Book Confessions Part II

Christy did her Bookish Confession - and she just let you guys know one thing and went into detail about it. Well, for my Confessions Part II, I will be giving you guys a few confessions and just giving a little rant about each one. So, I'll let Usher bring me in...

Confession Number One

When I would start to read a book...I would read the ending first. 

Crazy? I know, but it was just an awful, terrible habit that I had. Past tense, I stopped that crazy act and actually started reading and enjoying the book. I hate spoilers now and look back and wonder why the heck would I do that to myself.

Confession Number Two 

I have yet to read the Harry Potter books, but have watched the movies.

I used to hate Harry Potter - no reason, just liked being outside the box when it came to my group of friends...well they made me cave. My sister hounded me about watching them because she was in love with the movies...so I did. I really enjoy the movies, though am not a fanatic like others because I have only seen them once. I have the set of books and I need to read them ASAP so I can actually understand the story and read J.K. Rowling's wonderful words.

Confession Number Three

I hate don't like to buy books for other people...

Okay, yes I love showering people with gifts (it's like my favorite hobby, ask my boyfriend) and I love to gift people with the amazing books that I have fallen in love with...but when I buy a book I want it to be put on my bookshelf not someone else's. Yes, I'm selfish, but I would rather buy myself books...I have gotten better though because I love buying Christy books! :)

What Do You Consider Spoilers?

Christy: Spoilers...it's a subject that I'm sure everyone knows about.  I'm also sure that everyone knows how easy it is to come across a spoiler that wasn't marked and I don't know about everyone else, but that can absolutely ruin a book or movie or TV show for me.  I always try to watch what I say on social media or on the blog because I know how bad I hate when someone spoils something for me. 

Personally, I think revealing a major plot point or saying who a character ends up with is a spoiler.  I don't necessary think that stating that a book has a cliffhanger is one, nor do I think that mentioning something that happens within the first couple of chapters is a spoiler. 

While I don't mind knowing whether a book has a cliffhanger or not, if I'm reading a heartbreaking book, I DO NOT want to know if it ends with a HEA, I think that would just take away some of the heartbreaking feels, and I love my heartbreaking feels.

As for me, when I'm writing my reviews, I always reference the summary and I'm very hesitant to mention something that isn't revealed in it.  Most of the time if I see something that isn't mentioned in the summary, I won't bring it up in my reviews.

Now that I've shared the things I consider spoilers, I really want to get everyone's opinion on what exactly they consider a spoiler.  Do you think saying whether or not a book has a happy ending or a cliffhanger is a spoiler?  How about mentioning something that happens very early on in a book?  Be sure to let us know in the comments!

Erica: Okay, I agree with Christy I hate spoilers. Before when I had my other blog (should I even call it mine because I had it for only a week or so, but whatever) I added spoilers to my review -- not sure why, but I did. Now, after seeing Christy's reviews and the way she writes them I'm glad I leave out any inkling of a spoiler.

So, you ask me what I think is a spoiler? I basically agree with Christy for the most part, but for the first time ever, I think I may disagree with Christy (say whaaaa?).

 I hate when I know how the ending is. The whole if it's a happy ending isn't as bad, but when I know that there is a cliffhanger...NO! I don't like knowing that there is a second book or whatever. I want to think that the book is ending. If I know that it isn't I will start guessing where it will end, I will just make myself go insane.

But, just because I go insane doesn't mean it will make others go insane with me. Some people actually like to know whether or not the book will continue on. But, for me that is a spoiler and I hate knowing. So, if any of you recommend me a book - don't tell me how awesome or sad or happy the ending is (hehe).

I want to feel all the feels. I do not want one ounce of my feelings to be torn away because someone says it's good or bad. I want to cry all the tears and eat all the chocolates.

If I find out something at the beginning of the book, that's not bad. I like knowing a little about what others think of the characters before going in so hearing stuff from the beginning actually makes me happy.

So, my fellow book lovers, what do you consider a spoiler?



Bookish Confession | I Don't Mind Series in Different Formats

Did anyone else sing the Usher song when they saw that graphic?  Yes, no?

Anyway, let me just start by saying, yes, you read that title right.  I really don't mind when my series don't match. 

