Wherein resolutions were made
By: Meg
1 Feb 2010Klingons do not procrastinate. It is a tactical delay.
--Lt Commander Worf
It's January 31st. A full month into the year. A bit late, in other words, to be posting about New Year's resolutions, or plans, or whatever you prefer to call them. Yet there is a benefit to the delay in that I can report on progress so far.
What I did post to Twitter and FB on January 1 was this: #in2010 I will run a half-marathon, read 40 bks, & stick to a budget. Also: knit a lot, librate a lot, entertain cats a lot, etc.
The second half was a silly statement of the obvious. As for the first three:
I will run a half-marathon...
Running is the area in which I have been slacking the most, given my motivation to run in the dark is almost zero and my usual path spends most of the winter unevenly snowed over. However, I have joined a gym and engaged in a few sessions of that strange activity known as cross-training. Once it gets lighter out, I'll get back into the swing of things. Last year I ran my first 10k in October after beginning running seriously for the first time (successfully) in August. (I have a long pent up future post about how much I used to hate running and how shocking it is that I've come to love it.)
Given how unlikely I once thought it even this time last year that I would ever run more than about 3 miles at a time, I'm confident that I'll meet this goal. The real challenge may be selecting the course. I have been thinking about the Valley of Fire half, since I enjoyed visiting that state park last year, but I am beginning to come to my senses about the hilliness of the course and will probably choose one flatter and closer to home.
Read 40 books...
I may need to increase this one, as I finished my eighth book of the year today (with only one of these having been started in 2009). Granted, two of them were short (Michael Pollan's Food Rules is more a pamphlet in book form), but it's great to have some momentum going. Part of it stems from digging right into the pile of free and nearly free books I picked up at ALA Midwinter. Quite a lot of the books over the next couple months will be for the history of Boston course I'm taking, but I'm hoping to slip in some purely fun reads as well.
Stick to a budget...
This is another one where I have fallen off the wagon, and need to get back on. The only major debt is my library school loan, puny by some standards, but I'd like to start saving more than I am. The only way I've ever been successful at that is keeping track of spending, so I'm planning to spend some time researching budget software for Macs.
As for knitting, entertaining the cats, and generally being a librarian stereotype...
..those are all falling into place with no trouble. Imagine that.
2009: the Year in Books
By: Meg
18 Jan 2010
Well, it's been longer than I thought. August? Wow. Anyone still reading?
I just got a pile of new books visiting the exhibit hall at ALA's Midwinter meeting yesterday. I have not been to ALA before, nor had any desire too since I was a wee baby library student (chiefly because it's SO GINORMOUS compared to cozy AALL), but I had a great time. I even had one vaguely work-related conversation, as a vendor tried to sell me on a book that reminded him of A Civil Action. He's going to mail me a copy. It sounds fascinating, and I can't wait to add it to the pile--and pass it along/recommend for purchase if appropriate!
So, the point of this post is to report belatedly on 2009's reads before 2010 gets much further along. Last year I was inspired by Tom Boone's 2008 resolution to read 52 books in a year. Having similarly fallen out of the habit of regular lengthy reading (even before grad school in my case), I made that resolution for myself for 2009. My attempt began strong, faltered in the spring, and picked up steam again in the fall. I knew I wasn't going to complete the challenge, and would have been very happy to have finished 40. I came in at 30 and a half, and I'm not disappointed.
Along with some brief thoughts on them, my 2009 reads were (in approximate chronological order):
The Lady Elizabeth: A Novel by Alison Weir
Well-told historical fiction (and first novel) by one of Elizabeth's most popular biographers. I'm looking forward to the sequel. I learned later in the year that I agree with critics who claim Weir infers far too much in her non-fiction, but her writing is clear and compelling regardless of genre, so she makes a good novelist.
Innocent Traitor: a Novel of Lady Jane Grey by Alison Weir
Since I loved the previous book, I wanted more of Weir's take on the Tudors, even though I'd read enough about Grey in the past to know going in that this would be sad and depressing, as it certainly was.
Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama
The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
Pre-inauguration, I thought I should do some reading about the new president. Dreams was as brilliant as I expected. Audacity, alas, was merely a campaign book.
Blindspot by Jane Kamensky and Jill Lepore
I was excited about this one when I started it: it's written by local authors and I got a pre-signed copy at a local bookstore. It began as a great romp, but the prose got increasingly sensational and unbelievable and ended an absurd shade of purple. I've been unable to sell it on Amazon for some reason, so if anyone would like to take it off my hands despite this review, please let me know and I will be happy to mail it to you!
