T5W: Books to Battle Reading Slump

Sometimes, reading is hard. You want to read, but the motivation is lacking and you end up not reading anything.

This is a reading slump. Slumps are hard to overcome because you want to read, but just aren't and it feels like a vicious cycle. 

But this week on Top 5 Wednesday, we are looking at books that can help overcome a reading slump!

In no particular order:

Number 1!

An old favorite:

One way to get out of a slump is to go for a book that you already know you love. 

Grabbing a book that gives you all the happy feels and nostalgia can reignite the passion for reading and create new interest in reading more!

For me, an old favorite that helps me un-slump myself is:

The Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling

Number 2!

A new suspenseful mystery:

Reading a suspense story is a great way to read more as well. 

If it's well done, just reading a few pages can introduce mysteries and secrets you want to know the end of. 

So you read more trying to find the answers! 

Much win.

My choice of suspense:

The Rhetoric of Death by Judith Rock

Number 3!

A sequel:

If you want to read, but can't find the passion, pick up that sequel you never got to! 

You already know the characters and the world, but new adventures can make you remember why you kept that book around. 

And remember the other interesting world to explore on your TBR.

My choice:

Magic Steps by Tamora Pierce

(not a sequel in itself, but the first book in a second quartet after Circle of Magic)

Number 4!

A super simple read:

Get back into the reading game easy by picking up a book that is quick, and doesn't require much brain power.

This can be a book for a younger audience, or something that you know isn't going to be hard to understand.

For me, I would read:

Girl Online by Zoe Sugg

Number 5!

A book to movie adaptation, 

when you've seen the movie but never read the book:

If you're like me, a lot of reading slumps are aided by Netflix.

I watch a lot of movies and TV when otherwise I would be reading.

So take advantage! Find a movie based on a book you haven't read yet and enjoy!

Then pick up the book and compare. You can get a lot of the story from the film, but the book is so much richer.

For me, one of my favorite movies is Rise of the Guardians which is based on the series, Guardians of Childhood by William Joyce.

Check out the first book in the series:

Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King by William Joyce

That's my suggestions for getting out of a reading slump. Now to take some of my own advice...

Thoughts? Comments?

Check out the T5W group on GoodReads as well!

Example of Poetry: How to incorporate workshop feedback

The past few weeks I’ve talked a lot about workshops and the value of peer review in revising a draft of writing. This week I want to show you how I take advice from peer reviewers and edit a poem I wrote for a class.

I wrote a draft of a poem for the imagery unit of the course, following the prompt to make a title using the form “The (Image) of (Abstration)”. Drawing from a place I loved as a kid, I called my poem “The Park of Imagination” and wrote about this play park I frequently went to when I was 6/7 years old or so.

For the sake of brevity, I’m just going to go over the first two stanzas:

For the Original Poem-

Flat swatches of brown and green  

Kicking up the dust and grime 

Of a time, once, when you held hands 

Spinning through the old haunt 

But time has not been kind to your old spot. 

The termites gnawed through the heartstrings, 

The sweat slid between you 

A barrier to repel the connection 

And spin you apart in different directions 

As you build momentum and grasp tighter.

I had not thought very deeply about the subject of this poem – but my peer reviewers did.

Unfortunately, I failed to copy direct comments form those reviews and I can’t share those here (went to look for them online and the segment of the course is closed because the course ended, oops).

But- some major notes that shifted my thinking about the poem:

• Many fluff words and conjuctions that aren’t needed in this poem.
• The use of “you” is strange. Maybe try using “us” instead.
• The first line of stanza 2, about the termintes and heartstrings, was really powerful.

At first, I just decided to try the suggested changes and see how I felt. I removed the conjunctions and reread the poem.

It was tighter and made the emotions pop out more vividly.

Then I decided to change every “you” to “us” and read it again.

Holy wow!

Suddenly the poem was not about a place or a distant memory of when I was 6.

Suddenly the poem was very obviously (to me) about an old friend who I had lost touch with. These two memories didn’t even take place at the same time in my life.

The park was from age 6. The person I met when I was 12.

But the images of gnawed on heartstrings, the dynamic of pulling apart and falling into disrepair, was clearly about an old friendship.



Without the input of an impartial reader outside my own head, I may have never made that connection. I think the resulting poem was a lot more personal and important to me.

Was it better?

I think so, but I really think that can be up to you.

Here’s the first two stanzas again. Also, I changed the title to “Tornado Memories”:

Dust swirls above flat browns and greens

Kicked up memories in dust and grime

Of a time, once, when we held hands.

Spinning wildly in forest decay

Leaving snail tracks in our wake.

Time is not kind to wistful minds.

The termites gnawed through heartstrings.

The sweat slid between us 

Two like magnets repulsed by connection 

Spinning us apart in different directions

You, swept in the dancing arms of love. 

Me, windswept, clawing to grasp tighter.

I really like the second version!

Basically, I wanted to use this post to show how, even innocuous comments like suggesting a change of pronouns can impact how you, as the writer, see the poem.

Such a small suggestion, but a big change!

Now you don’t have to take all the advice you are given.

But I like to try out some simple changes like this just to see if I like it.

You can always change it back, after all.

Any comments and suggestions? 

Want to share a poem and get feedback? That sounds fun! Wanna try it? Leave a bit of poetry in the comments and see what feedback you get.

Next week I’m going to do something similar with a fiction piece I had workshopped, so stay tuned if you prefer fiction/prose. I’m getting to that!

Books I'm Taking to South Korea

I’m in Korea! 

This and the next few posts are written and scheduled in advanced because … I have no idea what the transition is going to be like. More on that in the future.

Since today is my book post day, I thought I’d share which physical books I’m taking with me to South Korea!

Moving Abroad Experiences

Today, when this blog goes live, I’m on a plane to South Korea to start my new job as a Kindergarten teacher (well, to start training anyway. Job starts March 2^nd).

It seems like a perfect time to talk about my decision to move abroad.

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!