As an English major without a full-time job, I recently had the chance to rediscover something: I really like reading. I can’t remember the last time I had so much time stretched out in front of me where I could read whatever I pleased, and without having to underline and take notes.
I’ve become relatively good at using the university library’s online catalog search. Finding the books in person, however, can be a whole other matter. After some searching, I checked out these ones for the weekend: Out of Africa, The Girl with the Curious Hair, Leaving Atlanta, and What I Loved. We’ll see if I can actually get through them all before they are due back.
I’m about halfway through Out of Africa already (did I mention I don’t have a full-time job?) and I can’t put it down. I checked it out because my mom gave me a copy of Isak Dinesen’s biography. I tried to read it but it was too much to get through without any context of her writing.
On the topic of reading, I stumbled onto a couple of cool websites having to do with books. I’ll explain them in the same way that my brain understands them:
Good Reads – sort of like the rating system for Netflix, but for books.
Book Mooch – sort of like the “getting stuff in the mail” part of Netflix, but for books.
Book Crossing – sort of like if you hid your Netflix DVDs under rocks and in bus stations and stuff to get rid of them…but for books.
Is anyone a member of these or any other similar sites?
Wie sagt man...? 
I read What I Loved and really enjoyed it. I hope you do too! I use BookMooch quite a bit, but my favorite book site is LibraryThing. It’s great for keeping track of what you’ve read (I tried Good Reads and Shelfari, but they didn’t have the features I wanted), and it has some social-networky abilities too. It’s free up to 200 books, but at only $25 for a lifetime membership, I paid several years ago, and it’s totally worth it.
Thanks for the heads-up! I will have to check out LibraryThing. What I Loved was recommended to me by someone recently, so when I saw it at the library I thought I’d give it a chance. I’ll let you know what I think!
I really enjoyed Out of Africa – obvious colonial issues aside.
I just finished it and it broke my heart that it had to end. What a great book.
I was an English major, I love reading as well. I use Goodreads a lot, and enjoy it for keeping track of what I’ve read and ifi liked something so that I can recommend the good ones to friends and family!
I use goodreads. I don’t think I’ve read any of those books, weirdly. I’ll have to check out “Out of Africa.”
I’m pretty sure I’ve read more now than I have in a long time. I think it has to do with the fact that I’ve bought myself a Kindle; it’s a true lifesaver to bring on trips and always have something to read.
I’ve “wasted” a lot of time on GoodReads; now I’m not sure what to read first!
I’m so scared to get a Kindle! I’m finally coming around to the idea – it would feel like such a betrayal at first, but I’ll bet in the end it’s worth it, and you do read more (especially with traveling so much).
I’ve found that GoodReads is a good way to keep up with what’s popular in the States before it gets any big media coverage. Since the members are really all about books, you can get a sense of what people are actually reading.
And I got an e-reader (a Spanish model, not a Kindle) three or four years ago and it was the second best thing I’ve ever gotten myself (iPod is #1). You can carry hundreds of books, magazines, articles with you at all times without the weight. Crucial for readers who travel, move around a lot, or just like to read many things concurrently. I still buy books, but just reference, history or favorites that I know I’ll be consulting in the future. You should totally get one. You won’t regret it.