Victoria Zigler's Blog: Zigler News, page 34

#MondayMotivation - #Hygge #Quotes + Words Of #Wisdom 17-08-20

Peace begins with each of us. When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us.
~Dalai Lama

Each morning brings a hidden blessing; a blessing which is unique to that day, and which cannot be kept or re-used. If we do not use this miracle today, it will be lost.
~Paulo Coelho

You can’t always get the perfect moment. Sometimes, you just have to do the best you can under the circumstances.
~Sarah Dessen

When you are grateful – when you can see what you have – you unlock blessings to flow in your life.
~Suze Orman

Self-love is a daily commitment. You have to take care of yourself before you can take care of anyone else. You are your priority.
~Unknown

The only way to get what you really want, is to know what you really want. And the only way to know what you really want, is to know yourself. And the only way to know yourself, is to be yourself. And the only way to be yourself is to listen to your heart.
~Mike Dooley

Fulfilled life is possible in spite of unfulfilled wishes.
~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.
~Ella Fitzgerald

It only takes one person to change your life: YOU.
~Ruth Casey

Don't be concerned about being disloyal to your pain by being joyous.
~Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.
~Corrie Ten Boom

To be successful, love yourself and be originally you. Discover what you were born to do and do it well.
~Israelmore Ayivor

Mollie The #Chinchilla Talks About The Move And No TV

Hi everyone.  This is Mollie the chinchilla.

 

~

 

Well, you’ll never guess what happened.

 

First they woke me up when it was daytime – apparently they forgot again that chinchillas are nocturnal, which means we sleep in the day – and there was some unauthorized grabbing.  I mean, I like the odd cuddle, but it’s meant to be on my terms.  But they didn’t even ask permission.  Mummy just reached in, grabbed me, and pulled me out of my cage.  Even worse, she then stuffed me in to a plastic box.  Naturally I made my opinions on this known, and voiced my displeasure at such treatment.

 

Anyway, I was stuck in the plastic box forever.  Well, it felt like it, though Mummy says it was only about half an hour.  I didn’t like it though, and was getting really upset.  I was glad when I finally got put back in my cage (though not to happy that it involved more unauthorized grabbing).

 

~

 

If that wasn’t enough, there’s no TV!

 

Well, technically there is TV.  I mean, the TV still lives where I am; My cage is still in the same room as where the TV is set up, and when the human caretakers watch DVDs I can see what they’re watching.  But my TV shows that were on all day... Gone!

 

~

 

Before the day I got shoved in the plastic box a couple of men came to look at the TV, and said things about how they, “Can’t access the dish without breaking a whole load of health and safety laws,” and how the human caretakers would have to, “Pay for an independent company who are willing to take the risks,” if they wanted the TV to be working properly again.  So the human caretakers decided not to bother bringing it with us to where we are now, which is some place called, “New flat,” apparently.

 

I wasn’t too happy when I heard about this plan, since I was worried about losing my TV shows.  I love my NCIS! More than that, I hate when it’s quiet.  Music is OK – Mummy listens to all sorts of music, and I even like some of it, especially what she calls, “80s music,” – but music all day... No thanks!

 

~

 

Luckily, Mummy had a plan, and I actually really like what she did.

 

She tuned a radio in to something called, “BBC Radio 4,” for me.  It does sometimes have music, but mostly it’s talking, and a lot of the time it has things she says are called, “Radio dramas,” which are like TV without pictures.  I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it when she told me that was her plan, but I do.  In fact, I love it!

 

Plus, with how they have things set up in this new flat place, they don’t need to be in with me and the TV all day every day, which means they can keep the baby gate shut, and the dogs can’t come and bother me all the time, which is nice.

 

~

 

So, I have my radio, some space from the dogs, and a window they keep open a little whenever it’s not too cold or stormy, so a nice breeze in the room.  I also still have my own fan, so on hotter days I have that as well as the breeze to help me stay cool.

