Decisions, Decisions

Have you ever gone and seen the film adaption of a favorite book? Of course you have. Did the movie disappoint? There's a good chance it did. Or maybe you see the preview for a movie and know it's based on a book and scramble to read the book before seeing the movie?  Or have you seen a movie, found out it was based on a book and added the book to your TBR?

Why the blazes am I asking all these questions? Well, you're in luck. I'll tell you. I've done every one of the above mentioned things and started wondering which is better, watching the movie first or reading the book?

Of course this implies you've neither seen or read either. So let's play that hypothetical game, shall we?

When you read the book first it can be fun to see all the characters you love brought to the big screen; watching to see who's being cast as who and debating whether that was the best choice. And when Hollywood gets it right it's glorious. Or you see the movie and it's a train wreck. It feels rushed and they leave out all the good parts or, worse, they completely change everything, and not for the better.

When you watch the movie first and enjoy it; learning there's a book is like finding a twenty dollar bill in your pocket you'd forgotten about. You get to enjoy the story all over again and get the story from it's source. And the book is always so much more detailed than the movie. Of course, sometimes you find the book a little too long and detailed, or maybe you agree with the changes Hollywood made (I'm looking at you, The Bourne Identity).

So say you've seen the preview for a movie based on a book. What do you do? Do you hurry and read the book in preparation or do you watch the movie as a sort of preview of the book?

I think I've finally decided. I prefer watching the movie first. It takes two hours to watch a movie and (for me) much longer to read a book. If the movie is bad or rushed compared to the book but I haven't read the book than I can't do any comparing. That way, I usually enjoy the movie and then read the book and when it's way better than the movie, which it often is, I get to enjoy them both. Make sense?

What about you? Which do you prefer?

A Whole New World!

Once upon a time, I couldn't sit still for two seconds and listen to my mom read out loud to me and my siblings.

It's not like I couldn't follow the story, it's just that I preferred reading it myself. Then I could go at my own (much faster) pace and and have something visually and physically to hold onto to keep my squirming body still.

Fast forward a few years and you'd find me sneaking books to work to read on my lunch breaks and then lying on a couch when I got home to read. Life was simpler then. I had a job and a few things to keep me somewhat busy but I didn't have a never ending list of "THINGS, JENNY NEEDS TO DO TODAY AND THE NEXT  DAY AND THIS WEEK AND AND AND." My reading slipped into oblivion. I was lucky to read 3 books a month, which, for me, is pretty pathetic.

And then...

Audio books! Honestly, I wasn't thrilled about getting into audio books. Like most people, I found them hard to concentrate on. We do, after all, live in a visual world that makes listening to something that doesn't offer something visual to look at difficult. I actually started listening to audio books because that's what was available to borrow for a book club book. I listened in agony. I hated how slow it felt. I hated that my mind wandered and I wouldn't know where I was in the story or what was going on.

But, as they say, practice makes perfect. And once I trained my brain to listen they weren't too bad. I would be working on the huge long list I mentioned and would remember I could listen to a book while I worked. Suddenly work became more bearable.

Just think of all the times you could be listening to an audio book.

• cleaning your house
• getting ready in the morning (showering etc)  
• driving 
• grocery shopping
• doing yard work
• swimming (turn your speaker on and you don't have to have dry hands to handle a book) 
• remodeling yet another rental (what? is that only me?) 
• exercising 
• lying on the couch because the book's just to good to put down and you've accomplished your list for the day 

This summer I began listening hardcore to audio books. Especially once I discovered the "Always Available" audio books on my online library on Overdrive. Guys, I was able to reach my Goodreads Challenge back in September. I still love real paper books and ebooks but now, I always have an audio book downloaded to listen to when life doesn't allow lying on the couch.

So huge shout out to audio books! I never thought I'd be an audio book fan but, well, here we are!

Do you listen to audio books? If not you really should give them a try. Especially now that they're available for free on online libraries. Seriously! Download the Overdrive app and see what's available.
 

Ratings

Awe, the elusive ratings of a book in its natural habitat. Uh, OK, just bear with me. My book club and I are always discussing rating of books. They all think the system on Goodreads is flawed. All of us has our own way of thinking and reasoning behind the rating of a book. So, I thought I'd share my thoughts. Cause, you know, you've all been just waiting for me to write this post. I bet some of you have been waiting for this day. Not.

Anywho! In defense of Goodreads' rating system.

On Goodreads 1 star means you didn't like it. I don't see anything wrong with this. If you think a book you didn't like deserves no stars then you must not believe in the rating system to begin with. No stars isn't a rating it's...well, nothing. So, yeah. I'm defending the 1 star rating. I think of it not so much as giving the book a star as marking the book with 1 star to show your opinion...Does that make sense? No? Well then the rest of my post might just be as boring. Feel free to quickly exit the building.

