Musing Monday #9

Musing Monday is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and here's our question for today:

Below is a link to an NPR discussion about the simple fact that there’s no way you can read, see and experience all the things that are available to be experienced. The two methods for dealing with it areculling (i.e., cutting out certain genres that don’t interest you, etc.) orsurrender (i.e., just making peace with the facts and enjoying what you can in the time that you have).

http://www.npr.org/2011/06/27/137451477/you-cant-possibly-read-it-all-so-stop-trying

So, do you cull, or do you surrender? Or do you do both?

I will cut out certain genres because they are uninteresting to me (based on past attempts). But there are some genres I'll give in to and read, and enjoy. So..... both. I've opened the way for a lot of newer types of books. Just last night I was realizing that I've been reading a lot of books that are depressing/sad lately (losing loved ones that you're close to, etc.), and I used to not do that because I didn't want to be upset over reading a book. I actually find it enriching to see how writer's express loss and hope, even if the outcome is still depressing or sad.


~Jessica

Musing Monday #8 ~ TWLOHA

Musing Monday is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and here's our question for today:

Have you ever read a book that inspired you to take up a cause? What book was it, and what is/was the cause?

I'm not sure if the book or the cause came first, but I will say YES. The book is Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher and the cause is To Write Love On Her Arms. For those who are unfamiliar with one or both, I will give a brief description of them. Thirteen Reasons Why is the story of Hannah Baker and the 13 reasons why she decided to commit suicide. It's an intense series of events that cause you to understand what is going on in the mind of somebody who can't handle life anymore. She sends these tapes chronicling these reasons to everyone who was involved in leading to her to that point. Taken from the TWLOHA's website, their vision: To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery. It breaks my heart to hear of people who can't handle life anymore. These people in living in their pain every day need hope. Hope is Real. Help is Real. Your story is important. This is what they tell everyone. I believe that they helped a lot of people, and they continue to help a lot of people.

For more information on Thirteen Reasons Why and To Write Love On Her Arms:
http://www.thirteenreasonswhy.com/
http://www.twloha.com/
https://www.facebook.com/towriteloveonherarms


~Jessica

Musing Monday #7, Teaser Tuesday #8, & Waiting On Wednesday #8

Musing Monday is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and here's our question for today:

Do you like movies made from books? Which ones do you think have been done well — kept mostly to the plot of the book, etc?

Sometimes. Making a book into a movie is hard work. Some books you can cut out a bunch of unnecessary scenes and make a good movie. Other books, there are so many important scenes that need to be made to make the movie believable and enjoyable. One that I'm sure MANY people will say does not live up to the book is Twilight. I would like to say that New Moon and Eclipse were MUCH better. Anne Of Green Gables was done well too. The sequels however, no comment. Lol.

~*~

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

"Behind them the morning fog shrouds the window, like the house is hovering inside a cloud. Standing in the doorway I'm filled with the same scared, hollow feeling I get when I see abandoned houses, ones with weeds growing through the front steps, paint cracked and dirty, windows broken and boarded up."


~The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

~*~

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly book meme where we get to let everyone know about what books we are eagerly anticipating the release of. WoW is hosted by Jill over at Breaking The Spine. Want to participate? Grab the logo on her page, post your own WoW entry on your blog, and leave your link on her blog!


Here's what I'm waiting on...

The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder

Amber’s life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.
Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell he’s also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.

The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she’s drawn to him. And the more she’s troubled by his darkness. Because Cade’s not just living in the now—he’s living each moment like it’s his last. ~from Goodreads


All caught up, and one ahead on tomorrow. Lol. Have a great day!

~Jessica

Musing Monday #6

Musing Monday is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and here's our question for today:


What’s the last thing you stayed up half the night reading because it was so good you couldn’t put it down?

Hmm.... the last time that happened? I don't even remember specifically, it happens so much. Lately I just stay up late to finish a little bit more. If I remember correctly, it was possibly Delirium by Lauren Oliver that I stayed up late finishing last. That was a good one. I couldn't stop reading. I've done the same with Ellen Hopkins books (specifically Burned, I remember bawling my eyes out and not being able to fall asleep right away).


How about you?

~Jessica

Musing Monday #5

Musing Monday is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and here's our question for today:

Where is your favorite place to read?

Lately I've been reading sitting sideways on my bed, but sometimes in my moon chair. I kinda wish I could go outside and read more though, but being outside in the heat too long gets to me. I just need to pick out a nice day sometime.

~Jessica

Musing Monday #4

Musing Monday is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and here's our question for today:

Describe the last time you were stumped for something to read, and you took measures to remedy that — either by going to the bookstore, the library, or shopping elsewhere. What book did you choose? Did it get you out of your slump?

Well, I can't really remember anything in particular. I've always just been one to order a bunch of books, or pick up a few books from the library, and go from there. I'm sure I've been in a slump at some point. There's only one point I can think of where my reading changed a little bit.

