10 Bookish Questions Tag!

Photo by Taisiia Shestopal on Unsplash

Ah, books. They’re one of my very first loves (besides toys and candy). And a love that has stayed for years and years (I’m not really into toys now but I sure do love my chocolate!). Though my passion for reading may ebb and flow (I’ve gone through some reading droughts in the past), I know books will always be there to comfort me in times of need. Like right now! 2020 has been a sh*tshow of a year, and books have been my main way of relaxing and escaping this cursed year (you know, since we can’t go anywhere!). So when I stumbled upon this bookish tag on Pinterest, I knew it was fate and I decided to tag myself so I could do it and show my appreciation for all things books and reading! (Plus I thought it would be fun!) So thank you to this kind blogger, Eleanor Sophie for the pin she made that led to this bookish this tag that I tagged myself in. I had a blast writing it and I hope you have at least an okay time reading it! 

*Also, I noticed that this was called the 10 Bookish Questions Tag, but could only find nine questions. Am I crazy? (Possibly. The jury is still out on that one) So I decided to add my own tenth question, to round out the tag. If you end up doing the tag, you can either use my question or add in your own tenth one to spice things up!*

The 10 Bookish Questions Tag

1. How many books do you currently own?
Oh geez, what a question! How am I supposed to keep track of all of them?? My home library is literally an ever changing revolving door of books. I’m always giving away/donating and then adding more books to my collection. So currently (after a very thorough decluttering session and then a count) I have about 160+ physical books! I know that doesn’t seem like a lot compared to other bookworms’ libraries, but I used to have so many more books! I’ve cut back a lot on my collection and have given away the books I didn’t really love and am keeping my all time favorites (though to be fair, a lot of these books I own I have not read yet! My reading list is never-ending. And I'm okay with that.)

If you want to see what happened when I went through my book collection in the name of minimalism you can read about it here!

2. How many books are you currently reading?
Well...I have this horrible habit of reading multiple books at one time. Which can be fine if it’s only two at a time, but once I add a third or a fourth book, I tend to forget about the other ones. For example, I’ve been trying to read The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson for two years now, but I keep getting distracted by other books. Oops. I’ll finish it one day, I swear!

3. Choose a couple of books you read but didn’t enjoy?

Can I be honest? I didn’t think Gone Girl was that good. It was okay, but just way overhyped. I also thought The Catcher in the Rye and The Perks of Being a Wallflower were super overrated. Or I just didn’t get them. Sorry!

Speaking of overrated, I have a whole blog post about popular books that I found incredibly overrated! You can read it here!

4. A cover buy?
Literally so many! I know you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover but...I do sometimes.. I think one book I did buy because of the cover and the blurb inside was The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler, and I ended up not being into it at all. See! Don’t judge a book! That’s why the library is great. You can check out books free of charge, and if you don’t end up liking them, you can just return them and all you’ve wasted is your reading time! It's a win-win!

5. A book you haven’t read in years?
I’m actually currently trying to reread old favorites of mine to see if I still like them as much as I did back in the day! I reread the Georgia Nicolson books by Louise Rennison (still love them) and am currently rereading some Libba Bray books (right now it’s Beauty Queens). I actually want to reread The Hunger Games trilogy, because I loved those books so much, but now I want to see how they hold up! (Though I have no desire to read the new book about President Snow. Of all of the characters I do not want to read about, President Snow is right up there. Maybe directly under Dolores Umbridge)

6. A book you will always recommend?
I will always recommend Water for Elephants by Sara Gruin. Such a beautiful book, and one I have forced everyone in my family and most of my friends to read. I just love it so much! I also love A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnolly. It’s such a good book to recommend, because it’s all about taking chances and having courage, and sometimes you just need a reminder of that in your life to push you forward.

7. All time favourite book series?
Is it lame if I say Harry Potter? Because it’s probably the Harry Potter series, not gonna lie. It’s had such a profound effect on me since I first read it and still does, despite the things the author might say...ahem. (Listen, I can’t forgive J.K. Rowling for what she said, but I’m able to separate the author from the incredible story, especially when there’s such a wonderful Harry Potter community that seems way more true, loving, and accepting, compared to the story’s original source. Isn’t it amazing how a story can overshadow it’s author and become something bigger than they ever will be?)

8. Where do you read?
I love to read in an armchair (preferably one that can lean back so I can stretch out), or on the couch, or my bed. A cozy blanket and pillows with a cold drink and perhaps a snack is preferred while reading, but I can do without! (If I have to!)

9. What are the last two books you gave a 5 star rating?
The only one I can remember was The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule. I love true crime and reading about serial killers (just girly things, I know), and this was by far one of the most fascinating true crime books I’ve read. Especially because the author actually knew Ted Bundy, the subject of the murders she was contracted to write about! So it had also had an incredible emotional turmoil to it, as someone who used to think they knew someone as a friend,  who then turned out to actually be a serial killer and pretty much lied and tricked everyone he knew into thinking he was a good guy. Scary, sad, but really good, it’s one I highly recommend! It’s a long book, but you’ll fly through it!

10. What’s your favorite way to read a book: physical books, e-books, or audiobooks?
I myself love a good old fashioned book with lots of pages between the covers. For me, you just can’t beat that comforting weight that a book has, plus that smell (you know that smell! Fresh books, old books, well-loved books. They all have a certain smell!). While I do read e-books sometimes (though I don’t have an e-reader or tablet, I use my phone), I haven’t gotten into audiobooks. For some reason, whoever is narrating just reads too slowly for my taste! Maybe I just read faster than I realize! But for me, physical books are always the way to go! And the ones I buy/collect!

I Tag:

Anne @ Rooting Branches
Kim @ Chimmyville
Karalee @ Tales of Belle

Faerie Lifestyle

Ta-dah! Those were my answers to the 10 Bookish Questions Tag! It was a lot of fun to let my inner bookworm out and share my thoughts, opinions, and habits about books and reading. Let me know in the comments what your all time favorite book series is and where you like to read!

