Archives - Weekly Update

Yesterday marked 30 years since Bookreporter launched, the first book review site online. Initially it was called The Book Report, and it only was on AOL. I still can hear the sound of the dial-up ringing in my head (we were excited that 56k modems were coming). At the time, there were approximately 257,000 websites. We thought if we were on AOL, it would be easier for readers (who then were called users) to find us. Yes, I can hear you laughing at how primitive things were back then.

For the past couple of months, my cell phone has not made sounds when I receive texts. When people text, they typically assume you have heard their message come in. Not me! Hours can go by before I look at my phone. Until this week!

My Fitbit decided to sync with my phone this week. I did nothing to make it happen. Now, throughout the day, my wrist is buzzing with text and email alerts. I also have not realized how many retail alerts I have been signed up for. I will be unalerting myself from those this weekend!

Last Sunday, my book club came to the house with their husbands and children for a pool party. It's one of those things that we tried to pull together the last two years, but either the date or the weather did not work for everyone. This time it was a perfect weather day, and we had 17 kids playing in the pool for five hours with a brief break to come out to eat. The moms and I hung out in the water, and the conversation continually turned to books --- what we are reading and what we are planning to read.

Last week, Francesca came over to the house and helped me with book organization, which means that all upcoming books have been shelved by month. She also indulged me in the piles of “books I intend to read,” some of which have been there for more than a year. No matter how quickly I read or listen, I always feel like I am missing something I really want to read.