The 2 star rating. On Goodreads it means you thought the book was OK. Again, I don't have a problem with this. Lot's of my friends think that 2 stars is just far too low of a rating for a book if you thought it was OK. I don't see it that way. I mean no offense to a book I give 2 stars but to me, it means exactly what it says. I thought the book was OK. It doesn't mean I hated it.

3 stars stands for, according to Goodreads, you liked it. Yep! I agree. Now I'm sure some author's out there want to punch the 3 star rating in the throat. It brings their numbers down, damn it! But, I think a good solid 3 star rating is perfectly acceptable. I like a book, it's getting 3 stars.

And then there's the 4 star rating. Goodreads could have gotten a little more clever with this ranking that means you really liked it. Oh well. I still can get behind this. 4 stars means I really loved the book. It was entertaining, funny, romantic, exciting, beautiful etc. It had great writing, great characters, great world building etc. I loved the book so I'm giving it 4 stars.

And 5 stars. Goodreads says: "It was Amazing". Here's where I shake my head. I disagree. It's just me but an amazing book is getting 4 stars. For me a five star book is a book that I wouldn't hesitate to read again. We book lovers have a never ending pile of books we hope to read someday, right? So for me, to close a book and think, "yeah, that was perfect and I want to read it again. If not now, soon". That book gets 5 stars. It's a new favorite. That's why I'm stingy with my 5 star ratings.  

So what about you? Do you hate Goodreads' rating system or do you like it? Do you think 2 stars is stingy? Do you wish you could give a book you hate no stars? What say you? Anyone even still here?

Oh, I'm Sorry. I Thought You Were Someone Else

Ah, author signings. A favorite pastime of book lovers everywhere. If you're lucky enough to live somewhere frequented by authors, that is. Lucky for me, I am. I live in Utah (Utah gets a lot of author signings?) I know, right? But for some strange reason we do. A lot of these signings are by local authors. We Utahns have a lot of authors in state but we've had visits from people like Kathryn Stockett, Markus Zusak, Sarah J Maas, Lois Lowry and Ruta Sepetys. Maybe it's because we Utahns like to read and buy books? I'm really not sure of the reason but I'm sure happy to be a part of it.

Now, I usually don't post about the author signings I go to. Besides the fact that I don't go to as many anymore, I also just get happy to be at the event and forget to take pictures. I Want to live in the moment I guess. But I think the other reason is because of repeated awkwardness at book signings.

So, you go to the event. You're excited!  If it's an author you love you've been eagerly awaiting this day. You sit amongst other book lovers who are excitedly chattering and then the event begins. Someone announces the author and there they are! They look so human and normal but not all at once. They start to talk and you listen enraptured. Sometimes not so enraptured. I'll admit some authors are sadly not the greatest of speakers and are rather boring. But, hey, who cares? Your fan-girling something awful over here! Then comes the signing. You wait in line...sometimes a VERY LONG line and as you get closer to the author you sneak peeks at them; start panicking about what you're going to say to them. Then the big moment comes. You either smile stupidly as they sign your book and squeak out a, "thanks for coming" or you have enough guts to actually tell them how much you loved their book or books and how excited you  are to finally meet them. And then they look up at you...or not and smile and say thanks. Hand your books back to you and look over your shoulder at the next person in line. Hinting that you, crazy fan girl, need to move on.

I could go into a myriad of reasons this is the response one might get but rather than blame the author, I've decided to blame myself. I think what really bothers me, aka, lets me down is I was expecting someone else. I wanted to meet the character from the author's book I loved so much. Not the author.  So I'm left feeling disappointed and sad.

Sigh! I'm going to meet Cassandra Clare and Holly Black tonight. I'm most excited about Holly Black. Her Curse Workers Series is in my top 5 favorite books! But...maybe it's not Holly I want to meet. Maybe It's Cassel. But since I can't meet him, I'll awkwardly smile at his maker and try not to gush too much!

What about you? Do you feel let down after meeting an author? Do you think it's because we actually wanted to meet their characters?

Book Banter #8 Depth vs Fluff

It's been awhile since Suey and I had a good ol' Book Banter. We wanted to do one for my Adult Literature Month but couldn't come up with a topic. So bear with us as we make a bit of a stretch for our Book Banter to match up with my Adult Literature Month.

Most adult books have a bit more depth to them. Some symbolism, a moral or message. YA books can have this too but often our more shallow. (Just go with us on this.) So today Suey and I are going to banter about depth vs fluff. I'm all about a message or moral (not to be confused with agendas. I hate agendas) in a story. So if you're new to our blogs this is how this works. Suey will name 3 things in defense of fluff and I will rebuttal those reasons here. If you check out Suey's blog you can read my 3 reasons I love a message or moral to a story and see Suey's rebuttal. Make sense? OK. Here we go!

