Morbid Romantic

Book Review & Personal Blog

Do you give gift certificates to book stores as presents? If so, do you give for actual stores or online stores? Do you like to receive them yourself?

I don’t know anyone who is a heavy reader, so I don’t often get to give book gift certificates as gifts. If I did, it would be for an actual store since the person would be someone I would know in person, plus you can use store purchased gift certificates to shop online, too. Maybe one day I will make an online book BFF and we can give each other gift certificates on holidays and birthdays, but for now I don’t have anyone like that. I LOVE to get them for myself, though. If all my family and friends wanted to give me for my birthday and Christmas was gift certificates to book stores, I would be grateful and happy. It wouldn’t matter if it were an actual store bought card or a digital one. There is always something that I want somewhere.

Have you ever finished a book, then turned around and immediately re-read it? Why? What book(s)?

There is only one book I have ever done that with to my recollection. I have a pretty hazy memory when it comes to those things and there are tons of books that I have reread soon after finishing it, but I usually read a few other books in between. The one book that I have read completely, then promptly turned over and reread it is Blood and Gold: or the Story of Marius by Anne Rice. It is my favorite book of all time, and is the life story of my favorite book character of all time Marius de Romanus, Roman and elder vampire. There was no way that after years of waiting for a story just about Marius that I was going to be satisfied simply reading the book once and only once. And after reading such a magnificent book, I couldn’t stand to read something else before rereading it. It was totally just as good the second time… and the fourth and twelfth, and twenty-fifth…

How many books (roughly) are in your tbr pile? Is this in increasing number or does it stay stable? Do you ever experience tbr anxiety in the face of this pile?

This is when my shame starts to rise and I glance over the top of my laptop screen to the pile upon pile of unread books that I have waiting for me. I would say at least a hundred. Each stack has about 15-18 books, and there are six stacks of books. The stacks are only getting larger. I have tried to curb my book buying and receiving, though, at least until I get a few of these stacks knocked out. If stable means adding two for every one I read, then yes, I am very stable.

Do I experience anxiety? Oh man, YES. You can’t even imagine how frantic I get sometimes. I think in my head, “how am I ever going to read all these? It’ll take me a year just to get through this!” Especially since the pile keeps growing.

Coming towards the end of April, we’re a third of the way through the way through the year. What’s the favourite book you’ve read so far in 2009? What about your least favourite?

It’s so hard for me to pick my favorite. I have been very fortunate this year to have read many, many great books. I am sitting here staring at books I have read in 2009, and I simply can’t choose one that is my ultimate favorite. Each stand on their own.

But, I will try!

So, my two favorite of this year are Medicus: A Novel of the Roman Empire by Ruth Downie and Imperium: A Novel of Ancient Rome by Robert Harris.

As you can see, both about Rome.

The worst? Yeah, that one is obvious. Definitely Refined in the Furnace of Affliction by John McCulloch. It was an awful book, and even more awful because the author got totally butt-hurt about my negative review.

How do you respond to the comments on your blog? Do you try to email individually or comment on post yourself answering the comments above? What do you think is the best way to respond to comments and do you respond to all of them? Do you feel slighted if you don’t receive a response back from the blog owner?

I am SO bad about this.

Commenting back to my commentors has been something that I have always loved to make a part of my blog. I want my visitors to feel like they are a part of what this blog is, that this blog is about me posting but receiving their feedback. I want visitors to know that they can come here to talk to me, not just talk at me.

But I get behind on my comments and I don’t for a few days. Before I know it, I am hundreds of comments behind and it is simply impossible to get caught up on everything. Then I start to feel guilty. Then I promise myself to start again and I do. But then I fall behind again. I wish that I could be more consistent with my comment replying because I LOVE to reply. Of course, I enjoy doing it ON my blog. Sure, if someone wanted to have private correspondence, they could email me, but comments and my replies are public and for everyone to read.

I don’t expect other blog owners to reply to me, though. When I go to a blog and make a comment, it’s not under the assumption that the owner will respond. I know most blog owners read all of their comments, so I am satisfied knowing that I was seen and heard.

As a follow up to last week’s question, Joseph asked how you keep track of your tbr list. Do you have a paper list or on your computer? Do you take it with you when you go shopping? How do you decide what gets added to it?

I bought a notebook just for the purpose of keeping a record all of the books that I want to read. It was only a dollar, but it is a very cute hardback notebook with a cardboard flower on it. It fits perfectly in my purse so that I have it with me everywhere because chances are I would likely forget it on one of my book store trips and be at a total loss of what to look for and buy. It goes with me everywhere also because I never know when it might hit me a book I want to read, or when I might see one.

How do I add to the list? I read book reviews and I search Amazon for books that are like books I’ve already read. Any book that I decide what I want to read goes on the list, though I don’t go out and spend tons of money on books. I am an avid Ebayer and shopper of the Bargain Books sections of major book stores.