Random Book Update

Wow, this last week has been interesting...

Other than watching more of Vampire Diaries (which I'm secretly obsessed with) I started reading a new book.  Shortly after starting the book, I began to notice some things: My mood started getting darker whenever I read the book.  Never a good sign.  The whole concept--though it sounded fascinating in the store--went against my beliefs, and not in a good "fantasy" type of way either.  I kept getting the thought that I needed to stop reading it.  But I battled with myself and said, "But I have a reading goal, and if I just finished this book..."  But then the other voice would whisper, "Is 300 pages really worth this change in your life?"  After reading to page 144, I put the book down and resigned myself to the fact that I needed to stop reading this book, despite how fascinating it may seem.  Not to mention the fact that there was way too much swearing--nearly a word or more per page--which I somehow missed when glancing through it in the store, and I just couldn't handle it anymore.  Combine that with the whole concept, and I decided the 300 pages was not worth the price I was paying.

And since I stopped reading that book, my world has become brighter!  Who would have thought, right?  Clearly the Spirit was whispering to me to stop reading...  I'm grateful I listened.

So, after I stopped this book, I had a choice.  What book should I read next?

As you know, I have several "new" books to read stacked up on my floor.  Two of which are very recent purchases that I'm really excited about.  However, for the last couple months, I have been wanting to read The Hourglass Door trilogy by Lisa Mangum again.  I have put it off because I knew I had other books to read, stories I had not read before.  But alas, I gave in to my temptation...

I'm reading my favorite series... again.

But even though I've read this series several times before and know everything that's going to happen, it still doesn't make the story any less magical.  To me, the story and writing speak to me... It's like, if I were to ever write a story, it would sound like these books (though, not nearly as good I'm sure!).  But the way in which Lisa writes and the characters that come to life just make me... happy.  I don't know what other word I could use to describe it.

It's like finding a part of yourself that you thought had been lost...  

It's like coming home.

That was how it felt when I started reading this book for the first time.  And even after two and a half years, I still get those same feelings of excitement and comfort.  Like hot cocoa on a cold winter's eve, with the snow gently falling outside while you sit next to the fireplace and dream of the future.

I'm grateful I decided to read this series now.  After feeling the chill the previous book left in my life, it was nice to "come home" and warm up with Abby and Dante.

And yes, I would choose Dante Alexander over any other fictional character that exists.

In other book news, I also finally finished reading Orson Scott Card's Characters & Viewpoint.  It has taken me a while, but the knowledge I have gained in the process has been monumental in the way I view characters (whether they be my own or created by others).  It's absolutely fascinating what Card taught me regarding characters, especially character development.  He also gave extremely helpful advice for trying to decide which POV to write in (which has been a struggle of mine for quite some time):

"First-person and omniscient narrations are by nature more presentational than limited third-person--readers will notice the narrator more.  If your goal is to get your readers emotionally involved with your main characters, with minimal distraction from their belief in the story, then the limited third-person is your best choice."

p. 212

After reading a couple chapters on viewpoints and seeing numerous examples of each, I have come to the conclusion that, as Card explains above, limited third-person is the best for me.  Notice how I said "for me."  It may not be true for you.  Also, I realize each story is different and may require a different POV style.  But as for right now, especially in regards to my Destroyer Series, I plan to use limited third-person.  This decision has been reached thanks to Card's ability to explain and help me see the bigger picture, along with many inner battles fought.

In the end, I have enjoyed what I have read so far this year, and I look forward to reading my favorite series up in the mountains during my family vacation this weekend... maybe even with some hot cocoa! ^-^

Books and Reading Goal

If I'm going to keep buying books... I really need a new bookshelf unit, or I need to sell some movies and free up space.  *sigh*

I went and found 3 more books today (shopping is my cure for boredom on a day off from work).  All YA (young adult) of course.  I can't wait to read them, but I have to get through the book I'm currently reading.  For some reason I'm seriously struggling with it.  A book that should have only taken a day or two to read has stretched to over a week, because the story hasn't pulled me in (I don't find myself wanting to read it).  It must be because this book deals more with the setting (or "milieu" as Orson Scott Card calls it) and I enjoy more character or event stories.  I won't go into too much detail here (I shall leave that for my book review), but I will finish it soon and put the review up.  Until then, my new books continue to pile high on my desk beside my bed, waiting to be read with love.

