Discussion Topic: Do you Reread?

If you haven't already noticed, this year my booklist has been jam packed with rereads!!! I've reread all the Hunger Games books and Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. And, currently, I am rereading The Host, Game of Thrones, Anna Karenina, and Outlander. Some of you may be wondering "What's up with that?"

I'm partial to rereading books, but not every book. It has to be one of my favorites (in which case I can read the book more than twice, three times, ten times, it really doesn't matter), or it has to be one that caught my interest, but there was something that I didn't quite get and it deserves one more read to really cement it in my mind. Another scenario would be when a movie or tv show is being made out of the book and I want to catch up again before seeing it. :)

Although, I know there are people out there that would never reread a book. Why reread when there are so many new books out there that you have yet to read? Better to have more books under your belt than a few?

Either way it's reading!!! Check out this interesting article on the 26 Benefits of Reading!

So, your turn! Do you reread? Why or why not? Do you see any benefit to rereading? To not rereading?

I'd love to hear from you!

"The Hunger Games" Movie Review!

Let's recap a bit on the book. I wrote a review a while ago which you can read here. Now, to further the discussion I wanted to comment on something I've been hearing a lot of. The gruesomeness of the story is the number one excuse I hear from people who have not read the book. But, I cannot stress this to those of you who are avoiding this read enough, the gruesomeness is not glorified and it is not the focus! It's more about the bravery of these children, especially Katniss, to have the courage to face this, not lose themselves in the Capitol and the injustice, get home to their families, and start fighting back for the first time in 74 years! What is happening to them is not their fault, it is the fault of others, elders, that fear the power even a child can have in raising hope.

Their character is what defines these books and makes them worth reading. They give you the hope and courage you need to continue reading.

With that said, onto the movie, (Note: very minor spoilers about what is not in the movie) I'm mostly on the side of the fence of really enjoying it. I miss very small things that only a reader would be endeared to, like Katniss yelling at Peeta for being too noisy while they are hunting during the games, or Haymitch being much slobbier at the beginning and falling off the stage at the reaping. But, the movie is already almost 2 1/2 hours long and I can't think of anything I would have wanted them to remove to find more room for other stuff.

Also, I went with a friend that had not read the books first and she said that she got it, she wasn't too confused, but she could not depend on the usual devices, such as dialog or narration to tell her what was happening, instead she had to look to the actors movements, glances, comments, etc to fill her in.

On that note, I thought the young cast of this movie was wildly talented!!! Especially Jennifer Lawrence! Way to really bring a character to life. If some other young actors or actresses had even half the talent of Lawrence or her costars, we all might enjoy some of these books-to-movies concepts a lot more. :)

It's only been a day since I saw it, and the excitement has yet to wear off. In fact, I may be entering a withdrawal period here in a few days. I'm more than certain I will see this movie again before it leaves theaters and it is on my "To Buy" list, and not just any old "To Buy" list, but the one with the disclaimer that reads, Must be purchased on or before the official release date!

Here is the trailer for anyone else that may be expecting side effects like shaking, chills, giggles, random rants, screaming, sudden excitement, etc after seeing the movie...

Now, my absolute favorite part!

DISCUSSION!

You MUST discuss this with me. I fear it is the only thing to hold off the withdrawal.

Let me know what your thoughts are on the books or movie.

Things you liked, disliked, wish you saw more off, what you could have lived without, etc.

Just talked to me about it!

I look forward to this!

Discusion Topic and Questions: Fast Readers!

I was feeling really great about myself this week! With a combination of the power being out, having started some really good books lately, and the CW playing reruns for the last week or more, I have finished 4 books in the last week! That boosted my total number of books so far this year from 9 to 13! I am well ahead of my goal (trying to finish at least one book a week and with only 10 weeks having passed this year, I am 3 weeks ahead!) I mean, I have never considered myself the fastest reader, especially if I am reading something I don't necessarily love, but I am a "good" reader. I think I read faster than most people and can generally understand and retain everything I read and I don't stumble while reading.

