Plan B: In Which I Beguile With A Potpourri Of Pretty Pictures & Pithiness

/ Ally Bean

This is what I think of as a flapdoodle & twaddle post.

I’ve nothing specific to talk about today, Tuesday, the day I try to be here every week. This happens occasionally because when you write a personal blog you can only write about things that happen to you and if nothing much is happening because it’s a dull January, then you have to go to Plan B.

Which in this case is: I look through my files, I find images + links, I write something here, thereby adding value to the blogosphere whilst giving you, my little kumquats of curiosity, something to talk about. That’s Plan B.

I await your snarky insightful comments below.

+ • + • +

1 – Here’s a visual representation [via The Washington Post] of book genres and the percentage of people by age who read the genres. Are you in step with your age group OR marching off in your own direction?

2 – This is an excellent observation that is worthy of contemplation, akin to the medieval scholarly question: how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?  [Answer: it depends on the music.] 😇

3 – I’m not a dog but this feelings wheel calls to me. I have my ZOOMIE moments and my GROWLY moments. Who among us doesn’t?

4 – After taking a year off from One Word 365, I’ve picked *LIGHT* as my personal inspirational focus word for 2024. Let’s see how this goes, shall we?

5 – I know World Penguin Day isn’t until April 25th, which also happens to be Light Jacket Day a la Miss Congeniality, BUT I can’t resist a good flow chart. Can you?

+ • + • +

252 thoughts on “Plan B: In Which I Beguile With A Potpourri Of Pretty Pictures & Pithiness”

  1. Light is a wonderful way to tag the near year. I see you subscribe to The Washington Post and keep an eye out for that which instructs and/or beguiles. Thanks for being pithy today.
    Good one, Ally! 😀

    Liked by 3 people

    • Marian, the WaPo chart of who reads what fascinated me, as much for the statistical information as for the list of book genres. I need expand my reading options. Thanks for stopping by to comment.

      Liked by 3 people

    • Kate, what a suggestion coming from a confirmed cat lady: we might be dogs at heart! Gracious, it’s like you’re openminded or something, allowing that a person could be a multitude of things. 😉

      Liked by 3 people

        • Ha! I enjoy cats too. I agree their indifference is what makes me love them. Oh to be so sure of yourself and aloof from the mundane cares of the world. BUT like you mention as a dog you can pee on someone’s leg and there is a wonderfulness in that, too.

          Liked by 1 person

  3. Ha ha for a personal blogger a cold dry January has nothing to offer ! Anyhow someone forward me 80 bananas math problem! Yes those are not crazy when you just say the word “Math”. 😁

    Liked by 2 people

    • ganga1996, I can only share what I’m doing, telling other people’s stories isn’t my jam. I accept that not all my weeks are interesting, so a post like this one will have to do. No math problems for me, please.

      Liked by 2 people

    • Elisabeth, thank you. I do lean into being a wordsmith and enjoy sharing what I can. Sometimes I fear I might be too lighthearted for the current personal blogging scene, but I do enjoy goofing off here. Hence this post.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Elisabeth, thanks for the shoutout in your blog post. I left a comment, but it didn’t seem to go through. THAT is the theme of my week, I comment but nothing shows up. And ain’t that special?

      Like

      • Ah, well that helps and clearly I have no idea how Feedly works! So just my own new posts will be the possible issue- got it. Good, I can work with that and thanks for the clarification 🙂

        So… #1- too many categories turn me off but on a quick glance the 65+ would seem accurate. I think we are open to a general mix of genres- mine currently leaning into diverse non-fiction. #2 LOL. #3 I need to send that to my son/DIL who are still learning how to parent a lovely rescue dog Lila. #4 I hope you are successful on your quest to bring more light into the world. I am sticking with my end of the year HOTM post to continue to explore what darkness can provide through courage and seeking. #5 No More designated Days…please 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

        • Deb, I see what you’re saying I don’t read enough of a variety of genres, that’s my takeaway from the chart. It’s not like because you’re a certain age that you’re forbidden from reading a genre.

          I thought the dog feelings wheel was a lovely and accurate way to describe dogs. I hope your son/DIL enjoy Lila. I like your idea of exploring darkness as a way of learning to improve yourself. I see the wisdom in that.

          Laughing here, I’ll try to not burden you with more designated days. Mea culpa.

          Liked by 1 person

          • I read the genre’s I enjoy, leave the ones alone that I don’t care for but it’s funny you mention the forbidden genres based on age. I just joined my youngest daughter on Storygraph (a goodreads type platform) and have been browsing her lists. She is 30 and has so many YA and even younger books on her list. Some of these are new and some are books she loved as a child and wants to read again Seeing that list made me smile and think about books I haven’t read in many, many years. So yes, at 65 and beyond I can read whatever I like and you should as well 🙂

            Liked by 1 person

            • That’s interesting about your daughter’s reading choices. I don’t know what I was reading at that age, do you? There are many books I could reread now as a seasoned adult. I’ll make a list them, then decide if I want to do so or not. 🤔

              Liked by 1 person

              • She reads a wide variety of genres actually. There are only a few from the chart that I haven’t seen on her list. I had to LOL at my memories of reading at 30. Children’s stories and board books with two young kids. I probably didn’t pick up an adult book of any sort for a decade starting at about 26. That youngest daughter came along when I was 33 so actually it might have been even longer 🙂

                Liked by 1 person

                • I can believe that. I’ve no doubt your reading habits were centered on children’s books at that point in your life. I was so busy working and being social/networking at age 30 that I’m not sure I was reading much of anything except the newspaper.

