Book Juggling

Imagine that literally?

In this case, I'm talking about being in the middle of reading multiple books at a time. This is a thing that I do. My average is 3 books at a time.

Why exactly I do this is because I have different moods for what I'm reading. Sometimes I just really want to breeze through a mindless chick lit novel while other times I am so down for complicated subplots and dragons. There are even times when the main character of a book will just be annoying me too much and I will set that book down and pick up another because there is never a shortage of books in my house.

Another reason that just popped into my head is convenience. I am the kind of person that will just start a new book if the one I was reading at the time was in my room and I was on the couch. This way, I can just leave a book in all my reading locations and not have to wonder where I set it down last. You could come into my house and find a book on the kitchen table, beside my bed, on the floor near the couch, in my backpack and even sometimes in the bathroom.

It almost feels weird to only have one book on the go but that rarely happens anyway. There's nothing worse than not knowing what to do with yourself once you've finished a book so being in the middle of two other stories makes the brain shift that much easier. Just as long as no characters have the same name, it's quite simple to keep everything straight in my head.

Question: what are your book reading habits? Are you a big book juggler? Do you have any weird reading locations? Please share in the comments!

Books I'm Annoyed At Myself For Not Reading The Second They Came Out

This list is bigger than it should be. What usually happens is I'm super pumped for the book but the release date is in like 6 months and since I don't want to go through the emotional trauma of actually thinking about the book and its non-releasedness, I just shove it to the back of my mind and forget about it.

Of course, me being me, I go ahead and forget about the very existence of the book (unless it is constantly shoved in my face and reminders pop up everywhere AHEM John Green books) and it enters the world without me noticing. Suddenly reviews and people raving about it pop up and I'm late to the party. I have to order it at the library and then wait for it to come and then add it to my To Be Read pile and then I can finally join the club of "I have read this book and can now form an opinion about it".

Currently on this list:
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Like why did I not just sit inside a bookstore with this book until I finished it on its release day not caring about the looks the workers give me?? Tumblr is obsessed with it and I am obsessed with Rainbow's books so it would make sense but not I'm just sitting here in confusion while the internet goes on about a Cath and a Simon Snow?

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
This I'll admit I have just been lazy. I'm not too obsessed with The Infernal Devices books but still, it's the last book in the trilogy. Is it that hard to pick it up, power through the 500 pages and finally get an ending? And then I can make a judgement on whether the ending was too vague and non-conclusionary or completely perfect and two thumbs up. (I'm a major critic of endings. They must be just right or I will be grouchy. Maybe I should delve into that in a later post.)


Inheritance by Christopher Paolini
Again with the endings thing. This is the last book in an intense series so why don't I just read it? It's literally been out for years so the library line can't be that long but I still cannot manage to make myself do it. This one has a common sense reason: it's too long. Yes, I am funny capable of reading something of that length but do I want to expend the effort it will take to read it? Do I want to get stuck in the rut where I've read more than 300 pages yet I'm still not halfway done the book? Or worse, do I want to get sucked into the book and disregard the rest of my life just so I can devour it? The answer is no. My brain is rationalizing all these thoughts and it really doesn't want to go through all the effort and I don't blame. What I'm thinking is that when I have zero responsibilities aka once this semester is over, I will jump into this book. For sure.

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga
I literally know nothing about this book except that it's semi popular and it sounds like it would be Dexterish which is a thing that I like. But even though it really intrigues me, I haven't picked it up mainly because I don't know what do expect. Most books I read have been read by many other people that I know and there is usually a general consensus of what to expect from the book. Maybe I haven't done enough research but this book really isn't popping up on my radar enough for me to get the gist of what is going to go down in it. I will read it some day because I would be so upset with myself if I didn't discover a major good book in my own without just sheeping it out and reading the latest bestsellers only. (Example of this happening was Graceling by Kristin Cashore which was one of the best decisions I ever made so doing it again with this book would not make me sad at all.)

If you want to know more about me and my relationship with books, check me out on Goodreads and Booklikes!

