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Title: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying UpAuthor: Marie Kondō
Year: Unknown - no date in the book
Genre: Non-fiction
Sub-Genre: Self-help (de-cluttering)
K was in her twenties, worked for a cosmetics company, and lived at home. As we were sorting through her clothes I began to notice something odd about the choices she was making. Despite the fact that she owned enough clothes to fill one large closet, which is an average-size wardrobe, the number of clothes she chose to keep seemed unnaturally small. Her answer to the question, ‘Does this spark joy?’ was almost always ‘No.’ After thanking each item for a job well done, I would pass them to her to discard. I couldn’t help noticing the look of relief on her face every time she put an outfit in the bag. Examining the collection more closely, I saw that the clothes she chose to keep were mostly casual things like T-shirts, while the ones she discarded were a completely different style — tight skirts and revealing tops. When I asked her about this, she said, ‘My older sister gave me those.’ When all the clothes were sorted and she had made her final choice, she murmured, ‘Look at that. I was surrounded by all this stuff I didn’t even like.’ Her sister’s hand-me-downs had comprised over a third of her wardrobe, but hardly any of these had given her that important thrill of pleasure. Although she had worn them because her sister had given them to her, she had never liked them (54-5).
Guy, I have a bunch of clothes in my closet that don't fit me anymore and probably need to be donated to Good Will, so I can relate to that paragraph you've shown us.And Angie, there was a lot of depth to the paragraph you've posted as well. When we lose the ability to think for ourselves, we lose what makes us special. Mass conformity is creepy to think about.
Garrison wrote: "Guy, I have a bunch of clothes in my closet that don't fit me anymore and probably need to be donated to Good Will, so I can relate to that paragraph you've shown us.And Angie, there was a lot of..."
Garrison, I really enjoyed the book. It is excellent, and I cannot recommend it enough to help bring joy into one's life.
BOOK TITLE: Swamplandia!AUTHOR: Karen Russell
YEAR: 2011
GENRE: Fiction
SUBGENRE: Environmental Thriller
That day a category 2 hurricane was coming; truly, it was a strange time to try to pin up laundry, with the swamp wind whipping our hair at each other across the clothesline like a weird game of tennis. We had the same kind of hair, a black coffee shade with ruddy glinting, thick and ursine like Judy the bear’s fur - a big point of pride for me.
Book Title: Hollow CityAuthor: Ransom Riggs
Bronwyn closed the book.
Claire looked appalled. "That's it?"
Enoch began to laugh.
"That's it," Bronwyn said.
"That's a terrible story," said Claire. "Tell another one."
"A story's a story," said Emma, "and now it's time for bed."
Claire pouted, but she had stopped crying, so the tale had served its purpose.
Title: Tao Te ChingAuthor: Lao Tzu (translated by Victor H. Mair)
Year: 1990
Genre: Taoist Philosophy
44
(79)
Compromise with great resentment
will surely yield lingering resentment;
How can this be seen as good?
For this reason,
The sage holds the debtor's side of a contract
and does nto make claims upon others.
Therefore,
The man of integrity attends to his debts;
The man without integrity attends to his exactions.
The Way of heaven is impartial,
yes is always with the good person.
Marie, if Claire was your child, I know you wouldn't let her get away with that snotty response. You're a no-nonsense Super-Mom! :)Guy, that's some pretty deep philosophy right there. I know you have a passion for literature like that, so I'd say you found a good one there. :)
Garrison wrote: "Marie, if Claire was your child, I know you wouldn't let her get away with that snotty response. You're a no-nonsense Super-Mom! :)Guy, that's some pretty deep philosophy right there. I know you ..."
I have been really enjoying this trilogy about children with special powers. One more book to go...
Caitlyn's special power is killing people with a cuteness overload. ^_^
TITLE: Morning StarAUTHOR: Pierce Brown
GENRE: Science Fiction
As Dancer speaks, I watch my mother stare distantly at the crackling lightbulb in the ceiling. What is this like for her? For a mother to see her child broken by other men? To see the pain written in scars on his skin, spoken in silences, in far-off looks. How many mothers have prayed to see their sons, their daughters return from war only to realize the war has kept them, the world has poisoned them, and they'll never be the same?
For nine months, Mother has grieved for me. Now she's drowning in guilt for giving up and desperation in hearing the war swallow me again, knowing she's helpless to stop it. In the past years, I've trampled over so many to get what I think I want. If this is my last chance at life, I want to do it right. I need to.