                  Liked by 1 person

  6. Good morning, Your great title paints a plethora of pictures in my mind as to where is
    Ally possibly going with all of this? Re: #1 – eclectic reading habits usually leaning towards everything non-fiction and self-help (on writing and self-improvement…and I need all the help I can get)😊

    Re: #2 – belly laugh. #3. Hangry is a real thing for all of us mammals – likely an overlapping area #4 – Love it! #5. Every day is Penguin awareness day for me…they are darn cute to watch

    Your little kumquat of curiosity signing off for now to begin her day job. 💕 Erica

    Liked by 2 people

    • Erica/Erika, I knew you’d be the sort of kumquat of curiosity to take this post in stride, enjoy it for what it is: an admission that nothing is going on in my life right now.

      I need to read some more books on writing. Thanks for mentioning that idea. Good point about hangry for all of us. I like penguins, too. And a flow chart about them? I swoon.

      Liked by 2 people

  7. Oh Light of blogdom–I love the doggy circle but they left YAP out of the BARKY section. There is a significant difference between that high pitched, brain piercing “I want something now” YAP and the bark selections. I have my first yapper, miss Freyja, and that girl is a champion among yappers.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Annie, I’ve never had a dog but I see your point. Even I realize there are a wide range of barks out there. Freyja is a yapper, you say? I’m sorry she was left off the circle of feelings. I hope it doesn’t hurt her feelings. 😁

      Liked by 1 person

  8. For books, I’m right in line with my peers. I’m curious, though, why the older folks are into crime…

    I also love the dog feeling chart! That’s so funny and I especially love hungry for trash. 😂

    Liked by 4 people

  10. I love nothing more than an excuse to analyse my reading, so thank you Ally – I had fun doing it, but won’t bore you with the details! 😀 I did match the stereotype more this year than usual, as I read a large number of mystery & crime. I also read more short stories than before, mostly because I’ve found a new author who seems to do that genre really well. But I still read way more literary fiction than the stereotype.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Deb, the reading chart fascinated me. I know what you mean about looking at it then reflecting on what you’ve read lately. I don’t fit into my designated age group’s preference, but that’s normal for me. I don’t read many short stories, yet they seem like something I’d adore. There’s room for improvement I sense.

      Liked by 1 person

  11. I read that poll about supposed reading habits and just about snorted coffee onto my keyboard. I think the chart is indicative of the problems with polls, rather than a reliable gauge of what folks actually read. Romance is the single largest share of the publishing market, the only one bringing in over a billion dollars annually (more than the next two genres combined) and they say only 11% of the population reads it, behind HISTORY? LMAO. YA also has a much higher market share, with at least half the readers being adult women. So either mostly old white men answered this online poll or folks are being less than truthful about their reading habits.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Autumn, I understand what you’re saying. There were only 1,500 people polled and the margin for error was +/- 3.5 so there’s that. Of course no poll is a perfect depiction of reality, it’s just a starting point for conversation which is why I was drawn to this chart.

      Romance is the largest share of the publishing market? I am so not into romance books, I’ve read part of one once. I prefer history truth be told but again that makes me not part of the mainstream reading world. Oh well, I’ll survive being the outlier. Someone has to be.

      Liked by 2 people

      • Autumn is correct about the Romance genre. Possibly why the figures are so skewed in this poll is that it was conducted on behalf of a publishing house while a vast amount of the romance genre is provided by independently published authors.

        Liked by 1 person

        • Deb, that sounds like a good explanation for the *why* of these poll results. I worked in a marketing company for a few years doing interviews, administering polls, then watched as the company analysts twisted the results to support whatever made the company money.

          Like

      • Oh, yes, Romance is huge. Something like 1.44 billion in sales, compared to 700 million each for mystery and religious/ inspiration nonfiction, I think, though the numbers vary yearly. But of course because it’s “women” readers and writers, it’s mostly ignored. Same with Children’s Lit.

        I like a romantic subplot, sure, but usually not as the whole plot (Jane Austen excepted). Well-researched historical mysteries with some romance are excellent escapism, almost as good as SFF.

        Liked by 1 person

        • I like historical fiction and just a good old novel, but have never read any science fiction fantasy unless Slade House by David Mitchell or The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern count. They had fantasy elements.

          Liked by 1 person

  12. I have had the same difficulty blogging about anything interesting about my life for the past 2 years. Unlike you, I do not have a file of interesting tidbits from the internet. Good job there! I learned that of the 4 main genres I read, only one is typical for my age. And I will never again be confused about whether I see a penguin or a magpie!

