T5W: Favorite Non-Written Books

Everybody loves a good story. Sometimes that story does not come as a novel or a mostly text-based vehicle. 

That's why this week in Top 5 Wednesday (check it out on GoodReads), everyone is talking about their favorite Non-"Written" books. 

So things like comics and graphic novels, as well as audiobooks and more!

In no particular order:

Number 1!

Locke and Key by Joe Hill, on audiobook

I got this audiobook free from audible in October of 2015, when it was a special for Halloween and dear god I could not stop listening.

Because Locke and Key is originally a graphic novel, I was unsure how it would be translated into an audiobook.

Some genius made the choice to make this a full cast recording and create a unique soundtrack to convey the images without adding too much narration.

Brilliant portrayal of a graphic novel in audio - love love love love love!!!

Number 2!

Justice League/Power Rangers 2017
Written by Tom Taylor; Art by Stephen Byrne, a comic

I saw this last month while I was browsing DC for Rebirth comics and had to do a double take.

Justice League and Power Rangers? YASSSS!

I'm a bit ambivalent about the Justice League as a whole, but  love Batman and the Bat-fam.

I just freakin' love Power Rangers, especially the original team as seen here.

There are only 2 issues out as of now, but seriously already in love. 

New editions every month! I can't wait!

Number 3!

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, on audiobook

I loved listening to this book. I think the reader is really great at conveying all the conflicting emotions in this story.

Honestly, I don't think I would have read this without being able to listen to it. It started rather slow, but is really interesting as an exploration of humanity.

I had this book for so long, but avoided it because I had been spoiled about something rather major in the book beforehand. 

My advice for this book is to go into it completely blind. It's well written and deserves attention if you like literary fiction. 

Just go for it. 

Reviews = Spoilers almost all the time for this book.

Number 4!

On Writing by Stephen King, on audiobook

I read this book years ago, in about 2012 while traveling in China, on audiobook, and it has stuck with me.

I always loved Stephen King's books and this book was like a window into his life and how he got to be where he is as a writer. 

It is really interesting and encouraging. The fact that it's read by the author is also one of my favorite things about audiobooks.

Number 5!

Dragon Knights by Mineko Ohkami, a manga

This is a less common manga in that I don't see many people talking about it, but I read the first 3 books in about middle school, and I love them!

This series is a ridiculous farce of an adventure with 3 magical knights who only sort of get along and make a lot of hysterical life choices. 

I read these books for a good laugh anytime I feel down because it's just good fun!

There is my list of favorite non-written books! Agree? Disagree? 

Any thoughts and comments at all, let me know!

Online Writing Classes?

Taking creative writing classes in college really lit a fire in me for exploring creative writing theory and practice (beyond just whatever I word-vomit on paper and screen).

But I’m not in college anymore!

But I still want to take classes!

But I can’t commit to something in person!

Also, I’m broke and in serious school debt.

I turned to my last resort (jk, it’s always the first thing I do) – searching the internet!

I have looked into various different ways of taking free writing “classes” online to keep up a writing practice and I’ve found that, for me, structure is key.

I can’t do self-driven classes that you start whenever, finish whenever, without some kind of set dates and deadlines.

I would start strong, and then fall off the wagon in about a week.

Then I found the CalArts Poetry Writing Workshop on Coursera.   Love!

This course is 6 weeks long, and each week has a set of videos and a quiz about various components of poetry: meter, rhyme, rhythm, etc.

Beyond that, there are 2 prompts each week to try to implement the ideas in the lessons.

Twice in the course, you can submit a poem from one of the prompts to have two of your peers comment and review.

(You also have to review two of your peer’s poems, of course.)

While this is an online course, and no one is really on you to complete the work so you have to have some self-discipline, the deadlines provide the structure needed to keep up with the work.

Other courses do not have this structure.

I have found that I need to stay away from “self-directed” learning courses that provide a syllabus and materials and you can do the work whenever.

If there is no feedback, I can’t do it.

Some courses on Coursera are a bit like this.

There is a start date, and discussion threads to talk to classmates, but with so many people in a course (I had one with about 700 people it seemed), it’s difficult to really build a relationship with anyone.

There is no guaranteed teacher interaction, and I can not do it.

Overall, online classes, especially free online “classes” are hit and miss. Really read the expectations and see if the work is something you can do by yourself. 

Every person has individual needs, so judge for yourself.

Also, just try what I did – give the class a shot. If it’s free, you don’t have anything to lose.

(Just don’t try to stick to a class you dislike. Feel free to stop and do something actually helpful to you.)

If you know any great online classes, let me know!

I would encourage you to check out CalArts on Coursera if you want to explore poetry!

Audiobooks! AKA Bookish Fitness

I live a rather sedentary life.

