Interesting

Banned Books in 2018?

 in Books / Interesting by

I feel that the idea of banned books, or censoring books, is something attributed to the 80’s. But, it may not be so far into our pasts.

Police Officers in South Carolina are trying to get two books removed off of a summer reading list because they feel it displays the police in a negative light.

BookRiot first reported it this morning.

The Comic Book Legal Defense fund reported it a few days back, on June 28th.

The two books in question are The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (Amazon, B&N, Ebooks.com) and All American Boys by Jason Reynolds (Amazon, B&N, Ebooks.com).

Now, I haven’t read either of the books, but thankfully BookRiot clearly showed what the books were about. While there is violence against minorities in the books, specifically instigated by the police, it isn’t about what the police do. It’s about acceptance of what happened and not countering violence with violence. Read the BookRiot post here.

As reported to WCBD news,

President of the Fraternal Order of Police Tri-County Lodge #3, John Blackmon, says, “Whether it be through social media, whether it be through text message, whether it be phone calls, we’ve received an influx of tremendous outrage at the selections by this reading list.”

Now, I haven’t read either of these books, but one of them is a #1 NY Times Best Selling book, and I’ve heard wonderful things about it. I get if you have a book that may be anti-government and quite obviously calling for the rallying of a population, but these books are non-fiction and are addressing issues that are important to so many in an easy to understand format. I find it to be an exaggeration that the local police department is getting ‘hundreds’ of calls complaining about this book. The issues represented in the book are very important. If something is grotesque with the violence or sexual content, that is one thing, but just because you don’t like what a book has in it, doesn’t mean you should remove it from a list because you feel uncomfortable.

Books can make you feel uncomfortable, especially when you don’t agree with what is being written. But saying that it is going to cause violence in your community when you read it? I think that’s absolutely ridiculous!

If your community is brought up well, and you have good families, there is no reason that a book should incite you to violence. I’ve read many violence books over the years, but never once through I wanted to go out and do anything I read about. There’s racism in books and I’ve never once thought about saying, or doing, any of those things that are from books. That excuse, in my opinion, is absolutely ridiculous.

The fact that this is still an issue is ridiculous. I find this really upsetting, but of course, this is just my stance on it.

Do you have any thoughts about this? Do you agree? Disagree?

Books To Read While You Relax This Summer

 in Books / Interesting by

If you’re anything like me, and a lot of other people, it’s hard to choose what to read during the summer.

Unlike in the winter when you can curl up inside and remove a lot of distractions from your point of view, summer reading is harder.

You go and sit outside and get distractions, such as when you’re at the beach.

So what should you read?!

Books To Read While You Relax This Summer

No fear! The NY Times has a list of 73 Books to Read While the Sun Is Out and the Days Are Long. I highly recommend checking this list out (but remember you’re only allowed 5 free reads a month for articles at the NY Times).

I just bought my subscription to them and am so happy! As a student, it’s only $1 a week (so you get charged $4 a month) which is nothing considering the great quality of information you get!

So worth it!

Reading Outside: DO IT!

 in Books / Fun / Interesting / Opinion by

You know those summer days when you just want to stay in and do absolutely nothing. You just want to curl up with a good book, maybe some tea (or wine, no judgement) and do literally nothing!

That’s great! Do that! But do it outside! Go and sit outside. Smell the roses!

Well, not literally (or if you got some, go for it!). But do your relaxing activity outside.

‘Why?’ you may be asking me. No, I’m not a doctor. But I pay attention to my body and find things out by trying it.

I love to read inside on my favorite sofa as much as the next person. It’s much cooler inside so you aren’t sweating. But sweating is good for you!

Now, you can go and tan, of course. But you can also go sit in the shade and just get some fresh air.

We spend so much of our lives inside behind a computer screen, or stuck in traffic with petrol fumes around us.

So when you have time to be outside, go out!

