Cool Stuff

http://www.outofprintclothing.com/

Thanks to Caroline for this awesome site. Although there is not a huge variety of options, this is still really cool!! Get an awesome shirt and give someone a book. :-D.

Fun with Books

For all you non-readers, here are some other ways that you too can enjoy books.

College Students on Reading

Intreviews with college students helped to give me a better picture of how they feel about books and reading for pleasure.

*How often do you read for fun? Why?
Person 1) If comics count, than once a week. If not than probably once a month here at college.
Person 2) Never. Because I have to read too much for school.
Person 3) Never now that I'm in college. :-(
Person 4) Occasionally, only if I find a good book to read
Person 5) Not as much as I want to because of English 101
Person 6) Never

*What is your favorite book?
1) Greeb Eggs and Ham cause it is the first book I ever read aloud. But really, Modoc: The Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived 
2) The Old Man and The Sea  by Ernest Hemingway
3) Harry Potter!!!!
4)The Black Stallion
5) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
6) Hmmm... I liked Three Cups of Tea*What do you usually use as a bookmark?
1) My mind, I just remember the pages. It's actually a little challenge I have for myself to see how long I can remember pages.
2) Whatever I can find
3) A scrap piece of paper
4) A notecard
5) Tissues
6) Scraps of paper

*Where do you get the books you read?
1) LIBRARY!!!!
2) Library
3) Library
4) Either the library or as presents
5) Amazon.com
6) The bookstore. And I steal from family members

* Do you use the Internet to connect with authors, find fandoms, read, or find books to read?
1) Yes, I read my comics on the Internet. I also read homework assignments on Blackboard.
2)No, I use it to search the library though
3) Yes, I do all of those things
4) No, not really
5) yes, amazon.
6) Yes

*Did you like reading as a child?
1) Um... sort of. I mean, it was tolerable I suppose.
2) No
3) Yes!
4) NO!!!
5) No, not until 6th or 7th grade
6) I guess. Can't really remember but I've never been much of a reader.

The Ink Drinker

This is one of the best books ever. Though it is only 35 pages including illustrations, it is one of the most entertaining pieces of literature I have ever read. In the story a young boy works with his father the bookstore he runs. He hates reading. In fact, the only thing he likes about books is the sound of tearing pages. One day he sees a strange man float into the store and suck the ink out of the books with a straw.  He follows the man and an adventure in reading ensues. This story is a clever and enjoyable metaphor for the love of reading. It is the first in a series of four, but the last three books are no longer in print. Definitely, worth your time if you can find this book.

Bookshelves

While bookmarks are a very important part of the reading experience, the storage of books play an equally important role. To keep your books in good condition, you must store them properly. Shelve should be away from things like water, air vents, dogs and small children that will ruin your books. It is important to store books straight up and down so their spines don't become cracked or warped. Beyond that, you want your books to look inviting, so make a bookshelf attractive but not too cluttered so your books are reachable. Here is my unfortunately small bookshelf from my dorm room.

Bookmarks

Bookmarks are a fun and important aspect of all types of reading. Although I myself don't use bookmarks to hold my place in books when I am reading for fun, I still have a minor bookmark obsession. By minor, I mean I absolutely adore bookmarks. There are several different types of commercial bookmarks I would like to discuss.

First off, store bought bookmarks can be of several types
1) metal traditional
2)paper traditional

3)clip

4)magnet

Then I like to categorize by the way the bookmark looks
1) philosophical quote

2) pretty picture 

3)commercial advertisement/promo

4)cheesy read books bookmarks!!!!!!!

The corny "pro-reading" bookmarks are my favorite and I have a very large collection. Answer my poll... what do you like to use as a bookmark?

Authors

Although there are many "one hit wonders" in terms of authors, some deliver consistently.
In my opinion, these authors are ones who you can count on to deliver an enjoyable read.
*Mary Higgins Clark- Though her books are extremely similar, so much so that I have read almost everything and can't keep them apart, her works can be counted on to provide entertainment in terms of the suspense/mystery genre. In particular, I enjoyed Where are the Children and All Around the Town.
*Tamora Pierce- Tamora Pierce is a good read for fantasy. Her series include The Immortals Quartet, The Song of the Lioness, Protector of the Small, Trickster, and Beka Cooper. These books are labeled YA but they are quick and enjoyable reads.
*Robin Mckinely- She has numerous other good reads besides The Blue Sword. She writes a more adult style of consistently high quality fantasy.
* Sarah Dessen- This author is consistent in her mediocrity. However cliche and feminine her books may be, they always deliver a good read if you are looking for mindless literature that still has good character development and an engaging plot.
*Dan Brown- His books are always action-packed and suspenseful with frequent surprise endings.


Though I am sure there are authors I am forgetting, this is all I can think of at the moment.