A Cocktail and a Conversation: Thanksgiving Edition

We have so much to be thankful for this year. Seriously. Some of us had kids. We have great partners. Some of us got new jobs. We got new houses. We're graduating. We're healthy.

But of course we are thankful for all of that!

So this year at Broke and Bookish, we decided to break with tradition and divulge our silliest, most off the wall things that we are thankful for.

Bridget says: I am thankful that we will be on Long Island for Thanksgiving this year, which means I will get to partake in real pizza, which my life is currently lacking. (No, we don’t eat pizza FOR Thanksgiving. But I wouldn’t complain if we did.)

Daisy says: I'm thankful for Zoey the Zebra, a toy that endlessly entertains my daughter and makes her dance, which is the best thing ever. I'm also thankful for the existence of sushi, since I can eat it again now.

Julia says: I am thankful over the air digital receivers so that I will be able to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade while not having cable. Also for free XM for the weekend so while I am driving around Ohio to hit up all the family gatherings, it will be with a great variety of music.

Jana says: I’m so thankful for cozy blankets because they make me unbelievably happy. If I’m sad or not feeling well, I curl up with one. I love being surrounded by soft things, so I own way too many blankets.

Lori says: I am so thankful for hot toddies. Bourbon. Little bit of honey. A hot drink on a cold night. I think the citrus will help prevent me from getting scurvy this winter. And I'm thankful for fuzzy socks. I could live in them!

Kimberly says: I'm grateful to have a dog to help clean up the floors after my nieces and nephews have picked through their Thanksgiving meal.


What off the wall things are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Cocktail and Conversation

It's time for another Cocktail and Conversation with the Broke and Bookish ladies!

This week we're talking about fall:

What are you most looking forward to as we head into fall?

Bridget says:  I am sooo looking forward to opening the windows, lighting candles (Yankee Candle Kitchen Spice or bust), wearing boots and sweaters and jeggings, offices being a reasonable temperature instead of feeling like a refrigerator, the leaves changing, finally having an excuse to wear tights with my dresses, less humidity aka less frizziness...I could go on!!

Jana says:  I love the cool, crisp weather that makes sweaters so cozy! Pumpkin bread from my favorite local bakery. Drives up the canyon to see the leaves change colors. I love the atmosphere of the excitement surrounding Halloween and the spooky novels I read around that time. And I loooove Thanksgiving! 

Lauren says:  I'm looking forward to the weather cooling down and not freaking out every other day. I'm ready to sit on the swing outside to read without sweating to death. Oh yeah... and new book releases of course. :)

Lori says:  I can't narrow it down!  I've started missing my boots and scarves.  I will always be a summer girl, but I do love those clothes.  College football, for sure.  I love waking up on a Saturday and knowing my entire day is already full of the games.  It doesn't even matter who is playing--it's just fun to watch.  Lastly, the endless supply of chili that goes with the endless supply of college football.  I have an awesome recipe.



What are you looking forward to with fall?

Cocktail and Conversation

It's been a couple of weeks since our last edition of Cocktail and Conversation.  Pour yourself a drink, pull up a chair, and let's chat.

This week's question:  What is your favorite room/spot at home? (Not just for reading, but generally)


Lori says:  I love our back porch.  My boyfriend and I sit outside on the back porch for hours, just chilling and having a couple of beverages.  I also love doing yoga, eating, and reading out there.  I bought a lot of plants and flowers to cover the porch this spring, which makes it just lovely.


Jana says:  My favorite spot in my house is my bedroom. I just re-did the entire thing last summer, so I've got a book nook and tons of bookshelves, a really comfy chair with throw pillows and soft blankets, and a cute little lamp that puts off the coziest warm light. I love spending my time reading there or watching my favorite old movies.

What about you?  What's your favorite spot in your home?

Cocktail & Conversation

Pour yourself a drink and pull up a seat!  This week's question for the Broke and Bookish Ladies is:

Water park or amusement park? Why?


Bridget says:  Amusement park! I hate being all wet and squishy walking around the park. Plus I always just feel slimy with all that gross water, and awkward walking around in a bathing suit all day. Gimme a roller coaster over a water slide any day!

Jana says:  Amusement park! I'm with Bridget, I hate being wet all day and walking around in a swimsuit. I also fry and end up looking like a lobster after 30 minutes. I love roller coasters and other rides, though, and I've spent many summer days hanging out at various amusement parks. So many memories!

Lauren says:  I choose... both! For now I'd rather go to an amusement park because I am on my weight loss journey and I don't quite feel comfortable wearing swimwear yet. Plus I LOVE roller coasters!

Julia says:  I enjoy both water parks and amusement parks, but I usually go to amusement parks over water parks if I am looking for a vacation or a break. In fact I am heading out to one today to ride all of the roller coasters! Let's hope for good weather.

