At last week's book club chat for What I Did for a Duke, one of the participants who went by the excellent name of 'CutMyTeethonKleypas' said that she was looking forward to Julie Anne Long's next book, A Notorious Countess Confesses ( A | BN | K | S | iB ). That book releases on 30 October (today!) and 'CutMyTeethonKleypas' said during the chat:
To which I said, “That is brilliant and why didn't I EVER think of that?” Seriously, all those times I took my lunch break and read and forgot to eat, then picked up the book on the bus home and nearly missed my stop? I could have called in sick with burritos!
So here's my question for you: have you ever called in sick to work or school to stay home and read a book? What was your excuse? And which book was it?
It’s all about the headaches; impossible to verify, but can be serious and painful enough that you really can’t work. As a kid I quickly figured out that they were much better than something that could be checked with a thermometer, but of course my mom caught on far too fast. As an adult, desperately wanting to read a book is one of the few things that can keep me out of work; since I never blow off work because of a hangover, etc. I figure I’m justified. Everyone’s got their own vices, right? And if you ever get headaches (or some other physical ailment) anyway, why not get some benefit out of it? 😉
I love the Dresden novels—both the humor and the epic battles between good and evil. I would describe them as dark, but never bleak, at least in the sense of hopeless. To me the saddest and most nerve-wracking aspect of the Dresden books is the sense that the author really doesn’t particularly like his creation. I don’t myself follow authorial or fan websites (my daughter does), but that’s the scuttlebutt I’ve picked up. So far, however, the books continue to be vital and engrossing. I don’t think Butcher has put a foot wrong in spite of the fact that he’s taken vast risks with the series. But that’s just me.
Oh Laura, go read Harry Dresden right now! Start with the first and keep going. Yes, it can be a bit dark, but his character is so noble and so funny. There is very little romance and/or sexytimes, but it’s not missed at all because the stories are so fulfilling and the characters so finely developed. There is always redemption to balance the darkness, and such sly humor you’ll chuckle out loud. Get thee to the library girl!
I didn’t skip anything yesterday, but I started ICED by Karen Marie Moning yesterday morning while my kids got ready for school. Read it on my ereader while the a vehicle got serviced, read more while at my son’s hockey practice, and finished it late last night back at home, snuggled on the couch. I wouldn’t have taken the day off of work, but I would have been tired today!
Oh, my ever-fucking GAWD, there’s a new KMM novel! How? When? Thank you, Lauren!
I once left work early (on an optional day where I didn’t technically need to be there, but still…) to finish Linnea Sinclair’s Games of Command. My excuse was, “It’s a beautiful Sunday afternoon, I should be outside in the sunshine!” Instead, I was holed up at home with my e-reader.
Thanks to everyone who responded to my Harry Dresden query.
I don’t mind if there isn’t much romance. If there’s redemption and humor to balance things out, that’s good enough for me.
Amanda, it is a continuation of the Fever series, and came out yesterday. It is written from Dani’s POV. There are going to be three books about Dani, and then two more about Mac and Barrons.
So, yeah, we can continue reading about Dublin, post walls, until at least 2015!
Lauren: Completey squee-some! The previous narrators for the audio versions were really amazing. Looks like the audible version is being held up, some report customer service is blaming Sandy, but it’s worth the wait to hear Phil Gigante tell the story. 🙂
http://www.karenmoning.com/for…
My boss has actually said that she thinks two valid excuses for calling in are “I had to finish my book” and “After three (complete) outfit changes, I gave up and went back to bed?” That said, I’ve never called in sick to finish a book, though I’ve been tired the next day from staying up late to finish one!
I have to be the lone voice disagreening – I stopped reading after book 7, because the worldview was too bleak and unrelenting.
And I must be the odd person out, because I read less than 10 pages of “Harry Potter” and lost interest – never have read any of the rest of them.
Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I stayed up all night because I couldn’t put a book down. Waitaminute…. Yes I can! It was 2009. I read “Faith and Fidelity” by Tere Michaels – started reading at 11 pm and finished it at 3-something in the morning. I kept going back and rereading sections that I loved. 🙂
I’ve never called into work because I was reading, though. I’m too poor to miss the hourly wages, and prior to that, I was in the Army—calling in to work was NOT an option.
I’ve never called off work to read, though I’ve been VERY tempted. Usually when I pulled a late-nighter because I couldn’t put the darn book down! I have cancelled plans, though. Sometimes a night out on the town isn’t as excting as curling up with an excellent novel.
I’ve also been known to go over my lunch hour by several minutes because I got lost in my book and lost track of the time. 🙂
I can’t remember but I have definitely been late to work because of reading all night, tired at work because of…accused of being hungover, and in middle school, I was given a demerit for reading a different book than what the teacher had assigned. I had already finished the assigned book and I wanted to finish The Secret Circle series. Apparently teachers don’t like it when you read during their lecture.
I would order the newest Stephanie Plum novel (back in the single-digit days), and when it would arrive, my co-workers and I would hole-up for lunch in a conference room while I read the first chapter aloud to them.
I’ve read that book, and you were entirely justified. Excellent decision.
These comments are hilarious!! Look at all the missed work for HP7! I’m a SAHM now, and I still stay up waaaaayyy too late reading when I have to take the boy to school at oh-dark-thirty. At least I don’t have to suffer through a day of work after that, though.