Chit Chat and All That...

[OnceUponaTime]

Bahahah….
One in a thousand reasons why I homeschool my girls.

 

[Shera]

@Daniel Lion Thanks. I hope so too. Looks like Disney is making them push it back until the end of April, along with Netlfix's release date for DVD. I think they're trying to boost DVD sales. Sometimes this happens.

I miss book shopping! Online isn't cutting it. I was buying mask making supplies at my local Dollar Tree. Found the book section and made a haul!!! I also instinctively organized all the books.

@OnceUponaTime YIKES!! Your poor precious fingers!! Man I'm sorry. That's bad timing and bad luck. Your fingers, and I, are begging you to practice better finger care.

Is anyone else amused how much Stephen King's stuff is getting referenced and loved right now!?

Personally I settled on a Zombie Dystopian. I was going to reread my favorite Vampire Apocalypse. But I just got the zombie one and it felt like fate!

Also, I think I got another sinus infection. *sighs*

 

[aot]

Also, I think I got another sinus infection. *sighs*

That sucks. But hey, at least it's not an ear infection. I had those all the time as a kid, and I suppose it's not a coincidence that I have tinnitus now. (That, and my mother's own tinnitus caused by Meniere's.)

Found the book section and made a haul!!! I also instinctively organized all the books.

Let us see! I love book hauls.

 

[all to gain]

I miss book shopping! Online isn't cutting it. I was buying mask making supplies at my local Dollar Tree. Found the book section and made a haul!!! I also instinctively organized all the books.

I've not read a book since I got tinnitus as I find it really hard to concentrate. Surprised I can type even semi-coherently nowadays to be honest.

Actually, I tell a lie! A few weeks after getting tinnitus I took a flight to the UK, and I read Diary of a Whimpy Kid (I'm pretty old to be reading a book like that). I wasn't wearing ear muffs or plugs, and the aircraft noise seemed to act as white noise (I usually love reading in complete silence). That said, my tinnitus was milder back then, so not sure I could do that now.

 

[aot]

That said, my tinnitus was milder back then, so not sure I could do that now.

I don't know how loud your tinnitus is, but it took me a few months to read again after my tinnitus worsened. Experiment with different kinds of sound enrichment and keep working at it. Maybe start with Graphic Novels/comics, and work your way back to prose. I found the illustrations made it easier to focus.

 

[Shera]

@aot Ugh. Yeah I use to get severe ear infections too. Until my mom put me on this herbal blend of echinacea I still take it to this day. She didn't want to me to get like my sister. She had so many ear infection her ears scarred. At one point she could barely hear, and then they put tubes in her ears for a while. Oddly enough my sister does not have T despite everything.

My parents are nervous I have covid19 so I keep taking my temp to show them.

Here it is:

That's my baby Midnight! I spotted The Speaker first and was fan screaming!! If only they had The Reader too! Blade Bound is the final book in one of my favorite series by my favorite author. Sanctuary is a sci/fi I've been looking forward to!!! Lux and Recreated were on my radar, but they're both in a series. FREEKS is by an author I enjoy. So fairly decent finds!!!

@all to gain I. Feel. You. When I first got T it was super mild, and after three months almost totally faded. I continued to read like nothing had happened. Then the new hell T hit along with insomnia which gave me what I fondly termed as brain psycho-babble. Totally messed with the way I thought, and more importantly read. I ended up dropping my book blog, turning down advance reader copies, and so on. I still forced myself to read. But I went down to like 20 books a year if I'm lucky. Forcing myself to read. So bad. I think for a while I kept reading the same pages over and over. Thank god for comics and manga. I've finally started to actually enjoy reading again.

It's not quite like it used to be, yet. But closer. Though a lot of other members on TT talk about how they couldn't read and enjoy a book for anywhere from 5 to 10 years. After their T became severe.

So while I couldn't read I bought a lot of book . . . because buying books is like reading. Right?

Like aot said. Try a bit of masking. It's weird I use to be able to read in quite or super noisy environments and still be able to be transported to the magical world of Bookland. So I thought when my T got severe I'd still be able to do that. So yeah. Just keep trying to read and find masking that helps you.