And while I may have tagged a few people, if I haven’t tagged you and you want to do this tag, please tag yourself and let me know! (I mean, that’s what I did, and I’m glad I did it!) I’d love to read your answers to these questions, fellow bookworms!

Stay Weird!

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10 Nonfiction Books That Read Just Like Fiction!

Photo by Matias North on Unsplash

Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links, which means if you purchase something through one of these Very Special Links, I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Just a head's up!

In a world of nonfiction, I am, at heart, a fiction loving girl. I know, I know! But as much as I love fiction, sometimes there are some nonfiction books that are so interesting and absorbing, they read just like fiction. And the crazy part is, nonfiction books are true. No need for a made up plot twist because all of the things in these books actually happened. (Though you have to take into account the bias of the authors, etc. but still. The things in the books happened in real life, the authors just may portray it or explain it a different way, all depending on who’s telling the story) So it’s true what they say that truth is stranger than fiction. Or sometimes more fun! I’ve compiled a list of ten more of my favorite nonfiction reads, from the scary and serious, to the quirky and fun! If you’ve been waiting to dip your toe into the nonfiction pool, then I’m sure there will be something on this list for you. Give it a try, you never know what story from one of these books might affect you and interest you in a certain topic!

(Also, I am adding some trigger warnings before a couple of books that deal with difficult subject matters. While I highly recommend all of these books, if you are sensitive to any of the subject material mentioned, I would advise you to skip that book and read another one of my suggestions instead!)

If you haven’t read my first post about some of my other favorite nonfiction books that you should totally add to your reading list, you can read it here!

Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore

Sourcebooks

This book tells the untold stories of a group of girls from the 1910's and 20's, who worked at various watch dial painting factories, where they had to paint the dials with a glow in the dark paint made with- radium. At the time, radium was thought to be safe and a miracle cure for everything, but by constant exposure (and ingestion through the licking of their paintbrushes to keep the tips pointed for accuracy), the dial painters, who were all mostly young women in the prime and start of their lives, suddenly became stricken with horrible, unknown illnesses and painful death- all due to the deadly nature of radium. This book tells their story, the girls who are just spoken about as a collective of the casualties of the danger of radium, and breaths life and individuality into each and every woman. It also records the fights and lawsuits (that spanned years) that the girls, their families, and lawyers raised against numerous watch dial companies, who did everything in their power to deny these claims (and lie) and let woman after woman suffer and die, just to keep making money. A true story of science, injustice, history, and greedy business, mixed with courtroom drama, this book will engross you from start to finish.

Very Special Link: Buy Radium Girls on Amazon

*Trigger Warning for Mindhunter: Very violent and disturbing topics discussed throughout the book*

Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker

Gallery Books

Don’t read this when you’re house-sitting by yourself. Trust me. I know from experience. A true story by one of the FBI’s first psychological profilers of serial killers, this books the story of John Douglas, from his childhood, his interest in psychology, his career in the FBI, and how his and other's efforts to profile murderers who killed again and again (finally dubbed “serial killers”) and how they helped profile and help track down other serial killers (and hopefully help in the effort to prevent killers from killing. Nature vs. nurture, right?). With portions of the book dedicated to interviews and meetings with well known serial killers like Charles Manson and Ed Kemper, Mindhunter offers a disturbing but intriguing look at serial killers, their minds, and the hard work people at the FBI and law enforcement get into to protect the public and catch some seriously disturbed individuals. (Again, don’t read this when you’re house/dog-sitting and all alone. I learned that the hard way!)

Very Special Link: Buy Mindhunter on Amazon

*Trigger Warning for Boys and Sex: Topics of r*pe and s*xual assault discussed throughout the book*

Boys and Sex: Young Men on Hookups, Love, P*rn, Consent, and Navigating the New Masculinity by Peggy Orenstein

Harper

If you haven’t read Peggy Orenstein’s fantastic book Girls and Sex, all about girls and the new lifestyle of sex and dating in the digital age, it’s a must read for every parent, and frankly, any person living in this modern technological world (aka right now). Ms. Orenstein is back with the male version of Girls and Sex, where she interviews boys this time, about their feelings about dating, sex, and more, but offers incredible insight into what it’s like for teenage and college age guys in today’s hookup culture. At times incredibly hard to read, but also incredibly important in this day and age, Boys and Sex is one of those books that has some very hard truths and stories to read but is so relevant and essential in this technological world where literally everything is constantly changing every part of our lives and the lives of the new generation too.

Very Special Link: Buy Boys and Sex on Amazon

Check out my review of Girls and Sex by Peggy Orenstein here!

Killer Fashion: Poisonous Petticoats, Strangulating Scarves, and Other Deadly Garment Throughout History by Jennifer Wright

Andrews McMeel Publishing

Want to read a fun book about the deadly ways fashion could kill you back in the day, complete with illustrations and fun limericks? Then do I have the book for you! Killer Fashion is the perfect book for the fashionista/history buff who also has a morbid fascination with...well, things that could kill you. It’s a win-win-win! (For us fans of the strange, anyway!) Plus, it’ll give you a good jumping off point to any of these deadly fashions in history that you may want to learn about further! (I always knew scarves were suspicious and should not be trusted.)

Very Special Link: Buy Killer Fashion on Amazon

Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want To Come: One Introvert's Year of Saying Yes by Jessica Pan

Andrews McMeel Publishing

Are you an introvert, like I am? Or are you an extrovert who just doesn’t understand what being an introvert is about? Well, I have the perfect book for all of you! In Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want To Come, Jessica Pan decides to take her introverted ways and see if she can come out of her shell and live like an extroverted person (meaning saying “yes” for a year. Literally my worst nightmare). In a brand new city, she takes improv classes (so awkward), hosts a dinner party with new friends (terror), and even does stand-up comedy (the horror!!). In her book, Jessica writes about the triumphs and the failures of her adventures, and how they brought out new sides of her she didn’t even know she possessed. A truly inspiring tale, says me, an introvert who doesn’t have the courage to do most of the things Jessica did! (Stand-up comedy?? She is literally an introverted superhero! I could never!)

