Second Chance Pile - Read or Unhaul It Challenge #2

 I'm doing it again. I need the motivation and help. The pile is still too deep. If you don't know what this is I'll explain. I'm reading five chapters of a book, randomly selected from the Second Chance pile of my personal library, and deciding whether to finish or DNF (do not finish) it. Let's dive in. 

1. I pick up a book at random from the pile. 

2. I read at least 5 chapters. 

3. I decide if I keep going or DNF (do not finish) it. 

4. I review it. 

The process above is what'll happen to these books. I'm trying to do at least three per blog. If I DNF two in a row, I pick five. If I'm not enjoying myself and I'm not compelled to keep reading I will put it down. Onward!

The White Rose Resists by Amanda Barratt

Courtes of moonglotexas.com

This was given to me by a coworker, who loves historical fiction. I trust this coworker's taste, but I'll admit that I dropped this book 19 pages in. The book was not poorly written, nor was it bad. It's about the students in Germany who resisted the Nazi regime. It came highly recommended and this was the copy I was gifted.  The problem is me; I didn't want to sit through the hard emotions this book was serving up only 19 pages in. I was not here to be depressed, I was here to be entertained. This is why I don't pick this genre up without a friend's suggestion. Given that, I didn't make it to chapter five at all. 

You'd love this if you like historical fiction, the 1940s era, and history from the time of Hitler. You'll put this down (like I did) if you don't want to wade through the dark emotion this serves up. It comes right out with it in the first chapter alone. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas vibe is what this gives you. Please decide accordingly, now that you know. Anything this heavy should have a warning on it. It has left my library. 

The Last Bookshop In London by Madeline Martin

Courtesy of lostinbookland.com

I got bored at chapter two. I will not lie. I wasn't invested in the main character and couldn't care less. I'm not the audience for this. You might protest that this book was great, as would my coworker who gave me the book, but I'm not the audience for this. 

The basic idea is that a woman moves to London in wartime to work at a bookshop, amidst London getting the brunt of the war at the time. I don't know any other details. Really, I skimmed chapter three, and the interest in the book, for me, wasn't any better. I feel bad because the same coworker who gave me the book above gave me this, yet, I have no will to finish it. 

Chasing Shadows by Lynn Austin

Courtesy of Audible.com

Again, I see that historical fiction is not something I'm an audience for. I was only in the prologue. I stopped reading. The mental distress of WWII era books is not my thing. I'm learning more and more what I don't want to read for leisure. Again, this book was given to me by the same person as the books above. I feel bad, but now I know our tastes differ (which isn't a bad thing). 

The basic plot is about three women during the WWII invasion, set in the Netherlands. If you like hearing about the underground you might like it. I was not bored, yet the emotional weight was already present in the prologue. Keep in mind this isn't going to be a light reading experience. I've learned that I don't want to sit with this heavy, dark emotion. The world is already dark enough without reliving WWII. 

The Intimate World of Abraham Lincoln By C. A. Tripp

Courtesy of Kobo.com

Do you want to know if Abraham Lincoln was gay? I don't. I picked this up with no thought whatsoever and have no idea why. The writing was also geared toward researchers, so there you have it. It was not written for leisure reading. My eyes glazed over at the wording alone. I'm not keeping it. It'll be in the little library with the rest of them. 

If you have an interest in knowing if Lincoln was gay and sleeping with a man, go ahead and try it out. I don't have any interest in such things. I can freely admit it makes no difference to me what he did with his free time and why his marriage was like it was. He was a president who ended slavery. That's all I need to know. 

Storm Front by John Stanford

Courtesy of Goodreads

I listened to chapter one and was already intrigued. I did look up if I needed to read it in order of series, but thankfully I don't. It has the feel of Philip Marlowe without the Noir-style flair. It starts with a stolen archeological stone and gets more complicated from there. They end up chasing this stone and the man who stole it all over the place. You've got a rough, hardboiled detective feel in a small community in Minnesota. It's connected to Israel (as the dig stone came from near the Jordan River). It has a possible Israeli operative in it. It's a quick, easy read for an afternoon or morning. 

Do keep in mind that the F-bomb is spoken. Please note that if you hate cussing. Also, there are minuscule traces of sexist dialogue (some dialogue that irks me a little), but it isn't as bad as I thought. It isn't out of the ordinary for the hardboiled detective genre. It's easy to get past. Specifically, it is usually attached to or about a character nicknamed "Ma" (who is a mother, but not to our main character). Side characters often comment on her boobs. I was at least happy they didn't describe her body in detail while she skinny-dipped - they let your imagination fill that info in. The same goes for sex; they did not describe it, just hinted that it happened. 

Another thing that irked me is specifically ball/crotch/testicle-related dialogue or figures of speech - all of which happens way too often, and never in a sexual connotation. If it happened once I wouldn't be commenting on it, but it happens at least 8 times in the book. I cringe at it every time. Also, I cringed every time they mentioned Ma's boobs. Seriously.  Stop! 