In The Presence Of Presents

My mom likes to do this thing where, if I'm with her while she buys a present for me, she will keep that present hidden until she thinks I've forgotten all about it and then can surprise me at the next present-giving occasion.

The thing is, I don't usually forget. I'm just waiting for it to happen. But sometimes, my mother will keep it hidden past like 3 to 4 gift-giving occasions. And I'm stuck with the dilemma of wanting to remind her and not wanting to because she'll keep it tucked away for even longer.

Right now there is a DVD of Fantastic Mr. Fox (which I've never seen but it is one of my favourite Roald Dahl books so I really want to see it.) somewhere in my house and it has been there for at least a year and I'm dying.

Say NO to Mind Reading

If you are randomly asked which super power you'd want if you could have any one, chances are that mind reading comes to mind. And who wouldn't love to know exactly what your friends thought or all the deepest darkest secrets of your coworkers. In theory, it's pretty sweet.

Now, think about what this actually means. You will be able to hear in your own head whatever is running through the minds of however many people who are within a certain radius of you. All those thoughts will be piled up on top of each other as each person's separate inner monologue takes place within your brain. And they never go quiet, do they?

Here's an example of what is literally running through my brain while I'm in the middle of typing this:

what if I have don't have anything interesting to say I mean think obviously cause it's in my brain but anyway oh snap I need to study for my math test it's in let's see today is friday because I have youth group tonight and we're doing something with toilet paper kinda interesting sounding I hope Jason is there but then the next day is saturday then sunday then monday so technically three more days and I totally forgot what happened before christmas break was that trig functions or maybe rates but we did rates with every type of function but we had to learn it at some point wait wasn't there that thing with an h that equaled zero what if it's on the exam and I can't remember how to use it

This has probably gone on long enough for you to get a glimpse of how you just literally think things non stop and they run into each and overlap and jump all over the place. And that's just the main part, there's other things like the song you have stuck in your head plus maybe a part of you that's processing what's going on around you.

I really don't think a person could stay sane with all these intimate thoughts from so many people they might not even know happening inside their head. Would you even be able to distinguish your own thoughts amidst the foreign ones?

ALL the words

Not to be the party pooper, I was just thinking of how seriously unfun that super power would be when it comes down to the finite details that no one actually thinks to think about.

Prodigy: a Review

Goodreads says:

June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

I say:

Ok, so Prodigy is the sequel to the book Legend by Marie Lu. I loved Legend so I had high expectations for this next installement.

And I have to say, it did not disappoint! You see, usually in these trilogy books, the middle one is a little boring and/or pointless because you already know everyone and the premise has been introduced but it's not quite time for the big showdown at the end where all is resolved and you can happily stop wondering every second what is going to happen next while you wait for the next publication date. Also, for some reason, a second love interest comes into play (they're starting to introduce him earlier on but back in my day you met him once the second book rolled around.) and that gets really annoying. ANYWAY, all that was to explain why second books usually don't tend to be good and why it's awesome that Prodigy didn't turn out that way.

This book could've been its own story aside from the fact that you wouldn't really know how they got to the part where it starts off.

I really liked how you got both perspectives from the main characters, June and Day. Not even just to get more storyline when they're in two different places but to know what they're thinking of their situation and of each other. Segueing from that, I also liked how their relationship was real. It wasn't love at first sight, they're getting to know each other better, having doubts but still trying. It's not perfect at all times but what relationship is? That was awesome to see instead of one where there is only instant attraction from some helpless female and a mysterious dude. (QUESTION: What was the first book that popped into your head when I said that?)

The secondary characters were great, it was nice to get to know some, like Kaede and Tess, better.

As for the plot, I never know how much to give away since I hate having things ruined for me personally but I still need something to talk about. I guess I'll stay within whatever Goodreads says as the description. They inevitably team up with the Patriots since both are against the Republic. It was kind of random that the Elector just dies but since this story is happening in a book and not in real life, it's ok for things like that to happen because it makes for a better story. I just like how it turned out, with each of them learning more about how people and places have more than one side, including ones you never saw coming. (Major twist near the end, props if you saw it coming cause it's sure blindsided me!)