Very Special Link: Buy Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come on Amazon

Quackery: A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything by Lydia Kang and Nate Pedersen

Workman Publishing Company

Everyone hates taking medicine. But you know who had it way worse than you? Literally everyone before the 20th century! (And some may argue with that claim!) This book gives the history of some very strange, disgusting, odd, and just plain ol’ dangerous “cures” and medicines that doctors and physicians (and just random folks) throughout history have used to try to treat everything from colds to venereal disease. Both terrifying and fascinating, you’ll feel so grateful you live in the modern age and don’t have to be poked with lancets and have leeches stuck to your skin. Taking a pill doesn’t seem so bad compared to iron hot pokers and leeches, am I right?

Very Special Link: Buy Quackery on Amazon

*Trigger Warning: Smoke Gets In Your Eyes deals with subjects around death and trauma*

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty

W.W. Norton & Company

Have you ever thought it would be like to work in a crematorium? Me either- until I read this book! You may know Caitlin Doughty from her YouTube channel, Ask a Mortician (which you should totally check out!). In her book/memoir, she talks about her job working at a crematorium, her thoughts and feelings about death (because you experience a lot when you’re incinerating dead bodies for a living), and how it led her to be the mortician she is today (with her own company that specializes in eco-friendly burial options, and personal and honest information for her clients in her own mortuary business). Not only is Caitlin an advocate for destigmatizing death and how we view it in its current funeral practices in Western culture, but she also is so personable and knowledgeable and frankly, funny, you’ll also want her to be your best friend. Read her book and you’ll know why! (Plus, you’ll probably start thinking about death in a more accepting, and less scared way. Which is a good thing overall, I think)

Very Special Link: Buy Smoke Gets In Your Eyes on Amazon

Bonus Caitlin Doughty books that I also highly recommend (also Very Special Links):

From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death
Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?: Big Questions From Tiny Mortals About Death

Check out Caitlin’s YouTube channel Ask a Mortician, too!

Unmentionable: The Victorian Lady's Guide to Sex, Marriage, and Manners by Therese Oneill

Back Bay Books

Have you ever wanted to time travel and live in another time? Time travel isn’t really a thing (at least not yet, according to some people), but if it was an option and you wanted to live in the Victorian ages and you are a woman, Unmentionable is the perfect (and historically hilarious) guide book for you! From how to be a proper lady, to the garments (under and over) you must wear, and how you must conduct yourself as a wife (most important), mother (next important), and woman (least important), this book will have you ready to time travel and be the oppressed, Victorian woman you know you always were deep down. (I mean, aren’t we all?)

Very Special Link: Buy Unmentionable on Amazon

This Is Gonna Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Medical Resident by Adam Kay 

Little, Brown Spark

Despite being incredibly squeamish about blood and gore, sometimes I just love reading about all things medical. And This Is Gonna Hurt, about a former physician in the U.K., is both fascinating, medically, but also incredibly hilarious and heart-felt. If you want to know what it’s really like to be a doctor, from school to officially saving lives in a hospital, and the toil and the heartbreak it brings upon you (but also the very funny stories. Human beings are incredibly stupid/hilarious), then this is the book for you. One of the best and funniest and deepest memoirs I’ve read and can’t recommend enough! (I even forced my dad to read it and I heard him belly laugh multiple times)

Very Special Link: Buy This Is Gonna Hurt on Amazon

Alphamaniacs: Builders of 26 Wonders of the World by Paul Fleischman and Art by Melissa Sweet

Candlewick Studio

Are you a lover of language? Do words, literature, and books amuse you and fill you with wonder? Then you need to read Alphamaniacs! It highlights 26 (as in how many letters there are in the English alphabet) people who have made their mark on language in all sorts of ways. From coming up with a less complicated alphabet to an even easier universal language (plural! People have come up with multiple universal languages that they thought could replace the complicated English language), history is full of industrious and witty people who love the written word and celebrate it by making it into complicated codes, the world’s smallest books, and more. Who knew that a mere 26 letters could create so much creativity, communication, and community? I didn’t! But I’m all the better now for knowing it!

Very Special Link: Buy Alphamaniacs on Amazon

And these were just some more of my favorite nonfiction books! I know they ranged from the very serious to the very frivolous, but I learned so much from all of them, and I hope you do too! (And that they entertain you, like they did for me, of course!) So if you’re a fiction lover who wants to get into nonfiction, maybe give one of these books a try! You could find your new favorite book right here on this list! (And if so, you’re very welcome!)

What are some of your favorite nonfiction books? Do you lean towards the serious and scary, or more of the fun and quirky? Let me know in the comments, and also what you thought of my suggestions! I’d love to hear from you!

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The Let's Stay At Home 2020 Reading Challenge!

Photo by Florencia Viadana on Unsplash

Oh, 2020. You certainly have not turned out to be exactly what we were hoping for! For a lot of you, staying at home and being in self-quarantine/isolation is now the new norm, thanks to that novel V-word I don’t even want to say (it doesn’t deserve to have its name said! It’s already being said enough already!). And while you can fill your time with work (if you can, from home), cleaning, watching every movie and TV show known to man, and Zoom-ing with your family, friends, and now doctors (isn’t it weird when you now have appointments aka video chats with your doctor?? Like, what is life??), why not take this time to just stay at home (obviously) and read all of those books that you’ve been meaning to?

I know what you’re thinking: I’m already a reader! Why do I need a reading challenge? Well, what else do you have to do??? (I saw with the utmost respect and love!) The main goal of this reading challenge is to take advantage of the time you have now that we’re staying at home (and if you’re not, please stay at home as much as you can!), and take the time to read those books you’ve been meaning to, or ones you never thought you would! Let’s get a little adventurous while we’re bored, take a break from watching endless TV, and travel to new worlds, meet new characters, and (re)discover old books sitting on our shelves that we always meant to read, but never did. Because now is the time! Because we have the time! So let’s stay at home and read! (Also, an ideal date night for myself, FYI. With or without a date!)