So, when did my ego get a little bruised? Thank you for asking! It was right about the point when I was updating the competitor's list and found out that some people have completed 10 BOOKS this week!! If I could read that much, that fast, it might actually justify the amount of books I buy on near weekly basis! Way to show off you flippin amazing people!!! I'm proud!

This has now led to me wanting to ask a few questions! Good questions. (Please note that I am not doubting anyone's awesomeness. Just curious how you get to be so awesome!!!)

1. How do you read so fast? Or do you spend a lot of your time reading? I, myself, only get in about an hour a day. Sometimes a bit more on the weekends.
2. Is reading a part of your profession, or just a fabulous hobby? For me, for now, it is just a fabulous hobby. One day I want it to be a very large part of my profession.
3. This is semi related to the last questions...Do you get paid to read books? Not necessary cash, but perhaps you get the books for free and then you review the book or write about it. I'd love to get into that!
4. Do you find that you remember a lot of what you read or do you often reread books? Some books I finish in a day, but I still tend to remember most of what I read. A year later, I might not, but then is a good time to reread!
5. Anyone else have any questions? Maybe even a super reader has a question!

Let me know! Hop on board and answer some of these or ansk other question! I love to hear from everyone!

PLEASE NOTE: Anyone can still join the Bookmark Break Challenge for 2012. Just visit this link...
http://whosyoureditor.blogspot.com/p/bookmark-break-challenge-2012.html

Discussion Topic: What Compels you to Read a Book for the First Time?

I know this topic has been discussed before, but perhaps not all by itself or to this length.

What I am wondering is what compels you to read a book for the first time?

Or, another way of saying this might be...

What are the steps you go through to determine what to read?

I think many people start with a recommendation from someone, especially a friend or a family member, but what happens if you are out of recommendations, you've just finished that spare books on your shelf, and the last thing you read was one of the best books you have picked up all year! Where do you possibly go from there!?

Now, I'm one of those kinds of people that stockpiles! Very rarely are there no other books on my shelves that I have yet to read. Currently, I believe there are over 100 books on my shelf left to read, just waiting for me to choose one of them next! Nevertheless, when I am looking for the next best thing in stores, the first thing I do is...

1. Look at the book cover. Now, I know they say never to judge a book by it's cover, but it certainly is the best way for a book to make a first impression.
2. If the cover in enticing enough, I read the title. Titles that tend to grab me are usually peculiar, something I have never heard before. For example "The Near Witch," "The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane," and "The Knife of Never Letting Go," all very insteresting titles.
3. Then, if I am still hooked (which I almost always make it to step 3) is I read the backcover of the book. This is really the do or die point! Does the story appeal to me, does it sound original, like a fun quick read, or the same old, same old, ripoff of something else, or just completely opposite of what I feel like reading. I tend to lean towards characters similar to my age with a touch of romance. I enjoy fantasy and sci-fi more, with some historical fiction and tend to shy away from realistic fiction.
4. Next, I check the price! With so many books waiting to be read already, it's hard to spend more than $7 on a book that you're not positive about. However, you wouldn't believe how many books I can find for $5 or less. I've got all my little places.
5. Finally, I turn to a random page, kind of towards the beginning and read a page or two, just to get a good feel for the writing.
6. I make the final decisions. To read or not to read. To buy or not to buy!

What is your process when you are faced with a book store like the one above!!!??? That's a lot of books to choose from!!!

Discussion Topic: What to do FIRST? Read the book or watch the movie?

What should you do first? Read the book or watch the movie/show?

This topic has come up in discussions before, but we never just talked about how you choose and what seems to be the best way to go about doing things.

In the past, I have found that most people say to read the book first. However, I feel that reading the book first sets too high of an expectation for the movie. You read the book, fall in love with every word of it, and you expect the directors and writers to fit it all into a 2 hour period. Yet, this never works. Lines must be cut, scenes must be rearranged, and all in all, many of us end up hating the movie for it!

Seeing the movie/show first can allow you to enjoy it for what it is, without the heavy expectations. You take the new twists and turns for what they are, just some wonderful entertainment.