Lori says:  WATER PARKS!!!!!  I love chillin' in the lazy river (although kids have NO CHILL and constantly bump into my tube), but I also love riding the water rides.  I like being able to be outside, getting some sun, and staying cool at the same time.  Where's my fruity umbrella drink?  :)

Kimberly says:  I really like both, but I feel like I get bored with water parks faster. It could be because the only actual water park I've been to is Lagoon here in Utah. It's fun, but once you've done a few of the slides you've done it all. But I do love amusement parks! It's something I've missed this summer being pregnant, I could go walk around but I'd have to skip all the rides and who wants to do that?



Your turn!  Water park or amusement park?

Cocktail and Conversation with the Broke and Bookish Ladies

It's been a while since we've done a Q&A post, so we decided to give it a shot.  This week's question is:

What do you miss most about being a kid during summer break?

Kimberly says:  I miss summer days with my Grandpa. I spent a lot of time with him as a kid. I remember very distinctly the smell and feel of mornings at his house. (Freshly brewed coffee. ) We'd go on adventures and do crafts. It was paradise for a kid!

Jana says:  I miss how valuable and precious summer used to be to me as a kid. School was out, and I had a few months of freedom. The sky wasn't even my limit, and I loved living every summer day like it was a gift I was given. :)

Jamie says:  I miss endless pool days with my sister, eating ice pops all day long, bare feet, the ice cream truck coming around after dinner....I just really miss not having any structure. My sister and I had so much fun during summer break -- from playing games we made up when we were little to sunning ourselves and reading by the pool when we got a bit older.

Lori says:  I miss how the summer just seemed endless.  Each day seemed like an opportunity for something huge and exciting to happen.  I also miss the summer reading program at the library.  (Why don't they have those for adults?!)  I miss going to the pool all day and not having to worry about the tab I was running up at the snack shack.  Basically, I miss the freedom to just do.

Bridget says:  I miss not hating the heat! I used to live for summer, like a lot of kids, but now I hate it. This could be due to the fact that I live far more south than I did when I was growing up (grew up in New York, currently live in North Carolina) and the heat here is just unbearable. I truly miss looking forward to summer rather than dreading it! Give me crisp fall weather any day and gtfo with your heat and humidity!

Daisy says:  I miss having the whole summer off and just getting to spend it having fun and being lazy! No responsibilities and not having to figure out what to have for dinner or actually make said dinner. All those endless days in the sun, swimming and reading piles of books were amazing!

Lauren says:  I miss hanging out with my grandparents and following them around all day. I miss running through the sunflowers that were taller than me, chasing butterflies, picking up baby birds that have fallen out of their nest and putting them back. Out of all of the memories I can sweep up, I miss sitting on the swing with my grandma. We'd talk about anything and everything, or we'd just swing and enjoy the country life. Oh... and I miss running around barefoot. :)

Julia says:  Reading all your answers. I agree with with them all. I'm so nostalgic for summer!

There you have it...What do you miss about being a kid during the summer?

A Cocktail and Conversation with TB&TB -- It's Been Awhile!!

Every other Thursday here at The Broke & The Bookish is A Cocktail Conversation time. One of the TB&TB members will pose a question to 2-3 of the other members of TB&TB crew about books, life, music, etc and then they'll answer and we can converse about it. So grab a cocktail & cozy up for some conversation. It's 5 o'clock somewhere, friends. 

The question this week is:

What is something you'd like to learn or a hobby you'd like to take up?

Lauren says...

Does something you kind of know how to do, but want to start again count as a hobby? Yes. Yes it does. I learned how to play bass guitar in high school, but I didn't really get into it. I knew some chords, but I STILL want to learn how to play by ear and be the rocking badass bassist that I know I can am. Sometimes a girl just needs to play a little Metallica herself and find her happy place. 

Also... does opening up a dog resort count? Yeah... that too.

Julia says...

I have a few things that I have been wanting to take up or continue learning. First is sewing. I really want to learn how to sew. I think it would be fun and useful! I just haven't had the time to go take a class. Also I've always wanted to learn an instrument that I can play while I sing. I've tried guitar and piano in the past. So I'd like to pick that up again.

Jamie says...

Oh man I have so many things I would love to learn/take up as a hobby. First, I would love to learn a few languages. I took AP Spanish in high school and then tested out in college but I wish I would have kept up with it. I've had the app Duolingo on my phone for the past couple years and I go through phases of relearning the Spanish but this Fall I started again pretty seriously when we booked our Madrid trip and it's AMAZING how much I've retained. Like some of these lessons I already know all the words and meanings and stuff which is pretty cool considering the last time I took Spanish was in 2004. I also have ALWAYS wanted to surf since college when I was friends with a bunch of guys who were surfers. Big problem: TERRIFIED OF SHARKS SOOOO.


What about you all? What is a hobby you'd love to take up or something you'd like to learn?

A Cocktail & Conversation -- Where Would You Live?

Every other Thursday here at The Broke & The Bookish is A Cocktail Conversation time. One of the TB&TB members will pose a question to 2-3 of the other members of TB&TB crew about books, life, music, etc and then they'll answer and we can converse about it. So grab a cocktail & cozy up for some conversation. It's 5 o'clock somewhere, friends. 

