meredithsreadingchallenge

[meredithsreadingchallenge]

In a twisted version of Darwinian determinism, we tell ourselves that real artists can survive the most hostile environments and yet find their true calling like homing pigeons. That's hogwash.

The Artists Way: A Spiritual Guide to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron, pp. 28.

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Today, after having to put it off for a couple of weeks, I am going to be talking about Excuse #5 from “Girl, Stop Apologizing”.  I think I felt hesitant to talk about this chapter because I have this excuse in the back of my mind, holding me back. So far, all the other excuses ring true, but it was an epiphany to feel that I have been using this one as well to justify why I can’t accomplish my dreams.

Excuse #5 is I can’t pursue my dream and still be a good mom/daughter/employee. However, I would like to mix it up a bit today. I forgot that at the back of the book, Rachel Hollis provided Discussion questions for each chapter. They can be used for anything.

I know, I should read cover-to-cover before I start typing! (Probably).

Anyway, I would like to take the time to answer the discussion questions based on my personal life as I dive into the chapter with you. Let’s go!

The first question asks you to fill in the blank, of the same excuse and to explain why you feel this way based on other’s expectations.

Here’s my fill in the blank:

I can’t pursue my dream and still be a good student, employee, and friend.

One of the things Hollis talks about is that there is no such thing as work-life balance, and I couldn’t agree more as I am in the middle of obtaining a bachelor’s degree. Work-life balance, from Hollis’s perspective, insinuates, “those two things live in harmony, perfectly divided up on the scale of your life” (pp.44). It’s a lie. 

A way I connected to this is the idea of trade-offs if we can reflect on taking Economics in high school or college. A trade-off is an exchange between two goods, where if one needs to be produced more, the other lacks behind. The only time the two goods can fulfill enough resources to demand is at equilibrium, and I think that’s why we hold onto the lie that we can balance our work and life. It’s just not possible. There’s always going to be a trade-off for what you have to do versus what you’ve always dreamed of achieving. 

Am I ringing some truth?

I used to think I could balance my life and work as well, but it never was the case. As a student, I know I am responsible to be present in class, physically and habitually when we transitioned to remote instruction, and complete the work on time. As an employee, the same thing applies. I tried to balance both of these expectations as a student and worker at a part-time job on my campus. From a career perspective,this job isn’t considered ideal, but it will look good on my resume, thus benefiting my future. However, working meant that I would lose some study time, such as completing assignments when I usually would, and I had to figure out how to have a life as I tried balance school, work, social time, and me-time. It felt like it was out of my control more than a balance. Then, I started to feel like I couldn’t be a good student for working, a good employee if I wanted to participate in extracurricular activities, or a friend because I didn’t have enough time to go out and have fun.

Again, there is no work-life balance, but I’m learning, now that I am taking a break from school until the next semester, that there is a way to achieve the dreams without it feeling like a trade-off out of your control. There is a way not to feel guilty for achieving something you want in life, and that is addressed in the next question.

Question two includes two parts as well to help the reader reflect on their well-being on pp. 213. It says,

“You cannot waste [your life] living only for everyone else” (pp. 42).

Do you feel it is selfish to put your well-being first? Why or why not?

After reflecting on the quote, I do sometimes feel like I am selfish to put my well-being before anyone else’s because I do not believe that it matters. Looking back over my life, I realize that I gave myself the role of a caregiver to others—accepting them regardless of their character—because I thought that would mean they would accept me. I put myself last because if I cared for someone else, I would get the love I would need to live.

I bet you’re shaking your head, maybe considering your own life as we go through these questions, but to be clear, I am slowly changing this belief about myself because I need to take of myself before I can take care of someone else. Living for others is not a healthy lifestyle.

I am thankful for the experiences I’ve had that have shown me it’s great to be kind to others, but I have learned that I need to be kind to myself and aware of others’ character before I get sucked into becoming manipulated. Presently, I am trying to take care of myself while being self-isolated, and I know I have the right people in my circle that have my best interests as I do for theirs. I can now start to focus on my well-being, life, and goals in 2020, gradually accepting that I am not selfish to have this excuse that I cannot be a good student, employee, and friend. 

I can achieve my goals, and so can you.

Please feel free to take the time to answer these questions and to read her book if you’re interested! I like following Rachel Hollis and her company because they are making a great impact on young women and girls alike to become the best version of themselves, so I highly recommend checking her out.

(Also, let’s be clear, still not getting paid to do this! I don’t need to because I enjoy sharing resources with others that I think would be helpful!)

As for other updates, I am planning out future book reviews. The next two books I plan to post here are the ones I had to read for the semester because they count, and I had to put time and energy into them for coursework! They pushed me ahead in my goal, so they’re getting reviewed. Let’s see if they made high marks, eh?

There are no currently reading updates today except that I finished another book yesterday, May 7. I finished reading “The Subtle Knife” by Phillip Pullman—I couldn’t resist, and it wasn’t that bad—and I’m planning to read a young adult romance novel alongside this book and “IT”.

As always, stay safe out there and thank you for checking out my blog. See you soon!

*Photo Credit: this photo is a blurred version of the cover from the book. The cover is originally designed by Sami Lane from the Hollis Company, and the photo credit for the front page photo goes to Jorge Macias. Text is generated from FireAlpacca (Snap ITC).