All that aside, it was a 3.75-star book. It was above average and I liked it. I'm keeping it. It's the only success story in this blog. If you like Marlowe and don't mind a rough Minnesota Agent, you'll like it. Also, if you dislike reading sex scenes, you'll be happy with it.  

Concluding Thoughts

I know some of you might be in a similar position to me, that you might be given books you aren't sure of. My best advice is to try them. If you love it, great, but if not you tried. That alone is a mark of friendship. I also advise you not to lie about your thoughts and tastes to spare feelings. It'll help your friend find books you'll love later on when you are honest. Maybe they don't even ask your thoughts, for all you know. 

One of the original books I had for this challenge is the second in a series, so I'm keeping it. It's no longer on the second chance pile, at least until I read the first one. I had to change my book selection mid-challenge. This is the fastest I've burned through the pile, yet. Only one is staying, and that is Storm Front. Despite some of the cringe, I am keeping it. It passed my test (whether it is better or equal to 3.5 stars). I learn more about my reading tastes with every challenge. I might get through my books before Christmas, at this rate. 

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I wrote a book! I am delighted to say that I have 5 five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback, hardcover, or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page. 

Jack Thomas is running from a past case. He's hiding in Wrenville. Is his past case catching up with him? 

Find out in my first book, Wrenville, a stand-alone suspense novel.

Eragon - A Review

 I picked up Eragon from a little library while I was cramming duplicate books into the empty spaces. I exchanged 9 books for one. Today we review that one book. Let's get to it. 

Courtesy of pics.alphacoders.com

I watched the Eragon movie in 2006 and did not fully understand some of it. It turns out what my parents remembered is about what I remembered, too. Which wasn't much except a few scenes. Of what I remember, we have an old man dying on a flying dragon, the dragon and egg itself, a scary scene with someone being interrogated while our main character hid and watched, and a weird cursed woman who was cursed by some weird guy. This is what I remembered in a nutshell. I picked this up purely on the knowledge I enjoyed the movie when I was 11. 

I read this book and was immediately hooked. It began with an excellent prologue and a likable protagonist. After a few chapters, I knew I'd made a good choice. I had a signed copy, too, so I don't know who or why someone put this in a little library. Not everyone is a book dragon, I guess. 

What I liked About It

Let's start from the top. It has similarities to Game of Thrones in the format, but only the format. Both have a prologue that is intriguing but doesn't reveal all. Both introduce you to the world the author built while introducing the characters, making you attached to the characters before the action even begins. Before everything gets intense you know the character and life of your protagonist. You know the town, the people in it, the family, and what their normal life is like. This then gets turned upside down by the events leading into the main plot.

This book is clearly meant to be the first in a series, setting up how the main character learns about his power and abilities. He tests out magic, gets trained by Brom, and learns more about his dragon as they travel to get revenge for his Uncle's awful death. Brom is teaching Eragon what he needs to know for the future plot and future books. This means the next book will likely explain Eragon's and the dragon's abilities less than the first. This is a long, but entertaining, training segment until Brom dies.  

After Brom dies, you see a more mature Eragon. He buries him, has a new companion with secrets he's not sharing, and saves the elf he saw in his dreams after a brief stay in prison (and a rescue). This is where the training montage ends. We get real life smacking him into adulthood as soon as Brom dies. He's 16 and now of age (according to the story). He's making decisions and not impulsively using magic as often. He's learned to use his knowledge. He still makes mistakes, but he's much more cautious. 

To save the elf Eragon rescued, they travel to the Varden, where Murtagh starts getting really temperamental fast. He reveals that his parentage is the reason he's running from both Varden and Empire. Basically, he becomes a problem and an ally at the same time. He ends up, because he didn't split company, trapped into joining Eragon to see the Varden. This is where all the crap hits the fan, in case you were wondering. It's just gotten worse for this traveling party. 

With the Varden, hostility still comes. The elf is being cared for. The Varden doesn't know about Murtagh's secret at this point. The prologue with the elf courier connects directly to this elf, Arya. She was the courier from the prologue. They say it directly. She'd been heavily tortured by a Shade (a race with pointed teeth) by this point in the book. Eragon had seen visions of her in her prison cell before he rescued her. At this point Murtagh is kept separate for his own safety (in a cushy room) and the elf is now healed. Then the crap really hits the fan in an epic battle where Eragon defeats the Shade from the beginning, earning himself a long scar (that looks similar to Murtagh's back scar) and glory, as well as a vision of a strange man in white. The man warns him to keep the mental interaction secret. 

It has not gone Game of Thrones dark, which I was afraid of when it began like Game of Thrones. It's definitely young adult fantasy. It touches on darkness without diving into it deeper than it needs to. You get the point when it does get dark, though. Already our character is damaged, yet when I read this book it isn't a heavy, dark read. It's dark enough to get the point across without scaring its younger audience. 

