Halloween and Harry Potter

HALLOWEEN and HARRY POTTER!

     Although I am an avid reader who will read just about anything, I do not like Harry Potter, and I have not read past the second book. I know what most of you are thinking. You're probably thinking I'm crazy. I always thought to myself "Why bother reading the books when they have already been made into movies?" I know, that's another thing most book enthusiasts do not say. Normally, I wouldn't either. However, the Harry Potter books are so incredibly long, and as an English major, I do not have much time to read books for fun.

     Nonetheless, Sasha Alsberg (from the book tube channel abookutopia) has inspired me to consider picking up the books. If you do not already know, Sasha was like me and had not read any of the books until a couple of months ago when she started ravenously reading them. Additionally, I have attended two book signings in the past month (Rainbow Rowell and Maggie Stiefvater), and both of them made remarks about Harry Potter and their houses. In case you are wondering, Rainbow Rowell is a Gryffindor (much to her dismay). When I got home from the Rainbow Rowell singing, I took a sorting hat test and was deemed me a Ravenclaw. 
     
     All in all, the enthusiasm behind Harry Potter and the spooky Halloween season that is upon us is quickly convincing me to give the books another try. I will keep you guys posted on my progress through the Harry Potter books as well as through the other scary books I have in store for this month. I'm hoping to get a lot of reading and blogging done next week during my short break from school. Anyway, what better season is there to read books concerning magic, wizards, witches and demons? 
  
Happy reading! 

- macy ♥

The Never-Ending Balancing Act

Balancing Reading for Fun with Schoolwork!

     If you have been following my blog for awhile, you may have realized that as soon as school begins my blogging stops very abruptly. For this I am truly sorry. Blogging is not a priority for me right now because I am overrun with homework, readings, and tests, but I will post some reviews when I get the chance. Like many other bookworms, I have a hard time making time to read books that I want to read once the onslaught of textbook readings enter my life. To be honest, I haven't read a single book for fun since early August. After reading over 300 pages of textbooks every week, I am too mentally exhausted to read anything extra. It takes a lot out of a person to read hundreds of pages about things that seem irrelevant. Even being a nerd who loves to learn more things, I still become disenchanted by the monotony of reading 50 pages of chemistry and then 50 pages on communicating every day. 

     However, now I realize that I need to make time to do the things I love. In this world of overwhelming stress, it is important that we do not lose sight of what is important to us. For me, my grades are unbelievable important. You won't find me slacking off any time soon. But I can't always dedicate 100% of my time to studying. I also need to keep doing the things that make up who I am, such as reading. Books make up the core of who I am today, and I need to keep reading even when I don't necessarily want to. 

     I plan to begin reading for fun again. I may not be able to read six months a month like I used to, but even reading a portion of one book will make my life a little bit happier and less stressed. To get me back on the reading track, I plan to start reading Rumble by Ellen Hopkins. As some of you may know, Hopkins is my ultimate favorite author. I believe it is best that I go to a book that I am excited about and that I know I will enjoy. 

     There is no exact science to how a person should balance schoolwork with reading or other fun activities. Nevertheless, I believe that you should put yourself in the presence of books, whether that be in a library, bookstore, or your bedroom. Maybe then a special gem will pop out at you and make you want to read. 

     Therefore, I think every one of you reading this should go surround yourself with books and see what happens. I know it's hard to make time to read for enjoyment, but I firmly believe it is worth it. Take this challenge with me and start reading.

- macy ♥

Deciding What to Read Next

10. Deciding What to Read Next

Prompt By: Good Books and Good Wine

   Owning more than 200 books that need to be read can cause a huge dilemma when trying to decide what to read next. Not for me anymore! I realize that the more I am drawn to read a certain book the more I'll like it and the faster I'll be able to read it, no matter if it's 200 or 500 pages. I've always believed that books come into your life at precisely the right time. When I suffered through a terrible breakup with my best friend a week before prom, I felt like I should read Delirium, so I did. The ending of that book summed up everything I had been feeling and brought me to tears. It was in that moment when Lena says that a part of her died when she went over the fence and that that Lena is gone, really touched my heart. The old Macy died when my ex-boyfriend asked another girl to prom the day before ticket money was due. I still haven't been the same since, but books are always that constant in my life. So that's why I feel that if you have a urge to read a certain book, don't question it, just read.

Why I Blog About Books

9. Reason I Blog

Prompt By: Good Books and Good Wine

  I started It's a Book Thing in June 2011 when my own personal library grew to around 100+ books. I was sitting in a booth of my favorite restaurant with my parents brainstorming names for a book blog. Many names were suggested, but eventually I chose It's a Book Thing. I became interested in book blogging when I first saw the Chapter Chicks. I loved their blog and YouTube channel and wanted to be just like them. Then It's a Book Thing was born.