    Liked by 2 people

    • KDKH, I understand your comment. Once upon a time when I first started blogging back in 2004 writing a little post like this one was more the done thing. Now people are more into sharing their entire lives which is great if there is something interesting going on. But what do you want me to talk about here, how I vacuumed the upstairs today? 😜

      I thought if nothing else for me this chart showed some genres I’m not into and that was a good thing. I’m relieved to know that you can definitively distinguish a penguin from a magpie. A skill to add to your resume? 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Oh the Peanuts cartoon. (Sally – right?) Sally is my alter ego. Right on, girl — let’s get to the important stuff. Sixty cantaloupes? Let’s skip the math and get to the intervention…bwahahahha! Thanks for all the smiles this morning, Ally. 😜🥰😜

    Liked by 3 people

  14. I do not fit into the book genre by age chart. I detest mysteries/thrillers and I’m not a fan of history, either. I’m a solid literary fiction person with just a sprinkle of nonfiction and memoirs thrown in.

    I adore penguins. When my son was in college, they had a pet therapy week during exams and the Columbus Zoo brought a penguin to his dorm that received hugs. I think about that all of the time and wish I had been there to see it.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Bijoux, I’m not surprised that you don’t fit into your *assigned* genre. I don’t either. I admit that I’ve slacked off on reading solid literary fiction these last years [I’ll blame it on the pandemic], but I like nonfiction and a few memoirs.

      What a fun thing to happen in a dorm. I’ve never met a penguin face to face, yet think I’d love it. The Columbus Zoo has it going on. I’ll be smiling about this all day.

      Like

  15. I think a good topic for blogging is how we come up with ideas. Your blog post inspired that idea and I’ll use it for tomorrow — maybe. I love the Peanuts comic and flow charts. My daughter used to come up with funny ones I’d use in my blog and articles for a website I wrote for.

    Liked by 1 person

    • E.A. Wickham, when I started this blog in 2011 I was more concerned with presenting myself as a diarist who had a busy dynamic life. I kept an editorial calendar, sometimes planning ahead for months, so that I’d have something to write about. However eventually it dawned on me that I could just show up, state the truth of things, then post something like this and it’d be okay. That realization was a transformative moment in my approach to blogging.

      Your daughter made you flow charts! I love this child.

      Liked by 1 person

  17. My problem with the book demo is that they don’t have a designation for the types of books I’m most likely to read, which are present day books about strong women overcoming things but often told with comedic overtones but are not romances and lot even close to literary fiction.

    Liked by 2 people

  18. Gotta say I love the Flapdoodle & Twaddle post. Nothing wrong with that, as far as I am concerned. Makes for a pleasant break in the soapboxes and dire shares on others. And seriously, MUST we have DONE something every week? I say nay.
    1- I seem to be in the perfect age group because there is not one genre that reaches 20%, meaning we are open to pretty much anything that tickles our fancy (and that is my case).
    2- I agree with Sally – who needs these types of math problems that make zero sense?
    3- I dig this. Methinks I can relate to each of the doggie feelings, depending on my mood. I’m a lot less Zoomie than I used to be, though 😉
    4- I like your choice of word. I’ve never thought of assigning one to myself.
    5- I love these flowcharts. They always make me smile.
    Fun schtuffs, Miss Ally!

    Liked by 4 people

    • Dale, And seriously, MUST we have DONE something every week? I say nay. You know I agree with that idea.

      I like how you analyzed the chart by openness to a variety of genres. I looked at it and realized I need to branch out into some new-to-me genres.

      I’m less Zoomie than I once was too. For the first time in forever I didn’t pick a guiding word last year and had a so-so year. Thus I’m back at it this year.

      I enjoy flowcharts. This one in particular got me laughing.

      Liked by 1 person

      • I know it.

        I just looked a little more closely and happened to notice this group was less “locked in” so to speak. I must say I read all sorts. The one I am less enthusiastic about is horror – but that doesn’t mean if someone suggested one, I wouldn’t try.

        I think we get smarter as we get older. Zoomies can be a waste of energy 😉
        And that’s interesting. I do love your choice. I would like to be the light to others (and myself).

        They are fun (when they are like this sort).

        Liked by 1 person

  20. Yes! Light! That was my word of the year a few years back and it was such a valuable guide for me.

    Love the penguin flow chart. I feel well prepared for anything except skunks and nuns.

    I completely understand what you mean about struggling to find topics to post about. It’s JANUARY. The WORST. The only thing I’ve done recently besides stay home with my child is go to the gynecologist. So! Prepare yourself for some really top notch speculum content!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Suzanne, I’ve already found myself remembering to apply *LIGHT* to situations so I sense it’s going to be a good word for me, too.

      The flow chart was too funny to not share here.

      I’ve said that I am self-prompting which is why I don’t do those daily/weekly blog challenges, but this particular January is making me reconsider. I shall look forward to your speculum content… if you choose to write about it. No photos, please.

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Nice alliteration in your title. My favorite of this group was the Peanuts cartoon, which brought an out-loud laugh.Math isn’t my thing at all, although I can make it through life. On the other hand, there was that time I changed banks as a way of balancing my checkbook. (It was a very long time ago.)

    Liked by 2 people

    • Linda, oh I’m laughing here. You changed banks as a way of balancing your checkbook. That is so pragmatic and ridiculous that I’m going to be smiling about that all day. But I suppose the real question is: were there 60 cantaloupes involved? 😉

      Liked by 2 people

  22. I’m slightly below my age group in reading as historical fiction is my preferred genre. I have white but I’m not black and white so that just makes me…old! Love that quote about the light. Seems like a good pick of a word.

