Friday Memes

Q: What would you do over if you were to start your blog again from scratch?

I'd probably plan it a bit more! Haha! I think I jumped in a bit eager and didn't really think of how available I'd be in coming months. I jumped into whatever I could- review and memes. But I couldn't keep it up as exams came, so I wish I'd had the foresight to realise that an plan accordingly. Instead I found myself stressed and annoyed because I had to drop them.

Funnily enough though, if I did start from scratch my biggest regret with probably then be ever stopping since I've a lot a year (almost) of blogging!

Unexpected Books: Which books did you have reservations about reading, but ended up loving once you did?

Despite being a lover of her now (that sounds so wrong), I was nervous about Pride and Prejudice: just Jane Austen in general. I thought that I'd just hate her romances and hate the books. Instead I love them and have read most of them- I finished Persuasion last week! She's become probably my favourite classical author and I'm now afraid to finish all her books.

I felt similar about Dickens to. The first book I picked up of his (Great Expectations) was huge and I was worried it would be too long entirely! Again it wasn't the case, and he takes the proud spot of my second favourite classic author!

Probably every sequel/sub-story I've ever read too- I mean, what if they don't live up to my precious book?

Also, check out my giveaway her for a fantasy book by Jennifer Ford, The Waking Dream! LINK!

Book Blogger Confessions- Positives

This meme is hosted by Karen at For What It's Worth and Tiger at All Consuming Media

This is for book bloggers to talk about life as a book bloggers: the ups and the downs. This week, it's an up!

Let's talk about the positive side of blogging! How has blogging influenced your real life in a positive way? (not related to books or reading) Have you learned to be organized or are you more social now for example?

In some ways I am more critical of things. I don't mean I wander about judging everything, but I reach conclusions quicker than I used to, which is nice. It's also good how when watching a film or television, I can see the little things that I think will later be important. I've always been reasonably good at guessing what would happen in a film, but book blogging has cause that to grow since it helps me see other people's opinions on things and I can look at things in a way I wouldn't have previously considered. And if it's not a genre I'm familiar with, it helps me get a little insight into its tropes or typical elements.


The other way it has changed me is that I think I'm more confident. As an online persona, I don't think I come across as shy or exceedingly quiet, but I'm much more so in real life. Even in my own friendship groups I'm liable to sit quietly and absorb what's going on around me and make the occasional comment. But blogging and getting responses to what I say is a nice way to find that my opinions aren't idiotic and won't be brushed-off. The few times I've been (rightly) challenged, I haven't felt like backing down. It has something to do with the fact that with books it is an opinion or an interpretation and as such no one can really say to you that what you say doesn't matter because everyone is allowed to interpret things as they see fit and comment how they want to. This idea has sort of also altered my own personal beliefs about life and relationships, but it's something I only notice now I stop to think about it.


Ironically enough, I think book blogging has made me slightly more unorganised!!! I'm a naturally organised person: my wardrobe is arrange by the type of clothes, then by colour. My drawers are arranged according to what I use most often, and how easily I need to be able to access them. It's hard to explain in some ways, but I am someone who organises everything if my mind wander enough; my worst problem is that I can't leave loose change messy and uncounted. I have to pile it and count it before doing anything else; which isn't arduous, but it has to be done. Yet since book blogging, my desk keeps getting messy. Previously, it was pristine; everything was in line and all but at right angles to everything else. Nowadays, it's lucky to see it like that because I just can't find the time to tidy it. But it is still a good thing! I'm too organised so it's good that I've been able to allow a little chaos.


Anyone else have some strange, yet still beneficial changes???

Friday Hop Dix-Sept

Q: What would your prefer: reading your favorite book over and over again until you got sick of it OR reading 100s of mediocre books? And why?

I would definitely say my favourite book. Everytime I read it I am bound to discover something new in it and I enjoy it so much more for that and I can see the whole book in a different way. Also, why would I settle for mediocre when I can have the utmost best? Also, it's that idea that I would rather live a terrible life but have one moment of pure bliss than merely abide a life of pure mediocrity. It's like choosiing true love over simply living with someone you like for your whole life.

Love Stories: What are some of your favorite fictional love stories?

I adore Jane Austen's stories, and Pride and Prejudice still kind of holds the title of my favourite of all time. It's so perfect, in my opinion, in every which way and I knowing the ending (who doesn't know the ending?!?) makes all the little machinations and side comments up to that point so much better. I've read Emma and Northanger Abbey too- both of which I adored- but Pride and Prejudice is and will remain my favourite.

I also liked the Time Traveller's Wife for the romance since the disjointedness of it makes it quirky and you doubt that it might ever work- but the romance is believable and you're swept away with it all (well, I was).

A non-novelistic love story that always makes me squirm with joy and anticipation is the one in Love Actually- namely Colin Firth's Character's one. He's an English writer, recently in France, with a Portuguese housekeeper. But they slowly fall in love with one another and their conversations, where neither understands the other, is blatant but sweet way to say that on some level they understand one another and that they are on the same page (ha...) in an odd, inexplicable way.

Happy Hopping!

