Thursday Thoughts: Reading Habits Book tag

Do you have a certain place at home for reading?

In the bathroom. I actually rarely read at home, preferring the 10 minute intervals thorughout my day to read.

Bookmark or random piece of paper?

Both. Sometimes a highlighter. Whatever is within reach.

Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a certain chapter/a certain number of pages?

Depends how interesting the book is.

Do you eat or drink while reading?

All the time.

Multitasking: music or TV while reading?

No. Or if I do have music, instrumentals. music with words is too distracting.

One book at a time or several at once?

Depends on the type and what my workload looks like. Sometimes I'll do ebooks on breaks and physical books while taking calls at work, but if work needs my full attention I just keep with the ebook.

Reading out loud or silently in your head?

Silently. Ever since I learned how to do it.

Breaking the spine or keeping it like new?

How pretty is the cover? 

Do you write in your books?

Only my favorite ones. 

Thursday thoughts: Not being able to read

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts, a thing I'm going to aim to do weekly. Currently looking for a cohost who can handle the linky side of things and make this an official meme!

This week: If you suddenly lost the ability to read

This is actually one of my nightmares. I wake up and I'm not able to read. I can see just fine. And I can see the words, but they don't make a lick of sense to me. What would life be like if I never woke up from that nightmare?

Well first, I know my husband would be amazing. If I wanted a book he'd probably grumble but he'd sit down and read to me. 

Second, assuming I've just forgotten how to read and this isn't some horrible curse, I'd be learning to read right alongside my daughter. That would be interesting. 

Third, I'd have to find another job until I know how to read again. Oh no! I really like my job. Not to mention I wouldn't be able to blog unless my husband goes above and beyond, reading me the books AND typing up the reviews.

How would your life change?


Next week: TBD

Thursday Thoughts: Beautiful Covers

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts, a thing I'm going to aim to do weekly. Currently looking for a cohost who can handle the linky side of things and make this an official meme!

This week: Beautiful Covers and Illustrator spotlight

I couldn't find any information on the designer for this cover, so I guess credit goes to the publishers at Feiwel and Friends.

Michelle Monique Photography
Facebook
deviant art

Website

All the copyright page of this book says is "Cover design by K. Kaynak with artwork by Misha"

Nothing came up individually, but I did find where these two (?) have won cover contests 

Well done!



Next week: If you suddenly lost the ability to read

Thursday thoughts: How to recover from a book hangover

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts, a thing I'm going to aim to do weekly. Currently looking for a cohost who can handle the linky side of things and make this an official meme!

This week: How to recover from a book hangover

Every reader has felt it, and I think professional reviewers the most: The reading slump. Also known as Book Burnout or Book hangover, You've just read a book and it was really good, but you really don't want to start the next one yet. Or today. Probably not tomorrow. Or even next week. Good lord, will you ever read again!?

There are two kinds of this condition:

1. That book was so amazing I can't get myself out of that world. Reading something else would feel wrong. I'll just wait until the next installment comes out in 2055.

That's a long time to go without reading. But if you're stuck in that world, you're stuck. Suggested prescription: Fanfiction. Read it, write it, get it out of your system. But more importantly: Know fanfiction will be there for you, to pull you back into that fictional world even if you read another book.

2. I just CAN'T read another word. I just don't feel like reading anymore!

Remember when you were younger and said "there's no such thing as too much reading"? Well, this is the result of that. Put the books down and walk away slowly. Spend the day watching stupid videos on youtube. Or go outside. Take a book break and then read some blogs or go on booktube to get excited about books again

Next week: Beautiful Covers and Illustrator spotlight

Thursday thoughts: Series that are better than 50 Shades

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts, a thing I'm going to aim to do weekly. Currently looking for a cohost who can handle the linky side of things and make this an official meme!

This week: What 50 Shades teaches us about relationships

I had a huge issue with 50 Shades of Gray for a couple reasons. Mainly, that it was a story of abuse disguising itself as a love story. I know the power of books and it made me scared for young girls. I'm actually writing this post in October (hello, people from the future! Hopefully the world hasn't ended yet!) which, as most know, is domestic violence awareness month. So, there are a few series that are better (read: less abusive) than 50 Shades.

