18 July 2010

Sunday Book Blogger Hop Salon

Book Blogger Hop Okay, I'm doing a two-fer here, combining the Sunday Salon with the Book Blogger Hop. I just really liked the question on this week's hop!

RIGHT THIS INSTANT, WHAT BOOK ARE YOU DYING TO GET YOUR HANDS ON (PAST, PRESENT, OR FUTURE)?

Some people read this question and a book pops directly into their mind, something specific they've heard about that is at the top of their wish list. I, on the other hand, am terrible with a question like this.  This is worse than the infamous "who's your favorite author" or "what's your favorite book" questions. It's not that I don't want books right now - the problem is that I want EVERY book right now.

I am a hoarder of books. All shapes, sizes, genres, and styles. I want them all. And I want them all nicely displayed on my shelves.  My wish list is hundreds of books, and I don't even shop with a list in hand. If I'm at the bookstore, I'm buying five or six books that I randomly find. I very very rarely go in with a specific book in mind.

If I had to pick just one, at this exact moment in time, I am jonesing for Who Killed Amanda Palmer, a collection of photos of Amanda Palmer playing dead coupled with stories by Neil Gaiman (who wrote about the experience here) and lyrics from Palmer. I seriously want this book.

Unfortunately I can't afford the $50+ the book would cost. At least, I can't hide a charge like that from the husband who would then remind me I have over 400 unread books in the house. Even typing that makes me feel a bit guilty. : )

So what about you? Do you book shop with list in hand? Is your wish list manageable? What book do you wish you owned right now?

Reminders
Be sure to let me know what books you think smarty pants readers should take to the beach! You are automatically entered to win a free book just for participating.

Enter here to win a copy of Audrey Niffenegger's Her Fearful Symmetry
Posted by Trisha at 5:45 AM
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21 comments:

  1. I always take my list with me when I go shopping for books! That way, I'm not tempted by so many things that I don't have on my list. 3 for 2 deals are an exception, so long as I get at least one of the books on my list included!

    I can't afford to keep buying books all the time. I often buy loads and it gets me into trouble - I'm on a very tight budget. So at the moment I have only two books that I haven't read - and those are actually my boyfriends, so I didn't buy them.

    The concept of 400 unread books is very scary! I don't think I have that many books in my house as it is!
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  2. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
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  3. I was reading this and thinking about Twin Peaks until I remembered that was Who Killed Laura Palmer? I tend to browse and buy randomly as well, even though I have a long list of books that are on my wishlist.

    The book that I really want to read right now is something old - The House of Dies Drear. It's one of those things from childhood that I would like to re-visit.
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  4. I am in the wonderful position right now that I actually don't want any books. There are some I could get my hands on, sure, but none I'm really hankering badly after. I just want all the books on my shelves to go away! I'm not reading as fast as I want to be right now.
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  5. I can't shop with a wishlist in hand, because it is way too long. I usually browse a store and see if I remember what books I'd like to read. I do use my wishlist when I browse online stores though.
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  6. I used to bring a list, and then started carrying just a wallet kind of thing, so my list can't fit in it, which has really been a pain! I think the key is, I need a purse!

    The book I really really want is the 3rd Patrick Ness book, Monsters of Men, and I have been feeling really disciplined for not having ordered it from the UK!!!
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  7. I prefer to rent books, but I've recently started a collection of Tolkien editions, so I would be over the moon to get my hands on some reasonably priced first editions to go with the The Two Towers first edition I found at my local thrift store.
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  8. A non-personalized signed first edition of Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler. It was one of the most influential books of my life and I love it so.
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  9. Oh, I totally want to get my hands on that book. I just need to find it at Borders and sit down on the floor and look at it. I had really been jonesing to get my hands on "So Cold the River" because it took place at the West Baden Springs Resort, which is in Southern Indiana and I have visited. I just bought it this weekend, and I'm hyperventilating to start reading it!
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  10. I always have 1 book in mind when going bookstore because I am downloading on Kindle these days. I went only wanting Still Missing and they were sold out I bough 2 other books.
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  11. I found you through the Hop and am having fun looking around your blog. Have a great weekend!
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  12. That Who Killed Amanda Palmer book sounds amazing! I know what you mean about wanting all books, not just one. I rarely go into a bookstore to buy one certain book, but instead come out with a few that I just discovered. This makes my To Be Read list grow, rather than shrink. It's a problem!