Today I actually read in the silence and yesterday during a hot bubble bath.

 

[Elmer B Fuddled]

It's a sad day for the music world. A huge loss. Sleep well Mr. John Prine.
Bob Dylan commented years back, "I wish I was that talented."

 

[all to gain]

I don't know how loud your tinnitus is, but it took me a few months to read again after my tinnitus worsened. Experiment with different kinds of sound enrichment and keep working at it. Maybe start with Graphic Novels/comics, and work your way back to prose. I found the illustrations made it easier to focus.

I always find it hard to define my tinnitus in relation to that of others, but on my scale of mild, moderate, severe, and catastrophic I would consider it severe, but when I get a cold or other illness or my kids scream it hits catastrophic.
For me it is the shrillness rather than the pure sound level that affects me the most, but obviously I don't want it to get any louder as it aint quiet. Even lots of foods make it more shrill.

I had actually started reading books for 8-12 year olds and young adults before I got tinnitus, and the former have lots of pictures in them, so I might stick with those.

I think flowing water might be good sound enrichment for me, but I will experiment like you suggest.

 

[PhoenixAcademy]

Bob Dylan commented years back, "I wish I was that talented."

He probably wishes he was talented in general.

 

[all to gain]

@all to gain I. Feel. You. When I first got T it was super mild, and after three months almost totally faded. I continued to read like nothing had happened. Then the new hell T hit along with insomnia which gave me what I fondly termed as brain psycho-babble. Totally messed with the way I thought, and more importantly read. I ended up dropping my book blog, turning down advance reader copies, and so on. I still forced myself to read. But I went down to like 20 books a year if I'm lucky. Forcing myself to read. So bad. I think for a while I kept reading the same pages over and over. Thank god for comics and manga. I've finally started to actually enjoy reading again.

It's not quite like it used to be, yet. But closer. Though a lot of other members on TT talk about how they couldn't read and enjoy a book for anywhere from 5 to 10 years. After their T became severe.

So while I couldn't read I bought a lot of book . . . because buying books is like reading. Right?

Like aot said. Try a bit of masking. It's weird I use to be able to read in quite or super noisy environments and still be able to be transported to the magical world of Bookland. So I thought when my T got severe I'd still be able to do that. So yeah. Just keep trying to read and find masking that helps you.

Today I actually read in the silence and yesterday during a hot bubble bath.

How many books per year were you reading before? Have you ever tried to write a book yourself?

My daughter reads manga it seems 24/7. I don't see the appeal myself, but maybe it's because I am old. I love watching cartoons and animated films with my younger ones though.

I will try some background sounds and see how I fare. Got to pick a book to read first though.

 

[Shera]

How many books per year were you reading before? Have you ever tried to write a book yourself?

My daughter reads manga it seems 24/7. I don't see the appeal myself, but maybe it's because I am old. I love watching cartoons and animated films with my younger ones though.

I will try some background sounds and see how I fare. Got to pick a book to read first though.

Slow reading year 100 to 200. Good reading year up to 500. Yeah, I have. I've got a few rough, and I mean rough , outlines. Some short stories. Nothing that will see the light of day.

That's good for her! She should check out some of the American graphic novels. I'm picky about my manga. Some favorites are Beserk (which your daughter probably isn't old enough for) and Red River! OH, yeah I'm an anime and cartoon junky too!! Oooo, I just found an anime that I can't believe I wasn't aware of. Ascendance of a Bookworm! What are some of you top anime and cartoons?

Good luck! Let me know if you need a recommend for some independent readers/picture type books.

 

[aot]

 

[Shera]

Poor baby!!! It's so cruel for the doggies who need their walks. Especially has the weather changes to lovely spring.

My cats are going stir crazy. My Mulan has been meowing out the door and mugging me every time I go near it. Even though we go on walkies every day! She's actually walking now that the ground is bare and not so wet.

 

[aot]

Poor baby!!! It's so cruel for the doggies who need their walks. Especially has the weather changes to lovely spring.

My cats are going stir crazy. My Mulan has been meowing out the door and mugging me every time I go near it. Even though we go on walkies every day! She's actually walking now that the ground is bare and not so wet.

