Mental Sampler 5
I’ve dubbed this summer the Summer of Mystery. The twins and I are doing a mystery theme for the summer in regards to what we read. We’re doing a few books together — The Westing Game and Sherlock Holmes stories — and then they went to the library and raided the mystery section to choose some independent reading books. They’re writing mystery games.
I have put together a real, live mystery to solve, as in read the clues and figure out the message type mystery. And they don’t want to do it. Can you believe it? I would do anything for someone to gift wrap a series of mysterious messages for me to solve throughout the summer. I would do it for myself but… you know… that would mean that I already know the answer.
We’ll see if they come around.
*******
A few years ago, I started doing something brilliant. (Please tell me this is brilliant.) Every time I hear about a book I want to read, I go on iBooks and download the sample to my virtual bookcase. Then, whenever I’m in the library, I can peruse my virtual bookcase and remember what I wanted to read. Plus, if I’m ever somewhere with nothing to do, I can read the samples and decide whether or not the book actually holds my interest.
Once I read the book, I delete it from the virtual bookshelf. I move all the books I really own in full down to the bottom of the bookcase so I can find them easily.
Isn’t that smart? Please tell me I’m smart.
*******
My friend got me a Ninja for my birthday. It’s sort of a blender, but it’s specifically for making icy drinks. It turns ice cubes into snow in seconds. Which means that you can make your own Frappuccinos or snow cones at home.
I have been consuming an obscene amount of liquid because of the Ninja.
I love my friend because she knows me so well.
I am totally bringing slushies to the pool this summer. That’s my summer plan: books and slushies at the pool.
What’s your summer plan?
Side note: tomorrow is #MicroblogMonday. Start writing your mini post.
12 comments
Sigh. I don’t have a summer plan. It’s too far away for me. (can you hear the sad music playing as you read this?)
I use Goodreads for books. But maybe that’s because stupid Apple have never introduced iBooks here in NZ. My Goodreads To-read list is always consulted at the library, or as I search for books on my e-library or Amazon. I love it.
Are you on goodreads? Instead of what you do with your virtual bookcase I just keep a goodreads to read list. I love goodreads. It may be may favorite social media.
It’s brilliant and you’re smart.
Custom-made mystery clues and slushies by the pool? Do your kids know how lucky they are??
What Lori said!
You are really smart! I don’t know if the book excerpts are something I would do as I tend to impulse read, especially if I’m looking for something new. But it sounds like a great idea.
What are you slushing? I must know. Are you really making Frappuccinos?
I have a bookshelf of books I thought I wanted to read, but am now no longer sure … doing it virtually would have been MUCH smarter.
I’m with Lori. I would drink slushies with you and swoon over your mystery clues! Your kids ARE lucky.
Goodreads is one of my favorite apps/websites. I used to rip reviews of books out of magazines and have a zillion on my nightstand that I would always forget when I went to the library/bookstore. Now I just pull up Goodreads and not only is there a synopsis of the book but reviews from other readers.
Super smart! Brilliant! I had a spreadsheet for a while but it got unwieldy, and then I had my amazon wishlist, and I couldn’t keep up with that either (and ended up with a birthday where I got a bunch of books I already owned and had read, whoops). So downloading the samples and moving them when you’ve read them seems like a perfect solution! Clean, tidy, and useful. Love it!
You are brillant. I typically jot titles down on bits of paper, intending to find more about it toward determining title’s worth being transferred to a, “want to read” list. S-l-o-w-l-y moving away from paper. 😉
Though slushies are not my favored beverage delivery system, I think Ninjas are great.
Plans for the summer–same as spring, winter, and fall before–for the most part, except more outdoor activities.
Some day, your kids will totally regret that they didn’t take you up on your Summer of Mystery plan. 😉
I’m not sure I have a PLAN, per se. But I do feel like the summer is already half over or half booked. Our plans for the next several weeks include a few days away to celebrate our wedding anniversary, a couple of weeks visiting my parents out west, going to weekly the farmers’ market and walking every day that we can until the cold weather sets in again. :p
First, I would totally love if someone created a mystery for me to solve over the summer!!
You are much more brilliant than me. I have always kept a list in my Notes on my phone…I have started adding them to my Goodreads
I’ve been meaning to read The Westing Game.
And yes, your book strategy is both brilliant and smart 😉