Yes, I would prefer them all to be the same style and format, but when publishers are constantly changing covers mid series, it's hard for me to keep up.

Books We're Scared of Reading Due to Ratings/Reviews

Have you ever been SO excited for a book, you preorder it, and you anxiously await its release date.  Then as that date keeps getting closer and closer, you keep seeing negative reviews, so you go check out Goodreads only to see a 3.4 rating? 

Or you see a book that looks interesting at a book store so you grab it, then when you get home, you check out reviews and see that they aren't so great, and the Goodreads ratings are even worse?

Does this change your excitement for the book? 

The One Where I Organize my Goodreads Shelves

I’ve been using Goodreads since January 2011 (a year and a half before the blog) and when I first discovered it, I was just using it as a tool to keep track of what I had read and what I wanted to read and that was basically it.  It wasn’t until much, much later that I discovered that I could separate those books I had on my TBR shelf and break them down into YA, release dates, etc. 

Lately, I’ve been trying to get more organized with my shelves on Goodreads and break everything down more specific than just TBR.  I wish I would have took a screenshot of my shelves prior to all of my organization just so that I could appreciate all of the hard work but I didn’t.  So to make myself feel better I thought I would share the results with you. 

Notice all the shelves I have? I find this soooo much easier to keep track of my books, the books that I have for review, and release dates.  

I would also love to know how you arrange your GR shelves so be sure to leave me a comment or even a link to your GR profile so I can check your organization skills out ;)

Discussion | No Spoilers, Please!

 

 

I'm sure we have all been in a position where we are so excited about an upcoming book, whether it be the first in a series or the last and then have it ruined by seeing spoilers all over social media. 

 

 

I know some people don't mind spoilers and I used to be one of those people. When I first started reading, it was not unusual for me to flip to the last page and read it. This wasn't just with books either, I would get online and look up TV shows and movies. And then I realized, I don't enjoy reading or watching those shows/movies as much when I know what's going to happen.

 

After that big revelation, I decided not to do it that way anymore and I became a strict no spoilers type of girl and if you read my reviews you will probably notice the line "I don't want to give anything away" in quite a bit of them. That's because I don't want to ruin the book for someone else. However, not everyone else feels the same about spoilers and that's ok. But, I still wish people would issue some kind of warning before posting a spoiler. I know a lot of people do and to those who do I want to say THANK YOU! But some don't and I can't help but feel upset about it because it ruins something for me.

 

 

 

 

I was so disappointed when I was scrolling through Twitter and saw a MAJOR spoiler for Allegiant, I'm talking about couldn't get any more spoilery spoiler. And it killed me because I knew right then that I would like the book as much. This also happened with the last season of Sons of Anarchy, I was scrolling through my news feed on Facebook and saw the most spoilery spoiler of all about the season finale and I almost died. Yes, I still read the book and watched the last episode but it just wasn't the same.

TALK TO ME

What are your thoughts on spoilers? Do you get upset if you see a spoiler that wasn’t marked?

 

 

 



Discussion | How I Know That It's Time To DNF A Book

 

I know that the act of DNFing books is different for everybody, some people will put a book down if they are not enjoying it and some will hold out until the very end. I feel like everybody should do what they feel comfortable with or what they feel is best for them. If they are not feeling a book and that decide to put it down, that's ok. Or if they are not enjoying a book and they still finish it, well, that's ok too. Everybody should have their own preference when it comes to the dreaded DNF.

When I first started reading, I was the type of person who would force myself to finish a book no matter if I liked it or not. However, since I started blogging, I don't force myself to read the books that I'm not enjoying anymore. I have so many books that I want to read that I just don't feel like I should waste my time on the books that I don't like. Again, this is only MY personal preference.

The main thing that makes me decide that it's time to DNF a book is when I find excuses not to read. There have been times when I'm reading a book and I will constantly try to come up with something to do that way I won't have to read that specific book. When I notice myself wanting to do other things like housework instead of reading a certain book, that's when I know it's time to add that book to the DNF pile.

 

Now, I want to you what your preference is when it comes to DNFing books. Do you DNF a book that you're not enjoying? Or do you try to hold out?

