My 2015 Reading Challenge

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My 2015 Reading Challenge

As of January 1, 2015 I gave myself a reading challenge for the year. I planned to read 25 books between January 1^st and the stroke of midnight on December 31^st. Now I am a self-proclaimed bookworm, reading, books they’re my favorite pastime. My favorite activity when I have nothing else to do. So twenty-five books that probably doesn’t sound like a lot in theory my challenge should be somewhere in the neighborhood of fifty or one hundred; several of my Goodreads friends challenged themselves with a number that far surpasses mine.

There are a few reasons why I didn’t give myself a higher goal, why I didn’t push myself to complete a greater challenge. First and foremost, life; as any bookworm knows as much as we’d all love to sit around all day engrossed in whatever novel currently has our attention every once and a while the novel must close for a little bit. There are other responsibilities that need to be attended to on a daily basis and not all of them can be done with one’s nose buried in a book. Look I love that sometimes when things are truly slow in my office I can spend a few minutes reading, but that doesn’t mean I get to shirk my actual job responsibilities just because an incredible plot twist demands my full attention! So as difficult as it is I must admit to being a grown up and focusing my attention on other tasks for a while and return to my book later.

And you know what? Some days, as much as I love reading, as much as it relaxes me and offers an escape, sometimes a nap just sounds a whole lot better!

Okay, so life has not gotten in the way and I can read whenever I want! (If only) I still want a variety of the novels that I read. Sure there’s nothing wrong with a little fluff every now and then, a book so easy I barely need to turn my brain on to understand the content but if that’s all I read I’d be bored out of my mind! I like something that will challenge me and makes me think, something that requires my full and undivided attention lest I miss a minute detail pivotal to the entire plot. I want the books with complicated characters with layers that I have to dissect to understand. Laini Taylor’s Days of Blood and Starlight took me almost three weeks to read because I took my time with it, gave it the attention it so rightfully deserved and required. But before I became engrossed in the Taylor’s world and followed Karou on her journey between our world and elsewhere I read a piece of fluff about a girl who thought it was the end of the world because she was a twenty-one year old virgin. (Spoiler Alert: she lived, there are worse things in life than being a virgin … imagine that!)

Of course with variety you get a hit and a miss, for example City of Heavenly Fire; probably one of my biggest disappointments on my challenge list. Took me over a month to finish it because I was lacking the motivation to continue with another page. I am no quitter though and continued on as if I were actually interested in the outcome. So I had the good, the bad, the in between and I did not give up on a single one of them. I finished every book I started during my challenge period.

I fell behind schedule and read furiously to catch up, only to end up ahead of schedule at some point by four whole books! So I set myself a twenty-five book challenge because I felt twenty-five was an appropriate number in which I could enjoy what I was reading. I didn’t feel I needed to sacrifice anything just for the sake of completing my challenge. Each book I read brought something new for me to enjoy, despise, pick apart and think about long after I had closed the final cover. I allowed myself to suffer from more than one book hangover in the last year and I enjoyed every minute of them (as horrible as they seemed at the time).

Twenty-five books! Next year I think I’ll my sights a little higher, not much, but maybe a little. Who knows what 2016 will bring for me?

xoxo

A Two Star Review

Barnes & Noble

Virgin by, Radhika Sanghani

Let me start off by saying I did read this book and it was not the right choice, for me! Others have read this book and thought it was amazing! However, I read this book with a lot of skepticism and the phrase “this is not real life” floating around in my head constantly.

I’m not usually one to outright bash a book, bash an author or shame anyone else for their choices in books. I’ve come to learn that reading is entirely subjective and what I enjoy is not necessarily what someone else would enjoy. I don’t like to shame others because I have been judged for my choices; choices I still stand by and will defend until my last breath!

Every once in a while comes along a novel that I won’t recommend because I can honestly say I did not enjoy it throughout. Virgin was one of those unfortunate anomalies.

As a book that was billed as laugh out loud funny and entertaining I can say it had it’s moments, but I was more disbelieving than entertained by the situations presented. I found myself having difficulty relating to the main character and even at times annoyed by her. She was too self-deprecating for my tastes and a bit of an alarmist.

