Book Groups; The Joys, and Pains.

Book groups can be a joy or a pain. It is really not fun when they waste time, but they can also be a good experience. I am in a book club right now, we are reading the book "Make Lemonade" by Virginia Euwer Wolff. So far I have found it a very enjoyable read and written very well. The problem with the book club I am in is that most of the other people don't share the same interest in reading as I. They don't like to participate and are not benefiting from the book. This is one of the pains to book clubs, people. Not all people share the same interest in books as you or I. Some think it's a waste of time. So when you are in a book club with those types of people it is hard. Another pain is the book. Not always do you get a book that you like. When other people choose the book usually they have different taste than you. It's a fact that when you don't like the book you don't get as much out of it.  And it is really not fun to read a book that you don't like. Always be willing to step out of your reading comfort zone, but don't think it's a fault of your own if you don't like a book. It is not fun to be forced into a book club and for me most of the time it is not fun. Have a book club that is fun for everyone. Some things that are very enjoyable about book clubs if that you get to read more books. This is the point of book clubs to read a good book and then talk about it. Have an intelligent conversation about reading. This reason is why I love book clubs. There are alway pains of book club, but join one it is worth it.

So sorry about the wait I had a super busy week. Don't worry I am still working on posting every week. Don't forget to comment and subscribe.

Let's talk about Goodreads.

I have had Goodreads for a while now and I thought it was time for me to share my thoughts about them. If you don't know Goodreads is a social media site for readers. You can search books, review them, rate them, post what you are reading, what you want to read, join book groups, make "friends," and much more. Right know Goodreads has about 20 million users, only about 2% of the number of Facebook users. Goodreads is big but not huge. I would never thought that social media and books would mix, but this is the 21 century. So when social media and books interbred it created this Goodreads. I used to be into Goodreads, but my attention span was short for this.  Once they took away the free ebooks I lost interest. I want to read while I am posting about I what I am reading!!!!!!! Don't you understand!!!!!! Darn you Goodreads, taking away my free ebooks! :) Well they did take away the ebooks but they still give you suggestions on books to read. I have read none of my suggestions. Sad huh. I would think that the point of Goodreads is to make you want to read more. If that is true it is not working. I want to read more, but not because of Goodreads. I think it is because of the social media aspect. there are alway annoying people in social media. Some people who review books don't know what they are saying. I just finished To Kill A Mocking Bird and I was about to rate it when I saw this person. I will leave the person unnamed.

"I could give this no stars, I would. This is possibly one of my least favorite books in the world, one that I would happily take off of the shelves and stow in dark corners where no one would ever have to read it again... The characters are one dimensional...(characters) have no identity outside these roles... there is none of the delightfully subversive slyness that real children have, the sneakiness that will ultimately allow them to grow up." 

This person goes on and on about the failure this book is. Books don't win the Pulitzer prize because of one-dimensional characters. I acknowledge this persons opinion, but I do not agree. I believe I will always keep Goodreads, but I also believe that it is nice to just read a book and un-plug ( then you can re-plug.)

The New York Times has a great article about Goodreads, click here to view it.

I am on Goodreads so friend me and follow me, I will try to make myself more visible

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Essays every one hates them right?!?

Essay writing!!

Essays, everyone hates them right? Well so over my vacation not only was I writing my own story, I also had to write a persuasive essay on nature vs. nurture. Fun? That is what I thought. I really enjoy persuasive essays, because I have strong opinions I like to question and talk about views, problems, people, and society, and much, much more.  It's a gift and a curse, mostly a gift :). So when my language arts teacher said she was partnering up with my science teacher to write an essay I was like ok, I can do this I like persuasive essays. And I still do, but I learned some things over this writing essays. Don't just assume that something is easy, always try your hardest, and be willing to change. So to tell my story I need to explain the essay. The essay was about nature vs. nurture and what is a bigger impact on humans. I after a lot of research I came to the conclusion that nurture has the most impact.  So in in science we researched , and in language arts we wrote. I had done many persuasive essay in 5th grade, they would make us do them monthly on the spot to mark our progress.  Now or this essay we had about a week to write it. We were given all these articles about the subject. After we read them we ware given a paper that said this