Sandra Day O'Connor: How the First Woman on the Supreme Court Became Its Most Influential Justice by Joan Biskupic
Another signed-by-the-author volume, this one much more satisfying. Purchased at AALL2007.
The Tribe of the Tiger by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas
More about big cats than I expected, but interesting reading about the psychology of cats of all sizes.
The Lace Reader by Brunonia Berry
Another locally authored and set book. Alas, way too much mystical woo-woo for my taste and I barely finished it.
Rules for Radicals by Saul Alinsky
I've had this lying around since it was recommended during the 2004 presidential campaign. An interesting study of power and how to shift it, especially reading it so soon after The Audacity of Hope.
Everything is Miscellaneous by David Weinberger
A re-read, before David addressed our library staff. In the unlikely event I ever teach a course in librarianship, it will be required reading.
Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie
Not my usual genre,but I enjoyed a co-authored Crusie I read for a friend's book club a couple years ago. This one was also fun. If she weren't a successful romance novelist, Crusie could make a good living as a food writer.
The River King by Alice Hoffman
I don't tend to care for Hoffman, so I'm not sure why I read this one. Oh yeah, a book club.
Snowcrash by Neal Stephenson
I got around to re-starting and finally finishing the book frequently cited as an inspiration for Second Life. Pretty good.
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
Waters got everything just right in this eerie novel about the British class system post-WW2. It would probably seem even more brilliant if I were British.
Angels and Ages: a Short Book about Darwin, Lincoln, and Modern Life by Adam Gopnik
Gopnik had the interesting idea of a dual exploration of the lives of Darwin and Lincoln, who were born on the same day. Some good insights, although Gopnik annoyed me on a few points as well.
Catching the Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human by Richard Wrangham
If you liked the Omnivore's Dilemma, you'll probably like this. (And if you're a raw foodist, you'll hate it.) A great blend of food science, biology, evolution, and anthropology.
The Difference Engine by William Gibson & Bruce Sterling
This one is cited as the progenitor of the Steampunk genre. I wanted to love it, but it got a resounding "meh." It was obvious that it was co-authored and the story totally broke down in the last third.
Ahead of Her Time: A Sampler of the Life and Thought of Mary Wollstonecraft edited by Ella Mazel
A short volume I picked up from my library. Mixed with some brief biographical notes, it was indeed a good introduction to the early feminist.
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
Such fun! I need to read more Neil Gaiman.
The Singing House by Janette Griffiths
I discovered this tale of Wagner fans and singers because its author and I were listening to and commenting to one of the Ring cycle operas at the same time on Twitter. No joke. A charming story that I'm really glad Janette mentioned!
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
How many books do you read where every word is perfect? Not many. This is one. A heartbreaking masterpiece. I might even read more McCarthy at some point, although I suspect most of his work is too grisly and bleak for me. Despite the bleak setting, this one was not.
Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superatheletes, and the Greatest Race the World has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall
A little adventure, a little sports, and a little science woven with great stories and characters who sound too outrageous to really exist, but do. So much fun, I suspect even non-runners would enjoy it.
Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron
A sweet short tale about a library cat is buried among the story of the author's not very interesting personal troubles and repeated conviction that small town people are better than everyone else because they're so humble. Yuck.
March by Geraldine Brooks
March a Pulitzer and the topic was intriguing, but turned out to be the worst book I read all year. Mr. March of Little Women fame is revealed to be a craven coward who keeps meeting up in unlikely ways with his first love, a biracial slave woman who is a paragon of culture, literacy, medical talent, selflessness, and unlikelihood. Dear Geraldine Brooks: what did Louisa May Alcott ever do to you? Dear Pulitzer Committee: srsly?
Carrie by Stephen King
The only other King I'd read was the Hearts in Atlantis short story collection, which I didn't especially care for--partially because there was a tie-in to the Dark Tower series, which I hadn't read and thus found annoying. Carrie, however, was excellent, despite my general distaste for supernatural elements and my mostly knowing the whole story despite not having seen the whole movie. (Thanks, pop culture world.) I hadn't expected the faux primary sources interspersed with the story. Nice touch.
Eleanor of Aquitaine by Alison Weir
I'd been wanting to read a proper bio of Eleanor for years--or at least as proper as is possible given the paucity of primary sources for her life. Weir did a great job reconstructing, though as mentioned above, she frequently uses far too authoritative a tone in her guesses about her subjects' feelings and motivations.