[meredithsreadingchallenge]

No matter what your age or your life path, whether making art is your career or your hobby or your dream, it is not too late or too egotistical or too selfish or too silly to work on your creativity.

“The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity” by Julia Cameron, pp.xii.

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I’m so thankful to be writing this review right now. Now, I can share one of the best books I’ve read this year. I have to consider this for the No.1 spot unless another book comes around and steals the title.

For this review, I’m going to see if I can try a different format for writing. Please feel free to leave feedback for which review is best for you to read. Any is appreciated!

In 2019, I received the “His Dark Materials” series by Philip Pullman as a Christmas gift. I watched the movie earlier in the year, which I know is not what a reader is supposed to do, but I loved it. The story was interesting, and I fell in love with the main character and her journey across the world to save her best friend. I started reading the first book, “The Golden Compass” after Christmas because I was excited to start, and I finished the book on the second day of the new year. It counts, by the way!

Here is what I think of the book, even though it’s four months down the road. Remember, spoiler warning:

1.     What audience is the author writing for?

I think Pullman is writing for anyone that listens. The main character is about 11-13 years ago at the start of the book, so it does appeal to readers who are in that age range who likes mysteries, fantasy, and adventure. I would also argue that this book is for young adults, which is about 8th grade-12th grade, for there are vocabulary words that I had to look up a couple of times. The third audience would be adults because there are many parts in “The Golden Compass” that deal with mature thoughts, events, and feelings that are viewed from a child’s perspective. This book can appeal to any age group!

2.     Do I care about the characters?

If caring is defined as ‘I like the majority of the characters’, then yes. For someone that watched the movie with no idea about what was going on until a half-hour in, I enjoyed them. Lyra is my favorite, and her daemon, Pan. I like her because she’s at that age where innocence is stripped for reality, and I don’t mean that in a sick way. She goes through several major events that alter her perspective on the world, politics, religion, and most importantly, what family is to her. It was intriguing to read the story from her point of view because Pullman revealed to the reader her thoughts, feelings, and motivations with appropriate dialogue and exposition.

3.     Did it have a compelling plot?

Yes, YES, YES IT DOES! Excuse my enthusiasm, but here are some spoilers about the book.

It’s about Lyra Belacqua, a twelve/thirteen-year-old girl from Oxford who is forced to take a side in a complicated war. After stumbling on a proposal meeting for her uncle, Lord Asriel, she learns there are these mysterious particles called Dust, and it divides her home to two sides: those who want to explore it and those who despise it. She has no idea why people are touchy around the subject, but when kidnappers called ‘Gobblers’ abduct her best friend and the Master of Jordan college gives her a golden compass with symbols, she sets out on a journey to save her best friend.

This is all I’m going to reveal because the plot thickens and gets disturbing as she travels the world. Personally, I was hooked the minute I finished Chapter 1, and I even began to mutter comments to myself when I felt strongly about important plot points, especially when Lyra interacted with Ms. Coulter. Of course, I saw the movie and know Ms. Coulter’s role, but still! I felt so much more hatred for her than I did when I watched the movie. You don’t mess with that woman!

4.     Did any quotes strike me?

Yes, but this one is another spoiler. Please feel free to skip this question!

When Iorek Brynison says to Lyra, “Belacqua? No. You are Lyra Silvertongue” (Pullman, pp. 348), I wanted him to win the fight against the bear king so bad. You see, Lyra and Iorek share a special bond because she rescued his honor in exchange for his allegiance to save the abducted children.  He swore to protect her during the mission, but he also told her once that his kind cannot be tricked because they possess the talent to see pass deceit. However, because Lyra tricked the current bear king that she was Iorek’s daemon, Iorek respects her for proving him wrong. It makes me smile every time!

5.     What is the author’s voice like?

The author’s voice is quite interesting. Pullman takes the role of a narrator—an observer in the world of the book. The narrator knows what Lyra does and thinks, and sometimes they view other character’s stories as well as share their opinion. Based on the verb tense, the narrator is speaking about a time in history, but when reading the book, it almost feels like you’re right there, watching Lyra as she reads the Golden Compass (or aethalometer!).

6.     What is the author��s purpose?

I think that Pullman’s purpose was to demonstrate that religion has a strong influence on the minds of adults. As Lyra further investigates the Gobbler’s abduction patterns to save her friend, the Church’s opinion becomes prominent. It seems that those who work for the Church are against the investigations of Dust and have power over the distribution of information, so it becomes clear that Lord Asriel’s proposal is a threat to their cause. Pullman wanted to highlight this theme because religion is known throughout history to want to control the thoughts and beliefs of its followers, especially when it comes to new findings in science. Also, if science threatens an idea supported by the Church, then the world becomes divided on what is right and what is wrong.

7.     What did I learn from reading?

I learned that the world is very different from the eyes of a child. A child, like Lyra, can pick up on something wrong from time to time, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good thing. The more a child is exposed to the reality of adulthood—such as abduction, religion, deceit, and war—the world changes. Lyra was able to compose herself, to remain present in learning about the world around her, but it still came as a shock when she found out that the people who loved her would also not hesitate to put her in harm’s way. Lyra learned the importance of bonds with people who are not your family with the Gyptians and Iorek Brynison, and this also established her core belief of loyalty and justice.