The Question

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live and why?

Lauren Says...

I'd live in Greece. I currently live in the third largest city in Kentucky (which really isn't saying much). I'd live in Greece for so many reasons, the biggest being the history of Greek Mythology and politics that started there. I am a HUGE fan of pretty much every different cultural mythologies, but Greek is my favorite. I would sit where so many infamous and most influential people in the world have sat. I would stand in the middle of the Epidaurus Theater with my jaw dropped. I'd visit the Beaches of Crete and stare in amazement at the colors and pure beauty of the world. I'd walk through the Delphi Runs in splendor of the old world architecture. 

Kimberly Says...

Okay, this is totally boring, but... I would live right here in Utah. My family and friends, as well as the Mr. 's family and friends all live here. (And yes, we like them!) So staying here is the dream... Especially if we had a house with a nice big back yard and beautiful old trees.  Then I would travel EVERYWHERE.

Julia Says...

Ideal unattainable dream is unlimited money and to live literally every country for a month or so. But when I was in college I did the math against the countries recognized by the UN and if I had started right then it would have taken me decades. And that doesn't even count things like Scotland or Quebec vs. British Colombia or something. 

So that said, I am going to pick somewhere in England. Probably London. I loved going to visit there and I just dont think I would ever get tired of the country and exploring around me. Plus the British accents (and yes I know there are quite a few, I still like them all) are hot! ;)

Bridget Says...

Anywhere there's a beach! Every once in a while I check on this one multi-million dollar, beachfront house for sale near where I grew up. It's gone down about a million and a half since I first started checking, so maybe one day it'll get down far enough for me to afford ;)

What about you guys? Where would you ultimately want to live?

A Cocktail & Conversation--Things To Save!

Every other Thursday here at The Broke & The Bookish is A Cocktail Conversation time. One of the TB&TB members will pose a question to 2-3 of the other members of TB&TB crew about books, life, music, etc and then they'll answer and we can converse about it. So grab a cocktail & cozy up for some conversation. It's 5 o'clock somewhere, friends. 

THE QUESTION
If your house was on fire, what are some of the bookish and non-bookish things you'd save?

Lauren says...

Firstly I'd grab the wiener dog. He may be crazy/spoiled/spawn of satan at times, but he's almost 8 years old and has been with me through thick and thin. Next would have to be my MacBook Pro. The damn thing cost so much, I would just HAVE to grab it. Plus the boyfriend has his first novel saved on it. As for bookish things, I honestly wouldn't grab anything. I own almost 800 books and it's not like I'd have time to pick and choose any. I've got over 200 ebooks on my Kindle Fire, but then again, I could just buy a new one and re-downloaded the books again. So I guess I've taken the practical route on this question, but then again I was once in my house under a mattress when a tornado ripped through my house. I'm not big on possessions, but it would suck so bad if my damn apartment burned down. 

Jana says...

We're just going to assume my cat is already sitting my car waiting for me with the engine running because I'm really bad at handling stressful situations. Like REALLY bad. Non-bookish would be my photo albums. I would just die if I lost all those memories. (In most cases I'd be like Lauren and grab my laptop, but I have a complete back-up of my computer stored in a fire safe so I've basically already planned for the fiery apocalypse.). Bookishly speaking... I'd probably grab a tote and fill it with favorite books of mine that have been personalized to me by the author (On the Island, The Lunar Chronicles, Kiss of Deception, The Book Thief, etc.). I can always replace books and my Kindle, but those signed books are very special to me. Can we just not have a fire, though, please? Just the idea of it is stressing me out.

Jamie says...

Well besides my husband and my phone (which I'm just assuming this fire takes place at night and my phone is right next to me on the nightstand) and maybe my bra because I'd really like for the whole world not to see me sans bra....I know exactly what I would grab. It would be so tempting to want to grab my computer and some beloved books or some clothes I love but I know those things can be replaced. The pictures would be the hardest thing for me not to grab but they aren't in a very accessible place so that would be pretty devastating. HOWEVER, the bookish thing I would save are the Nancy Drew books my mom gave me -- you can read my whole post about why they are special to me here. And the non-bookish thing is the blanket my stepdad had made for me after my mom passed away that is made from some of my mom's t-shirts . They were all these very iconic t-shirts that just reminds me so much of my mom or ones she wore a lot and I could never replace it EVER so it might seem like a weird thing to grab but I would.

 the books & a peek of the blanket underneath

Discuss: What bookish and non-bookish things would you save from a fire?

A Cocktail & Conversation -- Favorite Music

Every other Thursday here at the Broke & The Bookish is A Cocktail Conversation time. One of the TB&TB members will pose a question to 2-3 of the other members of TB&TB crew about books, life, music, etc and then they'll answer and we can converse about it. So grab a cocktail & cozy up for some conversation. It's 5 o'clock somewhere, friends. 

The Question - What type of music do you listen to the most? What was the last concert you went to?

Bridget says...