Suey
In Defense of Fluff
My part in today’s debate is to argue why fluff and books with no point (though I’m not sure there’s such a thing) or shall I say… books with no obvious message are just as valuable as books with a point and or message.
1 Escape. People read books for many reasons, and lots of people read books to learn, to understand the world, to figure something out and to gain some insight. But I maintain that one of the biggest reasons to read is to escape real life, to immerse oneself in another world, whether that be a fantasy one or a real one it doesn’t matter, just a world that has no real resemblance to our own. If this reason is valid, then I think that the book doesn’t necessary need a point to it… for the whole point is to read said book and escape.

Me

Yes, I've heard this before. I guess what really matters here is what your idea of escape is. I know most people would say escape is when you can just turn off your brain and not have to think or be present. But what if your life or job is a bit mundane and boring? Wouldn't an escape for you be reading something that wakes up your brain? Gets it thinking about new and exciting ideas? Gives it the depth and intricacies it craves? I know in my life I've been at a job or surrounded by people who wouldn't know and idea if it slapped them in the face. There is no intelligent discussion, no ideas, nothing! So for me, escaping into a book was reading something with intelligence oozing from the pages.

Suey

2 Brain Candy. Not only do we read sometimes to escape, but we read sometimes to give our brain a rest. If we have to be figuring out the point of the book, or what’s going on, or who’s who, or trying to understand a complicated plot, then our brain is working. Not to say that’s bad, but if you want to rest your brain from all that thinking then a book with no point, or a fluffy book, is just what you’ll be looking for!

Me

Yes, I suppose if you need a break, a fun fluffy book is just what you need. Or is it? Did you know our brains are more active while sleeping than watching TV? I'd much rather binge watch a TV show than read if my little brain needs a rest. Reading in and of itself takes a bit of effort so why not learn a little something, relate to a characters troubles and see a way out of your own, learn a new way of thinking while you're at it?

Suey

3 Happiness. I like to finish a book with a happy feeling (though yes some of my favorites are definitely not this way) and often the books that have more meaning are the sad, depressing ones. I mean, not always, but often. Does this make sense? And thus, I think those books that simply leave you feeling light and free and happy are worth it too, even if they didn’t leave you with some deep thought about the world.

Me

Nope! Sorry but I think what really makes me happy when reading a book is seeing a character learn something about themselves. Maybe they conquer something they never thought they could or they finally learn to stand up for themselves. Maybe they win against all odds. That's what makes me happy. Harry Potter is a great example of this. While there a tons of tiny lessons scattered through each book the great overarching lesson, in my opinion, is good vs evil. While some books left us a heart broken (Half Blood Prince)  and it seemed like evil was conquering, you just new good would win in the end. Didn't it make you happy that it did? That Harry learned and grew and became the boy that (with a little help) could conquer such great evil?  

Don't forget to go to Suey's blog and check out my 3 reasons I need a message or moral to a story! 

Does Writing Make Better Readers?

Yes, you read that right. We all know reading makes us better writers but can writing make us better readers? And what does being a "better" reader even mean?

As some of you know, I've been friends with Suey for sometime. 10+ years,  I think,  and we both can say with a certainty about each other that: I'm stingy with my ratings and Suey is generous with hers.

It's actually a little joke at our book club that Suey loves everything. However, I've noticed something. Lately my dear friend has been trying her hand at writing. I'm so happy for her because she's talked about it for years and now, finally, she's jumping in. She's going to conferences, writing groups and even sent out one of her manuscripts to beta readers! Once upon a time I wrote. Not so much now but when I wrote I didn't do these things. I just read How To books and wrote....quietly...and tried not to talk about it. So, I'm very proud of Suey for just jumping in and fulfilling her dream.

So back to that thing I noticed. Suey is not being so generous with her ratings anymore. I always blame my stingy ratings and critical thinking towards books on my past days of writing and reading those How To books. I knew all the rules and when I saw bad writing I knew it was bad writing and was disgusted. So, getting a good rating from me was a little more work. So, is Suey being a little more guarded with her ratings because now, a book isn't just a book? It's all these words and there are rules that, while not necessary, do make writing better.

I guess we'll never know. Suey and I have discussed this a little and she's not so sure she's being stingy with her ratings. But I've also noticed that since I haven't written for several years now that I'm not nearly as critical with my ratings anymore. So, there may just be something to all this. What do you think? Does writing make you a better (aka critical) reader?  

Organized vs Not

It's been ages since I wrote a discussion post so excuse the "grasping at straws" topic. So, the other day I was reading Jenni's blog and she was discussing the books she read in May, as some of us bloggers do at the end of the month, and she then mentioned how she was still organizing the books she would be reading in June. It got me thinking.