But the discussion goes both ways. When in came to Harry Potter, I'm very happy that I read the books first. I think it helped me understand the movies better, know more of what was really going on, especially in a world that is so new. The same goes for Lord of the Rings. That movie would have been terribly confusing (not really the plot, but all the names) without having read the book first.

On another note, sometimes I have watch a series/movie, loving the characters, the ongoing plots, etc. Then, turned to read the books for the full inside info, and absolutely condemned the book for not being as good. Case and point would be my two reviews of The Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars. I LOVE the shows, but really can't stand the books at all.

It's hard to decide which is the better route.

Perhaps if I make a list, this will help...

Read the Book First and was Happy with the Show/Movie:

• Harry Potter
• Lord of the Rings
• Pride and Prejudice
• Frankenstein
• Confessions of a Shopaholic
• To Kill a Mockingbird
• Much Ado About Nothing

Read the Book First and was Unhappy with the Show/Movie:

• Twilight
• Romeo and Juliet
• Beastly (was a little better the 2nd time around)
• Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Saw the Show/Movie First and was Happy with the Book:

• The Last Song
• Matilda
• James and the Giant Peach
• A Midsummer Night's Dream

Saw the Show/Movie First and was Unhappy with the Book:

• The Vampire Diaries
• Pretty Little Liars
• Great Expectations

Seems to be just about even to me.

However, I think your best bet is to read the book first, but WELL BEFORE the movie/show comes out. Give yourself enough time to forget some of the book, so it can be a pleasant surprise when certain parts show up in the movie to remind you.

What do you all think?
Do you have a list of your own that you could make out?

Discussion Topic: The Real Reason Children Don't Play Outside Anymore!

It's been ages since we had a discussion topic!!!

There wasn't really a reason for stopping except for the fact that I hadn't heard of or thought of anything good lately, but judging by my top posts on my right hand side bar, the discussion topics are the HUGE hit, even after being stagnant of months! So, here we go, back to the good old days!

Discussion: The Real Reason Children Don't Play Outside Anymore!

There is an obvious trend going on in America where children seem to no longer play outside. Now, one of the obvious explanations is that the new generations are more and more technology driven. And with technology replacing simple entertainments and almost all social practices, who can really blame the children?

Nevertheless, my father has a different idea. His reasons for why children no play outside come down to three very specific kinds of creatures:

1. Zombies
2. Bigfoot
3. River Monsters

Yes, that's what I said!

Dad and I spent a rather leisurely day in the living room watching a marathon of The Walking Dead (excellent television for a Sunday afternoon!) when suddenly he popped up from his chair and said, "This is the reason children don't want to go outside! After watching shows like this, who would!? They're all afraid they're going to get eaten by zombies, Bigfoot, or river monsters every time they walk outside their back door!"

I laughed, but once the fit of giggles was over with, I calmly replied, "You may be on to something!"

With all these new tv shows about finding Bigfoot or Sasquatch, paranormal ghosts, zombies, river monsters, creatures of the deep, unsolved animal attacks, werewolves, vampires (even the cute ones), who knows what has gotten into our heads! We've got kids not wanting to sleep in their beds or with the closets open, teenagers biting each other or exchanging blood, the crazies coming out for the end of the world, and even a show called 1,000 Ways to Die. Can we get a little more morbid up in here?

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE me some romantic paranormal whatever! BUT, could this kind of entertainment be affecting us in one way or another?

What are you thoughts?
Why don't children play outside anymore?
Why the turn towards this monstrous (I mean this in the best way), paranormal, and dark (I also mean this in the best way) entertainment? It's not really anything new, but it is more prominent now than in the last decade.
Do you think it affects certain people? Children?

The BEST 3 Minutes in the Theaters in 2011!

My cousin was selling those magazine subscriptions to raise money for his class and I felt like supporting him so I signed up for one the only magazines that I really dive into and read almost everything. Entertainment Weekly!!! For some of you who may feel the same about the magazine as I do, you might have noticed that they named off their top 10 lists of EVERYTHING--Books, Movies, TV, Music, etc. And, on a random page, they noted that the new Hunger Games trailor was the best 3 minutes in theaters! I laughed because, partly, it was so clever, and the other part, because it was so true! (Note: My mom had just seen the trailor for the first time (having not read the books) when we went to go see Sherlock Holmes 2 and she thought it was clever too!)