Angie, that may be considered science-fiction, but it's true in the real world as well. War does a lot of crazy things to people, both in civilian and overseas life. Watching it unfold like that is heartbreaking on so many levels. :(
BOOK TITLE: A Lion’s Tale: Around the World in SpandexAUTHOR: Chris Jericho (with Peter Thomas Fornatale)
YEAR: 2007
GENRE: Nonfiction
SUBGENRE: Pro-Wrestling Memoir
A buzz came over my fellow students when the word spread that Ed had arrived at the hotel. I held my breath, flexed my biceps, and waited for my new mentor to walk in. When a sixty-year-old-looking man wearing his hair parted to the side with thick glasses and a giant beer belly sauntered in, I stared in disbelief at the real Ed. It was like thinking you were having phone sex with Jessica Alba and finding out you’ve been beating it to Bea Arthur. No wonder Bret never heard of him – who in the hell was this guy? I found out that when Stampede closed, Keith Hart had bought the rights to the school from his brother Bruce and hired Ed, a former Stampede referee, to run it.
BOOK TITLE: Mutant Toe and the Risky RecruitmentAUTHOR: Edward Davies
YEAR: 2016 (written a hell of a lot earlier)
GENRE: Fiction
SUBGENRE: Superhero Comedy
Melanie glared at Seema, “You know, for someone who claims to be, like, so clever and stuff, you really do talk a lot of rubbish sometimes!”
OOC: An American character using British slang. How cute. Hehe!
Title: My Sister's Keeper
Author: Jodi Picoult
I sat on the floor on my side of the room, removing every single Barbie we owned, dressing and undressing them, making a big fuss out of the fact that I had them and Kate didn't. She perched on her bed with her knees drawn up, watching me. She didn't react at all. Until, that is, my mother called us down for lunch.
Author: Jodi Picoult
I sat on the floor on my side of the room, removing every single Barbie we owned, dressing and undressing them, making a big fuss out of the fact that I had them and Kate didn't. She perched on her bed with her knees drawn up, watching me. She didn't react at all. Until, that is, my mother called us down for lunch.
Title: Ice StationBy: Matthew Reilly
Section:---------
"Thank you," Schofield said, turning back to face Petard. "Thank you for all you have done. We arrived here only several hours after you did and the people here have told us how good you have been to them. We thank you for your efforts."
"But of course," Petard said, his English fluent. "One must look after one's neighbors." He offered a wry smile. "You never know when you yourself might be in need of assistance."
"No, you don't."
At that moment Snake's voice crackled over Schofield's earpiece: "Lieutenant, we have another contact crossing the trip wire."
-------------
TITLE: Poison StudyAUTHOR: Maria V. Snyder
GENRE: Fantasy
"Does the entire castle's staff get paid?"
"Yes."
"Including the food taster?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"The food taster is paid in advance. How much is your life worth?"
I read this book last week, but I forgot to post for it.TITLE: Deadline
AUTHOR: Mira Grant
GENRE: Science Fiction / Zombies
Great. It wasn't enough that my sister was dead and living inside my head; now she was giving me orders. "It never stops," I muttered, and looked back toward Kelly. "If you died, want to tell us how it is you're standing here and not trying to eat us?" I paused and then added, "That wasn't actually a request."
TITLE: CressAUTHOR: Marissa Meyer
GENRE: Sci-Fi/Retelling
Restraining a melodramatic sigh, Kai crumpled back onto the sofa. He knew he was being childish, but he felt he had the right to lash out occasionally, especially here in the privacy of his own office. Everywhere else he was expected to smile and proclaim how much he was looking forward to the wedding. How beneficial this alliance would be for the Commonwealth. How he had no doubt that his marriage to Queen Levena would serve to unite the people of Earth and Luna in a way that hadn't been seen for centuries and would no doubt lead to greater appreciation and understanding of each other's cultures. It was the first step toward doing away with years of hatred and ignorance and who on Earth did he think he was fooling anyway? He hated Levena.
BOOK TITLE: A Pedigree to Die For: A Melanie Travis MysteryAUTHOR: Laurien Berenson
YEAR: 1995
GENRE: Fiction
SUBGENRE: Dog Mystery
On the way home, Davey and I stopped at McDonald’s for some Chicken McNuggets, chocolate milkshakes, and a large order of fries, which we shared. He was filled with animation, reliving in detail the highlights of his day. I ate my food in silence and let him hold the stage. One of the first things motherhood had taught me was to conserve energy whenever possible. By now, I was a master at it.
OOC: Damn it, now I’m hungry for McDonald’s food. Hehe!