8.     What rating did I give this book?

I gave this book 5 stars because it made me think, I wanted more, and I was intrigued by the themes!

9.     Who would I recommend this book to?

I would recommend this book to anyone. It has a little bit of every genre in it, like fantasy, science fiction (I would argue), general fiction, and adventure. Because of the vocabulary and themes, I think it would encourage young readers to investigate meanings they don’t understand and ask questions. While religion is known to be restricted, sometimes offended for free-thinking, this is what learning is all about. I would also recommend it because it’s a good story, just a little something to read when you want to explore a different world.

10.     When will I read the remaining books in the series?

Because of the pandemic, I am reading the next book, “The Subtle Knife,” earlier than I expected. The remaining books on my list for the year are somewhat similar, I want to include a little more diversity, besides just anxious about what happens to Lyra next!

Speaking of which, what am I currently reading?

· “IT” by Stephen King: You will not believe it, guys. I made it to the halfway point! I’ve completed 50% of the book, and it’s a lot to swallow. It’s certainly different than the recent adaptation (mind you, I haven’t watched that one all the way through, just snippets). Still, I think this is why I appreciate the book more. I love reading about the memories the losers club have when they return to Derry, and I’m always wondering what’s going to happen next, even if my eyes are tired.

·“Girl, Stop Apologizing” by Rachel Hollis: I haven’t continued to read much of this book because I still need to make a blog post for Excuse 5 and I’m currently working on their #Next90challenge course. When she started advertising for it and mentioned it was a free course, I thought it would be a good idea to try it out. So far, I’m having fun! I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the lessons. For now, thank you again for being patient. Excuse 5 will be created shortly after this review.

I finished three books since my last blog post, which were “The Fates Divide” by Veronica Roth, the novel version of the hit musical, “Dear Evan Hansen,” and “The Flight of Swans by Sarah McGuire. Currently, I am figuring out which book review to do next after the Golden Compass because I am behind. Using this month to focus on making posts is going to be beneficial now that I have this free time to do it. No more excuses!

 As always, please stay safe wherever you are and practice healthy habits.

* Photo Credit: this photo is a blurred version of the cover from the book. The cover is originally based on art by Iacopo Bruno (2017). Text is generated from FireAlpacca.

[meredithsreadingchallenge]

Hey guys! This audio is to test how I can post recording on my blog in the future because I want to explore and have some things for my Senior portfolio before I graduate. If you like this format, please leave a heart!

I am planning to be working for the blog again next Monday. The semester was a bit rough on me with coursework, so I am taking the rest of the week off to relax, catch up on some other things, and to get centered for this month.

Thank you, as always, for being patient with me, and keep reading on!

[meredithsreadingchallenge]

An Update from the Desk of Ms. Meredith: Mar. 20, 2020

Hello,

If you are reading this, then I must tell you I need to take another short break again. I received an email from the university last night that we are transitioning to remote online learning for the remainder of the semester due to the increase of COVID-19 in our state. I need to take some time to stay calm, adjust, and make plans.

Thank you for understanding.

I am looking forward to writing reviews soon once my schedule is intact. Please, wherever you are in the world, be safe and self-quarantine regardless of what age you are.  This is a virus we have never dealt with before, so taking all steps of isolation is what’s best until a cure can be made.

Sincerely,

Ms. Meredith

[meredithsreadingchallenge]

Excuse #4--I’m not enough to succeed

When I starting reading this chapter, who knows how long ago, I paid close attention. I’ve used this excuse cards plenty of times, along with ‘I don’t have time to do that’, to trick me into thinking I can’t do something I want to do. I enjoyed listening to Rachel Hollis talk about her personal journey, too, though I wasn’t expecting it.

On pp. 31, the biggest excuse she gave herself not to start her own company is that she wasn’t smart enough. I was shocked! Hollis had never studied business or entrepreneurship at a university before starting her business. I was amazed that through all the experience she acquired, especially mentioned in Excuse #3,  she could do it.

One thing that this chapter aims to teach you about can be summed up from one of my favorite quotes thus far, “Either piss or get off the pot” (Hollis, pp. 32).

When you want something, you just go for it. If you don’t have the passion, time to stop and find something you are in love with. I think that’s the softer version!

Finally, the big message from this chapter and Hollis is that you are enough. I need to know I am enough. I can listen to the facts of my accomplishments instead of the opinions of being ‘not good enough’. 

Now, get out there and make something of yourself!

Whew, let me cool down for a second, for I have an exercise you can try on your own. I’m going to try and write down mine later tomorrow to share with you.

Hollis explains an exercise to write a letter to yourself, from yourself (pp. 36). In this letter, the sender is the part of you that hasn’t given up and knows you are enough to succeed in your passions and projects.

Whenever you feel like you are not enough, write a letter to yourself. Even when you’ve written a hundred letters to yourself, keep going.

Hollis, your significant other, me, or anyone doesn’t always have to encourage you for the fact that you are enough to succeed.

It starts with you.

*Photo Credit: this photo is a blurred version of the cover from the book. The cover is originally designed by Sami Lane from the Hollis Company, and the photo credit for the front page photo goes to Jorge Macias. Text is generated from FireAlpacca (Snap ITC).

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This post is a long time coming, isn’t it? I need to hold myself accountable for not posting on here about the great books I’m reading, and how fortunate I am to be talking about the greatest excise of all time!