I'm wildly excited for the movies. I read ALL THREE books in a matter of 4 DAYS! LOVED THEM! Really, a very VERY clever plot. I was nto surprised when I heard they were being turned into movies. I had no idea who they were going to choose to play all the characters, but I am pleased with who they came up with. They're going to blog Twilight out of the water!!!

So, have you seen the trailor?
Was it the best 3 minutes in the theaters for 2011?
If not, what was?
Have you read the books?
Looking forward to the movie?
Other thoughts?

Discussion Topic: How old (or young) should you be to read yound adult fiction?

This was a guest post I did for Shah @ Wordsinsync while she was a on trip to the UK. I hope you had fun, Shah!

This was the topic of discussion around the proverbial table a few weeks ago on a WEbook.com forum I was participating in and the discussion got pretty lively and interesting. So, I thought I would bring it here to Shah's lovely blog.

So, how old (or young) should you be to read young adult novels. According to publishing companies, they aim for 14 to 21 year-olds. However, my cousin started reading young adult at 12 and a friend of my mother's has a 10 year old that brings home novels from this section of the school library because she wants to read more advanced books (plus, she thinks it is cool to read a big book.) But are they too young? Many young adult novels deal with such horrors as death, rape, the end of the world, adultery, murder, genocide, etc. Are 10 and 12 year-olds able to face that? Should they be protected from it? Should parents be reading it with them? (If any of you know me, you probably know that I advocate for family reading and that parents should be reading almost everything their children are reading so that they may explain difficult concepts!) Then again, some young adult focus on story lines such as friendship, loyalty to the ones you love, the outsider, difficulties at school, divorce, love as the most powerful force on Earth, strength, and courage. These are things young people can relate to and themes they can look up to. So, do we draw the line?

Now, on a lighter note, how young should you be to read young adult novels. I am 23 and I LOVE young adult. I race to the young adult shelves when stepping into a bookstore and rarely do I venture out unless looking for something specific. In the WEbook discussion, there were also several middle aged people and even a 65 and 73 year old that still confess to reading young adult. Should they (and myself) move on?

Now, it's your turn! Note some of the questions above. How would you answer them?
What do you read? Are you already reading young adult? Are you still reading young adult?

Discussion Topic: Why do people read fiction?

In honor of the current poll, “What is (are) your primary reason(s) for reading?” I present a new discussion topic. So, read it over, let me know what you think, and then go and vote on the poll at the bottom of this page if you haven’t done so already (You only have TWO days left!!!)

Why do people read fiction? Interesting question, huh? I never really thought to ask it until I came upon a forum online where someone asked this…

“I don't understand human behavior. Why do people read and watch fiction books and dramas? It seems like a waste of time.”

Am I wasting my time?

As you can imagine, there was an out roar of replies, justifying reasons why we crazy humans “waste” our time with such insanity!!! Here’s what they had to say…

1.     The capacity to imagine alternative, unrealized future possibilities --- which is essentially the capacity for abstraction and language -- is a key adaptation of the human species. Storytelling is as old as human society, and as essential to human evolution as walking upright.

2.     Why do people create any form of art? (Painting, poetry, sculpture, music, photography, etc) It's been happening since the dawn of man. It's a way to express oneself creatively. And other people like exploring the product of that creativity, as a way to experience someone else's point of view.

3.     Because they enjoy it? This seems very chatfiltery. (NOTE: Chatfiltery is purposefully posting something inflammatory for the sole purpose of getting a reaction.)

4.     I once thought this way, too. Then I read some good sci-fi books. Contrary to your belief, it is possible (and quite enjoyable) to learn about the nuances of the human condition through fiction. Especially in that it provides perspectives that differ from your own.

