Friday Laughs: List of reasons for admission into a mental asylum in 1864-1889

DISCUSS.

Discussion: Are They Really “Underachievers”?

(c) belcastroagency

Not to say I haven’t done the same if a book is particularly boring or if I’m so tired I’m falling asleep standing up, but…

I saw this one floating around for awhile. What’s you take on it?

Are you the type to read only a few chapters at a time or is it utterly impossible for you to stop after a single chapter once you get started?

Personally, I think you’re a winner for simply picking up the book and starting to read. Be it a page or a chapter or the whole thing in one sitting, you’re a winner JUST FOR GETTING STARTED. There are far too many who don’t even get that far. Consider yourself AWESOME. ❤

Discussion: I’ve always loved this idea…

(source: tumblr)

Discussion: Signs You’re a Book Addict

Happy March! Atrocious February is over! Let’s start the month off right with some truth. Hard, cold truth about being an addict of a most extreme sort:

It’s funny because these were my tags to this post:

#if someone tries to get inbetween me and free fuckin’ books #I won’t be the one being murdered

(No joke. Hahahahaah~ I guess great minds think alike, huh? xDDD)

At any rate, if the purge DID happen in your town, what would you do and where do you rate your book addiction in regards to this revealing tumblr post?

Would you risk raiding the bookstores or libraries to steal–I MEAN SAVE all the books? Or would you run for cover?

I think you all already know my answer. xD

Discussion post – “You know you’ve read a good book when…”

This is why fanfiction was born, y/y?

I was having this conversation just the other day with a mate of mine… He was going on about his first bookish and anime loves, and how he just couldn’t deal with how the series eventually resolved (or DIDN’T resolve) situations and relationships, which is why he eventually turned to fanfiction.

I had to agree.

Sometimes – I won’t lie – I was perfectly happy with how the book/anime/whathaveyou ended things… but I just couldn’t get over the fact that it was DONE. I wanted more and the author sure as hell wasn’t providing me with any. It was a fix I needed to sate, and fanfiction was my drug.

I’ve read SO many phenomenal books that just… ended. Nothing more. No sequels. No movie deals (at least not then, and in some cases even to this day). No… anything.  Fanfiction was my way to keeping that exceptional book, story or tale alive for days and weeks and months (and year, aha~) to come.

Anyone out there fanfiction advocates?

And if not, what did or do you currently do to deal with “saying goodbye” to a great read?

Discussion post – Every book is a Tardis

Who else agrees? I know it’s been the truest statement for me since BEFORE I was able to read. I know that sounds funny, but if you think about it… we’ve all been “reading” before we could actually do so ourselves. Parents, relatives, friends of the family, nannies, care providers, librarians and teachers have been filling our heads with wondrous tales from (hopefully) birth.

When someone used to read to me, I would go on such epic adventures and dive into the wonderful worlds hidden within the pages of a favourite tome. True fact: some of my favourite books as a child were poetry books since that was the one thing my mother used to read to me ALL THE TIME.

What books do you love to unleash and bury yourself in when you need to travel to distant lands and shores?

Discussion – What are your bookish pet peeves?

We all have them. You and I both know. But what are they and why do they affect us so?

I know I’ve got tons and tons. Some people hate when someone spoils a book’s plot or ending. Others simply hate being told a book is “just like so and so’s other book, and if you liked/hated that, you’ll love/hate this one.”

What’s your pet peeve when it comes to books, reading, or anything to do with the like?

I’ve always hated it when people tell me what I should read. Not what they THINK I should read – as in, suggestions or recommendations – but what I SHOULD have read or MUST READ THIS INSTANT because “you’re a reader, how have you not read this book?!” They think simply because I love to read that that suddenly gives them to right to tell me what I should be reading and when (as in, RIGHT NOW).

It’s one thing if you ask for recommendations. It’s another entirely when you’re in a store or a random function or sitting in a public place, and someone randomly comes up to you to talk about their favourite title and why you should buy it/pick it up/HERE’S A FREE COPY! TELL YOUR FRIENDS!

I think people forget that even though this sort of thing happens a lot online (with giveaways, book blitz, book blog tours, and the like), the people who are entering these events or even looking at them, actually WANT to. They’re not being forced to read or check out or hear you prattle on about a book unless it interests them and they do the legwork. It’s their prerogative, and theirs alone.  Doing the same thing in a bookstore, coffee shop, and whatnot is just plain rude and annoying as all hell.

So what do you think? Does that bother you as well?

Comment and let me know just what book/reading related pet peeve irks you lately!

World Book & Copyright Day 2015!

How many of you knew that April 23rd is the official day of the annual event: World Book & Copyright Day?

