Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

Lol, if only you could get a degree for all of those things. I think it's cruel that we have to pick one thing to do for the rest of our lives.
Medical examiner, really? Isn’t that where they look at the dead people? *shudder*

Yep. That is exactly what it is. I thank my mother and Patricia Cornwell for that one. My mother works in a hospital and one of her friends worked in the morgue so I saw plenty of dead people. And of course Cornwell and her character, Kay Scarpetta, make it sound awesome.

Wow Rachel! That's a lot of stuff and it leaves me just about speechless which takes a lot..

Sorry to hear about the cats, Mathilda understands..

Yes, it makes me speechless sometimes too. It is not that I am indecisive, I really want to do all of those things!

Oh of that, I have no doubt. You definitely speak your mind...

1.I tend to be obsessive about certain things. If I like a book, I try to collect all the books like it. Same for an author.
2. I am very hard on myself. I tend to rake myself over the coals when I make a mistake.
3. I am rather introverted. I like to stay at home and read, watch tv, hang out in my room. I don't like going to parties, because I feel very awkward socially.
4. I love being outdoors, and I love nature. I am very curious about animals and plants (often got me in trouble as a kid).
5. I love Asian men and British men. Maybe I will find an Asian British guy to marry.
6. I love, love, love the band Interpol. I could listen to their music all day.
7. I own thousands of books. Book collecting is one of my serious addictions hobbies.
8.I don't care for gross or gory movies/books, but I love scary/creepy/macabre movies and books.
9.I like to watch real life ghost/paranormal shows.
10.My favorite meal is dessert.

I agree with 3 and 10. I am very introverted myself. When I get invited out somewhere, I actually think it is a chore some times! And I absolutely love dessert too!

Wow that's a lot of books, Danielle! Where do you keep them all?

Hey Lady D! I am like #2, 7 and of course 10. I like to watch scary movies as I love having the everlasting s*&^ scared out of me. It is better than eating prunes..

Shashana, I have a study that I use as a library. I also have bookcases all over my bedroom and in the closets.

Heather, being scared is therapeutic!

Rachel, I am the same way about social outings. I make myself go, occasionally.

Danielle, I am so jealous. I would love to have a room to use as my own personal library. Unfortunately I only have space for one book case in my house that houses my faves, but my mom was nice enough to get me a kindle last christmas so no more bulky books in her house. That's okay though because I have donated tons of bookks and passed on the love of reading to others.

Lacy, I realize I am blessed. :)
The great thing about the Kindle is the fact you can save 3500 books!

I think anyone who has found the love of reading is truly blessed and unfortunately many of the younger generation don't find that love of reading.

I could not agree more. I am so glad I was able to show my sister how fun reading is. She reads all the time...just like me and loves it! I am going to school to get my English/Reading certification so I can help all kids find that love of reading.

Well my sister wouldn't read for fun if you held a gun to her head of course she is still in college so she gets lots of required reading. Hopefully that will change after she graduates.

Lacy, I know other people that hate reading and for the life of me I just can't understand why! How can you not love picking up a book and getting lost in it?

I know and I try my best to get my family into reading. I actually have one cousin who is reading the Percy Jackson series and the other one will only read car or fishing magazines, but at least he is reading. I keep telling them that it is a great escape from reality and will help them later in life.

I really don't know why people don't love to read. I think if there's a book for everyone (corny as it sounds).

I think it has a lot to do with the required reading they have you do in school. People just automatically think that all books are boring because they didn't like a certain book that they were forced to read. I think that you just have to keep trying different genres and authors until you find the one that speaks to you.

I have been reading all my life and I'm in college now. And the required reading is a lot but for my literature classes I usually like the required reading. Not all of it but some.

Lacy wrote: "I think it has a lot to do with the required reading they have you do in school. People just automatically think that all books are boring because they didn't like a certain book that they were for..."

So true, the little that they do read is boring so they probably think all books are boring.

Rose wrote: "I have been reading all my life and I'm in college now. And the required reading is a lot but for my literature classes I usually like the required reading. Not all of it but some."