Courtesy of Amazon

Our Main Characters

Eragon, our protagonist, starts off reckless and then grows up as he's trained. By the end of the training montage portion of the book and Brom's death he's grown into the age of adulthood(16) in the book culture. He's not as reckless. He's on his own and he knows it. He and Saphira are a team, an unstoppable one at that. By the time of Brom's death, he's seen some stuff. He's even saved an elf soon after. He's not a "perfect" protagonist and I like that. He's relatable. 

Saphira is a dragon. She's wise beyond her age. Not only is she sassy and witty, but she's an excellent source of help to Brom, Murtagh, and Eragon. She's bonded to Eragon deeply, something that makes her far more than a pet. She's speaking in thoughts to Eragon. It's a great way to give her more agency than just being an animal. It turns out that dragons had their own society way back when. Not surprising when you see how wise Saphira is. 

Brom is short-lived in this saga. He functions as a mysterious mentor, trains Eragon, and dies in battle. He had secrets for a significant portion of the early chapters. When he revealed all at Eragon's urging Eragon was ready for it. His death transitions Eragon into full adulthood, ending all training montages. He's a wise man who berates Eragon for his serious mistakes early on, driving home that magic is no joke and can kill you if misused. Brom is also reckless in some ways, making his bond to Eragon make more sense. 

Murtagh is a mystery, too, but not a mentor. He's a traveling companion who's hiding from both Empire and Varden, and we don't know why for chapters at a time. Eragon tries to look in his head and sees an impenetrable wall for his trouble. He saved them all, minus Brom who was far too injured to make it. He's been a great help in troubling times. He doesn't ask about Eragon's past and Eragon doesn't ask about his - that is until they need to go to the Varden. He's become a friend and traveling companion. The only thing that he won't do is go to the Varden, due to an issue with his parentage, which causes no end of conflict when the elf they rescued needs a poison antidote. At that point, he became a bit of a problem and was more of a liability. He does battle with the group, but I still am not sure of him. 

Arya, the elf they saved, is unconscious for much of the plot. She then becomes an unstoppable force in the end book battle. She allows Eragon to take out the Shade that controlled the Urgals. Not only that, but she's no damsel in distress. She's a powerful elf and is stronger magically than anyone at the battle. She's amazing and Eragon is enthralled by her. She's no weakling. I love her. 

What To Note

The first thing you need to know is how long this book is. It is a thick fantasy of about 500 pages. If you can barely finish a 200-page novel you'll have a hard time finishing this. The second book is even thicker, 768 pages (not counting the pronunciation guide and elvish/dwarven dictionary). Pick it up when you have time on your hands, not when life is too busy to sit down for fifteen minutes. 

The second thing to note is the genre, which is young adult high fantasy. This was aimed at Young Adult audiences, which means you don't go as hard (or as dark) as Game of Thrones or adult fantasy. High fantasy is more out there. Think epic quests, dragons, elves, dwarves, and magic systems. It doesn't blend real life and fantasy, instead, it creates its own world. This is a good start to getting into fantasy if you want to do so. 

The third thing to note is the book is not the movie. It isn't even close. It was a fun watch, but it didn't explain as much as it could have. It didn't help I watched it when I was a little young for the series, too. I was in elementary school for reference. I kind of want to rewatch it to see it more clearly, through adult eyes. My experience aside, you do need to know the movie and book don't match. 

There are now five books, counting the newest one "Murtagh". The fifth focuses on Murtagh after the events of the first four books. I do want to continue, and I intend to, but I don't know that I'm picking up book 2 right away since it is so long and I have so many on my bucket list. Don't be shocked if the review for "Eldest" shows up on my blog in the next two years. I'm reading these slowly, at my pace. I don't have all day to sit with a book these days. Adulthood is hard. 

The little dictionary at the back is nifty. You'll want to use it. It includes some pronunciation help and translations (so you know what someone said). Use it when you are reading out loud. Not all the words are intuitive and I got some pronunciation wrong while reading. 

Overall Thoughts

This a five-star fantasy and I was nearly compelled to start the 768-page book that was next. I highly suggest picking it up, especially if you want to dip your toes in high fantasy. It doesn't go Game of Thrones hard, so you can get a sense of the genre without struggling through the cruel darkness. It doesn't shy from dark ideas, but it doesn't dwell on them too long. It's the perfect blend of dark and light ideas. Check it out next time you see it somewhere. It's worth the hype and worth the reading time. 

My overall thoughts on all of it have a lot to do with what the storyline sets up. Basically, I am excited to see if Murtagh is actually trustworthy. Eragon may trust him, but I'm still not sure. Arya is amazing and I want to see more of her. Eragon is a bit naive when it comes to people and sees the world through a positive lens, which is unique in such a dark world. I love that. I nearly picked up the next one, the page count being the only reason I didn't. 

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I wrote a book! I am delighted to say that I have 5 five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback, hardcover, or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page. 

Jack Thomas is running from a past case. He's hiding in Wrenville. Is his past case catching up with him? 

