books - hooey!critic

The Smell of New

January 7, 2011 By Neena 5 Comments

Can I tell you a secret?

I love books. I’ve been having a 32 year love affair with books. If woman and object could marry I’d totally make that commitment with my books. Or my coffee maker.

No. I’m pretty sure my books.

Hubby and I joke that our decorating style is Early American Paperback. Our house is about filled to the brim with books. And I refuse to part with any of them – with the exception of the cookbook an ex-boyfriend gave me that I recently put in a box of donations for a friend’s new thrift store because the feng shui of that hanging around was just…bad.

Can I tell you another secret?

I like to smell my new books.

I’m the girl that arrives home from the bookstore and, before I will even crack open the spine, I’m flipping the pages and breathing in that wonderful, new book aroma. The pages are still crisp and cold – you open them just a bit and you’re overwhelmed with that clean, literary fragrance.

Oh, I love it.

My books for Spring semester are sitting on a shelf right now. Every once in a while when I walk past them I’ll pick one up and inhale the newness.

Someone should totally make a candle with new book smell.

But they sit there on that shelf and it’s like they beckon me. Psst, Neena! Come flip through me! You know you want to smell my newness and envision all the upcoming highlighter marks and Twain-style notes in the margins.

And, I can’t resist. I pick one up, caress and appreciate it’s pristine existence, and lean in for just a quick note of that glorious bouquet and all the learning potential it evokes within me.

I’m not weird. I promise.

Filed Under: books, school

too many books, too little time

March 14, 2010 By Neena 2 Comments

My nightstand exists for the sole purpose of holding all the books I’m ‘currently reading.’

I find it weirdly comforting to go to bed at night looking at a stack of unused books – their stories just waiting patiently to welcome me. I suppose it would seem more normal to have a picture of my children, maybe even my husband, next to my bed. But, not in my case.

The dresser is for photos. The nightstand is for books.

And porn.

Ha! Just kidding.

Sorta.

Anyway.

Since I’m coming off Spring Break and a glorious week of reading multiple books that were in no way related to my studies, I thought I’d share some titles with you. Plus, Spring is right around the corner and that means afternoons reading in the warm sun and extra evening hours filled with of wine and stories on the patio. Enjoy, my friends.

The Little Giant of Aberdeen County

The Shortest Distance Between Two Women

The Lace Reader

The Wednesday Sisters

Olive Kitteridge – this one won the Pulitzer!

My stack isn’t really that big, so feel free to leave your suggestions. What should I be sure to pick up next?

Filed Under: books

for the love of books

March 4, 2010 By Neena 5 Comments

Anyone that knows our family or our children would be hesitant to argue that we are lovers of the written word.

We are readers. Plain and simple.

We love to fill our home and surround ourselves with books and stories full of magical adventures, memorable friends, and lessons that warm our hearts. When we had children we knew without a doubt that we wanted to pass along our love of books and reading. We wanted our children to understand the joy and learn to appreciate it for themselves.

So we bought them books.

We bought them more books and more books and more books.

We read them stories at bedtime, in the middle of the afternoon, while they took baths, and whenever they craved the comfort of a story.

And the rewards have been endless.

We have a daughter that shares the same love of Goodnight Moon at almost six years old that began so many nights ago with her and her daddy on the couch.

We have a son that begs for reading time every night before bed and would gladly choose a trip to the bookstore over almost any outing.

That love of books that started in the comfort of a highchair is something he chose to share with his new baby sister shortly after she joined our family.

And, now, that not so little baby doesn’t hesitate to grab her own book and begin her own love affair with stories.

So, we read as a family and have the joy of riding trains, changing colors, comforting pets, dressing fancy, and reaching the stars at a moment’s notice.

We cherish our books.

And, we embrace the memories, adventures, and togetherness they give us.

How empty our lives would feel without our books…

*March is National Reading Month. In honor of National Reading Month take some time to share a story with someone you love. You may very will inspire a lifelong reader! Thanks to the Yahoo! Motherboard for inviting me to join their community. I look forward to the adventures we’ll have together!

Filed Under: books, motherboard, photos, reading

I love a bargain!

January 17, 2010 By Neena 6 Comments

I’d like to tell you that I found some killer deal on a great pair of jeans.

Or finally found the most adorable boots that a girl could ever want.

Or, even the most amazing deal on car insurance.

But, I didn’t.

What I did find was that Waldenbooks is closing down all of their mall locations and, in turn, are selling everything for up to 80% off. Books, baby! I’m talking books!

I’m talking six new releases at a price that was so unbelievable that I can’t share it with you for fear you’ll run out and buy up everything I plan to get on my next trip – cause I’m making more than one!

Six books! At a freaking awesome price!

Are you feeling the joy!?

I am!

It’s enough to make a gal feel all warm and gooey inside.

Oh. Have I said too much!?

Filed Under: books, shopping

Genius Bar

August 22, 2008 By Neena 4 Comments

I spent the better part of this evening at the Apple Store. My newest baby, Macbook, had a faulty power cord. Me, being the anal/obsessive/impatient person that I am needed it fixed. Now. I scheduled an appointment, called up the trusty in-laws for kid watch, grabbed hubby as he walked in the door from work, and ran to the store.

They fixed the problem, of course. There was no charge and I learned some swell new tricks about this lovely little machine I now own. I was thrilled with the service. I am excited and fascinated about the concept of the Genius Bar. I am grateful to the Genius.

I love you, Macbook!!!!!

Then I went to Target and bought a whole series of books about vampires that are meant for young adults. There was an apple on the cover of one of them.

I guess this Thursday kind of had a theme. Oh, well.

I love you, Macbook!!!!!

Filed Under: apple, books, macbook, weekday

Geek trash meets the 1/2 off bin

July 5, 2008 By Neena 4 Comments

Today I got to do something that, in my opinion, does not happen nearly as often as I fundamentally believe that it should. I got to to spend 30 glorious minutes (because that is all the children would allow) browsing the bookstore!

This may be one of my most favorite activities in the entire world. I love the smell and the newness of the bookstore. I love watching people as they look around in different sections. I love trying to narrow down who is embarrassed by what they are purchasing, who is trying to look cool by just being in the bookstore, and who wouldn’t dare enter the place except for that horrible school summer reading list. It has been a haven of mine for years.

Even back when hubby and I were poor and dating we would go to the bookstore for hours. We would gather a small collection of different genres, find a quiet corner to make our own, and we’d read. We would share our thoughts, interests, and ideas. Both of us have always been readers, preferring to spend our time and money on books rather than on other things. I even remember back when we got married that the hardest thing for me was to merge our two book collections, to allow them to mingle amongst the same bookshelves. Now they are so mixed and matched that we’d be lucky to ever get them separated again. I’m okay with that…now.

Besides the thrill of browsing the bookstore, we actually got to bring stuff home. Yea! Hubby purchased what he calls ‘geek trash’ and often compares to my hidden love of romantic trash novels. I brought home a variety of titles that can’t really be put into any specific category. I am anxious and excited to not only read the stories within, but also bust out of my trash habit that seems to plague me greatly in the summer and in the dead of winter.

So, I’m shortly going to put the babies to bed. I’m going to pour myself a glass of wine, slip on my reading glasses, make myself comfortable, and start enjoying my newest additions. Just as soon as I finish my Harlequin Super Romance “Baby By Contract.” Yea, yea, I know I’m trashy!