 

 

 

 

Discussion | Library Books

 

 

I'm sure any reader appreciates the libraries in their town and I'm no exception, I love the fact that I can check out some of the books that I'm not sure about as this saves me money on buying books that I have doubts about. But, I got to thinking, is there a big difference between books that you buy and books that you get at the library?

 

I can only speak for myself here, but I think there is quite a bit of difference between library books vs. books that you buy. What do I mean? Well, here's a few of my habits.

 

* I'm more likely to read a book that I've bought - I can't tell you how many books that I've checked out from the library to read and then return them weeks later NOT READ. I guess I feel more of an obligation to read the ones that I've spent my own money on.

 

* I'm more likely to DNF a library book- This is a really bad habit of mine. There has been quite a few times that I've checked out a book and then just read the first chapter and be like "nah, I'm not really feeling this" and then put it down. I guess it's easier to do that with books that you didn't pay for. A few that I can think of off the top of my head is Jellicoe Road, An Abundance of Katherine's, and Insignia. I'm sure if I would have bought these books, I would have given them more of a chance.

 

* I'm more careful with books that I've bought - While I'm not the most careful person in the world when it comes to my own books (I read in the bathtub and carry books in my purse) I am a little more careful about how I handle my own books vs. how I handle the ones that I borrow from the library. If I'm taking the books back to the library then you can guarantee that when I get in my car, I'm going to sling them in the passenger seat without a second thought whereas if they are my own books I usually sit them down carefully so the covers don't get bent.

　

Talk To Me

 

Do you think there's a difference between library books and books that you buy? Do you have the same problems that I do with library books? What are some of your differences when it comes to books you've bought vs. library books?

 

Discussion | Reading Schedules

 

I know that as bloggers and reviewers a lot of us feel the pressure to read a certain review book that we requested and is coming out soon instead of picking up a book that we really want to read. At least I know that I used to feel this way when I first started out blogging and getting review books.

However, I've come to learn that doing it that way and trying to stick to a reading schedule doesn't work for me...at all. In fact I think it was one of the reasons that I got burned out on blogging back at the end of 2012 and beginning of 2013. Even when I started back blogging in May of last year, I still felt guilty if I choose a book that I was DYING to read over a review book. I even wrote a post about how I was going to try out a new 'reading schedule'.

But, I quickly learned that sticking to a schedule and making myself read something wasn't for me. The main reason I feel like reading schedules and I don't get along is because I'm SUCH a mood reader. I can pick up a book to read only to put it back down within the first 10 pages because I'm not in the mood for that certain type and then pick it up weeks later and fall in love with it. 

I've also learned that if I make myself read a book that I'm really not in the mood for, it will affect my overall feeling of the book which will most likely result in a lower rating and for me personally, I didn't feel like that would be fair to the author or the book. 

So, I decided that if I'm not feeling a certain genre or book then I won't pick it up, no matter if it's a review book or not because in my experience and for me personally it does more harm than good.

TALK TO ME

Do you stick to a reading schedule? If so, how do you make it work? Are you a mood reader like me?

        

CBA Discussion | Quote Journals

 

So, a couple of weeks ago my 7 year old son, Landon, asked me for a journal with a lock and a key so that he could write down whatever he wanted and no one else would be able to read it (I may have kept the extra key, shhh).

Anyway, when he asked for this I got to thinking that I wanted to start some sort of journal so that when I die (Yes, I have morbid thoughts) my kids can flip through the pages anytime they wanted to remember me. But I knew that I didn’t want to start writing my thoughts and feelings down because I’m sure no one would want to read constant bitching about work and school so I decided to do the next best thing….a quote journal.

My family knows how much I love and cherish my books so I thought it would be fitting for me to start a quote journal so I can keep my favorite quotes all in one place and hopefully, a very long time from now when my kids are going through it they can feel close to me. And I’d like to think that I have and will pick out some quotes will mean something to them too.

　

Want to know some of the quotes I have wrote down? Well, here you go:

　

"One of these days you’re going to fall in love, son. Don’t settle for just anyone. Choose the girl that doesn’t come easy, the one you have to fight for, and then never stop fighting. Never."

- Walking Disaster, Jamie McGuire

"To love is not weak. Love is the strongest thing there is."