Find out in my first book, Wrenville, a stand-alone suspense novel.

Making A Reading Routine

Reading routines will get you through more books than just the open pile by your shelf. It'll get you into a habit of reading, something that will get you more into reading, provided you like the books you pick up. Let's start with how to get those habits going. 

  Courtesy of Mercy Home for Boys and Girls

I have so many books I couldn't possibly read them all in my lifetime. I keep buying them like a book dragon. I impulsively picked up book 2 of Eragon (Eldest) and realized how thick that series is. It'll be a while before I even reach for Eldest. This is why a reading routine may aid me in my quest. We'll start with practical, easy ways to create habits and move forward from there. 

Practical Tips

Keep a planner, if you haven't already done so, and add your reading to it. Because no one likes leftover tasks, you should add your book to your list (even if 15 minutes is all you can spare). Any time in a book is good. Some have created book journals, if you want to take this further. Reading trackers and planners can help you create a reading habit over time. 

Doing your reading first thing in the morning or right before bed is one tip you can try. Maybe you are a mid-day reader, though, so I totally understand if this isn't your jam. I do know that reading before bed helps you sleep. I also know falling asleep while reading is possible. Do you. This is just one tip. 

Set a goal for reading time. If you can set a number of books, hours of reading, or pages of reading that will keep you going. It can be weekly, monthly, or you can set a whole year ahead. Keep in mind that this can be changed as the year goes on, as you find what works and doesn't work. Do what is practical for you. Set an achievable goal. Change it as you need to.

Read what you want to read. Assuming this is leisure reading, you can pick your book. If you don't like it, put it down and pick up another. Reading what you don't like will put you in a "reading slump", which is when you stop reading for a while or don't enjoy reading for a short time. Read books you like and you will avoid this. You'll also want to sit down with your books more often. 

Do you have an existing routine, one already firmly in place? Make reading a part of that. Attach it to something else you always do all the time. This works for nearly anything. Established routines with added features are easier to maintain. 

Courtesy of winkgo.com

Be reasonable. A busy human being cannot maintain the writing routine of someone who has all the time in the world. Unless you can somehow pause time to read your book, I'd suggest starting with a goal that can be achieved on the busiest of weeks. Your busiest week might give you fifteen minutes of reading or half an hour of reading, but it is achievable. You make the rules. If you want to exceed that time, you go do that. If you want to make it shorter on a chaotic week, you do that. Any reading is good. 

Reading challenges can give a boost to your routine when you need to spice it up. Try the Read-it-or-unhaul-it (read it or get rid of it) or the one-shelf challenge (pick one bookshelf, one shelf, and as many books from that one shelf as possible in a set time). Readathons for a set amount of hours can be fun, too. You set the time on all readathons you attempt. There are so many, you can try a new one each year or month. Just plan for the time you'll need ahead because reality won't pause. 

Design your space around this habit. If you set the book on your nightstand (say you want to read before bed) and see it at the end of your nighttime routine, you'll pick it up more often. Put reminders around you. Be intentional and plan for it. Make the book an attractive option and join a community of readers. Make the form of a book convenient, because it is easier to pick up a book on your nightstand than have to walk across a room to find it. After all this is set up, then track your reading and reward yourself when you hit goals (realistic goals).

Speaking of designing your space, find a quiet, less distracted zone you can read in. If this means finding a local park, go for it. If you have a space you can design for your reading that's fantastic. Whatever you need to do to cozy up your reading nook/corner, you are welcome to do so. Put your phone in another room for best results. TV and internet should be a distance away from your zone, unless you are reading or listening from the internet. 

Courtesy of bhg.com

Carry a book everywhere you go. Whether you are reading on a phone, a physical copy, or an e-reader is not important. Use what you like best. Reading when you find time is a great way to get into a habit of doing so. MP3 players are also great, for audiobooks particularly. Be prepared to wait for anything in the world or spend all the extra time you have reading. 

Making a list of books you like or want to read is great. You can use excel, word document, digital list devices, or anything you want. Pen and notebook will work if you dislike technology and apps. The sky is the limit for tracking reading and making a list of "want to read" books. This is known as a TBR (To Be Read). Go about it however you like and track anything you want. 

Read to your kids. It teaches them a love of reading and keeps you accountable. If they like the book, they'll ask to be read to. You get quality time, accountability, and you cultivate a child's reading habit along with yours. Three wins in one tip. 

Depending on what you own, libraries and bookstores are great. Secondhand bookstores are even better and cheaper than a trip to a huge one. Make it a treat to get a new book. Libraries are the cheapest of all - free!

Finding More Reading Time

Reading (audio) while going on a run or exercising in a gym is a great way to get more reading time. If you are looking to make more time for your reading, I'd suggest trying it. Maybe you'll get lost in the story and exercise more often (in healthy spurts, please). 

Another great tip for finding more time is reading while on the go. On a train, on a plane, in a car...You have options. Audio is best for driving. Maybe you can even use your phone to read ebooks on the train. Time spent traveling can be expanded into a reading adventure. 