I usually hate required reading! I feel like I'm being forced to read somethething I will not like and wouldn't read in my spare time. In my AP Lit class I just finished The Bluest Eye which I hated. On the bright side we'll be starting The Kite Runner, which I already read, on Monday.

I'm not against required reading, but like Lacy said teachers always seem to choose the boring books.

Yeah, some can be pretty boring, but some of my favorite books came from English classes. Like The Great Gatsby, which I love. I usually hate the fact that we have to read the but, but when I think book on the content of the book, I usually like it.

It’s kind of ironic that I hate assigned reading since I plan to major in English. More so because I want to be a teacher (maybe) so pretty soon I’ll be the one assigning reading. Crazy huh?

I think the best books that I've been assigned to read are The Giver, Charlotte's Web, and Animal Farm.

@Sashana- I am going through all the student teaching things now to teach English. I think it is ironic also. The only thing I can think of is to give them choices about what they want to read or do lit circles that way they will have SOME say in what they get to read. However, they still need to be exposed to the "classics", but there are ways to make them fun. It may take some work, but it is worth it! I know exactly what you mean about not enjoying the reading. Haven't read The Bluest Eye, but I did have to read Beloved and it was pretty bad too.

Yeah, I can see that. I remember sitting my my Mom while she would read to me. I can still hear her voice and how it made me feel, especially when she would read, Are You My Mother?".

Yeah I never liked assigned reading either. The books are usually good, but the fact that there is a deadline attached immediately turns me off of them. I read classic literature on my own though.

Still I have english classes to thank for exposing me to many great novels.

I agree with your deadline statement Samantha... I can't stand that either! :(

1. I spend a lot of the time on message boards
2. I do not like fish or eggs
3. I feel naked if I'm not wearing a hat
4. I am always working on a novel, but have never finished one.
5. I have read the Sword of truth series over and over again
6. I hate driving.
7. I forgive, but I never forget.
8. My ipod is always full of music.
9. I am going to school to be a librarian. Yes, you have to go to school for that.
10. I have never bought a new car and I never plan to.

5) Saw the show and I'm sad they canceled it. I want to read the books but they are so intimidating.
4) Did you know that November is National Novel Writing month? It's the perfect time for to you to write. Check it out http://www.nanowrimo.org/

7. I think that sometimes it I hard to forget.
8. Mine too! What kind of music do you like?

Dylan, I agree with Lauren, sometimes is it hard to forget.

Why don't you like eggs or fish?

What kind of hat do you wear?

I have a driver's license but haven't driven in 20 odd years. Don't own a car and seriously doubt I will..

@Dylan From your list of random things, I can see that we are totally different people! I love fish and eggs, have never worn a hat by choice, and will one day own a car in my name, and yes it will be new! Different is good though...if everyone was the same there would be nothing to talk about!

@Heather Oh my goodness! I do not know what I would do if I did not drive. School and work are both to far away to walk or ride a bike and public transportation here terribly unreliable. The only people that ride it are the handful of homeless we have around town, seriously!

Rachel! LOL! OK, picture this: I lived in San Francisco for 37 yrs! There are buses, streetcars, BART and cable cars that will take you anywhere. Plus, there is also Mom's Taxi service and of course friends. That's why I live in a big city. Even though I moved to Oakland, I can still use their buses and BART.

I never did like hats, they mess up my 'do', even when I was an infant..

I love driving, it's one of the ways I unwind and relax. I even like driving in San Francisco! Oakland? Not so much. I hate Oakland. Palo Alto is pretty frustrating too, just because of the crackhead pedestrians and the other drivers are too busy looking for parking spots to pay a-bloody-tension.

@Heather- Well that makes sense. I am originally from the DFW area, but even there it was hard to use any of the pub trans unless you were conveniently going RIGHt along the route. I think it would be nice to live some where that promotes it more. Every once in awhile I want someone else to drive. However, I do agree with Sans. I love driving too, especially on road trips. It is very relaxing as long as traffic is smooth!

Sans, yeah, it is a little scary driving around in Oakland. You should see my Mom use her clutch on the hills in SF! It is a sight to behold..