As for as music I listen to... there's so much different stuff, but I guess most of it can be categorized into 80s pop/metal (think Def Leppard, Styx, OMD), 90s pop/alt rock (Goo Goo Dolls, Matchbox Twenty, etc), and some classic rock. Also, occasionally some current pop music, but I don't listen to the radio all that much, so I usually rely on Andrew to let me know when something good comes out.

Daisy says...

The last concert I went to was of Ewer and the Two Dragons, fairly unknown I think. I mostly listen to a mix of pop and rock, I LOVE singers like Jonathan Jeremiah and Sarah Bareilles, who are both awesome live!

Lori says...

The last concert I went to was Garth Brooks back in January. I'm glad I went because otherwise, the last concert I went to was in high school. I just don't go to that many! Garth Brooks was pretty awesome. I love that he primarily played his old hits. Our group was on the jumbotron during "Friends in Low Places," which was really cool.

Julia says...

The music I listen to most is actually pop music (according to Spotify).  I would classify it more as an Indy eclectic with a heavy lean toward 90s pop/alternative. I enjoy singing so that is probably why I like pop. I really have a wide range though. The only thing I would say you wouldn't find on my Spotify is hardcore heavy metal, straight rap, and pop country. I have some classic country though, like John Denver. I have a playlist for the songs I sing in Church so I can practice them as well as one for ALL THE KARAOKE ever. As for concerts, I have been to lots of musicals, lots of classical concerts, but only one official concert and that was The Fray in 2007... only because Mae opened. :)

Lauren says...

I pretty much just listen to rock music and most of it's sub-genres. I can't listen to the new stuff of the radio without wondering how in the hell our next generation of children are going to make it. The last concert I went to was the Louder Than Life Festival in Louisville, KY. There were THOUSANDS of people there for a two day event. There was Judas Priest, Korn, Stone Temple Pilots, Mastodon, Pop Evil, Five Finger Death Punch, Volbeat, Buckcherry... the list goes on. It was amazing. Here's a picture just to show you how many people were there. I can't wait to go again this year!

What type of music do you listen to? What was the last concert you went to?

Cocktail and Conversation--Reader Quirks

Every other Thursday here at the Broke & The Bookish is  A Cocktail Conversation time. One of the TB&TB members will pose a question to 2-3 of the other members of TB&TB crew about books, life, music, etc and then they'll answer and we can converse about it. So grab a cocktail & cozy up for some conversation. It's 5 o'clock somewhere, friends. 

THE QUESTION: 

What is one of your reader quirks?

Lauren says:  

My reader quirk is almost more of an annoyance than a quirk. Because I read so much and many of my FB and IRL friends don't, as soon as a bestseller or popular book comes out, they all automatically assume I've read it or am going to read it. Just because a book is on the NYT Bestsellers List does not mean I want to read it or that I should read it. When 50 Shades of Grey became popular, my friends were literally BAFFLED that I hadn't read it. I'd explain the normal reason why: it's Twilight fan fiction, it was first published with unspeakable grammatical errors, that I really don't care, etc.... but people that don't read as much as us still don't get it. So basically I tell all my non-frequent reader friends that I read what I want, when I want. BOOM.

Julia says:  

I have to read series books in order. It is really hard for me to jump around or start in the middle, even if people tell me "The first two are crap, just read the third." It pains me. I am getting a little better with this lately when it comes to romance novels where I don't want to get sucked into another mega-book series, or another regency sibling set of stories. But I just like to read things the way they were written. I like knowing all the jokes because I too was there for them instead of scratching my head in wonder. This is doubly true for me when it comes to TV series. I haven't gotten better with those :)

Jana says:  

Good quirk, Julia! I have the same one! I can't figure one out for myself... I'm quirky, but I think I've mentioned many of them on the blog already!

Tahleen says:  

My quirk is I've often got at least four books going: two audios (one for running, one for the car), one in print, and one on my nook. Not to mention the kids' books I read for book club at the library!

Lori says:  

I think I've got a lot of reader quirks, but they just seem normal to me, so I don't notice them.  However, my mom routinely comments on this one, so it must be a quirk.  I have two copies of my favorite books.  One is my nice, pristine, sits on my shelf of favorites copy and the other one is marked all over--notes in the margins, dog-eared pages, highlighter marks, scraps of paper sticking out at off angles.

What are some of your reader quirks?

A Cocktail & Conversation -- Clean Reader App

Every other Thursday here at the Broke & The Bookish is  A Cocktail Conversation time. One of the TB&TB members will pose a question to 2-3 of the other members of TB&TB crew about books, life, music, etc and then they'll answer and we can converse about it. So grab a cocktail & cozy up for some conversation. It's 5 o'clock somewhere, friends.

THE QUESTION:

I've seen a lot of talk about the Clean Reader App (if you aren't familiar check this article out). What are your opinions about it?

Bridget says:

 My basic understanding of the Clean Reader app is that it removes profanity from ebooks. From what I can tell, it doesn't change or replace them, it just blocks them out. I have...a lot of complicated feelings on this.

