Book Blogger Confessions: Quitting?

Book Blogger Confessions is a meme that allows book bloggers to discuss issues unique to what we encounter in the blogging world. Every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month we will post a question and invite you to answer, comment and discuss opinions and different views.

Please keep the dialogue courteous. No bashing!

If you would like to participate in this meme sign up and please feel free to to grab the button to include in your post with a link to For What It's Worth Reviews or at Midnyte Reader.

Question: We've discussed blogging slumps before but have you ever seriously considered throwing in the towel and quitting blogging?  If so, what changed your mind?  Did you discuss it with other bloggers?

Answer: No, I've never honestly considered quitting book blogging.  I haven't been in a reading slump in years (mostly due to all the awesome books I've discovered in the 3 years I've been blogging), but I do find myself in reviewing slumps.  There have been times over the course of my blog that I haven't posted much, but I would say for the last year or so I've been more active.  Going to BEA last year really solidified that this is something I want to do, that this is an online community that I want to be part of. 

I've learned to not be too hard on myself.  Do I wish that I had a big following and boxes of books arriving at my door?  Partly.  But not enough to invest the time and money that it would take to do giveaways and contests and daily posts.  

One reason that I participate in an ARC tour is that it has forced me to review on a schedule, plus it brings books my way that otherwise I'd have to wait to read (and because I don't have endless supplies of money I'd have to go to the library and I'm pretty sure that the Library Police have a wanted poster of me prominently displayed, as I suck at returning books on time). Writing reviews is still a struggle, but I have a review template now and it's making it easier.  I gave up trying to sum up the books and mostly just focused on characters and observations.  I take notes of books I read, and all in all, I find I'm remembering books a lot better. 

I never thought when I started this blog that it would stick.  I've started lots of blogs and never did a thing with them- my blog Movie Hussy, started the same time as Midnight Book Girl, still only has the one post.  I always say that I'd consider quitting if my blog starts feeling like work, but that's not entirely true because blogging is work, but it's work I'm happy to do.  And once I was blogging for over a year, I treated myself to a blog design, which made it all the more real.  Midnight Book Girl is no longer just a blog, it's part of my identity.  So unless I start watching massive amounts of tv and decide books are lame, I just can't see myself quitting book blogging.  

What about you? 

Cycle of the Werewolf Readalong

 

I'm a bit behind, but I'm catching up!  My awesome friend, Midnyte Reader, is hosting Cycle of the Werewolf readalong (and seriously if you're trying hard to meet that Goodreads challenge, then this is perfect, fast read... which I know isn't usually associated with  Stephen King books, but trust me on this one!).  These are the halfway questions and my answers!

Questions:

1. If you have the version that is illustrated, what do you think of it?  Do you think it enhances or detracts from the story?

I do have the illustrated version (although mine is the paperback version, not the awesome limited hardcover one).  I love the pictures, and I really think they help bring Tarker's Mill to life. 

2. What do you think of using the calender year and its full moons as the platform for the story?
Again, I think it works really well.  This could have easily been a long, bloated book, but I think the break up of the months is clever for a werewolf story.  Plus, the first several months, the attacks on the townspeople really helps to introduce the reader to Tarker's Mill and the type of people that live there. 

3. "Love is like dying."  This is the last sentence in February when Stella Randolph is faced with the werewolf.  What are your thoughts on these metaphors? (Love, death, werewolves.)
I don't know.  I'm so used to the vampire metaphor, but I've rarely found werewolves attractive.  Usually in the debate between the two, I'll take the vampire 9 out of 10 times.  Unless I can get them both in one person, like Michael in Underworld, the perfect werewolf-vampire hybrid, and played by hottie Scott Speedman.   I do think love gets overly romanticized, and if you've ever read a romance novel you know that dying for love is a big theme.  Maybe werewolves are the more violent and physical kind of longing for love?  