 

I do kind of miss my NCIS and other shows.  But only a little, and you know what? I don’t like how I was woken in the day for unauthorized grabbing, and how I had to be in the plastic box, but if this is what it gets me... It was totally worth it.  I love this new setup!

 

~

 

Squeak soon,

Mollie

#AmReading + #AmWatching + #AmListening - Media Shares And #Reviews 13-08-20

Books are good company, in sad times and happy times, for books are people – people who have managed to stay alive by hiding between the covers of a book.
~E.B. White

 *~*~* 
Welcome to this week's weekly media shares and reviews post!
 
~ 
*Disclaimer: no matter what's being reviewed, all opinions in this post are entirely my own, and I reserve the right to have them, regardless of who may or may not share them. Feel free to express your own in the comments, but please respect my right - and the rights of other commenters - to have opinions that might differ from yours, and to express those opinions too.
 
Also, please remember that I read/watch/listen to things in a variety of genres, and for all ages, so you should make sure you check that the book/movie/show/song is suitable for the intended audience before reading/watching/listening to it, especially if children are involved. I take no responsibility for anything which may happen as a result of failing to do so.
 *~*~* 
OK. Let's see what I've been reading, watching, and listening to, and which song I'm going to share this week, shall we? After all, that's the point of this post, and why you're here today, right?
 
*~*~* 
Reading:This week I read one book, and about two thirds of another.  The one I finished was one I had been given in exchange for an honest review (as  you'll see below).  I'll tell you about the one I didn't finish yet in next week's post, when I'll hopefully be telling you I've finished it, as well as sharing my review for it.  For now though, here's the one I did finish, along with my book review.
 
Safeguard (Thor's Dragon Rider, #1)
by Katrina CopeMy rating: five out of five starsI've been looking forward to getting to read this one ever since I learned this spin-off of one of the author's other series would be happening. I was not disappointed; it was worth the wait, and I'm glad to have been able to re-enter this world and spend more time with the characters. This was a fun and exciting start to the new series, and I look forward to following these characters on their latest adventures, and rooting for them in whatever challenges and battles the rest of the series has in store for them.
*NOTE: I was given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. That fact has in no way influenced either my opinion of the book or the contents of this review.
 *~*~*  Watching:This week I watched more "Outlander" episodes.  I'm now almost done with season three.
 
*~*~* 
Listening:

This week I've been listening to 80s music.  So, here's a random 80s song for your listening pleasure: "Alone" by Heart.

 

#WriterWednesday: #WritersLife + Writerly #Quotes - #AmWriting 12-08-20

When I first learned I'd be without internet for a large chunk of time in July, I had visions of getting plenty of uninterrupted writing time.  Well, it didn't quite work out like that.  I did get some writing in though - even if not as much as I'd planned - and finished the first draft of one of the shorter stories I'd started last year, plus wrote a couple of new poems, so I'm pleased with that. 
In the week and a half since I got my internet connection back I've been trying - and failing - to figure out a balance between getting in my writing time, catching up with everything I missed while offline, and doing the other things I both want and need to do each day.  It's not going well.  Only dealing with a few of the things I need to catch up online with each day is going to plan.  Getting any writing done during what should be my writing time... Not so much.  It's not that I haven't been making the time for it, but I've not been doing too well at focussing on writing between life stuff and very hot weather (we're talking temperatures hot enough that even when it cools down some at night it sometimes doesn't go below 20 degrees C, and is in the high teens when it does actually go below that).  It wouldn't be so bad if we had air conditioning, but we don't, and I'm more of a cold weather person, as long time followers of this blog will already know.
 
Oh, by the way, I expected to come back online to find the audio version of my latest book available for purchase, but apparently it's taking a long time for ACX to get to reviewing it, because it still hasn't gone through their manual review process.  Hopefully it won't be much longer for that though.
 