See, this is me when I finish reading a book: Close book, either smile because I liked it, or slam it down on the table and say something rather nasty to it. (I'm looking at you, The Marbury Lens) Anywho, I then stroll into my guestroom/library and replace said book then peruse my shelf for a book I'm in the mood for.
I'm a total organization freak but when it comes to reading, besides obligation books, I'm a "fly by the seat of my pants" girl.

Then I started thinking about all those bloggers that get tons of ARCs and feel obligated to read the books that are being released soon so they can review them. As much fun as it would be to get free books, I think I'd go crazy having my reading choices so narrowed down. I'm such a mood reader that I have to read a book based on mood. You know?

Sigh. Not that it matters how we read as long as we read, right? I was just pondering as I often do.

What about you? Do you know what you're going to read when or do you just take it one book at a time?

Dune Read-Along

I shall be joining this Dune read-along hosted by Jenni, Suey and Kami because...well we're reading it for book club so I have to read it anyway.  No I'm Teasing. It's going to be fun.  There's Twitter chats and a mini series watch -along and discussion posts and it's just going to be awesome. Hopefully the book is as good. ;) 

Schedule

• Section 1: April 19 – 27
• Section 2: April 28 – May 6
• Section 3: May 7 – 16

Discussion Posts

Each discussion post will go up on either Suey’s, Kami’s, or Jenni's blog at the end of each section.

• Section 1: April 27 on Jenni's blog (jennielyse.com)
• Section 2: May 6 on Suey’s blog (It’s All About Books)
• Section 3: May 16 on Kami’s blog (Kami’s Library Thoughts)

Twitter Chats

• 
  Section 1: Monday, April 27 at 9:00 pm MDT
• Section 2: Thursday, May 7 at 9:00 pm MDT
• Section 3: Saturday, May 16 at 9:00 pm MDT

Watch-along

The watch-along will be onSaturday, May 30 at 6:00 pm MDT and we'll watch until we’re done with the whole mini-series (about 5 hours). Join us via Twitter using #DuneRAL.

If you've been wanting to read this book or if you're just a fan of scifi, you should totally join us. These ladies really know how to host a read-along. Link up here if you want to join. 

In My Thoughts This Fine Day # 6

Before we get started with my incoherent thoughts don't forget to enter my giveaway for the awesome book Sulan. If you liked The Hunger Games and Divergent you'll love this one too! I did and I HATED Divergent. ;)

1 I remember a time I used to read a book I'd never heard of and, if I enjoyed it, I'd try to get my hands on anything else the author had written. Nowadays, there's so many new debut authors or just so many books to read that I don't seem to have time to read more books by a certain author...at least not right at that moment. Does that makes sense? And then, at book club the other day, we started discussing how the average reader will probably only be able to read four thousand books in their lifetime. It definitely makes me wonder why I don't pursue author's books I know I'll love more. I guess I just can't help myself when tempted with lovely books and their debut authors but it's something to consider, anyway.

2 Yeah, I'm going to talk about CAPTCHA again. Yes, it's annoying and I wish people would stop using it on their blogs etc. etc....Or do I? Now that they've added those blurry, far away pictures of numbers to the incredibly hard to read letters I've decided it's my dream to see a picture of my own address on there. Can you imagine the happiness? "Oh my heck, Buns! (cause I talk to my cat like she's a person) I do believe that's a picture of our very own house numbers on CAPTCHA! And my mom thought I'd never amount to anything!"

3 Well, I've given in, people. I started watching Downton Abbey. Now I know some of you don't even know what that is but I know there's some of you who do know and are probably got all squeally when you read that. So let me gush. I HATE Thomas, hated him instantly even before he started pissing me off every episode. I don't know if any of you like Mary but if you do you should be ashamed! ;) No, I don't care who you like and dislike but she irks me so bad. She's the oldest favorite and doesn't realize how spoiled she is and every damn problem she has she makes for herself. But, no, I'm supposed to feel sorry for her. Not likely. Good grief! It makes me mad just talking about it! Now for whom I LOVE. I'm totally in love with Bates. Laugh if you will because he's really not that good looking and kinda old but he's such a freaking sweetheart! I want one! Alright, I'll stop gushing. If you read this even though you have no idea what Downton Abbey is, Kudos. ;)

Book Bloggers I Miss

While cleaning up my side bar the other day I was noticing all the bloggers who aren't posting anymore. Sometimes there's a reason but sometimes bloggers just stop blogging and I get it, I really do. It's been a major struggle to keep up with this blogging world now that I'm working full time. All the same, I miss these bloggers and just thought I'd give them all a shout out...though, they probably don't even follow blogs anymore and probably won't see this. :(  I'll never take them off my sidebar, though, because one day they might start blogging again and I want to be there when it happens. (cause, yes, I'm a weirdo who reads blogs from my sidebar, not Google Reader.)