Courtesy of artofit.org

Replace your social media time with reading and you'll find how much time you wasted doom-scrolling. That's right, put the phone or device away for a set amount of time. It'll help you curb any social media addiction you have, as well as freeing time to do other things. Social media isn't evil, but it does steal time from us on a daily basis. 

Waiting on a class to start, a time clock, a friend, or an oil change? Whatever you wait for, take a book. You'll read at least a few chapters waiting for your child to finish play practice or your family to be ready for an outing. It's nifty to have an ebook on your phone in this scenario, in case you don't have room for a physical book. People who want to do this often arrive early for more reading time. 

Audiobooks while you work, bathe (with common sense - not in the shower unless you have a shower speaker), or do household chores will gain you more time for reading. It's great to have your book in multiple forms for this purpose. I find myself doing this more and more. It focuses me on my task. I like to crochet or sew to my audiobooks, especially when I have Christmas gifts to make and the season is flying by. 

You can blog your reading experiences if you like, but you don't have to. I came upon that tip. I know some of us do that (me), but if you don't like the idea of posting on the internet for all to see, don't. I'm mentioning it for any who want to freely share their views on books and authors. Do you on this one. Not everyone wants to post stuff online. 

Why Do This?

Reading has many mental health benefits, including stress relief after only 6 minutes of reading (genres of any kind). You can gain new understanding and go into a state of "deep reading", allowing yourself to grow in empathy and critical thinking skills, which creates a better human connection. Read before bed for better sleep, according to Psychology Today. Older adults are less likely to cognitively decline if they read once a week. It is even possible (not sure on this one) that readers live longer. 

If you have a library overflowing off of shelves you probably want to read them. I am currently working through a second chance pile that remains from my shelf cleanup. It technically won't be cleaned up until I try them all. I need to get moving before Christmas comes and the holidays eat my reading time. I also started a thick fantasy (Eragon) and need to get moving on it. No more open books until I finish it, or I'll go into a reading slump. 

Maybe you have a long TBR and you set a lofty goal for yourself. I'm giving one word of warning on this. Your TBR should not rule you; you rule your TBR. Just because you set your TBR in January doesn't mean you have to achieve it or you'll die. You will live if you don't finish it this year. Don't be hard on yourself when you miss the goal. The point is to read, not to stress yourself out with your own goals. Roll over the leftover TBR to the next year. It's not the end of the world to miss the goal. You can adjust next year's goal based on what you did this year. 

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I wrote a book! I am delighted to say that I have 5 five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback, hardcover, or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page. 

Jack Thomas is running from a past case. He's hiding in Wrenville. Is his past case catching up with him? 

Find out in my first book, Wrenville, a stand-alone suspense novel.

Sources:

 10 Ways to Create a Daily Reading Routine — On Book Street

How To Create A Daily Reading Habit And Improve Your Well-Being (forbes.com)

Step-by-Step Guide to Start a Reading Habit - HobbyLark

Creating a Reading Routine for Mental Health | Psychology Today

14 Ways to Cultivate a Lifetime Reading Habit - LifeHack

35 Ideas For How To Read More - Everyday Reading (everyday-reading.com)

Read it or unhaul it - second chance pile edition

 I've done the read it or unhaul it challenge before, but right now I have two piles of books I need to go through. I'm motivating myself to finish my book cleaning project. I intend to finish it this year. If I'm going to do that, I have to rid myself of the second chance pile before Christmas. Today's challenge is only the second chance pile. 

Courtesy of Dreamstime

1. I pick up a book at random from the pile. 

2. I read at least 5 chapters. 

3. I decide if I keep going or DNF (do not finish) it. 

4. I review it. 

The process above is what'll happen to these books. I'm trying to do at least three per blog. If I DNF two in a row, I pick five. If I'm not enjoying myself and I'm not compelled to keep reading I will put it down. Onward!

Sundays In Fredericksburg by Key, Sowell, Stevens, and Vawter

Courtesy of Ebay.com

I read five chapters and didn't dislike it. However, I was not compelled to keep reading any further, mostly because it was just okay. I need to keep plowing through the books on the pile, so I have to be cut-throat on what I keep and don't keep. I put this one down, mostly because I wasn't intrigued enough to keep reading.

 If you like cute, Christian romance you'll like this book (with four romances included). If you want faith-based romance in your library you can check it out for yourself. The writing is good, the faith message is sincere, and anyone could read it (since I don't anticipate steamy scenes in this). I just don't have the motivation to keep going through it. 

Courtesy of Barnesandnoble.com

Soul Tattoo by Samuel Kee

I started with the prologue and it had my attention right away. This one had a possibility of being finished and fully read (especially after it's only 200-some pages) because it was not shallow like the other faith books I'd picked up. Chapters later I was still tuned in and saw no reason to stop. And I didn't stop. Nothing was shallow, nothing hit me as off. This was a solid four-star book. 

