Lost in a Book

I have several things to blog about, but I just couldn't make the time to write them up tonight. Why? I was given a book at work today, I started it at lunch and I have barely been able to put it down since.

Vaccinated: One Man's Quest to Defeat the World's Deadliest Diseases

It is probably most interesting to me because of what I do, but I think a lot of people could be interested in it. I am nearly halfway finished so hopefully I will have it completed tomorrow.

36 Hours

In less than 36 hours I have already read more than a third of my new book.



Of course it helped that I took the day off of work yesterday to read (and frankly I really needed the stress break though I think it might have a negative impact on my project). Anyway, I love it so far. But to anyone who hasn't read the Lord John books yet, I highly recommend you read them before starting Echo. You don't HAVE to read them, but it will make some things easier to understand.

Off to read a little more before my carpool.

That was close

My favorite author has a new book coming out in my favorite series tomorrows. I always try to reread the whole series before a new one comes out. I barely made it this time, but I finished up last night. Now I have one day to catch up on stuff before I am lost in the world of a wonderful new book.

Twilight

I finally broke down and picked up that book everyone has been talking about for the past month when I was at Target last week. I got it Thursday night and before lunch on Saturday it was finished. Which either means I am a fast reader, it was an easy read or more likely a bit of both. It was a pretty good book, the story was interesting, though got a little too "vampire-y" for me at times. It wasn't a book I think I will read multiple times (not like my Outlander) and I didn't really get all that invested in the characters (note how it is Monday night now and I am not rushing out to buy the next book yet) though some people tell me they have. I am still more excited about Diana's next book coming out than anything. Those books will always be my first love.

I am not an idiot!

There is a reason that I don't buy books that are titled "The Idiot's Guide to . . . " I HATE being spoken to like I am stupid. When I read a book, that I paid good money for I want it to authorative, not trying to be my friend and talk to me on the lowest level. Don't get me wrong I have nothing against casual writing styles, on blogs, or message boards or emails. That is the nature of those media, they are more like a conversation, so casual is fitting. But in a book I don't like it.

Where is this all coming from? I bought a book off of amazon.com that was delivered today "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. Highly recommended by other photographers. I started reading it tonight as I was waiting for Mike to get home from work. Don't get me wrong it does have a lot of good information in it (though I already know a bunch of it), and while that bothers me a little I know a good book should start from scratch and assume not everyone knows how aperature works. But you don't need to write like I have the reading level of an 8th grader, this isn't USA Today!

Hopefully I get less annoyed with the book. I am going to keep reading it anyway, there might be some hidden gem of information in there that I really need!

Audiobooks?

I'm reading my favorite book again (Outlander by Diana Gabaldon). Though I suppose officially I am not reading it, I am listening to it. I wasn't sure how I would feel about audiobooks. This is the first one I have ever purchased. I have to say I am really enjoying it. I don't know if it is because I love the story so much (this has to be at least the 8th time) or if it is the skill of the reader. I do find myself spending more time focusing on picturing the story than I usually do when reading, which is really nice. The story feels more vivid and the dialog more emotional and personal. It's more like watching a movie, except I get to make up the pictures. I might have to try some more audio books in the future. Though this might spoil me on ever seeing a movie or mini-series based on this book.

Cooperfield's

Last Tuesday I went to Cooperfield's in Santa Rosa to see Diana Gabaldon give a reading and sign copies of her new book. I took a half day from work and arrived at the bookstore at about 4:30 PM, the event didn't start until 7 PM. Still I wasn't the first person there. I did get a seating pass when I bought another copy of the book which put me in the good line. Which meant I got a signing pass based on my number in that line 17!!!

My seat was in the second row which was amazing. I was shaking in my seat I was so excited to see her! She came out and gave a speech, about how she started the books and the earlier part of her book tour. Then Q&A. Some people asked rather rude questions "Your last book [Lord John and the Private Matter] was so dirty!" How is she supposed to respond to that? But she handled them all really well. Then she did a reading of a non-spoiler section of the new book. I was so moved by it that it brought tears to my eyes!

Leave Off

See I told you the sharing would take a toll. Here I am trying to update in bed. With Michael poking at me. I told him to "leave off" which he thought wasn't an actual phrase. And now my time for updating was eating up. I signed us both up for word of the day emails. Maybe that will help? Or do I read too much?

The book signing was great. A lot of fun. I will put up pictures soon. And update on everything else.

Sharing

Mike and I are trying to share the computer for a few weeks, until we decide how much we can really spend on a computer for him. Already I am not liking it. I miss having my computer in my lap all night while we are watching TV. Now it is over here on the desk! And sometimes he is on it when I want to be. This sharing thing will take work, I don't do well with sharing.

Tomorrow is a big day though. I am going to a book signing. I plan to take pictures. And if I can get on the computer tomorrow I will post them.

For some reason I am nervous about asking for time off to go back to Apalachin to have a wedding. Is that weird? I have tons of vacation time. Actually the whole wedding thing makes me nervous. Everything except the dress, that is just perfect. Getting married is HUGE and it's really starting to hit me.

A little course

My riding lesson was great last night. Dagi, my instructor, let us do a little course. None of the jumps were really high but it was fun to put some of the stuff together. I rode Pickles last night. I don't want to spend all my time developing a rapport with one horse. What if I do that and then Nifty comes up lame or someone else wants to ride him? I need options. Plus Pickles can jump higher. I wanted to show you the little course so much that I drew up a little diagram. The red bars are the jumps we went over. We did the whole thing first at a trot, but that wasn't working, Pickles wasn't forward enough so then the did the whole thing at a canter. One time with the jumps all set at crossrails and twice with them straight. I was so happy!

Most of my free time this week was spent either thinking about what I want to do about this wedding thing. When, where, how, with what money? And reading the new book I went to pick up on Tuesday when it came out. Yeah!! I wish I had more time to read it. In a way I almost miss riding the train to work. Now I have to pay attention since I am driving. Next week I am going to one of her book signings here in the bay area. I am so excited! Seeing my favorite author on Wednesday, riding lesson again on Thursday! What could be better???