I have graciously and creatively (if I do say so myself) created a fun list of categories to spark some ideas and inspiration for various books for you to read! You know you have a lot of books in your to be read list, and at least five of them will fit into these categories, I bet, so if you need the motivation to start reading those books you’ve always meant to read, then this list is for you! Not only will you be getting lots of reading done, but you’ll also be accomplishing that task that you’ve always been meaning to do: read those books you always said you would but never did! (Yet!)

Looking for more book-centric posts by me? Check out this list of posts I've written about all things bookish here!

The Let's Stay At Home 2020 Reading Challenge:

*A book you’ve had on your shelf for over a year (or two or three...) that you’ve been meaning to read but never did (the dustiest one! You know the one!).

*A book with a strong female heroine who kicks butt and saves the world (because who runs the world? Girls!).

*A classic children’s book you’ve always meant to read but never did (if it entertained children in the past, it could entertain your inner child still!).

*A best selling book that everyone else has read but you never did (just to see what all the fuss was about!).

*A young adult novel where a young couple fall in love but there’s something wrong with at least one of them that’s keeping them from being together (oh, teenagers!).

*A full series or trilogy of books (I know you can do it! And think how accomplished you’ll feel afterwards! But be sure it’s a finished trilogy or series or else the waiting for the next book will be excruciating!).

*A book from your teenage years that you were obsessed with (reread it and see if it’s still life-changing! Or just plain old cringey now. You were so different then!).

*A classic romance novel with old fashioned language to get enveloped in (why don’t people talk like that anymore?? Man, online dating and texting is lame! Mr. Darcy would never send Elizabeth Darcy an eggplant emoji!).

*A historical fiction novel that will transport you to another time and place (because it’s the closest we have to time travel. For now…).

*That one thriller that no one can shut up about currently (and that has been or will most likely be made into a movie. It’s inevitable.).

*A book that was made into a movie that you saw, but never read the book (it’s time to find out if the book is always better!).

*A tell all celebrity autobiography (it’s okay to read one every now and again! And you know you want that celeb dirt!).

*A book from your childhood to remind you of more simple, happy times (and by this I mean chapter books, no picture books! Let’s not get lazy!).

*A fantasy novel that will take you to another world with other beings and creatures that you could never have even dreamed of (but some authors definitely could and then wrote about them!).

*A nonfiction book that will make you sit back and think of the world in a completely different way (even better if it opens your mind to causes and histories of people and events that you had no idea about before!).

*A spooky book that has always creeped you out and prevented you from reading it- but now is the time to read it! (It can’t be any scarier than what’s happening in the world right now!)

*A book that you could never get into, but want to give it one last chance (you never know, you may love it this time! Or not…).

*A fun, light chick lit romance book that you always wanted to read, but were too embarrassed to have people see you read it (who cares! You’re inside! No one cares about how cute the cover looks!).

*A mystery that you don’t know the ending to (this is important) and will (hopefully) make your jaw drop when the killer is revealed (“It was HIM?? Nooooo!” Or it could turn out to be terribly predictable. The fun is that you don't know!)

*And a book you were supposed to read in school but never did (pick one that sounds interesting to you and remember, you don’t have to write a report about it afterwards!)

Bonus Non-Reading But Still Bookish Activities:

*Rearrange your books on your shelves! You can arrange by color (rainbow!), or go alphabetical, or however else you’d love to arrange your books! Go for pretty or functional, or both! Add some cute decor or lights (or both!) to make it look extra bookish!

*Go through old books and see if there are any you want to pass along or donate (a book you didn’t care for that much could be someone else’s next great read!)

*Set up some of your books for an Instagram photo session! Add in cute props and theme it by color, series, or subject! (Bonus points if you get your pet in the picture!)

And these are 20 suggestions of (very specific) categories of books to read! See if you can check them all off the list or even just a few of them! You never know, you could discover a genre of book that you loved that you never would have tried if you weren’t prompted! And see if you can unclutter (and dust) your shelves (physical or digital) by checking a few of these items off of the list, and better yet, see if you were missing out on some incredible reads that were just waiting around for you to read them!

Remember to, of course, use your local library (online resources at your local libraries are amazing! If you have a library card and a tablet or a phone, you can read ebooks for free!), audiobooks, ebooks, and your own books that you have piled up on your bedside table (or wherever you’ve put them throughout the house) to help you complete the challenge. I know you can do it! (You know, only if you want to. Like, if you want to pass the time by reading. If not, that’s cool. It’s just an idea. Just a suggestion. Whatevs.)

And also, you’re welcome for all the random book prompts! I had such a great time coming up with them (and yes, I looked at my own to be read list for inspiration!). I was going to add in book suggestions, but I figured my own reading choices may be a bit too niche, but if you need any suggestions, just feel free to ask! And let me know if you end up doing the challenge or using one of my prompts to read a book! I’m not going to create a hashtag or anything, but I’d love to know if my list helped get you to cross a few books off of your to be read list! (But also, if you think of a cute hashtag, let me know and maybe we can start a trend!)

Also, remember: not only are you getting some much needed reading done, you’re also doing the world a great service by staying at home! So for that, thank you so much!

Let me know what you think of my suggestions for reading prompts and if any of them make you think of a book you’ve been meaning to read! (I know I relate to at least 10 on this list!)

Happy reading, weirdos!

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9 Ways to Get Back Into Reading And Find The Time to Read!

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

Hi, I’m me, and I’m a bookworm. And no, this isn’t a Bookworms Anonymous meeting. I am quite proud, and not at all ashamed of being a ferocious reader of books (and probably don’t need help with it. Except when I’m trying to write a blog post like this and keep on reading instead of working on my blog. Then it’s a problem!). If given the chance, I could read all day! (Granted my eyes don’t get sore. I probably need a new glasses prescription, actually, thanks to all of this reading. And possibly Lasik.) I was recently asked how I read so much and how I find the time. Well, long story short, I have no life (which is a joke. Sort of). But short story long, I just love reading and I make the time to do it! If given the chance to binge-watch a reality show on Netflix (I still have not watched any of those new reality shows on Netflix that everyone is talking about yet, sorry guys) or reading, I’ll choose reading in a heartbeat! (Along with choosing between going to a party or reading. I’ll force myself to go to the party, but would prefer to be cuddled up with a book and a cat by my side, in all honesty!)

