I Read to be Shaken Up

I feel as though I have been enlightened to a truth about myself that I hadn’t ever thought about, but feels so right. I have thought about why I read before and I thought I had answers, but nothing encompasses my reason why more than the quote above from Jennifer Donnelly’s “A Northern Light” 

What I live for in books is to be shaken up. To see the truth of things. To live in the life of someone different. To understand another’s perspective, but also for the enjoyment and contentment the fantasy and the reality combined. 

The books I carry with the deepest of affections in my heart carry important truths. They have shown me what fractions of the world is like (I say fractions because the world is larger and more maltifaucted then I ever could understand). They have inspired me to think. 

I am only half way through “A Northern Light” and it has shaken me up. These words have reminded me why I love “Tess of the D’Ubervilles” by Thomas Hardy,  a true tragedy I love for how it makes me feel. It shook me. It gave me so much hope and so much dispare and the feelings felt so raw and true. 

“A Northern Light” has made me fall even more in love with books, reading, and writing. I didn’t think that was possible! It has reminded me of why I feel so much joy at reading a book that makes me feel, well, any emotion really. If a book plays me like a fiddle and inspires terror, hope, sadness, joy, wonder, loneliness, sorrow, peace, or even anger, I will probably defend that book to the dear and say how much love I have for it because it shook me and made me feel, because it made me fall in love with the character, the world, and the well-being of those who do not exist and that for me is what is so powerful and amazing about books. 

Books have changed my life. They have opened up my mind and heart to so many different people and ideas and understanding just by not being afraid to be written as they are, full of truths, the worlds truths, the individual persons truths. I read because it reminds me that the person sitting next to me has their own life, and dreams, and sorrow, and hope. Every human being has their own book in life, and everyone deserves to have it written, should they want it, to be understood, if they wish for it. 

I read because it makes me feel connected to others on a visceral level. It has inspired in me more compassion and want to do good than any other thing in my life ever has. Books have helped me see who I am by igniting a fire in me for words, for people, and for humanity. 

I realize now that because of books and authors and being shaken, I can never be as I was before I had books. I wouldn’t regonize a me without books, because I don’t think there is a way that I could have grown as much without them. I wouldn’t care as much as I do, and life would feel grey without it. 

I believe with all my heart that words are a beautiful power. A power that changes those who allow it to touch their hearts and to be understood. 

-Till next time.

Finding Time to Read During Busy Times

Tick Tok, Tick Tok, Tick Tok, the clock inscessently moves forward. Time stops for no one, but sometime I wish I could have a time pocket where I could read for hours on end without having to worry about anything else. 

But the world is cruel and busy and I don’t get to have a pocket of timeless bliss. So I, like everyone else, have to figure out ways to give myself time to read and relax in a world were being busy is what makes the world go round. 

I always bring a book with me wherever I go. If I find myself not needing to do anything else during a moment I pull out whatever book I brought with me and read it, even if it’s just for five minutes. 

One thing I sometimes do that is bad to get some reading time is rush through something I am working on so I can get to do what I really want to do: read. This may be great for my imagination hungry mind, but it is terrible for doing things effectively. 

If I am working on something that is taking forever to do and I can’t continue because my brain is shot I give myself a pity break for a while. During these breaks I read to get some emotion back into my brain and to put some life back into my body. 

What I should be doing is organizing my priorities and getting things done earlier so I don’t have to worry about finding reading time, but sometimes, that just doesn’t work out, or more, I don’t feel like putting it to use. If I just cleaned up my act and worked on better productivity and time-management I would be doing just fine.

Time is both good and bad. I both love and hate time. But the worst feeling of all is when no matter what I do to get back to a beloved story doesn’t work. I finish one thing to be asked to do another and then another and another… Till there is no chance left. This is the feeling that has driven me to write this post. Life is only going to get busier. I never want to live in a world where there is no time to read at all. 

Blue

I’m feeling a little blue 

Down without a cause 

My heartbeat slowing

My smile turning upside down 

I’m feeling a little blue 

A pale pale blue 

Soft and sad 

Like the morning after he died 

I’m feeling a little bit blue 

My insides a bit colder now 

Hanniganimal is crashing 

I’m a quiet rushing mouse 

I’m feeling blue 

Sparkles are gone 

I’m going going gone

I feel blue 

Blue 

Blue 

Can you get me to feel Up!?