*~*~* In other news: I learned when I got back online I'd been featured as part of the "Meet The Authors" segment of the Smorgasbord Cafe And Bookstore over on the blog of fellow author, Sally Cronin, recently.  The post I was in can be found here, and went live on July 20th 2020, just in case you'd like to pop over and check that out, and meet the other authors featured in the post.  I'm also featured in the children's cafe and bookstore, if you'd like to check that out too.
 *~*~* 

I haven't had time to go through writing posts and articles yet, so - since I have some easily to hand that I'm pretty sure I haven't shared yet - here are some writing related quotes for you.  Enjoy!

 

*~*~*

 

“There are two things about writing I like: It makes me happy, and it makes other people happy.”
~Stephen King

  

*

 

“You have to be burning with an idea, or a problem, or a wrong that you want to right. If you're not passionate enough from the start, you'll never stick it out.”

~Steve Jobs

 

*

 

“The more articulate one is, the more dangerous words become.”

~May Sarton

 

*

 

“A ratio of failures is built into the process of writing. The wastebasket has evolved for a reason.”

~Margaret Atwood

  

*

 

“I always start out with an idea that becomes a question I don’t have answers to.”
~Toni Morrison

15 #AmReading #Quotes To Remind You How #Hygge Time Curled Up With A #Book Is

Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no libraries.
~Anne Herbert

Of course anyone who truly loves books buys more of them than he or she can hope to read in one fleeting lifetime. A good book, resting unopened in its slot on a shelf, full of majestic potentiality, is the most comforting sort of intellectual wallpaper.
~David Quammen

Books are not made for furniture, but there is nothing else that so beautifully furnishes a house.
~Henry Ward Beecher

What kind of life can you have in a house without books?
~Sherman Alexie

I’m old-fashioned and think that reading books is the most glorious pastime that humankind has yet devised.
~Wisława Szymborska

Reading is a basic tool in the living of a good life.
~Mortimer J. Adler

No entertainment is so cheap as reading, nor any pleasure so lasting.
~Mary Wortley Montagu

Reading for me, is spending time with a friend.
~Gary Paulsen

The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest men of past centuries.
~René Descartes

Books break the shackles of time – proof that humans can work magic.
~Carl Sagan

Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.
~Rainer Maria Rilke

Fools have a habit of believing that everything written by a famous author is admirable. For my part I read only to please myself and like only what suits my taste.
~Voltaire

Never put off till tomorrow the book you can read today.
~Holbrook Jackson

Any book that you pick up as a reader is a printed circuit for your own life to flow through.
~Cory Doctorow

Wear the old coat and buy the new book.
~Austin Phelps

#MondayMotivation - #Quotes + Words Of #Wisdom 10-08-20

Words have even more power when you believe in them. What you say has the potential to change your attitude and your whole way of thinking.
~Jason Scotts

Sometimes it seems safer to hold it all in, where the only person who can judge is yourself.
~Sarah Dessen

Comparison is a very foolish attitude, because each person is unique and incomparable. Once this understanding settles in you, jealousy disappears. You are just yourself: nobody has ever been like you, and nobody will ever be like you.
~Osho

The only disability in life is a bad attitude.
~Scott Hamilton

Tough times never last, but tough people do.
~Dr. Robert Schuller

When you go to your limits, your limits expand.
~Robin Sharma

A smile is a crooked line that sets things straight.
~Phyllis Diller

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
~Herm Albright

Worry often gives a small thing a great shadow.
~Swedish Proverb

Patience is not just the ability to wait, it's how we behave while we're waiting.
~Joyce Meyer

You are not a failure until you start blaming others for your mistakes.
~John wooden

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.
~Aristotle

Random Ramblings - August 7th 2020 Edition

July 22nd 2020 marked a whole year of me being vegan.

 

~

 

I was going to mention it on here, and let all those who had concerns when I announced I’d be going completely vegan know I’m doing well health wise, and don’t regret my decision.  Except I couldn’t get online to do it on or around that date.  So, I guess I’m doing it today.