A couple years ago, I didn't have much free time to read. I had a lot of responsibility and work to do and I was in a serious relationship. When the relationship was reaching it's end (it was going from good to bad fast at that point), that's when I picked up Twilight at the library. The movie was being advertised EVERY DAY at that point since it was getting released on DVD. I had been sort of irritated with it all at the time--I mean, everyone was just OBSESSED with it. The book was everywhere, the movie was everywhere, the actors were everywhere. There was only one thing I loved about it...

"Decode" by Paramore.

I loved that song. I adored that song. I was OBSESSED with that song. Of course, the only way to get it on CD was to buy the soundtrack to the Twilight movie. That annoyed me. But then, I couldn't help but want to know what the fuss was all about. So I picked up the book. Started reading the book. Couldn't put it down. I was staying up until, you guessed it, one in the morning to keep reading. And I had to get up early on the next day every night I did that. When I finished it, I wanted to see the movie. Then I wanted to read the other books. Before I knew it, I was getting into paranormal romance.

So there's my story. Not so much a slump per se... but just a moment where my genre's expanded and opened up a whole new world of books.

~Jessica

Musing Monday #3

Musing Monday is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and here's our question for today:

The local Catholic school board is closing its school libraries, and parents and teachers –and even the students– are in an uproar. Budget cuts demanded that the board choose something to get rid of… they choose libraries. As such, many librarians have lost their jobs. And, the board is moving the books to the classrooms, instead. They feel that it is a good solution.

What do you think? Should the schools be without an actual “library” room? Is this a good solution?

Oh man, do not get me started on schools and "budget cuts". When it comes to schools having to cut activities, the activities are always the ones involving creativity. Never sports. Ever. Yeah, I understand that sports "draw a bigger crowd", but where's the fairness? I didn't do sports in school (of course I was only in high school for one year, then homeschooled), so if they took away my library, I would have had nothing.

I understand that schools are under a lot of pressure these days. Teachers are either underpaid, or they get fired, or if another teacher gets fired it means they have a handful more kids per classroom. There are smaller logical ways to save money, and there's even the option to RAISE money with fundraisers as well. It's just a "quick fix" to cut a program rather than find other avenues to solve money problems.

The library that I frequent by my workplace had to cut it's hours. They used to be open M-F from 9-9, but now it's cut to 10-8:30 M-Tu, 9-6 W-F. It used to be so convenient to just stop by after work, but now I can only make it there once a week if I need something, sometimes not even once a month. Last time I was in there they had a bunch of various items for sale--candies, bookmarks, etc--to raise money for the library. It shouldn't have to get to that point.

It just comes down to being really sad that things get to that point.

Musing Monday #2

Musing Monday is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and here's our question for today:

Do you ever find scenes from previous books you’ve read popping into your head at random times? If so, does it bother you? If it doesn’t happen to you, why do you think that is?

Yes. I'm always having random thoughts pop into my head. Or I'll start thinking about something going on in real life, then through a course of one thought reminding me of another thought, I'll remember something from a book or a TV show or a movie. My mind wanders a lot. I don't mind it at all, it's just all part of the uniqueness that is me. Why does it happen? I wish I knew, I just continuously think and imagine and ponder.


I would do the "It's Monday! What are you reading?" too, BUT it hasn't really changed this last week. :P I should be able to do it next week though.

~Jessica

Musing Monday #1 and It's Monday! What Are You Reading #1

Musing Monday is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and here's our question for today:

Do you care if the book’s storyline is unrealistic? Will you keep reading, or will you set the book aside?

Well, it depends on how unrealistic it's supposed to be. I can't think of anything offhand to give an example... I'd guess my reaction would probably be to start skimming through the book to see how it ends. Once a book loses it's touch, or never even gets my interest, I skim. That only happens once in awhile though. I'm usually pretty good about picking out books I know I'll enjoy.


Okay! This weekly meme comes from Sheila at Book Journey. To participate, all you have to do is post what you've just finished reading last week, what you are currently reading, and what you plan on reading this week. It's a good way to find other books you may enjoy reading. Then post a link to your post on Sheila's blog at the bottom of her What are you reading? post.

Last week I read Dance With A Vampire: book number four in the Vampire Kisses series by Ellen Schreiber, Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols, and Where She Went by Gayle Forman (sequel to If I Stay). VK #4 was good as always. I was surprised at how much I loved Going Too Far, not that I didn't trust Jennifer Echols to deliver a good story (I love her books), I just didn't realize I'd get into the story line for this one. And Where She Went, that one just surpassed my expectations for the sequel.

I'm currently in the middle of several, but focusing more on a couple: Hold Still by Nina LaCour and Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty.

Up next will be some I recently picked up at the library: A Tale Of Two Pretties by Lisi Harrison (last book in The Clique series), Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey, and The Dark Divine by Bree Despain.

Til next time!

~Jessica