*This poem is inspired by the book A Tragic Kind Of Wonderful by Eric Lindstrom. I recieved an arc of this wonderfully authentic story in the mail yesterday and I couldn’t help but delve right in! I will be doing a full review of this story soon, so stay tuned! 

-Till next time! 

I Confess…

I confess… 

1. I am wholeheartedly obsessed with books. 

I love to read books. I love to write books. I love to talk about book. I love everything and anything having to do with…Doctor W(Wrong confession) books!

2. Spoilers fall off me like a water droplet off a leaf.

I have been spoiled many a time about the ending of a book, but when I end up reading it, the spoiler becomes a forgotten daydream and the story comes together in such a different way then I imagined to the point where spoilers don’t bother me anymore.

3. I love to hate characters (more then I should)

Sometimes when I read a story I will hate a certain character with a passion, but as the story keeps going, even if I wish that character would die, I am exteremly happy they are there. Hated characters add a certain flavor to a story, even if that character was never intended to be hated. 

4. I will rarely dislike a book I have read 

A majority of the books I have read, I have loved. No matter the book, I generally look at the positives and mostly ignore the negatives as much as possible. There are a small group of books that are the exception, but generally, I think of how hard an author must have worked to write a story and in the end I just get so lost in a book that it doesn’t matter if there was a minor thing I didn’t like. 

5. I often don’t mind if a book is poorly written

This often goes for wattpad where a lot of books are written by first time authors. I will often notice a spelling or grammar mistake and read on by like I never saw it, because I am enjoying a story so much. I love the content of a story. Minimal errors don’t really bother me. 

6. I have major bookshelf envy

When I go on Instagram and I see the sheer number of bookstagramers that have amazingly large beautiful book shelves piled sky high with books, I want to cry a little from jealousy. My only solice is the fact that I have a lifetime to grow and read as many books as I could ever want. My library grows everyday. 
What bookish confessions are you willing to let out?

What story’s irk you?

What about a story makes you so excited you can’t stand it? 

What do you love about books? 

-Till next time!

November 2016: TBR

November is going to be one of the busiest months I have ever had. Between Nanowrimo, a 10 page research paper, and anything else that may pop up I am going to have a lot of things to balance out. 

I am determined to make this month my own and complete everything that I wish to complete and I believe that I can, or so…. I tell myself. 

I will have to give up a lot of things that take up my time during this month, but the one thing I will not allow myself to give up is reading. So let’s take a look at my November 2016: Tbr! (Praying I will be able to actually read these books 😰)

The Weight of Zero by Karen Fortunati 

I am currently about halfway through this book and I can’t wait to see what happens next! I hope for so many could things to happen to Catherine! I will be writing a full review of this once I am finished. As of right now I 100% would recommend you to pick this book up and read it!

Schism by Britt Holewinski 

“My name is Andrea Christensen. I’m one of the oldest oldest people in the world.”
The first book in a new YA, dystopian trilogy, SCHISM is a story of survival, of good versus evil, and of constructing a future with only memories of childhood.
A virus, created by the smartest minds in the United States government, which is meant to target male adults in times of war, is accidentally released before testing is complete. Within weeks six billion people are eliminated from the world. The only survivors are prepubescent children. 
Five years after this catastrophic event, a young girl named Andy Christensen and her two friends are forced to leave their home in Bermuda and return to the North American continent. There, they discover that America is wild and chaotic, and people have instituted a “survival of the fittest” mentality. Andy and her friends soon band together with fellow survivors in search for a new place to call home.

I picked up this book in March intrigued by the description and what it would be like to be a child in a land without adults just trying to survive. 

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

From the second I saw this novel I wanted to sink my teeth into it… Enough said. 

Finally, 

Dorothy Must Die Stories by Danielle Paige 

I am so in the mood for a retelling. These three stories will help keep me together as I do my best to write like a madwoman during this crazy wonderful month. 

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What are you thinking of reading this month? How do you deal with trying to make time to read while you are busy? Let me know in the comments below!

-Till Next Time! 💕

Book Courtship Tag

Being new to the world of blogging I have never done a book tag before, but as I have looked around I discovered that I was really really excited to do one. 