I think it’s very important for the reader to relate to the protagonist in some way, you need to connect to the person telling the story. If I, as a reader, can’t connect with the protagonist it makes it very difficult for me to relate to their feelings, insecurities, anxieties.

Ellie Kolstakis, the protagonist, felt a little unbalanced to me. She was so obsessed with facet of her being it completely cancelled out all other aspects of her life. She billed herself to the reader as a busy college student a mere semester away from graduation, but we never saw that. In her mind nothing else mattered except the fact that she was a college senior and still a virgin. In my mind I’m just amazed she didn’t end up failing out of her university program because she had such severe tunnel vision and that tunnel was not leading her to graduation.

Follow me on Goodreads for a more in depth review of my two-star rating on this book. Like I said this book had its moments, but it just was not one of my favorite choices.

Dirty Rush

"From the outside looking in, you can never understand it. From in the inside looking out, you can never explain it."

www.dirtyrushbook.com

Let me just start off by saying that I am a sorority woman and damn proud to be one! So whenever I see anything in pop culture related to Greek Life I take it with a grain of salt and a dash of skepticism. It’s no secret after all that Greek Life in general can get a bad rap from movies, TV shows, etc. MY story on the other hand is nothing media worthy or salacious, my story is simply ideal.

I joined Greek Life, specifically Delta Delta Delta, to get more involved in my school. As a commuter student at basically a suitcase school getting involved in on campus organizations seemed like the best option for me. I went to the club fairs and ultimately decided to go through Rush; Delta Delta Delta was just the most perfect fit for me. I loved the girls and their values; I’ve never once regretted signing my bid.

That being said not everyone’s situation is as ideal as mine, some stories are far more exciting! Thanks to Babe Walker & Total Sorority Move we get the compelling and wildly entertaining tale of Taylor Bell! Brand new college freshman and five-time legacy of the Beta Zeta sorority at Central Delaware University.

Dirty Rush is the exciting (albeit insane) tale of Bell’s freshman year and how she ended Rushing a sorority, something she never planned on doing when she initially set foot on campus. Being a legacy however means the BZ girls already had Taylor on radar. Like anything in life it’s essential to keep you options open, never close yourself off to anything without at least trying it, though she was initially against Rushing Taylor met the girls and found herself on a whirlwind of being recruited and offered a bid to Beta Zeta.

That was only the beginning for Taylor; the deluge of events begins after she signs her bid. Between Hell Week, parties, her first college boyfriend and of course initiation Taylor learns more about what it means to be a Greek Life woman. Alas as with all things when things are going good something has to come along to trip you up on the ride, secrets are exposed that make Taylor question every decision she made in joining BZ.  Oh and let’s not forget about the leaked sex tape which she is pinned as the star of.

Okay bear with me, I know things seem to be getting a little out of hand but trust me it’s worth the ride! Between the events that happened in Taylor’s freshman year to the portrayal of Greeks in general it’s just so outlandish why couldn’t it be well on its way to the silver screen?

Part of me thinks I should’ve been a little offended at the portrayal of Greek Life but overall the book was just so wildly entertaining I wasn’t. Of course I know that the way Greeks were portrayed could be incredibly offensive to some, but not me. The story of Taylor Bell is told in a way that fits the tone of the novel. There’s no shying away from the gory details just to spare someone else’s feelings. Her story would not anywhere near as compelling if she did tiptoe around the tough stuff. Sure, she had “sisters” stab her in the back, she had a guy flake on her when she needed him most and everything about being a Beta Zeta tested who she was as a person.

But honestly, at the heart of it all, Taylor Bell found what anyone looks for when they join any organization. Taylor Bell found sisters that were true and loyal, she learned who were really her friends and who was not worth her time. For Taylor the good outweighed the bad (and it got bad) but one bad apple did not poison the whole bunch. Her story is more than just an exposé of Greek Life; this is real life! In real life friends will betray you, in real life you’ll be tested and pushed to the breaking point. Taylor Bell’s story is about more than just the letters you wear it’s about learning who you are as a person and how to handle the curve balls.