 

Because of all the moving related stuff, I didn’t even get to do anything special to celebrate being vegan a year.  Never mind though.  I knew the date had arrived, and I know I’m still glad I did it more than a year later, which is what matters.

 

I thought I’d miss some things.  But I don’t.  Perhaps it’s knowing that the things stopping me making the switch from vegetarian to vegan – like cheese – were also things I shouldn’t actually have been having due to the issues I’ve had with dairy since birth? Whatever the case, I’ve not missed any non-vegan foods I used to enjoy, and have become more creative in the kitchen now I’m well enough to have the energy to do so.

 

~

 

Anyway, speaking of largely ignored important dates that happened recently: the Summer Solstice (June 20th this year) and Lammas (August 2nd) went by unobserved this year too.

 

This year I’d planned to be making more effort with the Pagan holidays, but with everything going on with the moving, and pure exhaustion, I just didn’t have the energy or time.  Well, time I could have possibly made, but energy... Definitely none of that to spare.

 

We watched a little of the live stream from Stonehenge on the Summer Solstice, but were too tired to watch much of it, and did nothing else to even acknowledge either holiday.

 

I’m only mentioning them now because they did happen, even if we all but ignored the fact at the time.

 

~

 

In other news: we ended up without a main phone or internet for almost two weeks.

 

That wasn’t meant to happen.  We’d arranged it that the internet would stop working in the upstairs flat the same day it started working in the downstairs flat.  Even factoring in the moving of the computers the day before that date, we shouldn’t have been without internet for more than a day – two at most.

 

That’s why I didn’t mention it beforehand.  Nobody would have noticed if I was gone for a day or two.  Or, if they did, I’d be back by the time people were starting to wonder where I was.  No big deal.

 

But then they changed the day the engineer was coming out to do the internet and phone in the new flat, while leaving the date for the phone and internet to be cut off in the old flat the same as we’d arranged.  The new date was eight days later, meaning we’d be without internet for more than a week.

 

We learned of the changed date short notice.  I just about had time to throw together a couple of posts for the days I hadn’t already scheduled – thank goodness for having most of my Monday and Tuesday posts already done for this year, being ahead on Friday posts (including writing the one that actually said about us moving) having done enough of a Wednesday post that I could make use of it for one of the Wednesday slots, and having a bunch of quotes I could make use of, that’s all I can say – and send short messages to a couple of people (including the narrator of my most recent book) warning them of the fact.  Then I turned on the vacation response thing for my email.  By the time I’d done those things, it was time to unplug my computer for it to be moved.  So, if you didn’t get notified, or checked where I was and got the generic message, sorry.

 

If it wasn’t bad enough that the date got changed to eight days later, when the engineer came out they didn’t tell us someone was outside wanting in, so when we called a few hours after the end of the time bracket in which the engineer should have arrived, it was to learn the engineer was claiming we weren’t there to give access to the property.  We know the person had been here, because there was a picture of the building’s front door attached to the note.  But considering Kelly looked out of the window to see if he could spot the company’s van every few minutes, and there was no attempt made by them to do what they should have done if they couldn’t get our attention with the building buzzer and call my mobile, we know the person couldn’t have been down there trying to get in for more than a few seconds.  Plus, since we neither heard the buzzer nor got a call on my mobile, they obviously didn’t try very hard to get in.  Naturally, the soonest a new visit could be arranged was a couple of days later, and I spend a lot of time on the phone with them making sure that was arranged, and that the person would have a note on the file to call my mobile if they couldn’t get in.  Like they’re actually meant to do anyhow as standard, but apparently the original person couldn’t be bothered to do.

 

I only learned afterwards that they should have sent out an emergency hub I could use to connect to one of their hotspots to get temporary internet.  Though I think that would have only worked for my Kindle and phone.  Still, it would have meant I could keep up with some things, since I was already behind on eMails and blog post notifications with all the moving related stuff, so I’m sure you can imagine what a mess my inbox is in right now.