Garrison wrote: "BOOK TITLE: A Pedigree to Die For: A Melanie Travis MysteryAUTHOR: Laurien Berenson
YEAR: 1995
GENRE: Fiction
SUBGENRE: Dog Mystery
On the way home, Davey and I stopped at McDonald’s for some Chi..."
---
The "ending" to that made me laugh, haha.
By the way Garrison, have you tried out the Travis Chase trilogy yet..?
Not yet, CJ. I always choose my next book to read at random and right now there are 92 items on that list. "A Pedigree to Die For" happened to be the lucky number.
Oh okay.Well you're free to choose whatever your heart (or your spinning wheel of 92 choices) will lead you to do, hehe!
Random selection ensures that all of my books have a fair chance at being read. It used to be that I'd only read books I recently purchased while the older ones collected dust. Plus, random selection is a good exercise in discipline for me. :)
Mmm hmm. That's cool. I have disciplined myself by re-reading ONLY if I want to but pushing for as many new books as I can. Also because of budget but also because of owning too many books as it is currently, I try to push to reading books that I have versus getting too many at the library or buying more from Barnes & Noble (though I love going there! I have to get one more book when I get the money to do so..).
You can never have too many books. :)
TITLE: Death MarkedAUTHOR: Leah Cypess
GENRE: Fantasy
At least there were rails, even if they were little more than thick ropes strung alongside the wooden slats. Ileni gripped them with both hands, which turned out to be a mistake. It made the entire bridge sway beneath her feet. She stepped onto the next slat, not allowing herself to hesitate, glad the imperial sorcerers couldn't see her face. If she just kept moving, they wouldn't know how terrified she was. The bridge stretched ahead of her, terribly long. she thought of Sorin, of his unflinching black eyes, of the courage she had seen in the depths of the caves. She could do this. She knew courage. She had spent over a month expecting to die every day. But not expecting to fall.
A gust of wind made the bridge swing wildly.
I can feel her fear of heights, Angie. That's some damn good writing. :)
This author is a fabulous writer! The premise of her books is also incredible. But I also feel like a lot of her plot's potential is underutilized, which can be really frustrating. Her books are good, but they could be amazing.
If she's an independent author, she can edit her book as many times as it takes to tap into her story's potential. That's what I'm doing with my novella "Occupy Wrestling".
FromTitle- No Way Back
By- Andrew Gross
Quote:
Someone stepped out of the passenger's side of the SUV and cautiously approached us along the circular drive, his gun extended from the top of the semicircular drive.
BOOK TITLE: Lament of the FallenAUTHOR: Andy Peloquin
YEAR: 2016
GENRE: Fiction
SUBGENRE: Dystopian Fantasy
The Hunter tugged on Elivast's reins, matching the knight's pace. The horse panted beneath him, a thin film of sweat covering the horse's flanks. Though the sun hung low in the sky, the heat had not abated.
OOC: I feel The Hunter’s pain…literally. I went horse back riding in the desert during my 2012 New Mexico vacation. My groin and legs were killing me afterwards, especially considering the whole ride lasted four hours. If a horse takes me anywhere again, it better be towing a carriage behind it. Ugh.
Hayden starts to howl. He starts hitting his own head with his hands, and his face is all crumpled up, like he's terrified or completely miserable. I get this feeling that I have with Tilly: half sympathetic because he's so upset, and have annoyed because, honestly, his mom's only five feet from him, and it shouldn't be this big a deal. But he's just a little kid, and Tilly is older than I am, so with him, I am leaning more toward the sympathy side.
Hey Melissa, what story is that paragraph from? It makes for an awesome read! :)
Oh my! Stupid me! I forgot to post the title and author!
The book is: harmony by Carolyn Parkhurst. I actually got it at a bookstore while we were on vacation in New Mexico. The cashier said that they receive copies of books all the time where the authors or companies want reviews but they can't possibly read them all. They had an entire shelf of books like that they were giving away for free. Kind of a BOGO deal. Many of them were advanced, uncorrected proofs. That's what "harmony" is. In a way, I feel privileged to be able to read it before it even comes out "officially". It is actually on sale as of August 2, 2016. I am 37% finished and, so far, I think it's a pretty good book. There is some language in the very beginning that I don't care for but minus that I have only found one mistake. Again, uncorrected proofs. There may be others that I didn't catch but I think that means I am really getting into the story. It's about kids with autism or other related type problems. They go to this camp (with their parents and siblings as well). I am beginning to wonder if it is going to turn into a cult-like atmosphere with the man running the place but I'm not sure. I am anxious to see what happens!