The best thing about this book was that all levels of faith could read it. A new Christian could read it and an established one (me) could thoroughly enjoy it. It hit on deeper content and didn't hide from it. It was not a surface-level faith book. I was glad I didn't impulsively donate the second chance pile before I reached this one. 

Why Her? by Nicki Koziarz

I thought I'd DNF this book right off the bat, but no, it started speaking to me. I don't necessarily find myself playing the comparison game consciously. Despite that, when I started reading this book I became aware that I might be and not realize it. The concept of this book is beating the comparison game through your faith in Christ, and being okay with yourself wherever you are standing. Then I got to chapters three and four (as I counted the prologue as a chapter for the five-chapter-rule) and my interest waned. It went from 3.5 to 3.75 stars to a 3-star book. Which means I DNFed it because it was less than compelling by chapter four. 

Courtesy of Proverbs31.org

This book was not horrible, nor was it the greatest. It was just okay. Just okay does not stay on my bookshelf and won't be remaining in my home. I have to be decisive on this challenge because this is my donate or keep it decision. I stopped reading at chapter four and placed it on the donate pile. She also focused on comparisons with other women, while I do not struggle with comparisons with other women - I compare myself to other authors who are doing better than me, if I'm honest, and gender doesn't actually factor into it. That's where she started losing me. Everything else was nice, but it didn't have to be a she I was comparing to. 

An Island At War by Deborah Carr

I read the prologue and the book was already quite heavy. I tend not to read this heavy of content. The last time I did it was worth it, but it took a lot of energy and dedication to finish. I started with the prologue and read up to chapter four. I was still not sure I wanted to continue. In that spirit, I pass on this one. I realize war is dark. This was on the second chance pile for a reason. In complete honesty, it isn't a bad book, but I need to make hard decisions while going through my second chance pile. 

Courtesy of Audible.com

The plot of this one revolves around a family on the Channel Islands, where the military left the Channel Islanders to their own devices without support. They were swiftly occupied and those that were there were on their own. If you couldn't get off the island you were stuck there. It is set in the 1940s through about 1944 (I looked ahead).  Our main character has lost her father to bombing and gunfire in the prologue and has just sent her sister on the ferry to London despite her sister's cries and begging. She has her and her grandmother, both working on a farm together. If I wanted to struggle through this one and shove through the darkness and emotion attached I would, but I was still on the fence. That's a neon sign for "donate me to someone who likes this genre more". Well written, but just a little too dark for my taste. 

At Home In Mitford

Okay, so this one I gave up on because I couldn't play the audio book CD on my disc-drive-less laptop. I looked it up on YouTube and couldn't find much, either. To be fair, I did judge it for being a Hallmark and I don't actually know enough to feel I'm missing out on anything. My coworker liked it, but that's all I know. I can't play it on my laptop to even test it. Long story short, I want to get on with the clean up. 

Courtesy of Amazon.com

Is it bad that I'm not giving it much of a chance? If I can't even play it, no. I can't even test it. It's worth nothing to me. I can donate it and give it to someone who can play it. I honestly believe that one might have left on its own, anyway, thus I don't feel guilty for plopping it into the donate pile untested. 

conclusions

I'm doing this to motivate myself. I need to get through the large stack of books and decide whether to donate or keep them. I'll do this again because it's worked so well. Some of you might be wondering why I don't just dump the whole lot of it into a donation bin and be done with it. I've donated 4 out of 5 books in this blog alone. The reason is simply this; I found diamonds among the rough in this pile and don't want to lose out on good books out of laziness. Most of the pile is being DNFed rapidly, yes, but I'm giving them five chapters to prove they are worth keeping. Soul Tattoo is just one example of a diamond in the dirt.

Why five chapters? Easy, by then you should be into it. If you are not into the book you can stop wasting your time on it after those five chapters. If you are into it you'll go way past five and read the whole thing. This method ensures I waste no reading time. I can stop before that if it is worse than mediocre. Try this method at home to see if your shelf is truly representing you. It works.  

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I wrote a book! I am delighted to say that I have 5 five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback, hardcover, or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page. 

Jack Thomas is running from a past case. He's hiding in Wrenville. Is his past case catching up with him? 

Find out in my first book, Wrenville, a stand-alone suspense novel.

When you need to finish your book faster

 Ever been in a situation where you need to finish the open books on your shelf faster? I have. I didn't finish books for two months at one point this year. Today we discuss the strategies you can use to finish that open book pile.

Courtesy of Pixy.org

So you have five books open, or three or two. Let's get those finished quicker, shall we? Today I give you multiple strategies for reading a book faster (whether you have one open or five). I typically have at most three open, which is bad because my reading speed gets chopped in half with every added book. I have two open right now. I need to finish and review Eragon and read my Second Chance pile (literally, donate or keep pile). 