Overall, conclusionary statement that I'm not very good at making: This book was tres tres good. Legend was a wee bit better, but then again, Legend was earth-shatteringly good so what do you expect. June and Day are both strong characters that can both be fine without the other but also depend on each other if that makes any sense at all. The plot is fast-paced and riveting so don't be starting with a massive deadline looming.

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.

2012 End Of Year Book Survey

1. Best Book You Read In 2012? (You can break it down by genre if you want)

NOT GOING TO CHEAT. I have to say The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Seriously, this book made me laugh, cry, and want to throw it across the room. That's pretty talented for an inanimate object.

(Shameless self advertisement: Read my review! http://thecontentsofmy-brain.blogspot.ca/2012/10/how-to-cry-for-half-hour.html)

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

HANDS DOWN Rebel Heart by Moira Young. I adored Blood Red Road and recommended it to everyone I knew whether they wanted a recommendation or not and even the people who weren't asking who ended up reading it loved it. It was just that good. So obviously I was PUMPED for the sequel. But it did disappoint me a little. I didn't hate it in the slightest, it was just not as good as I hoped.

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012? 

I was most pleasantly surprised by Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake. The only reason I read it was because it kept appearing on people's favourites lists so even though the blurb didn't really draw me in, I decided to go for it. And I'm glad I did.

4. Book you recommended to people most in 2012?

Probably Blood Red Road. It's a known book, but it's not a "thing" the way Hunger Games or Divergent is. So while everyone knew about those two, I could recommend this book and they wouldn't have already heard of it! 

I think these things through.

 5. Best series you discovered in 2012?

This is a hard questions to answer because it's been a year of sequels for me. Lots of the books I read in 2011 came out with sequels and that's what I've been keeping up with so I've gotta think hard for a series I discovered this year...

I GOT IT! It's a tie between Cinder by Marissa Meyer and Legend by Marie Lu. They're both so inventive and they draw you in and make you want to find out what happens next. But, alas, these are the first books so I've got some time before the next installments come out to sate me.

 

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?

I have to give this one to Kody Keplinger. Her books are not of the dystopian genre, which is mostly what I read. They are just stories of life and boys and normal things but they are SO WELL WRITTEN. I don't know how she does it at such a young age but she is amazing at capturing exactly the right feelings for everything. I mean, she was my age when she wrote her first book. 

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

I'm going with outside of my genre being non-fiction. So I read Ellen DeGeneres' biography called Seriously...I'm Kidding and laughed my butt off the whole way and also How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming by Mike Brown which was perfect for me. It told a story, was funny and had science!

 

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?

Enclave, by Ann Aguirre, was such a great book! It was one of those where everything just kept happening and just as you found out something, another thing popped up that you needed to find the answer to and couldn't possibly put it down to go to school or some other trivial thing.
Luckily, it is relatively short compared to the kind of books that I read normally so it was finished in an afternoon and I didn't have to go through drastic measures to keep reading it.

 

9. Book You Read In 2012 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year:

I will most likely reread The Hobbit by the great JRR Tolkein. I read it over the summer to prepare myself for the one week we had that was Hobbit themed at my camp but since the movie has come out, I'll probably watch it and then end up rereading it sometime in January to compare the movie version and book version.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?

Cinder and A Million Suns by Marissa Meyer and Beth Revis, respectively, take the cake in this category. Cinder was especially creative when combining the slipper from the Cinderella story along with the cyborg twist. And then I love outer space and A Million Suns' cover was so gorgeous!

11. Most memorable character in 2012? 

I'd say I remember Deuce from Enclave by Ann Aguirre the most. She was capable, fought for what she believed in and never let someone else do something for her that she could do herself.

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2012?

I'm sorry. But beautifully written prose doesn't get to me unless you include confusing me. I need my books given to me straight up, no implying and dancing around the point. And if it doesn't confuse me, then I don't notice if it's nicely written because I am too engrossed in the story. Shout out to all the books that fall under this category that I didn't notice. You guys were great.
But I need a book here so why not Mo Willems Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs. Props if you've read it and double props if you found the Easter egg from Willem's previous books. (Hint: PIGEON)

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012? 