The book is: harmony by Carolyn Parkhurst. I actually got it at a bookstore while we were on vacation in New Mexico. The cashier said that they receive copies of books all the time where the authors or companies want reviews but they can't possibly read them all. They had an entire shelf of books like that they were giving away for free. Kind of a BOGO deal. Many of them were advanced, uncorrected proofs. That's what "harmony" is. In a way, I feel privileged to be able to read it before it even comes out "officially". It is actually on sale as of August 2, 2016. I am 37% finished and, so far, I think it's a pretty good book. There is some language in the very beginning that I don't care for but minus that I have only found one mistake. Again, uncorrected proofs. There may be others that I didn't catch but I think that means I am really getting into the story. It's about kids with autism or other related type problems. They go to this camp (with their parents and siblings as well). I am beginning to wonder if it is going to turn into a cult-like atmosphere with the man running the place but I'm not sure. I am anxious to see what happens!
It sounds like it's going to be a fun read for you! I'm particularly interested in the autism themes since I myself am autistic. I hope you enjoy your book and don't find too many errors. :)
Melissa wrote: "Oh my! Stupid me! I forgot to post the title and author!The book is: harmony by Carolyn Parkhurst. I actually got it at a bookstore while we were on vacation in New Mexico. The cashier said that t..."
That's exciting that you've gone to a place that experiences that kind of benefit for readers itching to get into a new work and for the publishers. What a great opportunity for you, Melissa!
And it's rare that uncorrected books have so few mistakes. That's a nice gem of an early work as well. It's no wonder usually a proofreader needs to have a master's degree when it comes down to making drafts final. But it's all worth it in the long run from when it gets from a notebook paper or a screen to the finished work in our book-loving hands. :)
Book Title: GoneAuthor(s): James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge
Paragraph:
Mike shrugged as he chewed, a puzzled look on his face like he actually wasn't sure what was going on. But Mary Catherine knew Mike. He was a bad liar. Playing dumb was definitely not his forte. Something was going on. Something bad. As if they needed that now. As if they needed more turmoil.
BOOK TITLE: What Money Can’t BuyAUTHOR: Marie Krepps
DATE PUBLISHED: August 11th, 2016
GENRE: Fiction
SUBGENRE: Teen Romance
This was the first compliment he’d ever given Sasha and when she realized this she was pleased but also slightly confused. She was used to everyone doting on her and telling her how beautiful she was. But hearing it from Daniel was different somehow. She couldn’t understand why it made her feel differently, but she liked it. It had her chest aching again but a sweet ache this time.
OOC: I never miss a chance to promote Marie-Pie’s work. ^_^
I like this game but I don't think page 55 of nausea...containing only one paragraph, will do, lol
So I could either pick up the Camus or the Kafka as well or choose a randomly weird one of my many philosophy books that are all around me for the essays....
Title: On the Advantage and Disadvantage of History for LifeAuthor: Friedrich Nietzsche
There will come a time when one will wisely refrain from all constructions of the world process or of the history of mankind, a time when one no longer considers the masses at all but once again the individuals who constitute a kind of bridge across the wild stream of becoming. These do not, as it were, continue a process but live in timeless simultaneity, thanks to history, which permits such co - operation, they live as the republic of geniuses of which Schopenhauer speaks somewhere; one giant calls to the other across the bleak intervals of and, undisturbed by the wanton noisy dwarfs who creep away beneath them, the lofty conversation of spirits continues. The task of history is to be the mediator between them and so again and again to provide the occasion for and lend strength to the production of greatness. No, the goal of humanity cannot lie at the end but only in its highest specimens.
I should have picked a better translation, one that showed that the man could write without going passive and with actual punctuation.
Garrison wrote: "BOOK TITLE: What Money Can’t BuyAUTHOR: Marie Krepps
DATE PUBLISHED: August 11th, 2016
GENRE: Fiction
SUBGENRE: Teen Romance
This was the first compliment he’d ever given Sasha and when she reali..."
Thanks a lot!
BOOK TITLE: Never AgainAUTHOR: Marie Krepps
DATE PUBLISHED: Sometime at the end of August
GENRE: Fiction
SUBGENRE: Creature Fantasy
Sable shifted back to human form and started walking again, completely ignoring her humor, unsurprisingly. Nessa moved to follow then held back. Walking behind him, with his beautiful naked back and ass right there for her to gawk at, was not something she was looking forward to. As a shifter, she was used to being naked around others and seeing naked shifters pretty often. It was kind of a given. But that didn’t mean she wanted to be naked around this wolf. Or see him in all his naked glory. I mean, by the gods, that ass! Oh no, what was wrong with her?