I haven’t participated in it “officially” for at least… three years (Damn! That long????) but my heart is still behind it and its mission. I usually choose the day to talk about the importance of books and copyright, but… I had a tour yesterday which was unavoidable, so… today I’ll give the talk instead.

So — picture this! A world where… books belong to no one. Not even the ones who created them.

Picture this: A world where authors aren’t paid for the works they put their hearts and souls into, that they slaved over for hours and hours… days and months and YEARS.

Imagine a world where no laws protected author, publisher, book, or reader. Where anyone could claim a book was theirs, or distribute it however which way they pleased, or deface it, plagiarize it, rewrite it, destroy it, because… well… who would be able to contradict it? How could you make a claim in court about theft when there were no laws applying to it?

Imagine, authors… growing weary of such a world.

Imagine publishers… booksellers… making no money from their publications and shutting down en masse. Disappearing off the face of the planet. (They are part of the corporate world, after all. They need to make money in order to survive.)

So. Imagine.

Imagine authors no longer writing.

Imagine BOOKS NO LONGER BEING PUBLISHED OR RELEASED. ANYWHERE.

….

Have I scared you shit-less, yet?

This is what a world without copyright… without protection for book, author, publisher, and YOU, would be like.

Scary, isn’t it?

Until a truly ideal and downright utopian world springs up from the ashes of our current reality, copyright laws will ALWAYS BE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU COULD ASK FOR.

 

But those are just my thoughts.

What are your thoughts on the matter? Do you agree? Do you think I’ve blown this waaay out of portion? Do you understand copyright law and its role in the life and creation of that lovely, gorgeous thing you stack away on your shelves or download into your eReaders?

Let me know! I’m rearing to see how this discussion takes off. 🙂

TONIGHT — as in RIGHT NOW — IS WORLD BOOK NIGHT! :) What are you reading?

A Little History

World Book Night was first celebrated in the UK and Ireland in 2011 on 5 March. In 2012 it was moved to 23 April, the international day of the book, and was also celebrated in the USA and Germany for the first time. Its purpose was, quite simply, to encourage more adults to read. In late 2013 World Book Night became part of The Reading Agency and is now run as a Reading Agency programme as part of its work to inspire people to take up reading and celebrate the difference that reading makes to their lives.

2015 will be the fifth World Book Night celebration.

So, what does that mean for the rest of us?

Well. Whether you’re 5 or 50, 10 or 100… you should be reading. It’s the most beautiful thing that can happen to a person, and I’m saying this wholly biased as I’ve been reading my whole life and NEVER plan on stopping. ❤

Tonight, I haven’t the slightest idea what will catch my eye — But know this: I plan to read.

And I think that’s half the battle right there. Plan to read. Don’t put it off for “another day” or “when you’re less tired” or keeping saying, “there’s always tomorrow.” Just pick up a book and get to it!

Plan for it, or be spontaneous! Either way, get to reading and don’t find excuses for not doing it.

We can use anything to dissuade us from picking up a book… “My cat needs feeding.” “My car broke down, and I have to fix it.” “I have other things – more important things – to do.” “I have nothing to read.” “It takes too long, and I have a short attention span.” “My favourite show is on TV.” “Oh look! — Is that a UFO hovering above my neighbor’s house?”

. . .

Well, okay. So that last one is actually a legitimate reason to put down your book and take a peak. BUT YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY PICK IT BACK UP AGAIN ONCE YOU’RE SURE THE NOSY BASTARDS WERE TAKEN AWAY TO BE EXPERIMENTED ON. 😀 😀 😀 (I’m talking about your neighbors, by the way, not the aliens. I mean. Who needs ’em, right? Always borrowing things… Stupid neighbors.)

Right now. So where was I?

…oh yeah!

Get reading!

Which brings back me to my original question.

What book are you planning to read tonight? What book already has your interest and attention (which is why you’re only seeing this in the middle of the day instead of at night when it was posted XD)? 

Comment below and let’s get a discussion going on your favourite recent reads!

 

Sunday, Oh Sunday. How I love thee!

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I’ll admit, I’ve been a little preoccupied lately and haven’t gotten to the massive pile of books STILL PILING on my kindle, computer, and bed.

(Yes, you read that right. I’m one of those. Piling books in their bed as permanent nightly companions for unsolicited enjoyment of the most invigorating kind: ALL NIGHT LONG. xD)

HOWEVER! I plan to rectify this immediately and get through at least two books today.

Maybe.

Hopefully.

Haven’t a clue which ones I’ll start with, but definitely looking forward to a full day (and/or night) of joyous Sunday reading. ❤

What are your plans this Sunday?

Are you thinking of whittling down your TBR list or finishing that book you’ve been putting off because of a little thing called “LIFE?”

Let me know! Leave a comment with the name of the book so we might discuss the awesomeness! 🙂