4. King again uses Tarker's Mills as a kind of character.  Thoughts?

King likes his small towns!  I think there's lots of reasons to use a town like a character- partly because a small town is isolated, increasing the fear, but also because most of us can recognize the types of people that live there.  There are plenty of books that I read that could be set anywhere, the towns are so generic- a lot of times I can't even tell where they're set- and I prefer books that have a strong sense of place. 

5. What do you think of King's use of character portrayal? Too much, too little?
Okay, I cannot be unbiased when it comes to Stephen King.  Whatever he wants to write is usually pretty alright with me.  I tend to have blind loyalty when it comes to my favorite things- be they authors, friends or my Starbucks order.

6. What do you think of the Reverand's dream?

This is a hard one to answer, mostly because I've already read the book.  Although, some times a nightmare is just the result of eating too much before bedtime... which also causes weight gain.  So, don't eat before bedtime to avoid fat and werewolf nightmares.  That is all. 

 

Stephen King 'Salem's Lot Readalong

 

One down, two to go!  It's time to read  'Salem's Lot by Stephen King! 
November- Misery and/or Cycle of the Werewolf (discussion for CotW will be on my co-host Midnyte Reader's blog, Misery will be on here)

Here's the schedule for the 'Salem's Lot Read-a-long:

Oct. 17th:  Chapters 1-8 Discussion. 
Twitter Party starts at 8pm EST under the tag #SalemsLot

Oct. 31st: Chapters 9- Epilogue Discussion.
Twitter Party Starts at 9pm EST under the tag #SalemsLot

Also, I'm hosting a Twitter online watching of Carrie the movie (which is currently available on Netflix!) on Oct. 28t starting at 8pm EST so please join in!
  Sign up for 'Salem's Lot Read-a-long below, and feel free to post or tweet about this read-a-long!

Also check out the Stephen King Project and the IT-along!

Carrie Readalong Discussion of Part Two: The Prom

First off, a huge thank you to my amazing co-host Midnyte Reader for coming up with the discussion questions! 

So here they are:

1. There is a part quoted form "My Name is Susan Snell" when she stated that she is not really sorry that Tommy is dead anymore, because the idea of him was too perfect.  I was kind of shocked by this.  What do you think of this?

2. Miss Desjardin talked to Carrie about her own prom.  And for Carrie, the prom was magical up to a point.  Did you have any glamorized feelings about your own prom?  

3. When Sue was at home on prom night she said that she was still uncomfortable about her own motives and was afraid to examine them too closely in case she discovered selfishness.  Can you elaborate on this?  

4. Do you think that Tommy could have fallen for Carrie?

5. Tell me what you think of the significance or symbolism of blood.  (Tommy pricked his finger, Mrs. White cut herself, Sue either got her period late or lost a pregnancy.)

6. If that prank had not been played on Carrie at the prom, what kind of life do you think she would have had?

 

7.  What did you think of Billy and Chris's relationship?

 

Bonus question: Did you catch the mistake Stephen King made with regards to Carrie's dad?  Courtney from Abducted by Books did!  See below for the answer.  

 

My Answers:

 

1. There is a part quoted form "My Name is Susan Snell" when she stated that she is not really sorry that Tommy is dead anymore, because the idea of him was too perfect.  I was kind of shocked by this.  What do you think of this? 

I do get it.  I think maybe Sue felt Tommy was too good to be true, that had he lived he would have eventually let her down- like all humans do because we're, well, humans. Instead he gets to remain untainted by age or actions.  Their love is forever frozen in time.  Plus, it may be that's how Sue moves on with her life, because she has to feel guilt over helping to set things in motion.

2. Miss Desjardin talked to Carrie about her own prom.  And for Carrie, the prom was magical up to a point.  Did you have any glamorized feelings about your own prom?  

I didn't go to prom, it really wasn't my thing. So no magical moments for me, but also no goat's blood dumped on me, so that's a plus.  Although, does anyone wonder why that goat blood didn't congeal before prom night?

