Thursday, February 28, 2013

Let's talk about books!

Today I'm linking up with Booking Through Thursday, a weekly meme about books and reading. You can find out more here.

Today's question is a simple one: What are you reading right now?

As usual, I have a couple of books going. The first is Ted Kooser's Pulitzer Prize-winning Delights & Shadows. If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know that Kooser, a former U.S. Poet Laureate, is my favorite poet. He writes what many people describe as "accessible" verse, always finding new and creative ways to look at the ordinary, simple things in life. I've read this book before—it's a wonderful collection—and my favorite poem in it is one I've mentioned before, "Tattoo."

I also enjoy this one, "A Room in the Past," which is found in Kooser's One World at a Time. Here he is reading it:



If you're interested in reading some poetry, Delights & Shadows is wonderful—although in my opinion, you can't go wrong with any of Kooser's books.

Another book I'm reading right now is the irreverently titled Sh*tty Mom by Laurie Kilmartin, Karen Moline, Alicia Ybarbo, and Mary Ann Zoellner. It's a somewhat funny (in my opinion), tongue-in-cheek parenting guide. My local library was featuring it, so I thought I'd give it a shot. Would I recommend it? Eh...I'm not sure. There have been moments when I've laughed out loud while reading it, but overall, I think it's just mildly amusing.

A book I do recommend, however, is a young adult novel I finished earlier this week: Every Day by David Levithan. It's about a person who wakes up each morning in the body of someone else, which, because it's the only life the character has every known, seems to work out fine—until, that is, love becomes a factor. The tagline says it all, I think: "Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl." It's not my usual genre, but I found this book to be moving and well-written, and I definitely recommend it.

So that's what I've been reading lately. What are you reading? What do you recommend?


Wishing you a wonderful Thursday!

36 comments:

  1. Every Day sounds like a great book, currently I'm reading Dune, hahaha such a sci fi nerd!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't read that one. I'm not much of a sci fi person, but I'm willing to give most books a shot. ☺

      Delete
  2. Every Day sounds intriguing. I'll have to check it out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's really good. Let me know if you read it. I'd like to hear your thoughts.

      Delete
  3. I wasn't very familiar with Ted Kooser but I think I'm going to. I loved both the video poem and "Tattoo". It's beautiful poetry, he has a natural flow and a feel of natural that makes his work beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He certainly does. He's a down-to-earth poet; he's not pretentious. I like that.

      Delete
    2. Yes, sometimes poets tend to become pretentious. I must agree!

      Delete
  4. I haven't read Every Day yet though it looks quite good. I'm not a big poetry person but hope you enjoy the rest of your book.

    BTT

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Kristin. Let me know if read Levithan's book.

      Have a nice Thursday. ☺

      Delete
  5. Love the sound of Sh*tty Mom...and Every Day. Thanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog. Love the look of your blog!

    I'm now following....

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sounds interesting.

    http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2013/02/booking-through-thursday_28.html

    ReplyDelete
  7. Not every writer is also a great reader, but he certainly is..thanks for sharing the link.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He really is. Glad you enjoyed the link. :)

      Delete
  8. I've never heard of Ted Kooser but I absolutely loved his reading of A Room in the Past. Thank you for sharing it.

    I thought Every Day was great, glad you enjoyed it too!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Every Day sounds interesting, Dana, I'll have to look for it. Thanks for the book reviews, always interested in finding new things to read. Currently I'm reading "A Rabbi Looks at the Last Days" by Jonathan Bernis; I'm reviewing it for one of the book publishers (can't remember which one, LOL :) (but I will by the time I'm done with the book :)

    betty

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm looking forward to your review, Betty. I always enjoy them!

      Delete
  10. I wish I could say I'm reading something moving and provocative, but I'm not. Instead - mindless but entertaining: John Grisham's "The Litigators."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nothing wrong with Grisham! I've read and enjoyed a lot of his books. I haven't read The Litigators, though. How is it?

      Delete
  11. Cookery books and magazines, for me. Though I'm well overdue to read a book of fiction.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love reading cooking magazines. I was just looking through some old ones today. I always find recipes I want to make, but unfortunately, I never seem to find the time.

      Delete
  12. Ooh! I'm always on the hunt for new poetry books, so thank you for this recommendation!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kooser is great! Let me know what you think. ☺

      Delete
  13. Thanks for the recommendation. I'm reading The Days of Blood and Starlight. It's the second in a series. I really liked the first book, but I'm having a lot of trouble getting into this one. It's too, uh, it's trying too hard to be surreal and just being convoluted.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There's nothing worse than an author who tries too hard. Those books are so frustrating to read! Will you finish the book?

      Delete
  14. The books sound really good. Thanks for the recommendations.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Every Day sounds like a good read. I enjoy YAs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't think I would enjoy it since it's not my usual genre, but I really did. Let me know what you think if you decide to read it.

      Delete
  16. I enjoyed the poem.

    I fancy the last book you mention. It sounds a little like Quantum Leap :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you liked the poem. Kooser is a wonderful writer!

      Let me know if you read Every Day. I like to hear what other people think of it.

      Delete
  17. I don't know how you can be managing three books at a time! I can hardly finish one with the interruptions in my life. And then blogging, and checking in with other blogs. You must have more than two eyes. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha! Maybe I do... ;)

      Have a great weekend!

      Delete