Rest in Peace Terry Pratchett

Sir Terry Pratchett, fantasy author and creator of the Discworld series, has died aged 66, eight years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.  Sir Terry wrote more than 70 books during his career and completed his final book last summer.

BTT: Inspired

Booking Through Thursday
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Deb says..."Since “Inspiration” is (or should) the theme this week … what is your reading inspired by?"

My response: My reading is inspired by my need to learn new things. Reading is always a way to broaden my horizons, expand my mind and a way to help me relax at the end of a long day.

BTT: 2008 Favorite Books

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Deb says..."It’s a week or two later than you’d expect, and it may be almost a trite question, but … what were your favorite books from 2008?"

My response:
"Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown
"Rules of Prey" by John Sandford
"The Good Guy" by Dean Koontz

BTT: Reading Resolutions

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Deb says..."Happy New Year, everyone! So … any Reading Resolutions? Say, specific books you plan to read? A plan to read more ____? Anything at all? Name me at least ONE thing you’re looking forward to reading this year!"

My response: I am looking forward to reading anything new by Dan Brown, Stephen King or Dean Koontz.

BTT: Wintery Books

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What are the most “wintery” books you can think of? The ones that almost embody Winter?

"The Long Winter" by Laura Ingalls Wilder
"How The Grinch Stole Christmas" by Dr. Seuss

BTT: Generosity

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Do you give books as gifts? To everyone? Or only to select people? How do you feel about receiving books as gifts?

I do like to give books as gifts but only to people that I know will appreciate them. I won't give a book to someone that does not like to read, because I don't want them to feel as if I am forcing them to read. I enjoy receiving books as gifts, especially if the person giving it to me has put some thought into it...like giving me a book by one of my favorite authors.

BTT: Time is of the Essence

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1. Do you get to read as much as you WANT to read?
2. If you had (magically) more time to read–what would you read? Something educational? Classic? Comfort Reading? Escapism? Magazines?

I do not get to read as much as I would like to. I would like to read for several hours each day but I usually only get to read 30 minutes or less due to work and home obligations. I want to read more magazines, news reports, fiction, nonfiction, self help, a few romance books, and anything else that catches my attention.

Booking Through Thursday: Favorites

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1. Do you have a favorite author? Stephen King (Richard Bachman)

2. Have you read everything he or she has written? I have read all of his older books and nearly all of his new books that he has written under both names.

3. Did you LIKE everything? No, I did not like Lisey's Story.

4. How about a least favorite author? Nora Roberts

5. An author you wanted to like, but didn’t? Agatha Christie

Other favorite authors I have are: Dean Koontz, Dan Brown, Jeffrey Deaver, Tom Clancy, Danielle Steel, J.K. Rowling, J.R.R.Tolkien, John Grisham, Sidney Sheldon, C.S. Lewis, James Patterson, Michael Crichton, and Robin Cook.

Booking Through Thursday: Libraries

Booking Through Thursday: Libraries
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Inspired by Booksplease

Whether you usually read off of your own book pile or from the library shelves NOW, chances are you started off with trips to the library. (There’s no way my parents could otherwise have kept up with my book habit when I was 10.) So … What is your earliest memory of a library? Who took you? Do you have you any funny/odd memories of the library?

The earliest age I can remember going to the library is about age 5. My mother and grandmother took my brother (age 2) and I to the local library. I remember being in awe of all the books there! I wanted to stay there forever and read them all. Our town library was rather small and it did not take me long to read through the books there. Eventually mom had to take me to the "big city" library so that I would have something to read LOL.

BTT: Gold Medal Reading

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Deb asks..."Do you or have you ever read books about the Olympics? About sports in general?
Fictional ones? Or non-fiction? Or both? Do you consider yourself a sports fan? Because, of course, if you’re a rabid fan and read about sports constantly, there’s a logic there; if you hate sports and never read anything sports-related, that, too … but you don’t have to love sports to enjoy a good sports story. (Or a good sports movie, for that matter. Feel free to expand this into a discussion about “Friday Night Lights” or “The Natural” or whatever…)

My response: I have read a few sports books over the years but none that really stand out in my mind. I am not a die hard sports fan, but my favorite sports are football, baseball, World of Outlaws and NASCAR.

Does Taledaga Nights or Days of Thunder count as a good sport movie?

Booking Through Thursday: Other Worlds

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Questions Suggested by Miko

Are there any particular worlds in books where you’d like to live? One of my favorite books is "Gone With The Wind". I would have loved to live back in that time...beautiful clothes, grand homes and men with manners. I also like places such as those found in "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe", or "Harry Potter".

Or where you certainly would NOT want to live? I would not like to live in a Star Trek kind of world. I don't really get into all of that.

What about authors? If you were a character, who would you trust to write your life? I would trust many authors...Stephen King, Dan Brown, Dean Koontz and more.

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Booking Through Thursday - Endings

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What are your favorite final sentences from books? Is there a book that you liked specially because of its last sentence? Or a book, perhaps that you didn’t like but still remember simply because of the last line?