I was reading my German fairytale book, and page 55 was the Queen speaking to the mirror in Snow White. Here is the witch's conversation with the mirror in the original German. For Curiosity's sakeBOOK TITLE: Snow White
AUTHOR: The Brother's Grimm (and the forgotten author of the source material)
DATE PUBLISHED: Once Upon a Time
GENRE: Fairy Tale
"Spieglein, Spieglein an der Wand,
Wer is die Schönste im ganzen Land?"
Da antwortete er wie sonst:
"Frau Konigin, Ihr seid die Schönste hier,
aber Schneewittchen über den Bergen
bie den sieben Zwergen
ist noch tausendmal schöner als Ihr."
(The mirror just told the Queen that Snow White was literally a thousand times prettier than she ... ouch)
I think the Queen obsesses over her own beauty a little too much. If this story took place in 21st century Hollywood, she would be addicted to plastic surgery. Hehe!
BOOK TITLE: The Cat Who Talked to GhostsAUTHOR: Lilian Jackson Braun
YEAR: 1990
GENRE: Fiction
SUBGENRE: Cozy Mystery
Driving to North Middle Hammock he noticed that the wind had risen and the leaves were beginning to fall. On Fugtree Road the pavement was carpeted with yellow leaves from the aspens. It would be a pleasant day to take a walk, he thought. His bicycle was in Pickax, and he missed his daily exercise. He was feeling relaxed and in a good humor; a little banter with his colleagues at the Something always put him in an amiable mood. A moment later, his equanimity was shattered.
OOC: Before I started working with Marie Krepps, I've been blind to the fact that Lilian Jackson Braun does more telling than showing in her "Cat Who..." novels.
BOOK TITLE: Wrestling, Vol. 1AUTHORS: What Culture Staff
YEAR: 2016
GENRE: Nonfiction
SUBGENRE: Pro-Wrestling Magazine
Some wrestlers are so good they can cover up the weaknesses of their opponents by planning around them. However, when a wrestler forgets the plan and gets completely lost it’s a lot harder to have a great match on the fly. Yet, that’s what Bret Hart did when his brother-in-law Davey Boy Smith completely blanked in front of 80,000 fans at Wembley Stadium in his home country. Bret calmed Davey down and walked him through the match, which became one of the most highly regarded bouts of the 1990’s and established Bret Hart, rather than Davey, as a potential main event star. The Intercontinental Title match headlined Wembley due to the patriotic fervor surrounding Davey’s pursuit of the belt, with the WWF Championship – held by Randy Savage – relegated to being defended in the midcard. Given the cheap count out finish in that match, it made sense to go with Hart-Smith on top, as the WWF didn’t want their big summer pay-per-view extravaganza to conclude with a disappointment. You certainly couldn’t call Bret vs. Bulldog a disappointment. The largely improvised 25-minute contest builds to a crescendo of excitement, drawing in the crowd one near finish at a time. The noise is ridiculous throughout, thanks to the emotional investment of the fans in their favorite wrestler, and Bret’s cunning strategy. It’s also the storyline that hooked people. The Hart Family feud became a major ongoing issue until Bret created the larger second incarnation of the Hart Foundation in 1997. The post match hug between Bulldog and the former champion Bret, along with Diana joining them in the ring is emotional dynamite. Bret’s reward for telling such a stellar story was the WWF Championship a few months later.
OOC: As someone who doesn’t regularly read magazines, I have to ask, do they usually contain gigantic paragraphs like this or is it just this issue?
Weekly Short Stories Contest and Company!
Books mentioned in this topic
Debt: The First 5,000 Years (other topics)How to Live: A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer (other topics)
Adult Onset (other topics)
When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress (other topics)
Morning Star (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Ann-Marie MacDonald (other topics)Gabor Maté (other topics)
Marie Kondō (other topics)
Barbara Stoler Miller (other topics)
Marcus Aurelius (other topics)
More...
AUTHOR: Ronda Rousey
YEAR: 2015
GENRE: Nonfiction
SUBGENRE: MMA Memoir
Taking the next step isn’t always easy. People stay in jobs they’ve outgrown because they’re afraid of having to prove themselves anew. People stay in unhappy relationships because they’re afraid of being alone. Athletes stick with a coach who can’t help them develop further because they are afraid of being tested, of not measuring up to someone else’s standards, because they’re afraid to upset someone they care about. They let fear hold them back.
If you’re unwilling to leave someplace you’ve outgrown, you will never reach your full potential. To be the best, you have to constantly be challenging yourself, raising the bar, pushing the limits of what you can do. Don’t stand still, leap forward.