Tristan from Reads With Wreckless Abandon
I think Tristan's blog is absolutely beautiful and I could never visit it without adding a few books to the TBR pile.

Selina from Fragments Of Fiction
I still sometimes click on over to Selina's blog just to look at her design. I LOVE it! At least she's still around on Goodreads but I still miss her blog.

Bekka from Pretty Deadly Reviews
I'm so sad all the blogging drama that happens got to Bekka. I loved her posts. Her raving reviews of books she didn't like made me happy! I wasn't the only one who yells at books. :) Miss you, Bekka.

B.J from The Dark Side of the Covers
I can't even link to her site because it's gone but I miss B.J. Maybe she's out there still blogging under a different name and I just missed it.

Sheesh! That turned out to be a bit sad. I wasn't trying to me so morose just thought I'd say I missed their posts cause I do.  Anyone else out there who misses blogging buddies who don't blog anymore?

In The Mood

Here comes some rambling thoughts. See, the other day...or week. I was reading a post over at Must Love Books. It was a review of a Girl of Nightmares which unfortunately didn't quite do it for her. Not because it was a bad book but because she thought her setting just didn't mesh well with what was happening in the book. You can check out her post if you'd like. You should because it's what inspired this post.

She mentioned that the first book in the series, Anna Dressed in Blood, was read during a thunderstorm on a dark night. The perfect setting for the book. It got me thinking about our settings and if it could effect our like or dislike of a book.  I'm fairly certain it can. I read the book Stolen by Lucy Christopher on a crowded, noisy plane that I couldn't quite get into because I was too distracted. I like the book but a different setting and I might have loved it.

Another experience has convinced me once and for all. Let me explain.I don't get scared easily. I actually go to horror movies not to be scared but to have a good laugh. Scary books just aren't scary, and that strange noise in the other room doesn't evoke fear but annoyance that something is probably broken. So when I tell you that the only book or movie that has ever actually scared me was Stephen King's Salem's Lot, you would think, "wow, that must be one scary book." But the truth is, it wasn't THAT scary, it was the setting  I was reading it in. Let me elaborate. I was reading at night in my basement room with only a single bedside lamp on. The house was empty except for me and I was at a very intense part in the book where the characters are hiding in a house from the evil vampires. They think they're alone when they hear the floor boards creek from the upstairs. Right at that moment, in my own room, my bed side lamp's bulb burned out without a sound and I was left in darkness. Not two seconds later the front door above me opened and someone stepped inside the house and the floor boards creaked. You can imagine my fear then. Perfect setting for that book right? What might have been only an intense book became freaky as hell! All because of setting.

I also find it fascinating how books can actually effect our emotions. A happy book with a happy ending leaves us elated and a bad book with a disappointing ending can have us snapping at everyone.


But books also effect us physically. I've read books about freezing conditions, snow storms, and frost bite that had me shivering on a hot summer day and books about hot deserts, dry heat, and dehydrated characters that had me baking on a icy day. Similarly, I've read books that describe food so well that I'm suddenly quite hungry.

Yep, books are funny that way, agreed? What say you? Have you ever read a book in the perfect setting or vice versa? Do books effect you physically and emotionally too?

Mini Movie Reviews # 3

It's time for more movie reviews. Yay! Or something like that. ;) Enjoy!

The Amazing Spider-Man
Where the earlier movies screwed up this one gets it right! Thank goodness cause I couldn't have stood another dreadful interpretation of one of my favorite super heroes. Andrew Garfield did a way better job. Agreed? Emma Stone was much more easy to tolerate as well. Sorry, but my favorite girl in the Spider-Man world is Felicia. Until we get her in a movie...well, yeah.  My only complaint was Dr. Connors. They got it all wrong. When Dr. Connors was a lizard, yeah, sure, he was evil but he wasn't evil once he transformed back into himself. I didn't like how in this one he was evil as both until he was healed. Not how it was!

The Dark Knight Rises
Well, it was better than the second one. Sorry, but this one was far too predictable. But it had Joseph Gordon-Levitt so all is forgiven. ;)

 The Bourne Legacy 
Sigh! I love the Bourne movies but this one just failed for me. I didn't mind Jeremy Renner like I thought I would but it was far too long. See, the director and writer of this one wrote but didn't direct the other ones. It's like he had more control and just couldn't bear to edit anything so he kept it all. All of the boring stuff. All of the action. Everything. And it was just too much. Plus they got someone else to do the music. James Newton Howard. I don't mind him but John Powell did such an amazing job with the others they should have got him again. I missed the music so bad!