Masters of the Shadowlands by Cherise Sinclair  Amazon

CLUB SHADOWLANDS Her car disabled during a tropical storm, Jessica Randall discovers the isolated house where she's sheltering is a private bondage club. At first shocked, she soon becomes aroused watching the interactions between the Doms and their subs. But she's a professional woman--an accountant--and surely isn't a submissive . . . is she?
DARK CITADEL After Kari breaks up with her date during Beginner's Night at Club Shadowlands, she's given the option to continue with an experienced dominant. Despite her steamy fantasies about BDSM, the inexperienced schoolteacher plans to simply observe. Yet under the unyielding hands of Master Dan, she not only participates, but gives him everything he asks for. There is nothing she can hide from him. Not her passion...or her love. 

The Gentlemen's Club (Noire series Book 1) by Emmanuelle de Maupassant

Amazon
Set in Victorian London, 'The Gentlemen's Club' explores the lure of the sensuous, entering a realm of elegant debauchery. 
We live in the wondrous here and now and it is here that our flesh must take its pleasure. Your body is yours and yours alone, but not for long, and never long enough. 
Take your seat. The curtain is rising. 

Bookbub - 8 Series That Take 50 Shades To The Next Level

It will light your Victorian lamps. Tasteful and scintillating. Highly recommended. 

Buzzfeed - Erotica Books That Should Be More Famous Than 50 Shades

Praise for its writing style and progressive heroine, who questions gender norms and dated social conventions.

Spin (A Mafia Romance): Corruption Series #1 by CD Reiss

Amazon

Theresa Drazen can have plenty of guys, but the one she can't keep away from....the one she's just about addicted to, is more than forbidden. With felony-black eyes and a mouth built for lies, loving him is one step away from illegal. 
But her body keeps overriding her brain. Maybe it's time to stop playing by the rules. 
------- 
Antonio is obsessed. Theresa's the last woman he should touch. She's going to get him killed. She's dangerous. Poison. The wrong woman. 
Except...she's perfect. 



Next week: How to recover from a book hangover

Thursday Thoughts: Finding your book genre

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts, a thing I'm going to aim to do weekly. Currently looking for a cohost who can handle the linky side of things and make this an official meme!

This week: Finding your book genre

Growing up was kind of ridiculous for me because it's like I went through literary puberty. I no longer knew what aisle to go to when I got to the library. Did I want to read a nonfiction book? psychology? Judy Moody? YA fantasy? 

I was a mess. I didn't know what I wanted, or if I would still want it tomorrow. I really liked the books I got, but the confusion and decisions I had to make when I got to the library just frustrated me. 

These days I have a better idea of what I do or do not like, which publishers are my favorite, and what library sections to avoid, if not which ones I want to flock to. The introduction of the New Adult genre actually helped quite a bit with all that. New Adult books are great to float back to if you're going through Literary puberty and get overwhelmed.

So, some tips maybe?

1. Set DNF limits

This will save you SO much time. 50, 15, 5 pages in and you're not interested? put it down. Decide how patient you're going to be with a book that's not working for you.

2. take advantage of free books

Libraries, kindle sales, giveaways. If you're a blogger, Netgalley. This way you can discover things you do like without it hurting your wallet.

3. Work out your Do Not Read list, but know why.

I don't like Romance. I don't go to that section. But the reason I don't like Romance is because I feel it has no plot and the love scenes are too cheesy or occur too often. Obviously there are some good ones out there. If I had judged Diamonds in the Rough by its genre instead of its blurb, I never would have discovered the wonder that is Elisa Marie Hopkins.

Next week: Series that are better than 50 Shades

Thursday thoughts: Bookish pet peeves

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts, a thing I'm going to aim to do weekly. Currently looking for a cohost who can handle the linky side of things and make this an official meme!

This week: Bookish pet peeves

1. "What'cha readin' there?"

Does this really need explaining? If I like it, I will tell you what I'm reading when I'm done reading it.

2.  see one, add a hand reaching out to grab the book I'm reading.