Excuse #3--I don’t have time. 

How many times have you told that to yourself this? I can tell you this: I think I say it too many times, and I continue to apologize for my procrastination.

I didn’t know that procrastination could be addicting, but I do know that it is a habit that can be broken over time.

In this chapter, Hollis talks about what it was like for her when she was working towards her goal to start a company. She dedicated hours to working in the entertainment industry to gain experience, she passed off relaxing activities on weekends to instead plan weddings--for free, mind you--and she also gave up invitations from friends or coworkers to continue to put in that effort, just so she could make her dream come true (pp. 21-22).

Tangent, for just a moment. I’m currently taking an economics course for a General Education requirement, and one of the big ideas we have to remember moving forward is there's always a constant trade-off, no matter what you’re dealing with: food, service, time, etc. Hollis made a trade-off to either put in the work towards a goal or put off the time and do something fun.

That’s a hard decision to make! I toast to her courage for keeping at it for so long, for she now is able to host her own conferences with her husband, encourage young women like me to be more than what we think we are, and still have time for her family, friends, and herself to be happy. I’m so proud of her, and she currently inspires me  to be myself, not who I think I should be outside my house.

The best part is Hollis gives us four steps to dedicating time to a certain goal in life, and how to make it a reality than a wish. With that, I will share with you an example of my schedule, a very small snippet. I’m home from school for three weeks, and as much as I know to take care of myself, incorporate movement, and to get my homework in on time, I want to save some time for blogging and sharing the books I’ve ready so far this year.

(I’m not going to lie, I’ve already read 11. I need to hurry and write reviews for the other nine books I have yet to rate, so let’s begin.)

For now, this is my schedule for this week, March 16-March 22, 2020, also known as Spring Break, given in hours. If you have a copy of the book of your own, or you’re wondering what these steps are and have an online version, you can find her steps on pp. 23-26.

1. Make a Timeline of Your Week:

March 16-

8 a.m.-10 a.m.: Good morning, time to get ready and get some food! (Done)

11 a.m.-12 p.m.: Work a little on homework and practice makeup. Make an important phone call.  (Done)

1 p.m.-2 p.m.: Yikes, go renew an I.D, get some food, and scan an important document! (Done).

3 p.m.-4 p.m.: Work on some homework. (Didn’t happen, sadly. I wasn’t feeling good, but my cat wanted to take a nap and snuggle with me for a little bit. She was so cute before she started biting my leg. Ouch!)

5 p.m.- 6 p.m.: Work on this blog post! Maybe work on another homework assignment.

7 p.m.-8 p.m.: Eat dinner and help around the house.

9 p.m.-10 p.m.: Get ready for bed. Goodnight!

March 17-

8 a.m.-9 a.m.: Good morning! Get ready and get food!

10 a.m.-12 p.m.: Homework Time! And get some lunch at noon.

1 p.m.-3 p.m. Hmm, most likely free time. I’m considering using this time to work on creative projects just for fun, since I am on break. Also use as time to get things done if I need to leave the house.

4 p.m.- 5 p.m.: Blog time! This means time spent posting blog posts for “GSA” or writing reviews to post in the future. Who knows, maybe even completing them and editing them to post around this time.

6 p.m.-7 p.m.: Dinner and helping around the house.

8 p.m.-9 p.m.: Fun time. :D

10 p.m.-11 p.m.: Get ready for bed. Goodnight!

March 18-

8 a.m.-9 a.m.: Good morning! Get ready and get food!

10 a.m.-12 p.m.: Homework Time! And get some lunch at noon.

1 p.m.-3 p.m. Hmm, most likely free time. I’m considering using this time to work on creative projects just for fun, since I am on break. Also use as time to get things done if I need to leave the house.

4 p.m.- 5 p.m.: Blog time! This means time spent posting blog posts for “GSA” or writing reviews to post in the future. Who knows, maybe even completing them and editing them to post around this time.

6 p.m.-7 p.m.: Dinner and helping around the house.

8 p.m.-9 p.m.: Fun time. :D

10 p.m.-11 p.m.: Get ready for bed. Goodnight!

March 19-

8 a.m.-9 a.m.: Good morning! Get ready and get food!

10 a.m.-12 p.m.: Homework Time! And get some lunch at noon.

1 p.m.-3 p.m. Hmm, most likely free time. I’m considering using this time to work on creative projects just for fun, since I am on break. Also use as time to get things done if I need to leave the house.

4 p.m.- 5 p.m.: Blog time! This means time spent posting blog posts for “GSA” or writing reviews to post in the future. Who knows, maybe even completing them and editing them to post around this time.

6 p.m.-7 p.m.: Dinner and helping around the house.

8 p.m.-9 p.m.: Fun time. :D

10 p.m.-11 p.m.: Get ready for bed. Goodnight!

March 20-

8 a.m.-9 a.m.: Good morning! Get ready and get food!

10 a.m.-12 p.m.: Homework Time! And get some lunch at noon.

1 p.m.-3 p.m. Hmm, most likely free time. I’m considering using this time to work on creative projects just for fun, since I am on break. Also use as time to get things done if I need to leave the house.

4 p.m.- 5 p.m.: Blog time! This means time spent posting blog posts for “GSA” or writing reviews to post in the future. Who knows, maybe even completing them and editing them to post around this time.

