REREADING BOOKS - DO YOU DO IT?

IS REREADING BOOKS A WASTE OF TIME?

rereading books is a waste of time

You only go around this world once, so you might want to make the most of it. For me, as a massive book nerd, one way I measure life is by how many books I've read. With only a short amount of time on this earth I want to read as many books as I can. With so many books out there, is it a waste of time to re-read a book?

A lot of people say "yes, it's a waste of time! You've already read that book! You know what is going to happen. Voldemort is defeated by Harry Potter for the umpteenth time! Re-reading a book is not going to change that."

Which book? The hardest question in life.

While somewhat logical - what's the point of reading a story if you already know how it ends - it seems to me that reading is somewhat illogical. Rereading a book is amazing!

It shouldn't make sense, but we humans do not always make sense (like the sentence structure of this sentence).

Reading a book is different every single time. You might linger and absorb more of the details in your second lap. It may have been a decade since you last read the book, and you have that much more life experience behind you. You may be in a different mood, or have a slightly different outlook on life. There are so many variables that shift and change a person, that each re-read is a different experience.

I just reread Another Fine Myth. A book I've reread half a dozen times. And, as I've stated above, every single time is completely different.

Another Fine Myth - Robert Asprin

I remember the first time I read this book, I was in grade seven. I picked up the book because my Dad was reading the series. He said it was funny and made it sound amazing when he told me they travelled through different dimensions. I was still a sci-fi / fantasy newbie, so the idea of dimensions was a big deal and a big idea that I found fascinating. I still remember reading the book at school, during our reading time right after lunch. I didn't really find it all that funny, but I could tell it was supposed to be, but the jokes flew over my head. What I did love was the idea of travelling to different dimensions.

As I aged and reread the book years later in my teens, I finally got the jokes. By this time the idea of different dimensions was old news, and bigger ideas of race, class, and stereotypes related to these dimensions threw some depth on this part of the story, giving me something different to think about.

Last month, thirty years later, I reread the book and again had a completely different experience. I had just come off reading a few hard sci-fi books full of science and serious topics. Reading a light, pun filled, wacky adventure was like a breath of fresh air, refilling my desire to spend time flipping through pages. 

Rereading books a waste of time?

I'd say no, and I'm pretty certain most readers would agree. But then again, there are so many books in this world and so little time.

Like I mentioned at the beginning, I personally measure the success of life by how many books I've read. Which is what inspired me to design a Reading Journal to keep track of my reads. 

Click on Picture to buy from Amazon

There are pages to track the books you've read and what you thought about them.

Book tracking page

I also added some fun pages to write down things like your reading habits, fav books, etc. Now that would be fun to re-read in a decade...like I said we change over time.

All about you - reading habits, fav books, etc

Also for the artistic readers (*puts hand up*), there are some pages for drawing.

Fill in bookshelf

I strongly encourage you to purchase one for yourself, or consider it as a gift for the big readers in your life, or your book club members, or your mother-in-law, or your child's bus driver. It would be great for anyone...and I wouldn't mind the $1.45 royalty either.

It is available on Amazon right now - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2TW69CG

SYCAMORE ROW - JOHN GRISHAM

SYCAMORE ROW

John Grisham - Sycamore Row

- John Grisham -

Just finished this massive 500 page tome, and loved every page of it. We are back to the meat and potatoes of Grisham, his legal thriller.

This installment has a wealthy man committing suicide and leaving a last minute hand written will...in which he leaves his millions to the black maid. In the small, racist, Mississippi town this does not go over well. Grisham takes us through the ins and outs of the legal topic of the last will and testament. Does a hand written will trump an expensive lawyer written will? This scenario is the main legal battle of the book. However, Grisham adds way more layers into the story; a long lost brother, a racist town, a drunken husband, greedy children, twists and turns galore...what seems like a solid easily winnable case is thrown for a loop by some shady lawyers and misinterpretations. Grisham keeps you guessing right to the end. Which is why I love his books. You are pretty sure it is all going to work out in the end, but you can't be certain. 

Fantasy Drawing Prompts

Drawing Ideas For Fantasy Fans

Fantasy Drawing Ideas

Wizards, Dragons, Magic Swords...if those are the things that light your match, sail your boat, or tickle your fancy, then I have a book for you. Being a bit of a fantasy nerd myself (yes, I've spent 1/3 of my waking life reading everything from George RR Martins Game of Thrones to Harry Potter for the fifth time), I get happy thinking about dwarfs and hobbits. Combine that with my habit of doodling and sketching when I'm bored...you've got hours of fun and entertainment. I designed a book exactly for this kind of person - hopefully that is you! Can't have too many of these kind of people in the world, am I right?

I've designed a book with 50 drawing ideas with a fantasy twist to them. Wizards, Dragons, and Magic Swords are all included, plus many many many many more.

Wizard casting a spell

If this looks like something for you, or you know a fantasy freak who would love this then please check it out - it is on Amazon right now.

Click on the cover below:

...or a direct link:

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0B2V2D16L

HAPPY DRAWING

Text to Speech as an editing aid

Hearing the words out loud helps in the editing process

I've found an awesome way to edit my writing. Listen to it! Not only is it amazing to hear, actually hear out loud, the words you've written (boy, is that really something I've written! It sound legit), but when you listen to the words you catch small grammatical errors. Something will just sound off and it's easier to catch with the ear than the eye. Also if you have a small typo, forget to pluralize something or you double type a word, you hear it quickly. 

You can use the READ ALOUD button if you are working in Microsoft word (It is under the REVIEW tabs). It works good, it's handy, and I personally use it way too much!

Read Aloud option in Microsoft Word

You can also use a Text to Speech website. There are a bunch out there. They will typically allow you to paste a little text and then allow you to hear it...the best part is that you usually have the options of different accents. I love a good British accent. Here is some of my writing, read by a Britain!

WINGS OF FIRE

Wings of Fire - the first book

- Tui Sutherland -

This book had taken our little guy's bookshelf by storm. He has become obsessed with the series and has read through all, um 15 books I think, in a month or two. I catch him sneaking a light in the middle of the night just to read another chapter.  So cute.

A budding reader

It is so cool to see a budding reading, and my own kid to boot. It's like a parenting dream come true. Some want the Quarterback, some want the Einstein, and I want the bookworm! Just kidding, I love all my kids, no matter what they like to do...even not read.

Bookshelf weighted down with Wings of Fire books

I thought I'd take a cruise through The Wings of Fire book to see what the hype was all about. 

The story is a mix of a prophecy, with a group of baby dragons all being put together in a cave and growing up together, and a world building, where the land is covered in dragons of all different kinds. The characters are lovable and simple, typically they have one main trait like they are strong (but dumb), smart (but weak), etc. And you just know they are all going to end up working together and saving the world in the end. But, it's the journey that is so fun.

Wings of Fire books everywhere!

The group breaks out of their prison and travel the world finding out about themselves and their dragon relatives along the way. There is a lot more fighting that I would have thought appropriate for a young reader's book, mostly that it is gory, vicious, and detailed fighting (burns and guts!). But, maybe that is what makes it so exciting for the readers?

I know this book is flying off the shelves at our local bookstore. Everytime we went in to get the next instalment the shelf holding the Wings of Fire series had bare spots, and often when we were there buying a book, some other kid would come by and pick one up too. 

Drawing of a Wings of Fire dragon attached to budding reader's wall

Apparently a few kids at school have been playing Wings of Fire at recess. You know it's big when that happens.

So, if you have little ones do not be surprised if you see a Wings of Fire book come into your house - or 15 of them!