Posts Tagged ‘Books’
Mondayitis – Olga
A new regular feature here is Mondayitis, published every Tuesday, it features guests discussing a series of questions. People have their own view of the questions and some use them as a starting point while others actually answer them, in their own particular way.
What do you read?
Books made of paper. Anything in general adult fiction that is widely popular fills me with suspicion and is to be avoided. My favourite genre is fantasy fiction, either adult, young adult or childrens and makes up most of what I read. I also read a lot of history books, some mythology, random non-fiction that catches my eye, biographies, the occasional mystery or romance, and a little historical fiction. And loads and loads of old childrens books.
Why do you read?
Usually when people ask me this question it’s more of the “Why do you read so much?” variety followed by a proud declaration that they themselves do not read. This usually happens in a workplace, at lunchtime, where people would feel the overwhelming need to interrupt my quiet reading time to ask me this question. And then tell me that they don’t like books. This seems to be a perfectly acceptable practise. I wonder then, if I should launch myself on unsuspecting people in lunch-rooms who are not holding books, ask why they are not reading, and then proudly proclaim that I love books.
I suspect, this would be unacceptable behaviour. Or would at least earn me some rather strange looks. But I have to admit i am often tempted…
So why do I read? I don’t know. I can’t imagine not reading.
Do you read for work or pleasure?
Pleasure, always. Even if the book is bad. If I had to read a boring book for work I would probably secretly enjoy it.
Can you do the Safety Dance while reading?
I’m quite sure I have asked Suz for a demonstration of this mysterious Safety Dance but so far she is dodging me.
Are you a Discworld/Twilight/Harry Potter fan?
Yes, No, Yes. I’m currently collecting Discworld but I have only read three of them so far. I’m in the habit of wanting to have a whole series on hand before I start reading.
I adore Harry Potter. I have a big collection of Harry Potter books including first editions, collectors copies and various paperback editions, and I desperately want an owl.
I did read the first Twilight book as I don’t think I should make fun of books so wholeheartedly if I haven’t read them. (I can now make fun of it without guilt) I passed the book onto my best friend who furtively purchased the next three books. She very bravely owned up to this several months later.
Would you attend a flash mob dressed as your favourite character?
No. I probably couldn’t choose my favourite character from a book, then I would spend weeks agonising over whether or not it was technically correct.
Part-work magazines presentation
I really hope this works.
I had to do a Powerpoint presentation as part of my studies, it had to show off my skills and not my business but they wanted it within a business framework to showcase part of that business. I chose part-work magazines as people don’t seem to know much about them. If I was doing a proper video I’d have put in photos and it would have been much, much longer.
I don’t have much equipment here and I certainly don’t have video editing software, I do have a friend with the software but I haven’t asked her to do any pretty stuff with this so it’s just raw footage. As I totally underestimated the time the upload would take and didn’t write a script beforehand I don’t have a transcript as yet. I should add that in later.
Me talking my way through a Powerpoint presentation on part-work magazines
Squid Ink goes to the Austrian Alps
Squid Ink meets Rufus.
The Chalet School books were written between 1925 and 1970, all written by Elinor Brent-Dyer. They were and still are magical books with really lovely characters who all believe the best in everyone and are disappointed when someone turns out to be less than perfect. I’ve loved them for years and have to be careful when opening a book to list as I’m likely to read the whole book as witnessed in this post.
I’d definitely recommend them for the pre-teens age group, there is the odd bit of violence but swearing is very much frowned upon. With only 60 books it’ll keep them going for a little.
Boutique bookshops
Currently bookshops generally have to do something else besides just sell books, internet sales go hand-in-hand with this and there are always other goods available at the checkout to entice you to spend a little more. Sometimes people combine a coffee lounge with the books although this brings all sorts of other challenges such as what to do when the customer has no intention of buying the book, takes it into the coffee lounge to read it and spills coffee all over it, but what if there was another way entirely.
I was having a chat on twitter a few days ago with some friends and one of them mentioned boutique bookshops, she wasn’t serious and was talking about bookshops which have a particular focus. So how would a beauty salon combined with books about beauty, chick lit or romance work? While they’re doing your hair you could be talking about books and be sold a book on the way out. There could be a package deal, a pamper session combined with a book or two so as to continue the pampering when you get home.