6 p.m.-7 p.m.: Dinner and helping around the house.

8 p.m.-9 p.m.: Fun time. :D

10 p.m.-11 p.m.: Get ready for bed. Goodnight!

March 21-

8 a.m.-9 a.m.: Good morning! Get ready and get food!

10 a.m.-12 p.m.: Homework Time! And get some lunch at noon.

1 p.m.-3 p.m. Hmm, most likely free time. I’m considering using this time to work on creative projects just for fun, since I am on break. Also use as time to get things done if I need to leave the house.

4 p.m.- 5 p.m.: Blog time! This means time spent posting blog posts for “GSA” or writing reviews to post in the future. Who knows, maybe even completing them and editing them to post around this time.

6 p.m.-7 p.m.: Dinner and helping around the house.

8 p.m.-9 p.m.: Fun time. :D

10 p.m.-11 p.m.: Get ready for bed. Goodnight!

March 22-

8 a.m.-9 a.m.: Good morning! Get ready and get food!

10 a.m.-12 p.m.: Homework Time! And get some lunch at noon.

1 p.m.-3 p.m. Hmm, most likely free time. I’m considering using this time to work on creative projects just for fun, since I am on break. Also use as time to get things done if I need to leave the house.

4 p.m.- 5 p.m.: Blog time! This means time spent posting blog posts for “GSA” or writing reviews to post in the future. Who knows, maybe even completing them and editing them to post around this time.

6 p.m.-7 p.m.: Dinner and helping around the house.

8 p.m.-9 p.m.: Fun time. :D

10 p.m.-11 p.m.: Get ready for bed. Goodnight!2. Once you set your new schedule, Treat Your “Five to Strive” Hours as Sacred

This means that for every time you see ‘Blog time!’, I am taking that time to work towards my goal and enforcing it. Trust me, even though this is just one week out of three away from school, I am going to do my very best to stick with it so that I can discipline myself to reach my goals. 

3. Make Sure Your Minimum Hours are Your Best Hours

Explained on its own, right?

4. Plan Your Schedule Weekly

For now, I would like to make sure I follow the schedule I have for right now. Then, there is a lot of things up in the air right now about school and what’s going to happen in the following weeks. I need to keep the next two weeks of the break open for change. After I have a clearer picture, I will start planning my schedule better!

Woo! That was a lot of typing. Now, that I’m looking at it, I think I will split this post in half and do Excuse #4 tomorrow. As you can see, I dedicated time for writing for the blog between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. everyday, so expect a post potentially by 6/7 p.m. at the latest. Thank you for sticking this long, and I will see you tomorrow!

Please feel free to comment if these steps helped you stay organized, or if you have another way of scheduling time for your goals!

What Else am I reading this year?

1. “Girl, Stop Apologizing”, Rachel Hollis: if I am being perfectly honest, I only read Excuse number 4 after trying to complete the post for this excuse. I didn’t want to get too far ahead and loose track of Posting. I will read Excuse #5 when I am back on track!

2. “IT”, Stephen King: Ironically enough, I am so close to being done with “The Summer of 1958″. I decided to make a goal of reading at least two sections from a chapter per week, and it is definitely helping me move along. I haven’t been able to read much, though, due to assignment constraints and the fear of reading his books at night. I already get interrupted during REM sleep. I don’t need another reason for not sleeping well!

3. “The Fates Divide”, Veronica Roth: I read the first book nearly two years ago, but I really do enjoy getting back into this world! One of the things that I like about it is that there is LGBTQ+ diversity. Even though it is a fictional world, it is comforting to read something that includes all kinds of relationships. It makes me feel warm inside.

I still have reviews on the list from books completed in January. Hold your horses!

*Photo Credit: this photo is a blurred version of the cover from the book. The cover is originally designed by Sami Lane from the Hollis Company, and the photo credit for the front page photo goes to Jorge Macias. Text is generated from FireAlpacca (Snap ITC).

[meredithsreadingchallenge]

Update from the Desk of Ms. Meredith: February 15,2020

Greetings,

So, where have I been for over a month? There is a simple explanation, but not an excusable one. I started school again on Jan. 13, 2020, and I’ve also been trying to juggle work and other appointments with the amount of homework I have to complete per week. I’m technically procrastinating right not. There’s so much homework I have to do in two days. Still, I did what I love to do today: reading, and I want to keep posting for this blog, too.

I have been able to keep up with my reading list for the year, despite all the work. Since my last review, I have read “The Sisters Grimm” books four, five, six, seven, AND eight. My plan is to review the series all together in the next review, after I finish reading the final book, “The Council of Mirrors”. I don’t think I can avoid spoilers, though, so please be warned for the future in case I forget.

The other book I read is a collection of stories called “Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories that Heal” by Dr. Rachel Remen. I had to read it for one of classes for English and it wasn’t too bad. I thought I could write a review since I had to read the book. This means that 1 book on my list is not going to count towards the 21 book goal for this year. On the other hand, I have a habit of exceeding my goals from time to time.

Otherwise, the other books I’m reading are a bit slimmer. When it comes to “IT” by good ole’ King, I’m taking the slower route. If I can read at least 3 sections of a chapter (and if you’re a Stephen King fan or read one of his novels, you know exactly what I’m talking about) per week, I am satisfied. My two favorite characters so far are Richie Tozier and Eddie Kaspbrak. Their stories intrigue me from the Summer of 1958--which is what I’m on right now--and I can’t wait to see how they grow twenty-seven years later.