3. When Sue was at home on prom night she said that she was still uncomfortable about her own motives and was afraid to examine them too closely in case she discovered selfishness.  Can you elaborate on this?  

I do think there was a certain amount of selfishness involved.  If the she hadn't participated in the shower incident than she would never of thought to help Carrie go to prom.  Although it's very mature of her to seek atonement, I think it's pretty hard to separate the fact that Sue was getting something out of it too.  In a way she uses Carrie to distance herself from Chris and the mindless high school machine.  

4. Do you think that Tommy could have fallen for Carrie?

I think his feelings that night were because it was prom and Carrie was a sweet girl.  I think he really loved Sue.  However, in the long run, I could see Tommy settling down with Carrie or someone like her.  Sue had bigger dreams, whereas Tommy seemed to realize that his future was tied up with the town.  He probably would have been okay having his dad's life.

5. Tell me what you think of the significance or symbolism of blood.  (Tommy pricked his finger, Mrs. White cut herself, Sue either got her period late or lost a pregnancy.)

This may be too deep for me, but I'll try.  The book begins with blood, and ends with blood (Carrie's and then Sue's).  While Carrie's, Tommy's and Mrs. White's blood was a sign of things to come, I think Sue's was the opposite, it was a closing of the events.  As if her miscarriage (if that's what it was) was the last sacrifice that had to be made for Carrie's pain and rage. 

6. If that prank had not been played on Carrie at the prom, what kind of life do you think she would have had? 

I don't know.  If prom hadn't of happened, if Carrie had graduated unharmed, she still would have had to face a life with her mom.  I think after re-discovering her powers after she started her period set a countdown in motion.  Adults might be better than teens, but people are still cruel.  Carrie would have been hurt again, and with her powers and years of being bullied, coupled with her bizarre upbringing, I still think she would have snapped.  Would it have been as bad?  Maybe not... but then, maybe so. 

 

7.  What did you think of Billy and Chris's relationship?

I was really fascinated by how toxic it was.  In the movie version, Billy isn't nearly as evil, whereas Chris is portrayed as being a lot more evil.  Without Billy, I don't know that Chris would have gone through with her plan.  Maybe just talking about it, blowing off that steam would have been enough.  For Billy though, he had so much resentment built up.  If he'd had Carrie's powers he probably would have leveled the town a long time ago.  Chris, for all her tough talk, was really in over her head with Billy.  Although in her own way, Chris was a nasty piece.  She probably would have grown up some, but of course she never got the chance.  If she'd had a little of Sue's self-awareness then there wouldn't have been book. ;)

 

Bonus question: Did you catch the mistake Stephen King made with regards to Carrie's dad?

Okay, not only did I not catch this, but this is the fourth or fifth time I've read Carrie.  Here's the mistake: The book clearly states in Part One that Carrie's dad, Ralph, dies BEFORE Carrie was even born.  But in Part Two, Mrs. White thinks of how she should have killed Carrie when she was a baby (about one?) and that Ralph stopped her.  I kind of love that the mistake is fairly large, but I'm really shocked I didn't catch it before.  I'm not always a super sleuth when I'm reading, but it's a pretty big mistake.  Good catch, Courtney!

Can't wait to see your answers, and don't forget to be on Twitter tonight!  I'll be on there to discuss Carrie from 6pm EST until 7pm, although we'll go to 8 if enough people join in.  Just look for #CarrieProm!

 

Carrie Readalong, Part One: Blood Sports Discussion

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Carrie Read-a-Long Discussion Post: Part One: Blood Sports 

Congratulations, you are now almost half way through Carrie!  According to my Kindle we are about 47% through. Tonight I'll host a Twitter discussion (starting at 9pm EST, under the hashtag #CarrieBS). I thought this would be a good place to pause and discuss what we've read so far.  Stop and see what my co-host Midnyte Reader is thinking so far. Here's some questions to consider:

1. Is this your first Stephen King book?

2. What do you think of the style Carrie is written in?

3.  Do you think the bullying/attack on Carrie that occurs in the late 1970's in the book could happen today? 

4.  What are your thoughts on Carrie's mother?

5.  Young Carrie brings the rain of rocks down on her house at the tender age of three, but then there are no major events for years. Why do you think her powers remained fairly quiet until now?  What role does her mother play in Carrie's use of her power?