Candy Freak: A Journey through the Chocolate Underbelly of America by Steve Almond
Omnomnomnom. I expected an inside view of the candy industry. I didn't expect the history and inside view of some remaining mom-n-pop candy producers from around the country. Fascinating...and will make your sweet tooth go out of control, especially if you can find the candies he mentions. Lucky for me, Lake Champlain chocolates are all over the place in New England.
Change by Design: How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation by Tim Brown
Brown does give lots of examples of how design thinking works in different types of projects. Recommended reading for librarians who are thinking about designing or redesigning resources or services.
Are You Somebody?: The Accidental Memoir of a Dublin Woman by Nuala O'Faolain
A sometimes hard to read personal memoir that was recommended to me by a law librarian last October. Although so much of it is specific to O'Faolain's experiences, it was still a fascinating look into an Ireland my mother might have experienced had she stayed there instead of emigrating as a young child.
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Fun YA novel that is unavoidably reminiscent of Harry Potter due to the supernatural powers, trio of heroes, and special school. Still: fun. I didn't know when I started it that it's being made into a movie, but I'm looking forward to it.
Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen (started; finished in 2010)
I decided to read this one finally after re-watching the Emma Thompson movie for the umpteenth time. Typical witty Austen, and Elinor and Marianne continue to remind me of my sister and me. I will leave it as an exercise for my reader to figure out who is whom, but anyone who knows us both will get it right.
As you can see, there were quite a few I disliked. What were my favorites? Born to Run and The Road, with Catching the Fire a close runner-up to BtR in the non-fiction category and Sense & Sensibility and Neverwhere as runners up to The Road in fiction.
I read Catching the Fire, The Little Stranger, and the Lightning Thief on the Kindle app on my iPhone, which I love. The only reason I didn't read more things on it is that I frequently find the books I want to read either aren't available for Kindle or cost as much or more than the print versions, which is ridiculous. I also joined Paperback Swap this year on my sister's recommendation, and it is also awesome.
In 2010, I plan to read 40 books and do some other things. More on that soon.
I just got a pile of new books visiting the exhibit hall at ALA's Midwinter meeting yesterday. I have not been to ALA before, nor had any desire too since I was a wee baby library student (chiefly because it's SO GINORMOUS compared to cozy AALL), but I had a great time. I even had one vaguely work-related conversation, as a vendor tried to sell me on a book that reminded him of A Civil Action. He's going to mail me a copy. It sounds fascinating, and I can't wait to add it to the pile--and pass it along/recommend for purchase if appropriate!
So, the point of this post is to report belatedly on 2009's reads before 2010 gets much further along. Last year I was inspired by Tom Boone's 2008 resolution to read 52 books in a year. Having similarly fallen out of the habit of regular lengthy reading (even before grad school in my case), I made that resolution for myself for 2009. My attempt began strong, faltered in the spring, and picked up steam again in the fall. I knew I wasn't going to complete the challenge, and would have been very happy to have finished 40. I came in at 30 and a half, and I'm not disappointed.
Along with some brief thoughts on them, my 2009 reads were (in approximate chronological order):
The Lady Elizabeth: A Novel by Alison Weir
Well-told historical fiction (and first novel) by one of Elizabeth's most popular biographers. I'm looking forward to the sequel. I learned later in the year that I agree with critics who claim Weir infers far too much in her non-fiction, but her writing is clear and compelling regardless of genre, so she makes a good novelist.
Innocent Traitor: a Novel of Lady Jane Grey by Alison Weir
Since I loved the previous book, I wanted more of Weir's take on the Tudors, even though I'd read enough about Grey in the past to know going in that this would be sad and depressing, as it certainly was.
Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama
The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
Pre-inauguration, I thought I should do some reading about the new president. Dreams was as brilliant as I expected. Audacity, alas, was merely a campaign book.
Blindspot by Jane Kamensky and Jill Lepore
I was excited about this one when I started it: it's written by local authors and I got a pre-signed copy at a local bookstore. It began as a great romp, but the prose got increasingly sensational and unbelievable and ended an absurd shade of purple. I've been unable to sell it on Amazon for some reason, so if anyone would like to take it off my hands despite this review, please let me know and I will be happy to mail it to you!
Sandra Day O'Connor: How the First Woman on the Supreme Court Became Its Most Influential Justice by Joan Biskupic
Another signed-by-the-author volume, this one much more satisfying. Purchased at AALL2007.