Only one of my cats likes to go outside. He's not allowed because we have opossums and raccoons at night. Plus he likes to climb up trees. The other two cats are lazy babies who sleep all day.

 

[Shera]

Only one of my cats likes to go outside. He's not allowed because we have opossums and raccoons at night. Plus he likes to climb up trees. The other two cats are lazy babies who sleep all day.

Oh, I never ever let my outside cats stay out over night. My old outside cats Yuki and Mr. Peaches were trained to be at the door by 4 pm. If not I hunted them down! They stayed in the garage and I let them out when I woke up.

Sneakers is our new out door cat, but I'm a bit more lenient. She always comes when called and doesn't want to stay out all night. I sometimes let her stay in the chicken cage at night until 10 pm to hunt mice. She appricates not having to battle raccoons and skunks up to foxes, coyotes, wolves, and mountain lions.

My indoor cats only go outside on a harness and leash. With me. I only leave them alone when I run in for a water refill. Midnight doesn't like to stay out too long and doesn't really care. Cinder is my original new cat and demands her walkies and outside time! Mulan suddenly has become obsessed and has started to walk/lead me around. Ha-ha! Cinder is like: "I'm outside piss off. I'm watching the birds.

 

[OnceUponaTime]

because buying books is like reading. Right?

Right! haha...

I love to read, although right now all the reading I'm doing is all the books my 13 year old daughter wants to read! (I read them before she does...shocking... just shocking what's out there aimed at a 13yo!

Anyways, we are still good in this corner of the world. Stay healthy and safe, my friends.

 

[aot]

Anyways, we are still good in this corner of the world. Stay healthy and safe, my friends.

Doing my best! How are your fingers?

 

[Shera]

Right! haha...

I love to read, although right now all the reading I'm doing is all the books my 13 year old daughter wants to read! (I read them before she does...shocking... just shocking what's out there aimed at a 13yo!

Anyways, we are still good in this corner of the world. Stay healthy and safe, my friends.

He-he, my fellow bookworm.

Ah! Has your daughter read anything by Tamora Pierce? *cough* start with Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness, #1) *cough* Oh, I'm curious what the shocking bits are? I will admit the YA books have gotten more graphic, but also so tropey that I just want to shake people. The insta-love is killing me.

I'm in a super religious area and the adult books are policed to nothing at the library! But they suddenly got a decent YA section the past few years. Everyone of them I read had pretty graphic sex scenes. It was hilarious!!!! I asked if they were getting a certain adult title in and they were like "we hear this one is to graphic." Knowing look of judgment. Because I had to ask what kind of graphic. So I bought the book and loved it. Not one sex scene. Some hints, mostly gore like a murder mystery or horror. Then every YA book I got from the library after that

Every time I returned a book and they asked me how I liked it I wanted to shout "the sex scene(s) was fire!!!!"

I have noticed in the thrift stores around here that I have to flip through the books. Not just to check for missing pages, but the books tend to be blacked out with permanent markers. I've never encountered it in adult books, but I bought some YA ones and I was so upset! Not to mention that I got curious what parts were being censored. I mean. Who censors Charlotte's Web?

 

[aot]

He-he, my fellow bookworm.

Ah! Has your daughter read anything by Tamora Pierce? *cough* start with Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness, #1) *cough* Oh, I'm curious what the shocking bits are? I will admit the YA books have gotten more graphic, but also so tropey that I just want to shake people. The insta-love is killing me.

I'm in a super religious area and the adult books are policed to nothing at the library! But they suddenly got a decent YA section the past few years. Everyone of them I read had pretty graphic sex scenes. It was hilarious!!!! I asked if they were getting a certain adult title in and they were like "we hear this one is to graphic." Knowing look of judgment. Because I had to ask what kind of graphic. So I bought the book and loved it. Not one sex scene. Some hints, mostly gore like a murder mystery or horror. Then every YA book I got from the library after that

Every time I returned a book and they asked me how I liked it I wanted to shout "the sex scene(s) was fire!!!!"

