Laurel County Public Library discussion

300. What book would you recommend to read on a rainy day?

Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson, Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain, The Last Train to London by Meg Waite Clayton, To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers. Just to name a few.

301. How big is your TBR? (How many books are on it?)

On GR it's 396, but I'm not sure if that includes all of the physical books I own.

Vivian wrote: "On GR it's 396, but I'm not sure if that includes all of the physical books I own."

That's awesome. My number is through the roof haha.

GR TBR List: 582

This does not include all my physical books.

302. What makes you add a book to your tbr?

Several things

- A Goodreads friend rated it high.
- A good or interesting book cover.
- The description looks good.
- It fits one of my challenges.
- It is one of my Goodreads groups, monthly read.

A pretty book cover.
Highly rated.
Interesting synopsis (if I decide to read the synopsis).
One written by a favorite author.
A recommendation.

I loved the narrators of both City of Bones and Riders.

303. What other hobbies do you enjoy as much as reading?

I enjoy baking and art (digital art, mainly).

304. What is your favorite movie or tv show that relates to books? (This can be a book-to-movie adaptation or a movie/show that incorporates books into it.)

I really enjoyed the LOTR book-to-movie adaptations. I have yet to read/watch the last one, though.

Some of my favorites are:
-Gilmore Girls
-You've Got Mail
-The Jane Austen Book Club
-The Hobbit
-Harry Potter

305. Where are some of you favorite unusual places to read (unusual meaning not your typical location like a couch, chair, or bed)?

I really enjoyed going to Starbucks to read before the pandemic hit. Sometimes I'll lay on the floor and read. I also like reading in the car.

I like to read while getting a tattoo. But I don't know how unusual that is.

I really enjoy reading outside if the weather is nice!

I like to read in my car. I know it’s strange, but somehow it’s comforting.

I always have a book with me, so when I arrive early somewhere, I pull into a parking space and read a few pages before it’s time to go in.

Vivian wrote: "I really enjoyed going to Starbucks to read before the pandemic hit. Sometimes I'll lay on the floor and read. I also like reading in the car."

I love reading in a coffee shop. I can't wait to be able to do that again.

Debra Digs wrote: "I like to read while getting a tattoo. But I don't know how unusual that is."

Oh that is interesting. I've never heard of anyone reading while getting a tattoo. :)

Jennifer wrote: "I really enjoy reading outside if the weather is nice!"

Reading outside is amazing when the weather is nice. In the summer I like reading by the pool...or in the pool.

Heather wrote: "I like to read in my car. I know it’s strange, but somehow it’s comforting.

I always have a book with me, so when I arrive early somewhere, I pull into a parking space and read a few pages before..."

I have read in my car many times. I always carry a book with me too. It's nice if you have to wait in your car for appointments too, especially now with the pandemic.

306. What is your favorite type of book cover? Why? Do you have a favorite book cover?

I prefer a book cover to be illustrated rather than real life (movie tie-in covers, real people on the cover, etc.) They're just a lot easier to look at.

There are so many pretty illustrated covers that I don't think I have an all-time favorite.

Vivian wrote: "I prefer a book cover to be illustrated rather than real life (movie tie-in covers, real people on the cover, etc.) They're just a lot easier to look at.

There are so many pretty illustrated cove..."

I totally agree! I love illustrated book covers. I don't really care for movie tie-in covers at all and covers with real people on the cover are okay but they're not my favorite.

307. February is Black History Month. What are some of your favorite books, and/or books that you'd like to read, by Black authors?

Favorite Books:

I just finished The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin the other day, and I loved it!

The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi. Heartbreaking but worth a read.

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

Books I want to read by black authors:

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
+many more

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I have enjoyed
- Wild Seed by Octavia E. Butler
- The Color Purple by Alice Walker

I would like to read
- The Street by Ann Petry
- The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X

Reading now, specifically for this month
- The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman by Ernest J. Gaines

308. What book have you reread the most? Why?

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It was the first audiobook I ever listened to when I worked data entry. I just thought it was a fantastic story, and I reread/listened to it at least 5-6 times.

I do regular re-reads of certain books/series (such as The Dark Tower, The Nine Kingdoms novels, The Dresden Files, the Riyria series, etc.) and frequently re-read other books when I’m in a reading funk and can’t find anything new that keeps my attention engaged.

Dracula by Bram Stoker. I have read it 3 or 4 times and am ready for another reread. I don't know why. I simply like it. It never gets old or repetitive.

309. Since Valentine's Day is this weekend, do you read any romance novels? If so, what are some of your favorites?

I do not read novels that are just romance. But I have enjoyed some historical romances, such as Gone with the Wind. Also some paranormal romances such as Carpathian (Dark) Series by Christine Feehan

Some favorite romance novels:

The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams
Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
Josh & Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren
Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey
The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare

Krystyna wrote: "309. Since Valentine's Day is this weekend, do you read any romance novels? If so, what are some of your favorites?"

I don’t really read romance novels.

Krystyna wrote: "308. What book have you reread the most? Why?"

A Christmas Carol - I’ve read about 4 times

I forgot about A Christmas Carol. I have read this about 4 times too. .....but Dracula is my favorite reread.

310. When you're snowed in, and can't go anywhere, what do you enjoy doing at home (i.e., reading, puzzles, movies, etc.)? Do you have a book stack to choose from?

Reading and movies. And I most definitely have a book stack to chose from.

311. Are there any March book releases that you're looking forward to reading?

Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas, looks interesting.

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
In the Quick by Kate Hope Day
The Bone Maker by Sarah Beth Durst

Debra Digs wrote: "Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas, looks interesting."

Yeah! I'm really excited for that one.

Vivian wrote: "The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
In the Quick by Kate Hope Day
The Bone Maker by Sarah Beth Durst"

The Rose Code and The Bone Maker are on my radar. I've not heard of In the Quick but I just looked it up and it looks interesting.

312. How do you determine your book ratings?

I don't really have a set way to rate. Whatever feels right in the moment is how I rate a book. It's also different between genres.

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In general, my ratings work like this:

1. star = this book never should have been published
2 stars = I would not recommend this book to anyone
3 stars = good, interesting, worth reading
4 stars = really liked this book
5 stars = outstanding, something stands out about this book

DNF, I do not rate