepared.  For late nights, when everyone else is out doing other things, I can curl up in my hotel room and read a little.  I’m thinking one of these, below.  I’m already reading The Cutaway, by Christina Kovac.

 

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I’ll be bringing Pippa, too, with many book choices, including One Perfect Lie, by Lisa Scottoline.

 

 

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I also have a short book on my Kindle, one I downloaded this week:  All Grown Up, by Jami Attenberg.

 

 

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So….I will party with the others until I can make my excuses and retreat to my room…for reading, TV, etc.  That’s how I enjoy myself, and since many people will be having a bonfire on the beach after the festivities, I will not be missed, I’m pretty sure.

Now you know my secret…I am basically a recluse who comes out to play for only a few hours into the night.  That’s how I do things nowadays.  I had my days of partying all night back in the day…now I prefer curling up to read.

What do you like to do when you are on “vacation”?

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MY YEAR IN BOOKS: 2015, VIA GOODREADS

Welcome to a peek into my Bookish Year of 2015.  Goodreads did a tabulation for those of us who use it…and here’s what they discovered.  Click the link to see a “prettier” view.

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My 2015 Year in Books, according to Goodreads.

 

Laurel-Rain

TOTALS

172

books

59,961

pages

SHORTEST BOOK

47 pages

The Dance Begins

by Diane Chamberlain

LONGEST BOOK

512 pages

The Lake House

by Kate Morton

AVERAGE LENGTH

353 pages

MOST POPULAR

726,210

people also read

The Girl on the Train

by Paula Hawkins

LEAST POPULAR

70

people also read

Snow Deer and Cocoa Cheer

by Joanne DeMaio

MY AVERAGE RATING FOR 2015

4.4

HIGHEST RATED ON GOODREADS

November Nine

by Colleen Hoover

4.60 average

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I am still reading, of course, so by the “real” end of the year, there might be at least two or three more books.  What did your year look like?

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SOMETIMES A BOOKWORM’S JOURNEY INCLUDES PURGING….

Recently I changed my header here (see above), and also my tagline.  Now it is A Bookworm’s Journey.

Finding the image of the little bookworm gave me the idea for the header.

For all the bookworms out there, remember:  Bookworms Rule!  LOL

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Now, on to another bookish topic.  Even bookworms sometimes have to clear their shelves, and I’ve been on a mission to do just that…it has been happening for a while.  Is there any end to the purging?

After I took this whole stack of books to the library…I thought I might be done for a bit.

 

But, no, I swept through two more shelves this week, and here’s what happened.  Below, see my office shelf in July:

 

And now, here is what it looks like today (October 8)

 

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In my bedroom, I had one remaining shelf to attack.  Yes, that’s what it feels like sometimes…an attack.  A shelf STUFFED with books, BEFORE:

 

And after, here we are on October 8, feeling satisfied…

 

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I have a feeling that I could consolidate some of the books on a couple of shelves….but I think I’ll wait on that one.

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What do you think?  Have I gone too far?  LOL

Enjoy curling up with your books.

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