I have noticed in the thrift stores around here that I have to flip through the books. Not just to check for missing pages, but the books tend to be blacked out with permanent markers. I've never encountered it in adult books, but I bought some YA ones and I was so upset! Not to mention that I got curious what parts were being censored. I mean. Who censors Charlotte's Web?

Have you read the John Wayne Cleaver series? They're YA, but they're about a teenage sociopath (as in he's clinically diagnosed) who fights demons. It's graphically violent, and can be found only a few feet from typical highschool drama stuff, it's wild.

That being said, I fell out of YA when they all started being about teenage girls overthrowing dystopias. They call just kinda started to blur together.

 

[aot]

 

[all to gain]

Slow reading year 100 to 200. Good reading year up to 500. Yeah, I have. I've got a few rough, and I mean rough , outlines. Some short stories. Nothing that will see the light of day.

That's good for her! She should check out some of the American graphic novels. I'm picky about my manga. Some favorites are Beserk (which your daughter probably isn't old enough for) and Red River! OH, yeah I'm an anime and cartoon junky too!! Oooo, I just found an anime that I can't believe I wasn't aware of. Ascendance of a Bookworm! What are some of you top anime and cartoons?

Good luck! Let me know if you need a recommend for some independent readers/picture type books.

So between 100-500. Are your books for 3-year olds? That's prolific reading...

 

[Shera]

Have you read the John Wayne Cleaver series? They're YA, but they're about a teenage sociopath (as in he's clinically diagnosed) who fights demons. It's graphically violent, and can be found only a few feet from typical highschool drama stuff, it's wild.

That being said, I fell out of YA when they all started being about teenage girls overthrowing dystopias. They call just kinda started to blur together.

I read I Am Not a Serial Killer when it came out and always meant to check out the other ones. I remember feeling so bad for the mom. I have some of the author's sci/fi, AKA Dystopian works, as well but haven't gotten to them. He-he, that is super funny.

Ah, no I get you. YA is a market in which the traditional publishing houses are strongest in "this formula works and this is the current genre. Let's beat this with a stick until people can't stand it" So called reading trends. It's only a "trend" because that's all the publishers want to pump out there. Then they move on. Epic/High Fantasy and Sci/Fi are on trend right now. Also, certain contemporary themes, but it's not my genre and they're pandering so hard I could vomit.

The publishing houses don't realize that tropes should not control the story, the author should be able to create an amazing concept around the trope or not have it in there at all.

I tried a few of the new Epic Fantasy YAs and the Sci/Fi. WTF!!!!!!!! The lack of world building!!!!! This genre is all about world building! Not only that but I'm left wondering what characters look like and . . . my own mind supplies all the fine details. And it ticks me off that amazing Epic Fantasy writers like Cinda Williams Chima aren't being recognized because people are reading these mindless fodder reads. They're telling not showing with their writing and I hate it. So much.

Stopping self now. Before I book rant you guys to death.

 

[aot]

I read I Am Not a Serial Killer when it came out and always meant to check out the other ones. I remember feeling so bad for the mom. I have some of the author's sci/fi, AKA Dystopian works, as well but haven't gotten to them. He-he, that is super funny.

Ah, no I get you. YA is a market in which the traditional publishing houses are strongest in "this formula works and this is the current genre. Let's beat this with a stick until people can't stand it" So called reading trends. It's only a "trend" because that's all the publishers want to pump out there. Then they move on. Epic/High Fantasy and Sci/Fi are on trend right now. Also, certain contemporary themes, but it's not my genre and they're pandering so hard I could vomit.

The publishing houses don't realize that tropes should not control the story, the author should be able to create an amazing concept around the trope or not have it in there at all.

I tried a few of the new Epic Fantasy YAs and the Sci/Fi. WTF!!!!!!!! The lack of world building!!!!! This genre is all about world building! Not only that but I'm left wondering what characters look like and . . . my own mind supplies all the fine details. And it ticks me off that amazing Epic Fantasy writers like Cinda Williams Chima aren't being recognized because people are reading these mindless fodder reads. They're telling not showing with their writing and I hate it. So much.

Stopping self now. Before I book rant you guys to death.