Some of these methods require time or multi-tasking. I know some of us don't do well with either. If you're so busy you don't have time to sit down and read, I understand. Life kicks us hard sometimes. And sometimes we just don't have the motivation to do anything, even if time is available in bulk. Do what works for your life and the time available. 

Just Do It

This is when you sit and open the book for as long as you possibly can. Depending on how big your book is or how small it is, you can even move on to another book (assuming time is on your side). This depends highly on how much downtime God gave you. If you can do this multiple days during the week you'll finish it in no time. If you have one day every week you'll still make a sizable dent. Grab your tea, coffee, snacks, and a cozy pillow. Settle in for a readathon. 

Chip Away At It

This is the method you might use when time is not on your side. A few chapters here and a few chapters there will add up. One chapter a day is even worth it. Maybe set aside a certain amount of time a day to read, making the time to finish that novel you opened two months ago. When you can spare an hour during the day pick up the book. While waiting for the time clock to strike the right moment pull out the novel. Before you know it, you'll hit the last page. 

Courtesy of Winkgo.com

Multiple Methods of Reading

That's right, you can read the same book in multiple forms throughout the day or week. I have read audio and physical books alternately (as long as you bookmark where you stopped in the physical book). It's worth it to find the library audio book and read it in your car on long trips. Even twenty minutes in your car will help you get farther into a book. While I'll admit it isn't as effective as just doing it, it means I can read my book while putting away laundry and doing dishes. 

Choosing the Right Form of Book

What do you read more often? Some people do better with audio, some with ebook, and then others with physical books. Keep this in mind. If you like audio better than physical or physical better than ebook, you'll help yourself finish it. For instance, an ebook will take me longer because I can't stare at my laptop too long. I vastly prefer physical bound books and audio books. This means I choose the form of book carefully. The tip here is to cater to what you like and will read more often. 

Set Goals

This goes with chipping away at the book, but is definitely a step past casually doing so. Set a goal of time or pages every day. You have two hours free every day? Set the goal to read at least one hour or more. You want to make at least fifty pages per reading session? Go for it! You might get more read this way than if you didn't set those goals. You can also go a step farther than this by setting a goal of when you want to finish your book. 

Make A Reading Routine

A reading routine will help you get through multiple books. If you make it a habit, purposely, to sit down before bed with a book you'll create a reading routine. You could also make this a breakfast routine, a mid-day routine, or a bi-weekly routine. Whatever routine you can set to make sure you're reading your books will work. We are all different and prefer different types of books and times of day. Whether you drink tea, coffee, or water is up to you. Whatever routine you set for yourself, it'll help you read more than just this stack of books long-term. 

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I wrote a book! I am delighted to say that I have 5 five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback, hardcover, or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page. 

Jack Thomas is running from a past case. He's hiding in Wrenville. Is his past case catching up with him? 

Find out in my first book, Wrenville, a stand-alone suspense novel.

Silent Film Review - Go West 1925

 Go West (1925) is a Buster Keaton film, directed and written by him. It's just as adorable as everything else he's starred in. Here is my review of it. 

Courtesy of cowboysindians.com

Go West from 1925 stars Buster Keaton. It is the story of a man trying to make it out west. He jumps onto some railroad cars, wanders onto a ranch, and proceeds to not know anything about ranching (he still gets hired somehow). He creates a friendship with this heifer (female cow) as he hilariously bumbles many of his tasks, somehow getting a few of them done. 

The main conflict of the story is simply the rancher having one chance to make it - and he'll only make it when the cows reach the slaughterhouse. When the time comes, he insists on taking the heifer. He doesn't give it to Keaton's character to spare her. Keaton hides on the train to free her when the train gets there. The train is held up. After a gunfight he manages to get on the train that is freely going down the track on its own. He stops the train at the station and, through many antics and silly moments, gets the herd to the stockyard. The rancher then lets him have the heifer and they drive back to the ranch. 

My Review

This film is adorable. You have an adorable heifer following Keaton around everywhere, the silly antics of Keaton, and enough of a plot to have some stakes. It could be summed up as a man's friendship with a heifer. The main character bumbled his way into saving the day. Being from farm country makes this even funnier. Keaton's character doesn't know how to milk a cow, doesn't understand branding and why it's done, leaves gates wide open, doesn't know how to herd cattle, and is probably the worst hand there. And yet he's allowed to remain. 

We have a woman involved here, but she doesn't have much to do with the plot. Keaton's character focuses his attention on the heifer he's befriended. They make a joke of this at the end. The rancher offers anything to Keaton and his response is "I want her" (pointing behind him, where the rancher's daughter stands), then clarifies by walking past the daughter to pull the heifer out from behind the fence by a halter and rope. The farmer laughs and allows him to keep the heifer. 

I liked it and found it adorable. I give it 10 out of 10 stars. Anything by Keaton is worth watching. This wasn't actually my favorite one, but it was good. Be aware some YouTube recordings can have sound coming and going (background music - even silents aren't fully silent). I had to go between two recordings to get all the background music. 