 

~

 

Yes, I technically have internet on my iPhone.  But because I don’t use it much when I’m out of reach of my home internet anyhow – since I don’t spend much time online with my phone if I’m not at home, and only use it a lot at home because Facebook and Twitter are easier for me on the phone – I don’t have much data allowance on it, so didn’t want to becoming online with that.  I’m already dreading next month’s bill with the calls to numbers that would have been free on the landline but cost on the mobile I had to make during the time we had no home phone.

 

Anyway, the engineer not only did show up on the new date, but actually called us to tell us when he was a few minutes away so we knew to expect him soon.  Naturally, with him actually letting us know he was out there, we were able to let him in to the building so he could do his job.  And what a job it was, since it turned out there wasn’t a wire connecting the socket where the phone and internet cables get plugged in inside (the little plug part in the wall) with the telephone wires outside.  Poor guy ended up spending all morning and almost all afternoon dealing with it.  On one of the days we’ve had when it got up in to the high 20s C too.

 

Of course, as you can tell by the fact I was able to get online to post this, we do now finally have internet and a home phone again.  Though we also have two weeks worth of stuff to catch up on, along with what we were a bit behind on before we lost connection.  So, guess what I’m doing for the next however many days it takes to get caught up? *sigh*

 

~

 

If that wasn’t enough, we've also had an interesting time of it with the switchover of the gas and electric.

 

First we had to get someone to come out and clear the debt on the meters from the previous people – since I wasn’t about to be paying someone else’s bills, especially with how much they were – and set it up so we had some temporary credit.  Then we had to arrange for the gas and electric that’s in our name to switch from one place to another.

 

Like with the phone and internet, I’d arranged it nicely so they switched the same day.  Except it never worked out like that, because the order for it to start up in the new flat didn’t go through, and we didn’t know this for over a week.  In fact, we’d have gone longer without knowing if I hadn’t had a call from the company saying they were sorry we were leaving them, and wouldn’t we consider staying with them in our new place.  I eventually got it straightened out, but it means the temporary credit has had to last longer than planned.

 

Luckily, the combination of us not being in the new place at first, and mostly nice weather – so not much hot water being used, and no need for the heating to go on – means it’s so far lasted well, and hasn’t yet run out.  Hopefully it will last until they come fit the smart meter – whenever they’ll be doing that, since I don’t have a date for that yet - because we have no way to add more until they come do that.  At least, with the gas we don’t.  We have a temporary key for the electric, so can put more on that if needs be.  But we have to hope for the best with our gas, and call them if it runs out beforehand. *sigh*

 

~

 

If the weather continues like this, it should last, because we’ve had nice weather, like I said.

 

I mean, sure, we’ve had some mild rainstorms from time to time, but they never lasted long, and since they were stopping it from getting as hot as it might have done, we’ve been glad of them.  As it is we’ve had quite a few days where it’s gone up in to the high 20s C.  We’re glad to not have had more of those.  Especially with the moving.  Moving is tough enough as it is, without adding extreme heat to the mix.

 

Plus, as long time blog followers likely know, I don't do well with temperatures like that even when I don't have to be dealing with moving related stuff, so the storms mostly stopping us getting very high temperatures is definitely a good thing in my opinion, and I'm incredibly relieved we haven't had more 25 degrees C and above days.  We've had too many for my liking as it is.

 

~

 

Anyway, once we were done dealing with all the moving, I treated my aching muscles to a nice soak in the bath with the butterscotch bath bomb I had in one of those Harry Potter boxes I was getting for a while.  Then I curled up with the dogs and a book for a quiet evening.  I figured I deserved some relaxing and pampering time.  Needed it badly too.  After all, I’ve been neglecting most of my self care and Hygge activities lately, so it was about time I took some time for some of those again.

 

And, yes, I did get some much needed rest last weekend before starting to catch up online (which I'm doing slowly so as to make time for other things).  Just thought I'd mention that, in case someone is wondering.