Since my schedule is now starting to make sense, I will be posting the review for Chapter 4 from “Girl, Stop Apologizing”. I cannot guarantee it’ll be later today, but I will do my best to actually make time to do it. I can’t wait to keep reading her book!

There is another book I’m reading for history class called “A Bright Solution”, which is about how the constitution came to be after the Articles of Confederation failed our nation, but I’m not really enthusiastic to talk about yet. It’s not sitting well with me, sadly, and I will explain later.

I think this about sums it up for the update. Thank you for being patient with me, and if you’re someone that stops by on my page, thank you for taking the time to read my posts. I hope you’re reading schedule is going well so far this year!

-Ms. Meredith

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Books 1 & 2 of the 2020 Reading Challenge: “The Sisters Grimm”

Welcome to the first blog review of my 2020 Reading Challenge! Today, I will be sharing with you two books from one of my favorite series, “The Sisters Grimm”.

There are going to be spoilers. You have been warned!

“The Sisters Grimm” Books 2 & 3: “The Unusual Suspects” and “The Problem Child”

Author: Michael Buckley

Book Type: Novel

Page Length: 292 pages (Book 2) and 296 (Book 3)

Genre:  Children’s Fiction, Fantasy, potentially Fan Fiction.

Reading Level (estimated by opinion, grade level, and content): 6th or 7th grade+

How Many Days Did It Take to read?

Book 2: Jan. 3-Jan. 5 (2 days).

Book 3: Jan. 6-Jan.7 (1 day).

 A Brief Summary of the books: MORE SPOILERS

Book 2: Sabrina and Daphne enroll in a new school three weeks after the events of book 1, but soon find trouble tagging along the way. A series of murders in her school lead the Grimms to believe the Scarlet Hand is influencing a new Everafter to attack the humans, so it’s up to the family to find the culprit before anyone else is in danger.

Book 3: After using the Match Girl’s matches to teleport to her parents, Sabrina learns that Little Red Riding Hood, typically one of the good guys, has been keeping her parents hostage with her new pet kitty, the Jabberwocky. She must then find a way to use magic to save them from the little girl, for it’s hard to fight a magical person without it. With the help of her sister, Puck, and her Uncle Jack, the family searches for the pieces of the Vorpal blade to make sure Little Red doesn’t add Granny Relda or Mr. Canis to her make-believe family.

Spoiler Summary of the series:

Sabrina and Daphne Grimm are sisters who recently move in with a relative they never heard of in their life. Their parents disappeared over a year ago, and the girls had been exchanging foster homes faster than returning items at your local Walmart. When Sabrina learns that she is a descendant of the Brothers Grimm, her parents were kidnapped by the Scarlet Hand (an organization of Everafters that want to hurt humans and rule the world), and that all the fairytale characters—called Everafters—live in a little town by the name of Ferryport Landing, her world is turned upside down. She and her sister must solve mysteries on her new home so that they can find their parents again and stop the Scarlet Hand from hurting anyone ever again.

Review Questions:

 1.     Did Both Books Have a Compelling Plot?

Yes, these books do have compelling plots. I will address this down the line in question 6, but the plot is simple for readers to understand. I could write the major plot points on a timeline and still understand where the stories are going.

2.     Did Both Books Have Consistent and Believable Dialogue?

Yes, indeed. Buckley keeps the characters’ tone, motivations, and vocabulary into account, so the reader understands who’s talking and why. I find the dialogue to be quite entertaining.

3.     Did I Care About the Characters?

This is more of a yes and no question. I do care about what happens to Sabrina, Daphne, Mr. Canis, Puck, and Relda Grimm in the stories. However, I don’t feel sympathy for most of the Everafters in the town because the point of view is from Sabrina. She is a very tense person and doesn’t trust anyone easily. I don’t get attached immediately to other characters unless she approves of them.

4.     Are the Illustrations Engaging?

Yes! I love Peter Ferguson’s sketches! The style is consistent, cartoonish, and unique alongside the text. I think they add great details to the book as well since they’re about fairytale characters.

5.     Is there an index or bibliography included at the end?

Yes, the first three books include a short guide in the back of the book about a brief history of the fairytale, short questions to test your knowledge, a couple of questions to write your own fairytales, and a section of the resources for writing the book.

6.     What Did I Learn While Reading? [spoilers!]

I think two of the most important concepts I could understand as an adult is prejudice and addiction from the two books. The main plot point, if I’m not mistaken, from each book is Sabrina learns a significant lesson in growing up while interacting with the mysteries and Everafters. In book two, she understood that she did not need to prejudice towards every Everaftre in town based on the actions of one bad group, and she also learned how to control her anger. In book three, she struggled with becoming addicted to using magic because she was insecure about her capabilities as a powerful person. It took a lot of strength to turn away magic so she did not suffer the consequences, for magic always has a price to pay to use it.

7.     Why is do I consider this series a fanfiction?

I consider this series a fanfiction because it elaborates on the fairytale world established by authors, like the Grimms, but it’s pretty good to read. It includes original characters with their own motivations, an extended point of view from the fairytale characters, and it has its own plot for readers to follow. The genre, technically, is mystery and fantasy, but because it concerns fairytales from different authors in history, I would also categorize it as a fanfiction, too.

