Top Ten Tuesday, Recent Additions

The top ten list topic is brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish where each week is different and this week I will discuss:

Ten Books You Recently Added To Your To-Be-Read List

• George R.R. Martin
  • A Dance with Dragons
  • A Feast for Crows
  • A Storm of Swords
    • I added the Song of Ice and Fire series to my TBR list this month. Books 3, 4, and 5 happen to fall into the last 10 books I have added to my list. The series has been on my mental TBR list but I finally got around to adding it on Goodreads.
• Neil Gaiman
  • Neverwhere
  • Coraline
    • Gaiman has been on my radar only recently. I can’t wait to read one of his novels.
• Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go are friend recommendations that I have heard good things about.
• The last three books I added because I read about them on a list of some sort or another (I love book lists). I like to call them my buzz books because I’ve heard about the author or the book title and the words must read.
  • Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
  • Rachel Hartman, Seraphina
  • Laurie Halse Anderson, Wintergirls

Who knows when I will get to these books, one third of my Goodreads books are on my TBR shelf. Not too bad of a stat but I know there are probably a hundred books not cataloged yet. Plus each month more books are released and more get added to the list. So many books, so little time.

What are your latest books to be read?

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Two Sides

Word.

Relax

Print or eBook

The Big Debate

I used to be an extreme print loyalist but the times are changing. I would say I am at more of a 50/50 ratio when it comes to reading print and eBooks. Both have their own set of pros and cons, can’t we all get along. Let’s celebrate the fact that reading is awesome in any form.

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On a side note, I would love a digital copy of a print book I buy.

Who’s with me?

Get Your Reading Done

How To Get More Reading Time

5 Habits via Jessica at BookRiot

All of us readers have this problem at one time or another–trying to squeeze in time to read. Here are a few tricks to get that book finished and that “to be read” pile down.

Read before bed, every single day.

Seems like common sense but that time spent reading before bed adds up. Set yourself a goal or time limit and stick to it. I have stayed up late finishing a book so I know the struggle but remember there is always tomorrow night to look forward to and a good book is worth the wait.

Read while on the move.

If you commute then you have the perfect opportunity for reading time. Also consider audiobooks, for those that walk or drive (I use audiobooks on the treadmill). I usually have one book picked out for commute reading. For example, a thin paperback that if it gets lost or damaged I would not be as heartbroken as if it were a more prized book.

Interact with other readers.

This will get you recommendations for other books. It will spread book love around because I know we all like to talk about stories we love. You may even forge a friendship over your passion for reading.

Lunchtime equals book time.

Reading during a meal used to make me feel like a loner, but I would rather have an enjoyable meal while reading than sit and pretend to be involved in the lunch table’s conversation. This habit of reading while eating was instilled at a young age for me and I still read at lunch during the work week.

Wake up and read.

I like to spend an hour or two on the weekend just reading. It is my relaxing time. My favorite time to read is when I wake up in the morning on Saturday or Sunday while I’m still being lazy getting a chapter or two in before I start my day.

When do you fit in your reading time?

#tbt

That time we went exploring…

Probably a decade ago, good lord I’m getting old, I went on a trip to take pictures with another photographer friend. We lived in rural Missouri and it was during the end of Spring (so warmer temps) which meant we didn’t want to be in the car for long. The destination was decided and off we went to Arrow Rock State Park. The jail above is located in the state park. It was used to hold one prisoner. On the way to the state park we stopped in a small town for lunch and roamed.

Blackwater Missouri

A very quaint town with a great vibe. Their main street has a few shops to stop in and while there you can take a look at the windmill that sits atop the town well. There are a few gardens around like the Chouteau Garden with the fountain or another water garden with a koi pond. We spent nearly an hour walking around and exploring. It is one of my favorite memories from the past. A beautiful day spent outside.

Wednesday Wisdom

Top Ten Tuesday, Childhood Rereads

The top ten list is brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish where each week the theme/topic changes. This week I will discuss:

Top 10 Books From My Childhood That I Would Love To Revisit

1. Where the Sidewalk Ends
2. The Velveteen Rabbit
3. The Secret Garden
4. James and the Giant Peach
5. A Wrinkle in Time
6. The Castle in the Attic
7. The Chronicles of Narnia
8. Number the Stars
9. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
10. Sarah, Plain and Tall

There are many books from my childhood that I would revisit. These are only a few that stand out. I have slowly started adding more books from my past into my current reading rotation. The most recent I read was Black Beauty.

Which book from your childhood would you read again?

Escaping

“Reading was my escape and my comfort, my consolation, my stimulant of choice: reading for the pure pleasure of it, for the beautiful stillness that surrounds you when you hear an author’s words reverberating in your head.”
― Paul Auster, The Brooklyn Follies

Off to get lost in a book.

Manners

I have wanted to do this for awhile but either forgot or put it off for another day.

Shout-outs

A short, quick thank you to all my readers, especially those not in the U.S. like me. My Australian readers: I have always been fascinated with Australia since I was about ten years old so seeing it on my stats page makes me smile. Those from India: I have just recently in the past few years discovered the wonder and beauty that your country offers, from afar. I hope to one day experience the beauty in person. The U.K. readers, my heart and soul have always been yours. I am a proud Anglophile. I am not even sure where these feelings came from but I am sure I was born in the wrong decade and the wrong continent. Readers from the Philippines, thank you for stopping by. It amazes me how people find each other online, worlds apart. Italian readers, you are always welcome. My love of the Netherlands is always growing. And lastly, Canada. You may not know but I sometimes wish I were Canadian.

If I could I would visit each and every one of these countries. Exploring the unknown is a trait I hope to never lose. Each and every one of my readers are appreciated, and I just wanted to say thank you for reading. I hope to continue to express myself creatively, post worthwhile content, and send good vibes out into the world.

Have a great week and I hope to see you here again.