So if you’re someone who would like to read more, but are having trouble finding the time, or if you’re even trying to get back into reading after a slump (reading slumps are the worst!), I have a few tips that I think might help you get back into reading and being that bookworm you always knew you were deep down!

#1. Carve Out A Specific Time to Read
It doesn’t matter when, just as long as it’s a good time for you. Reading should be an enjoyable escape, so pick a time when you’re relaxed and ready to jump into a story. Whether that’s before bed (to help you relax), or on the weekends during a certain chunk of time (also to help you unwind. Reading is excellent for stress relief!), find a time that works for you. And stick to it!

#2. Ignore Netflix or Whatever Streaming Service is Distracting You
I know, I know. It’s the perfect way to relax. You literally don’t have to do anything but stare at the screen and if you’re watching a TV show, it automatically sends you to the next episode! But after a while, sometimes you’re just watching Netflix because you’re bored or don’t have anything else to do. Reading takes more concentration, but that’s okay. Your mind needs that stimulation, rather than the mind-numbing TV you’re not paying attention to, so turn off the TV, tablet, laptop, or whatever device you may be watching on, and get to reading!

#3: Put Down That Phone- Or Use It to Read!
We all get so distracted by our phones these days. Even I do when I’m reading! I’ll look up a word or a style of historical outfit to see it in my mind when I’m reading, but then I get distracted by a notification or “IjustwanttocheckInstagramforlikeasecond!” But how about putting that phone to another use? If you don’t have an iPad, tablet, or an e-reader, you can actually still read on your phone! Download Kindle or another e-reading app, and the possibilities are endless! Some reading apps like Kindle or Apple Books even offer free books to read too, so look out for those. (Just remember to turn off those notifications from your apps so you can really get lost in your book!)

#4: Look Into Audiobooks As a Fun Reading Alternative!

Audiobooks are more popular than ever! With authors and celebrities reading new fiction and old classics, you’ll be able to find a book you want to listen to, no matter what! And audiobooks are not only perfect for people who are visually impaired, but are great for when you’re on the go! Whether you’re on your work commute, traveling, or just busy cleaning the house, you’ll still be listening (aka reading) to a book!

#5: Try Giving Yourself a Reading Goal!

Want to make sure you’re holding yourself accountable when it comes to reading? Try setting up a reading goal for the year! It can be as easy as one book a month, or as crazy as 100 books a year! (Which really isn’t that crazy when you know so many bookworms!) Reading isn’t a competition (you can read as slow or speed read as fast as you like), but a reading goal is a great way to keep track of what books you read, when you read them, and to see how many books you read in one given time. Try signing up for Goodreads if you haven’t already. It’s a great social media platform/app that has a reading challenge you can sign up for every year. Plus, you can read reviews of books and also write your own to share! You can also add books to your own lists, like books you've read, books you're reading, and books you want to read! It’s a great community for connecting other readers together! 

#6: Ask For Book Recommendations! 

Having trouble finding a good book (or any book) to read? Ask a friend or family member! Or ask a librarian, or search for the bestsellers on Amazon or Goodreads. Read reviews and find your genre! (Or genres! Lord knows I’m always flipping back and forth between fiction and non-fiction, historical fiction and contemporary fiction, or horror and celebrity autobiographies!) Sometimes all it takes is one recommendation from a friend or one really good review to help you find the book (or series of books) of your dreams, so go out there and ask! (Plus, it really tells you a lot about a person when they tell you about the books that they read!)

#7: Check Out Free Reading Resources- Like Your Local Library!
In case you didn’t know, I love libraries! I think they are just great, free resources for everyone and obviously, perfect for bookworms! You get to read as many books as you want for free (minding that you have a library card) and then return them and go get more! Plus, libraries are now up to speed on technology and lots now offer free reading apps, so you can check out and read all the books your little heart desires on your phone or e-reader. All for free. Give it a shot, save some money, and get reading!

#8: It’s Okay Not To Finish a Book (Seriously, It Is!)
"DNF" in the reading world means “did not finish.” You see that sometimes on book reviews. Not every book is going to be to your liking. And that’s okay! Which means it’s totally alright not to finish a book. There isn’t any shame in that. If you’re not enjoying the story, the characters, or the writing, it’s okay to put the book down and move on to something else. Even if the book is super popular and everyone loves it, maybe it’s just not for you. It’s not a crime not to finish a book, but it is a waste of time to continue with a book you’re not enjoying reading. Don’t take it as a failure, just find a new book to try! Trust me, there are other books you will love out there just waiting for you!

#9: Don’t Think Of Reading As a Chore- Because It's the Exact Opposite

Reading should never feel mandatory or like you're being forced to do it. This isn't like having to read books and write reports about them in school! Reading is an escape, a way to time travel, and a vacation all in one. It's fun. It’s therapeutic because it’s you time. Reading has been known to help with stress relief (as mentioned above), help with sleeping (the act of reading before bed can be really relaxing and help with sleeping troubles. But then, if you're really into a book, it could keep you up at night because you have to do know who the murderer is!!), helps with your memory, helps you with focus and concentration, helps you continue learning (and with your vocabulary, of course!), and has even been known to help increase empathy in people! Basically, reading is the best and not only provides one incredible hobby, but it also makes you a better person. What other form of entertainment can give you that??

Ta-da! Those were my nine tips and tricks for finding more time to read and getting back into reading! I’ve used all of these tips when I’ve been in a reading slump and they've helped me so much! Though I’m currently not in a reading slump right now. My TBR (to be read) pile is overflowing and so are my library book requests and I can hardly keep up! (What a problem to have, right??) Let me know what ideas you use for finding more time to read or for getting back into reading after a slump! I’d love to know some of your ideas!

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My All Time Favorite Scary Books to Read!

That Weird Girl Life

Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links, which means if you purchase something through one of these Very Special Links, I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Just a head's up!