    Liked by 2 people

  23. I’m with Sally. I never got past the weird situations in all those story problems they presented us with in Math. I’d focus on the ridiculousness of the details and get stuck there. (And sometimes those plots were just so threadbare that they were beneath my consideration!)

    Liked by 2 people

    • Nance, I was the same way with story problems. My wordy self could not get past how ridiculous the set up was, so trying to use numbers seemed a waste of time until the storyline was fixed. And even then… it was still math. 🙄

      Like

    • Jenn, the dog feelings rang true with me too. I know it’s easy to dismiss how January is bereft of entertainment, but I’m embracing it, calling out the month for forcing me to write a post like this one. 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  25. I appreciate the lightness! Sally made me laugh (like, for real). My mom used to tell me I was Lucy–and maybe I was back in the day–but Sally is my alter these days. I felt so seen by this comic. The penguin flowchart also made me smile. We all need some light-hearted flapdoodle in these cold, dark weeks, don’t we? (Nonetheless, I have been spending much of them immersed in the heavy world of murder mysteries, because I am, I guess, typical for my demographic.)

    Liked by 2 people

    • Rita, I know the world is going to hell in a hand basket and that’s not good, but I also know I cannot focus all my energy on paying attention to the sad details. SO I figure posts like this one, just shared for fun and conversation, is what the world needs. Also it’s all I’ve got today. Another commenter, Vicki, said she was Sally. I’m Snoopy, always have been.

      I’ve been reading two novels simultaneously and am finding I like shifting back and forth between them instead of plowing through one, then the other. A new approach to pleasure reading for me.

      Like

    • Judy, I thought the Peanuts cartoon was too funny to not share. I mean, Sally makes a good point. I don’t read many mysteries anymore, but I do read some craft/hobbies/home books like you do. If nothing else this chart showed me how much more variety there is out there and has prompted me to look at some of it.

      Liked by 1 person

  27. Oh golly, people over 60 don’t read graphic novels or young adult? What a shock. I remember having to create flow charts … they obviously have driven some folks a little bonkers! Yeah – January has been a big blahness.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Jan, I’m smiling at your observation about who reads what. To each their own has never seemed more relevant. I like flow charts and sometimes sketch one for my own clarification. This one about penguins is the best. I mean, it’s about penguins for goodness sake.

      Liked by 2 people

  28. I love your flapdoodle and twaddle opening! And you did so well flapping and twaddling along since you got me thinking about what I read.
    But that reading poll seems odd. I fit somewhat into the 30-44 reading group (definitely outside my column, according to this) but when I was that age I barely had time to eat, let alone read a book. (Really, I’ve only started reading for pleasure again now that I’m retired.) I also think the romance category numbers are very, very low. It’s not a category I read, but I’ve seen other stats saying that it’s a big seller.
    So, doodle has lead to the topic of reading – well done! 😊

    Liked by 2 people

    • Lynette, I agree about pleasure reading when I was younger. At age 30-44 if I had time to read anything it was a newspaper or a magazine. However, considering all polls are a little off, I’ll just take these numbers at face value. I figure this is a good starting point for conversation. I’ve read about how popular romance novels are, but haven’t read one all the way through. I know there is a market for them, just not inside this house. 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  29. The zebra riding an airplane is hilarious! That whole flow chart was great. The dog chart, also great. You DO find good stuff to share with the blogosphere, AB! And light is a good word for the year, but why is that illustrated by a cheery frog carrying a Molotov cocktail?

    Liked by 2 people

  30. I found your flapdoodle & twaddle post to be most entertaining. The Lucy cartoon could not be more true and I have never heard of World Penguin day – thx. As for reading genre, I’m in the 45-64 bracket and my reading options are all about Fantasy and SyFy with the occassional cozy mystery to mix things up.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Danny, thank you. I thought the cartoon about math summed up my exact thoughts about word problems. If the premise is goofy, why bother figuring out the math?

      It’s been fascinating to learn which genres call to commenters. I don’t read either of those genres, although I used to be into cozy mysteries. Tastes change, I suppose.

      Liked by 2 people

    • That fantastic cartoon reminded me of the limits I sometimes see on sales where you can ONLY buy 99 of something. Seriously? I don’t need that many socks, let alone 5 pound bags of whatevers 🙂

      That is fascinating about the books: I had no idea history was the most popular genre, and I’m stunned that fantasy experiences such a big drop-off in the 45–64 age bracket. Think by gender the results would be different still?

      Liked by 2 people

      • EW, I’ve not seen signs limiting you to buying 99 items of something, but I agree with you. Who buys 99 of anything? Kind of weird that idea.

        I don’t know if gender figures into this chart, but I wonder if the way people define fantasy books might vary by age leading to the drop-off. 🤷‍♀️

        Liked by 1 person

        • Of course now I couldn’t remember where to find one of those, but if in 2 years I randomly send you a link to a weird item that you can _only_ buy 99 of, hopefully we’ll both remember why 😀

          That is a fascinating and very good hypothesis: I wonder how any of the categories was defined… In which categories would the Narnia books fall?

          Liked by 1 person

          • That’s it entirely. Are the Narnia books fantasy or religion or YA? Is Slade House by Mitchell a mystery or science fiction? I can think of other titles that could hop into many genres, so it seems to me that it comes down to how you define each genre. And we have no idea if or how that was done by the WaPo.