WHY.

3. finding out the next book won't be out for a million years

And not even finding out until you've read the first two books and you need to read more of the author's writing YESTERDAY.

4. People wanting to have a conversation with you

Actually not the most horrible thing when I'm not digging a book. But sometimes I just want to tell people "shut UP I'm READING. Talk to that other person."

5. hardcover slips that keep slipping

I don't even bother anymore. I take the slip off to read and put it back on when it returns to the shelf.

Next week: Finding your book genre

Thursday thoughts: An open letter to Office supplies

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts, a thing I'm going to aim to do weekly. Currently looking for a cohost who can handle the linky side of things and make this an official meme!

This week: An open letter to Office supplies

Dear Office Supplies,

I see you in that aisle, looking so shiny and organized and promising happiness. Your colored poster board, 20 kinds of pens for my collection, and various miscellaneous items that will probably be helpful at some point but will more likely find themselves collecting dust in various corners of my home WILL NOT TEMPT ME. But, on the other hand, I could always use another notebook. And the pens I like are on sale. I don't know where the coloring book and colored pencils I bought last time are, but you know I really should pick up coloring. 

And also, are those stickers? I do have a one year old. She doesn't know the glory of stickers yet. It's a new year--maybe I should pick up an agenda. I will TOTALLY use it all year, not just for the first three months. Maybe. And hi-lighters are always really good to have. And sharpies. Oh, I hear my husband calling--I'll just pick up this three-pack of notebooks and stuff it between the vegetables in the cart. And this pack of pens. And hell, some hi-lighters too. And a sharpie. You never know when you'll need a sharpie.

Until next time,
Kristina

Next week: Bookish pet peeves

Thursday Thoughts: 10 things about me

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts, a thing I'm going to aim to do weekly. Currently looking for a cohost who can handle the linky side of things and make this an official meme!

This week: Ten things about me

1. I am a mom.

I have a 1.5 year old daughter who looks just like her father. She's a Gemini, and acts like it.

2. I look nothing like the rest of my family

I look mostly like my dad, who has Bengali origins. But my dad married an Irish woman and then I married an Irish man, and those Irish genes are wicked strong. Out of three kids, I'm the only one who came out with a tan.

3. I'm recovered from an eating disorder [mostly]

I say mostly because if I step on a scale, I know it can still affect my day. And because I'm a sucker for eating disorder books, even now. Also my perfectionist standards still leak through at work sometimes.

4. I feel about 5 years older than I am

I guess that's what happens when you marry at 19 and become a mom at 21. I wouldn't trade it for the world, but saying I'm 22 makes me feel like I'm lying to myself. I should be at least 25 by now.

5. I consider myself retired from writing

I used to be really sad and scared. I wrote to get those feelings out of me. I wrote two and a half books, and my husband helped me learn how to be happy and love myself and these days I'll journal, but I don't need to write in order to breathe anymore.

6. I have the best husband in the world

I'm not even kidding, He may not have money, but he has looks, personality, is an amazing father, good in bed, and supports whatever I do. When I'm being irrational or emotional he doesn't whine. He goes out and gets me whatever I'm craving and buckles down for 'chocolate week'.

7. I really enjoy my job.

I've gone through quite a few jobs. I wouldn't say this is my dream job, but I'm happy at work and I'm good at what I do. Can't ask for too much more than that.

8. Books have saved my life

Being bipolar, I have an issue with impulsiveness. Besides giving me relateable characters, sage advice, and calm evenings, books have given me structure in my life through this blog. More structure=less likely to impulsively start hitchhiking after exactly 0 minutes of thinking about the potential consequences. 

9. I may not hate Romance novels as much as I think I do

I generally don't like romance novels. But I read Elisa Marie Hopkin's Diamond in the Rough series (which really is too interesting to be categorized as a romance) and then I read Masters of the Shadowlands. I mean...it's pure fluff and erotica. But I kind of enjoyed it. Maybe because it wasn't really even pretending to have a plot.

10. I don't do scary.

You can count me out of scary movies, horror books, or thriller tv shows. I do watch a little Scream Queens, but my husband tried to get me to watch the walking dead with him and I had nightmares. If you want me to come to movie night, Disney better be involved.

