Hope your holidays are a hoot!
Friday 12.23.22
Coming soon…
Alas, no, not my finished book. But a new section will soon be joining the postcards - Reviewoodles. My fingers seize up when I try to write a book review. I resort to the star system time after time. Why? Sometimes I want to pick the book apart and edit it with a stack of red pens. But, plenty of people will enjoy books I do not (and vice versa). I don’t want to ruin it for someone who would have been very happy with it if it weren’t for me poo-pooing this bit or that. Other times, I love a book so very much and want to gush about it, but I usually bore myself in the midst of all that generalized joy. If even I don’t want to read what I have to write, why would anyone else?
I’d still like something to mark the time that I spent with the books I love. For a while, I did little drawings in a notebook with a favorite quote from each book. I never shared them, because I am terrified of a publisher dropping me into an oubliette and taking away my iPad, as “no part of this book may be copied or…” (you know the drill). I am a lawful good, to Lucas’s persistent frustration. Probably it’s fine? It’s publicity. Wouldn’t they like that?
Anyway, Reviewoodles. Doodle reviews. Drawn interpretations of the thoughts and feelings provoked by a book or movie or tv show. Coming to a blog near you. Zero copyright infringement.
Random, but: If you’re considering an e-reader and are on the fence…
I can’t believe it, but I haven’t read a single holiday-related book this season. I was about to re-read The Mischief of the Mistletoe, but I set it down on the kitchen counter in a puddle and had to let it dry out. At least it wasn’t my new Nook.
I finally dipped a toe into the world of e-reading again on a device other than my phone. This decision was practical on a number of levels — mainly, there’s only so much room in this house! I waffled between the Nook Glowlight 4 and the Kobo Clara 2E for ages, waiting to see if there would be holiday sales. While I thought the Kobo Clara 2E sounded like a nicer device (waterproof and made of recycled plastic), I downloaded the Kobo app on my phone and preferred the B&N Nook store experience.
I wasn’t expecting to love the Nook Glowlight, but I definitely do, even the double-sided buttons. It fits nicely in my hand(s), I like the way the screen light adjusts, the text looks good (I’m pretty picky), and I enjoy the softer look of the Pearl Pink Limited Edition I chose (the frame is white instead of black). If you’re struggling with the font size of regular books or if holding paper books becomes uncomfortable, I think this is an excellent choice. My left thumb has gone a bit creaky, perhaps because I keep accidentally sleeping with my face on my hand, and this has been a nice reprieve for it. It’s possible to turn the pages by swiping or with the buttons on either side. So far I’ve burned through more than half of the Enola Holmes series, started The Firekeeper’s Daughter (excellent but not a before-bed read), and taken advantage of several e-book holiday sales.
Christmas Book Haul: I got them all!
As a perk of donating to NaNoWriMo this year, I received a 20% off coupon for Chronicle Books. I’d never checked it out before, though I should have — they’ve published plenty of the art books sitting on my shelf. They ran an even better coupon for 35% off at the beginning of December, and I promptly gave Lucas my wishlist. He turned around and bought all of them. If I wasn’t officially spoiled before…
These beautiful books are available for borrowing if you have clean hands and understand books aren’t coasters (I’m looking at you, Lucas):
Chinatown Pretty: Fashion and Wisdom from Chinatown’s Most Stylish Seniors
Do you long for more vibrant color in your life? Are you not afraid of patterns? Do you love layering? I think you’ll love this fashion show in a book as much as I did.
Cats in Spring Rain: A Celebration of Feline Charm in Japanese Art & Haiku
Cats ought never
Have to search for love
Only lift a paw
A reminder to look up. And to write about what’s up there too.
The Art of Brave & The Art of Frozen
I love reading the making-of stories of animated movies. Not only is the concept art beautiful, but the reminder that it takes years and many people to make these beautiful things pushes me to keep working.