So even though I wasn’t tagged and I don’t know where the original of this tag came from I will be doing the Book Courtship tag!
1. Initial attraction: A book you bought because of the cover-Splintered by A.G. Howard

This cover is absolutely stunning. The second I saw it I knew I had to have it. The best part, is that I ended up loving it, this book written in purple text become one of my favorite retellings of all time! This book is beautiful inside and out. 
2. First Impressions: a book you got because of the summary- Impulse by Ellen Hopkins

“on your impulse,

swallow the bottle,

cut a little deeper, 

put the gun to your chest.”

“Tony’s painful childhood memories can be quelled only through pills. Vanessa has a secret that keeps her coming back to the blade. And Conner seems to have the perfect life on the outside, but his inward battle with his parents, his peers, and himself give him one last choice — to pull the trigger.

These are three lives that would have been cut short if not for the hasty intervention by loved ones. Or fate. Now they are given a second chance at a better life — but only if they help one another, and if they find the strength to let go of their inner demons. For good.”

The summary of this book captured my attention, but the story itself captured my heart. I love this book. It’s tragedy, will forever haunt my soul. 
3. Sweet Talk: a book with great writing-The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

This book is absolutely magical. I felt as if I was actually there. The ethereal beauty of the circus was masterfully portrayed by the author. This book is gorgeous. I wish I never had to leave it. 
4. First Date: A first book in a series who made you want to pick up the rest- Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor 

My lord I never want to let go of this book. I had never read anything quite like it before. I wanted to pick up the series the very next day and I was so mad that I couldn’t. I still haven’t gotten the rest. The second I get my hands on the second book I’m going to read it till the very end. I need it in my life so badly!
5. Late Night Phone Calls: A book who kept you up all night-The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich 

This book kept me up all night because of how crazy and terrifying it is. The book is completely creepy and it sucks you in and gives you crazy nightmares. Half way through and you won’t even know what to think. 
6. Always on my mind-A book you can’t stop thinking about- The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

This book is always on my mind because I no longer own it. Several years ago I had to move and get rid of all my books. This book along with all the rest of my Julie Kagawa collection at the time is gone. It is on my mind because I miss the world. I need to read the series once more. Especially because I never got to read the newer additions to the series. I need those stories back!
7. Getting Physical: A book you love because of the way it feels- Talon by Julie Kagawa 

This book had so many grooves and ridges that it almost feels like touching scales. Not to meantion that anything having to do with dragons makes me feel warm on the inside. I simply adore the feel of this book. 
8. Meeting The Parents: A book which you would reccomend to your family and friends- Ready Player One by Ernest Cline 

This is a book that I reccomend to everyone living. This book was written so so well and it appealed to the dormant gamer inside me. It even has a doctor who reference! I ate this book up. It was delightful. 

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I tag anyone who is interested in doing this tag! I don’t know too many people in the book blogging community yet, but I am excited to start interacting with people who love books as much as I do! 

-Till next time!

 

Becoming a Bibliophile

As a young child, all I cared about was doing as I was told, staying out of trouble, and watching Disney Channel. Whenever I was home my eyes were glued to the television screen hoping that they were going to play one of the Disney princess movies I was so fond of.

Books were boring, unnecessary, and a waste of space. Why would I read when I can see a story play out on the screen?

It was not until my 5th-grade teacher introduced me to seeing books in a new light. She spoke about how books were always better than the movie version. That in order to truly experience a story you must immerse yourself in the pages of its book.

The first book she recommended to me was Twilight by, Stephanie Meyer. I decided to ask my Godmother to take me to the Borders in the mall so I could ‘Take a look around’. She took me and I walked around and stopped in front of the display table that held Twilight. I held it in my hands and asked my Godmother if I could purchase it and she consented.

I read the first two pages and set it down. It felt boring. I didn’t understand why I was so compelled to have the book in the first place.

The next day, I opened up Twilight once again. ‘I must give this book a chance.’ I thought. I started turning page after page till I was lost in it. For the first time in my life, I felt love for a book. For the first time, I gave myself to a story completely. For the first time, I fell in love with a vampire.

From then on I got in trouble for reading too much in class. I read prolifically without stopping. I was a monster.

Twilight was a gateway drug into a world of infinite possibilities. I found my joy in it. I became a bibliophile.