Courtesy of IMDB.com - Buster Keaton trying to milk a cow 
by looking at it. 

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I wrote a book! I am delighted to say that I have 5 five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback, hardcover, or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page. 

Jack Thomas is running from a past case. He's hiding in Wrenville. Is his past case catching up with him? 

Find out in my first book, Wrenville, a stand-alone suspense novel.

Silent Film Review - It 1927

 No, we are not talking about clowns. We are talking about a silent film from 1927. Starring Clara Bow, it is all about the idea you have "it" or you don't. "It" is essentially sex appeal that gets you what you want. Here's what I thought of it. 

Courtesy of TCM

I both do and don't like the main characters. Clara Bow is an actress beloved to silent film. She can cry on a dime (sadly, because she had a terrible childhood). This is the romance between Betty (Clara Bow) and Mr. Waltham - who had a girlfriend this entire time and ignored her like she was chopped liver. It starts with Betty working at Waltham's Store, where she sees the new boss (Mr. Waltham) and falls in love instantly. This whole time Monty (Waltham's friend) is reading an article about "It" - sex appeal that guarantees you get your man/woman. 

Courtesy of Pinterest-
Clara Bow

Betty comes home to her roommate (who has a child). Poverty stricken as her friend is, things look kind of desperate for her friend. She goes to the Ritz after being asked out by Monty, purely to sit at a table near Mr. Waltham - who is with his girlfriend and her mother. This is after she created a dress from her work dress (because her work dress isn't good enough for the Ritz). At any rate, she gets herself noticed by Waltham, who then conveniently forgets his girlfriend exists several times when talking to her. 

When he sees her at work, she collects on her bet that he wouldn't recognize her next time he sees her. To compete with the girlfriend (this I don't like at all) she says "take me out to the beach for dinner" and he literally ignores the fact his girlfriend had asked and he said yes to that. In other words, he brushed off his girlfriend to go out with Betty. I don't like that Betty did this or that our main man treats his girlfriend like she's nothing important. I hate it, actually, but let's move on. 

She comes home and welfare is trying to take her friend's child. She has no means of support and these two older women want to take the baby from her. Betty races up the stairs, takes the baby in her arms, and claims she has a job and it's hers to save her friend. This I do like. She even tells the welfare women that "if women like them had babies instead of doing this they'd be better off". She tells them off and then some. This gets back to Waltham through Monty, though, and he thinks badly of her because he thinks the baby is hers. I don't like our main man. She literally should have taken Monty and been done with it. 

Betty gets to work and he's suddenly cold to her. She quits her job. Betty then gets a visit from Monty, who then realizes his mistake - in actually thinking she had a child. They then concoct a plan to get back at Waltham for not giving her the benefit of the doubt. Monty gets her into the yacht for the week long party and she manipulates Waltham into proposing, only to laugh him off, then cry because it wasn't funny after all. No kidding, Betty, no kidding. This I don't like her for. Monty spills that it wasn't her child and then the two get together (despite a girlfriend who's literally treated like she's wallpaper) after Monty steers a boat into another boat. The two women fall off the boat. Waltham, once again the boyfriend of the year, gives his girlfriend a life preserver and swims to Betty. At the end Monty and the girlfriend watch them flirt while standing on the anchor attached to the boat. 

My Thoughts

It must be said that I appreciate Betty defending her friend from Welfare workers. It also must be said that I don't endorse manipulation and think our main man is a dirtbag. He treats his long-term girlfriend like she's wallpaper and doesn't exist. He says he'll dine with her, then goes to the beach with Betty. We see no apology and the girlfriend looks like she's miserable. I don't think it takes a detective to find out why. These characters are not nice people. 

Courtesy of Alamy - Clara Bow

The point of the film and the idea of "it" is you can get exactly what you want with sex appeal - as long as you have "it". You have it or you don't. It means you effortlessly get what you want by being yourself. Or using your sex appeal to get it. "It" in this scenario is charm and charisma, and being attractive to others. Long story short, Betty had "it" and got the man she wanted. I feel so bad for the girlfriend. And Monty. Seriously, if you don't like your girlfriend you should break up. Don't just go all in on a side chick who has no shame in being a side chick. 

My rating 

To say I didn't enjoy myself would be a lie. I did enjoy myself. I would give a it a 7 out of 10, just because the main man and the main woman were not the type I'd root for. I'd argue that both are equally making bad choices. One is throwing away a relationship of many years and not just breaking up, and the other is homewrecking. 

The good part of the rating comes from great music, great acting, excellent dialogue, and an engaging film. I was never bored. Clara Bow had an amazing performance with emotion and drama, as well as those tears she could conjure in seconds. Well worth watching. You should see what you think. 

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I wrote a book! I am delighted to say that I have 5 five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback, hardcover, or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page. 

Jack Thomas is running from a past case. He's hiding in Wrenville. Is his past case catching up with him? 

Find out in my first book, Wrenville, a stand-alone suspense novel.