Why I Reread Books.

I am an avid rereader. I love to re-read books that I own and I get a lot of strange comments from friends and family. Some seem to find it odd that I like reread books. They get confused and say that there are so many books out there to read how can you back track?Here are some of the reasons I give them as to why I choose look at a book again.

It reminds you of good ideas.

• According to lifeoptimizer.org, there is research that suggests that people forget what they read within 24 hours.

By rereading a book you get to rediscover ideas and refresh them in your mind. It helps you to notice new ideas and themes you may not have noticed in your first read.You gain a new perspective.

As you change and grow so does the way you may perceive a book.

• Revisiting past ideas with a new perspective is a good learning experience.

Some books just make you happy to read.

• Even though I know what happens in the Harry Potter books I still enjoy reading them. They remind me of the way I felt the first time I read them and I love that feeling. It is a very comforting feeling.

It is economically friendly.

• If I am tight on money I will re-read books that I own.

Rereading a book is similar to rewatching a movie.

• It is engaging, entertaining, and a fun way to pass the time.

You are already grounded in the characters. You can spend more time with the details of the story.

These are a few reasons why I reread. Why do you?

What are some of your favorite books to reread?

REVIEW: The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Title: The Thirteenth Tale

Author: Diane Setterfield

Official Summary:

“Reclusive author Vida Winter, famous for her collection of twelve enchanting stories, has spent the past six decades penning a series of alternate lives for herself. Now old and ailing, she is ready to reveal the truth about her extraordinary existence and the violent and tragic past she has kept secret for so long. Calling on Margaret Lea, a young biographer troubled by her own painful history, Vida disinters the life she meant to bury for good. Margaret is mesmerized by the author’s tale of gothic strangeness — featuring the beautiful and willful Isabelle, the feral twins Adeline and Emmeline, a ghost, a governess, a topiary garden and a devastating fire. Together, Margaret and Vida confront the ghosts that have haunted them while becoming, finally, transformed by the truth themselves.”

My Thoughts: I have had this book on my shelf for about a year until I picked it up to read a couple of weeks ago. Up until then I was binging on YA novels. I had just finished Allegiant and I needed a palette cleanser. Not that Allegiant was bad, in fact I loved it, but I needed to get away from the common themes that crop up in YA literature.

This book is not a sci-fi thriller. It is not a dystopian novel. It is a story of siblings, twindom, loss, and love. The Thirteenth Tale is a mystery and a ghost story. I really enjoyed reading this book and the insight it had on what life is like for siblings and twins. I am an only child; therefore, I had little idea of what kind of love is developed between siblings.

I never quite understood the attachment people have with their siblings or twin. I have read empirical evidence about the connection made but I have never read or heard about the spiritual side of siblings. That is until I read this book. I absolutely loved this book. I plan on recommending this book to all of my friends to read. I recommend it to you my readers as well.

Have you read any good books lately? What are they?

Out Of Room.

I seem to have ran out of room on my bookshelves!!

Reading Is My Relaxation.

Today has been a crazy, hectic day. At work we did our Christmas photo for our facility’s Christmas card. That is a crazy adventure. We try to fit all of our 107 residents and large staff into one picture. It takes us at least an hour to set everyone up for very few photos. That was only the first hour and a half of work. I then spent the rest of my work day answering phones, call lights, talking to the residents, cleaning, etc.

Then, after I got off work, I took my friend Eugene (he’s 86) shopping because he needed new tennis shoes. His wife just died so I have been trying to get him out of the facility when I can. We walked around Academy and looked at shoes and other things. We then went to eat dinner at Freddy’s (which is a delicious steak burger place, I am a known addict). While there we talked about his wife, his family, and his feelings. This can be exhausting but I never mind helping him in any way I can. 

I literally just got home. I have been out of the house for the last 14 hours. I need to relax. So what do I do when I need to relax after a hectic day? I read. I may grab Harry Potter because those are easy books for me to read and relax with or I might pick up a new book. I am currently reading a novel call The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Sutterfield. I am actually really enjoying this book and I am almost done with it. I will put my review up when I am finished with it. 

I know this post is a little scattered but I believe that is because at the moment my mind is scattered. I read to put my mind back together. I read to relax.

Warming Up.