My first instinct is to shake my head and say, "To each his own," and probably wander away muttering about how some people are such weenies. But I also have a lot of half-formed "This is bad, but I can't really articulate why" thoughts. The first of these was summed up rather eloquently by one of my good friends: "If you can't handle profanity, you can't handle real life." Like, seriously with the pearl clutching. Reading the word "fuck" or "pussy" or "shit" or "cock" or whatever isn't going to kill you, and it's not going to turn your children into delinquents, either. So many people seem to look for things to be offended by. To those people, I give a hearty double middle-finger and say "Get a life."

But a more important argument against the Clean Reader is summed up quite nicely in this article. Here's a great quote (emphasis mine):

Profanity is a circus of language. It’s a drunken trapeze act. It’s clowns on fire. And let’s be clear up front: profanity is not separate from language. It is not lazy language. It is language. Just another part of it. Vulgarity has merit. It is expressive. It is emotive. It is metaphor.

In any book I've ever read, profanity is there for a reason. It's not superfluous language that you can just remove from books at will. You wouldn't rename a character because you didn't like their name, or decide they were white when you're told they're black, would you? The same goes for profanity. The author's intention is exactly what is written—no more and no less. To disrespect that in the name of "clean reading" is unconscionable. 

If you hate profanity so much, feel free to read books that don't contain profanity. But don't punish authors who use profanity (for perfectly good and legitimate reasons, I might add) by mangling or censoring their writing.

 Julia says:

So I knew the basics behind the app but I wanted to learn more so I read some articles. And after finding a list of words and their replacements here in an article,  I just don't understand. I get that they want to protect themselves or their children from being offended but that is how you learn and grow—you come across things that make you feel uncomfortable and explore why. I mean this is self censoring so I can't really say the app shouldn't exist, no one is trying to force it on the book world. I just don't agree with changing the original words, and potentially the original meaning, just for comfort. I mean seriously vagina and bottom are two completely different things. So if anything this is teaching bad anatomy. 

What do you guys think of the Clean Reader app? Do you have similar thoughts to Julia and Bridget or do you feel differently? 

A Cocktail & Conversation -- Do You Do Audiobooks?

Every other Thursday here (Friday this week because I lost track of time!!) at the Broke & The Bookish is  A Cocktail Conversation time. One of the TB&TB members will pose a question to 2-3 of the other members of TB&TB crew about books, life, music, etc and then they'll answer and we can converse about it. So grab a cocktail & cozy up for some conversation. It's 5 o'clock somewhere, friends.

 

 The Question:

Are you a fan of audiobooks? Why or why not?

 

Tahleen says: 

  I absolutely love audio books. I would not know what to do without them. I get so much "reading" done via audio, whether it's on my commute to and from work or while I'm running. It's not only convenient, but it's a whole different way to experience a book and writing. A great narrator is key, too, and some of my favorites are Katherine Kellgren, Bahni Turpin, Nick Podehl, Moors Quirk, Jayne Entwhistle, and Kirby Heyborne, plus Bill Bryson narrating his own books are perfection. I'm sure I've forgotten a few too. Audio books are the best. The end.

Jana says:

I love audiobooks when I'm driving because then I can still read, but I have a really hard time not getting distracted! Maybe I've just not found any AMAZING ones yet. Anyone have any recommendations for wonderful audiobooks? 

 

Julia says:

I enjoy audiobooks when I need them. So long car trips alone. I used to listen to them on my long commute to work but a) I replaced them with podcasts and b) I moved closer to work killing the need for them. That doesn't mean I dont enjoy them. I really like having them on car trips alone because it seems like I have company. But I am SUPER PICKY about narrators, especially if it is a series I already know. This limits which books I read in audio form. I will say that one of my frustrations is that I cant just sit and listen to a book like i could just sit and read. It seems so lazy for some reason if I am not driving or working out or something. I remember with Ready Player One I totally just laid on my couch and listened to Wil Wheaton's awesome storytelling because i wanted to find out what happened next.

What about you, bookworms? Do you do audiobooks??

A Cocktail and Conversation

Every other Thursday here at the Broke & The Bookish is  A Cocktail Conversation time. One of the TB&TB members will pose a question to 2-3 of the other members of TB&TB crew about books, life, music, etc and then they'll answer and we can converse about it. So grab a cocktail & cozy up for some conversation. It's 5 o'clock somewhere, friends.

Lori says:  So...I saw earlier this week that there is a new animated version of The Boxcar Children that just came out.  That was the first series I remember starting to read.  I loved how simply the children lived and how they were happy with so little, living in a boxcar.  Though I am an only child, I remember being surprised that the siblings mostly got along.  They were super resourceful--keeping drinks in the stream so they'd stay cool, stuff like that.  I was totally impressed.  I am not sure whether I ever actually finished reading that series--I think there are several books to it--but I own most of them and plan on passing them along if I ever have any children.  I still love reading about people having to be resourceful and making it outside of "normal" circumstances.