5.     What's wrong with people wanting to use their free time as they see fit, even if it's "wasting their time?" This discussion reminds me of my favorite quote from Dead Poets’ Society:  "We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for."

6.     To travel paths that were unknown to me. To unlock new ides to me. To be told a story. To entertain myself. etc. etc. I'm curious why you feel reading fiction is a waste of time. Is watching a movie a waste of time? Playing an rpg? Or, do you feel everything a person does must be convertible to some sort of tangible profit? It's an odd premise, to my mind.

7.     Just to play Devil's Advocate for a moment, aren't there enough incredible real-world stories out there, so as to make fiction kind of pointless? People are talking about understanding human behavior and motivation, but can't you also do that by, say, reading a historical biography? Or getting to know a friend better? I've got nothing against fiction, just curious as to how some of you would respond to that.

8.     The "incredible real world stories out there" still get packaged into fictionalized accounts, to varying degrees, before being distributed for the public's consumption. Every story is a filtered account, whether or not it bears the "based on true events" sticker. I read fiction because I like it, and I value it as much as non-fiction because they are basically the same thing: people telling stories that contain some truth.

9.     People do many, many things that may be considered by others to be a "waste of time". It really depends on what you consider "good use of time". Is "good use of time" defined as something that increases your production efficiency? I am not a robot on an automobile assembly line in Detroit, and as such, I do many things solely because doing so gives me pleasure. Reading and watching fictional creations gives me pleasure.

10.  Why do some people cook fantastic meals, when the consumption of a prescribed food diet can easily provide the human body with all the nutrients it requires for proper operation? Why do some people have sex without the intent to procreate? Why do some people play sports, when a scientifically-crafted workout regimen would deliver better results in a more efficient manner? Why do some people converse when there is no crucial information that requires transfer? Because they like to.

And that was just the beginning. As you can see, many people reacted differently.

How would you react?

What would you say to this person?

Do you agree with any of the people above?

Would you add anything to their comments?

Original question and replies were found here… http://ask.metafilter.com/152798/Why-do-people-read-fiction. All names have been left out.

Discussion Topic: What is Literature?

Well, I bring this topic up because of something that recently happened in my World Literature class. At first, I found it very funny. Then, I realized that maybe I was being a bit of a stuck up biotch for finding it funny. Now, I’m just curious.

First, here’s the story. My professor, as a way of introducing everyone in the class to each other, handed us each a sheet of questions, paired us off, and then asked us to interview each other. We asked for each other’s names, what our intended major was, what literature classes we had taken before, and, at the very end, what literature we had read recently—all very generic and easy questions to answer…or so I thought.

As we took turns introducing our partners to the class, I found that we were a pretty diverse group: freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, English majors, nursing majors, art majors, ??? majors, 1^st-8^th literature class, etc. It made things interesting. But, what made it funny was the recent pieces of literature people had read: The Great Gatsby, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Midnight’s Children, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, Twilight, True Blood…Noticing a rather comical trend or am I just being a completely awful person for rolling my eyes at this point?

Don’t get me wrong, I am NO literature nazi. In fact, literature is quite near the bottom of my list (with the exception of classic Victorian literature and some children’s Literature). Still, sometimes I prefer a good old Science Fiction, monster say “Arrrgh!”, high action kind of young adult novel. However, I do know the difference! Even my professor couldn’t help but mention, “One of these days we will discuss what literature is.” After that, I was done. I would have been rolling on the floor if it wouldn’t have been so disruptive and if it wouldn’t have given my fellow classmates a legitimate reason to think I was insane.

Now, there are several different definitions that explain what literature “is”, but I think it’s nice to put it in your own words. For me, literature is a piece of writing (prose or verse) that has some extra layer to it. It’s not just a story. It’s has timeless references and social repercussions. It can be analyzed and broken down for further meaning. It’s an allegory for something more ambiguous than the piece itself. It’s…stuffy. Yeah, that works. :)

So, is my story funny to you yet? Or am I too harsh on my fellow (strange) classmates?

What is your definition of literature?

Read any great literature lately? Or have you read any great “literature” lately?

Discussion Topic: Let's Start a Revolution! New Followers! Better Followers!

