~* The Chronicles of an Enamored Soul *~

Saturday, June 18, 2011

~Spring Into Summer - Update #11~

Update:

Total Books Read: 2
Total Pages Read: 829 Pages
Books Read Since Last Update: 1
Pages Read since last update: 301 Pages
Total time read: Ummm...I've lost track of time? lol :P
How I'm currently feeling: Okay, so I left home, and that allowed me to be able to spend some time with my book, and allowed me to get a decent amount of studying done. I did, however, miss Update #10, for which I'm extremely sorry.

Mini Challenge:

If you could live in the world of one book, which would it be and why?

I know I should probably be naming yet another action/fantasy/thriller. But in all honesty, if I could, I'd be living in the Regency Period, in the times and life of Jane Austen and her characters, especially the characters of Pride & Prejudice. My second choice would have to be the Shakespearean or Elizabethan era. I believe those times of the past may have been dangerous, and difficult, and a cauldron of communicable diseases, but it was also a colorful, lively and a more robust era - not one where the entirety of life would be spent just trying to rush to the next place, prepare yourself for the next task at hand, strive for that next promotion, etc. It may have been a complicated time, but the needs and expectation of men (and women) were simpler. Now, nothing is simple! :(

~Spring Into Summer - Update #9~

Update:

Total Books Read: 1
Total Pages Read: 528 Pages
Books Read Since Last Update: 1
Pages Read since last update: 0 Pages
Total time read: 4.5 hours
Currently Reading: "Very Bad Men " by Harry Dolan
How I'm currently feeling: I knew that I wouldn't be able to do much once my dad wakes up. He woke up and we surprised him with his presents, and birthday cards. Also, I made him his favorite breakfast, and we all sat and ate together. Then we sat down to watch some TV together - so I haven't gotten ANY reading done since the last update :(

Mini Challenge:

So, I used this really cool website CLICK HERE to create an anagram out of my name, and here is the (HILARIOUS) result! =)

~Spring Into Summer - Update #8~

Update:

Total Books Read: 1
Total Pages Read: 528 Pages
Books Read Since Last Update: 1
Pages Read since last update: 0 Pages
Total time read: 4.5 hours
Currently Reading: "Very Bad Men " by Harry Dolan
How I'm currently feeling: I knew that I wouldn't be able to do much once my dad wakes up. He woke up and we surprised him with his presents, and birthday cards. Also, I made him his favorite breakfast, and we all sat and ate together. Then we sat down to watch some TV together - so I haven't gotten ANY reading done since the last update :(

Mini Challenge:

If you had bookshelves FULL of all of your favorite books, how would you organize them?

If I had a bookshelf chock FULL of my favorite books, I would organize them first, by genre. And then, on a secondary level, the books now sorted by genre would then be sorted by author's last name. And on the tertiary level, say if there are six books in a series, or six books by one author, they'd be organized in chronological order, according to the flow of the story (even if the prequel came later!). Chronology is very important to me! :)

Since we're on the subject of bookshelves, I just wanted to share with you guys, my dream bookshelf/library *le sigh*

Admont Benedictine Monastery-Library

Isn't it absolutely beautiful, and doesn't it look just like the library from "Beauty & the Beast"?

But yeah, DREAM ON, right!?!? For that, I'd first have to buy a huge mansion. But, I guess I could compromise for something simple like this...

Look at that oak paneling, and the warmth of that corner. I mean, that would be the favorite part of MY house! I wish!!! *le sigh* Haha, okay, okay...I'll stop...coz I could continue dreaming...HAPPY READING! :)

~Spring Into Summer - Update #7~

Update:

Total Books Read: 1
Total Pages Read: 528 Pages
Books Read Since Last Update: 0
Pages Read since last update: 115 Pages
Total time read: 2.5 hours
What I'm currently reading: "Very Bad Men " by Harry Dolan
How I'm currently feeling: Mom & Dad are sleeping, and I have some quiet time before Dad wakes up, and we wish him a Happy Birthday, and create a big fuss over him! =) I know I'll get sidetracked then, because I am a total Daddy's Girl/Daddy's Little Princess being an only-child, so for now I'm just clamoring to get as much reading out of the way as I possibly can!

Mini Challenge:

Name one book you think should be taught in school, grade of your choice.

19 Minutes by Jodi Picoult

You can read my Goodreads review of 19 Minutes , but I am presenting this book to you, not as a reviewer or a blogger. As a matter of fact, I think this has become about more than just the mini-challenge, at this point. I am choosing this book because I find it to be so important, and it is so very close to my heart. I think that 19 Minutes by Jodi Picoult is the kind of book that must be MANDATORY reading for high school level students. As a matter of fact, I believe that it should be the first book that 9th graders, or all Freshman should read as soon as they return from their summer vacations to start high school. On the surface it merely seems like a sad story about a high school shooting, but beneath the surface, this book explores the entire inter-personal mechanism of a student population, and the dynamics of personal relationships, such as friendship, mother-child relationships, romantic relationships etc.