Total Recall 
I think if I hadn't been sitting a measly two row back I would have liked this one better. As it was all I got was a pain in the neck and a view of Colin Farrell's (lovely as they are) noise hairs and pores. Les Wiseman should just stick to directing the Underworld movies. ;)





Did you see any of these yet? What did you think?

In My Thoughts This Fine Day #5

1. So, in this new world of Netflix and On Demand and Red Box, renting a movie is practically a click of a button away. It's quite nice really. I don't have Netflix and rarely use Red Box's but I rent all my movies off On Demand. There's nothing like deciding I want to watch that latest new release and not having to go out to get it or worry that it might be all rented out. With just a few pushes of a button on the remote, I'm watching. Glorious! But, um, there is a not so tiny flaw in this system that really bothers me. I hate that if I want to watch an old favorite that I don't own, I'm screwed. Red Box and On Demand are very limited on movie selections and even Netflix fails more often than not. How the heck are we supposed to watch our old favorites if we didn't buy them? You know? Thank goodness for my local library and their great selection. But how long will that be around? How long until that's obsolete and hundreds of old movies get lost to us forever? Stresses me out, people!

2 I've whined about the Auto Correct on my phone before but now I'm going to whine again. For some unfathomable reason my phone chooses to think that THIS should be THUS. Seriously?! Who the hell even says THUS anymore?! Why on earth would it think THUS must be the word I wanted? Ticks me off! Thus the rant. ;) 

3 The whole not using pictures on our blogs that we don't have permission for kinda ticks me off. Mainly because I think if you post a picture on the worldwide web you've pretty much put it out there and need to accept that it's probably going to get stolen. Sorry, but it's true. Plus if I post a picture on my blog and someone steals it I could care less. Why? Because the minute I put it on the internet I accept what all people should. It's out there. It's going to get used. I'm also just mad that I need to go take all the pictures off my old blog posts so I don't run the risk of getting sued. I don't have time, people! Argh. I bet you half the pictures I "stole" were stolen to begin with!

In My Thoughts This Fine Day #4

Yeah, the new job seems to be going OK but it isn't leaving a whole lot of time. My last job allowed me to read on the job, it was glorious. This one however is a little more like the picture above. So either I get home and catch up on blog reading and commenting and don't have time to read, or I read and don't have time to blog...oh what to do? I just hope I figure it out soon. I'm feeling so overwhelmed!

I haven't seen the new Batman yet but I'm going this weekend...I was super excited but am I the only one who feels like the horrible tragedy in Colorado sort of tainted the movie? So sad. Plus I'm hearing some not so good things about it... :(

I keep seeing reviews on other's blogs about books and book series I have had sitting on my shelf forever. I want to read them but I keep putting them off. Maybe my expectations are too high so I'm scared. Maybe there are other books I'd rather read first, or maybe there's just too many dang books in the world! Am I the only one who just can't seem to pick up that certain book?

Well have a great week and happy reading!

Review Readers Anonymous

Welcome. Come sit in the circle. This is a safe place. No judgement here. It's time for some confessing. ;) Alright, alright, I'm not trying to scare you off. You don't have to nervously click away. I'm just rambling again. What about this time? Well, I'm glad you asked. Today I wanted to confess a little something about reading book reviews on other blogs.

Having a book blog is a way for all of us book lovers to share books we love. What ever the reason we started it, whatever the reason we keep going, whatever memes we participate in, whatever else we talk about, all of us book bloggers write reviews. We all read. Some a ridiculous amount and some as many as we can squeeze in, but read we do and when we're done, we plop ourselves down in front of the computer and begin to write up a review. Sometimes we rave, sometimes we rant. Sometimes we can't find the words and sometimes the words won't stop. But why? Why do we do this? Why do we pour a great deal of time and effort into these reviews? Well, I would guess we're actually assuming and hoping others will read our thoughts. Sure, there's the wonderfully humble souls out there who just want a place to jot down their thoughts on a book and really don't care if others read what they have to say. To those people I tip my hat. Well done for not being an attention whore. The door's right over there. Off you go. ;) I tease, I tease. I really am impressed with these people. But for me there's nothing quite so wonderful as sharing my thoughts on a book and knowing other people are reading those thoughts.

And that's where I finally get around to my real topic of the day. I don't put a whole lot of effort into writing my reviews. And, yes, I know it shows, but that's not the point. The point is, it still takes me a good 15-20 minutes (on a good day) to write a review. Just gathering my thoughts and condensing them into something understandable and hopefully entertaining is rather difficult. I imagine this is true for you too. Yet, we all do it anyway. Sit and write out these thoughtful and time consuming reviews and then...And here it FINALLY is...people come to our blog and skim our reviews. How dare they?! Where do they get off only sparing a cursory glance at our hard work?!