Don't you wish that the horror genre was more celebrated year round? I mean, everyone loves a good romance novel and they get discussed year round, not just around Valentine's Day! So I'm here to remind you all that you can read horror novels at any time of the year, not just Halloween. Sure, reading them in October does make it a bit more spooky and gets you into that holiday spirit, but sometimes reading scary books at other times of the year can be just as scary. For example: it's Easter Sunday, you're all relaxed and happy from eating the chocolate from your Easter basket. You start to read a creepy novel and then you hear a loud thud. You immediately jump and think "oh my god, it's the Cadbury bunny and it wants it's delicious creme filled chocolate eggs back!" See?? It adds a scary, dark, and definitely unexpected element to an otherwise boring, pastel-filled holiday! (C'mon, you know Easter could use a somewhat dangerous and exciting element to it, like a killer Easter bunny, just to mix it up. And if you have to get that by reading something dark and twisty, then so be it!)

But in all seriousness, horror novels are something that can be read all year, because it's always fun to be scared and get goosebumps, not just when it's near All Hallow's Eve. I've compiled a list (I love lists) of some of my favorite horror novels- some young adult, some children's, and some adult- that I love and completely terrified me (though looking back at some of the kids' ones...never mind, they still scare the sh*t out of me!). I think you'll love them too (if you haven't already), so get ready to be terrified, horrified, and petrified aka have the best time of your life reading and getting your goosebumps on!

*Note: A few books in the header are not on the list. I don't own every single books on this list, so I had to make up for it for the picture by adding a few other scary books that I didn't include on the list (but you should still totally read them because they're also incredibly scary. Why didn't I include them on this list? Oh well. I'm writing this after the fact and I'm fingers are tired. Sorry, books, not adding you this time!). I just wanted to explain, just in case. Disclaimer over!

Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix

Quirk Books

Is the thought of Ikea scary to you? Same. But how about an Ikea-like store that's haunted by the prisoners and warden of the prison that used to be on that very same property hundreds of years ago? Yeah, that's probably a bit more terrifying than getting lost in an Ikea and totally missing the cafeteria. Horrorstor is a dark comedy that will have you chuckling at its dry humor and then gasping at its shocking moments. And as a bonus, the book is modeled after an Ikea-like catalog, complete with ads and profiles of the (fictional) furniture it sells. I swear, you'll never look at another Ikea dining room set the same way again.

Very Special Link: Buy Horrorstor on Amazon

My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix

Quirk Books

The 80's were a scary time. Big hair, neon colors, leg warmers, I mean, how disturbing does that sound? But throw in the fact that your best friend is now possessed by a demon? Things just got a lot more scary! Like Horrorstor, Grady Hendrix brings some dark humor and surprisingly beautiful moments of female friendships into this tale of 80's music and best friends. Oh, and demonic possession. It's kind of hard to forget that part of the story. (Also: one word: tapeworm. You'll never be able to forget that part either)

Very Special Link: Buy My Best Friend's Exorcism on Amazon

The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty

Kindle Edition

The Exorcist may be my all time favorite horror novel. Of. All. Time. If you love horror and haven't read it yet, please do yourself a favor and read this book. You thought the movie was scary? Nuh-uh. You ain't seen (read) nothing yet! (Trust me, the special effects in your head when you read this book are way better and much more terrifying than the ones in the 70's movie. I mean, pea soup? Really? Not scary. Well, it was to me but that's just because I hate peas)

Very Special Link: Buy The Exorcist on Amazon

Daughters Unto Devils by Amy Lukavics

Harlequin Teen

If you've been following my blog for a minute, you know I looooved Daughters Unto Devils. Not liked. LOVED. It was the perfect blend of historical fiction and pure horror. I wrote a book review a few months ago where I sang its praises and if you want to read it, the link is here. I would write a blurb here, but when I get enthusiastic about something I tend to ramble and I'm already writing enough for this blog, so just go over to my review and read my GLOWING review of the book. And yes, I did ramble on it. I loved the book, okay?

Very Special Link: Buy Daughters Unto Devils on Amazon

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz

Scholastic, Inc.

If you didn't read or even glance through this book as a child, consider yourself lucky. Not only are the stories incredibly scary, but the illustrations just add a downright disturbing element to this collection of scary stories. I still sort of shudder whenever I look through this book for old time's sake, and wonder why I'm not as messed up as an adult after reading this tome. (Wellll... now that I think about it, this book may have influenced my love of horror and the paranormal. Hmmm....)

Very Special Link: Buy the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark trilogy on Amazon

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Broadway Paperbacks

You know how everyone was simply shocked and so taken with Gone Girl? They thought it was so ground-breaking and never saw that twist and ending coming. I personally thought it was overrated and kind of just a formulaic thriller. So when I read Sharp Objects, I was completely blown away. This was the book that people should be talking about, not Gone Girl! More disturbing than scary, this book is just a twisted and I actually had to set it down a couple of time, just to take a breath and recoup. Brace yourself for a disturbing read. It's not horror, but it will horrify you. You've been warned!

Very Special Link: Buy Sharp Objects on Amazon

Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine

Scholastic

You know this series scared the daylights out of you as a kid and still does now. Or at least gives you that fun shiver down your spine. Either way, the Goosebumps series are a fun, nostalgic (I swear I used to drink Hi-C juice boxes and eat String Things as I read these books back in the day), and creepy read to get you in the spooky spirit!

Very Special Link: Buy a set of Goosebumps books on Amazon

A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay

William Morrow

This is another exorcism/demonic possession read (the third on this list, in fact!) but it's a totally different take on this familiar genre. A Head Full of Ghosts is more of a psychological thriller, rather than horror, that will still have you feel like you're being watched, as a family has to figure out if their eldest daughter is really possessed, or if there may be something even far more sinister may be going on. Trust me, you'll never guess the ending and once you finish the book, you'll have to take a day to process what actually happened.