Took me a while to go through my mental list (slash Goodreads list) of books but when I happened upon Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay I knew it was definitely the one. The first half made you so hopefully and then reality struck and it just made you realize that life probably won't have a storybook ending.

 

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read? 

If I Stay by Gayle Forman. This book came out in 2009 and I only read it last year? What was wrong with me. It was a very intricate story with flashbacks from her life before and you never actually knew what her choice would be until it happened. Tres good. And I liked the sequel even better.

 

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2012?

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer had so many amazing quotes that were very true but also were funny in an understated way. Such as:

"Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad books."

"Isola doesn't approve of small talk and believes in breaking the ice by stomping on it." 

"I don't want to be married just to be married. I can't think of anything lonelier than spending my life with someone I can't talk to, or worse, someone I can't be silent with."

 

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2012? 

SHORTEST: Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems. I still read picture books. How can you just stop reading something you totally grew up with?

LONGEST: Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore. Fun fact, this book came out super near my birthday yet I had to wait for it at the library. I dropped major hints about wanting it as a present but the friends and family did not take heed.

 17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!

I'm just going to give this to The Fault in Our Stars by John Green because can you really beat the plot twist of all plot twists? The one that you could NEVER imagine coming and makes you want to read more but also want to make a pyre and burn the book for playing with your emotions? I don't know how my friend (who read it before) me held it in because that is pretty much impossible. You just NEED to tell someone about the injustice of it all.

18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).

Liesel and Rudy's relationship in The Book Thief by Mark Zusak was beyond adorable. Even though they spent most of it as a friendship and only started liking each other near the end, it was just perfect. All their adventures and them being there for each other. I want that.

19. Favorite Book You Read in 2012 From An Author You Read Previously.

Actually, most of the books I read in 2012 were sequels so that's going to be a toughie. Let's just go with Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore because her books are among the tippy top of my favourites list. I had read Graceling and Fire and just fell in love with that world so when it comes to another installment the only answer is YES PLEASE.

20. Best Book You Read That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:

I am pretty independent in my book-choosing methods so pretty much none of them were recommendations.  I'm the one that gives the recommendations out to other people. I'm like their Jedi Master teaching them the way of the good books. But my friend lent me the book called The History of the World According to Facebook by Wylie Overstreet which she told me was really good and I think that counts even though I knew about it before. PS it is hilarious and really good.

Looking Ahead

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2012 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2013?

So many books literally everything is something I want to read and there is never enough time. There's Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green because I NEED to have read every single book of his and also Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor since everyone's been raving about that one and Incarnate by Jodi Meadows because I actually started that but never got a chance to finish it and now I feel bad. 

And those are just some.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2013?

- Shades of Earth by Beth Revis

- Prodigy by Marie Lu

- Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

- Mind Games by Kiersten White

- Just One Day by Gayle Forman

...to name a few.

3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2013?

For sure I need to read a minimum of 100 books, that is always a goal I achieve every year and I'm not about to stop now. Also I want to read more non-fiction, especially brain books because they interest me soooo much!

As for the blog I'd like to have a wider audience, maybe 15 followers by the end of the year (I know, aiming high.), and also be able to connect with readers and other bloggers alike, get in on the community of blogging since I am just a noob now.

These are ALL the books I read last year, you can just paste this into the URL thingy at the top of your internet to see them! I'm sad I couldn't mention every one in this End of Year Book Survey so here's their chance to shine.

http://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/216833

Also, sorry for the slightly late post. Technically I'm still in January so 2012 is recent enough!

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!

Zombies are NOT my thing

I just finished reading the book This Is Not A Test by Courtney Summers and am terrified.

Goodreads summarizes it as: It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

The fact that they were so powerless against the zombies was terrifying and I was just sinking further and further into the couch as I read those scary parts.

I finished the book mainly because I wanted to know how they managed to get out of this situation but I did not enjoy scaring myself as I read. I do get adrenaline rushes from reading some scary books (Living life on the edge, I know.) but this was not my cup of tea.