            Like

            • Or even historical fiction? And do you then say you read a book in each of the 4 categories or only count it under one. If that’s the case, which one? Would that not be impacted by the life expectancies of the person which would greatly change with age?

              You are spot on!

              Btw, wouldn’t it be great to have a book-genre flowchart? 😁

              Liked by 1 person

  31. I like the penguin flow chart best!
    I dislike the ‘Be the Light’ one. It seems every where I look I am being commanded to be something or do something. Either it is not my nature to be told what to do or… something…

    Liked by 3 people

  32. I am definitely in my niche when reading Other Non-Fiction but the percentages seem awfully low in all categories. I love Sally’s thoughts on the math problem. I always hated Math especially word problems and don’t even get me started on finding x.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Venus, I wonder about some of the specifics on this poll, but it’s been a good way to get commenters talking about books so I can’t worry about them too much. I know how you feel about finding X, always lost and in need of retrieval. If X would just be a number, like all the other variables in a math equation, it’d make math so much more doable for us wordy folks. 😜

      Liked by 2 people

  33. That Peanuts cartoon is a classic, and yes, I know it’s not what Charles Schulz wrote. I also like the directions for telling whether or not something is a penguin. I usually have no trouble, but there are times…

    As for the reading, I don’t read a lot of fiction, and for that matter don’t read a lot of nonfiction. In fact, most of what I read lately are blogs…

    Liked by 2 people

    • John, I thought the message in the comic was priceless. I don’t know if there are more of them, the creator is no longer on Twitter. The penguin flow chart made me happy, so clever.

      I read more blogs than I once did, too. I still read some books, but my eyes will only focus for so long each day and often blogs win.

      Liked by 1 person

  34. I found the reading genres and age correlations to be interesting. There wasn’t anything that made me do a double-take. It seems pretty logical to me.

    Drama-free months are good, especially as we get older. I’m not looking for a lot of drama other than in movies and books.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Pete, I thought the chart correlating genres with age was insightful. I get that it was a small sample size, but it’s a good place to start a conversation. Also, so many genres I don’t know much about.

      Yep, I like being a no drama llama in real life. However, like you said, in movies and books then it’s okay.

      Liked by 1 person

  35. Oh, I always enjoy a flapdoodle & twaddle post! I love that term — it’s so evocative!

    Genres: I’m mid-50s and yes, Mystery is my go-to!

    Sally of Peanuts: LOL!! So true!!

    Feelings Wheel: I never realized they have so many feelings until I saw this! My son’s dog is a Siberian Husky…and when he was a puppy, he was full of zoomies! But he was (and still is) rarely hungry, barky or snuggly!

    Light: I love it! I’m sure it’ll be a great year, AllyBean — how could it not be with that focus??

    Flowchart: I admit — in my accounting/audit career, I had enough flowcharts to last me a lifetime and don’t want to see another! Ha-ha!! But this was a fun flowchart! In my experience, it’s usually a zebra on a plane!! LOL

    Oh, and I also loved “kumquats of curiosity”! I’ve always been awed by your creativity…so many very clever terms of endearment for your readers!!! Im here yelling, “I’m a little kumquat!!” Then I couldn’t help but continue with “Short and stout!” because it rhymes!

    Liked by 2 people

    • M, thanks for the compliments. I’m a bit goofy when it comes to writing blog posts, might be more goofy in real life, come to think of it. Anyhow my point is, I write whatever floats into my brain and little kumquats of curiosity floated in. Of course now I’m going to be adding “short and stout” whenever I think of the term.

      Sally is one of those memes that everyone can relate to, it’s been popular here with the commenters. The dog feeling wheel made me realize that dogs do have a range of emotions that can be described cutely.

      I can understand why flow charts may not be your thing at this point in your life. I get that. The zebra on a plane line made me laugh out loud, too. I mean, really… who created this chart? Someone with a good sense of humor.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Eilene, yes, yes, another fan of flow charts. I find them fascinating although I’ve never been good at creating them. I liked the LIGHT meme, too. I don’t know if I’m going to be burning things down or lighting the way in 2024! Guess I’ll figure it out as I go.

      Liked by 2 people

  37. I read more literary fiction and fantasy than most in my age group, but I also conform to the old folks’ love of mysteries and detective novels. Otherwise, it looks pretty accurate. I’ve read one graphic novel and hated it.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Margaret, I read literary fiction, too. Depending on how you define fantasy I may be reading some of those, too. I’ve never read a graphic novel, kind of an adult comic book? That section of the bookstore has never called to me so I don’t really know what they are.

      Liked by 1 person

  38. I see that in my age group, Mystery and Crime is #1 at 29%. Literary fiction is only 15%. At the moment, I’m reading The Golden House by Salman Rushdie, a very literary literary fiction novel. Rushdie is brilliant, and the story is fascinating, but he’s so much more brilliant than I am, and he makes so many illusions to things I’m unfamiliar with that I have to read it very slowly and carefully. When I finish, I’ll have to relax with a good old mystery.

    I like your 2024 inspirational focus word.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Nicki, I’ve never read anything by Rushdie but if [when?] I do I’m sure I’d be like you needing to decode what is really being said. Sounds like fun, in an academic sort of way. I do understand how a good old mystery will be your next book, kind of a palate cleanser after a heavy course.