Um, what do you mean "how do I know they only skimmed my review?" Uh, no I don't skim reviews, I'm not talking from personal experience...Oh, fine, you're right! Happy? I sometime skim reviews!  *hangs head in shame*  Why do I do this? Well firstly there's the whole time thing. I may be a jobless loser with no life to speak of and rarely anything better to do but I do actually DO other things and don't always have the time to donate to countless reviews.

Which brings me to the different types of reviews. Please don't be angry with me. As I said, this is a safe place, right? Right?!

The college essay review
Oh, for the love of all that is purple, people! Unless you're actually writing up a book report that must have a required amount of words, please keep the reviews to a readable size. Whether you're raving or ranting does it really need to be THAT long?!  Really?!

The I just discovered the thesaurus review
Yes, adjectives and adverbs are glorious. I use them all the time. But if a book is good just tell me the book is good. You don't need use ten different words that mean "good" so that I get the point. I got it!

The first graders "what I did for my summer vacation" review
These ones, at least, are blessedly short. Unfortunately they sound exactly like a child wrote it. For example, (this book was so good. I really liked it. It was so exciting. I can't wait for the next one. The mystery was great. The characters were likable. I loved so and so the best. They made me laugh a lot.) See what I mean? I can only take so much of that before my eyes glaze over and I click away.

Now before you crush your mouse in outrage at my audacity, I'll quickly confess I'm guilty of every single one of these types of reviews. I've written ones that are painfully too long. I'm a horrible adverb junkie and I sometimes just can't form a sentence longer than six or seven words. I'm not condemning anyone for their review writing skills. I'm just confessing that, yes, sometimes I just can't take it and I skim reviews. Hey, at least I'm admitting it right?

Sometimes it has nothing to do with the reviewer's writing so much as what they're reviewing.

There are reviews of books we've never heard of. Sometimes this is a great thing. We're introduced to a new book. The Synopsis has intrigued us, the cover dazzled us, the reviewer has raved. Oh, how glorious are these moments. But for all the books that sound good, are the ones that don't. And then we have to read a review about a book we just don't care to know anything about. Ugh, the torture! The skimming that takes place. The guilty chin duck as we just click away from the site; not even courteously leaving a comment.


Then there are the books we hated. Geeze! It was bad enough reading the dang thing all 200-300 + pages of it and then we have to read what others think of it too?!  Hey, if they agree with us that the book was complete and utter crap it can be fun, but if they loved it...What can we do but sit and wonder what on earth is wrong with us?

The book we're eagerly awaiting. To be honest these are the ones I struggle with. Sometimes I'm not that bothered with spoilers or gushing or ranting. If I want to read the book I'm going to read it and your opinion, trusted as it is, will hardly dissuade me, but sometimes I don't want to read your review! I'm sorry but I don't want to hear a thing, good or bad, about the book. I don't want anything "ruining" it for me. You know?

And speaking of going on too long...

Please tell me I'm not alone. Tell me you skim once in awhile too. And if so, why? What types of reviews make you want to gouge your eyes out? Which ones do you just avoid? Come on, go ahead. This is a safe place. We're all friends here.  

Three Types Of Posts I Hate Commenting On

This is probably the lamest post I've ever written but I've been thinking about these things and feel the need to torture you with my commentary.

There are a few posts/memes I rarely bother commenting on. What are they and why, you ask? (just pretend you care)

I know, I'm sorry! But when I first started blogging I participated in this meme. My TBR shelf went from like 300 to 600 books in a couple of months. Just seeing book after book highlighted was too tempting to resist and I didn't. So, yeah, on this one I don't just not comment, I can't even read it. So, if you've noticed my absence on those posts now you know why.

Now here's a post I'll read but that I just plain struggle to comment on. Who the heck am I supposed to address? The Interviewer/blogger or the author? And what am I even supposed to say? Maybe it's easy for others but I struggle so hard to come up with something to say.

No, my uninvolvement in this meme has nothing to do with the debacle involving The Story Siren, I just don't get books in the mail. Not from publishers. Not from ordering them(very often) so I just don't see the point in participating. But the reason I don't comment is because I don't know what to say. "Oh, you got such and such a book" "that one looks fun" "have fun reading so and so". See? They're not very fun comments. Maybe it's just me that struggles with commenting on these posts, though.

Please tell me I'm not the only one who reads a post and wants to comment but just can't figure out what to say. What about you? What posts do you struggle to comment on? And if you do struggle what do you do about it? And who the heck are we supposed to be addressing on those interview posts?    

Let The Unsung Hero Singing Begin!

The other day as I was blow drying my hair I started thinking about books and book characters. This isn't that unusual. I sit on the ground in front of three of my book shelves while blow drying my hair every day, and with books staring at you it's pretty hard not to think about...well books. AND on top of my blow drying inspiration, I also spent a lazy weekend watching all three of the special edition Lord of the Rings.