One line that stands out is my mind is "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." That line was stated by Rhett Butler in the book "Gone With The Wind". However, it was not the last line of the book. The very last line is uttered by Scarlett O'Hara - "After all, tomorrow is another day."

Booking Through Thursday: First Lines

Booking Through Thursday
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Suggested by: Nithin

Here’s another idea about memorable first lines from books.

What are your favorite first sentences from books? Is there a book that you liked specially because of its first sentence? Or a book, perhaps that you didn’t like but still remember simply because of the first line?

I cannot think of any book that I have liked or not liked just from the first sentence of that book. I guess there has not been any memorable first lines for me. I need to read deeper into a book for the book to take meaning.

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Booking Through Thursday: Vacation Spots

Booking Through Thursday: Vacation Spots
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Do you buy books while on vacation/holiday? Do you have favorite bookstores that you only get to visit while away on a trip?

I usually take a few books with me when I go on vacation/holiday or even just a day trip. Or I will take a variety crossword puzzle book with me. I have purchased books before while on vacation from the gas stations along the way, but I don't make a point of stopping just to purchase a book.

Booking Through Thursday: Doomsday

Booking Through Thursday: Doomsday
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Deb says..."One of my favorite bookstores burned down last weekend, and while I only got to visit there while I was on vacation, it made me stop and think. What would you do if, all of a sudden, your favorite source of books was unavailable?
Whether it’s a local book shop, your town library, or an internet shop … what would you do if, suddenly, they were out of business? Devastatingly, and with no warning? Where would you go for books instead? What would you do? If it was a local business you would try to help out the owners? Would you just calmly start buying from some other store? Visit the library in the next town instead? Would it be devastating? Or just a blip in your reading habit?"

My Response: The local bookstore recently became a Pawn Shop, and it still has books but it is not the same. I would not be devastated if the book store, library or internet shop burned down because there are always other places to go for books. Even Wal Mart sells books (not that great in quality but at least they have books). I would look online for books, go to a different town and look for other stores to purchase from. I would be sad if my favorite place was gone but not to the point that I would stop reading :)

Booking Through Thursday: Holidays

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It’s a holiday weekend here in the U.S., so let’s keep today’s question simple–What are you reading? Anything special? Any particularly juicy summer reading?

I am currently (trying) to read "The Good Guy" by Dean Koontz. Work has been rather busy so that by the time I get home I just want to sit on the couch and do nothing. I plan on reading the new Odd Thomas book soon and a few others. I just have to get motivated to do so :)

Booking Through Thursday: Definition

Booking Through Thursday: Definition
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What, in your opinion, is the definition of a “reader.” A person who indiscriminately reads everything in sight? A person who reads BOOKS? A person who reads, period, no matter what it is? … Or, more specific? Like the specific person who’s reading something you wrote?

Anyone can be a "reader"...it does not matter if they read books, magazines, newspapers or something in a blog. People need to be a "reader" to get through life, whether it be reading a stop sign at the corner or a book on how to repair your sink.

Booking Through Thursday: Flavor

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Think about your favorite authors, your favorite books . . . what is it about them that makes you love them above all the other authors you’ve read? The stories? The characters? The way they appear to relish the taste of words on the tongue? The way they’re unafraid to show the nitty-gritty of life? How they sweep you off to a new, distant place? What is it about those books and authors that makes them resonate with you in ways that other, perfectly good books and authors do not?

I love Stephen King for the horror/thrill I experience from reading some of his books. Some of his books I read because of the actual characters. I have other authors that I like to read because their stories and characters draw me in and make me feel as if I am actually a part of the book. I enjoy being "taken" to far away places, fantasy land or even new countries.

Booking Through Thursday: Clubbing

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A combo of two suggestions by: Heidi and by litlove

Have you ever been a member of a book club? How did your group choose (or, if you haven’t been, what do you think is the best way to choose) the next book and who would lead discussion?

I have only participated in one book club and that was while I was in college working on an Associates Degree. The books for the club were predetermined by the professor and were all related to cloning. I feel that the books chosen fit the topic well and allowed all club members to debate the items presented to us.

Do you feel more or less likely to appreciate books if you are obliged to read them for book groups rather than choosing them of your own free will? Does knowing they are going to be read as part of a group affect the reading experience?

Of course I prefer to be able to choose the book(s) that I am reading. I don't appreciate being forced to read a book, and I don't see being obligated to read a book to be the same as being forced to read the book. Knowing the books are going to be read as part of a group does not affect the reading experience. My reading experience is based on the actual book and not the situation/people surrounding it.

Booking Through Thursday: Trends

Booking Through Thursday: Trends
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Have your book-tastes changed over the years? More fiction? Less? Books that are darker and more serious? Lighter and more frivolous? Challenging? Easy? How-to books over novels? Mysteries over Romance?

My book tastes have not really changed over the years. The only thing that has really changed is the amount/how often I read now. When I was younger I had a lot more time to read than I do as an adult. It seems as if I am always too busy to read nowadays. BUT I still make time to read. I enjoy books....they help me to relax.