      Thanks about LIGHT. I wonder where it’ll take me?

      Liked by 1 person

  39. This was yet another e-learning day and it threw me off of my A game. So, I’m here late, which bums me out. I am right where most people my age are currently as far as reading goes. Memoir is my fav genre. Sally and the cantaloupe comic made me laugh. I think it is too late in the day (it’s been a long one, have I mentioned that? We also had a new sort of nightmare crop up with the basketball team which was really not fun) for me to decipher a flowchart. Light is a good word. I was thinking of it in terms of don’t let things weigh too heavily on you – advice I might need, but be a light in the world is another great angle.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Ernie, thanks for stopping by to read and comment whenever you have the time. I appreciate it. I went through a Memoir phase a few years back. Some were uplifting and I felt good for having read them. I’m sorry there is another problem with the basketball team situation. It never ends, does it?

      I was thinking of LIGHT in all permutations of the word, being a light that guides, or one who is not heavy, or one that shines into dark corners. If it is light, baby, I wanna be it this year!

      Like

  40. Hi, Ally – Last week I accidentally opened a “top 10 books” list that Google (not so) graciously sent me and I have been bombarded with “best book” lists ever since. The genre that I read most from is Classic Literature (at least currently). Since the book chart you shared did not list Classics as a separate entity, I went with ‘Literary Fiction’ putting me with 15% of peers in my age group. I am totally good with that. Thank you for sharing this!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Donna, there are about as many top book lists as there are people who read books. I can imagine how you are now getting too many top book lists. I take them all with a grain of salt.

      I think Literary Fiction is exactly where Classics land. Without specific definitions of each genre, we’re all left guessing. Finding yourself with 15% of your peers seems like a sound place to be.

      Like

  41. I love the dog emotion wheel, too cute. I’m not sure the barking section quite captures Mulder’s absolute YELLING, though. There need to be some exclamation points. The ‘BOOF” made me think of a dog we babysat for a weekend, Theo. He wasn’t a big barker, but he did do a ‘Boof’ when someone came to the door.

    I also really liked the penguin chart. My sister’s kid was really into penguins at one point, I think I’m going to send it to them.

    Liked by 2 people

    • J, I like a dog who says a good “BOOF” letting the world know he is there. I’m sorry Mulder’s style of bark wasn’t listed, but obviously you remember it.

      The penguin flow chart made me laugh out loud. It’s cute and accurate and just the sort of whimsy all penguin lovers need.

      Like

  42. Here’s my insightful comment:

    Okay, got nothing for that but I love this post. Especially the Peanuts cartoon. As far as Zoomie moments – they’re getting slower. Do they still count?

    Love your Plan B, Ally!

    Liked by 2 people

  44. I LOVE the Sally Brown cartoon! Reminds me of the questions I asked myself all through my school years. Looks like I’m not in step with my age group for book genres as I’m not a fan of mystery and crime and I do enjoy poetry. To each his own!

    Best wishes as you focus on “light” for 2024!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Barbara, Sally says what many of us wondered! I never like story problems in math class for this reason. I like knowing you don’t keep in step with your age group. I don’t read much poetry and I don’t know why I don’t. Maybe I’ll shine some light on it during 2024. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

  45. Hmm – I am not big on history/historical fiction, nor poetry to be honest Ally, but I choose a smattering of the other categories to read. I did not meet my Goodreads goal for 2023, so instead of planning to read 24 books in 2023, I chose 18 books but I will have to adjust it again, since I’ve not read any books yet. I’ve had a tough time keeping up here as a few people are doing the Bloganuary writing prompt. I like the Dog Feelings Wheel – I have some days I feel like a myriad of those categories. 🙂 I have to work on “zoomies” – the weather right now sure doesn’t inspire zoomie-type anything and I’m sure you’ll agree. I liked the idea of picking a word that you did a few years ago and I wanted to do it in 2023 and forgot and never put it out there. I decided to choose the word “time” for my 2024 word – that is because I want to manage my time better and the biggest reason is I planned to retire this year. That was supposed to happen December 31st; I consented to stay until the move to a new office the end of February. Yesterday I “unretired” before I actually retired. I’m pretty sure time management just went to h— in a handbasket.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Linda, I thought the book chart was interesting if for no other reason than it made me aware of how many genres I don’t even consider reading, and maybe should?

      Yep, no Zoomies this month, it’s just lousy out there. I like your guiding word for the year. It may turn out to be more useful to you than you think it will be once you get yourself retired. Oddly enough Z-D unretired before retiring at one point, then worked a few more years before he followed through and retired. Ending employment can be a rocky path.

      Liked by 1 person

      • I’d like to expand my horizons too Ally. A fellow blogger, (the one I mentioned in Sunday’s post who sent me the Teddy Roosvelt film), is around 60 years old, left his job as an insurance defense attorney, got his CDL license and drives a USPS mail delivery truck overnights. He loves the job and was sick of the law biz. But he says driving so many hours, he has been buying audio books and has not enjoyed such a variety of books in years. Some people have suggested audio books to me but I think I’d concentrate more with an actual book in hand.

        Well, I will only be working four days after this move to a new office (we lost our lease) so that will be great. The biggest reason I was retiring was to have more leisure time. So one more day a week will be nice. I HAD planned everything out, with my Social Security payments to begin in February, so for now art, learning French and trying to use the camera manually, may stay on the back burner for a while yet.