Of Science and Swords in Melbourne have exactly this arrangement. Their focus is on science fiction and fantasy and they have all sorts of goodies available besides just books. You can buy unicorn meat, tshirts, all sorts of Doctor Who paraphenalia and other exciting stuff focussed on the science fiction and fantasy books. It’s a haven for people like me.
I can’t help wondering what other combinations we could come up with. Romance would be easy despite those people who are closet romance readers. You could put in anything to do with hearts and love, including little heart shaped chocolates which are readily available near me. Then add in heart shaped pillows and those thingy whichies you use to make heart shaped patterns on your toast, I was given one many moons ago and never used it, can’t think why people think I’m romantic. Add in some roses, both real and fake and you’ve got it made.
A literary theme would be a little harder. Penguin released all sorts of goodies to go with their books so stocking those would be a must. They’ve got mugs, pens and teatowels, I’ve been given a Virginia Woolf teatowel in a cylinder. I’d be considering adding in anything people do while reading, including chocolates and muffins, tea and coffee, and also adding in long lasting versions of gluten free and caffeine free options of these items.
When it comes to non-fiction you can over specialise but I suspect that wouldn’t be a viable business model. Let’s take dinosaurs for an example. There are a lot of dinosaur books around and you could also put in dinosaur toys and copies, maybe even some real examples of dinosaurs for those with a little more money. You’d want to have your shop in a very good and cheap location as well as developing an extensive online model in order to survive, while there’s still good interest in dinosaurs I don’t think it’s enough for a whole shop.
Anyway, what are your thoughts? Can you come up with a business model for a specialist book shop? Can it possibly work?
Mondayitis – Shae
What do you read?
Why do you read?
Do you read for work or for pleasure and is there any difference between the two?
Do you read to your kids or to someone else’s kids?
Can you do the Safety Dance while reading?
Are you a rabid Discworld/Twilight/Harry Potter fan and would you attend a flash mob dressed as your favourite character?
2001 by Squid Ink
Squid Ink meets Hal
Squid Ink’s reading is wide and varied. This week he’s been getting in Arthur C. Clarke and finding out all about 2001, hope he didn’t see the movie.
I’ve seen the movie of 2001 a couple of times and didn’t understand it either time, it did give us some great lines such as, ‘Open the pod bay door, Hal’ but sense is something it didn’t make to me. I haven’t read the book but I hope when I do take the dive it will make more sense. One thing I’ve found with movies and books is that often the book explains the movie and I have a greater understanding of it. How does this work for you?
Wednesday – Hump Day
Following on from Monday’s exposé of Passover, I’m not going to tell you how many corners I cut for Passover. I told you how it’s meant to be and that’s what so many people actually do, whether you do some or all it is exhausting as it’s on top of all your regular cleaning and work. I’ve been trying to continue on with my regular website stuff; including sales and writing as well as adding in a conference the previous week.
The conference was great fun, run by Digital Parents I originally didn’t think about getting a ticket as I don’t consider myself a mummy blogger (I don’t consider myself a daddy blogger either but that’s a different story) so I didn’t do all the normal things I’d do prior to attending. It was only a few days prior to the conference that a friend offered me her ticket. Poor Vanessa has not been well and found she wasn’t up to travelling into Melbourne for the Digital Parents Conference 2012 (#DPCon12). I took a photo of her, stuck it to some cardboard and then to a ruler so I could take her with me, introducing her as my dancing partner people welcomed her and wished her well.
The conference itself started with an expo where you could drink as much coffee as you needed and then start viewing the sponsors’ booths. They were there to get as much exposure as possible and hopefully talk to everyone. I was not entirely in their target market so there were a couple of booths I didn’t take in fully but I did haunt the Dyson booth and hope to be lent a vacuum cleaner for testing which I’ll review on my other blog, Dyson has a reputation for good vacuum cleaners and I’m eager to see how it measures up to my current one. HardieGrant were giving away books for people to blog about and I managed to get two of the three books in the young adult range, the other was romance so I left it for someone else, most of the books were picture books or Enid Blytons such as The Wishing Chair so I left them as well, I do hope to get more books from them in the future. I mostly bypassed the Macleans stand and the Disney stand as they were targetting the pre-school market. Spent a bit of time hanging around talking to the Red Cross people, there was no-one there when I went but people followed me, I can’t give blood for a while as my iron levels are too low but I chatted with them anyway. I took Vanessa with me and introduced her to whoever I spoke to, including Darren Rowse of Problogger, he’s running another blogging conference in October and this is a must attend so I’m saving my pennies.