I blame the recent book splurges this summer on the fact that I received a coupon to my local "bookstore" that was good from May - July and can be used an unlimited amount of times before it expires.  It's rare for these books to go on sale (for it's not a "normal" bookstore like Barnes & Noble so they don't have the margin to allow for many discounts), therefore I've been taking advantage of this coupon.  Sadly, it has also been taking advantage of me via my disappearing paycheck and dwindling space on my bedroom floor.

Speaking of books to be read, my Amazon order arrived yesterday!  "Story" by Robert McKee looks awesome but will take some time to read because of how much digestion will be needed (yet another book sitting on my desk).

"Independence Day" by Frankie Negron is AMAZING!!  I'm so glad I purchased it!  The songs simply speak to me and I have been listening to it almost constantly since yesterday.  The songs that are jumping out are "I Still Remember" and "Stand By Me and Fight."  I'm currently trying to locate a video with "I Still Remember" so I can share it with you!  However, I can't seem to locate it.  When I do, I will definitely be posting the lyrics to this amazing song.

Well, I have had a very productive morning so far and seeing as I don't have work today, I shall go and hopefully, HOPEFULLY get through my book so I can start a new one!  After all, I have a New Year's Resolution to meet!  And once school starts back up in the Fall, I know I won't have as much time to read...

So I am enjoying my freedom while it lasts!  I'm going to read as much as I possibly can before school starts at the end of August.  My goal: Reach at least 16,000 pages (if not more).  That leaves 9,000 pages to read before the end of the year (and I do have several books coming out in the fall).  8,000 pages shouldn't be too bad for a two-month period, right?  After all, I am planning on re-reading the Hourglass Door trilogy by Lisa Mangum (my favorite series/author) and I would love to re-read the Tiger's Curse series before the fourth book is released at the beginning of September.  Those six books alone should give me around 2,000 pages.

I can SO do this!!

Happiness & Hope vs Disappointment

Here is one of the many reasons why Lisa Mangum is my favorite author! Not only is she local, but she is an incredible inspiration to me in regards to more than just writing.  This blog post will hopefully help explain at least one of those reasons.

In a blog post written earlier today (as in 2 AM earlier), she stated the following:

"As I walked back alone, I started to think of all the good things that had happened to me and all the things I was grateful for. Including winning Book of the Year for my other books. I’d received five nominations and had taken home three gold medals and one silver. That’s pretty amazing, I told myself.

But I still wished I hadn’t spent a whole year dreaming about the win because then it wouldn’t have hurt so much when I lost.

Except–and here is the lesson I learned–I hadn’t wasted that whole year dreaming of something that didn’t happen. I had enjoyed a entire year of living with hope. I had hoped for the win. I had imagined the win–and it had made me happy. I had dreamed of seeing gold stickers on all three of my books–and that had made me happy. I had talked about it all year, told people about it, shared my excitements and my dreams about it–and all of it had made me happy.

So there in the sunshine and under the palm trees, I decided to choose to remember that year of happiness and hope instead of the single day–the single hour, the single moment–of disappointment.

And all my sadness was gone."

How many of us have been disappointed at a loss of something we dearly wanted?  How long did it take us to get over that loss?  Even during these dark times (whatever they may be) there is always light, always hope and positive memories we can look back on.  Sure we can look on the negative side of things, but that only makes life more miserable.  Instead, if we focus on the light, our path in life becomes much brighter and easier to tread.  Lisa has illustrated this perfectly in her blog post and I feel I can't adequately add to what she has already said.  It is truly an inspirational post.

Read Lisa's full post here (and I would highly recommend it!).