It is finally getting cold here in the Ozarks. We don’t have cold days we have chilly days right now. But out mornings and nights are cold. It is the kind of cold where your toes and nose stay cold despite the fact that you are inside your warm home.

On nights like this I tend to wear my leggings and a large t-shirt:

I make a warm cup of tea:

I put a movie on:

Then I curl up on my couch in my biggest, softest, warmest blanket:

(This is seriously the best blanket ever! I know it is the best blanket because if I try to sleep with it I won’t get up in the morning because I am TOO cozy.)

I may even light a candle.

This is what I do to warm up when I am cold on those frigid Ozark nights.

What do you do in your neck of the woods?

Favorite Things.

I have recently purchased new things and they have become some of my favorite things.

 

My old roommate and I discovered the BEST lip color ever. The brand is NYX and it is the Matte Lip Creme. I absolutely love it. It is smooth and not chalky like other lipsticks and it is not shiny and sticky like lipgloss. Another great thing about this lip color is that you can find it at Target.

I bought this super comfy sweater yesterday at T.J. Maxx. Talk about a steal. It is really warm and it goes well with leggings, skinny jeans, or shorts with tights. I love it. I think everyone should invest in a boyfriend sweater.

 

I got these new moccasins yesterday too. I got them from Charming Charlie’s. I was finally able to throw away my old tattered pair (I had them for about 7 years) and replace them with these. I love moccasins.

 

NaBloPoMo: Day 4

Who is your favorite character of all time?

This is an extremely difficult decision for me to make. I first started thinking about this question in the context of book character but then I realized that the question also included television and movie questions. There are just so many characters that I love Hermione Granger, Anne Shirley, Ron Swanson, Leslie Knope, Shawn Spence, and so many more! How does one choose their all time favorite character?

Do I choose based on if I could spend the rest of my life with them? Do I do the deserted island test? Or do I base it off of complexity? There are many ways for me to go about choosing my favorite character but I went with whom I learned the most about life from. For that reason I choose Winnie the Pooh. Here are some of the life lessons I learned from Winnie:

1)    Cherish your friends

“If you live to be 100, I hope I live to be 100 minus one day, so I never have to live without you.”

2)    Live in the moment.

“‘What is today?’

‘It’s today,” squeaked Piglet.

‘My favorite day,’ said Pooh.”

3)    If you want something, go and get it.

“You can’t always sit in your corner of the forest and wait for people…you have to go to them sometimes.”

4)    Using long words is overrated.

“It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use long difficult words but rather short, easy words like, ‘What about lunch?’”

5)    We don’t have to be in a hurry.

“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there someday.”

6)    You can’t explain love.

“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”

Pooh may be story intended for children but we can all learn from him and his friends. These are just a few things that I have learned from the beloved Winnie the Pooh.

Something New, Exciting, and Scary.

I have worked at the nursing home for five years this month. I have seen the same people almost everyday for last five years. This is in no way a bad thing. I have made life-long friends and extended my family. For that I am very thankful for my job; however, these last few months I have felt my life become mundane and kind of boring. And dang-it! I am 22! I should be out meeting new people and trying new things.

Now is the time for me to be adventurous. I deserve and can handle something new, exciting, and scary. That is why I got another part-time job at a coffee shop. It is something different. I will be able to try and learn new things. I will meet new people. I am scared out of my mind and extremely nervous but I am also excited and ready for this new adventure in my life!

Just Writing.

Today Is A Wonderful Day.

Today is the first day of my three-day weekend. Woo-hoo!! I spent the night at my parents’ house last night because we had family night. We made pizza and watched The Internship. I really enjoyed this movie a lot. I believe my parents enjoyed it too. Last night was wonderful but today was pretty good too.

I found out yesterday that I got a part-time job at Starbucks. So, I spent most of my day looking for khaki and/or black pants to wear at work. This was harder than you may think. I am a small woman, I am only 4’11’’, and so I have a hard time finding pants that fit me in the waist and in length. It sucks. But I had no problem finding them today. It was so wonderful.

I also got to have dinner with my good friend Laura and my best friend is coming over to hang out tonight. I hardly ever get to see her because she is still going to school in Kansas. She is supper bust because it is her last year and she does not have time to come home all the time. My cousin also stopped by. I have a three-day weekend, I found pants that fit, I ate with a good friend at a delicious restaurant, I get to see m best friend, and today is a wonderful day!