Rachel, yeah, that's why I only live in cities where they have major public transportation. Sad huh?

A standard in San Fran...hahahahaha. Your mom must be crazy! ;) lol.

No, that is not sad. In the long run it is cheaper. Don't have to pay for gas, or car payments, or even car repairs. Sounds good to me. I am not an environmentalist, hippie (well maybe a bit), or earth eccentric but thank you for helping our air while you save money. :)

10 Random things about me.

1. wanted to have 13 children because I just love kids
2. want to own a ranch/farm so I can be a rescue for animals
3. could read 24/7
4. love to drive
5. could eat every desert in site. Thank goodness I have some control.. Shhhsh I don't go into any desert stores that is my control
6. Love baby smell
7. OCD Major on almost everything Im a control freak
8. LOVE to work its my vacation away from the house
9. Absolutely LOVE snow
10. will help anyone in need breaks my heart to see someone hurting

I agreed with #1 when I was a kid, but now that I am older I see that 2-4 will be just fine...lol.

#'s 2,3,4,5,6,9,10 are also me. Babies smell so clean and pure. I will never be able to read enough or eat enough desserts....MmmmMmmmMmmm. I love animals too. I am slowly dying inside because our apartment does not allow pets. :(

Welcome Carey. It's nice having you.

Rachel - I am glad we moved into a larger house but I have to limit still what we have because we have 4 daughers who take up TONS of room. Nice to meet you Rachel

Thank you & Nice to meet you Lisarenee

Carey wrote: "10 Random things about me.

1. wanted to have 13 children because I just love kids
2. want to own a ranch/farm so I can be a rescue for animals
3. could read 24/7

#10 sounds a lot like me. I am always feeling dad because of the way others are treated so cruelly in our school. It's upsetting.

It's nice to have you with us Carey!
4. love to drive
5. could e..."

Carey wrote: "10 Random things about me.

1. wanted to have 13 children because I just love kids
2. want to own a ranch/farm so I can be a rescue for animals
3. could read 24/7

#10 sounds a lot like me. I am always feeling dad because of the way others are treated so cruelly in our school. It's upsetting.

It's nice to have you with us Carey!
4. love to drive
5. could e..."

Rachel, Mom has been driving stick since before I was born. She is amazing with it comes to the hills. As for crazy, yeah, a little but you gotta blame a lot of it on me. Heh-heh, can't say you haven't been warned.

Carey, welcome to the group!

Well I do need some one to teack me how to drive a stick. I just want to know. I will be there in a few days? :) I think we are a little crazy, just depends on how much and what kind. We are the good crazy. Thanks for not taking it the wrong way when I said your mom was crazy...I almost deleted it.

Oh please! As if Dear, it takes a lot, and it always depends on my mood. I knew where you were coming from.
No harm at all. I learned how to drive in SF, with a stick and I think that's why I never liked driving and haven't been back to it..

1- Horror movies are my favorite, they rarely scare me anymore, but thats okay
2- I collect rubber ducks, and stuffed ducks. Ducks are also my favorite animal.
3- Im obsessed with knee socks. I have about 20 pairs
4- I love photography, its my passion
5- I will eat anything if you put enough cheese (Or ketchup) On it
6- Im scared of clowns, needles, spiders, being alone, and as a new fear, psychos with chainsaws
7- The series that ive read the most times is the maximum ride series, ive read through the books atleast 3 times each
8- My favorite tv shows are Glee, 90210, One Tree Hill, and Raising hope
9- You will never see me without my phone, my ipod, or my camera
10- My favorite holidays are 4th of july and Christmas

Hey Ashlea, and welcome to the group!

Yeah, I feel ya on #1 & 10. I like Raising Hope too. Mom started it but she didn't like it and stopped. She didn't like how poor people were protrayed and I said you take it a little too seriously.

Nope quite scared of spiders and I get my fair share in my apartment building. I usually capture them, then set them free..

Ashlea, I like your name. It's very unusual and pretty.
So do your favorite horror movies include clowns, needles, spiders, being alone, and psychos with chainsaws?