The Tribe of the Tiger by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas
More about big cats than I expected, but interesting reading about the psychology of cats of all sizes.
The Lace Reader by Brunonia Berry
Another locally authored and set book. Alas, way too much mystical woo-woo for my taste and I barely finished it.
Rules for Radicals by Saul Alinsky
I've had this lying around since it was recommended during the 2004 presidential campaign. An interesting study of power and how to shift it, especially reading it so soon after The Audacity of Hope.
Everything is Miscellaneous by David Weinberger
A re-read, before David addressed our library staff. In the unlikely event I ever teach a course in librarianship, it will be required reading.
Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie
Not my usual genre,but I enjoyed a co-authored Crusie I read for a friend's book club a couple years ago. This one was also fun. If she weren't a successful romance novelist, Crusie could make a good living as a food writer.
The River King by Alice Hoffman
I don't tend to care for Hoffman, so I'm not sure why I read this one. Oh yeah, a book club.
Snowcrash by Neal Stephenson
I got around to re-starting and finally finishing the book frequently cited as an inspiration for Second Life. Pretty good.
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
Waters got everything just right in this eerie novel about the British class system post-WW2. It would probably seem even more brilliant if I were British.
Angels and Ages: a Short Book about Darwin, Lincoln, and Modern Life by Adam Gopnik
Gopnik had the interesting idea of a dual exploration of the lives of Darwin and Lincoln, who were born on the same day. Some good insights, although Gopnik annoyed me on a few points as well.
Catching the Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human by Richard Wrangham
If you liked the Omnivore's Dilemma, you'll probably like this. (And if you're a raw foodist, you'll hate it.) A great blend of food science, biology, evolution, and anthropology.
The Difference Engine by William Gibson & Bruce Sterling
This one is cited as the progenitor of the Steampunk genre. I wanted to love it, but it got a resounding "meh." It was obvious that it was co-authored and the story totally broke down in the last third.
Ahead of Her Time: A Sampler of the Life and Thought of Mary Wollstonecraft edited by Ella Mazel
A short volume I picked up from my library. Mixed with some brief biographical notes, it was indeed a good introduction to the early feminist.
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
Such fun! I need to read more Neil Gaiman.
The Singing House by Janette Griffiths
I discovered this tale of Wagner fans and singers because its author and I were listening to and commenting to one of the Ring cycle operas at the same time on Twitter. No joke. A charming story that I'm really glad Janette mentioned!
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
How many books do you read where every word is perfect? Not many. This is one. A heartbreaking masterpiece. I might even read more McCarthy at some point, although I suspect most of his work is too grisly and bleak for me. Despite the bleak setting, this one was not.
Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superatheletes, and the Greatest Race the World has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall
A little adventure, a little sports, and a little science woven with great stories and characters who sound too outrageous to really exist, but do. So much fun, I suspect even non-runners would enjoy it.
Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron
A sweet short tale about a library cat is buried among the story of the author's not very interesting personal troubles and repeated conviction that small town people are better than everyone else because they're so humble. Yuck.
March by Geraldine Brooks
March a Pulitzer and the topic was intriguing, but turned out to be the worst book I read all year. Mr. March of Little Women fame is revealed to be a craven coward who keeps meeting up in unlikely ways with his first love, a biracial slave woman who is a paragon of culture, literacy, medical talent, selflessness, and unlikelihood. Dear Geraldine Brooks: what did Louisa May Alcott ever do to you? Dear Pulitzer Committee: srsly?
Carrie by Stephen King
The only other King I'd read was the Hearts in Atlantis short story collection, which I didn't especially care for--partially because there was a tie-in to the Dark Tower series, which I hadn't read and thus found annoying. Carrie, however, was excellent, despite my general distaste for supernatural elements and my mostly knowing the whole story despite not having seen the whole movie. (Thanks, pop culture world.) I hadn't expected the faux primary sources interspersed with the story. Nice touch.
Eleanor of Aquitaine by Alison Weir
I'd been wanting to read a proper bio of Eleanor for years--or at least as proper as is possible given the paucity of primary sources for her life. Weir did a great job reconstructing, though as mentioned above, she frequently uses far too authoritative a tone in her guesses about her subjects' feelings and motivations.
Candy Freak: A Journey through the Chocolate Underbelly of America by Steve Almond
Omnomnomnom. I expected an inside view of the candy industry. I didn't expect the history and inside view of some remaining mom-n-pop candy producers from around the country. Fascinating...and will make your sweet tooth go out of control, especially if you can find the candies he mentions. Lucky for me, Lake Champlain chocolates are all over the place in New England.
