When books cross over into real life.

When most people read it is to escape reality and to delve into a good story. However there are some books that propose to provide a richer life out side of books. Flow was such a book. I reviewed it a while ago and one thing has stuck out to me in all of that time. It mentioned that chess players engage in physical activity to strengthen their mind. At first, I was like, how can that help strengthen your brain? My laziness knows no bounds. I will be the first to try and get out of anything resembling purposeful movement.

Fast forward to a couple weeks ago. My attention was waning and my writers block was so bad that I could hardly write my own name. I had heard of writers and other people say that daily exercise cures both aliments. Of course up until then I never actually listened.Then one month into my writers block, when I despaired of ever writing anything again I decided to give walking a try. It wasn’t the magic cure all but slowly it was as my brain was disengaging itself and starting to function again,ideas began to come and I can focus for more than an hour at a time.

What amazes me is that the more I exercise my body the stronger my brain becomes.And not only that but I have really really realllly bad anxiety and it get in the way of writing also. Walking has helped more than medication has ever did. Plus it does not put me to sleep.

And to think I would have never even thought of adding in walking had I not read a book about inducing happiness first. When people say they dislike reading or do not have the time for it, I always remind them that they will be richer and better off for it. There is so much to learn out there. Even fiction can teach you valuable things through the power of a good story.

Sunday Salon

This week I started reading The Boneshaker and feel in love with it.I have been trying to read it slow to savor it then I found out there is a sort of a series. I know I said no more books from the library until I read all that I already checked out but I couldn’t help myself. I went and order both droughtnaought and Clementine.

Speaking of Libraries, since I am too poor to buy books at this point in time and I get all my books from the library, I see people taking pictures of what they bought and stuff and I get jealous. So I decided to implement a new feature. Library Loot (the link will take you to the first post I wrote this week). This will enable me to show off what I got at the library and hopefully will give readers a better taste of my very eclectic reading style.

I have been looking for more eclectic reading blogs. It sometimes seems the whole bookblogging community is blogging about young adult and while I read them from time to time I thought it would be nice to find bloggers such as I who reads a whole verity of things. So if you are an eclectic  blogger or knows someone who is please let me know.

I am going to spend the day reading The Boneshaker. I think I feel in love with steampunk genre. I will probably finish it either today or tomorrow.

What is everyone else reading today?

Library Loot

Below is some of the books that I have come in for me at the library. There is still more I am waiting on. I have told myself not to order any more until I read these. We shall see how good I keep up with that resolution. My boyfriend was nice enough to let me use his account so most of these I can keep out for 4 months. Yippie!! Of course there is also Boneshaker that I am reading and loving.

The books listed are:

The Elegant Universe

The Colony

Gravity’s Rainbow Companion

Gravity’s Rainbow

The Happiness Project (The sales pitch hooked me. I want to be happy also)

Getting Things Done (will be a reread but as my procrastination is back in full force I need the kick in the ass he provides)

Darkness Visible

Have you read any of these? What did you think?

The Sunday Salon

Did fall come early this year? Now the leaves are turning beautiful colors and it gets cooler faster when I go outside with my laptop to write.  Fall is good for having an excuse to stay in and curl up with a good book.

I am going back up north next Sunday so I will have to finish reading five more library books before then. I think I can do it. I will hunker down and do nothing but read this week.

At the moment I am reading The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. I have to admit when I first saw the cover I thought it was a young adult book, but then I read the reviews and realized it was not. So much for my ability to judge a book by its cover.

Here is the link that I found that states that the novel Heart Of Darkness is going to be turned into a graphic novel. I am hesitant to pass judgment until I see the actual book but my first though was, how can such a substantial novel be turned into a glorified comic book? Can you tell I am not a big fan of graphic novels?

I have found that as I get older my body clock seems to be changing. I don't know why people didn't warn me about all the changes one encounters at 30. Used to be my best writing was at night. Now its early in the morning so I had to adjust my writing and reading schedule.

I have reviewed Push, A Purpose Driven Life and Pain killers this week.

Booking Through Thursday

 

Even though it’s usually a mistake (grin) … do movies made out of books make you want to read the original?

Usually I try and read the book first. Sometimes a movie comes out and I had no idea there was a book. Precious was one such example. I saw the movie then I head it was based on a book. “Push”. I went and checks it out at the library and as a book lover first and foremost i wish i read the book first. on the other hand if the movie had never come out I probably would have never heard of the book.

On the other hand I know there is a movie based on Eat, Pray, Love. I am hesitant to see the movie because I am biased against Julia Roberts. I have hated most of the movies she has been in. I feel she lacks depth to her acting. I want to retain good feelings about the book, so I am undecided.

The Sunday Salon

I am back. I participated here i think it was two years ago. I quit blogging for a multitude of reasons. About two weeks ago I was telling a friend how much I missed blogging and writing and they encouraged me to start up again. I am glad I did. I see some old familiar blogs that I cant wait to get reacquainted with.

My writing had gotten a bit rusty so I was reading on how to improve on it. Of course the only way to improve it to write. I looked around for a journal software and once again I came to the realization that Macs have it better in this regard. I have a Dell but someday I will have a Mac. I finally found Life Journal. I down loaded the trial and I have to say I am impressed with it so far. It has guided entries, Daily pulse and much more. I think I will end up buying it.

My reading has slipped this year. This is the worst reading year of my life if I may be so dramatic. I am still hoping I can get at least 50 books read by December 31. Right now I am reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. I am loving it so far. I hope to finish reading it today and have a review up on Monday.

I have also rejoined BookCrossing. I need to spice up my profile. I hope to get to it this week.