Next week: An open letter to Office supplies

Thursday Thoughts: My Favorite Bloggers

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts, a thing I'm going to aim to do weekly. Currently looking for a cohost who can handle the linky side of things and make this an official meme!

This Week: My favorite Bloggers

Elisa Marie Hopkins

It's no secret that I love this author's books. I also love that in between waiting for the next book, I can hop over to her blog to read her writing.

Check her out here.

Tina the bookworm

I like Tina's taste in books. I like that we have almost the same name, and I like her features such as Bookworm thoughts, Bookworm lounge, etc.

Check it out!

Mikayla's Bookshelf

Every time I go to Mikayla's blog I inevitably add another book or two to my TBR pile. Even if you don't have the same taste in books, you've got to love her photography and bookish features.

Browse the bookshelf here

Who are your favorite bloggers?

Next week: Ten things about me

Thursday Thoughts: My Book Rating System

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts, a thing I'm going to aim to do weekly. Currently looking for a cohost who can handle the linky side of things and make this an official meme!

This week: My book rating system

I used to not really have any kind of rating system. I just kind of rated on instinct. But as I read more and more books that didn't work for me anymore. Of course, the metrics I use all change for different genres, but you'll see some of the themes are the same across all books.

NON-FICTION

1) did this book teach me anything/change my mind about something? 

2) Does the author have credibility/know what they're talking about? 

3) are there sources and are references quoted or paraphrased? 

4) is this book relevant to my life? 

5) would I buy it?

FICTION

1) Was it interesting?

2) Were the characters developed?

3) Did it make me feel something?

4) Does the writing flow well?

5) would I buy it?

CHILDREN'S BOOKS

1) Are the pictures engaging to my daughter?

2) Is the book able to be easily torn or otherwise destroyed by toddlers?

3) Is there Rhyme and Meter?

4) Can this book grow with my daughter or last a couple of years?

5) Will I buy it/is it worth the price?

Next week: My favorite bloggers

Thursday Thoughts: How I became a reader

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts, a thing I'm going to aim to do weekly. Currently looking for a cohost who can handle the linky side of things and make this an official meme!

This Week: How I became a reader

I was raised in an intelligent family. My dad, who came to America from Bangladesh. And my mom, who became a teacher and then an assistant principal and is currently a principal at an elementary school. When my younger sister was born, I read the ABCs to her over and over because I wanted her to be smart. When I went to Kindergarten, I was already reading. 
I don't know if I was self conscious or not, but my teacher told me I used tto read out loud on the carpet, and then when she actually came around trying to find out who was reading, I would stop. 
Fast forward to first grade. The year of twisting teeth out of my mouth to get money and trying to convince other students that I knew how to read in my head.
Every summer my mother took us to the library and we took part in a reading challenge to get prizes. We went to Curious George's birthday and every time we grew out of a reading level, we would take our books, sell them at the bookstore, and use the money to get more books.
I wanted to read every book that had ever been written. But once my tetachers knew I was reading at a third grade reading level I wasn't allowed to catch up on all the second grade books I hadn't read yet.
In middle school no one liked me. I liked precious few people. I mostly read under a tree or in a hallway or in the choir room.
In high school I had a pair of pants with very big pockets. I had three books in my backpack, two in my purse, and one in either one of those pockets. 

So mostly I'd like to thank my family and poor social skills for becoming a reader.

Next Week: My book rating system

Thursday Thoughts: An open letter to Santa

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts, a thing I'm going to aim to do weekly. Currently looking for a cohost who can handle the linky side of things and make this an official meme!

This week: An open letter to Santa


Dear Santa,

I haven't believed in you ever since I wrote that story about you retiring and the elves doing all the work until a 16-year-old girl came to replace you. But I have a lot of books on my tbr that I would love for Christmas. And since I know that sounds totally selfish of me, get a book that my husband will like too so we can share. I'd say something about my daughter here, but I wouldn't want to break the tradition of presents from Santa having mom's handwriting and signature wrapping style on them. Also, I'm going to need a signature wrapping style before my daughter is old enough to have memories.