There's been a lot of talk going around about this and now I think it's time to do something about it!

Let me just say that I adore new followers (I think most bloggers do and we all secretly compete to have more followers than any of our friends…Don’t lie!) I also love followers who comment. However, there is one thing that I personally love more: followers that comment and express their thoughts in relation to the blog that I wrote that day!!!



Are you the best kind of follower? Are you tired of the "following you, follow me back" comment? Then, here's a special gift just for you. The "follow me if you dare" button designed by Your's Truely! Post it on your blog, declaring your independence from the not-so-good followers. (I know! I have been a button fool!)
Code:

<a href="http://whosyoureditor.blogspot.com/2011/01/discussion-topic-lets-start-revolution.html"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5208/5328572429_86d18d5b32_m.jpg"width="200" height="200"></a>



 
Why spend the time, writing out your precious words, only to have them ignored? Why discuss the things you love, only to have no one reply? Why try to inspire people, when no one cares to listen? These questions just don’t make sense, because there is no reason “why?” Blogging is about sharing your words, passions, and inspirations, and having people discuss them with you. If this wasn’t true, and the above questions were legitimate, no one would blog (or at least they wouldn’t be blogging for very long).

Ergo…

Why follow someone if you’re not going to read what they are writing? Why comment if you’re not going to tell people something about you, discuss a topic, or add your ideas? Why become a follower that just says you are following (way to state the obvious), and then expect someone to put in more effort than you did? Once again, these questions don’t make sense. So, why do some people still comment “following you, follow back” without any other considerations? The comment is empty, emotionless, thoughtless.

At first, the comments didn’t bother me. At least people WERE commenting, correct? However, then I met some truly wonderful people that showed me what it meant to be a good follower. They returned on a regular basis, at least once a week. (Sometimes, almost every day. :)) They left comments of support, comments of interest, comments of love, and all the time, allowing me to learn more and more about them.

The more I was exposed to the “best kind” of follower, the more I was annoyed and frustrated by the “not-so-good kind” of follower.

So, if you are reading this Miss/Mister Not-So-Good-Follower, please rethink how you are presenting yourself. For all I know, you are a person full of thoughts, opinions, and love. Start proving it! (PS. I will remain patient, calm, and kind while you figure it out, but that doesn’t mean I’m not seething inside.)

Now, in honor of Miss/Mister Best Kind of Follower, here is a list of people who comment and mean it! In alphabetical order:

Dawn

Donna

Eschelle

Facing50Blog.com

JJ

JRFrugalMom

Katie

Kimberly

Lindsay

Matt

Patrick

Poekitten

Pr0udmom0f3

Rose Work’s Jewelry

Sarah the Writer

Selena

Shah

Sofia’s Ideas

Suertemom

Susette

Teri

TheCreativeMuslimah

Vic

And I know there are so many more! These are all very special people who make blogging so enjoyable. Thank you! And, if you are ever graced by their presence, thank your lucky stars that they have guided them to you!

Discussion Topic: Some Books Are Like Gateway Drugs to Reading

To every generation there is one book that saves the illiterate youths from a life that is void of adventure, imagination, creativity, escape, and knowledge. This book gets them addicted to the drug that is reading, motivating them to search the world for their next venture.

For my generation, it started with Harry Potter. A book that not only sold millions of copies and made billions of dollars, but was also translated into hundreds of languages and even improve literacy rates in teens!!! (And 8 beautiful movies! Who just saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1? I did!)

A few years later, my generation and the next were hit with a little thing called The Twilight Saga. If you haven’t heard of it, you’re not living on this planet. Twilight went from the mind of a housewife, was shot down by 14 agents, was finally picked up by Little Brown, and went on to follow closely in the tracks of Harry Potter with a crazed fandom and a movie contract.

What’s next? Before I knew it, people who had never read a day in their lives were reading more than I do. (And that’s saying SOMETHING!) In a world where teens were once the least likely to pick up a book, things have started to happen. The young adult section at Borders has quadrupled, my cousins and friends are asking for books for Christmas, and they’re reading for pleasure. That’s all it took; one book that just happened to grab them by the imagination and the heartstrings and sent them on the biggest trip of their lives.

