NaNoWriMo and Warm Up!

NaNoWriMo

When most people think of November they picture pilgrams and turkeys.  But not us nerds.  Nope.  We think of 50,000 words.  I'm proud to say I will be participating in National Novel Writing Month this year to complete a manuscript in 30 days.  

If you don't know what NaNoWriMo is don't worry.  I hadn't heard about it until last year, but basically it's this genius idea someone invented to get writers who procrastinate (like me) to actually complete a novel.  Everyone motivates each other to write 1,667 words a day.  And by November 30th you've got a book.

Now, I kinda want a book longer than 50,000 words because I have a lot to say (I've got a plot within a plot sorta).  So when I found NaNoWarmUp I did a little happy dance.
 
I'll be able to get a good chunk of my novel done before the big event even starts!  A little appetizer if you will.  Plus I already had a brainstorming session with my cousin so I've got my plot, setting, and characters all mapped out already for the most part.

Dewey's 24 hr Readathon Goals and Updates

readathon
The last time I stayed up 24 hrs was probably Relay For Life a few years ago.  And by hr 24 I was not a fun person to be around.  So I haven't decided if I want to do the full readathon.
 But what matters is that I'm taking part in the Dewey Readathon at all!
I knew I'd need lots of caffeine and snacks to keep me awake so I made a video to show everyone what I plan to read and eat today!
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Updates:
2pm: halfway through Asylum by Madeleine Roux and it's pretty good so far.  It's Pretty Little Liars meets Shutter Island.  That's the only way I can describe it.

7pm: Finished Asylum!  It was really fast paced and confusing but so good!  I'm gonna start Goodbye Rebel Blue now.

Mini Challenges:
1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?
NJ (USA)
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?
Girl of Fire and Thorns!
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?
Muddy Buddy Mix!
4) Tell us a little something about yourself!
This is the first year I'll be participating in NaNoWriMo!
5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?
It's my first Dewey's Readathon.  I'm most excited to talk with other bloggers.  I love events like these because they bring us all together.  And of course the snack...who doesn't love readathon snacks?

Favorite Book Trailer:
I haven't read this one yet, but I really want to after seeing this:
Out of all the books I've read so far in 2013

5 Tips on How To Get Out of a Reading Rut

Random Thoughts Thursday
Sometimes we get into reading slumps.  It happens and it's normal.  I've developed some techniques that help me trudge through these ruts.  Especially with the end of the year sneaking up on us.  Gotta get our Goodreads goals accomplished!
1. Ask your friend to pick a book for you to read.

Every month the Book BFFs do a feature where we randomly assign each other a BFF and then pick a book for them to read that month based on what we know about their reading tastes.  Sometimes your friends know you better than yourself and will pick a book that'll get you out of your slump.

2. Reread a favorite
@CelineNYX suggested this one to me recently and it's great advice.  Sometimes we just need to remember why we love reading so much.  And the best way to do that is to go on an adventure we already know we will enjoy.  Jennifer L. Armentrout, Sarah Dessen, and JK Rowling are my go to authors.
3. Try a really hyped up book
CAUTION: this may backfire.  I did this once and was lucky.  I picked up Shadow and Bone when I was not in the mood to read.  I had heard such great things and decided what the heck.  Luckily it was an amazing read.  But I think most of the time hype is true so if you pick something that bloggers you trust loved chances are you'll love it too.

4. Watch BookTubers
I'm once again advocating for BookTube.  Whenever I'm in a slump if I watch some people gush about how much they love books it makes me want to read.  Sometimes our love for reading is contagious.

5. Take a break
This sounds counter productive, but really sometimes we just need a break.  Book bloggers are not robots and I think we forget that because we feel like there's such little time and so many books to read. But sometimes recharging your battery so to speak will do you some good.  After a big readathon I tend to take a week to just catch up on tv and relax.  It really works!

Source
What are your tips for getting out of a slump?


Top Ten Tuesday #30

Top Ten Tuesday
Hosted by: Jamie from Broke and the Bookish

This Week's List:
August 13: Top Ten Best/Worst series enders

My favorite series enders were ones that wrapped up everything nicely and gave me all the answers I wanted.  Even if a character I loved died I was still content with the ending.

My least favorite series endings were the ones that didn't answer any of my questions or just seemed like a filler book (Sookie Stackhouse #13).  I just remember being very disappointed with those five.  I still enjoyed them, but I was left wanting more.

What are your picks?


{Review} Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

4 Stars
Pages: 310
Publication date: August 23, 2011
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
How I got the copy: ARCycling for review 
Rating:  4 Stars
  
     
  
From Goodreads:
As a child, Gretchen's twin sister was taken by a witch in the woods. Ever since, Gretchen and her brother, Ansel, have felt the long branches of the witch's forest threatening to make them disappear, too.

Years later, when their stepmother casts Gretchen and Ansel out, they find themselves in sleepy Live Oak, South Carolina. They're invited to stay with Sophia Kelly, a beautiful candy maker who molds sugary magic: coveted treats that create confidence, bravery, and passion.

Life seems idyllic and Gretchen and Ansel gradually forget their haunted past -- until Gretchen meets handsome local outcast Samuel. He tells her the witch isn't gone -- it's lurking in the forest, preying on girls every year after Live Oak's infamous chocolate festival, and looking to make Gretchen its next victim. Gretchen is determined to stop running and start fighting back. Yet the further she investigates the mystery of what the witch is and how it chooses its victims, the more she wonders who the real monster is.

Gretchen is certain of only one thing: a monster is coming, and it will never go away hungry.


    I've never read Hansel and Gretel, but I knew the base of the story.  Two kids are lost in the forest leaving a trail of breadcrumbs and find the candy house with the witch inside that wants to eat them.  I wasn't sure how Jackson was going to be able to make this into a YA friendly retelling.  somehow she took this really disturbing story and made it fun and entertaining.  And yet she captured that dark and creepy tone that made it feel true to the original tale.

     Gretchen's character really grew during the story.  I'm such a fan of character development so I was very happy to see this progress over time.  What I did find odd was her strange trust in Sophia, the chocolatier.  As someone who was so scared of the witch, why would she trust a complete stranger especially when things started getting weird?

    But with that said, I found myself trusting Sophia too.  I wanted to like her even when things started making her seem shady.  I wish I had read Sisters Red first because I feel like I wasn't understanding everything that was going on.  Also, for anyone who has read this.  Is the chocolate supposed to have magical powers?  I was really confused by the confidence inducing chocolate oranges.  This was definitely a page turner and probably my favorite retelling so far. 

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