Anyway, you know I'll have cookies for you. Stay away from my daughter's milk. Probably won't be any carrots because the only way I can get my family to eat vegetables is if they think I don't buy them and shred them up into various recipes that they don't think would ever have vegetables.

Say hi to the spouse for me,

Kristina


Next week: How I became a reader

Thursday Thoughts: Bookish Gifts

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts, a thing I'm going to aim to do weekly. Currently looking for a cohost who can handle the linky side of things and make this an official meme!

This Week: Bookish Gifts

This week we're heading over to http://bookishgifts.com or any other favorite retail site to find the perfect gift for that reader in your life. BookishGifts did not ask me to write this post, or even knows I exist. I just really like the site.

Next week: An open letter to Santa

Thursday Thoughts: Favorite Booktubers

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts, a thing I'm going to aim to do weekly. Currently looking for a cohost who can handle the linky side of things and make this an official meme!

This week: Favorite Booktubers

I only recently discovered booklr (tumblr) and booktube(youtube) so I was pretty excited about these new, interesting ways to procrastinate! So here are some of my favorite booktubers and if you're like me, one video will lead to another and you will find many more that you like alongside these people.

1. Peruseproject

2. Little Book Owl

3. abookutopia

Who are your favorite booktubers?
Next week: Bookish gifts

Thursday Thoughts: Tips for new bloggers

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts, a thing I'm going to aim to do weekly. Currently looking for a cohost who can handle the linky side of things and make this an official meme!

This Week: Tips for new Bloggers

I recently got asked on Goodreads: 

How do you get involved in blogging/reviewing books where you've gotten the free copies?

So I gave her the short answer, which you can see by clicking above. Here, we'll go ever-so-slightly more in depth.

Start off reviewing your own books.

You're going to need something to show Authors and Publishers that you can write in-depth reviews without getting personal or petty when you don't like a book.

Spread the word that you're open to review books

There are some easy ways to do this, aside from signing up for book review websites like NetGalley and making a review policy. For example:
The Book Blogger List
The Book Blogger Directory
And honestly just emailing the author of a book you liked. I've won a book through Goodreads, emailed the author, and then gotten the second book from them when it was time for reviews. Authors, for the most part, love interation with readers so even if you don't get anything out of it, you should stop by the Author's Goodreads page and shoot them a quick "I loved your book!" message.

Have your own web space.

Anyone can write reviews on Goodreads or Amazon. But reviewers who have their own domain, or even a wordpress or blogspot page, are more valuable to authors because they have their own space. They can use that space to interview authors or participate in blog tours. It's an extra link to the author's website that makes them more popular on Google. And you can make your page all about you, instead of being one among a thousand reviews.

Know what you want to read before getting books from a specific place

Don't like e-books? Stay away from NetGalley. Have an issue with Christian books? Don't sign up to be part of the Tyndale Blog Network. Have too many print books and ONLY want e-books? Don't enter Goodreads giveaways. 

Look at other bloggers for guidance

Go on Bloglovin and find bloggers you like. Or do a book-related google search, something that interests you like "how to read faster" or "best YA books" and you're sure to find some cool bloggers that way.

Next week: Favorite Booktubers

Thursday Thoughts: Finding time to read

Hello everyone! Guess what we're going to try to bring back? That's right, the weekly rendition of Thursday Thoughts. No link-up this time around, I'm afraid, thought if anyone wants to cohost with me and take part of the linky part of things let me know!


This week: Finding time to read

1. Read multiple formats

Put aside the e-book vs. hard copy debate for a minute and consider this: different formats have different levels of effectiveness at different times of the day. I read hard copies at work when I'm not allowed to  use my phone. I read my kindle copies on breaks or at night when it's dark and I'm almost ready for bed. If I drove, I'd definitely be getting some audiobooks for the ride to and from work.

2. Carry a book everywhere

Going to a party? Pull a Rory Gilmore and stash a book in  your purse, in case it gets boring. Going to the bank or doctor? Bring a book, because we already know there's going to be a line. 