In the final chapter when all was said and done the camaraderie I felt between Taylor Bell and her sisters is exactly the type of relationship I feel with my sisters. She found a group of girls to accept her for the person she is and who would support her through the tough times. Taylor Bell didn’t fall in love with the idea of Beta Zeta, she fell for the heart of Beta Zeta, she fell for the ideals that the organization was built upon. These are the ideals that any woman should fall in love with because for any woman looking to join a Greek organization those ideals won’t just be that of your Sorority, those ideals become yours too.

So yes this is a book I would highly recommend to any Greek woman. It's wildly entertaining and quite a ride from start to finish! 

I don't have time ...

You don’t have time for a lot of things! Why is reading any different? 

It bothers me when anyone claiming to have a passion for reading will so cavalierly utter words such as, “I don’t have time.”

You find the time! No one said you have to read a whole book in one sitting, one day, one week or one month. Time is a wonderful thing; it is always there and moving and time won’t judge you for your slow reading. Your brain will not judge you for the long lapses between chapters, it will rejoice in the moments that you allow it to spend in an imagined world.

Reading is a passion like any other and if you truly are passionate about it you will find the time to feed that passion. A few pages here, a chapter or two there, a few minutes waiting in the doctor’s office or a few hours lounging on the beach. 

There is always time for what you are passionate for. So find the time, find the time for your passions, the way you would the mundane daily tasks.

To Write ...

Courtesy of The Writer's Circle Facebook page!

An Excerpt!

Amelia kept vigil at the window late into the night and soon fell asleep there. I had to move my sister from her spot in the window seat to her own room down the hall, as I’ve done many times before. Amelia has always been tiny, which is why she gets tossed in the air during basketball games, but to me she’s always just been my baby sister that I need to protect.

Gently placing her in her bed I make sure to pull the covers up around her shoulders and shut the door as I leave. It was on the return trip to my own room I heard my father come home, my mother waiting at the door for him; they spoke in hushed tones that only I could hear. I chose to remain hidden behind the wall and not go out onto the landing

“It was another,” dad says calmly, his tone tinged with sadness and anger.

“What?” mom gasps quietly. “Who? How?”

“I don’t know,” dad replies. “But I’m going to find out.”

“I don’t understand I thought there were precautions, protections in place to prevent this,” mom whispers.

They move to the kitchen and I listen; a plate is placed in the microwave and the timer is set. The hum of the appliance makes me refocus; I need to block out the machine and focus on the voices of my parents. In the few moments it took to adjust I missed a few words of their conversation but not much.

“They will not come for us,” dad states. It’s a firm promise to my mother, it’s a promise to protect us but from what I’m not sure. We live in suburbia, nothing happens here but the occasional egging on Halloween and maybe a missing bicycle or two.

“You can’t really promise that anymore though can you? This is the third one this year, Amelia …”

“She’s coming of age I know.” Dad sighs; I can picture him loosening his tie in my mind and slouching in his chair.

“You must protect her,” mom pleads. “I couldn’t stand it if …”

NaNoWriMo

“Marguerite I will not let anything happen to Amelia.” His voice is firm and determined.

The microwave timer alarms making me wince with the sudden piercing in my ears. One of my parents stops the chiming and the plate is moved from the microwave to the table, my father’s leftover dinner.

“I know it’s irrational and I don’t get to keep her forever. But she’s my baby.” Mom’s voice is wavering and my heart goes out to her, my sweet, sweet mother who’s affectionate but rarely cries.

“It’s not irrational Marguerite and I will protect her for you. I will do whatever I can to keep her safe.”

“Thank you.” 

NaNoWriMo 2014

Excuse my brief pause in blogging this week as I prepare to throw myself, wholeheartedly, into NaNoWriMo this year. November is right around the corner and I plan to do even better than last year.

My final word count for November 2013 was 53,055. Let's see if I can do better this time around!