Anyway, that got me wondering what was the first series you remember reading?  Did you like it?  Why?

Tahleen says:  Boxcar Children was my first series too! I remember buying the first book for a friend's birthday party, and it sounded good so we got one for me too. I wasn't a huge reader up to that point, but I kept finding myself reading well past bedtime by the light in the hall, and it was usually one of these books. My dad said I shouldn't do that, and I would reply with pointing out how he always would say how he wished I would read more. I was just doing what he told me to, ha. I think I liked that they were mysteries, and I liked following the same characters. (Mysteries are still my favorites!)  I'm not surprised you didn't finish the series, Lori--there are over 100 I think! I'm not sure where Gertrude Chandler Warner stopped writing, as I think it was taken over by ghost writers like the Babysitters' Club books (another good one), but there are a ton of them.

Bridget says:  The first series I remember reading is Samantha's American Girl series. I remember liking it partially because there was a seven-year-old girl named Bridget in one of them, and at the time I was seven. I eventually moved onto Molly and Kirsten, and my sister had Josephina. When I was younger I had a much bigger interest in historical fiction, especially since the eras vaguely matched up with what I was learning in school, so I really enjoyed them. I wish I still had the books so I could pass them onto my little sister (she's six) and eventually to my own children, but I think we gave them away. I still have my Molly and Samantha dolls, though :D 

Jana says:  My first series was called Full House Michelle. I loved the TV show so much, and when they came out with a series of books about the youngest girl, Michelle, I was all over them. I'm pretty sure I owned all of them, actually. They read like an episode of Full House. They came out with a Stephanie series too, which I liked even better. Stephanie was my favorite Full House character. And her books had a little romance in them. Hehe.

Julia says:  The first series I remember reading and loving is The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis. I had always been a reader but at some point in my early grade school years, I fell off the reading bandwagon. I remember just guessing on books I had never read to pass my accelerated reading tests. Then I found The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and I fell in love with the Pevensie children. I devoured The Magician's Nephew and then didn't really enjoy The Horse and His Boy because the kids were gone. I stopped there, not knowing that the others in the series had Edmund and Lucy come back. But reading this series broke me into other books and I loved reading again. I think the next thing I moved to was the Choose Your Own Adventure novels. Those are amazing and would love to read an adult version sometime! I think they exist...

What about you?  What is the first series that you remember reading?  Did you like it?  Did you finish?  Why?

Cocktail and Conversation -- Distractions

Every other Thursday here at the Broke & The Bookish is  A Cocktail Conversation time. One of the TB&TB members will pose a question to 2-3 of the other members of TB&TB crew about books, life, music, etc and then they'll answer and we can converse about it. So grab a cocktail & cozy up for some conversation. It's 5 o'clock somewhere, friends.

What distracts you easily when you’re reading?

Bridget says: Background noise is a definite. I generally like there to be as little noise as possible when I'm reading. And something that stops me from reading on my iPad as often as I should is the siren song of other apps--it's so much harder for me to concentrate on a book when I'm reading on a screen, because my usual screen reading habits (ie general internet browsing) are a lot less attention-intensive than most books.

Julia says:If I am on my tablet, wanting to go look something up that I just read about. Maybe it's fact checking, maybe it's just wanting more information before I continue. Recently I was reading the 4th book in the series and forgot what had happened in the third. I was so distracted by the fact that I should know what is going on! In general though I can zone pretty well into a book and only get distracted if someone starts talking to me.

Tahleen says: It's terrible, but I get distracted by my phone or the Internet. I'll often find myself sucked into Facebook or Instagram or my email, and before I know it an hour has passed. I also get very distracted by the TV—anytime HGTV or the Food Network is turned on, there goes my evening.

Lori says:  I usually get distracted by the TV going in the background, even if it's not something I want to watch.  I'll also get distracted by people's conversations, more so if I know the people talking.  Like Julia, I am really bad about wanting to hop on my phone to fact check or read more about something I just read, which opens up a whole rabbit hole of distraction.


What about you?  What distracts you while you are reading?

Cocktail and Conversation

Every other Thursday here at the Broke & The Bookish is  A Cocktail & Conversation time. One of the TB&TB members will pose a question to 2-3 of the other members of TB&TB crew about books, life, music, etc and then they'll answer and we can converse about it. So grab a cocktail & cozy up for some conversation. It's 5 o'clock somewhere, friends.

What is your policy on book lending?  Are certain books off-limits?  Do you only lend to certain people?  Or do you not lend at all?  Why?


Bridget says:  I love lending books, especially my favorites, but that's left me in a tough spot a few times (I've had to buy new copies of Ender's Gameand The Stand). In most cases, the books I've lent out to people that I've had returned have been in the same condition, with one notable exception: my husband! If he's reading a book, there's a good chance it's getting jostled around in his backpack with a variety of other non-book-shaped things, which means rips and tears happen a bit more often :( So, only paperbacks I don't have any sentimental attachment to for him (as much as I love him).