(NOTE: I KNOW there are people out there who are going to call one or both of these books crap, but I am asking you now to understand what these books have done for the kids that I know. Imagine a 14 and 17 year-old girl who have never finished a book in their lives, never found pleasure in the escape and adventure a book could give them. Now, flash forward, and see that they are reading almost every day and loving it. It wasn’t because aliens invaded their minds or someone slapped them in the face. It was because of Harry Potter and Twilight; two books that allowed them to simply enjoy reading for once. No preaching, no confusing subtexts, just pure indulgent fantasy. They were gateways to reading. Now, that they enjoy reading, they feel confident in challenging themselves (while still enjoying a guilty pleasure on the side.))

These gateway books are the kinds of books that you need to warn everyone that you are going to read. Tell your mother and your boss. (Heck! Take off a few days of work just so you can read all day!) Tell your friends because they won’t be seeing you around for a while and they’ll need some sort of an explanation as to why you’ve dropped off of the face of the planet and secluded yourself from all of society. Do this or else they’ll just assume that you have died and stop sending you things like birthday cards and Christmas presents (but your landlord won’t stop sending you bills).

Gateways books are also the kinds of books you push on your friends so they can get addicted too. It’s like peer pressure, but the kind that is good for you. Plus, who will you talk to about the book if your friends haven’t also read it? Soon, the book will spread like wildfire. (Someone might even make a movie based off of it! If someone doesn’t then you’ll have to protest or make it yourself.)

Finally, always look for more. When you have finished your gateway book, scour the bookstores for your next hit.

So, what was your gateway book (which book first got you addicted to reading)? Mine was Harry Potter.

Discussion Topic: My Problem with Borrowed Books

"Great collections of books are subject to certain accidents besides the damp, the worms, and the rats; one not less common is that of the borrowers, not to say a word of the purloiners." Issac D'Israeli

Okay, I have this problem (or perhaps it can better be described as a disease) and I am wondering if anyone has experienced this same thing…

I cannot read a book unless I own it!

I don’t know how many times a friend has shoved a book in my hands and said I have to read it, or a teacher has handed out the next book we are to read for class, or I just got a new library card capable of making thousands of books readily available and at my fingertips and I just haven’t been able to get past the first page! I’m broken or something. Some wires have been crossed in my brain that don’t allow borrowed books to compute.

Please, tell me I am not the only one!!!

I feel bad because a few months ago a friend let me borrow a whole series of books I wanted to read and instead of reading them I held them on my shelf for a little over three weeks and then returned the books, untouched, while I raved about how fabulous they were. It’s terrible! Then, sad enough, I went out and paid a pretty penny for the exact books she lent me weeks ago and read them and enjoyed them with no problem.

Also, The first thing I asked my grandma when she gave me "Poison Study" by Maria V. Snyder (which I loved and often compare to my own version of crack cocaine) was "Can I keep it?" because I knew that if it wasn't mine, I wouldn't be able to read it!

That's not to say that the books can't be used. I have scowered used books stores for enticing reads and nearly bought out the Petoskey Used Book store of Terry Goodkind's "Sword of Truth" series. I just have to be able to buy and own them or be given them for keepsies.

Again, I beg, am I the only one???

Discussion Topic: The Difference Between Science Fiction and Fantasy

In honor of the current ongoing poll “What genres of fiction do you prefer to read?” I thought it would be good to write an article that relates and also warns you that there are only a few more days left to vote. (So go and vote on the poll that is located at the very very bottom of this page! After you finish reading this article, that is.)

The question “What is the difference between science fiction and fantasy?” has come up more often than you would think and I was surprised by how vexed people were when trying to draw the boundaries around the two or place certain books in one category or the other.

Personally, I have always believed that science fiction has an explanation where fantasy doesn’t require any clarification; it just is what it is.