        Liked by 1 person

  47. As for books, I defy my age category! I read what inspires me, especially if I happen to be writing in that category. So I will read a YA novel when I need to!

    I’m glad penguins have an awareness day! Now I’m thinking of the documentary March of the Penguins!

    Liked by 1 person

    • L. Marie, I read what I want, too. But from what I can tell some people lock into a genre and that’s all they read. Nothing wrong with that, just not my style.

      I’d forgotten about the penguin documentary. It was good. When I think penguins I think of the Madagascar cartoon ones: “Smile and wave, boys. Smile and wave.”

      Liked by 1 person

    • Awakening Wonders, I know how you feel. It seems important, but as for how to celebrate maybe this advice from the Madagascar movies is appropriate: “Smile and wave, boys. Smile and wave.”

      Liked by 2 people

  51. First let me say I am slightly concerned because I did not get the usual email saying you had posted yesterday and I would have missed this very important piece of flapdoodle from you had I not read EA’s post today. I hope that it is not a trend of WP to leave me out of your loop! As to the question of whether or not I fit my reading category, I most certainly do but to be honest, I’ve read those categories my whole life. I love the flow chart. They are so helpful when you are trying to figure things out. Happy Wednesday Ally!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Janet, I know my posts aren’t always showing up in Reader and aren’t always sent out via email. It’s frustrating, I pay WP for this account, but I have no idea why it’s arbitrary. I’m too jaded at this point to even try to talk with Happiness Engineers about it. Thanks for stopping by after reading EA’s post.

      I liked the book chart because it opened my eyes to all the genres out there. It’s cool that you know your genre, always have, and continue on reading from it. As long as what you read pleases you why worry about what anyone else is reading?

      Liked by 2 people

  53. Love the penguin flow chart. Keep it at the ready for April. And I am in step with my age group. Give me those mysteries and crime. Never know when a little background on a good unsolvable murder might come in handy.

    Liked by 2 people

  55. I love the penguin flowchart. If I ever get to Antarctica, I’ll be sure to bring it along. It would be quite embarrassing to get one confused with a newspaper or a dalmatian (although, in the case of the dalmatian, the Feelings Wheel for Dogs would then come in handy). You have provided a true public service, flapdoodle-wise.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Janis, that penguin flow chart is the best. It got me smiling from the minute I saw it. I like how you’re so practical that you’d take it with you should you go to Antartica. The dog feelings wheel also seems spot on [no pun intended]. Glad my flapdoodle was up to your standards.

      Liked by 1 person

  56. I was so tickled to have a fresh cup of raspberry chocolate-flavored coffee to sip as I read your flapdoodle & twaddle post. I found all of your tidbits of information deLIGHTful to read. The chart struck me as interesting in that history books are high on the list when those polled reached the age of childrearing and grandparenting. Does that tell us anything about humans’ lack of experience in both times in life where we look for resources to survive those periods of life without looking like we don’t know our stuff? I wish you a Light and Cheery end of January!

    Liked by 1 person

  58. Something tells me that Charles Schulz never dropped the horrible, awful H-word in a Peanuts strip before. But I’m so far removed from my days of innocence, that it took me a while before I realized that Sally’s comment had to be third party manipulated!

    Liked by 1 person

    • evilsquirrel13, nothing gets by you. The cartoon came from peanutweeter, that no longer seems to be around. The deal was someone used a Peanuts cartoon and replaced Schulz’s words with a funny tweet. I saved this one because it hit home with me.

      Like

      • That is interesting Ally! When I read it I was rolling with laughter! Yet in the back of my mind this was not a “Sally” Peanuts character. Nonetheless, it is funny. I wonder if the same words replaced in a different cartoon would have been the same way of funny?

        Liked by 1 person

  59. Everyone loves a good flow chart! I wanted to be snarky about your reading chart. You know, the sample is way too small and the population appears to be limited to Washington Post readers? But bah. Too much seriousness in the world to snark about a little flapadoodle, which I enjoy.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Zazzy, I know there are flaws in the methodology and a limited sample size in the book chart, but like you said there’s too much seriousness in this world. I shared the chart here as a starting point for conversation, not as a definitive pronouncement about all readers everywhere. You understand. 🤷‍♀️

      Liked by 1 person

  61. I’m still trying to get over the fact that I fall into the absolute oldest category on the book chart. That’s hard to accept! I guess it’s time to shop for a walker, a light chain to wear around my neck to hold my reading glasses, some support hose, Depends, etc……. I’ll let you know how this goes!

    Liked by 1 person

  62. Pingback: Happy Things Friday: 26 January - The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist

  64. Think I’m feeling a tad bit “growly” today. Thanks for the feelings wheel; I needed a word that truly resonated with me today, and that word is growly.

    Like

    • Linda, the results on the chart don’t seem to hit bloggers quite like they do the respondents who participated in the poll. I don’t fit into my age/genre box either. I’d love to know how the WaPo defined each genre, but that info wasn’t included.

      Liked by 1 person

  66. I do like the books by age chart from the Washington post. I clearly need to widen my horizons on my genres, as I’d like to think as a reader I don’t fall into my age bracket but I do 😂😂

    Liked by 2 people

    • Nemnem, I thought the same thing after reading the book chart. Many genres I never even think to consider, which considering how many great books are out there seems silly.