Daisy says:  I only lend out books that I've actually already read myself, I just want to be the first one to experience that particular book. And I only lend them out to people who I know will be careful with them. The only ones that are off limit are my beautiful shiny copies of the Hunger Games series, my original set has been read by so many people and it's cracked and bent (and well-loved), so I bought myself a new set and that's not leaving the house. 

Julia says:  I don't own too many books, so lending them doesn't come up often. I have been bitten in the past when lending books, meaning I never see them again. Since I usually only buy things I really am in love with, I don't lend things often. My sister and I do end up trading books often though, but that is because I know where she lives and can just come snatch it back, and she can do the same.

Kimberly says:  One of my favorite things is introducing someone to a book I loved. Usually that happens when I slap my copy of the book into their hands and say "Read it. Now." It's always heartbreaking when I get a book back and it's been too well loved. However, those that I lend books to know how I feel about my books and they take good care of them. Signed books, however, are a different story. I have let someone borrow a signed book maybe... twice. And that came with a promise of a long painful death to the borrower if that book came to harm.

Lori says:  I've totally been burned in the past by lending out books!  As a result of losing two books (despite contacting the people borrowing them numerous times about returning them), I am extremely selective of who gets to read my books.  My dad has free reign to grab anything out of my bookshelves that are at my parents' house because I totally trust him and I know he's not going to destroy my books.  I'll also occasionally shove a book under his nose and demand he reads it.  I would also loan books to Zach and my grandparents if they asked or if it was something the just had to read.  But that's about it.  Maybe a couple of trusted online book friends...if it's not one of my special books.

Tahleen says:  I only lend books if I have already read them, or if I don't care if I won't get it back. I am terrible at returning books people lend to me, so I try not to give out books I want back. Mostly my book-lending policy is to not borrow books from other people, aside from the library, because they probably will never go back to their owners. I have too many books in my house and can never get to the ones I'm lent in a timely manner; I know I've had at least two books people have lent to me for a few years. If they ask for them back, I'll gladly give them, but they're people I no longer see on a regular basis!

What about you?  What are your personal policies on lending?  Any horror stories?

A Cocktail and Conversation--Book Hype

Every other Thursday here at the Broke & The Bookish is  A Cocktail & Conversation time. One of the TB&TB members will pose a question to 2-3 of the other members of TB&TB crew about books, life, music, etc and then they'll answer and we can converse about it. So grab a cocktail & cozy up for some conversation. It's 5 o'clock somewhere, friends.


Name a case in which a book's hype ruined your reading experience.

Julia:  I don't think I have ever had a book ruined for me because of hype, but I have put off reading books because of the hype and high expectations (Divergent being the most recent example). I have had books that have a hell of a lot of hype surrounding them, like Outlander or Gone Girl for instance, that I read and disliked, but the hype really didn't cause me to dislike it. It just caused me to think what the hell everyone else was seeing but me.

Jen:  Harry Potter - I resisted for years!! But finally gave in and read the entire series last summer. So many people reference the books and talk about the characters that I felt left out! I'm glad I read the series! I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. The hype around the book definitely deterred me from reading it as the books (and movies) were being released. 

Kimberly:  The 5th Wave.  I swear, EVERYONE was talking about this book. I was reading raving reviews weeks before it even published. I was so excited to get my hands on it when it finally released. I don't think I have ever been more disappointed. I finished the book, but it took months. I kept waiting for it to get better. I think I only gave it two stars. I really wanted to like it, but I just couldn't. I think if I hadn't been so excited and hadn't read so many reviews praising it, I wouldn't have been as annoyed.

Lori:  So many books!  I've bought so many books because of the hype (the first, I remember, was Edgar Sawtelle) and then realized that the book just wasn't me.  Usually in these cases, I don't wind up reading the book at all and just discreetly donate it or let it sit on my shelves forever (where it points and laughs and mocks me), but sometimes I read quite a bit of the book before realizing I'm just not that into it.  I think it's mostly a case of me not looking very closely at the blurb or knee-jerk buying a book; if I had looked into things before buying, I probably would have saved my money.

What about y'all?  Have you ever been let down or led astray by a book's hype?

A Cocktail & Conversation --- About Our Rating Systems

Every other Thursday here at the Broke & The Bookish is  A Cocktail & Conversation time. One of the TB&TB members will pose a question to 2-3 of the other members of TB&TB crew about books, life, music, etc and then they'll answer and we can converse about it. So grab a cocktail & cozy up for some conversation. It's 5 o'clock somewhere, friends.

What makes a book a five star read? How about a one star?

Jamie says:  THAT IS SO HARD because it depends on the type of book. Mostly 5 stars have it all though -- writing I love, made me think, characters I believe in, a story that was unputdownable and mostly EMOTIONS. Most of my 5 star books made me FEEL lots of things. I'm kind of stingy with 5 stars. Like let's say I'm reading something more on the light side but it was super awesome. I might give it a 4.5 because it didn't have the WHOLE PACKAGE. 5's are very special. A 1 means I would rather massage my husband's feet after a day of work and the gym before I touched that book. I don't know...one stars mean the whole time I was probably wanting to put it down because something about it was REALLY bothering me. I don't have many one stars because I typically put them down before I finish.