Very Special Link: Buy A Head Full of Ghosts on Amazon

The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco

Samara who? If you loved The Ring (and the original Ringu) and other Japanese-style horror movies, you will love this book. The whole book is chilling and atmospheric and our heroine (who is actually the vengeful spirit of a young girl) Okiku's friendship with the living and haunted (literally) teen Tark, will tug at your heart strings. Which helps the balance of frightening images and terrifying events that happen in the rest of the book, because there's a whole lot of frightening and terrifying things!

Very Special Link: Buy The Girl From the Well on Amazon

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

Ballantine Books

I'm sure almost everyone has heard of Interview with the Vampire, or have seen the movie (I'm not a Tom Cruise fan, but he killed it as Lestat!), but have you read the book? I'm not into vampires (at all!) but this book is good. Like, really, really good. It's a long but incredibly engrossing read and is considered a horror classic. And if you love it, Anne Rice has more books in her vampire series and then some! (She's a hard working lady. Get it, girl!)

Very Special Link: Buy Interview with the Vampire on Amazon

The Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright

Scholastic Paperbacks

We all know that dolls are scary. But what about dollhouses? This was another book from my youth that completely terrified me but was one of the books that got me hooked on ghost stories. When I found it at my local Goodwill, I knew it was fate that the book came back to me (who would seriously donate their copy of The Dollhouse Murders? Laaame!) and when I reread it was still scary. But in a fun let's-tell-scary-stories-while-eating-s'mores-at-my-sleepover kind of way.

Very Special Link: Buy The Dollhouse Murders on Amazon

Sweet Valley Twins series "The Beast" Series (4 Books)

Bantam Books

I'm sure you've heard of the Sweet Valley High books or the TV show, but when I was younger, I was obsessed with the Sweet Valley Twins books, about twins Jessica and Elizabeth when they were tweens (I thought they were so cool. They were twins, blondes, and had amazing adventures together! It's all I ever wanted in my young life...). And this special mini-series in the actual series has the twins baby-sitting a single mother's three children who just moved into an old, creepy house (sound familiar?). And when the kids start having nightmares of a frightening "beast" and wake up with scratches on them, Elizabeth and Jessica must stop the nightmares and the beast from torturing this family. Which, now looking back, is a lot to put on two twelve year olds. Like, they were probably dealing with a demon and didn't even know it. Needless to say, this trilogy chilled me to the bone as youngin' and still gives me the creeps to this day. Not too bad for a 90's kid series!

Note: There aren't any new copies of this book in print, but you can find old copies from third party sellers on Amazon! 

Nina Tanleven books by Bruce Coville

Yearling

Best friends solving mysteries after encountering a ghost who needs their help? Yes, please! Adolescent me loved this series (why am I talking about myself in the third person? Oh, that's right: I'm weird) and I still do. I found The Ghost Wore Gray at a local used bookstore and I'm currently on the hunt for the other two books (sometimes it's more fun to go book shopping for books at a used bookstore than just buying it off of Amazon. At least I think so. Does anyone else think so or is it just me??) to complete the trilogy. Until then, I can only imagine a pretend past where my best friend and I visited old places and a ghost would pop out and need us to resolve their unfinished business. Actually, I'd love to do that now! Uh oh, am I about to rebrand my blog?? (Just kidding, I'm not, but I seriously would make a section of my blog dedicated to ghost hunting!)

Note: There aren't any new copies of this book in print, but you can find old copies from third party sellers on Amazon! That's how I found my copies of the books!

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There you have it, my list of my all time favorite scary books! It was a pretty eclectic mix, and my list is constantly growing, so who knows what will be on the next list of my favorite scary books! Let me know in the comments what your favorite scary book is (or books!). Is it fiction or nonfiction? Adult, YA, or children's? Let me know, I'm always looking for new scary book suggestions! Thanks for reading!

Stay Weird!

Still in the mood to read more blog posts dedicated to book lists? Well, have no fear, I have a whole bunch more for you to read! Enjoy, fellow bookworms!

Book Review: Can't Buy Forever by Susan Laffoon

Page Publishing Inc

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts, opinions, and ramblings are my own.

Book: Can't Buy Forever
Author: Susan Laffoon
Genre: Fiction
Subgenre: Romance, historical fiction

Can't Buy Forever is the story of nineteen Odessa Drake (who hates her name: one part Swan Princess, other part ugly duckling), living in 1950's upper New York state, with her aunt who runs a lodging house mostly occupied by workers from the nearby mine. Odessa, despite thinking herself an ugly duckling, from her description and the way other male characters act around her, seems to be just as beautiful as the Swan Princess. At her Aunt Flo's lodge a few years before, she meets the mysterious dark haired Nicholas, with piercing blue eyes that seem to change shades as his mood changes. Everyone seems to love and trust him, pronouncing him a good guy and perfect for Odessa, despite the pretty substantial age gap of being four years older than her. Making friends with everyone and always being kind and helpful, Nicholas seems wise beyond his years, but hesitant to start a relationship with Odessa (even though the way they act and touch each other seems like they're in a relationship, but it's made very clear that they are not, despite everyone's approval by way of knowing glances). Things start changing though when Roark, a local boy in town seems to be obsessed with Odessa and his hellbent on having her all to himself. From there, secrets are revealed about Nicholas and the love between him and Odessa as they must go on the run, and the history between Nicholas' and Roark's feuding families.

The premise for the book going in was somewhat unclear to me and even more unclear as I was actually reading it. I knew it was a love story between the innocent and lovely Odessa, and the older, perfect Nicholas. But the author threw in numerous story-lines and plot points including an immortality and gypsy curse story-line, along with the history of the newly founded Mormon Church moving to Utah in the 1800's, that I'm not at all quite sure how to exactly describe the book. Is this book strictly romance, or is a mix of magic and fantasy with not-so-subtle religious undertones? Or all of the above?