The sun is good for your skin. Sure, you may complain about getting burnt, so put on some sunscreen, or find a shady spot. But the sun is good for you. Getting some Vitamin D will make you feel a whole lot better and feel healthier overall. The fresh air is good for your lungs and the breeze just is so relaxing.

If you can’t manage outside, open your windows and read near a window. The breeze is so refreshing.

But just note, if you read outside, make sure that you have sunglasses on. It’s really bad to be reading on your bright white pages with the sun. It can damage your eyes (found that out the hard way – you know, you read in the sun and then look up and you see the page with the words imprinted on everything and you can’t see to save your life).

I find that reading outside for a little bit every day is so wonderful! You come in with a little color on your skin, you got a nice little sweat in which is healthy for your body, got some Vitamin D so you feel healthier overall, and you got some productive reading in. What’s better than that?!

I love going out about 5pm when the sun is low, it’s a little cooler with my drink and a nice book and just relaxing. It’s absolutely wonderful and I highly recommend you try it. Trust me, you’ll thank me later!

How to Balance University/Life and Reading [MLCWO Diaries]

 in Blog Events / Books / Interesting by

Life just gets in the way. I totally get it. You just have too much to do. Sometimes that is homework, sometimes that is work in general and sometimes it’s family.

You just can’t find time to sit down and have a little you time. But it’s needed. If you’re a reader, I’m sure that your ‘me time’ involves a book (sometimes).

So how do you find time to get everything done and actually complete some books?!

Here are 5 ways that I have found help me to get through books, and get stuff done.

1. Put Down Your Phone How to Balance University/Life and Reading [MLCWO Diaries]

I know, everyone is connected now a days and you feel like you have to have your phone near you. But you don’t, you can do this! Exercise a little self control!

If you really struggle with this, give yourself 30 minutes of no phone. The world will survive that long without you. Or, if you really are struggling, set yourself a reading goal. After one chapter (if it’s a decent chapter) you can check your phone. It’s amazing how much of a book you will get through if you don’t check your phone every 2 seconds.

If you happen to read a book on your phone, turn off notifications for a little while so when something comes through, you don’t go to check it immediately.

2. Fitness and Reading?

Recently, I’ve started to read while I work out. No, this won’t work if you’re running of lifting weights. But audio books could

How to Balance University/Life and Reading [MLCWO Diaries]

save the day for that aspect. But I try and do 10 minutes of decent cardio every day (it can be hard being a university student

 

to find tons of time to workout). So I set my treadmill for a brisk walk, get that incline going (as it boosts the cardio and calorie burning), and open my book.

 

Walk fast enough that you’re working out, but at a speed that you can read too. If you go too fast, you’ll fall over, trust me!

I had never considered reading and walking before, but on a treadmill, you’re contained. That way, you won’t walk into other people. You also don’t realize how long you’ve been walking. You look up and suddenly you’re at 20 minutes and it barely feels like it.

3. Audiobooks!

I’m not a massive audiobook fan. But admittedly, when I was younger I loved them.

How to Balance University/Life and Reading [MLCWO Diaries]

I have just not been listening to them for years. I prefer listening to music. But, with all the hype recently, I might be more inclined to pick them up.

But they’re perfect to get through books when you’re busy!

You can listen to them in the car (if it’s not too complex – I don’t want any accidents now!), when you’re working out, doing your laundry, cooking, or just walking around in general. That way, you can get stuff done and get through your favorite books!

4. Before You Sleep

How to Balance University/Life and Reading [MLCWO Diaries]I know that for many people, before they go to sleep, they spend time on their phones. They check their Instagram and Facebook and their other social medias. But to check it quickly only takes like 5 minutes. Why not quickly do that (or just check in the morning) and substitute your phone with a book (this goes together with number 1).

Studies show that the ‘blue light’ from your phones is bad for you. It stimulates your brain. I’m sure that you notice it. If you play on your phone before you sleep, it’s harder to relax and go to sleep. If you just take a warm bath and go straight to bed, you generally zonk out. Yes, reading might stimulate your brain, but in a different way.

