I’ve been thinking a lot lately about picking up some audiobook versions of the books I want to read.  This serves the purpose of getting a chance to actually read some books, but this can be done during my daily 30-minute commute to school.  I’ve been trying to make better use of this time lately, listening to podcasts about the economy and such instead of just music.

But then I think, no… I really want to have the physical book.  If I have an audiobook, I can’t display the physical book on a shelf in my future apartment to point to and say “yeah, I read that!” and feel all superior.

And that brings up the question of Kindles or Nooks or iPads.  We will be much less able to share books if we all convert to these digital book readers, because it’s not like I’m going to let you borrow my Kindle for 2 months while you read Harry Potter.

I think they should start selling physical books with digital copies, like how you can buy a physical CD and then rip it onto your computer to play in iTunes or on your iPod.  I hope someone in publishing is reading my diary!

Until then you can find me listening to Christmas music on my commute.  Tis the season!  (Which for me begins in November whether you like it or not.)

I feel like I am just flying through the stack of books on my desk that I have been meaning to read. Here’s what I have finished lately.

Odd Thomas | Dean Koontz

• I had a hard time visualizing some of the supernatural elements in the book. For example, the room that Odd goes into and time-travels out? Couldn’t even see it in my mind. That and the bodachs.
• His love interest was named Stormy… which I think it fairly laughable. Also, she was written with a purely male audience in mind, which irked me.
• Good ending!

Amsterdam | Ian McEwan

• I thought I would warm up with this one before I actually read Atonement. I’ve seen the movie, so I already know the plot of that one will frustrate me.
• This plot was not frustrating! Huzzah!
• At 193 pages, it’s a very quick read. Also, I’m not English major, but it felt pretty high-brow to me. And I love false senses of superiority.
• I highly recommend this.

Twilight | Stephenie Meyer

• These are the books that all those teenage girls are reading.
• Meyer is an awful writer. I will admit that there is something about the story, but her writing is so… so… ugh. I lost track of how many times I rolled my eyes!
• I’ll probably get all excited to see the movie in December. Like a sucker!

This is a proud, proud day for my parents. Emma Chace can read! I’ve finished 4 books this year alone… that’s nuts!! I knew I got accepted to college for a reason.
Here are my thoughts on those four books. I will try to make them as spoiler-free as possible.

Heyday | Kurt Andersen
- This book was big and long.
- I thought the characters were not as engaging as the overall story. Tim Skaggs was my favorite, and probably because he felt like the most appropriate character for the time period.
- The book loses a lot of momentum when everyone decides to go to the California gold rush, but the end ties it together nicely.
- I seriously love me some historical fiction!

The Time Traveler’s Wife | Audrey Niffenegger
- I read this in 2 days. It is a page turner!
- After I finished, I find myself asking a lot of questions along the lines of “which came first, the chicken or the egg?” I don’t know how sure I am that Clare and Henry would have gotten together if he hadn’t time traveled back to when she was young.
- Even with that issue, I found myself completely engrossed.
- The movie, due later this year, will probably blow but I will be excited to see it nonetheless.

The Man from St. Petersberg | Ken Follett
- I picked this one out myself with no suggestions from anyone! (I am quite proud of this.)
- Again, I love me some historical fiction.
- I totally saw where this was going, but the ending surprised me. Let me clarify by saying it’s not really a twist ending, but I did not think Follett would come up with a resolution at all but then HE DID!
- Follett totally played with my loyalties. I was torn between Stephen and Feliks. I wanted them both to get what they want, but alas that was impossible!
- My only complaint was the portrayal of Winston Churchill. But ultimately it was not a big deal.

The Other Boleyn Girl | Philippa Gregory
- Yes, I read this because the movie was coming out. I even bought the little paperback with the poster as the cover. I am shameless!
- This was engrossing enough, but not as great as I thought it would be.
- The movie threw out the book. But you know… whatever… it’s a movie.
- For the third time, I love me some historical fiction.

Read any good books lately?

I am really enjoying the book I’m reading right now. I bring it everywhere I go. I brought it to lunch today. I usually don’t eat out by myself, but on Tuesdays you can more than likely find me eating at McAlister’s with my friend Shelly. Shelly is home for the entire week whoring herself out for “The Secret“. (Those were her words, not mine). And I was really wanting some chicken tortilla soup in a bread bowl from McAlister’s, so I went by myself.

Anyhow, back to me actually doing some recreational reading, I had my chicken tortilla soup in a bread bowl while I read my book. Now, reading this book has been no small feet. It’s 620 pages long to be exact. It also just looks big because it’s hardcover. Everywhere I bring this book I get a comment. Most of the time it’s something along the lines of “ooooh, ambitious!” or “my, what an undertaking.”*

So what’s the point to this post besides to tell you of a book you should run out and read? Oh yes, I can actually see myself finishing this book in the near future. And I’ve been carrying it around all semester since I’m terrible at reading books. In a way this book has become a little part of me and I’m not quite ready to stop carrying it around. I’ll just have to find a good substitute book… something just as large and hardcover and interesting. Like I needed an excuse to browse the bookshelves at Borders!

*yes, people I see out in public use this rhetoric. Don’t be jealous.

I have Harry Potter fever right now. I’m really excited, but I’m going to discipline myself into reading the series again before I read the last book. And I have a few predictions gathered from conversations with friends and family over the past couple of weeks.

Originally I thought that Harry would for sure die in the end because I believed his scar to be a horcrux. But then I kept thinking about the phrase “the boy who lived” and now I think that he won’t die and maybe he won’t have his scar anymore after he defeats Voldemort.

I believe Mrs. Weasley will be killed since she is the only prominent living mother figure in teh story. I think she will die saving Percy. I don’t know if it will be a monumental part of the book but it feels right to me that it should happen.

I secretly want Ron to turn against them. But that just plot twist crack getting the best of me. I really do like Ron, but it would make for an interesting book. Also I really want Neville to have a significant role in this book, especially since the prophecy could have been about him. Neville is my second favorite character in the book, with Snape being my first.

Speaking of Snape, he’s totally good and totally not evil. I’ve been considering this alongside with the pyramid theory about the HP series, so it would be fitting for Snape to be a red herring for most of the 7th book like he was in the 1st, but no way is he evil.

Well, happy reading to everyone interested. I’m going to try to stay spoiler free until I finish, even though I know it will be hard to avoid.