The characters and all their problems and interactions were actually really good though so that made reading this a little less awful.

So I can't really say I recommend this book since I didn't really enjoy it but if you enjoy the good old zombie thriller that still manages to have some kissing in it, go for it.

Job Update

I have amazing news! Remember a week ago when I talked about how I got my second interview at Chapters? Well, I got a call yesterday and it's official! I am now an employee at Chapters!

I literally could not stop smiling for the remainder of the day.

Right now I am filling out paperwork which should be boring but I don't even care because I am so happy that I can finally stop job hunting and that I work somewhere that I love.

NaNoWriMovember

Has your bookish friend suddenly gone into hibernation and whenever you see them there is a crazed glint in their eyes? Have some of your guy friends randomly decided they want to look similar to pedophiles regarding facial hair?

Well, if this is true and you have no idea why, then have I got an explanation for you.

Regarding your scraggly mustachioed fellow, he's probably participating in Movember! It's when people of the male gender do not shave their mustaches to raise money and awareness for prostate cancer.
I think it's a great idea because men are always happy to show off how much hair they can sprout from their face and it's a funny way to bring attention to something serious.

As for your bookish friend, they are probably participating in NaNoWriMo. It stands for National Novel Writing Month. This is when you begin writing a full-sized, 50 000+ word novel on the first of November and must complete it within the month. Then, with this hastily and sleep depriving novel finished, you can enter it into the official website and you just may win the contest!
It something that writers really enjoy because it really makes you focus on putting your thoughts onto paper and is a great way to be "discovered" as a new author since everyone is judged equally. (I hope.)


And that is what is up and popular this month.

Chapters, why must you play with my heart?

A little background info:
3 weeks ago today, I went in for an interview at Chapters. Working there is basically my dream job because books so I was super excited and had all my hopes up and everything. I felt that the interview went really well, I knew my stuff and didn't seem nervous on the outside. (Although on the inside it's a completely different story.) I figured I'd wait a week before actually expecting a callback since I went on the first day of a week full of interviews, according the the manager who spoke to me.
But, nothing. Eventually I accepted that I wouldn't get a callback and why did I get my hopes up so high since I'm not even an English major or anything so why would they pick me. (My thoughts are always run-on sentences. This is the most accurate I could make it.)

BUT THEN

THE MOST TWISTY PLOT TWIST OF ALL

it's a plot twist, ok?

I got a telephone call this afternoon. I thought nothing of it until I heard the voice of that very manager asking me to come back for my second interview in two days.

My reaction (after I had calmly answered in a calm and completely not uncalm fashion) was to start hyperventilating and smiling and just lay down on the floor for a while. Then I told everyone who would actually care and then I sent a quick thank you prayer up to God cause, seriously, those were some major strings he pulled.

I am literally so happy right now because I am one step closer to actually being employed and to boot it would hardly feel like work when it's basically helping people find awesome books and just shelving stuff. (Which I kind of enjoy.)

Me right now

The interview is on Wednesday so I shall keep you in the loop!

Why I Love the Library

Ok, seriously. About half my posts are book-related. THIS ISN'T ALL I DO. I swear there are other things that I enjoy and that are going on my life. For realz.

But I want to enumerate some reason why I love the library.

1. Free books. Have you ever heard a better pair of words? (Probably. Like, "no cancer" or "bellybutton lint") If I were to buy every single book I've ever read, I would either not read very often due to brokeness or not care that I was broke and buy them anyways and be in debt to a loan shark and they'd steal my house and I'd cry. Either situation is unpleasant so YAY for libraries. There's no limit to how many books I can take out, there's no continuous or start-up fee, it's amazing! The sole purpose of a library is to give everyone a chance to readas much as possible. It's sweet.
2. Pretty layouts. If you think about it, libraries are pretty much art-holding-buildings. They are where carefully crafted volumes of words are kept so it makes sense that the actual place is artsy too. Every library I've been to has had it's own unique flair that makes it just gorgeous to be standing in. I don't mean old-fashioned, beautiful stone structures or whatever, although those are great, I mean lots of colours, cozy nooks, tons of posters and just an openness to having people being there. It's pretty awesome.
3. Nice people. This is a stereotype, but it's a nice one so shh. It seems to me that libraries are only filled with nice people. Moms with their little kids zigzagging through the shelves, scholarly men who are looking for something to relax to, teenagers that aren't partying and upsetting the balance of the universe with their reckless and atrocious behaviour. Cause reading is for everyone but those that really enjoy it are the quiet nicer type, in my opinion, and the library is where we all flock. The only place you can find a nicer group of people is at a blood bank.