I know you are wondering to yourself, "But why? What is so important about this book?" Speaking not merely about the harmful effects of bullying, but of the perils of coming of age and the rifts it creates, this book was truly an insight into the young and fragile psyche of teenagers today. The constantly changing and evolving canvas of the teenage life is chronicled in such a subtle, yet effective manner, that I felt akin to every character in this book, regardless of his/her age. Also, it presents the perspectives of both the victim, and the victimized - and never judges you for the opinion you hold. What I love best about the writing of Jodi Picoult is that she never presents a one-dimensional argument - she allows for their to be love and acceptance for all characters, even if they are at odds with each other, or are standing on two different sides of a line.

I think reading this book would help teenagers realize what kind of power their words, and their actions, hold - how the warp of merely 19 Minutes can totally tilt the axis of their world, all because they couldn't show respect, tolerance or acceptance to one person. I believe not only would this book be educational, it would be a meaningful way for teachers and students to bond, as well as for a way for students to make more meaningful connections, and engage in open discussion and dialogue regardless of their clique, their race, their age, etc. I know, for a FACT, that my children would most definitely be advised to read this book, when they reach the appropriate age - I would definitely want to teach them acceptance, tolerance, pride in oneself, the importance of communication, and the detrimental affects of bullying. I believe young adults AND adults, alike, ought to read this book.

~Spring Into Summer - Update #6~

Update:

Total Books Read: 1
Total Pages Read: 413 Pages
Books Read Since Last Update: 1
Pages Read since last update: 112
Total time read: 1 hour.
Currently Reading: "Very Bad Men " by Harry Dolan
How I'm currently feeling: I finished "The Midwife's Confession" last night, and just began "Very Bad Men" - more hopeful about getting more reading done today! :)

Mini Challenge:

Put two characters from different series together (romantically or otherwise) and describe why they would be good together.

I know this just sounds silly, but I think it would totally rock if Eric Northman of "The Sookie Stackhouse" novels mated with Rosalie Hale of the "Twilight" saga. I mean, can you IMAGINE the babies they'd make. They'd be the new "Brangelina" of our times - but like, ten times paler, more beautiful and more deadly! ;)

Friday, June 17, 2011

~Spring Into Summer Read-a-Thon - Update Day #1~

Okay, so Day #1 is coming to an end - I mean, sure I have more time to read, but it's time to update, and let the world know how far I've gotten this day (trust me, not very far!). So, without further ado, here's my update:

First of all, give us an end-of-day status update.
Answer: I read "The Midwife's Confession" by Diane Chamberlain, which is an extremely interesting book. I've read about 315 pages so far, and it is coming to a close, and I'm excited to pick up my next book. I'm struggling to keep up with the posting, which sucks - but it's my first read-a-thon, and I suspect I'll learn! :) Also, I've been sick all day...and my fever is not really relenting, so I don't know how long I'll be able to stay awake. Also, it's my dad's birthday tomorrow, so I am sure I won't be reading very much tomorrow either - so I can kiss that coveted grand prize goodbye, but that's okay...I'm just happy to be participating. This is fun! =)
What is the favorite thing you have read today?
Answer: "The Midwife's Confession" is all that I have read today, but in all honesty, I absolutely absolutely am loving it. So I guess that would be it!
Which mini-challenge was your favorite?
Answer: I think the last mini-challenge with the book titles making a sentence was the most fun for me. Although I really enjoyed the one that prompted me to write - but then again, writing is my passion. This challenge was the most different one for me.
What has been your favorite thing about the read-a-thon?
Answer: Just reading along with people; knowing that there are other readers/bloggers out there participating in the challenges, and striving to read alongside me! Also, the mini-challenges have been fun too.
What has been your LEAST favorite thing about the read-a-thon?
Answer: I like everything about the read-a-thon, but if I really must complain and whine, the only thing I wished for, was a little more time for the challenges. Actually, I suppose the time was enough, but given there are so many different things that needed to be done - I would sometimes check the mini-challenge post late, and thus be scrambling to create my post for the mini-challenge. And it's not like you can schedule the posts either, because you don't know what the mini-challenge is before hand. But then again, I guess that is why they are called "Challenges" lol =P
Are you on track to meet your goals?
Answer: ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! Haha, I thought I'd be reading so much faster and so much more. But that's okay. It's not a marathon. I always tend to enjoy my books. In fact, the longer I linger on a book, chances are, the more I like it. I usually spend more time with a book BECAUSE I like it very much! =)
Will you be participating tomorrow? Do you have any new goals?Answer: My goal for tomorrow is to NOT have a fever, lol =P This is so that I don't feel sluggish, and sleepy. That totally interferes with my reading. Also, since it's ACTUALLY the weekend, and I don't have to work, I guess the goal is to check the mini challenges on TIME! =)

~Spring Into Summer - Update #5~

Update:

Total Books Read: 0
Total Pages Read: 301 Pages
Book I'm Currently Reading: "The Midwife's Confession" by Diane Chamberlain.
Books Read Since Last Update: N/A
Pages Read since last update: 141 Pages
Total time read: 7 hours
How I'm currently feeling: Only 301 Pages in 7 Hours. Needless to say, I am feeling incredibly annoyed! :(

Mini Challenge:

Okay, so I needed to create a sentence using only book titles, and needed at least 3 books! This was HARD...but it's funny because the more I began searching, the more I got into this challenge. Here are some of the sentences I came up with - let me know if you like them! =)