(no subject)

This is the first year that hurricanes have really affected us. Hermine didn't really do much, it was really windy (like 60-70mph) and knocked down trees which caused some power outages (not us, but the neighborhood behind us did), but nothing too bad. School was cancelled and Andy didn't have to work. We stayed home, but weren't worried about anything serious.

This one is putting people in a panic. It is closer, and it is a bigger storm. Schools have been cancelled for tomorrow and Friday. People are evacuating.

I was asked this morning if we were leaving and I said no. We have no where to go except a hotel or something further inland. But then thinking about it later, we actually CAN'T leave. Not before the storm hits anyway.

Andy has heart surgery tomorrow morning. I doubt he'd be able to travel right after. Plus there's a possibility he'd have to stay overnight.

So we're staying whether we want to or not.

My aunt offered to help us financially if we needed it, to evacuate if we do end up leaving. My cousin, who lives in Charleston, left yesterday.

I'm hoping we're far enough inland that if won't be too bad. Worse than last time perhaps, but still ok.

They're predicting by the time it reaches us Friday morning it'll be a category 2, with 110mph winds. But that's at 50 miles from the coast and we're about 40 miles from the coast. I read a weather report this morning that said our area would get winds of about 75mph, which is strong, but I think we'll be ok as long as we stay inside. With everything being closed, I can't imagine going anywhere anyway.

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Book meme

Saw this on tinnny's page and thought it looked fun, so I'll try.

1. What’s the last book you read? What did you think of it?

Currently I'm reading Dracula by Braum Stroker. It's pretty good, the style took some getting used to. It's written from different character points of view in journal entries and letters. I'm about halfway through and it only just now used the word vampire and talks about what they do.

Prior to this, I read Doctor Sleep by Stephen King. It was good, but mildly disappointing as it wasn't nearly as terrifying as its predecessor, The Shining. It's all supernatural and no horror.


2. What’s the worst book you’ve ever read, and why?

The worst book? I don't know. I hated The Hobit. To the point that I only had about 50 pages left and I just couldn't finish it.

And I couldn't get through Madame Bouvery either. I couldn't stand the main character. I don't think I even made it halfway before I quit.

3. A book you found overhyped, and why.

Umm...I'd have to say Catcher in the Rye. I remember everyone in HS talking about how AMAZING it was. I read it afew years after graduation and just didn't see what everyone was talking about. It was boring.


4. Ereaders versus physical books is such a false dichotomy. Instead, tell me what other formats (phone apps, tumblr fiction, twitter haikus) you read in.

I prefer actual physical books, but I've read things on my Kindle app on my phone and I now have my daughter's old Kindle, so I read on that too. I also read fanfic on my phone via the internet.

5. Which genre(s) don’t you read? Why not?

I don't read much non fiction. I read for enjoyment mostly.

Within the fiction genre, there isn't much I don't read. I tend to stay away from religious type stuff because I'm not very religious. I tried some erotica, but it was pretty awful. Though that may have been the author, I don't know. The story itself was good, but the erotic bits were laughable. It was like it was written by a high schooler.

6. If you read in more than one language, is there a difference between the experience of reading in your native language(s) and reading in other languages?

I only read in English, not fluent in any other language.

7. If you’re not a native English speaker, how much do you read in your native language versus how much you read in English? How do you feel about that? // If you’re a native English speaker, go find a book in your second/third/etc language, or in translation, to add to your to-read list

I don't know any other languages. :(

8. The book you read when you’re stuck in bed sick.

I usually sleep if I'm that sick. Or watch TV/movies. But if I'm looking for a comfort book, I'll grab either American Gods by Neil Gaiman or The Princess Bride by William Goldman.

9. Fiction or non-fiction or both? In what ratio? Where do you draw the line between the two?

I think I kinda answered this in #6...

10. The book(s) you bought because the cover was pretty, and whether it was worth it

I buy a lot of books because the cover grabs my attention. Good thing I mostly shop at used book stores!

The first one that comes to mind though, is Pure by Julianna Baggott. Totally worth it. It's a dystopian young adult novel. First book in a trilogy. There was a nuclear event that caused an explosion and if you were in the blast zone, you fused with whatever or whoever was close to you. But if you were safe in the dome, you're still pure.

It was really good. I've heard the series might be made into a movie.

11. The worst book hangover you’ve ever had

I don't know. I'm not sure I've ever had one. I remember crying when I read Where the Red Fern Grows and being sad after. But I was also 10, so yeah.

12. Do you have to finish one book before you start the next one, or do you read multiple books at the same time?

Usually, but not always. I read several books at a time in HS. Right now I'm reading Dracula on my Kindle, but I checked out HP and the Chamber of Secrets from the library and read that.

I'll also read fanfic while reading a book sometimes.

13. The fictional character you want to believe you resemble and the fictional character you actually resemble.

Um, none? I've had a few characters I've related to in some ways, but none that fit either of these.


14. The book that, in hindsight, really should have clued you in to the fact that you’re _________ (queer/in love/doomed to be an academic/etc).

None. Pretty sure this has to do with my answer to the previous question.


15. The book that you reread over and over again and get new things from every time.

American Gods. This is why it's my favorite book.


16. The book that you don’t dare reread for fear it won’t be the same any more.

None that I can think of. If I don't want to reread something, chances are it's because I didn't like it. Or it was good, but not enough to want to read again.


17. Preferred bookshelf organisation scheme.

My books are sorted by genre, then by author, then alphabetically by title.

Or they would be if my shelf wasn't a terrible mess right now.

18. Do you theme your monthly/yearly/etc reading (eg Year of Reading Women)?

Nah. I read whatever looks good at the time.

19. That book with a twist that felt like a blow to the chest. Tell me about it. (But warn for spoilers if necessary!)

Hmm. I can't think of any right now, I usually figure out the ending before the end.

Although there was a twist in the Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray that took me by surprise and was kind of a shot to the feels. I don't remember which book in the series it was though.

20. The coolest bookshop you’ve ever been to.

Probably Curious Books in East Lansing, MI. It's a used book store that is packed full of books and there are multiple rooms. I love the smell and the feeling of books for days.

21. The book you gave up on, and the reasons why.

Well, I've already mentioned two, but I also gave up on the Earth's Children Series by Jane Auel. I think it was book four of six and I just stopped. Two of the main characters were split apart when everything could have been fixed by a simple conversation. It made me so angry I couldn't finish it.


22. The book you finished even though you hated it, and the reasons why.

I don't do this any more. I don't remember what the last one was.


23. The book you expected to hate, didn’t, and then got angry about not hating.

None. I read for fun, I don't read something if it doesn't look like I'll like it.

24. The book that you got into because of the movie/TV series/etc, and the relative merits of each version.

I've started reading The Walking Dead comics because I love the show. The story line is a bit different, things happen in a different order, but overall it's pretty similar, but I've only read book one so far. I think that's like the first twelve comics.

I'm starting to read the HP series after enjoying the movies. I'm only through book two and it seems pretty similar as well.

I bought The Princess Bride because I love the movie so much. There's a ton of excessive random narration in the book, but it's still one of my favorites.

I've also been reading Constantine Hellblazer because I liked the movie and really loved the show. I just bought book four, but haven't read it yet. The TV show followed the first two books pretty well. I've only found bits and pieces of the movie in the books. There is a comic based off the movie, but I really like the books I'm reading.

I know there's more, but I can't think of them now.


25. The only book care question that actually means anything: do you write in your books? If so, in pen or in pencil?

Never!

26. Do you read reviews of books? Before or after you read the books themselves? Why? Why not?

Sometimes. If I do, it's before. If the blurb isn't good enough to convince me, or if I'm unsure if I'll like it, I'll read some reviews.

27. The book you’re embarrassed to admit you’ve read.

I don't know that I'm *embarrassed* about reading anything, but there are things I read that I don't talk about to people irl. Simply because I'd either have to explain what it is (fanfic) or is just not something you talk about in polite conversation (romance/porn/erotica).

28. The one where the fanfic was better than the original (and the relevant AO3 links, pls)

Well, currently, Once Upon A Time fanfics by totheendoftheworldortime79 on ff.net. Her pairing of Emma & Hook is WAY better than canon. Prepare for smut. I don't know what to pick, everything she writes is good! Although, I've stayed away from Unlocked and all its sequels because it's m/m/f with brothers. It's well written, but it just kinda squicks me out. Here's her author page: https://m.fanfiction.net/u/1433496/michellemtsu

29. Your vacation reading habits

I don't usually read on vacation, but if I do, I take whatever I'm currently reading.

30. The book you read the blurb of, constructed a version of in your mind, and were promptly disappointed by once you finally got around to actually reading it?

Hm. I don't remember ever being disappointed. Surprised maybe, but I can't think of any right now.

31. Bonus question: rec me something!

I always rec my favorite book, American Gods. Other than that, I'd have to know what kind of books you like. :)