   I blog in order to share my love and passion for books. I wanted to reach more people than just my small little school's student body. I have a strong opinion on books and I wanted to be able to share it and be able to influence book buyers. All my life I have loved books since I picked up my first Nancy Drew Yellow Hardback. I love the depth and imagination the author puts into their books. It's amazing how many different stories out there and I'm so glad I am able to make a record of all the books I read by blogging. Maybe one day when I'm older I'll be able to show my teenage daughter which books changed my life and how much reading has brought to my life.    

The Ins and Outs of Shopping for Books

6. Shopping for Books 

Prompt By: Good Books and Good Wine

   I have some very strict rules about shopping for books because I am so cheap when it comes to my own money. I typically go to a bookstore every two weeks or so, but rarely buy anything unless I have a gift card. It's all a part of my plan to buy the most amount of books for the least amount of money.

    Barnes and Noble and Books a Million: These are the bookstores I visit quite often. I buy my paperbacks here. I love the discount section at Books a Million, I've gotten tons of really good deals there.

   Ollie's: Yes, it is a discount warehouse store, but they have some amazing books for $2-$3 for both hardbacks and paperbacks. It's so cheap and wonderful I have come out with bags and bags of books for no more than $20. Talk about Heaven.

   Amazon and Barnes and Noble.com: I buy every single one of my hardbacks online because it is so much cheaper than in store. 

   Kindle: I only buy super cheap books for my Kindle and get all of my classics on it. I know I should use my Kindle more, but I am starting to with all the Kindle deals and NetGalley.

   Basically, it just requires a lot of research to get the most out of your money. As of right now I'm grounded from buying books because of the price of BEA for me and my family. I made a deal with my parents that if I read all of my books (around 200!!!) by Christmas that I would get a ton more books as presents. So wish me luck!  

   

The Last Book I Flung Across the Room

4. What is the Last Book You Flung Across the Room?

Prompt By: Good Books and Good Wine

The last book I flung across the room was... drumroll please, CRUSHED by Sara Shepard. Yes, I know. If you didn't already check out my Crushed Review go do that right this second. Why are you still reading this? I told you to go read the review!

Anyway, the method to my madness, and the reason I flung this book across my bedroom, was how amazingly, morbidly, terribly amazing this book was. This book has redeemed the Pretty Little Liars series for me and really made me go crazy. I finished reading this book at around 1am because I was so addicted. The second I read the part about the burn clinic and the girl who Hanna met there, I freaked out. It was so scary, and twisted, yet still amazing! And then when they got the note to open that shed door, ohmigosh my heart was thumping out of my chest. I still can't get over the ending of this book. By the last page of this book I was so upset that I have to wait until December to get the next book that I did end up flinging it across my room. Please go read this book and this series. Sure there's a lot of stupid parts throughout this series, but this book is pure genius.     

So now that you've read mine, what is the last book you flung across the room? 

Bedtime Reading Ritual

2. What is Your Bedtime Reading Ritual?

Prompt By: Good Books and Good Wine

   Nighttime is my favorite time to read to be honest. It's the spookiest time to read a scary mystery book and the funniest time to read a contemporary book. Everything is 100x more amusing at night. Nighttime is my binge reading time where I have to get caught up in the one or two books that I am currently reading. Being the OCD, perfectionist freak that I am, I have to end the day on an increment of 50 pages. It's ridiculous but I have to read exactly 50 to 100 pages a day to be a happy reader.

   I always try to read at night in order to get my eyes tired enough to fall to sleep. I'm kind of like Auden in Along for the Ride and have really bad insomnia in the summer, making it near impossible to fall asleep at night. Nowadays, I've been so busy going on trips and retreats and shopping that I haven't even had a chance to finish my latest book. 

  So now that you've read mine, what is your bedtime reading ritual? 

    

Book Related Confessions

1. Make 15 Book Related Confessions

Prompt By: Good Books and Good Wine

1. I talk to my books...often. What? They deserve to know how pretty they are too...

2. I have never given up on a book, no matter how terrible some are to get through.

3. I read about 60 pages per 30 minutes. I timed myself :D

4. I literally just stare at my bookshelf for fun. 

5. Picking my favorite book is like picking a favorite child. Impossible.

6. I have never read the Harry Potter series, nor do I intend to.

7. I'm not a big fan of the Mortal Instruments series.

8. My bookshelves are organized by genre and then author and then color. It's a very precise procedure. 

9. The Twilight Saga was the first series that started making me want to read.

10. Nancy Drew was my favorite series, and only thing I would read, as a kid.

11. I cannot remember character names no matter what. Especially the guys' names. My reviews take so much longer because I have to look up all the names because I really can't remember them even if I finished the book the day before. 

12. I do read every word when I read unless it is a awful, boring book. *cough* Pretty Little Secrets *cough*

13. I have stained my friend's Betrayed book before with a paper cut. I was so upset I hid the book in her desk with a red pen so she wouldn't know I bled on her book. Yea, not one of my finer moments. I really hope she doesn't this confession...

14. I'm very OCD and have to be on a even multiple of 50 page number before I can go to sleep. 

15. The majority of my books are contemporary.