Two things that thrill me and one that puzzles me

don't worry, this is not currently my phone's state - the day I turned 40

On a rather delightful note, I had a client meeting last week and I asked the client if he listens to podcasts and audible books and he said YES.

This is probably the first person ever besides Se7en to answer yes!

Of course, afterwards, I sent him a link to Gretchen Rubin's Better than Before book (because I'd told him in the meeting he's an upholder!) and her podcast.
 
These things thrill me like no other.

Sam bought me this book for one birthday! XXX

Something else that thrills me is the Personality Hacker podcast. They have an episode on each Myers Briggs type. Just imagine - 40-something minutes of listening to two people discuss things that make you tick, and why. It's heaven!

There are also episodes on what gives each type energy, and motivation, and such. So useful. I had a HUGE aha listening to the energy episode.

If you don't know of it yet, download it from the itunes store or they have their own app for Android phones.

And prepare to be amazed!



I was thinking about something the other day - I'm such a Big Reader and yet I don't belong to a book club, I don't like reading outside my genres nor do I like to particularly discuss books. I can discuss and tell you about non-fiction but that's it.

Anyone have any thoughts?

Modern Mrs Darcy has a podcast, What should I read next, which is causing big waves all around the internet but I'm not that into it precisely because of the above.

The guest tells her 3 books they love, 1 they hate and then she gives them 3 recommendations.

These are all bookish people (people I think of as English majors!) so most of the time I've not even heard of these books.

The thing that makes me click over and listen occasionally is if a guest is someone I know.

A couple of weeks ago, I listened to one podcast and this woman hated a book I loved. I don't know why I got so riled up but I did. But that's when I realised, better for me to quietly read things and write my little reviews on Goodreads (by the way, I'm in the top 5% of reviewers) and occasionally blog on the non-fiction ones, but I feel far too passionately about things to share those in public!

Do you find yourself passionately sharing about books you read? 

PS if there are any people who are interested in buying physical non-fiction books from me (really cheap, like R20 a book, I need to get rid of books before the move), let me know and I'll send you pics from my phone.

Do you "do" bookclubs? Wait, do you even like reading?

I've never been a bookclub person.

For starters, I don't really like bookclubby books.

If you look at any of those 100 books to read before you die lists, I can assure you I've read none of them, unless they were prescribed for Setwork at school.

True story.

Anyway, so that's my bookclub disclaimer.

I know Cat is a member of a bookclub. Who else belongs to one?

If you do, tell me why you love bookclub so much.

For the rest of you, do you read? Have you considered joining a bookclub?

I've started a new little thing at work due to the fact I can't get onto any blogs or anything really............. (very annoying!)

I read my Kindle app on the phone (yesterday I took in the ipad and it was even more glorious) and usually read a chapter a day of my non-fiction book. It's fantastic.

However, I must be a "sight" as people keep stopping by me in the pause area, confused that I'm reading.

D told me he gets the same reactions (and then we drove past a girl at a bus stop reading a mystery thriller - she was well past the Point of No Return though so she was clearly hooked) at his work and we were wondering if it's maybe a "people who work in the financial district" thing? :)


So, let's all be brave.

This is a book on this year's to-read list.




I did a spontaneous thing last night and decided to read this book as part of an online book club.

Yes, I know I'm not a book club person... but this seemed like fun.

Let's see.

About the author.... I read her 31 days series a few years ago on courage... and loved it.... and that series sparked off this book for her.

Does anyone want to join me?

Hello Mama Cat - a post about books and reading goals

This is for Mama Cat - I don't have your email address... and not sure if you check back in the comments?

I don't re-read books intentionally either. I have sometimes been about 20% through a book and felt like I'd read it before, checked my Goodreads and yes, about 7 years ago or something like that :)

I don't have to force myself to read (much) anyway. The specific goal mentioned in the post is due to my lack of self-control with books - I used to just buy and buy and I had BOOKSHELVES full, but could never get to because I kept buying. So I stopped (mostly) buying physical books about 4 years ago and that's since been a goal - to finish all the physical books on my shelf. The one I referred to in the post is the last physical NOVEL I have left - hallelujah!

I still have about two shelves of non-fiction. So things are looking up!

The goal is to finish all of these books and then just buy Kindle books.

I can comfortably read 4 books a month, so I had a goal for a long time of 5 books - that's purely to "force" me to relax because that 5th book means I would have had to create and carve out time aside from my standard before bedtime just to read. That's now a habit so I'm happy with my book reading.

My reading goal this year is 70 books because I've reached that number or close to it comfortably in the past - I read a LOT on holidays so it evens out the months when I read "only" 5.

This is a really nice explanation of the reading goals I posted on the blog looong ago.

Who else has questions about books or reading? (I will answer in the comments)

Do you re-read books?