The Chapters Gig

Perhaps some of you care about the goings on in my life so I thought I might share a bit about how work is going. To recap, I got a job at Chapters which is a big Canadian book store (I never realized that people might not know what it is since it's huge in Canada but not anywhere else.) for the seasonal time and got kept on to work part time. It's pretty much my dream job since I love reading so I just get to be surrounded by books.

Welcome to Introverts Anonymous

I go through ups and downs in my opinion towards having a job there. I am SO NOT a people person so having to interact with that many people tires me out and approaching them to ask if I can help them even though most of the time they don't want any still scares me. It feels like I'm putting myself out there and then am getting rejected even though it's not me they don't want to talk to, they just want to shop alone. It sucks cause being introverted means you need to be alone to recharge so I need lots of recharging time after spending a couple hours surrounded by people and talking to people and being all bright and cheery even when people don't deserve a bright and cheery me.


But when I start thinking these thoughts, I rationalize that if I had any other job, I would have the same deal with all the people but I wouldn't care about the product. The fact that I am surrounded by books and get to recommend awesome books to people more than compensates for anything. I imagine working at a drugstore or something where there's monotone everyday items and know that I would hate it the whole time since I would feel no connection. There is no better feeling than finding a voracious reader that has read all the mainstream books like The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Fault in Our Stars and Warriors and giving them a bunch of equally amazing books like The True Meaning of Smekday, Graceling, Enclave or Heist Society.

Also, the type of people that shop there are the best kind. I get so many teachers that are selflessly using the Chapters gift cards they got for Christmas to buy more books for the classroom. Once you get past the book convos and learn about people's lives, it really is fun talking to them. I met this one girl that was only 10 but training really hard to be a professional figure skater. Who knows, maybe she'll be in the Olympics one day. One little girl bought a doll and whispered to her mother that she was going to name it after me. Proudest moment of my life right there. (I work in the kids section which is why I have so many anecdotes about children.)

Most of my co-workers are older than me so I'm mostly a fly on the wall to the conversations in the staff room since I know nothing about taxes or cleaning up after my children. However, they are all very nice to me and ask about school all the time. All the managers are so nice and the atmosphere of all the employees is amazing. Especially when I hear the horror stories my friend tells me of her manager who calls her ugly "jokingly" sometimes.

About that "everyone who works there is way older" thing, it makes me super proud of myself to have landed the job because it's a really rare thing for someone my age to do it.

In conclusion, I'm glad this is the job I have to pay my way through university but I am SO GLAD it's not permanent and that I can go get a research job where I can wear jeans and not talk to people for hours. It's perfect for my current situation so I hate to complain just because it's tough sometimes.

Outpost Review

cover could've been better.

I don't know why this series isn't as popular as all the other dystopian books like The Hunger Games or Divergent! It is pretty original and really pulls you in. It's also not as fat (meaning around 350 pages) as the previously mentioned books so it's a nice read for people who don't like too many pages.

INFO
Title: Outpost
Author: Ann Aguirre
Previous Book in Series: Enclave
Goodreads Summary:

Deuce’s whole world has changed. Down below, she was considered an adult. Now, topside in a town called Salvation, she’s a brat in need of training in the eyes of the townsfolk. She doesn’t fit in with the other girls: Deuce only knows how to fight.
To make matters worse, her Hunter partner, Fade, keeps Deuce at a distance. Her feelings for Fade haven’t changed, but he seems not to want her around anymore. Confused and lonely, she starts looking for a way out.
Deuce signs up to serve in the summer patrols—those who make sure the planters can work the fields without danger. It should be routine, but things have been changing on the surface, just as they did below ground. The Freaks have grown smarter. They’re watching. Waiting. Planning. The monsters don’t intend to let Salvation survive, and it may take a girl like Deuce to turn back the tide.

I really, really enjoyed this book. It was never slow, you got all the intenseness from the beginning and it kept you hooked until the end. Where it obviously leaves you with a minor cliffhanger.

Regarding the plot, I was a little sad for Deuce and Fade and everyone that things weren't calm for a long while before the storyline got more interesting but what kind of book would that have been.

Regarding the characters, I just love Deuce so much. I am her, pretty much. Minus the lack of knowledge surrounding normal human things and the fighting ability. But her determination to prove herself capable of anything a guy can do and to not be seen as weak is an attribute I have as well. I hate talking about feelings and things like that and don't do it often if I can help it.

Regarding the love triangle, I am kind of glad it is less of a thing than it could be. Deuce makes her choice and though she doubts herself, she's not one of those wishy-washy girls that can't decide between these two boys that normally she doesn't even deserve. (Except Deuce does deserve amazing guys.)

Regarding the fact that it is a second book and doesn't suck, I am pleasantly surprised! Even Insurgent didn't really meet my expectations and succumbed itself to second book syndrome but Outpost steered pretty clear of it! At the beginning, Deuce and Fade were a little distant and that was kind of annoying since authors tend to make the love interest not hang out as much because of some HUGE misunderstanding but they resolved their differences soon enough that I wasn't too put off. And the book did have some content as well, it wasn't just a huge lead-up to the third and final book; actual things happened. So I am pleased.

I really recommend this series! It deserves all the recognition of all the hot and popular books of the moment. And do tell me if you were ahead of the game and already know about this book or even if I have introduced you to something that you love/hate!