I read the first three books, and they're pretty good. But I found myself both in awe at how much the author was getting away with, and feeling that he was holding back. Like he wanted to go all the way with it, but he couldn't because it was YA. (And I can confirm that things don't improve for the mom, though John comes to love her. As much as he could love anyone, I guess.)

I did read the Rot & Ruin series though, and I loved it. It's the only YA dystopia that really hooked me. The fact that it had zombies probably helped.

That being said, I'm admittedly inexperinced with Sci-Fi and Fantasy, at least in the literary sense. I read Narnia and Philip K Dick like everyone else, but my interest in them didn't really kick off until my ex started to talk and gush about her love of them. Now 40% of my reading list is fantasy and/or Sci-Fi . (Would probably be halfway down by now if not for tinnitus.) Up until that point I was almost strictly into crime fiction.

 

[Shera]

So between 100-500. Are your books for 3-year olds? That's prolific reading...

Ha-ha!! I never count children's books. I actually read mainly adult from 5th grade until I was 20. Only select YA and a few independent readers. I finally really started to branch out in genres and then age groups after joining Goodreads. Ah, I miss reading like that. One of my best reading weeks is where I read 5 almost 1,000 page books a 1 week.

 

[Shera]

I read the first three books, and they're pretty good. But I found myself both in awe at how much the author was getting away with, and feeling that he was holding back. Like he wanted to go all the way with it, but he couldn't because it was YA. (And I can confirm that things don't improve for the mom, though John comes to love her. As much as he could love anyone, I guess.)

I did read the Rot & Ruin series though, and I loved it. It's the only YA dystopia that really hooked me. The fact that it had zombies probably helped.

That being said, I'm admittedly inexperinced with Sci-Fi and Fantasy, at least in the literary sense. I read Narnia and Philip K Dick like everyone else, but my interest in them didn't really kick off until my ex started to talk and gush about her love of them. Now 40% of my reading list is fantasy and/or Sci-Fi . (Would probably be halfway down by now if not for tinnitus.) Up until that point I was almost strictly into crime fiction.

Ooooooo! There's a fascinating interview with the author I read on a blog, can't find it I think the blog is gone. Where he talks about how he wanted this to be an adult series. BUT his agent said that the market was saturated and that because so many adult were reading YA he should tackle the YA market. So he pushed the boundaries hard. That's good to hear the first three are good. I think the final one came out in 2017? I think. (Ah, poor mom. That's expected though.)

Ooooo! I like the Rot and Ruin series!! I need a reread so bad. There's some hidden gems, but you got to dig for them.

I won't lie. I gave up epic fantasy and sci/fi for a while. But then my reading mentor had me check out female authors. She said I was reading to many male authors and the few women having to write for men. Which led me down the path to awesomeness. And Urban Fantasy!! Woot! Adult dystopians are pretty bad ass. Also, Steampunk! Not to mention that sci/fi got way better. (Swear to god if I had to read about women's breasts floating and jiggling in space any more I'd never touch the genre again!! Or women not being allowed in space travel. ) I've been going back trying to read some of the male authors I missed and some women who were writing as men. I still find myself skipping over a book because it's written by a dude. So sexist I know.

I use to read a ton of crime fiction. But I became very bored with it and rarely read it anymore. I like a mix of it with some of the other genres if I do read it.

 

[aot]

Ooooo! I like the Rot and Ruin series!! I need a reread so bad. There's some hidden gems, but you got to dig for them.

Rot & Ruin is a gem! There's a webtoon adaptation which I hear is a good, but I hate the art.

I still find myself skipping over a book because it's written by a dude. So sexist I know.

Not gonna lie, I've found myself doing the same for female authors, so don't feel bad. I came across Cinder in fifth grade I think, and I thought it was too girly so I didn't bother. But in hindsight, Sci-Fi dystopia + Fairy Tales is right up my alley, so I missed out! I plan to give that series a try at some point.

I use to read a ton of crime fiction. But I became very bored with it and rarely read it anymore. I like a mix of it with some of the other genres if I do read it.