I've already got my concept in mind and a few notes here and there to refer to. I've got plot points I want to hit. All in all I'm way more organized this time around, so I'm hoping that this year's novel is infinitely better than last year's.

Title Picking

So today ... like the last few ... has been a day of wracking my brain trying to come up with a solution! Since I'm currently in the throes of trying to get a novel professionally published I've come to the realization that my novel is lacking something very important, vitally important! Or at least so I've been told ...

A title!

Yeah so maybe it's more important than I'd like it to be, because picking one is damn hard! So here I am begging for help and opinions, votes, a lively debate or two! I've come up with two titles actually, very similar to one another but I can't really decide which comes off as more gripping?

Which title is more interesting? If you were browsing a bookshelf which one would you sooner pick up to read? That's really what I'm looking for! If all you had was the title on the spine to judge the book, which would you choose?

Option 1: Lie, Con, Deceive

Option 2: Lies, Cons & Deception

All opinions are greatly appreciated! Happy Tuesday!

Imperfect

“This is all you have to do. Sit down once a day to the novel and start working without internal criticism, without debilitating expectations, without the need to look at your words as if they were already printed and bound. 


The beginning is only a draft. Drafts are imperfect by definition.” 

-Walter Mosley

Shutting off that internal editor is the hardest part. I am my own worst critic but I strive daily to tell that critic to shut up and do what I enjoy. 

I'm usually able to put my critic in the corner and write with abandon. It's dealing with the critic when it rears it's ugly head that I'm still learning. 

Banned Books

Photo Cred: The Daily Dot

All right so today is the day in which I tackle, or attempt to anyway, Banned Books. I have to tell you this list is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever read! For those of you that are unfamiliar with this topic the Banned Book List is a compiling of different literary materials that include all genres of literature; from to fiction to non-fiction, biographies and fairytales, and everything in between! Some of the more notable additions to this list include, but not limited to, The Bible, The Diary of Anne Frank, Of Mice and Men, The Communist Manifesto, Catcher in the Rye, and many others.

In truth there isn't even one Banned Books list, there are in fact several and they all have variations to them. But there are several novels on each list that are considered classics that always seem to make the cut. Now I attended a private Catholic high school and grade school and guess what every English /Lit teacher I ever had always seemed to be teaching us books from this list. I read Catcher in the Rye sophomore year of high school, Of Mice and Men we did my freshman year, not to mention the Canterbury Tales!

These classics that are considered offensive or including inappropriate materials or topics are some of the better written books. They're classics for a reason and cover topics that should be discussed and studied freely. I truly enjoyed Of Mice and Men when I was a freshman, it was a well-written piece of literature that I'm glad I was given the opportunity to study in a classroom setting. Because literature affects each person in their own individual way and studying/discussing books as a group gives you the chance to open up your mind to different perspectives and ideas.

The Banned Books list has always been a source of amusement and annoyance in my world. As an avid reader and writer I constantly struggle with my stance on banned books or restricted reading materials. While I do think that age ratings, much like a movie rating, are a good thing I never understood the point of trying to ban something simply because one small group was in some way offended.

But really, have we gotten to the point in society where even a free giveaway must be policed because, again, one small sect disapproves of the materials being given away. In a generation where texting, emailing, Netflix, TV, computers it's become a rarity that anyone just sits down and reads anymore. Why read the book when the movie is just around the corner? So when someone finds something they want to read, want to lose themselves in I think that's something that should be celebrated!

So yes a school can limit what they want to expose their students to, maybe it's not appropriate for the age group or goes against their beliefs and principles. But how can parents try to limit a business from giving items away? No one is forcing your kids to take the free item, no one forces anyone to take the item. It's a giveaway and it is solely the individual person's choice to take it or walk right on by, that choice is something no one else has the right to take away.

***Read more at: The Daily Dot***

Two Jobs

http://31.media.tumblr.com/062a3aa28fcb62c3df79838afdae74ab/tumblr_mzjecjYwYX1rkdafao1_500.jpg

Writing, while it is my passion, it is also something that doesn't always come naturally. It's not something I do on a daily basis, although I know I should. There are days when characters just don't speak to me, I can't see the errors I should during the editing process, it's a job and like any job sometimes I just need a break.

