Blogging

Book Widgets

I have been playing around with widgets today trying to find the perfect a suitable library-type widget for displaying current and past reads. I found the Now Reading widget and it seemed great. It was simple, didn't require me to sign up to a website (Shelfari, anyone?) nor did it provide me with intrusive graphics (Shelfari, again). Unfortunately I've discovered that Now Reading is so simple that it is difficult to manage.

So far I have added my novels by authors A to B. That's a measly 50-something novels*, for your information. Now Reading requires me to first add books, then click on a different tab, then decide whether it is "on hold", "currently reading" or "finished" then I can go back to initial page where the book has already been sorted according to its status - and I start the process again. It is clumsy and not entirely intuitive. I'm not too sure about the status updates either as I have a tendency to dip in and out of books (what do you mean that I'm the only one to use most of my books as reference?!). Finally, I wanted a straightforward "to be read" option which I cannot seem to find.

Any book/library widgets you can recommend?

* yes, I still mourn the passing of my old book collection. I had to part with 7/8ths of my collection when I moved from Denmark to Scotland. The loss pains me daily and I keep finding glaring omissions in my collection. Plus I am sure I have a particular book but then I realise that I used to have it. It's no fun at all.

Tweedle-Dee

I am still home from work waiting for the Scottish NHS to discover what's up with me. Ms 4thEd (formerly known as Ms Bookish) is getting sick and tired of being, well, tired and sick, I tell you. In the meantime I am reading editorials on the US not-quite-but-almost election. I am reading books. I am occasionally cooking (when I'm not exhausted). I am getting twitchy.

I can't even write a proper, entertaining blog post anymore. Boo.

Turning the Page

Ah, 2008. How wonderful to start off a new year with being unwell (hence the 'no update' bit). I spent most of New Year's Eve in hospital and have spent all of 2008 (so far) being unwell. This ranks as possibly the least promising start to a year.

But I am at home in my pyjamas, alas. I drink (decaf!) coffee, sleep a lot and read when I am awake. I'm currently making my way through the latter stages of Sarah Waters's The Night Watch which has proven substantial enough to keep me interested and lightweight enough to allow me to sleep when I need it.

Here's to 2008 improving.

Kid Gloves

About six months ago my then webhost pulled the carpet out underneath my feet and deleted my old weblog. I never got a mail or a letter explaining why. As I had no actual internet access at the time I was torn between feeling bitter and being rather relieved.

But I have missed keeping a weblog (it has been nearly seven years to the date that I first began) and now I have shiny new broadband in the comfort of my own home, so here we go.

Fourth edition.

Weblog 4.0.