6. Do you believe that telekinesis exists?

7. What is your favorite moment so far?

8. What do you think of Sue's plan to have Tommy take Carrie to the prom?

9. Any predictions (um, only if you haven't read this before or seen the movie! ;)

10.  Just how crazy is Mrs. White?!

Please leave the link to your answers in the comment or you can just answer in the comments area, whichever works for you.  Stop by Midnyte Reader for her take on Carrie so far!

Here are my answers:

1. No, this is not my first Stephen King novel, and it's not even my first time (or second) that I'm reading Carrie.  It's not the first book I ever read of King, that'd be Fire-starter, and it actually took me a long while to get to.  I think because I'd seen the movie so many times when I was a kid I just has assumed I'd read Carrie before, but the first time I was about 22.  Ugh, so long ago!

2. I love the style it's written in, but I can tell it's an earlier King novel.  But I like the  jump in between characters, and the excerpts from official books, reports and newspapers.  I think that King could do an even better job now... but then Carrie would be 1100 pages long. ;)  I could do without the word Popular being capitalized though...

3. I think the constant bullying of Carrie definitely could still take place.  I don't know that the shower attack would still happen, I'd like to believe that there would be enough kids aware of how cruel it was, but I think it could take place on a smaller scale.  Bullying has been around as soon as there was more than three kids on the face of the planet.  What happened to Carrie in the showers was extreme, but I think when you add someone like Chris, who is popular and mean, to the mix, some people would follow her lead simply because she's the one doing the bullying. 

4. Mrs. White is straight up CRAZY!!  Seriously, I would love to know more of this woman's past to have shaped her into such a crazy mess.  The book talks about the TK gene, but even if it's passive in Mrs. White, I'd be willing to bet she's got some dominant mental illness genes at work- definitely more than one.  But... I think she truly believes in her own version of God, and that makes her dangerous.  I really think Carrie's powers are the one thing that has prevented her mother from killing her.  If Carrie had just been a normal, powerless kid, then no doubt she wouldn't have the strength to fight off an attack from her religiously skewed mama.

5. I think maybe the rock incident was so traumatic that Carrie buried the incident deep in her mind.  So while other things occur during times of deep emotional stress, she doesn't necessarily make the connection until the day of the shower attack.  In a way, Carrie has begun to unravel.  Years of torment at the hands of her classmates has worn her down, and has allowed her tap into her powers again.  Couple that with her mom's violent religious beliefs, and you have Carrie suddenly wide awake to her powers.  If Carrie's upbringing had been more stable and loving, her powers might have never really been an issue.  Strange things might have happened still, during early childhood and puberty, but I really doubt that it'd be something she'd be so aware of.

6. Hmm, yes, I guess I believe that it's possible.  To the extent of Carrie's powers?  Probably not.  But I do think there is so much about our brains and abilities that we don't know.  But, I'm skeptical.  I would definitely have to see it to believe it.

7. My favorite moment, BY FAR, was when Chris's dad and the Principal face off.  Sadly, his "my precious daughter" routine is all to familiar in this day and age when kids can do no wrong, and his sue-happy threats were nicely smacked down by Principal Grayle.  I was literally cheering!  I hope in the new Carrie re-make that that scene makes it in the movie.  I don't think until this re-read that I caught that Principal Grayle was not the same Assistant Principal that Desjardin takes Carrie to see after the shower incident.