But the amazing part of this job is that inspiration can literally come from anywhere. I'll think of something to drive a plot forward while I'm washing my hair. I'll read a word or phrase in a book, an article, on Facebook that kicks my brain into gear. I think the most influential aspect of my process though is sound, music in particular because it influences my own feelings/emotions.

I don't care how long it takes. I'll listen to a particular song a dozen times or more in an effort to capture the right feel of a scene, to make everything work as well as it should. Because when writing can make a reader feel emotional that's when you know it's good.

So if I can make even one person feel awkward, uncomfortable, pain, sadness, joy, excitement or anything at all then I know I'm doing my job right and doing it well. 

What Should I Read Next??

What should I read next??
Aahh the age old question of any and every bookworm out there. Sure I have a reading list that's always at least 50 books long. Of course there are books on my bookshelves that have come into my possession one way or another that I have yet to crack the cover on. My friends are always offering up suggestions to me on whatever they are currently engrossed in.
But really … what should I read next?
This comes up more times than I care to admit. Unless and author or a series in which I follow religiously has a release in the immediate future I never know what my next adventure should be. But then again I guess the real quick isn't what, it's which? Which book should I read next?
Because they've all sparked my interest in one way or another, but what is my mood? Do I want to descend into a magical world similar to that of Harry Potter? Do I want to be the face or even part of a rebellion like Katniss Everdeen? Maybe I want to spend some time with a few fallen angels, Patch is still a regular at Bo's Arcade right? Then again hanging from a zip line and stopping international terrorists with Cammie Morgan & Co. is always a great place to be!
I mean my tastes are all across the board and that's really the way it should be. But how do I pick just one? I want to read them all and I'm one of many bookworms born with a 'To Read' list that I will never finish. Okay maybe I'd be able to finish it if I read a book a day, but somehow I think my boss would find issue with me sitting at my desk and reading all day. Though I would love a job that would allow me to do that.
I have learned this about myself though I am a series girl! I love being in what can only be described as a long term relationship with a book. Harry Potter got ten years, between the 7 books and 8 movies, Ally Carter's Gallagher Girl series I followed since I was a sophomore in high school! The Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz , Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, The Heist Society Ally Carter, Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunters, even Meg Cabot and Mia Thermopolis have kept me entertained for years and years.
But here's my problem! Kenyon excluded from that list, because she's still going strong, all good things must come to an end eventually. There hasn't been a new Harry Potter book since 2007, the Gallagher Girls have graduated and moved on as of 2013. Patch & Nora are doing their own thing as of 2012. My series are coming to an end, time marches on.
So here I am in that usual rut. I'm stuck and I don't know where to move on from here. Sure I could jump on the bandwagon of Divergent and get into that series. But I'm still uncertain about that series, in theory it looks good and I definitely want to see the movie when it's released but I'm not sure if the books are for me.
So the search continues and suggestions are always welcome!

NaNoWriMo

My first ever NaNoWriMo and of course I'm going to track my daily progress. Now I'm sure there's a technological way to do it, but sometimes you just need a pen and paper. I wrote a little over 1,000 words yesterday on November 1st, the official kick off of NaNoWriMo. Today I added a few thousand more words to the storyline. I'm still not sure if I'll be able to hit 50K in 30 days, but I'm sure as hell going to try. November 2nd is over in 9 more minutes and I'll tally my total at midnight.
Happy Writing ya'll!!

My Obsession

Maybe Later ...

I will not put it off any longer.

My work comes first; it’s my priority.

Life happens, things come up; I’ll start later.

The weekend is here, time for a party.

Sunday! It’s due tomorrow, time to work.

Reading, writing, worksheets so much to do.

Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr my social quirk.

After midnight, still behind, makes me blue.

I need to focus, not procrastinate.

Email, I should respond to this, important

Paper due, counting down until the date.

Social media calls, resist! I can’t.

You’d think I’d be better using my time.

Procrastination is my heinous crime.