Inspiration

Sometime the internet sends you a sign.

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Book #8

A Walk in the Woods
Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail

Bill Bryson

Readership of FOUR, how are you!? Welcome, fourth reader. I hope you like books, cause that's all that goes on in this neck of the woods.

Speaking of woods (how smooth was that..), "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson was so great! Honestly, I don't read a lot of nonfiction. I don't know if it is obvious from the books that I have read already, but I am more of a fantasy, fictioney type of girl. I can't remember the last time that I read nonfiction did before I picked this up. I always wanted to read nonfiction, but just never had the motivation to do it. But now that I am attempting miserably at reading one hundred books in a year, I decided that I should try. "A Walk in the Woods" was on my reading list for a while, so I went for it, and totally loved it.

Nonfiction is different from fiction in many ways. For one, it's not made up. That's a pretty big one. But what I really liked about this book and its nonfictioness is that not only did it tell a story, but it told a history. Now, this may not be a trait in all nonfiction, so correct me if I am wrong. But Bryson incorporated so much history and interesting facts and vignettes and bios on fascinating people in his story about hiking the Appalachian Trail that the book was almost two books smashed into one. It is a book about a hilarious British, middle-aged man and his friend attempting to hike a 2,100 mile trail. But it is also a book about America, forests and woods, nature, weather, history and moose. I loved it. Bryson is a funny story teller, and a great historian, and his book is a very worthwhile read.

I will issue a warning: In a weird way, it kind of makes you want to pack a knapsack and start hiking. It also makes you want to save the wildlife that is being destroyed. It also makes you want to buy a moose as a pet. Just warning you.

So that's eight. Look out for "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed making an appearance sometime in the near future. "Wild" was one of the best books of 2012, according to numerous literary people that will go unnamed because I can not name them. All I know is that everyone loved it, and its about the Pacific Crest Trail, another great American trail. I thought it would be a good hiking buddy for "A Walk in the Woods." (see what I did there?) (these puns just keep hiking.) (I'll stop.)

Book #6 & #7

Dealing with Dragons

Patricia C. Wrede

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

J.K. Rowling
(obviously)

Readership of three! Hello! I'm not in Starbucks for once. I'm somewhere even better: a library. Specifically my school's library. I love this library so much. There's something so academic about it, with its large text books that don't really fit on the shelves and reading tables with the overhead personal lights. I usually sit in a certain room at a certain table but for today's post I mixed it up. I'm on the second floor in the main reading room. It's a change of pace.

I don't know how I let myself get behind on my posts, but I did. My life in general is pretty hectic and sitting down to write these reviews are like a breath of fresh air for me. I guess I haven't had time to breathe lately. Because I'm behind, I'm going to limit myself on this post to one paragraph for both books.

I read "Dealing with Dragons" as my going to sleep book. It's what I kept on my nightstand and what I read a chapter of before turning in for the night. I found it while I was cleaning and had loved it as a kid so I wanted to reread it. It was just as I remembered: short, fun, fantasy and fast. It's part of a whole series that I kind of want to read the rest of, but we'll see. To be honest, I dont own those, so it would require more effort. "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" is also a reread from my childhood. I'm rereading the entire series after studying a year abroad, and I'm taking my sweet, sweet time with it and loving every second. The fourth is particularly good, and has always been one of my favorites. I think Rowling really gets into her stride at this point and it's awesome to pick up on the hints that she drops throughout the book. Anyways, these two were throwbacks from my "youth." I'm putting youth in quotation marks because I'm still really young and feel weird saying it but I couldn't think of another way to say it. Adolescence? 

Anyway, two more down, two more reviews to come as soon as I feel like breathing again.

(This paragraph does not count, because it's in parenthesis. I LOVE HARRY POTTER AND IT IS A TOTAL INJUSTICE THAT THAT IS ALL I WROTE ABOUT GOBLET OF FIRE. I'll fangirl more about HP and J.K. when I finish Order of the Phoenix.... It'll give me something to look forward to!)