Challenging to Read?

This summer I have summer homework in which I have to read Moby Dick. Of course you've already heard about this book and you know that it's probably the longest and dullest book you can sit down and read. I know all of my friends, including myself, can't sit still and read this tiresome book. So, I wanted to share how I'm going through the book, and not zone out every other word while reading a five page description of a wall.

Reading along while listening to someone read aloud is one of the best ways to keep your concentration and make the plot stick in your head more because there is an animated person telling you the story in his or her one way. I love doing this and then reading a long on my nook atm. I listen to the Spotify audio book, but there are many others out there too. My homework is that I have to find quotes at the same time, so I use my nook to highlight quotes that I can look back on when I start writing my laborious essay on Moby Dick.

I really hope this was a nice tip to others that find it hard to concentrate while reading a book, and if you have anymore tips that we can all find useful, please leave a comment down below.

2014 Reading Resolutions

It's the end of 2013, and yeah, I  know, I haven't really been review that many books. Mostly because I got all tuckered out by all the books I had reviewed in 2012. There are so many stories that stuck in my mind and that I was experiencing all at once everyday that I thought it would be best if I didn't add more to my hallucinating state. 

My plans for the New Year is to only read books that I am genuinely interested in, and give the most honest and out truth reviews I possibly can, because I miss this connection and habit that I built up to write down my thoughts on a book I just finished. Some books I'm planning to read are:

Allegiant by Veronica Roth (Book 3 of Divergent Series)

My review for the Divergent and Insurgent are hyperlinked. So go ahead and feel free to read my thoughts on the series. 

Summary:

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories. 

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love. 

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

from goodreads

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Summary:

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.

from goodreads

I've heard really good things about this book, and I have been wanting to read a really cute and girly love story lately. 

The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson

Summary:

There's a creepy new terror haunting modern-day London.

Fresh from defeating a Jack the Ripper killer, Rory must put her new-found hunting skills to the test before all hell breaks loose…

But enemies are not always who you expect them to be and crazy times call for crazy solutions. A thrilling teen mystery.

from goodreads

I have had this book on my shelf for what seems to be close to a year, and have not been in the mood to read a ghostly story. Hopefully I will get to this book in 2014. 

There are many more indie books of series I want to finish of course, and much more to come. 

Happy reading

Clara

Don't Quote Me (#9)

Don't Quote Me (#4)

I think we can all agree on this one. 

Have I ever said how much I love Theodore Roosevelt?

Hey Theodore Roosevelt, remember that time someone tried to assassinate you, but you just laughed and proceeded to give a 90-minute long speech with the bullet lodged in your lung, where it remained for the rest of your life? Or when you tore up 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (#2)

It's Monday! What are you reading? meme started by bookjourney.

What I Read:

This past week I took a couple of days off of reading my to-do list and started reading a bunch of fanfiction. ;(

What I'm currently reading:

I started reading The Hobbit last week, and on and off again read it. Sadly I'm only on chapter three. I find it difficult to read the book quickly like I do with most books because of how much fillers are in it. 

I was sent a request to read Solid by Shelley Workinger and I started reading it. I am only on the second chapter, but it seems promising. I hope to have a review of it later this week, or next.

What I hope to read in the future:

I started Matched months ago, and it has been in the back in my mind for a while. I am hoping to read it next week! :)

Metric Synthetica

I know this is an extremely late post, but I wanted to post something up today. This post does not count as part of the posting every week day in June. ;(

Since I didn't get to write a post last night or the night before I wanted to explain why and a part of it that influenced my decisions. Over the weekend I was reading Nevermore by Kelly Creagh (will have a review up tomorrow) I got sucked in and I expect this a lot when I start a new book over the weekend. So, I've decided that there is no guarantee that I will post on a Monday, but maybe posts like this will happen.

This post is about music I play while I read. That might sound off and strange, but I do. I always listen to music. That's how I find new songs for the Friday playlists and that's how I go on living because I'm one of those people who would die if they didn't hear a tune a day. While I was reading Nevermore I was listening to Metric's new album Synthetica. That has to be one of my favorite albums at the moment, probably because the songs are drilled into my mind because I've been having it on repeat the last two days.