Example paragraph using my evidence from this source:

The most important impact on a person's life is _____________________. In the source called, "________________________________" it states that ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ This supports my claim because _______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

So I was fine with doing this for the articles. It did not help me though. But then I was told that these should be used as our body paragraphs. I really don't like the structure of this. Its so basic no originality. I like to be original. She also gave us a packet that told us to do everything. I kinda did not follow the packet I did not just do the basic. 

Once I was finished I was so happy with myself I thought I did so great. I was ready to turn it in but, I always like to have someone check over my work to get feedback. The problem was the feedback I wanted was it is "perfect." I was so wanting to be done so when I had someone read it I was mad that it needed so many changes. I got frustrated at the person even though it was my work I was mad at. I WANTED TO BE DONE!!!!! I did understand what the person was saying and after blowing off some steam I took a deep breath and listened to the feedback. This made my essay ten times better, I was able to improve. This post is more about listening  to your feedback, and be able to change. It also shows that essays can bring out the best/worst in you.

Now this has nothing to do with the meaning of this post, but you 200 people who are viewing my blog, I want you to comment and subscribe. So you can receive my weekly posts!!!!

Also I had a new idea, I love reading books and I want all of you to give me suggestions and maybe I will review it on my blog. The best would be if there young adult (because the blog is about young adult reading and writing.) I would love for you to give me any ideas to blog about and I will say that you gave my the suggestion.

Thanks so much,

Aidyn Stevens 

Vacationing with your story.

They could be writing!!!!!!

So, this last week I was vacationing, it was great I had so much fun. The thing is I had so much trouble continually writing on my book. I mentioned in my introduction that I had started a book. The book is going to be a historical fiction novel based in 1900s during women's suffrage. My book is still in it beginning stages right now I am just writing not editing. When you still having a starting of a book, like a baby book you have to keep up your writing in it, you have to change it, feed it, love it, it makes it really hard to keep up with it. The best thing to do is write in it everyday. I know that is really hard, But when your book is a baby you have to keep up with it or you will lose interest. It becomes a continual cycle of I have better things to do, I don't want to do it, and excuses like that. Sure there are way more fun things that you could be doing on vacation, in my case skiing and playing in the snow. Not sticking to your plan may help you fall into a spiral of not writing.This is bad, you writing is good!!! Make writing on your vacation, (and anytime) fun and enjoyable.  I strongly suggest that you keep writing. I am sad to say I did not get a much writing in as I wanted to on my vacation and now I am behind. DON'T DO IT!! Find time for your writing so you can love your writing and your writing can love you.

Please comment and subscribe so you can read all of my posts, I am trying to blog every week.

For people who want to read more I suggest the reading this book about writing,

 Chapter after Chapter, by Heather Sellers. This book has some very good advice about loving your writing, taking care of your writing (on vacations too), and you book in the future.
Click here to see offer of Chapter after Chapter, and a quick review. Hope you like it!!!!

I Juan de Pareja

I Juan de Pareja.

Do not be intimidated by the title of this amazing book. I came upon this book in the section of the library with the award winners. If it was not for my mom I would have not given it a second. Don't judge a book by its cover, (no pun intended). Well, even though I would have not chosen this book I found it a very enjoyable read. I have already read this book three times now and it gets better each time.The main character of this book is Juan. Juan is born into slavery, but is treated well. One day he wakes up and everyone in the house was gone. They all died. He is found and inherited to this great painter,Diego Velázquez. Juan makes paints and canvases. In not to long wants to paint but it is against the law for a slave to know the art. This historical fiction writing by Elizabeth Borton de Treviño is a master piece, I would suggest this book for tweens, teens, and adults. Read it post a comment about what you think of this book. 

My Rate;

                     

Click this to see a quick review and buying options on Barnes and Nobels