8.     Have I read these books before?

Yes, I read this series when I was in middle school. I was the intended audience for reading the books, and I enjoy reading and watching fantasy stories. There’s nothing sweeter than a happily ever after!

9.     How Many Stars Do I Give it?

I give both books 5 stars.

10.  Would I recommend this book/mini-series/series to other readers?

Yes, I would definitely recommend this series for anyone to at least read the first 3 books. In my opinion, books 1-3 establish a great connection with the world of Ferryport Landing as well as determine if the reader would like to continue following Sabrina’s journey. I also say age doesn’t matter much when it comes to reading this series. There were a lot of jokes, themes, and plot points that I understood better as an adult versus a teenager.  

What else am I currently reading?

“It”: no current update.

“Girl, Stop Apologizing”:no current update yet, as well. I will post Excuse 3 and 4 hopefully next week.

“The Sisters Grimm: Once Upon a Crime”: I will start the fourth book in the series when I get my reviews done! :)

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Update from the desk of Ms. Meredith: Jan. 6, 2020

Good afternoon,

Once again, I have finished another book! “The Sisters Grimm: The Unusual Suspects” is the second book to be completed in the new year. Huzzah!

The real question is: When will you see a book review post?

Most likely, I will publish “The Golden Compass review tomorrow morning (Jan. 7). I will still complete some research, but I am sure I can include a review with a different idea to share, whether there are spoilers or not. 

Otherwise, the reading is going well. As I take another short (har-har!) break from “IT”, I am still reading through “Girl, Stop Apologizing”. The third response post will have to wait, though, because it requires scheduling to find time for your goals. As of right now, I am on holiday break, and I need to wait till the next semester begins in order for my schedule to be consistent. You will see my response when that time comes!

Thank you for reading my blog! I hope you are enjoying your favorite book so far!

Sincerely,

Ms. Meredith

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“Girl, Stop Apologizing,” by Rachel Hollis, Quick Post (#2)

Disclaimers:

I am not a professional, and I am not being paid to promote this book! This is for pure enjoyment and sharing!

Excuse 2: I’m not a goal-oriented person

After I posted the first excuse, I didn’t notice that the second excuse was short-only 4 pages long! I have been lost since then about how to respond to the chapter, too, but I think I have an idea now. 

If you scroll down a bit, you will find I shared a quote from pp. 17, one that I believe speaks wonders to what a goal really is. Take a moment now and read it, please, for it’s amazing! When I read that paragraph for the first time, a cheer rang through my mind. Things started to make sense.

Hollis makes a clear point that dreams and hopes are different than goals. You can dream about making the next best flavor of ice cream, you can hope that one day, you will find the cure to end the flu virus. What happens if you don’t have goals? Those hopes and dreams sit there, waiting-patient for you to get off your seat and start doing something. 

Setting goals to accomplish your hopes and dreams will get the job done.

As time goes on, I will share my goals with you for this book’s exercises, but for now, I ask you to consider your hopes and dreams. They may be small, but they are yours. How will you change the world tomorrow?

What Else Am I Currently Reading:

“The Sisters Grimm: The Usual Suspect,” by Michael Buckley: I. Love. It. It’s very tempting to NOT put it down.

“Girl Stop Apologizing,” by Rachel Hollis: Onto Excuse No. 3!

“IT,” by Stephen King: Slow and steady wins the race, right? Would you believe me if I said I have almost been trying to finish this novel for a year?

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A goal is a dream with its work boots on. A goal is a dream you've decided to make real. A goal is a destination you're working toward instead of an idea you're only considering or hoping for. Hope is a beautiful thing and an incredibly valuable tool to help keep us motivated and inspired about the possibility for the future. But let's be very clear on this point: hope is not a strategy.

Excuse 2, “Girl Stop Apologizing: A Shame Free Plan For Embracing and Achieving Your Goals,” by Rachel Hollis, pp.21.

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“Girl Stop Apologizing”-Hollis, First post

Excuse 1: “That’s Not What Other Women Do”

Three quick disclaimers:

I am not a professional. I read books for pure enjoyment, and this blog is to share those experiences with readers like yourself. Take what you see with a grain of salt. It’s okay, trust me.

I AM NOT BEING PAID TO PROMOTE THIS BOOK, nor do I need to be. Please refer to disclaimer No. 1 for why.

Rachel Hollis’s primary audience is women, regardless of age. Her message is directed to women who struggle achieving their goals and becoming the woman they are meant to be. Her words can be useful to young men as well, after switching the pronouns around. This may be the author for you, or it may not. All I can ask is that you read on and give it a chance.

For the first section of the book, each chapter discusses an excuse to let go of as the starting point to living a shame-free life. ‘That’s Not What Other Women Do’ is a good one to start with because as a woman, we feel pressure to think and act a certain way based on history and learning that this is all we can be.

The reason why women feel pressure, according to Hollis, is because friends, relatives, influencers, and experts try to fit women into the social norm of what a woman should be. The most common career is to be a stay at home mother, who takes care of the family come rain or shine. For Hollis, she explains in the first chapter what it was like to live a double life, working online as a blogger and taking care of children at the same time. It wasn’t easy for her, for she was apologizing for her ‘selfish dreams’ instead of being proud of her accomplishments when she was around family and friends. To summarize, her dreams had become smaller instead of shining as bright as the sun.

