Category Archives: General Books

Attention: Awesome Book-themed goodies!

Bookshelf

Before I started blogging I was always amazed at how bloggers had these cool posts with giveaways and promocodes and the like, and I was like…. eh I’ll never get there but that would be SO COOL. Well, just this past week I was contacted by Melissa of Literary Book Gifts and asked if I’d be willing to share a review of her products or a promocode with my readers. You guys, I’m SO EXCITED.

I checked out Melissa’s website and, as I told her in our email exchange, these are the kinds of things I ogle and hope someone buys me but I can never justify purchasing for myself… especially right now, being super pregnant and couch-bound! What I decided to do in the meantime is highlight some of the products and designs–most exclusive to Literary Book Gifts and done by Melissa herself–that I find most appealing to give you an example of what her shop has to offer.

First, a “Bookend t-shirt” – I put a picture here of my favorite color but there is an impressive variety of colors available.

Next, because I love a nice comfy sweatshirt, this Moby Dick Hoodie is one of my favorite designs. I couldn’t wear it, though, because I’ve never actually finished the book (I tried – in seventh grade – and kids stole the book, wrote ” ‘s ” after “Moby” and passed it around the room laughing… sigh. The life of a book nerd in middle school.)

Finally, because I’m Mom and these are beautiful, this Peter Rabbit Tote Bag. It could replace the silly Frozen bag I (or my husband, more accurately at the moment) use for our library runs with the kids.

The shop includes women’s, men’s, and unisex t-shirts, tanks, and hoodies, as well as backpacks and totes. The designs are all based off classics — think Moby Dick, Jane Austen, Plato, Homer, Les Miserables — and would be SUCH fun to wear!

Melissa has generously offered 20% off for readers of The Edifying Word if you use the promocode THEEDIFYINGWORD20. The code is good for anything in the store, no minimum purchase, and can be used unlimited times. So, thank you, Melissa, and happy shopping to my readers!

Weekend Coffee Share – Bedrest Edition

Hello friends,

So this is my first time participating in “Weekend Coffee Share,” hosted by Eclectic Alli, but I’ve been reading and enjoying Thomas Fenske‘s weekend shares for a while and started following the tag a few months ago. SO I thought now is a good time to join.

SO – if we were having coffee together this weekend, and I wish we were because it is LONELY in here, I would have to tell you that I am on bedrest with Baby #4. This isn’t my first rodeo (I did this with Baby #2 as well), but this time around I have a job outside the home and THREE kids, not one! Thankfully, I have the most wonderful husband in the world who takes great care of me and the kids! Also, a positive this time – I’m not also dealing with perinatal depression and anxiety this time around. It makes things much easier to handle!

I would assure you that despite being frustrated, I am doing well and so is Baby – as long as I continue to take the super crappy meds they gave me to stop contractions (every 8 hours I get basically knocked out for 2-3 hours) and I sit my bottom right here on my couch, the little guy should stay in there for quite a bit longer. Which he needs to do because I’m only 29 weeks today.

So WHAT am I doing with my time (besides sleeping each time I take a dose of meds)? When I was on bedrest five years ago I learned to knit, read a lot, and made a latch-hook rug. This time I’m betareading, hoping to work on some editing projects, catching up on some book reviews, reading books, and doing some professional development in the way of watching some Great Courses on English and the publishing industry. While also stalking Craigslist for a used Citi Mini Double Stroller or else HOW are we going to make it to the bus stop every day once this baby is born? I missed one for $90 the other day – an amazing price because these things retail for like $450 (eek!).

So, that’s my story! I have some amazing family, friends, and coworkers who have been checking in on me, dropping by food and the mail, and keeping me company. I’m trying to enjoy the quiet before the kids are back and there’s NO quiet – but I do miss the munchkins!

Enjoy your weekend, friends! I’ll be right here on my couch, keeping my little baby safe and secure!

Is editing ruining my pleasure reading?

Sometimes I wonder if editing is ruining my ability to read for fun. There are some books I struggle to get through because I notice so many errors, or so many ways to just make it better. But then I read an awesome book (most recently, The Martian – SO GOOD) and realize – no, editing is NOT ruining my pleasure reading, I am just sometimes choosing books that aren’t particularly well done.

I have two thoughts/feelings about that.

  • One: sadness! I read one book recently in particular that had a great storyline and some really relatable characters. I was invested – but it suffered from a lack of adequate copy editing and proofreading. I just can’t read the rest of the books in the series now, nor can I recommend the book to others. Sad – because there’s so much potential.
  • Two: awe! The more I edit and beta read, the more I appreciate the effort that goes into writing a good book. The author needs to have ideas and a talent for storytelling, yes. But what sets the really good books apart, I think, probably comes down to the crazy amount of tedious effort it takes for authors and editors to work together and thoroughly edit — and then proofread — the text. ESPECIALLY for super long books.

Anyways, these are some of my random musings. I have a lot more, of course, but this is enough for today.

I’d love to hear what others think about this! Please, chime in via comments!