Getting Bookish

I am always intrigued with the idea of books that CHANGE how you think. I was fortunate enough to experience a few of these reads as a child. Fiction stories that not only changed what I thought, but also, I like to think, changed who I became. Now as an adult these books have shifted to more non-fiction, but I still am charged and empowered by a book that makes me think and then CHANGES me.   I’m not talking about books I love. There are plenty of those from childhood including titles like T he Little Princess, Secret Garden, Blueberry, Sky Running, and The Blue Fairy Book . These are titles I read again and again. Although I loved their stories, I don’t think they actually changed me. No these books are:  Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery is still a favorite as an adult. I got a first edition for my 18 th birthday and I cried. I think I cried because it meant I was heard, my parents, who gifted me the book, knew me, knew how important the story was to me. I...

Whether it’s a big box brick-and-mortar store, Amazon, small shop, or Goodwill - I am addicted to the search and hunt and PURCHASING of books!  Today I found myself at Barnes and Noble, because they were having a 30% off sale plus my membership discount, I mean, what choice did I have? I HAD to see what the deals were! I went in, optimistically thinking I may purchase 2 or 3 books. Not sure why I try and tell myself lies, because I know FULL well I’m going to be leaving with an armload of books! I began my hunt with the children's area to add to the kids' library. I came across Creepy Pair of Underwear and Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds and they were a HIT! I’ve already read and re-read them multiple times. The stories are clever and cute and the bunny’s name is Jasper, which is my son's name, so he was excited about that. I also got What Do You Do With an Idea? , What Do You Do With a Chance? , and What Do You Do With a Problem? by Kobi Yamada. These books are v...

Hey Shawna, I loved your blog last week about how you choose your next book. It made me honestly laugh out loud as I could picture you looking through your bookshelves debating which one was THE one. It also got me thinking, how do I choose my next book? I’d love to say that I put all this time and care into choosing the next world that I’m going to step into, but honestly, I’m over here just winging it (book choosing, eyeliner, life).  Generally speaking, I like to choose a book I most want to avoid spoilers for. When I was working at the library I got to have amazing bookish conversations all the time. They varied from little kids telling me about their new favorite book in the  Magic Tree House series to teenagers sharing an amazing YA Fantasy book they found (knowing that I would love it, I’m genre obsessed).  In the world of bookish friends, I feel like “reveal no spoilers” should be a sacred rule.

I’m an overthinker. Many times I am overthinking so much that I end up doing nothing, which leads to ultimate unproductivity. This problem can also apply to my choosing the next book to read. THERE ARE SO MANY AMAZING BOOKS. How on earth can I choose ONE? I want to read 100 books in one day and even then I wouldn’t come close checking off all the books on my TBR (to be read) list. I know what I have on my shelves, or the library books I have in my basket that sits next to the fireplace bulging from the maxed amount of checked out books. I know which book I REALLY want to read, but then think maybe I should read something else. A different genre perhaps. I’ve already read 4 WWII books in a row, so maybe I should pick a light romance? My soul is wanting to continue reading my WWII books though. Elie Weisel’s, “Night” is starring at me. “Life in a Jar” by Jack Mayer is calling my name.

Every year I sit down and decide what my reading goals will be. This used to simply include a number - what is the NUMBER of books I want to read. It was simple, this year I'm reading 40 books ... or 70 books ... or 100 books. When I first started blogging I issued a challenge to myself and my readers, a Book Bingo where each square was a different challenge. Although many people participated, I didn't enjoy it. I chose what when in to every square ... but I didn't want to read those books. A few years ago I stopped Book Bingo and just read. I read the books I wanted to read. The books I liked. I read twelve versions of Beauty and the Beast (this might be an exaggeration, but it was SO many) and read so many fantasy dystopian YA novels they all blended together.