    I found you through the Hop and am now a new follower! I like the variety of the books you review.


    http://elevenpages.blogspot.com
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  13. Hi Trisha, just found you thru the hop. Now that Who Killed Amanda book sounds very interesting.

    I am not one to make lists because I find that even if I do I will somehow manage to leave it behind when I head out the door and will only think about it once I am in the bookstore. Curses, I hate when that happens!

    Can't think of a specific beach read right now but probably something fluffy is appropriate. I don't think War & Peace should make it to the beach. It's too heavy for one thing!

    Enjoy your day, Bonnie
    www.theliterarygato.blogspot.com
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  14. I don't know if it's a question of which book I wish I owned but which I wish I could read. I actually haven't had much desire to buy books lately and was kind of put out last week when I HAD to buy my book club book because I couldn't get it at the library! How weird is that?! :)

    I've heard great things about Amanda Palmer! Maybe one day you'll receive as a gift??
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  15. I can totally see why you're jonesing because that cover is a-freaking-mazing. Now I'm jonesing for it. LOL

    In general, I keep my wishlist close to me at all times because--it's on my iPhone! And when I'm out and about and I see a book I want to remember later, I just snap a quick pic and (if I remember) I add it to my Ammy wishlist for future reference.

    As for the one book I'd want right this moment, I honestly can't say. It's like my mind is inundating with too many possibilities and it has just come to a screeching halt.
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  16. grr..must preview before posting. Sentence in previous comment should read "...inundated with too many possibilities..." LOL :)

    See, my mind really has come to a screeching halt.
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  17. OK ... now I want that book too!!! DARN IT!
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  18. Bethany - I admire the discipline. I'm a terrible book hoarder with about 2000 books in my house, but I'm working on it!

    Page - Memoirs of a Geisha is an excellent book!

    Nicole - I can definitely see Twin Peaks here. Random buying is somehow much more fun than shopping by list.

    Amanda - That is a good position to be in! And I'm with you; I don't feel like I'm reading fast enough either.

    Iris - I guess we would look funny going in to the bookstore with our ridiculously long lists. :)

    Jill - Monsters of Men is way at the top of my wish list too. I've thought about getting it shipped over and over and over, and like you, I'm proud I haven't given in yet.

    Clare - I wish I was a rental type of reader, and I've been trying to use the library more, but I just love owning my books too much.
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  19. Amy - I hope you find one!

    Sandy - So far, WKAP isn't anywhere around me; I'm not sure if it will be in stores.

    Marce - That's impressive to shop with only one book in mind.

    Chelle - Thanks for stopping by! I hope you continue to come over and chat.

    Jenna - I'm the same way! Always browsing in bookstores.

    Bonnie - My lists tend to get lost too. Or at least forgotten.

    Trish - I'm jealous of that attitude. I think that buying books or at least acquiring books is some sort of nasty addiction for me.

    Ann-Kat - I'm glad I could add a book to someone else's wish list! Using your phone is smart. Sometimes I use voice record in bookstores to remind me of a new book I came across.

    Jenners - Ha! I love it that I sometimes add to others' wish lists.
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  20. I'm a totally bad girl and downloaded one of my wishlist books this morning: The Glass Room, by Simon Mawer because I don't have enough OTHER books pining for my attention. *sigh*
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  21. Never take a list as the list is long, random and often unobtainable! The first book that pops to mind is the David Nicolls one!
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