These are the biggies that come together to create all the small perks of libraries like studying with your friend or finding your next favourite book because it was recommended by the person browsing beside you. It's just so nice to have libraries.

The Casual Vacancy

Yeah, not for a while.

So I finally go around to putting JK Rowling's new book, The Casual Vacancy, on hold at the library but it doesn't look like I'll be reading it any time soon. I am number 1341 in the waiting list.

The strange thing is that the library apparently only has 75 copies. Like, this is JK Rowling, who wrote the Harry Potter books, who is pretty much a legend and you didn't expect the next thing she publishes to be in extremely high demand? If the Percy Jackson series needs over 100 copies, then JK Rowling's grocery list will need over 100 copies, nevermind and actual new book written by her. This just confuses me. (ALSO: No offense Percy Jackson fans & Rick Riordan, I love the series but the fanbase is not even comparable to HP's.)


Back to the actual book, I'm not dying from not being able to read it right-now-at-this-very-second-and-no-sooner-or-else-bad-things-that-I-can't-bring-to-mind-will-happen because it's written for adults so I don't know what that will entail and the subject, to be honest, doesn't really draw me in. I am a teenager, therefore I read teen books. Adult books have never really been a thing for me unless you count the random neuroscience books on synesthesia and left-handedness and other interesting mind things that I read from time to time. (It's really interesting, ok? I can feel you judging me...) So I'm not sure whether the style of writing will appeal to me or whatever the difference is between adult and teen novels.

I will end up reading The Casual Vacancy and I'll see if I like it but I don't have mega high hopes and I can wait however long that is necessary until I get my hands on it. The end.               

Potato

I've noticed that while I'm fully comfortable with teachers and random people on the internet reading what I write, I am completely uncool with anyone in my immediate family with doing so.

I have absolutely no explanation to why. It should be the opposite, shouldn't it? I act like my true self around them that doesn't come out at school or in public. Well, I guess school is public but I like having multiple examples so whatever. So it should make sense that whatever I write down will be taken the same way as I act with my family.

But I just can't. My mom will read the same essay that my teacher just read over and thoroughly destroyed with the red pen (cause even though I've got a blog that I like to write in, English is not my strongest subject. My theory is that I'm way to funny in writing for my teachers to handle.) and I'll feel all apprehensive and all these other emotions I didn't whilst handing the essay in for class.

I don't actually know where I'm going with this, I've just noticed and decided to share. You can over-analyse me if you'd like and tell me about it in THE COMMENTS. Cause they exist. And you could totally post there. And make me feel better about myself.

Oh gosh, when I am a super popular blogger that gets ARC to review I'm going to look back on these first posts and be like "Wow, I used to have to beg people to comment on stuff. I was so pathetic."

How To Cry for Half an Hour

So I finished The Fault in Our Stars last night. I figured it would only take a day since John Green is such a good writer (if I swore, I would've used some extra words to describe his ability to write) and then me and my friend obviously need to rehash the entire book together at school today. Obviously.

TFiOS hat!

This is a good of a time to mention it: since I already used the picture of the cover of the book in a post and I am in no way, shape or form a picture repeater, I have decided to fill this post with all the TFiOS swag I've seen while roaming the internet.