8. I actually get why some people questioned Sue's motives after the fact, but I am surprised that so many people just assumed that it was nasty on her part.  But I think that Sue and Tommy were a bit more evolved than some of their classmates, and that Sue was really trying to atone.  Tommy loved Sue enough to want to help her, and I think he genuinely didn't mind taking Carrie.  Tommy is that rare person that people love and like not just because he's Popular (with a capital P!) but because he's got that magnetism that draws people to him.  Because of it, he's able to just be himself.  Unlike Sue, who is tormented by who she wants to be compared to who she is, Tommy is completely at home in his own skin.  He's not perfect, but he's also not so freaking concerned about what everyone is going to think of him.  Ugh, how I wish I'd been like that as a teen!  I'd settle for being like that now, but I'm much more of a Sue.  I'm a people-pleaser in the extreme, and I always over analyze things.  But I think Sue had good intentions, even if I think it was more for herself than for Carrie.  She should have known that Carrie going to the prom, especially after Chris is denied her tickets, would be a bad thing.

9. None here, because I already know!

10. She is so crazy!!!  Seriously, there are few characters in books that I have disliked as much as I dislike Mrs. White.  She's the type of person who would drown a sack full of black kittens because she believes them to be evil.  And she's such a hypocrite!  How much better for Carrie if her bikini clad neighbor had taken her away that day!  Or if one of those rocks had killed Mrs. White.  Sadly, that didn't happen, and whatever chance kids have in the beginning of life to have a normal kid experience was ruined when Mrs. White squeezed Carrie out.  I mean, I get that she's all super religious, but her belief system is so messed up that it bares little resemblance to any actual biblical teachings. I'm just going to say it, Mrs. White is one crazy bitch.  There.  I said it.


So, don't forget to read Part Two: Prom Night by the 23rd!  And I'll see ya'll on Twitter tonight!

Book Blogger Confessions: Follow

Book Blogger Confessions is a meme from Midnyte Reader and For What It's Worth and deals with blogger issues and topics.  This week they're asking:

Question: Following:  How do you follow blogs?  Do you use Google Reader?  Are you on an e-mail list?  Are you more apt to follow people who have less followers?  Would you follow a blog to enter a contest?  What makes you unfollow a blog?

Answer: I follow blogs whenever I can through my Google Reader, although I follow a few through email.  I much prefer to have everyone neatly in my Google Reader, and I even have some of the blogs sorted.  For instance I have a Bloggers BFF folder for the blogger's I'm friends with (Kim, Steph, Bittner, Andrea, Jen, Pam, Katie, Cindy, etc) or stalk (Murder by Gaslight and Raych).  Then I have one for blogs that have Word Verification so that I know beforehand if I'm going to have to jump through hoops to leave a comment.  I give really new bloggers a pass on CAPTCHA, but I am far less compelled too continue following a blog that has word verification on it.  I hate CAPTCHA, and I can only assume from the blurry letters and obscure font that it hates me right back.  

 I do like following new bloggers, simply because I remember how it was (and really, still is) to not have a lot of followers.  I follow blogs that draw me to them, I even follow blogs of genres I don't read if the blogger is interesting enough or (and this is shameful) if the blog looks good.  Lori from Pure Imagination designed my blog and I have a tendency to follow the blogs she makes new designs for purely based on how cool they are.  I have made lots of great blogger friends through that, including Cindy from Cindy's Love of Books whom I ended up rooming with at BEA.  I will also follow any blog with the word Midnight in it for obvious reasons.

I do follow blogs to enter contests, but that can't be the sole reason.  It's not fair to the blogger if I'm only following to win and have zero interest in their regular blog content.  Usually though, if they're giving away a book I want to read they also cover a genre or genres I like.  

Occasionally I clean up my Google Reader and find blogs that are inactive, and I'll unfollow them.  This past year I did unfollow a blogger because a post was so ignorant that I had to delete them to preserve my sanity.  Mostly though, if you're posting, I'm still following.  I kind of go follow crazy during Dewey's Readathon, or during other bookish events.  My Google Reader makes it possible to follow tons of blogs without wasting whole days of my life.  