#AmReading + #AmWatching + #AmListening - Media Shares And #Reviews 06-08-20

"No story lives unless someone wants to listen. The stories we love best do live in us forever."
~J.K. Rowling

 *~*~* 
Welcome to this week's weekly media shares and reviews post! You're getting three weeks worth of reviews today, because - for reasons that will become clear when you read tomorrow's     post - I learned just before we moved that I'd be without internet for almost two weeks            , so scheduled                     some bookish quotes instead of my usual Thursday posts for the past couple of Thursdays.
 
    ~ 
*Disclaimer: no matter what's being reviewed, all opinions in this post are entirely my own, and I reserve the right to have them, regardless of who may or may not share them. Feel free to express your own in the comments, but please respect my right - and the rights of other commenters - to have opinions that might differ from yours, and to express those opinions too.  Also, please remember that I read/watch/listen to things in a variety of genres, and for all ages, so you should make sure you check that the book/movie/show/song is suitable for the intended audience before reading/watching/listening to it, especially if children are involved. I take no responsibility for anything which may happen as a result of failing to do so.
 
*~*~* 
OK. Let's see what I've been reading, watching, and listening to, and which song I'm going to share this time around, shall we? After all, that's the point of this post, and why you're here today, right? Plus, as I said, we have three weeks worth to share.  So, let's get to it.
 
*~*~* 
Reading:Over the past few weeks I read six books.  Well, finished one and read five more, but it still means I have six books to share reviews of today, one of which I was given in exchange for a review (as you'll see below).  So, here's what I read, along with my book reviews.
 
City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments, #5)by Cassandra Claire
My rating: four out of five stars
This was a really great read. Not quite awesome enough that I feel it deserves five stars, but almost. There were times I wanted to shake a couple of the characters and tell them to stop being so stupid, but the plot was action-packed and exciting, and there was definitely some fantastic character growth going on. It had quite the emotional ending too. Now I can't wait to see what happens in the next book, and am glad I have it ready to start right away. ~ 

City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments, #6)

by Cassandra Clare

My rating: five out of five stars

I think this was the best of the series; this book deserves the full five stars for sure. It has an exciting plot, excellent character development, and a fantastic ending.

 

~

 

Viper's Daughter (Chronicles of Ancient Darkness, #7)

by Michelle Paver

My rating: five out of five stars

I love all the books in this series so much I’ve read them multiple times, and was excited to learn we’d finally get a new one; I’ve been eagerly waiting to read this book since I heard it would be coming out. I was not disappointed! This was a totally awesome read, and the only thing that stopped me devouring it in one sitting was life and the need for sleep forcing me to put it down. That and juggling reading it with another book I was as reluctant to put down.

 

~

 

Curse of the Crimson Throne: Crown of Fangs (Pathfinder Legends, #3.6)

by David Bryher

My rating: five out of five stars

I did read/listen to this before, but apparently forgot to review it, so I guess I'll do so this time around. Anyway, this was an excellent chapter in this adventure, and I loved it. I recommend it for fans of fantasy stories based on systems like you find in roleplaying games – or fantasy fans in general - and hope they’ll be doing more of these, because I’d love to follow these characters on more adventures.

 

~

 

Good-bye A672E92 Quintus (The Peers of Beinan)

by Laurel A. Rockefeller

My rating: four out of five stars

This was a really enjoyable read, with a fascinating plot concept, and some wonderful characters. I would have liked a bit more in the way of descriptions - something the author seems to use sparingly - since it would have helped me to immerse myself in the story and world better, but it was an otherwise excellent read, which made me want to read the other books in the series.

*Note: I was given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. This fact has in no way influenced either my opinion of the book or the contents of this review.