Now, it’s okay to say that it’s not always this way. In today’s standards, it’s fine for a woman to work. In fact, the roles may be switched in some households where the man stays at home and the wife works, or it can be looked at another perspective where both parties work, regardless of sexual orientation and preference. Today, it’s safe to say that it doesn’t matter who works. However, how safe is it?

The point is, the reason the excuse still exists is that the standard of the one person working and one stays at home still exists and is approved by many, and it involves one man and one woman. Ladies, I’m speaking to you at this point.

If you are a woman, with a career and milestones planned for your life, do you feel guilty for working? Do you feel pressure to stay at home while your partner works because it’s what witnessed growing up?

What about if you’re a man? Do you feel pressure to get a college degree so that you can have a job to provide for your family? Do you feel guilty if you don’t?

Because of the excuse of ‘this is not what other women do’—or men—our consciousness is the worst critic. The opinions of others begin to creep into your brain once you start to think about what you want to do, what makes you happy. When it comes down to becoming the person you want to be, the first person that pulls you back to feel uncomfortable is yourself.

While reading this chapter, I empathized with Hollis’s journey, but I couldn’t relate to it. Unfortunately, I am at the tail end of thinking the world cannot touch me—so to speak. I do not feel pressure to become a stay at home mother and marry a hard-working husband (or wife). I do not feel shame for thinking this way because I come from a family that encourages us to achieve our goals. I will say this, though.

Even if I couldn’t connect with the excuse that what I do isn’t what other women do, I did feel something that my fear has been feeding me for the past year: what you do isn’t what normal people do. What you want isn’t normal.

Strange, isn’t it? The whispers inside my mind say that what I do isn’t normal, and that hurts. This excuse, I believe, has held me back from achieving the goals I want to make, aside from this blog. When I heard the excuse this time, I stopped for a moment to think. Why are the things I want not normal?

Please, don’t freak out. The things I want to do in life are not gross or taboo.

The things I want in life are to see me thrive. I wish I could produce my own radio show, write a book—I don’t know, sing on “The Masked Singer” when I developed my singing voice a bit more. Things like that. They are fun things to do, but I continue to hold myself back because it doesn’t feel normal. Normal, in my mind, is a different definition of woman, usually said when it comes to a small child.

“You should be seen and not heard.”

I don’t want to be just seen. I want to be loud. I want to scream, as loud as a lion, and say, “Look at me! I am here! I am thriving! Wooooohooooo!”

And I think that day will come, slowly, but surely.

For now, it’ll be a slow process of letting go of the excuse that the things I do are normal. That I am normal. What I achieve is different, and that’s pretty cool, right?

Stay tuned for Excuse 2.

What else am I reading right now:

“IT”: You will be so proud of me. I finished a chapter, and if you have read Stephen King before, you know how he writes. IT’S A LOT OF WORDS!

“Girl, Stop Apologizing”: I’ll be reading Excuse 2 after posting this. Yay!

“The Sisters Grimm: The Unusual Suspect”: I am going to read chapter one before the day is done. I read the first book last year for a school project and decided to read the full series for 2020.

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From the Desk of Ms. Meredith: Jan. 2, 2020

Good afternoon,

I have an update for you. I’m almost done with “The Golden Compass”, and I am thrilled to share with you my response to it. However, I think I will take a few days to do research for the topic I want to discuss. This book is complex, far more than anything else I’ve read. I want to be respectful when discussing the topic based on experience, reaction, and research. Thank you for waiting at this time.

On the other hand, I will also be making periodic posts as I read Rachel Hollis’s, “Girl, Stop Apologizing.” I enjoy following Hollis’s advice to young women as I grow up into the person I want to be, so I would like to share some of those experiences as well. Trust me, there are going to be a lot of posts for this book, but I will still share my reaction to the content and if it is a good book for your shelf. 

Wishing you the best new year!

-Ms. Meredith

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Writing isn't about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making friends. In the end, it's about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well.

“On Writing,” by Stephen King, pp. 275.

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What Am I Reading at The Start of 2020

Well, at the time of this post, it’s the first day of the new year. I’m trying to decide what to read now that my stomach is stuffed, for reading after a good meal is just as good as taking a nap. I'm so excited to be sharing the books I’m going to read, even though fear is tearing me apart on the inside.

Here is what I'm currently reading:

"The Golden Compass," by Phillip Pullman: Words can not describe how I adore this book. I have completed parts one and two, and I am planning ahead my blog post about it.

"IT,"by Stephen King: I tend to slack off when reading this novel. The amount of pages intimidates me, and the material thus far makes me shiver before the cold can make my nose twitch. I'll do my best to read through another chapter, but no promises.

Here is what I'm planning to read on January 1, 2020:

"Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals," by Rachel Hollis: I was given two books by Hollis, this one and her first book, "Girl, Wash Your Face." I enjoyed reading GWYF, so I decided to read this one going at the start of the new year. I like to include at least one nonfiction book, so that I am not biased on storytelling solely through imagination. On top of that, I like to read authors who want to inspire other readers with their ideas, especially when it comes to finding identity. Who knows, maybe I'll do something special with this book.

Don’t forget to leave a follow before you go! You won’t know what books I’m reading until you do.