You can get a chapter or 2 in before you go to sleep.

But choose your book widely. If you a reading horror, or something violent, you might not have good dreams. Maybe read your fluffy books before going to bed (that’s why I generally have like 2 books going at a time).

5. Set Goals

If you don’t set your goal of what you want to read during the month, or even the year, it won’t get done.How to Balance University/Life and Reading [MLCWO Diaries]

If you have a calendar, maybe build in some time to read, or set yourself a goal of a book to read each month. Sometimes that means joining reading groups on Facebook, or in your local library. You don’t have to go all the time, but it’s a little reminder to set yourself some reading time. If you don’t actively remind yourself, before you know it, the month/year will be up and you won’t have read anything you wanted to.

It’s a depressing feeling. So set yourself manageable goals. Not like, “I’m going to read Anna Karenina next week/month” if you work a 70 hour a week job. Be realistic. That way, you feel accomplished when you actually finish your goals.

With these 5 tips, I’m sure that you’ll be able to squeeze a little more reading into you life.

Reading is important. There is just so much literature out there, you don’t want to miss it all because society forces you to work too hard.

Bookworm vs. Book Critic – Who To Trust? [My Opinion]

 in Books / Creative / Fun / Interesting / Loving Language by
*This post is purely based on opinions and spurred on by a post from BookRiot

Sometimes you’re looking for a good book to read, but the question remains where to get your suggestions from.

Should you go and ask some serious bookworms what they found to be good and would recommend? Or should you go and find some detailed suggestions from Book Critics? 

Naturally, one might think that they should turn to the Critic because, after all, it is their job to recommend and review books. But a critic (based on my knowledge) doesn’t exactly do a book review. Sure, they will ‘review’ the book, but it’s nothing like those reviews you find on bookworms blogs where they just fangirl and say how much they liked it and why. Critics are critical (hence the name).

They will look at a book and rip it apart, finding what was wrong with it, saying why it didn’t sell well, showing how it is similar (or not similar) to others books and all that good stuff.

 

New Years Reading Challenges

Now, don’t get me wrong. Sometimes I do truly appreciate that. But I want the honest reviews from the reader.

I like reading reviews that have the emotions of the writer. Bookworms, who are passionate about books can sway me to read a book that got a bad review from a critic, just because they’re so passionate. And hey, generally I end up loving it. 

If I left it up to critic I might never have read that book and lost out, which would have been so sad!

Bookworms are passionate and can make good arguments. Critics look at it from the literature stand point. And not all good books (story wise) have fantastic writing styles. Look at a lot of romance books! You may love a really badly written romance book, just because of the story. A critic would most likely rip it apart. Another bookworm would fangirl/boy with you about it until kingdom comes.

Now, this is not saying that critics are useless. They write some really helpful reviews and it can be necessary for an author to grow and do better. It can also have its negative sides too, such as completely destroying a pretty decent book.

So when it comes to who you should trust, that is completely up to the individual!

For me, I trust the bookworms. They are passionate about series and read so much, not critically but just for enjoyment, that I feel that their opinions are good. 

This is not me telling you to trust what I say on my blog in my review, and on others too. You have to take their opinions with a grain of salt too. A disgruntled bookworm can be nastier than a book critic (as they’re paid and can’t say certain things generally). You really have to read the review and see if it fits what you’re looking for. I’ve had recommendations of books in genres that I would never read, and even though it got a great recommendation/review, I still didn’t read it. It’s up to your opinion.

If you want something more….detached and factual, I’d look for a decent critic review. If you’re looking for something with some serious passion (or hate, depending on the review), then maybe a bookworm is your choice.

What are your thoughts? Do you like reviews from bookworms or critics more?

*All points made in this post reflect my own personal opinions and are noway backed up by data or studies. This is just me, a bookworm, doing her little rant.*