While I didn't mind Odessa and Nicholas as a couple, I just felt like despite all of the history and obvious multiple descriptions of their pure love and yearning for one another (their intense love for each other is the only way I could imagine that Nicholas could sense where Odessa was when she was scared or hurt. Or maybe it was part of the Gypsy curse...?), those two characters and their love story weren't compelling at all and just fell flat for me. Despite thinking of herself as insecure, Odessa was still pretty much perfect and everyone found her pretty and lovely, and Nicholas, with his worldly, but generous heart, seemed to just be so overprotective of Odessa that instead of trusting her with information about himself and the danger he was in,  kept it to himself to protect her (oh, but he did tell other people so they could protect her when he wasn't there. Makes sense). So overprotective of her that a twist (more like a familial switcheroo) that comes at the end of the book seems downright bizarre and not at all romantic like it was described, and almost somehow cancels out the love story that we took with Nicholas and Odessa.

The story itself (or multiple backstories) seems to meander in many aimless directions throughout he book. The author throws in so much information, history, and characters (So. Many. Characters! And of course, they all love Odessa and Nicholas. Well, most of them), that it all seems a bit too jumbled and confused and we never truly get a good payoff for a lot of the dramatic plots. What could have been an interesting story line of trying to remove a Gypsy curse is instead almost forgotten until the end when it resolved without anyone truly knowing. Instead we get multiple story changes and breaks with newly introduced characters that are either friends or foes of Nicholas and Odessa, nowhere in-between. And pretty much every character introduced finds or has a romantic partner, as if almost every character has to have a happy ending, just like the perfect couple Odessa and Nicholas hopefully will.

I felt like Can't Buy Forever was too all over the place for my taste, and the writing, while not the greatest, was descriptive (sometimes a little too descriptive) and made the story move along in a choppy sort of way. I think if you're into clean (no bad language or sexual references at all), somewhat religious (the Mormon undertones were fairly obvious) romance novels, then you'll probably love this book. I think the novel could have had a lot of potential to actually be a story I would have liked (maybe if they had explored the actual Gypsy story-line and went back to Europe, and brought more of that magic and fantasy quality to it), but in all honestly wasn't my type of book. There were just too many pieces to the puzzle and not all of them fit to make a cohesive and entertaining story for me.

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What did you all think of my newest book review? It wasn't my cup of tea, but how did the plot/story line sound to you? Let me know in the comments below!

Stay Weird,
Emily


Where to Buy:
Amazon

Goodreads:
Can't Buy Forever

Book Review: The Ravenous by Amy Lukavics

Harlequin Teen

Title: The Ravenous 
Author: Amy Lukavics
Genre: Fiction/Young Adult
Subgenre: Horror

Words cannot describe how excited I was to read this book. I love Amy Lukavics' first book, Daughters Unto Devils (you can read my glowing review of it here). It was an original and fresh novel that mixed two of my favorite genres: historical fiction and horror in a perfectly combined way, like a book version of a Reese's peanut butter cup. I wasn't that big of a fan of the her second book, The Women in the Walls, which I really wanted to love, but it didn't have that same riveting quality that I found in Daughters Unto Devils. But once I heard that the author had a new book coming out called The Ravenous...well, I was hooked by the name right away and was counting down the days till I could read it!

The story focuses on the five Cane sisters. Their father is in the army and always stationed overseas and visits rarely, while their mother, who still resides at home, is severely depressed, resents the fact that she had children, and is a frequent prescription pill user who'd rather be in bed than raise her daughters. Because of this, intense, fierce, and sometimes cruel oldest daughter Juliet has taken the role of matriarch of the girls, with the second oldest sister Taylor always following closely behind, always imitating her older sister in the hopes of earning her favor. Anya and Mona (who's perspective is our view into the story) are the middle and second youngest girls, respectively, only a year apart, and used to be close but have now grown apart and barely speak. And the youngest Cane sister, Rose, is a sweet soon to be twelve year old and seemingly the only bright light and unifying force in this otherwise dark and fractured family.

From Mona's view, we learn more about the history of the family, the complicated relationships between all five sisters, and the ways they all try to cope with being trapped at home with a mother who wishes she'd never given birth to them. Tensions are unusually high on the morning of Rose's birthday because their mother has decided to come down from her room after a bender and throws off the somewhat normal household the girls have whenever their mother isn't fully there. After Juliet and their mom get into the inevitable fight that happens whenever their mother is slightly sober, Rose is accidentally killed. The other Cane sisters are devastated but their mother, suddenly hysterically maternal, insists that she knows a way to fix this and takes Rose's body, promising to bring her back to life. And much to the girls' disbelief, when their mother comes back from her trip, Rose is with her too. Alive.

The events after that are desperate and frazzled efforts to keep Rose alive and healthy. Because Rose needs a certain food to stay alive (or medicine, as they tell Rose, keeping the real ingredient a secret from her). And when her older sisters find out what that ingredient is by discovering what their mother left hidden in the basement, they realize that they have to do whatever it takes to keep Rose alive. Even if that means killing.

The Ravenous is fraught with emotion, tension and terrifying and sickening moments that show just how strong that sisterly love and sacrifice can be. The fact that the older Cane sisters can't stand one another but they love Rose enough to come together (some unwillingly) to commit horrendous and immoral acts to keep her just shows how much Rose represents that normal and happy life they all secretly want for their family. But another thought comes to mind: are they really being kind to Rose by keeping her alive or are they selfish by keeping her in this life when she should really be in the next one?

I could have read the book in about an evening, but decided to prolong it as much as I could because I was enjoying it so much. It's not my usual horror read, but the author writes so well and creates such complex and interesting characters, especially the five Cane sisters (The Ravenous has some parallels with The Virgin Suicides and is even mentioned in the book when the girls are watching the movie on TV) that I just couldn't put it down. It was still just as creepy as my preferred supernatural read and that feeling of anxiety and dread dripped throughout the entire book, even to the very last page. It's a different take on horror, but one that is done so well it almost redefines that certain horror genre, thanks to the emotional pull and the strain between the sisters. The Cane girls showed us what sisterly loyalty looks like at its very best... and at its very worst.

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Where to Buy: Pick up or download a copy of The Ravenous now and start reading!

That was my review of The Ravenous! What did you all think? It was literally the perfect book to read in Halloween/October! Does it seems like a story you'd like? Do you have any recommendations for a scary book to read around Halloween? Let me know in the comments!

Stay Weird,
Emily