Who's flirting with who?
I spoke to as many people as I possibly could, I gave out business cards and accepted business cards. With 180 people in attendance it was challenging to speak to everyone and I didn’t manage it, next time I plan to speak to more. If you’re a blogger there are three conferences in Australia that should be on your radar, google them and check them out. Nuffnang in Sydney in June, Problogger in Melbourne in October and Digital Parents. I’ll definitely keep you posted on the books, I’m reading one now.
Mondayitis – Tash
What do you read?
Pretty much anything if pushed, but I mostly read fantasy, crime and a bit of drama (Jodi Piccoult style). That’s not counting anything for business which involves books, blogs and websites.
Why do you read?
Because I love it and always have! I go to different worlds, broaden my horizons, relax, get new ideas and sometimes even learn things.
Do you read for work or for pleasure and is there any difference between the two?
I read books mostly for pleasure (although I can say all reading hones my writing skills so there’s a business link!) but online I mostly read for business. My reading time is limited so I can’t bring myself to spend it on business reading 
Do you read to your kids or to someone else’s kids?
Mostly my kids – they all adore books too. I sometimes read to my cubs but then again I usually tell a yarn rather than reading it from paper.
Can you do the Safety Dance while reading?
Probably – I’m a busy Mum and multitasking is normal!
Are you a rabid Discworld/Twilight/Harry Potter fan and would you attend a flash mob dressed as your favourite character?
Read and enjoyed them all – Twilight & Vampire Academy for my daughter but found them enjoyable. Dressing up for a party or cub night, sure; attend a flash mob, nope.
Tash Hughes is confirmed bookaholic and writes professionally through Word Constructions. Whether consulting, writing or sharing tips in her blog, Tash’s aim is to make written communications clear for all!
Watership Down? Squid Ink!
Who has Squid Ink met now?
Squid Ink reads a most diverse list of books. This week it’s Watership Down by Richard Adams. It’s one of my favourite books from my childhood. I love it still despite weeping every time I read it.
It’s the story of some rabbits who decide to leave their warren and strike out on their own. They have a leader, a dreamer and someone who’s learned to fight. On the way they meet other rabbits who have a different lifestyle and eventually find their way to a place they can call their own. The story doesn’t end there though as they have to find female rabbits if they’re to survive and they find some caged rabbits, let them free and take them back to their warren. It’s a heartwarming story and one I recommend. There is violence and death though, so it’s not for a young child, I’d probably pitch it to ten years and above.
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy – John le Carre
I’ve known this version of the rhyme for far too long:
Tinker, tailor,
Soldier, sailor,
Rich man, poor man,
Beggar-man, thief.
It has countless variations and has been in use since about 1695, John le Carré used it for his book Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy published in 1974, he uses it extensively throughout to illustrate and code name the people he was writing about. It’s apparently quite common in spy circles to give people code names, at least that’s what I’ve noticed with all the spy novels I’ve read.
Le Carré is considered one of the top spy novelists of all time. I first read this book far too many years ago and had to read it again after seeing the current film. It was a great movie and fairly true to the book, yes, there were lots of omissions and some changes but I feel they did a good job.
I was asked the other day if Le Carré was like Robert Ludlum and my instant response was ‘Better’! Le Carré builds the tension gradually and it was quite a shock to find my heart beating faster. Ludlum puts in much more action and builds the tension a lot faster. I like Ludlum as well but I feel Le Carré is a better writer.
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carre
The story is set in a spy agency in England, there’s been a bit of turmoil with the top person dying and some people being retired from service. Suddenly the Minister approaches George Smiley with a view to coming back and finding the mole who’s been reporting to Moscow for some years. He’s only got a few days to trawl back through the records, find and interview various people before putting in motion the uncovering of the mole.
It is beautifully executed. Le Carré puts in a lot of spy craft and includes many details on eluding followers and dropping off and picking up mail from safe places. I loved it and recommend it, as I also recommend anything else by Le Carré. If it weren’t for my massive To Be Read pile I’d go back to my shelves and reread some more of his books. It was interesting how I let my Ludlum books go but couldn’t let Le Carré off my shelves.