Books on the Nightstand Podcast, Episode #24: Funny Pages

Feb 11

Books on the Nightstand Podcast, Episode #24: Funny Pages

By Michael Kindness Podcasts Add comments

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Books on the Nightstand, Episode 24 (19:23)

(You can listen by using the player above. If you’re using Internet Explorer, click twice to listen. If your browser does not support javascript, you won’t see the player; click the link below the player to listen, or right-click to download the episode. If you are receiving this post by email and cannot see the player at the bottom of the message, please visit http://www.booksonthenightstand.com to listen)

We begin the podcast with a look at different ways to keep track of what you’ve read and what you want to read. Do you have a million scraps of paper or do you write everything down neatly in a notebook? Do you use one of the online library sites (like Goodreads or Library Thing) or do you keep everything in a Word or Excel document? Let us know in the comments or over at our Goodreads Group.

In segment two, we respond to a listener’s request and discuss some books that made us laugh (not a bad thing to look for in a book these days!). They are also books that would make for great reading group discussions.

As usual, we end with two books we can’t wait for you to read. Ann discusses Pictures at an Exhibition by Sara Houghteling, a novel based on true stories of spies and art during World War II. Michael discusses Shannon, Frank Delaney’s new novel set in Ireland just after the 1921 Treaty with Britain.

photo credit:Jay Heaviside

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We encourage you to write down or print out the title information and shop at your local bookstore. Titles link to LibraryThing, a social networking site that allows you to catalog your home library. LibraryThing also links to various online purchasing options. Here are the books from this post:
The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy, New York Review Books trade paperback
The Book of Joe by Jonathan Tropper, Delta trade paperback
A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon,Vintage trade paperback
Pictures at an Exhibition by Sara Houghteling, Knopf hardcover
Shannon by Frank Delaney, Random House hardcover
(all information is for the U.S. editions).

http://etcetera.typepad.com Derek

A few more funny books for the list:

Norwood, by Charles Portis
Home Land, by Sam Lipsyte
All About H. Hatterr, by GV Desani
http://etcetera.typepad.com Derek

A few more funny books for the list:

Norwood, by Charles Portis
Home Land, by Sam Lipsyte
All About H. Hatterr, by GV Desani
http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Ann Kingman

Derek, thanks! Those are all new to me — I will certainly check them out.
http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Ann Kingman

Derek, thanks! Those are all new to me — I will certainly check them out.
Tanya

To track books I’ve read, audiobooks I’ve listened to and, movies I’ve seen, I created what can only be described as a (word doc) scrapbook. I started out with a list of books that I wanted to read, which became a checklist, which became a log of what I was reading, which became a format in which to write my notes and reviews on the title, which then started including related pictures, links, recipes and charts! I move things around at whim, for instance grouping all the books of a series together, or creating threads (e.g. all books set during the British Sudan War in the 19th century, etc). I started enumerating the titles by category, knowing that I’ll need the numbers for the inevitable year-end tallies!
Tanya

To track books I’ve read, audiobooks I’ve listened to and, movies I’ve seen, I created what can only be described as a (word doc) scrapbook. I started out with a list of books that I wanted to read, which became a checklist, which became a log of what I was reading, which became a format in which to write my notes and reviews on the title, which then started including related pictures, links, recipes and charts! I move things around at whim, for instance grouping all the books of a series together, or creating threads (e.g. all books set during the British Sudan War in the 19th century, etc). I started enumerating the titles by category, knowing that I’ll need the numbers for the inevitable year-end tallies!
http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Ann Kingman

Tanya, that sounds amazing! I’d love to see it if you ever have photos.
http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Ann Kingman

Tanya, that sounds amazing! I’d love to see it if you ever have photos.
http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Michael

Tanya, that sounds like an incredible labor of love! I too would love to see it if you feel like posting something!
http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Michael

Tanya, that sounds like an incredible labor of love! I too would love to see it if you feel like posting something!
Tanya

After reading your posts, I brought in a printout of a couple pages to a co-worker (to ask how I could post the pages without losing the formatting and a question or two about copyright, images, etc) He was quiet for so long that I thought he was embarrassed to tell that my stuff was garbage but it turns out (he says) that he was a little stunned over the material (in a good way). We’re going to develop a web-site! Now it seems a natural progression, but it’s funny, I hadn’t thought about it before! I’m still not exactly sure of the nature of the beast yet (or what I’m in for) but I’m very excited!
Tanya

After reading your posts, I brought in a printout of a couple pages to a co-worker (to ask how I could post the pages without losing the formatting and a question or two about copyright, images, etc) He was quiet for so long that I thought he was embarrassed to tell that my stuff was garbage but it turns out (he says) that he was a little stunned over the material (in a good way). We’re going to develop a web-site! Now it seems a natural progression, but it’s funny, I hadn’t thought about it before! I’m still not exactly sure of the nature of the beast yet (or what I’m in for) but I’m very excited!
http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Ann Kingman

Tanya, that’s so cool! Please do let us know first when it’s up and running so we can gush and even blog about it, OK?
http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Ann Kingman

Tanya, that’s so cool! Please do let us know first when it’s up and running so we can gush and even blog about it, OK?
Tanya

You’re on!
Tanya

You’re on!
doris

Thanks for another great episode! I love how I can improve my English so easily! As for keeping record of books read I keep a little paper notebook – when it’s full I always take my time to choose a special one, I’ve always loved stationary and writing by hand! Recently I have also joined GoodReads, it’s so inspiring and a great community.So far, I have been a really passive (read lazy) member though… But I know you can label books “never-finished”!
As for funny books, I still like John Irving’s tales very much – often sad, often completely absurd, and often laugh-out-lout funny. Classic.
doris

Thanks for another great episode! I love how I can improve my English so easily! As for keeping record of books read I keep a little paper notebook – when it’s full I always take my time to choose a special one, I’ve always loved stationary and writing by hand! Recently I have also joined GoodReads, it’s so inspiring and a great community.So far, I have been a really passive (read lazy) member though… But I know you can label books “never-finished”!
As for funny books, I still like John Irving’s tales very much – often sad, often completely absurd, and often laugh-out-lout funny. Classic.
Dottie R.

Oooh — I am going to use up a chunk of the next color ink cartridge to print the cover view of my 2008 shelf on Goodreads, Ann. Great idea!

And I am going to be anxiously awaiting a peek at Tanya’s wonderful sounding “scrapbook” book log! I kept visualizing step-by-step as I read your post her, Tanya, and getting more enthused with each switch. It sound very cool.

Dottie
Dottie R.

Oooh — I am going to use up a chunk of the next color ink cartridge to print the cover view of my 2008 shelf on Goodreads, Ann. Great idea!

And I am going to be anxiously awaiting a peek at Tanya’s wonderful sounding “scrapbook” book log! I kept visualizing step-by-step as I read your post her, Tanya, and getting more enthused with each switch. It sound very cool.

Dottie
http://sushublog.wordpress.com/ Michelle (su[shu])

Just thought I’d leave a comment here saying that this podcast gave me the final push to pick up and read A Spot of Bother. And that I really really love your podcasts. =)
http://sushublog.wordpress.com/ Michelle (su[shu])

Just thought I’d leave a comment here saying that this podcast gave me the final push to pick up and read A Spot of Bother. And that I really really love your podcasts. =)