Top Ten Books That Broke Your Heart A Little

1. Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger Because the ending is just heartbreaking. When she can't reach him before he disappears... I was distraught. It really is the saddest thing. What's worse is that you don't expect them to meet, but it still seems so cruel when it actually happens.
2. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery The ending of this threw me into a slump for weeks afterwards since the pure sadness that took over stopped me from enjoying anything. It's an amazing book, it really is, but I hate that that had to be ending. And it was foreshadowed (I realised on second read) which bothered me more.
3. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins Most people probably know why this is heart breaking, because everything seems so disjointed at the end. I can't put my finger on it, but it just felt like all the joy and everything that was good in the book's world was lost and I just couldn't believe it ended so- to me- hopelessly.
4. The High Lord by Trudi Canavan The ending of this is kind of bitter sweet. Looking back, it made perfect sense and I can't fault it, but it was still so sad. To think that he who one is led to dislike becomes he who is loved and then once again his fate is turned on its head. I'm trying not to give it away, but I think you get the idea.
5. Enchanter's Endgame by David Eddings Not because of the love: because it was the end of the series I loved most! I found out there was a sequel series, plus two prequels, later on; but it killed me at the time to know that I had no more to read of that series. The others were good (especially the prequels) but never like reading those 5 books the first time.
6. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Less heartbreaking, more bitter sweet, was how I found the ending and the book in general. There is some heartbreak in the hopelessness of the case, but it is there and it is poignant.
7. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson Mainly because we find out a lot more about Lisbeth and truly start to understand her situation. This is augmented by the next book (The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest) but realisng how terrible her life is just exemplifies the pity you already feel for her. But pity isn't the right word; since she is more than competent and above pity. Compassion, perhaps. Also, what happens in the end broke my heart in terms of how much had been done for such a small, empty even, gain.
8. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern How things had to turn out with the Circus, and also the slow coming to this eventuality, just makes you ache with sorrow. It isn't particularly bad in some ways, but how much they gave up moves me into an area I can't express with words. 
9. The Road by Cormac McCarthy They go so far in this novel, and the father remains hopeful no matter what befalls them. He is rock in the story and is amazing though we basically know nothing about him. The ending, then, is all the more tragic because it symbolises so much more than a loss of a person, but the loss of hope and driving force in an otherwise empty and broken world.
10. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë As most people probably know, this boils down to a book of unrequited love and the things it can do to different people. Despite all the evil things done and the amount of times I wanted to scream out in anger, one is constantly emphatic with Heathcliff. Anyone can understand his motives, so we question whether we might do the same should such a fate befall us. This book, in some ways, is something that just keeps breaking your heart in several places.

Book Blogger Confessions - 3

This meme is hosted by Karen at For What It's Worth and Tiger at All Consuming Media

The idea of this is to recount, perhaps even vent in order to ward off violent outbursts, about the nuances of life as a book blogger.

Deadlines for reviewing and blogging. Do you set them? How do you keep them? What do you do if you can't meet a deadline?

I always try to set deadlines, but they're never stringent because I think that would take the fun of it out of reading and then reviewing. In my head, I like to think when I can finish a book by and when I might be able to get a review written for it. I finished Slaughterhouse 5 on Friday, and I have general idea that I'll review it this week, but I won't force myself to. I need to think I can sit down and write it when I have time. Even though I want to post as much as possible, I know that I have to put things like school first. I tend to still be reading, but the reviews come slower.

Concerning keeping deadlines, I do try to avoid reading more than 2 books without reviews- even if just a rough draft. I leave a book for too long, I can't write a review properly. Saying that though, a few of the ones I have left for longer and not been wholly in love with haven't garnered negative attention so I try not to have too many issues with this. I also seem to keep to a deadline if I see everyone posting reviews while the spiders are busy making my blog look old and deserted.

I haven't been in a position where I've missed a deadline (yet!) but I don't know what I'd do. I think all one can do is apologise and try to explain why it was missed. Anyone who is expecting you to do something is also human and I like to think they can understand if you can't manage to do something. We're all human after all, not robots.

One final point before I finish.

I tend to a lot of memes in ratio to the reviews I do, but this doesn't bother me. Frankly, I feel lucky if I can manage a review a week and over the moon if I can do two. I like to do memes so that I can (figuratively) say I'm still alive, reading, loving books and I haven't forgotten about my blog. But then deadlines for these (since they fall on days) also sometimes push me. I tend to do Top Ten Tuesdays on Sunday (when I try and persistently fail to do all blog things) and the Follow Fridays on the Friday morning and Thursday evening. When it comes to hopping back for comments though... it's shameful. As I said, I put other things before blogging so I only tend to hop back when I have time, which usually isn't until Mid-Week.

An excellent topic this week- and I hope this explains a seeming tardiness or lack of reviews!

Friday Hop Quinze

Q: Which book genre do you avoid at all costs and why?

I like to think I avoid no particular book genre because every book is going to have redeeming qualities and there are probably a small minority of books that I couldn't enjoy one bit. But I tend to not read Horror books, since I hate blood and my imagination is way to active to have such images in my mind. I also try to avoid Angel/Vampire/Werewolf books (so a lot of that side of paranormal novels) because I think I find them too unbelievable and even a tad self-righteous occasionally. It's a small thing, and I'm judging a huge genre by a few, but it's just how I feel.

Buy or Borrow: Where do your books that you read come from? The bookstore? The library? Do you prefer to own a book, or have it on loan?

I much prefer to buy and physically own my books. I've been to the library and try to go occasionally, but when I like a book, I want to keep and hoard it away because dust needs a home (which is my way of saying I don't tend to even read them again). It's a bad habit since I should probably give books away either here, to the library or to charity shops and just keep the ones I love. I'm not so bad that I keep every book, but any book that I liked somewhat is one I can't get rid of.

Online buying is cheaper and often easier since it doesn't mean I have to haul books around the city centre, and I avoid being drawn in by pretty covers and unbeatable deals. I use the store when I can't wait for a book to arrive online or when I get them for someone else (so they can take them back). If I really expect to like a book, I also tend to go in-store because I worry that the book may be ruined over the delivery process and I like my books to be in as good a quality as I can get them.