Odd Book Questions and today

Let's start with today. Today was a good day overall but one of those days that therapists talk about when they say you have to leave work at work and not bring it home with you. There was a lot of crying on the unit today and many an upset child. It's hard to just leave all that at work and not let it get to you. Some of their stories are just so sad. But I'm managing well. In more exciting work related news, I got to lead a group today! I was very excited. I led the children's group which consists of children under the age of 12. I was told by my supervisor that I did a wonderful job and she would have never guessed that this was my first time leading a group. She said that I seemed very comfortable and can read my clients well. How happy this made me! And I got to start doing psychosocial evals. today. I'm glad I'm finally getting a little responsibility over there.

Now on to the odd book questions. Once again, I was reading Stainless Steel Dropping's blog and he had some very interesting questions on books today in this post, so I thought I'd answer a few myself.

Amazon or Brick and Mortar?

Interesting question...I've managed to get a slight addiction to Amazon. So I order lots of stuff there just so that I can get something in the mail :) Also, it's a great resource for books that are hard to find in the stores and/or past editions of books that may have a cover that you wanted but can't find. I do still hit up the local bookstore for books that I "need to have right now" or for the bargain books section. I always walk away with stuff from there. I'm a sucker for a book sale.

Barnes & Noble or Borders?

I despise Borders, so Barnes and Noble wins by default. Just kidding, i actually love Barnes and Noble. I think that it's a wonderful bookstore and can remember the day that we first got one like it was yesterday. I was a teenager then and would spend sometimes 5 hours just walking the aisles. Borders just doesn't do it for me. I don't know why, it's just not all that great of a bookstore. And it's arranged very strangely.

Bookmark or Dog ear?

People who dog ear their books should be shot. Once again, just kidding, but I do think that it should be made a sin to dog ear a book. I used to do this all the time, but I just can't do it anymore. I feel like I am abusing my book if I ever "mark my place". Books have become more and more like prize possessions to me as I've gotten older and I'm always upset if anything happens to them. So...definitely bookmark. I've found some interesting things to use as bookmarks over the years. I'm currently using a postcard from Albuquerque.

Keep, Throw away, or Sell?

Throw away a book?! I've never thrown away a book before, nor do I think I ever have seen anyone do this. Personally I keep my books since I would be considered a collector of books and normally have to have the expensive hardcover versions of books if not the trade edition. I can't do mass market paperback unless I really want it to read and that's all that's available at B&N. I also tend to by mass market paperback for series books just because it can be very expensive to buy all hardcovers. For example, I have numerous Orson Scott Card mass market paperback books because he has published over 50 books (almost all of which I have read) and of the fifty, 22 of them that I have read have been from 4 different series (Ender-speaker and shadow series, homecoming series, tales of alvin maker series, and women of genesis series). Every now and then I'll sell a book on eBay if it's REALLY bad or if I've upgraded to a better edition of a current book.

Read with dustjacket or remove it?

Always with the dustjacket. May be an OCD thing of mine, but the dustjacket cannot come off regardless of how much of a pain in the ass it may be.

Short Story or Novel?

I'll take a novel any day over a short story, though I have recently been getting into short stories by Susanna Clarke, Neil Gaiman, and Orson Scott Card. They're just not long enough for me.

Harry Potter or Lemony Snickett?

I really can't stand Lemony Snickett...sorry guys. But I do thoroughly enjoy Harry Potter and am extremely excited about the upcoming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I wouldn't consider J.K. Rowling's writing remarkable but it's quite good. And Lord knows she can tell a gripping story. I mean how many books does she sell whenever a new HP comes out? I'm very much looking forward to seeing what she does next now that the HP story is over.

Buy or borrow?

Duh, buy. Need to own my books.

Lewis or Tolkien?

Very difficult here, but I have to go with C.S. Lewis. The Narnia books are some of my favorite book-related memories as a child and as an adult, I've also come to love his religious philosophy books. In fact, there is a really cool book published that I've been wanting to read, but have not yet called The Question of God in which C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud debate the existence of God. I think it's more of there quotes and ideas against each other rather than a face to face debate, but still very cool.

Stop reading when tired or at a chapter break?

I have to read to the end of the chapter. If I don't I'll fall asleep and forget what happened. It's as if someone is talking to you and in mid sentence stop and then pick up where they left off tomorrow.

So I've given you all plenty of reading material today, and if no one reads it, at least I enjoyed writing it :) I've also decided to go for a different look for the blog so hopefully you enjoy that as well.