So I loved it. Augustus Waters is the most perfect boy known to humankind and it's really a shame that he's fictional. But then again, every girl in the world would absolutely hate each other since we're all going for the same guy.
And their conversations were hilarious and also deep which, congrats John Green, I don't normally enjoy but these were pretty enjoyable. But I don't know if I want to be on the side that says "Normal teenagers don't talk or think like that. We're all awkward and just not anything close to that." or on the one that's all like "That's cause they weren't normal teenagers. They'd never had normal lives and had lots of time to develop all these thoughts about life."
The plot was perfect, there was so much fit into it, like Augustus and Hazel met, they went on adventures, some heart-wrenching things happen and that was the best I could do to tell you stuff without spoiling anything at all. At least I didn't just start a sentence and then stop.
And, of course, with about 80 pages of the book left to read, I started bawling. It really was that sad. And I knew it was going to be sad so I didn't promise to myself that I wouldn't cry. So I literally cried from then until the end of the book. It was just so sad and I didn't want it to happen but it had to.
What surprised me was that the ending was really good. Like once we got passed the horribleness, the tying up the loose ends went very well. Normally, authors just leave you a little too soon before you're ready to be let go and there are a lot of unanswered questions (Except Eva Ibbotson. Love that woman. Her loose ends and triple-knotted and covered in bubble wrap.) but this book managed to answer those questions and also make me happy and have hope and smile.

So yeah. Anything I read in the next while is just going to SUCK in comparison.

Annnd, since I am a Quotations Girl, here are my favourites:

cutest thing of life

“I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, then all at once.”

“Oh, I wouldn't mind, Hazel Grace. It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you.” 

“Books so special and rare and yours that advertising your affection feels like a betrayal.” 

"...the existence of broccoli does not, in any way, affect the taste of chocolate.” 

"Tomorrow?" he asked.
"Patience, grasshopper," I counseled. "You don't want to seem overeager. 
"Right, that's why I said tomorrow," he said. "I want to see you again tonight. But I'm willing to wait all night and much of tomorrow." I rolled my eyes. "I'm serious," he said. 


“And I wondered if hurdlers ever thought, you know, 'This would go faster if we just got rid of the hurdles.” 

Gus's father: "Our children are weird."
My dad: "Nicely phrased.” 

My Emotion is I-Want-To-Punch-You-In-The-Face

Not you specifically, I barely know you. Although that could be remedied if anyone COMMENTED.

Anyway. Completely off topic there.

My friend just lent me her copy that I gave to her for her birthday of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. (No, I totally did not premeditate that by buying her a copy I could forgo the massive line waiting for me if I ordered it from the library.) And I have been reading it whenever I could all of today. Secretly during chem class, all of my spare and while my sister was hogging the computer.

Now let's zone in on when I was reading it during my spare. I was sitting with the very same friend who will be known in this post as The Owner of the Book and a friend from Data class who will be known as The Spoiler. The Owner is raving about the book as I'm reading it, starting and stopping in the middle of her sentences as she tries to convey the awesomeness of the book while not actually telling me any details. The Spoiler knows nothing of the book but steals it from me and reads the blurb in the front jacket flap. (Side note, isn't it cute how they're called jackets? Like the book is getting all dressed up? Or is it just me? Thought so.) He then proceeds to GUESS THE PLOT TWIST and say it out loud. Now, let's just say that my dear, dear Owner of the Book friend would be terrible at poker as she just does not own a poker face. Maybe it got lost in the mail. Maybe she was given faulty information of when and where we were to obtain them. Who knows. But she completely gives it away that that indeed is the plot twist that left her bawling alone on her couch.
That's when I declared my emotion to be I-Want-To-Punch-You-In-The-Face.

I have tried to push what he said to the back of my mind and carry on enjoying the book play by play but it was incredibly annoying to have it spoiled like that.

Sorry for any vagueness about what the actual plot twist is but I felt like this is the kind of thing you should not pay forward so for anyone who hasn't read the book, I won't spoil what it is for you.

I might possibly do a book review for it (without spoilers, calm your muffins) when I'm finished but I'll have you know I kind of suck at reviewing books. But then again, not being able to sing doesn't stop people who can't sing from singing.

Shout out to John Green for being awesome and writing The Fault in Our Stars.

DFTBA

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