Musing Mondays - New Authors

Musing Mondays is hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page

What is your policy when it comes to new authors? Do you feel comfortable purchasing a book or do you prefer to borrow new authors from the library? How often do you 'try out' a new author?

While I do have a few authors I go back to constantly, they span every genre imaginable. I will be at a bookstore to get books by James Patterson or Jen Lancaster the day they come out but it is my extremely varied tastes that make it essential for me to constantly try new authors.

If I pick up a book in the bookstore it is usually because it is on a display next to something I already like or because I really like the cover. I am very simple this way, if the cover gets my attention I will probably read it. I don't care if the book is by someone who I have never heard of or not. Lately I have been getting all my new authors from the library but that is because I am broke, not because I don't want to own their books. I am also getting all my favorite authors from the library, so it goes with an empty wallet.

I try out new authors almost constantly. With all the amazing books out there how can you only read authors you already know? and for that matter won't you feel a little dumb when someone points out to you that at some point that author was new to you?

Here are some of the authors that were new to me until recently and I adored. I would be very sad if I hadn't given them a chance.
Justina Chen Headley
Jennifer Echols
Megan McCafferty

Scott Westerfeld

What is your policy on new authors?

Musing Mondays

Musing Mondays is hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page

When reading do you read every word? Do you ever skip chapters or skim over parts?

I think this really depends on what I am reading. The books I have been reading lately I really love and I have been reading every single word. I wish I could say I had been so diligent in college but the amount of reading made that impossible. I had to skim then or there was no way I could get it all done. But I always at least skim, I never just skip things. Who knows, that could have been my favorite thing ever written and I would have missed it if I was in the habit of skipping things.

There have been times when I knew I read a book too fast and missed things too, and I usually try and go back and reread those books. This happened a lot with the later Harry Potter books. I wanted to zip through them really fast so I could have it read before all talk about it ruined plot points for me. The after I knew everything that happened I would go back and read it again to catch all the little stuff.

What is your reading style? Let everyone know over at Just One More Page

Musing Mondays - the library

Musing Mondays is hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about the library…

How often do you visit the library? Do you have a scheduled library day/time, or do you go whenever? Do you go alone, or take people with you?

I try and get to the library at least once a week, if for no other reason than to have something for my Library Loot posts.

In all seriousness I do actually try and go once a week because I usually have something to return and I always like to check out what is new. I tend to go on Tuesdays because that is the night that everyone else in my house works late so I have some time to kill. My sister tends to go with me even though she usually just sits in the car despite my urging to go in.

Even though my library is really small with a somewhat limited selection they are great about getting books though inter-library loan for me and they have great events like book sales every once in a while. I am also very broke so it is great that they are willing to work with me so much because I really can't afford to be buying all the books I want to read, what with college loans to pay back and having very little income.

Musing Mondays - Reviews

Musing Mondays is hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about book reviews…

Do you read any non-blogging book reviews? If so, where (newspaper, library etc)? Do you have any favourites sources you'd like to share?

I do get most of my book reviews from other bloggers but I also get them from Goodreads and Amazon. I also sometimes check the reviews and Barnes and Noble to see if they are different from Amazon.
The best reviews come from other people though so I love when one of my friends tells me about a book and I always check out the employee recommendations shelf when I am in a book store. I don't think I have ever really read book reviews in a newspaper, I've always relied on word of mouth.
How do you get your reviews?

Musing Mondays - Bookmarks

Musing Mondays is hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page

What do you use to mark your place while reading? Do you have a definite preference? Do you use bookmarks, paper, or (gasp) turn down the pages? If you use bookmarks, do you have a favorite one?

I have never had one bookmark option that I go to every time. I am a marker of convenience. I will use whatever is handy most of the time because I will put a book down when I am falling asleep and can't hold it up for one more second. I always try using index cards so I can mark down pages or quotes I really like on the card while I am reading. But I am rarely good at remembering to buy more when I run out.

When I started reading Twilight I was in the car on the way home for Christmas and the only thing handy was an extra Dunkin Donuts napkin so I used that for the whole series. I also regularly use the slip of paper the library gives me with the due dates on them.

Well, for Christmas one of my dear friends gave me a really pretty book mark that I love and I am making an effort to use regularly. It has a Confucius quote that I love and really do try and follow. "Wherever you go, go with all your heart." I also really love the little fish charms.


So how do you mark your page?

Musing Mondays

Musing Mondays is hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about book stores…

How do you choose what do buy from your local bookstore? Do you have a list, or just browse? What is the selection in your book store like? Do you find what you're looking for? Do you feel pressured to buy the kind of books the store makes prominent? (question courtesy of MizB)

I usually go into a bookstore with books I want but that doesn't mean that is all I get. I am a browser and I will go pick and aisle and literally sit down and look at all the books on the bottom shelf. So authors, hope your books are on the bottom shelf because I love to sit on the ground and read the backs of the books. Yes, I am that girl the rest of you are tripping over, sorry.

There isn't a book store in my town but There are a couple of malls all pretty close by with various Borders, Barnes and Noble and there was a Waldenbooks until a week ago. I usually can find what I am looking for but since I am a very broke, just finished with college, person I tend to not buy books if I can help it. The librarian in town has gotten to know me really well instead.

I have never felt pressured to buy the books in the front of the store, I can't sit down there so it is unlikely I give it too much thought. However if there is one of those displays with if you like this you should try this, and I like the initial this, I will usually give that some time.

How about you?

Musing Mondays

Musing Mondays is hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about lending books...

A few weeks back we had a question about borrowing books, this week I was wondering what your policy was on lending books. Do you lend books to anyone? Just friends? Only big readers? How long are they allowed to have them?

Unfortunately, I don't really have to have a policy on lending books because not too many of my friends are readers. I do lend them to my friends who are readers, however, and I haven't had any problems with it. I am not sure there is a time frame I have ever put on it but I have always gotten them back. I wouldn't lend my books to anyone I didn't trust because I love my books too much. My sister borrows them the most and she knows to take care of them.

Musing Mondays

How does your being sick (or injured) affect your reading? Do you read more? Less? Do you pick out a different book than you had already planned? Do you have a "comfort book" that makes you feel better?

I have seen the Musing Mondays on quite a few of the book blogs I have been checking out since I decided to start this so I decided to take part. (click the picture to go to the Musing Monday site). So here goes...

Being sick definitely affects my reading. Usually I get sick because I am super busy and run down so I tend to just sleep when I am sick and therefore get no reading done. And if I am not sleeping I am big on cheesy tv when sick, reality shows or soaps are all my brain can handle if I am sick.