Ergo: This is science fiction: The sun has turned blue because a comet, made purely of cobalt, smashed into it and melted, mixing its naturally potent and sapphire colored minerals in with the sun’s fiery surface.

And this is fantasy: In my world, we have three suns. One is orange, another is red, and the final is blue. Each day a different sun shines over this beautiful country, smothering it in kaleidoscope colors, painting the land unnaturally.

See the difference? This has always worked well for me, but others see it differently. Here’s what they have to say for themselves…

“For myself, I claim that if sci-fi is the literature of change, then fantasy is the literature of longing: instead of writing about the world as it might someday become, it writes about the world as we wish it could be or have been.”

~http://www.treitel.org/Richard/sf/fantasy.html

“Michael Swanwick, after writing the Iron Dragon’s Daughter said that the difference he found between sci-fi and fantasy was that fantasy was a normative kind of fiction and sci-fi was a transformational kind of fiction. Which means that fantasy often ends with the re-establishment of order, with evil conquered and good on the throne. Sci-fi often ends with the establishment of a new order, a new way of doing things, with the evolution to a higher order. Like any definition of fantasy and science fiction, I can find a huge number of exceptions to this rule. My own fiction is more about establishing a separate peace (where is the place of the individual in a universe that doesn't care) but I find the definition really very interesting.”

~Maureen McHugh

(This next one sure is vague! But it’s basically saying what I was saying.)

Science fiction:

The unknown is to be understood and thereby changed

Fantasy:

The unknown is to be loved for its strangeness

~Nancy Lebovitz

"Science fiction consists of improbable possibilities, fantasy of plausible impossibilities."

~Miriam Allen deFord

(I actually really like this next one.)

Fantasy is: fiction based on the conflict between archetypes and set in the archetypal landscape of our culture.

Science fiction is: fiction based around trying to imagine a world where some technological or social change has occurred that makes it different from our own world.

~http://www.teleologic.com/crghome/sf_vs_fan.html

(This next person got wordy!)

Fantasy is about a small, simple, magical world. This is the world of the child, but also the world of the past. Looking back things become simple and romanticized. The concept of the Golden Age is as old as we are.

Fantasy worlds operate as cartoonish backdrops for personal dramas and interpersonal narratives. There is often little explanation of how things work or any real consciousness of the larger objective reality. There is a narrowness of perspective that often dictates a flatness and reliance on cliché that relegates fantasy narratives to the ghetto of genre fiction. Fantasy narratives like The Lord of the Rings occasionally break out and do something impressive, but only by taking on greater reality and connection to the real world. Much of LoTR is inspired directly by Anglo-Saxon and Germanic history and much of its resonance is due to its connection to this world, also referred to as “Middle Earth” in Norse myth.

Science-fiction is about the future from the perspective of the present. It is not really about the future itself. This is why science-fiction often ages badly. Science-fiction seeks to enlarge the compass of the known. It is speculative. And, in speculating it is often laughably wrong. But, it also points the way and suggests possibilities for how the present could develop along its current course. Science-fiction is prophetic where fantasy is sentimental. Science-fiction, since it encourages a more broad perspective, is more creative and interesting. Fantasy is referential and narrow and as soon as it becomes unmoored from cliché it ceases to be fantasy and becomes science-fiction or speculative fiction.

~http://www.letterneversent.com/fantasy-vs-science-fiction/2579/

(This final one makes sense!)

The very general rule of thumb is that science fiction is based in a rational world where anyone, should they be so inclined, can seek to understand the Mysteries and be successful. Fantasy, on the other hand, does not seek to explain the world. It is about reconciling the order of things. There is good and there is evil, and magic exists as a power outside the realm of explanation. One doesn’t need to know why magic works to control it, but science fiction seeks to explain, predict, and control empirical phenomena in a rational manner. In fantasy, only King Arthur can draw the sword from the stone. In science fiction, anyone can learn the secrets to pulling that sword free.

~http://suvudu.com/2010/04/science-fiction-versus-fantasy.html

So, you’ve heard several sides from the age-old argument. Now, what do you think? Is there really a difference? What are those differences? Which one to you prefer to read or write? Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera…