Weird idea for weird people

So I kind of want to start an online book club here. But, you know, I want to read smart books, really smart books, that get overlooked a lot in school. And we could all agree to read this book over the course of a month or two months or whatever, and we could make blog posts as we go along and talk about the book and what we like or don’t like about it and how it makes us feel and whatnot. Because books are cool. We could read Supervert’s Necrophilia Variations or How to Be Good by Nick Hornby or Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney or Sad Movies by Mark Lindquist or Finnley Wren by Philip Wylie or Bukowski’s Ham on Rye or Stendhal’s The Red and the Black or any other one of the countless books out there that we wouldn’t otherwise get to read.

I dunno. I think it sounds fun. Is anyone interested?

50 Book Challenge: Book #11

50 Book Challenge: Book #10

50 Book Challenge: Book #9

50 Book Challenge: Book #8

50 Book Challenge: Book #7

The Killing Joke by Alan Moore

I decided that since I’m a lazy turd, comic books are going to count as books. Except not trade comic books. I’m only counting longer stories complied into, you know, a book. And The Killing Joke is a book. So there. Basically, if you like Batman, you should have read this book a million times by now. If you haven’t, it sucks to be you. It’s an interesting take on the Joker as a villain. And I have like 5 more of these to do tonight, so this is a shitty description. Shoot me an ask if you want more information.

Books left: 43

Due Date: September 1, 2012

I like when a paperback book is really old and the spine is creased and cracked every which way anyway, because then I am free to throw it in my backpack or place it face down on the table and it won’t really matter because the book is already long, long past pretty.

50 Book Challenge: Book #6

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

This series (well, technically, this one is the spinoff) was, and continues to be, my childhood. Judge me all you want. I will read children’s books if I so please. I got it at midnight on my nook the day it came out. I ate that shit up. In other news, I need more book recommendations. I’m looking to read some classic sci-fi (Verne-Wells era or Golden Age, either is fine), but I’ve actually read a lot of it. So I guess I’ll take any recommendations you’ve got. Help me out?

Books left: 44

Due Date: September 1, 2012

50 Book Challenge: Book #5

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

This is maybe my third time reading it, but it was assigned reading this time. I actually really liked it. Haterz gon’ hate. If you want a summary, consult Amazon or Sparknotes. It’s not like nobody has ever read this book. Come on, now. It’s The Scarlet Letter.

Also, Easy A was not that good.

Books Left: 45

Due Date: September 1, 2012

The reason I will never buy an eReader.

a-child-of-fire:

hiimspencer:

This truly breaks my heart

I pledge to read the printed word

I feel the urge to go and buy a book right now.

a) Stacy’s books went bankrupt before the launch of the kindle. And they were HUGE. This wasn’t some neighborhood secondhand bookstore, it was the Barney’s of books.

b) BORDERS? REALLY? Not only was Border’s a huge chain that drove themselves into the ground with poor business choices, but it launched an e-reader itself. 

The point being, I like my nook. I spent the money, and I would like to be able to use it to read New York Times bestsellers, play sudoku, and listen to Pandora without being judged by sanctimonious hipster hypocrits. Yes, there is nothing quite like the smell of an old book, or the feel of tall bookshelves packed with novels. But at the same time, independent booksellers have been on the decline for years now, regardless of the popularity of e-readers. The simple truth is, it is economically more sound to buy a bestseller from a chain. All I ever buy on my nook are classics that are free on the internet anyway and new bestsellers that no used bookstore would carry. I assure you, I still go to my favorite recycle bookstore all the time.

I like my nook. I like its convenience. When I just want to read something light, it’s a great resource to have. Having one doesn’t mean I hate paper books or small businesses. It means I prefer to save money by buying books digitally. Since I bought my nook, I have saved over 300 dollars on books. And I’m not going to apologize for reading off of an e-ink screen sometimes.