3. Stash books everywhere.

In your car. In your purse. In your other purse. In your coat that has big pockets. In a place at work, if you have one. In your gym locker. By your bed. By your laptop. In the kitchen. In the bathroom. Never be without a book.

4. Plot out your day in hours

My husband and I actually did this as a part of a 'get ready for kids' type workshop. You will be amazed how much free time you actually have. Include sleep, commute, and work/school in your schedule and highlight all the empty parts.

5. Schedule reading goals and set alarms

My goals are different for different formats. I aim for 100 pages of a hardcopy a day, and a whole ebook a week. Whenever I get a kid's book to review, I try to get it out of the way as soon as possible. I don't see the time on my phone when I'm reading, so I set alarms to tell me when to go back to work. I also have alarms to wake up, to do two hours of blog-related activities, one hour of quality wake up time with my daughter, an hour of eating/youtube/entering book giveaways/tumblr, and a half hour of reading before going to work.

That's all for this week, folks! How do you find time to read?
Next week:Tips for new book bloggers

Thursday Thoughts: How early did you or your kids start reading?

I was reading by the time I hit kindergarten. I loved reading so much, I practiced the alphabet and read books with my younger sister so she did the same. I was blessed with a teacher for a mother, who encouraged learning and backed every action with the latest studies on child development. So obviously she read with me.

Growing up, we would make yearly trips down to the local bookstore. We'd take all the books we felt we were too old to read, box them up, and hand them over in exchange for store credit for more books. It was amazing.  So, naturally, I want my daughter to have the same sort of experience.

My Little Pony isn't exactly my first choice, but when she was 3 months old it was about all she would tolerate. These days, I'm reading War of Rain and read passages from that to her as well.
If we keep it up, she may read before kindergarten too.


How early did you read? If you read to younger siblings, how old are they? And how do you think this will effect their academic future?

Thursday Thoughts #3: When do you become too old for YA?

This is a weekly meme I'm doing (again, still, don't know that it's popular enough for the M-word yet) so we can all share our thoughts on all things literary. If you have an opinion this week, make a post and sign up on the Linky below.

This week's subject: When do you become too old for YA books?

So you're at the library looking at new additions and see a Young Adult novel. You might pick it up and read the blurb, you might read the first page or so to see if you like it. But at what point do you look at it and go

There was a while back when I was 19 or 20 and thought to myself "Kristina, you're getting old. Time to read grown up books." I realize now I was wrong. Grown up books are so much more boring than YA books. I LOVE YA books! That's not to say I don't appreciate a good older-audience read now and again, but now that the infamous Vampire vs. Werewolf phase is over I'm bypassing the nonfiction section and headed into the YA section of the library.

I can't believe I thought I was too old for young adult books. I don't even watch adult movies. I'm 22 and almost exclusively watch Disney and Pixar films.

Thursday Thoughts #2: Orwell vs. Huxley

As it turns out, I have a lot of thoughts so I'm going to turn this into an interactive weekly linky thing. Not sure if I would classify it as a meme right now only because so far I'm the only one doing it. So, here we go. If you have thoughts on this week's subject, make a post and add it to the linky at the bottom of the post.

This week's Subject: Orwell Vs. Huxley

I'm sure you all know this already but Orwell and Huxley had very different views as to exactly how our freedoms would be taken away. Orwell had a pretty grim outlook on things, as he summed up in one sentence from 1984: “If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—for ever.” So basically no fun, no smiles, just mean people holding you down with fear and loathing

Huxley had a different opinion in Brave New World : “...most men and women will grow up to love their servitude and will never dream of revolution.”  So basically...

When I first thought about these parallels, I thought Orwell was out of his mind. I saw Facebook and Youtube and the Kardashians and thought "we are way too distracted to be angry." Then I married a conspiracy theorist. Then I saw the smaller media outlets that "the government" doesn't want you to hear from. I started noticing the overwhelming amount of cameras and the surprising lack of police accountability. 

So I had to ask myself again. Who was right? These days I'm leaning towards Orwell. But the only reason we haven't revolted is because we're led to believe it was Huxley.