Bridget says:  A book for me is a five-star read if it makes me take much longer lunch breaks than I'm supposed to and makes me stay up way too late because all I want to do is read. If I'm absorbed in the story to the extent that I think about it even when I'm not reading, even after I'm finished with it, it's probably a five-star read.  A one-star read, in my opinion, is one that spends either too much or too little time on world-building. Too much is just boring and tedious, but too little means I have no idea what's going on. This is my issue with most fantasy: you just get plopped in the middle of a brand new universe with all these new words that you have to figure out. And of course, a bad ending (i.e. either one that doesn't wrap things up, or one that I just think sucks) can ruin even the best book.

Lori says:  For me, a five-star read is a book that just gets to me.  I get totally sucked into the story.  I totally relate to the characters or can at least see their point of view.  I don't want to put the book down, so I usually stay up too late and/or skip meals because reading is obviously more important at that point.  The writing has to be really good in addition to having a good plot and good characters.  There are usually quotes that just knock me off my feet because they are so amazingly true.  I am really trying to be more stingy with my fives.  I think if I went back through my Goodreads list, most books would lose a few stars because on reflection they were just good reads, but didn't necessarily touch me.  A five is just special.  Like Jamie, a one-star read means that I just couldn't get into it.  I don't have many of those for pleasure reading books because if I hate a book that much, I usually just don't finish it.  There are a few books from classes that I have given one star because I had to finish the book and just hated it the whole time.  A lot of things make me not like a book, but being overly preachy and moralistic will make me hate a book

Tahleen says:  A 5 star review for me has to really affect me, make me pause in my reading to reflect, and stay with me for a while. It also must have excellent prose without it feeling like the author is trying too hard to be literary, and the characters must all be well-rounded and fleshed out without stock characters poking around. A great plot can certainly help, but that, for me, is not necessary--I like a good character study just as much. Basically, the book has to say something important without being preachy or overbearing.  I guess for a 1-star, it has to be pretty badly written with no interesting or compelling characters, and with offensive or harmful stereotypes or portrayals of certain ethnic, generational, cultural, or really any group of people. A book has to be pretty bad to get a 1-star review from me.

What about you?  What are your criteria?

A Cocktail & Conversation -- Favorite Quote About Reading or Books

Every other Thursday here at the Broke & The Bookish is  A Cocktail & Conversation time. One of the TBTB members will pose a question to 2-3 of the other members of TB&TB crew about books, life, music, etc and then they'll answer and we can converse about it. So grab a cocktail & cozy up for some conversation. It's 5 o'clock somewhere, friends.

Lori asks: What is your favorite quote about reading/books and why?

Julia: I don't pay too much attention to quotes, but I do have a few visual favorites that I have collected for you. They make me laugh or smile and that is why I like them :)

Jen: "Books are a uniquely portable magic" - Stephen King

I recently came across this quote and it is so, so true. You can bring a book (or your Kindle) with you almost anywhere, and books have the power to transport you to other worlds and time periods. Books really are magical.

Paula:  "Reading aloud to someone is one of this world's pleasures" John Irving, The Hotel New Hampshire

I grew up reading a chapter if a book every night with my mom. Not only did this help create my love of reading- I think it is the best way to share a story with someone. It's quality time together and interacting in a way that watching a movie can't compare too. When you get so into a story that both of your voices are cracking but you still don't want to take a break - it's magic. One of my best college memories was building a fort in my good friend's living room and spending an entire rainy day reading Peter Pan to each other. So yeah - this quote sums everything up perfectly!


Bridget:  “Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

I personally have never actually feared that I would lose my ability to read; however, life often gets in the way of sitting down and just relaxing for a few hours with a book, and when it's been several days without doing that, I do feel significantly "off." But an hour or two with a book on the couch or in bed will fix me right up. Reading has always been something that has come naturally to me--much like breathing--and the thought of ever not being able to read, for whatever reason that might be, is almost as scary as not being able to breathe. I don't just mean books, either. Think about it...just about anything you do on the internet involves reading. I could spend days on reddit, but it's because I like to read people's crazy stories. What would we do without reading?

Kimberly:  "Reading one book is like eating one potato chip."--Diane Duane, So You Want To Be A Wizard

Can you think of a better way to describe how wonderfully addictive reading is? The first time I read that quote, about 12 or so years ago, I actually sighed. It was so perfect. My love of reading so perfectly described in a way that I could explain to others. I was at the airport in San Diego last year, dragging my suitcase behind me and stopped so fast my friend ran right into me. I'd completely forgotten to walk because RIGHT THERE, on the WALL, in an AIRPORT, was my quote. It had been painted there. I was so excited I even took a picture of it.

What about you guys?  What are some of your favorite quotes about books or reading?