I was reading lots of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler, who both unfortunately had lots of sexisim and all around ickyness. There was a point where I tried to consume everything Lawrence Block ever wrote. I loved his Matthew Scudder books to death. It helps that he had some sympathetic (even if a bit sterotypical) lgbt characters.

 

[Shera]

@aot I'm not a fan of the artwork either. Plus, if there's a book why do I need a comic/graphic/webtoon. Though some of them have lovely artwork. Like Mercy Thompson series.

Wait. How old are you? Cinder was in the last decade. (*theme music* to goodreads!) Yeah, 2012 is the original publication date. Cinder was good, but it's after Cinder that the Lunar Chronicles gets A-Mazing! My cat Cinder is partially named after the character. At the time she was obsessed with one of my stuffed dragons named Cinder and I thought it would be a bonus for the name. The short stories for the series are to die for!! (Also, the new covers are stunning!)
Old:

New:

Don't get me wrong the old covers are nice, but the new ones are how the books felt.

Oh, yeah. I find guys do tend to read books by guys. You would think that's how it goes for each sex. It's odd that women still tend to read more books by men unless it's the romance genre. And the female dominated genre Urban Fantasy.

I've read most of those authors. I'm actually afraid of rereading Robert Jordan's books. I started reading them in 5th grade and even at that age knew I did not care for how he wrote women. Very few of the women had more depth to them. Though now I wonder if I will like them and pick up more now. Though, the fact that I still remember braid tugging and "folded her arms under her breasts" makes me worry. But I did love them and I never finished them after he passed. It's interesting when I go back to reread favorite authors and realize that . . . I don't like some of them. Like Anne McCaffrey. I'm not sure if it was the time that she had to work to get published (especially in sci-fi, but it was epic too), but her female characters are shit people. She only writes two kind of women. At the same time though you have Mercedes Lackey who wrote both compelling females and males, and wasn't afraid to represent EVERYONE. Or you reread an old favorite and love them even more than before!

Sorry. I'm the queen of rambling.

 

[aot]

Shera, I like it when you ramble.

Wait. How old are you?

21. I'm probably have the math wrong and/or I'm misremembering. I'm scatter brained like that.

You would think that's how it goes for each sex. It's odd that women still tend to read more books by men unless it's the romance genre. And the female dominated genre Urban Fantasy.

Most books are published by men, right? Or at least published under masculine pen names. Those books get better marketing at least.

I'd read Wheel Of Time if not for the fact that it's a thousand books long with long dip in the middle, or so I've heard. I've heard nothing but amazing things about Mercedes Lackey. I totally plan to give her a read.

Both of those covers are gorgeous! There's a boxset on Amazon that I might pick up when I get steady work again.

Have you ever read Marion Zimmer Bradley? I was interested until I did some googling, and... yeah

 

[Shera]

Ah, thanks.

Ah, sometimes I forget I'm just getting old now.

Too true. And despite that 80% of readers are actually women. Which is a shame women authors don't get more love. I mean shouldn't Harry Potter haven been enough proof that women sale. Oh, well.

I never really noticed a lag, but if you got there fart in you were in it didn't bother you. Unless you were whiny ass bitch fan. JK. Ah, that's great!!! Start with Valdemar: Heralds of Valdemar #1) first!!! (GRABS BY SHOULDERS AND SHAKES THROUGH CYBERSPACE.) I really suggest reaching them by how they were released. A lot more tidbits that way. Every time I'm told that the LGBT community is finally being represented right now I'm always like "Bookworm please!! Mercedes Lackey!"

The Lunar Chronicles is one I suggest you borrow first. Especially until you get to book 2. I don't know you're tastes so I can't 100% guarantee them.

Marion Zimmer Bradley. Oh, yeah. Quite a bit of her stuff. Especially her Avalon stuff. She also did quite a few team up work. Ha-ha. What parts were the ?

 

[aot]

What parts were the ?

Her husband was doing some stuff that wasn't really "Chit Chat And All That" appropriate. She knew, but didn't do anything to stop it. Her children made similar allegations against Bradly herself.

The Lunar Chronicles is one I suggest you borrow first. Especially until you get to book 2. I don't know you're tastes so I can't 100% guarantee them.

I'll do that. Our libraries open up again on April 30th.