So what did all this amazing inspiration inspire? Why, this post of course! Let me explain.

You know in Lord of the Rings when after a physically, emotionally, mentally taxing journey, the four Hobbit friends return to The Shire to a big fat nothing?! No one knows nor cares where the friends were. The other hobbits are completely unaware what doom might have befallen their little town had the friends not done what they did. In ignorance they live their lives not ever knowing that they owed those very lives to the four friends. Alright, sure, the four friends got one heck of celebration in Gondor but it still got me thinking of those unsung heroes.

Two of my favorite book series are about unsung heroes.

                                             

Matthew Swift. Reluctant host to the Blue Electric Angels. Unwilling Midnight Mayor. Four time saver of the city. And does he ever get a celebration? Do the citizens of London ever truly know what he did for them? Do the people who actually know what he's done even thank him? And most importantly, does he even care? No. That's what's so great about unsung heroes. They save the world/city/people numerous times and don't expect a thing for it. They do it because they're good people who make the hard decision for no better reason than it needs to be done.

                                             

Odd Thomas. The quiet fry cook who sees ghosts. He doesn't want attention or credit for the help he gives and he never withholds that help. He has a gift/curse and instead of trying to run away from it and ignore it he    accepts and uses it. Even when it costs him everything he doesn't stop. But I'll shut up before I ruin it for you.

So why am I going on and on about these unsung heroes? Because they deserve it!

And here's where you come in. Tell me about your favorite unsung heroes in literature. Sing out! They deserve it. Besides, I love these heroes and I want to meet more of them and read their stories. So do share.

The "Fourth" Wheel

It seems most of us aren't uber fond of the love triangle in books these days. It's probably because it's so freaking overused, but, still, we find ourselves taking sides, anyway. Joining a "team", rooting for our favorite guy, hoping against hope that we and the MC will see eye to eye.

I do this mostly too. I'm team Jacob, team Astley, team Jeremiah, but quite often I find myself choosing a guy that isn't even part of the freaking love triangle! Leave it to me to be that obstinate. For example:

 Sure, I liked Gale better than Peeta but to be honest I was sorta hoping Katniss would drop both guys and end up with Finnick. Am I right? Alright then!

It's not as if Logan really has a shot yet he's part of the love triangle in this series. Personally, as hot as Zachery and his Scottish accent is, I'd prefer Aura just choose Logan's younger brother Dylan.

Yep, I know I'm being brave here but my favorite Austen male character ever is Colonel Fitzwilliam! So yeah, I think Elizabeth should have told Wickham where to stick it and Darcy where to go and choose the higher, much higher road.

Tell me I'm not alone here! Are there characters that aren't love interests that should be in your opinion? Do you agree with me on any of my choices?

Yep, They're THAT bad

When I talked about recommendations the other day my sister was curious what 10 books I'd "want to scream out a warning and throw my body between it and anyone even considering it." I'll TRY to keep it to just 10. ;)

 I got some nasty comments on Goodreads for my review of this one by the author's friends. I don't know why they're complaining. I paid full price for the dang friend's book! She got her money, so just shut up! Worst writing ever!  Avoid this one. Avoid it like the plague!

Anything by Brandon Sanderson I'd recommend you drop like hot iron. Oh, unless you actually enjoy self satisfied authors who let their unwarranted smugness seep into their overly detailed world building!

For two hundred pages the author introduces us to like 30 characters. No big deal right? Well it is a big deal when we not only get these characters names but an entire life history and then, those two hundred pages pass, and the author kills every single one of them off! What the heck was that?!  Too long, just way too long.

Sleepless by Cyn Balog looked good, really good. I was wrong. The story was confusing, the writing was shaky and the characters were unmemorable. Beware...BEWARE!

I'm sorry but if you're going to create a character who is cursed to kill people and who supposedly feels really sorry about it, then she should probably actually FEEL bad about it! Bipolar, psycho beotch!

 I'm going to finally say what I've been thinking for some time. You ready? You don't write a book by taking everything that's "trending" in YA literature and fling it together in some half assed manner with absolutely nothing actually making sense! Well, you don't do it and walk away with any self respect. I guess if it sells, and money is all you care about then go ahead.

Again we have a book that copy catted what was trending. Fine, whatever. But I repeat YOU CAN'T DUCK BULLETS! Seriously, people, does logic not matter in books anymore?

"Oh no she din't!" you say? Oh yes I did! I LOATHE this book! If I could stop everyone from reading it I would!

If you're going to write a book about bullying, revenge and this much anger, shouldn't at least one character walk away having learned something? Not some people's opinion. *rolls eyes*

Cliche fest in the guise of originality. :( This one broke my heart and I'm still holding a grudge.