Bookish problems

Ok, I have found the Booktube area of Youtube. I think I may be doomed. Watching other people talk about books, and their own overly-long tbr lists is just awesome! Makes me feel like I'm not alone for once, lol. Problem is, I do wish there was a larger variety of book lovers making videos. Most are teenage girls - which is fine, but occasionally I would like a dude's point of view, or the point of view of someone a little older (I'm 22 with the attitude of a 40 year old!) Still, I will definitely be watching.

The 5 Best Xmas Gifts for Readers

So, if that reading addict you have to buy for has pretty much every book you've ever heard of - what do you buy them? Here's a little list (in no particular order) of 5 of the best ideas.

1. Vouchers - these can be book tokens, or vouchers to wherever sells books (for example, Amazon vouchers,) it may seem like a bit of a cop out but they'll thank you for it.
2. Little reading light - if they don't already have one, this is a fab gift. It means they can read in the night, in a tunnel on the train - wherever, without the light being too harsh. Plus, they come in a variety of colours, and are typically between £4 and £7, depending on where you buy them from.
3. A magazine subscription - keep them in reading material even when they can't afford books, but keep it to a subject they like. They're not going to like it if you get a fishing magazine for a vegetarian, for example.
4. Book-ends/shelves - books take up space and you may find this is just what they need, plus you can get some really interesting/cute designs for small shelves and/or book-ends.
5. Book-themed goodies - reading addicts are a funny bunch (I should know) and will love book-themed presents. A mug with their favourite book cover/quote printed on it? Perfect for snuggling up with, book in hand, on a cold winter's day. A bag, large enough for library books, with 'I <3 books' on the front? Perfect. If all else fails, try something with Penguin classics vintage spines/covers printed on it - usually makes a pretty good gift. There are plenty of these things out there - try typing into Amazon 'book gifts,' 'book mugs,' or the name of their favourite book followed by 'gifts' 'merchandise' 'merch' or 'themed,' for example, and see what comes up.

Little warning - if you're tempted to buy an eReader, firstly make sure they haven't already got one/their old one needs replacing. Then make sure they like them - if anyone ever buys me a Kindle (shudder) I'm likely to grimace and attempt to feign gratitude while wondering how to safely dispose of it in a ecologically friendly way which still means it will never be used.

True Confessions of a Reading Addict

I admit it - I forgot to return my library book and had to do it a day late. I got a fine to the grand total of 15p. Serves me right too ;)

Of course, being in the library I had to pick up some more. It's not like we have a choice in the matter is it? I heard somewhere that there's no reading addicts anonymous because no-one wants to quit - and I can totally believe that's true. So I picked up a few more books. It was inevitable. They just sit there looking all shelved and promising... sorry, drifted off a bit there.

What did annoy me (gasp! annoyed in the library!) was the dude playing bad rap music loudly on the computer next to me was two things. Firstly, they've moved the YA books. I don't know where - probably upstairs with the kid's books, and I don't want to be bothered by screaming toddlers playing with soft toys (which there actually is upstairs in my library) when I'm trying to get my shadowhunter on (on book three at the moment in case you were wondering - so no spoilers!) The librarians gave me strange enough looks when the YA books were downstairs - I don't know why, I'm 22 and look about 12, maybe they thought the books were too old for me. And why can't adults like/love/fangirl (or fanboy) over YA fiction? And I know I'm not alone.

The other thing was the way non-fiction is arranged - yes, I know, dewey decimal and all that jazz, but either it's no longer fit for purpose (gasp! squeak! (yes, I come with my own sound effects today for some reason)) or people need to think far more carefully about how they place books within it. I can't find anything because misery memoirs seem to be quite happy to sit alongside Victorian crime, and every so often on the shelves, amongst the books on the Tudors, there's something random like a book on Georgian England - it makes no sense. Also, I saw a book about the true story of two Victorian transvestites (Fanny and Stella) in the relationships section - call me crazy, but I'm not sure that's quite right.

Shame the shamers

Ok, I absolutely hate it when people make fun of/have a go at people for reading a particular book - y'know what? People are allowed to read what they want to.

If a dude wants to read chick lit then it doesn't make him a girl - likewise if I want to read something about knights hacking each other to death, or the Napoleonic wars, then I should be able to without being made to feel like a social leper. And it's perfectly acceptable for adults to read YA/teenage/kids books.

People are different, and it really does annoy me when shamers make someone feel bad for reading something that they enjoy. People don't read enough as it is without being discouraged by people who judge others far too much. Sorry, bit of a rant. But it's something that really and truly does my head in - you should never ever feel embarrassed about what you're reading, and I would really love to see more people reading in public, covers of whatever book they happen to be reading showing proudly.

Xmas Shopping - best 5 general books

Call me crazy, but the best Christmas gifts are usually books. But what book/s do you get for people? Well, for a start, it's a question of age appropriate (you wouldn't want to get 50 Shades of Grey for anyone an eight year old - it just wouldn't be right.) Then, you've got to think about their interests - no good buying a detailed book about golf for anyone people who have no interest in the sport. Also, there's no need to buy the latest book - as most book lists will direct you to do - when a slightly older book will be far more appreciated.

So, here's my list of the best 5 general books you can buy someone for Xmas (obviously use your judgement - what you know about the person will affect what's best to buy for them.)

1. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak - suitable for young and old, a heart-breaking yet somehow uplifting story of the Holocaust written beautifully and sincerely, and narrated by Death.
2. Live By Night by Dennis Lehane - a tale of gangsters set in the 1920s and written by the spellbinding Dennis Lehane. Suitable for a lot of dudes and a fair few chicks, anyone who's ever liked Boardwalk Empire, Shutter Island, or The Shawshank Redemption will love it. A follow-up to The Given Day, you really don't have to have read the previous book to love this one.
3. The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles Dickens - annoyingly unfinished, this is an unfortunately often ignored classic, but in my opinion one of Dickens' best. A moody gothic tale of lust and opium.
4. Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison - the tale of a young witch detective, this has sass, magic, and humour. Awesome urban fantasy perfect for anyone who reads vampire novels - particularly vampire romances.
5. Angels and Demons by Dan Brown - I know, it's never going to be a masterpiece. But this is perfect for reluctant adult readers, or those who just don't read that often. It's also one that blokes will enjoy and not feel too macho to read in front of other people.

What I've been reading today:
The Big Issue magazine
Shakespeare on Toast by Ben Crystal
Othello by William Shakespeare
Some random bits and pieces of poetry

Argh, weekend reading interrupted

Weekend reading interrupted by ceaseless charity work (raising the monies for the Big Issue Foundation - a really amazing charity - so I don't mind too much.) Although, I have still managed to get some reading done (if not, I would have gone complete fruit loopy by now,) just not as much as I normally do.

Luckily, I also have a reading light now (y'know, one of them things you clip to the back of the book/a couple of pages which provides enough light to read by but keeps the lighting in the room nice and low to help you wind down a little.)

Have to admit, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest is taking me a while to get through, just not as much plot driving it forward as with the previous two Millennium books.

Things I've been reading this weekend:
Times Newspaper
Shakespeare on Toast by Ben Crystal
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest by Stieg Larsson