What about you?

Boy's Life Review

From Goodreads

Boy's Life
by Robert McCammon
From Goodreads:

 Zephyr, Alabama, is an idyllic hometown for eleven-year-old Cory Mackenson — a place where monsters swim the river deep and friends are forever. Then, one cold spring morning, Cory and his father witness a car plunge into a lake — and a desperate rescue attempt brings his father face-to-face with a terrible vision of death that will haunt him forever.

As Cory struggles to understand his father's pain, his eyes are slowly opened to the forces of good and evil that are manifested in Zephyr. From an ancient, mystical woman who can hear the dead and bewitch the living, to a violent clan of moonshiners, Cory must confront the secrets that hide in the shadows of his hometown — for his father's sanity and his own life hang in the balance...

This tale of an 11-year-old's struggle between innocence and evil begins with the discovery of a gruesome murder and ends with the revelation that, even in Zephyr, Alabama, life is not safe and simple--and most things and people are not what they seem to be. "Recaptures the magic of being a child in a world of possibilities and promise. . . ."--Atlanta Journal Constitution.

My Thoughts:  This was an amazing read!  This is only my second McCammon book, but his writing just blows me away and I know that he'll have a place amongst my favorite authors of all time. A very, very special thanks to Midnyte Reader who not only got me this book, but got it signed by Robert McCammon himself!  And thanks to Stephen King, who recommended McCammon's book The Five last summer.  I love finding great authors by simply reading what you're favorite authors are reading.

Boy's Life is a coming of age story, but there is so much more involved!  The town of Zephyr still holds a bit of magic for young Cory and his friends, magic they desperately need as a year of bullies, outlaws, ghosts, water creatures, fallen ladies, death, racism, nose picking girl named Demon, nazis, neo-nazis, carnivals, amazing pitcher named Nemo, nightmares, visions and story telling. 

I know, it seems a lot for just one book, but McCammon weaves it all together seamlessly.

It's awful, because I already know that I am not going to do enough justice to this book.  I know that some of you are going to write this book off simply because McCammon's novels fall under the horror category.  But his writing is just amazing!  There were so many lines I was copying down in my little quote book, so many times the book had me laughing, or crying, or just plain scared and worried for Cory and his friends.  I really felt like I was part of the town of Zephyr, like maybe I was Cory's nosy neighbor. 

I was not expecting this book to be so filled with magic, but once I got into the book it became my favorite part.  Some of the magic simply came from a young boy's imagination.  A magic most people put away when they grow up.  But writers don't, and I don't think us rabid readers do either.  I think we still have the touch of magic that we had as kids, and books help us tap into it now and then.

Here's some of my favorite quotes from the book:

 “See, this is my opinion: we all start out knowing magic. We are born with whirlwinds, forest fires, and comets inside us. We are born able to sing to birds and read the clouds and see our destiny in grains of sand. But then we get the magic educated right out of our souls. We get it churched out, spanked out, washed out, and combed out. We get put on the straight and narrow and told to be responsible. Told to act our age. Told to grow up, for God's sake. And you know why we were told that? Because the people doing the telling were afraid of our wildness and youth, and because the magic we knew made them ashamed and sad of what they'd allowed to wither in themselves.”

 “I'd like to be everybody in the world' I said. 'I'd like to live a million times.'
'Well'--and here my father gave one of his sagely nods--'that would be a fine piece of magic, wouldn't it?”

“I had always wondered what Reverend Lovoy meant when he talked about "grace." I understood it now. It was being able to give up something that it broke your heart to lose, and be happy about it.”

  “Maybe crazy is what they call anybody who's got magic in them after they're no longer a child.”

Boy's Life is that kind of book.  It'll help you tap into the magic.

Boy's Life gets a Midnight Book Rating of:

**My copy of Boy's Life was gifted to me by the amazing Midnyte Reader, so all opinion, comment, and snark are completely my own.**