- Apollyon, Jennifer L. Armentrout

"The most confused we ever get is when we’re trying to convince our heads of something our hearts knows is a lie."

- Karen Marie Moning

"One often meets her destiny on the road she takes to avoid it."

- Golden, Jessi Kirby

"If there’s one thing I know, it’s that nobody is here forever. You have to live for the moment, each and every day…the here, the now."

- Perfect Chemistry, Simone Elkeles

"Fate has her way of getting what she wants, no matter how we try to avoid it."

- Pleasure of a Dark Prince, Kresley Cole

"There is never a time or place for true love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment."

- The Truth About Forever, Sarah Dessen

"The marks humans leave are too often scars."

- The Fault in our Stars, John Green

TALK TO ME

Do you keep a quote journal? What do you think of the quotes in mine?

CBA Discussion | Does Goodreads Ratings Matter

I don't know how many times that I have been EXTREMLY excited about a book only to go on Goodreads and the rating be 3.50 or below.  I'm not sure about everyone else but when that happens, I'm no longer that excited about the book and I'm usually very hesitant to purchase it after that.  

I don't know why I do this because I know that not everyone likes the same books and there have been times where I've read and loved a book with a lower Goodreads rating.  But when I have that book in my Amazon cart and I'm getting ready to hit purchase, it feels like there's this little voice in my head saying 'you better not' and then 99% of the time, I don't.  

I still might read the book despite the rating if it's one that I'm really excited or curious about, but usually only if it's available at my library or I catch it on sale for Kindle.  I'm kind of ashamed to admit that I will rarely pay the full price for a book if it has a lower rating.  I know that sounds bad, but hardcover books are expensive (at least to me) and I'm very picky about buying them especially if I see a lot of negative things about it.   

TALK TO ME
 

Does your excitement for a book dissipate when you see that it has a low Goodreads rating? Will you still purchase it or will you borrow from the library?

Discussion | What's Your Type?

 

I'm sure that we all have a certain type IRL and in books that we are constantly drawn to and always find ourselves leaning their way.  Whether it be the nice guy, the nerd, the boy next door, the jock, the bad boy, etc.   

Some people might be drawn to one type in books/movies but be interested in a completely different type IRL.  But I'm not one of them.  Personally, I have ALWAYS been drawn to the bad boy type, whether it be in books or movies on in real life. 

Now, I'm not talking about the dangerous, psycho guys that make you want to sleep with one eye open.  I'm talking about the tattooed, don't give a shit what anybody thinks type of guy.  I don't know what it is about them that catches my attention, but I have always been that way.

Most of my favorite male characters are 'bad boys'.  Here's a few:

- Bones, Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost

- Warner - Shatter Me Series by Tahereh Mafi

- Isaiah - Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

- Kaidan - Sweet Series by Wendy Higgins

- Jerricho Barrons - Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning

- Sean - Uninvited by Sophie Jordan

- Vlad - Night Prince Series by Jeaniene Frost

 

Now, I want to know what your type is.  Are you a bad boy fanatic like me? Or do you like the good guys?

 

 

Discussion | Changing Ratings

The other day after I had made new ratings for the blog I was trying to decide if I should go back through all of my other reviews and change those to the new rating system that I had made.  Then I thought, if I go back and change them to the new ratings I might want to change the rating all together.  

The reason being is that I think in the past that I have been a little too generous when it came to rating books.  Just going back and looking through some of my reviews, I found some that I would drop from a 5 down to a 4, there are some 4's that should have been 3's and there are some 5's that should be 6's.  

 So, now I'm at a crossroads and I don't know what to do.  Should I go back and switch the ones that I feel I rated too generously and drop them down?  Should I change that 5 to a 6 since that book was an absolute favorite? 

I don't know if it's just me, but I sometimes find that a book that I read years ago and rated a 5 back then, doesn't seem like it now.  I don't know if it's because my taste in books is constantly changing or because I'm getting more 'experienced' as a reader.  Regardless, I find this happening to me quite a bit and I've wondered if it happens to other people too? 

TALK TO ME

Have you ever felt like changing a rating that you gave a book? Have you gone back and changed ratings?  Would you?