 

~

 

Sci-Fi Stories - Future Earth Tech
by Barbara G. Tarn, Debbie Mumford, Blaze Ward, Stefon Mears, B.A. Paul, Mary Rabe, Katharina Gerlach, David Bruns, Rei Rosenquist, and David H. Hendrickson
My rating: four out of five stars

Compilations like this are always tough to review, because there's almost always authors you like the work of more than others. This collection was no exception. The stories were all great in their own way, and some of them I absolutely loved, but a few weren't my cup of tea. Still, this was an enjoyable read over all, and I would recommend it to sci-fi fans who enjoy future tech type stories.

 

*~*~* 
Watching:During the past couple of weeks I watched very little, because of a combination of being busy dealing with moving related stuff, and lack of internet access to stream things via Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+.  However, I did watch a few episodes of "Outlander" both before I lost my internet and after I got it back, as well as a couple of episodes of "Game of Thrones" on DVD during the time I had no internet access.
 
*~*~* 
Listening:I haven't been listening to any music over the past few weeks.  At least, not unless you count the singing of the birds.  So, though it will be slightly different to what I've been hearing due to me hearing coastal town birds, here's some birdsong for you to enjoy too. 

#Moon And #Ocean #Photos + #Quotes About #Reading And #Writing

“We may sit in our library and yet be in all quarters of the earth.”~John Lubbock

“It is books that are the key to the wide world; if you can’t do anything else, read all that you can.”

~Jane Hamilton

“It's a wonderful thing to be able to create your own world whenever you want.”
~Woody Allen

“Remember: Plot is no more than footprints left in the snow after your characters have run by on their way to incredible destinations.”

~Ray Bradbury

“Through lies every novelist attempts to tell the truth about the world.”

~Paul Auster

 

*~*~*

 

By the way, the photos in this post were taken in July.  The first two are moonlight views looking out over the ocean, which were taken on the night of July 29th, and the third and fourth are views of the ocean on a sunny day, which were taken some time on July 31st.

The "This Is My Genre, Tell Me Yours" #Book Tag - #AmReading

My sources - AKA the blog I found this on when I was searching for some new book tags to do - tell me this one comes from The Tattoo Book Geek, and this post seems to support that theory. Just thought I'd mention that, so you know where I got this.

Anyway, this is a pretty short one, but I hope you'll enjoy reading my answers. As I always say with these kinds of things, feel free to play along and share your own answers, either in the comments, or on your own blog. Just remember to let me know if you do the latter, so I can make sure not to miss your answers. Either way, I'd love to know what your answers would be. In the meantime though, here are the questions, along with my own answers:

1. What is your favorite genre?

I read books from pretty much any genre. However, since the point of this tag is to pick one, so I have to, I'm going with fantasy, which is the one I'm most likely to be reading something in anyhow, regardless of the recommended reading age.

2. Who is your favorite author from that genre?

Oh, now you're asking something. I'm not good at picking favourite authors, since my favourite author changes depending on recent reads and my mood. However, you can pretty much guarantee the "Harry Potter" books by J K Rowling and the "Fatemarked" books by David Estes will be on my top books list somewhere, so I'm going to pick J K Rowling as my favourite female author, and David Estes as my favourite male author. Yes, that's cheating. No, I don't care.

3. What is it about the genre that keeps pulling you back?

I get to explore all kinds of wonderful worlds, meet all kinds of magical creatures, and so on, all while in the comfort of my own home. Seriously, what's not to love about that?

4. What is the book that started your love for your favorite genre?

I honestly don't know. I think it was a natural progression from the fairy tales I loved - and still love.

5. If you had to recommend at least one book from your favorite genre to a non-reader/someone looking to start that genre, what book would you choose and why?

The Harry Potter books. Partially because I love them so much in general, and partially because I know they've encouraged many a reluctant reader to read more, so would hope they'd do so again. Seriously, if you haven't read them and enjoy fantasy - or want to try fantasy - start reading them now. Well, not this moment, since you need to read the rest of this post first, but you know what I mean.

6. Why do you read?

Because it gives me an escape when I need one, it lets me meett people and go to places I otherwise wouldn't, and because the only things more essential in my opinion than reading are writing, sleeping, eating, drinking, and breathing.