I read, I write, I do a lot of stuff on the computer.

Most of that involves me sitting butt-in-chair and getting stuff done.

But this year, I combined my love of reading with my desire to be more active, all thanks to the wonder that is AUDIOBOOKS!

I am not a naturally active person, like some people are. I can be perfectly comfortable doing nothing and lazing around in bed all day. But I know my endurance and my ability to go out and explore my city and surroundings has sharply declines after moving home.

I'm facing returning to the classroom as a teacher. I'm going to have a class full of tiny people after me for attention all day at work in just a few weeks.

I need to keep up.

So I took up running to increase my general fitness and endurance.

But running is BORING!

I don't care how pretty the areas in which I'm running can be - after about 2 days of it, I'm bored.

So I decided that every run, which I would go on for about 30-45 minutes, 

I would listen to an audiobook.

Now, I may look crazy, jogging down the street and giggling madly at what a character has just said, or wrinkling my eyebrows and wondering how she's going to get herself out of this mess, but I'm NOT bored.

(And I'm not boring so if someone passes me on the street, 

maybe they can be as entertained as I am.)

So far, I've been listening to The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson on audiobook on nearly every run I've gone on this year (otherwise I'm listening to The Hamilton Mixtape.)

I've listened to just over 13 hours of this book so far, more than I've listened to any audiobook in all of 2016.

And because I only listen to this book while I run, I want to go for runs to find out what happens next.

I set it up to be more excited to run, which is amazing because I'm still not the boggiest fan of running.

I suggest you try it out.

1. Choose an audiobook that you will only listen to while exercising (walking, jogging, aerobics, whatever).
2. Make a schedule of when you will exercise, and follow through!
3. Once you get into it, it is so easy to just keep going because you like the book. Fitness is a bonus!
4. When you finish one book, pick the next and repeat! It gets you moving, and reading. Two birds, one stone and all that!

So what do you think? Can listening to a book, make a reader a runner?

I sure hope so! It's going good so far.

T5W: Tired Book Trends

How many times have you picked up a book and something about it - on the cover, in the genre, something deep inside that you only find after you've been reading for a while - something makes you go, "Ugh, again?"

That's the topic for this weeks Top 5 Wednesday!

Top 5 Wednesday: Non-Book Favorites

Top 5 Wednesday is usually about your top 5 books in a category - but not this week!

This week we are listing non-book favorites of the moment and I'm really excited about it!

Le'go!

5. Rogue NASA twitter account

I am constantly reading all the terrible things going on since Trump took office and this account (and all the others like it) just brings me joy in this resistance. There has been fundraising, general protest information, and science facts! 

Personally, I am horrible at science, but I am grateful to all the people who contribute to making the world better and more knowledgeable!

@RogueNASA

4. My Fitbit

I got myself and my family Fitbits for Christmas and I really love mine. It's glitchy as hell, but it's a fun challenge to get me up and moving every day. Also, getting badges for things like how many steps you get in a day or how many miles you've walked since getting the fitbit!
It's fun!

3. My Planner!

I've watched a bunch of planning videos on YouTube, and last year I got a Happy Planner, which I loved. It was fun to decorate and useful for tracking what I do on a given day. This year I have a Recollections Planner from Michaels, and I use it almost everyday.
It makes me feel productive!

2.Lipstick Queen - Frog Prince

Another purchase from last year, but one I love so so much - Frog Prince lipstick from Lipstick Queen. I bought this with some credits I got from reviewing items from Birchbox last year and I have never loved a lip color as much as I love this one. 

If you've never heard of the Frog Prince lipstick, it's a bit of a gimmicky product where the lipstick itself looks green, but when you put it on it turns pick and the exact shade is based on your PH levels. 

I love the color on me, but I also love how smooth and hydrating the lipstick is itself. I often just leave this in my purse and frequently use it when I forget to pocket my chapstick before I leave the house. Total 5 out of 5. Absolutely love!

1. VOLTRON: LEGENDARY DEFENDER!!!!

Finally, my number one is the Netflix original animation - Voltron: Lengendary Defender.

Aliens! Space Robots! Character Development!

This show has been on my radar since it came out in June (I think) because one of the voice actors is Bex Taylor-Klaus, who I love from shows like Arrow and MTV's Scream. But despite my interest, I only watched it a few weeks ago when season 2 came out and man ... I love this show!

The characters are complex, the writing is funny, and the action scenes are cool. I never watched the original '80s cartoon and probably never will, but Legendary Defender has my heart and soul. I am totally addicted, and the fanart is brilliant! I could probably gush about this forever without actually saying anything except "Oh my god!" "So cute!" "Gahhhhh!"

I'll just stop now...


What are some of you're favorite things lately?
Anything similar to mine?