Change by Design: How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation by Tim Brown
Brown does give lots of examples of how design thinking works in different types of projects. Recommended reading for librarians who are thinking about designing or redesigning resources or services.
Are You Somebody?: The Accidental Memoir of a Dublin Woman by Nuala O'Faolain
A sometimes hard to read personal memoir that was recommended to me by a law librarian last October. Although so much of it is specific to O'Faolain's experiences, it was still a fascinating look into an Ireland my mother might have experienced had she stayed there instead of emigrating as a young child.
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Fun YA novel that is unavoidably reminiscent of Harry Potter due to the supernatural powers, trio of heroes, and special school. Still: fun. I didn't know when I started it that it's being made into a movie, but I'm looking forward to it.
Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen (started; finished in 2010)
I decided to read this one finally after re-watching the Emma Thompson movie for the umpteenth time. Typical witty Austen, and Elinor and Marianne continue to remind me of my sister and me. I will leave it as an exercise for my reader to figure out who is whom, but anyone who knows us both will get it right.
--
As you can see, there were quite a few I disliked. What were my favorites? Born to Run and The Road, with Catching the Fire a close runner-up to BtR in the non-fiction category and Sense & Sensibility and Neverwhere as runners up to The Road in fiction.
I read Catching the Fire, The Little Stranger, and the Lightning Thief on the Kindle app on my iPhone, which I love. The only reason I didn't read more things on it is that I frequently find the books I want to read either aren't available for Kindle or cost as much or more than the print versions, which is ridiculous. I also joined Paperback Swap this year on my sister's recommendation, and it is also awesome.
In 2010, I plan to read 40 books and do some other things. More on that soon.
TLC 2.0: Casual Cataloging with LibraryThing
By: Meg
2 Oct 2007
I'm a fan of LibraryThing, nearly all my books are listed there, I think the lifetime membership is a bargain, so why don't I feel enthused about blogging about it?
I guess it's because the site has never felt very "sticky" to me. Since adding my books, I haven't had much impulse to go back, or take advantage of the group features. Frankly, I feel so overloaded on 2.0/networking sites that the thought of getting seriously involved in another is a little scary, but just for the heck of it, I subbed to the feeds for the law librarians group new members and new messages.
For me, the great benefit of LibraryThing is in quickly and easily "cataloging" my personal library and having it accessible wherever I am. I don't foresee using it in the academic law library setting, but I have a librarian friend who coordinates the writing center at another college who used it to inventory the center's book collection.
There's a link to my collection in my sidebar, but I don't need a search box there, nor a random book display, which would likely never show anything but books about things I was obsessed with in high school. :)
I recently dabbled with some other book-ish 2.0 sites and didn't care for them. Good Reads seemed to be all about rating (fun!), but then either attributed me with owning everything I rated or, after I imported my LibraryThing catalog, claiming that I'd read everything in it, which I most definitely haven't. I also tried one of the Facebook apps and had similar issues with the way it tried to display things.
What I'd love is a site that combined the ability to catalog one's own books, link in my Amazon wishlist, plus rate anything else I've ever read. Is that too much to ask?!
I guess it's because the site has never felt very "sticky" to me. Since adding my books, I haven't had much impulse to go back, or take advantage of the group features. Frankly, I feel so overloaded on 2.0/networking sites that the thought of getting seriously involved in another is a little scary, but just for the heck of it, I subbed to the feeds for the law librarians group new members and new messages.
For me, the great benefit of LibraryThing is in quickly and easily "cataloging" my personal library and having it accessible wherever I am. I don't foresee using it in the academic law library setting, but I have a librarian friend who coordinates the writing center at another college who used it to inventory the center's book collection.
There's a link to my collection in my sidebar, but I don't need a search box there, nor a random book display, which would likely never show anything but books about things I was obsessed with in high school. :)
I recently dabbled with some other book-ish 2.0 sites and didn't care for them. Good Reads seemed to be all about rating (fun!), but then either attributed me with owning everything I rated or, after I imported my LibraryThing catalog, claiming that I'd read everything in it, which I most definitely haven't. I also tried one of the Facebook apps and had similar issues with the way it tried to display things.
What I'd love is a site that combined the ability to catalog one's own books, link in my Amazon wishlist, plus rate anything else I've ever read. Is that too much to ask?!