      Like

    • Rae Cod, thank you. If I can’t have some legitimate content then the least I can do is make my gentle readers laugh. Loved the penguin flow chart too. It HAD to be in this post.

      Like

  69. Thank you, Ally, for the enjoyable flapdoodle & twaddle post. I especially relate to the Peanuts cartoon and the feelings wheel for dogs. I had the zoomies earlier, and now I am feeling hungry and sleepy. Which will win out? Probably snacks first.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Christie, snacks will win out! I like that dog feelings wheel too, it’s simplistic but seems to work for humans too. Maybe we’re not as sophisticated as we think we are!

      Like

  70. The penguin flow chart made me giggle!

    Sometimes it’s easy to get stuck on what to write – I feel that! I have some easy blog recurring series in my back pocket I can turn to when that happens, but I do love this eclectic mix of bullet points!

    Light is a great word for 2024!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Stephany, I like the penguin flow chart so much. Someone clever put that together.

      Smart to have some back-up series to use when life is dull or Muse is being difficult. I do admit that by doing this I made space in my brain, decluttered as it were, to start working on new ideas.

      Thanks about my guiding word. So far I’ve employed it a few times and I feel as if it helped me be productive.

      Like

      • Hey Ally
        thanks for posting. That was a good laugh!
        Especially the penguin flow chart. It seems to me that was put together by Innocent, who make delicious fruit smoothies. From the very begining they had very funny labeling and it sure worked in their favour, I’m guessing.

        Like

        • Yes, the penguin flow chart is by Innocent, their name is on it. I’ve never experienced their products, but wouldn’t be adverse to a good fruit smoothie. Maybe drunk while watching a few penguins frolic, if penguins frolic.

          Liked by 1 person

  72. The genres table may be factual but I don’t get an “ah-ha!” conclusion. Just seems every age group follows the same pattern more or less (EXCEPT us 45-64’s, who take a bit of a break from History, Mystery & Crime). If I went back through the last dozen books I’ve read I’d be all over the categories. Also, what stood out to me with the Peanuts comic was not the humor but rather the use of “hell”. Pretty sure that wasn’t a word in Schulz’s vocabulary!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dave, what I’d like to know about the WaPo genre/age group chart is how each genre was defined. There are patterns but without knowing if a book like, The Chronicles of Narnia, is classified as fantasy, children’s lit, or religion, then like you said there isn’t a real “ah-ha!” moment. Still it’s a good place to start conversations about books.

      The Sally cartoon is from Peanutweeter which was a fun Twitter account that put together peanuts cartoons with tweets from real people. It’s not around anymore but this cartoon was priceless.

      Like

  73. This was fun, Ally. Thank you. 🙂 I am going to adopt the doggie feelings chart. It’s closer to how I actually feel (coma, treats, bork… sure!). I dunno about the WaPo genre chart. I’m in the last age range. History, mystery and crime, and historical fiction are not in my top 4 genres. That’s not to say I don’t occasionally read them. I’m reading more poetry lately than I did when I was younger so I’d move that one up the list. Sci-fi and literary fiction (whatever that is) are most representative of what I read, I suppose. Where is Horror? (Thrillers, maybe?) How about Magical Realism? (I know you didn’t invent the list. Rhetorical questions. It’s probably difficult to come up with a good genre list these days.) Penguins always make me happy so it’s always penguin day around here. We have a Penguin Swim coming up nearby soon. I often think I want to join just because it’s a Penguin Swim, but the water is 32°F. Brrrrrr!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Robin, I’m with you in that I’d like more clarification about each genre, maybe add a few more genres to better encompass all books available for pleasure reading. That being said the book chart is a good starting point for conversations about books and who reads what.

      You have a penguin swim in your area? Oh no way would I do that, ever. Maybe you could attend and wear a hat with a penguin on it and consider yourself involved in the swim, in a rational way!

      Liked by 1 person

    • Suz, I’m hoping that *light* will keep me moving and loving this year. The penguin flow chart made me laugh out loud when I saw it, so I had to share it here. Yep, to Sally. Long live smart girls who know BS when they see it.

      Liked by 1 person

  78. I want to see a feeling wheel for cats…hissy, purry, sleepy, bratty, zoomies, lovies, attitudies, etc.

    I am giving you 1,000 bonus points for the Peanuts math comic. Made me LOL. Math was never my strong suit, specifically algebra and those “if a train left a station, going 50 mph,” problems. Just like with 60 cantaloupe, what the heck is wrong with you? I’ll get there when I get there and no one cares if x equals y. Geesh.

    My book reading is all toward the top half of the list: Mystery/crime, fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, but occasionally a light comedic novel to break things up. Finally ordered “Lessons in Chemistry” so I can step out of my box for awhile. Then back to the imaginary world of space invaders and murder.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Mary, a feelings wheel for cats would be wonderful. Your categories are perfect. I assign you the task of creating one!

      Sally says what all sane people know to be true: those math story problems made zero sense, they couldn’t even get the premise of the problem right.

      I like your description of your reading preferences, space invaders and murder it is. I know that there are many genres on that chart that I don’t even consider, so I’m going to try to read outside of my usual fare, too.

      Liked by 1 person

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