My brilliant book reviewing career.

I read, on average, about 50-70 books a year. Reading has always been one of my favorite activities, in addition to binding my own books and any craft involving yarn (I just started spinning-- next step is sheep shearing school). I also enjoy the occasional bout of doing nothing, and I watch TV. So I'm quite pleased with my yearly book average. Then when I finished my Master's degree (huzzah!) I thought to myself, aha! Now I can continue working on the 1001 Books Project with my sister (she's in the C books, I'm still in the A books), and read more in general, and read galleys on Netgalley, and continue my TV-crafty-nothing-doing. I admit, I may have been overambitious in this quest. I know of several librarians who work at their day jobs, write reviews for major publications, serve on committees, present at conferences, and also seem to get their laundry done. And they usually have more familial obligations than I do (I have one dog). That being said, I am considering applying to be on the Nutmeg Book Award committee, which will kick my reading into super high gear. I think it will be quite cool to have a hand in the Nutmeg nominees. I may never be a professional book reviewer, but I can still be a good librarian.

Ex libris,

Marissa

Do Nothing But Read podcast of awesomeness.

About six months ago, Jill Thompson, an awesome cartoonist, tweeted about Do Nothing But Read Day, launched by a library student named Amanda. Since then, Amanda and I have become, I like to think, thick as thieves. We are Twitter friends and I hope we get to hang out in real life one day! In addition to running her own Do Nothing But Read Day blog, she also contributes to another blog called the Modern Day Pirates. On said blog, she collaborates with her longtime friend Brandon on a podcast about reading! They've done seven episodes to date, and it's great and funny and interesting and you should check it out. I never really understood podcasts, but I subscribed to this one and I love it. I listen to it while I'm shelving in the library, and I have laughed out loud and earned weird looks from library patrons. I also have added a bunch more titles to my "want to read" list. So go subscribe now and enjoy! And check out those blogs, which are updated way more often than mine and have better web design!

Ex libris,

Marissa

In which I profusely apologize for blog neglect and name some MUST READS.

Dear blog, I am sorry for neglecting you. I will not make excuses for my behavior. Just know that I am sorry.

I read 76 books in 2009, and now, almost halfway through 2010, I'm up to around 30. Here's the best so far, January through May.

1. Going Bovine by Libba Bray. This book won the Printz award this year, and rightfully so! I laughed, cried, sang Man of La Mancha, and gained new respect for yard gnomes. Libba talks about the book here.
2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Teens fight to the death in a gigantic arena. Dystopia, scifi, romance all in one, plus it's a trilogy, so the amazingness is not confined to one book! The third in the trilogy, Mockingjay, comes out in August. Kudos to Suzanne for not drawing this series out longer than it needs to be.
3. Little Brother by Cory Doctorow. Another YA dystopia novel. Actually, this whole list is YA because that's one of the courses I took this past semester, and YA literature is AMAZING right now. In this one, there is a terrorist attack and San Francisco becomes a police state. Marcus, a tech-saavy teenager, has to bring down the Department of Homeland Security. There is a lot of tech-speak in here, but it is fascinating. Cory Doctorow allows his book to be downloaded for free and this guy Bill Clementson has created a hyperlinked version of the bibliography which you will appreciate once you finish the book!
4. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan. Two of the greatest YA authors + two boys named Will Grayson + a chance meeting = GOLD. I so don't want to give anything away, so I won't, but go read this nownownow.
5. Gentlemen by Michael Northrop. I feel that this book has flown a bit under the radar, but it's definitely one of the best I've read so far this year. What would you do if you thought your teacher had murdered your best friend? The three protagonists of this book suspect their English teacher of kidnapping their friend and stuffing his body in a barrel after the teacher starts acting strangely toward them. The power of suggestion looms large in this mystery. A great read.

The snow is coming, why not read?

Tomorrow, make sure you stay in and read all day. It's ok, you are allowed. Here is the info from a Wisconsin library school student at her blog. How clever are library school students, anyway??? :D

Ex libris,

Marissa

Books are hott.

I really really really love books. I'd say I was a bibliophile, bookworm, or bluestocking (bas bleu), but I recently came across a sexier term while reading reviews on Amazon.com. Ready???

BIBLIOSEXUAL

How great is that? I'm totally a bibliosexual. (You can click through the link...just the Urban Dictionary definition, nothing scandalous).
I am so using this now. I tried to edit my Facebook orientation to "bibliosexual," but it doesn't work that way. There are just checkboxes for men or women under "Interested in." I guess they wanted to avoid sketchiosity.

Homo, hetero, or bi? Nope, BIB. :D

Ex libris,

Marissa

Blog for the 1001 Books Project

I've created a blog for the 1001 Books Project. Please follow us and comment often! Also, any motivational tools, such as carrot cake, would be much appreciated.

Ex libris,

Marissa

Read no evil?

September 26-October 3 is Banned Books Week. A few of my personal favorites from the lists:

Looking for Alaska by John Green
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett




The Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs
Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Celebrate the freedom to read!

Ex libris,

Marissa

Happy Banned Books Week!

Freedom to read is so important. Therefore, I wanted to post the most frequently challenged books for 2007. Here they are:

1. “And Tango Makes Three,” by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
Reasons: Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group

2. “The Chocolate War,” by Robert Cormier
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence

3. “Olive’s Ocean,” by Kevin Henkes
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language

4. “The Golden Compass,” by Philip Pullman
Reasons: Religious Viewpoint

5. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” by Mark Twain
Reasons: Racism

6. “The Color Purple,” by Alice Walker
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language,

7. “TTYL,” by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

8. “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” by Maya Angelou
Reasons: Sexually Explicit

9. “It’s Perfectly Normal,” by Robie Harris
Reasons: Sex Education, Sexually Explicit

10. “The Perks of Being A Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

For more information about ALA's Banned Books Week, go here. In the meantime, go read, and be thankful you can read whatever you like.

Ex libris,

Marissa

Yay for September!

It's almost fall! The leaves here are beginning to turn very slowly. There are a few trees with some fiery tips, but that's it so far. Other things that are new:

-- I began my MLS on Tuesday, which is part of why I've been remiss in blogging. So far it's a good chunk of reading and I have an essay to work on. I am kind of nervous, but I always get back-to-school jitters. I can do it. :)
-- Two bits about Stephenie Meyer:
1. The FAQ for Breaking Dawn are posted on her website, and I think they're great at clearing up some of my questions about the book. Check it out and decide for yourself, but SPOIER WARNING!
2. Apparently, Stephenie's draft of Midnight Sun was posted without permission and then distributed all over the Internet, and now she doesn't know if she'll ever finish it. Some people can spoil things for everyone! Read what Stephenie wrote regarding this breach of copyright.
-- If you like reading my blog, please add yourself to my "Readers" list over there under my Etsy shop. I just added this new Google widget today and I think it's really cool. And, as always, feel free to comment.
-- I found this article about ways to catch up on reading that has some good advice. I don't like it when people are obnoxious in waiting rooms, either, and reading a book is a great way to pass the time anywhere.

That's all for now.

Ex libris,

Marissa