Tag: Reading

All about Books, Writing journey

The Pigeonhole: A New Reading Experience

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I recently signed up to The Pigeonhole, described on the website as a book club in your pocket. It offers a selection of new releases from top publishers and classics. The new Sophie Kinsella book is an option which I am looking forward to if I get chosen to read it.  The books  are released in sections and you read along with other readers. More on how it works can be found here

The Pigeonhole a new reading experience
First stave of The Flower Girls

I saw an advert for it on social media and not only did the blurb of The Flower Girls by Alice Clark-Platts look good, the promise of a free book drew me in.  I am on a strict book budget this year. The more I read about the idea of the business the more I realised it could also help with my aim of reading more classic books. The big tomes, even on Kindle, are daunting but this way the book is broken down into staves or instalments. It reminded me of the Dickensian scenes in The man who invented Christmas where readers eagerly wait for the next part of the story out side the book shop. If it was good enough then, maybe the updated version will be good now.

I started reading The Flower Girls this week and so far I am enjoying the experience. As an insomniac it is exciting to receive the next part at midnight. It adds to the suspense of the thriller because you are left dangling mid story everyday and you are eager to know more. On the flip side, this could be frustrating depending on your outlook but the whole book is available to binge read a month once all the staves have been sent out or those on the read at leisure bookshelf can be read quickly. With crime or suspense novels, I also have a bad habit of reading the last page to discover who did it or who is alive, this curbs that temptation.

Alongside the story, there are options to interact with readers – share opinions of characters or scenes and writing style. I think this will come into its own with the classic books but I am enjoying the Q and A with the author which is also available.

One bonus I was not expecting was that as a procrastinator with words to write, this way of reading increases my productivity because I can not fall into the trap of reading just one more page or chapter. I am reluctant to start new book to read concurrently so it is a win-win situation.

Have you tried it? Let me know your thoughts below.

Love

Reading vs Writing: Priorities
Writing journey

Reading VS Writing: Priorities

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I have checked my progress in the Goodreads Reading Challenge 2018 and I am doing better than expected – much better. It also highlighted how much I read versus write. If I spent as much time writing as I do reading I could be 90% through my first draft rather than the challenge.

Reading versus writing
My progress in the Goodreads Reading Challenge 2018

 

It also highlights this in this tweet I have seen today

I have completed more hours for NaNoWriMo and now I have had a swift kick up the bum it’s time to do more writing and less reading. I must catch up and go beyond.

The only problem is I am a book addict and my new library stash is not helping my resolve. Is there a bookaholic anonymous?

Reading vs Writing: Priorities
Today’s library stash!

Happy writing and not reading!

Kate Kenzie's Blog

WIP update: 48,274

NaNoWriMo hours: 10

and Percy is still alive

 

Writing journey

Good news! Quick Reads saved by Jojo Moyes

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Overnight the best news broke – Quick Reads, the charity which helps adult literacy has been saved by none other than the wonderful author – Jojo Moyes! Jojo Moyes is the best selling author of Me before You.

 

Quick Reads is a series of books released every year, written by top authors, such as Jojo Moyes designed to be accessible to those less confident in reading. They are a gateway to reading as an adult which leads to mental health benefits, access to further education, confidence building and brings people into the book community. The difference these books can make was written about in my previous post.

 

Quick Reads saved by Jojo Moyes
Thank you

 

It is wonderful she has stepped in when others didn’t and many will be forever grateful.

Thank you Jojo Moyes, and look forward to more Quick Reads in the future.

 

Writing journey

Calling all book lovers #SaveQuickReads needs your help

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I was shocked and saddened to hear via Twitter the announcement that the Quick Reads initiative will end because of the inability to find a sponsor for 2019. They require £120,000 to fund the scheme for another year.

This year’s authors include Mark Billingham, Dorothy Koomson and Fern Britton.  The difference these books make can be seen in the heartfelt tweets by one of the Quick Reads best selling authors, Rowan Coleman over the weekend when the news broke.

 

I am lucky, I discovered the joy of reading very young. Once I could read Meg and Mog by myself I was off and haven’t stopped since. Reading has got me through illness and hard times when I needed to escape from reality,  helped mould me by taking me to different places, experience different lives and show me different points of view.  I have travelled around the world and been on adventures when I could not leave the house; laughed, cried and seen how people have overcome hardships which has also encouraged me not to give up hope when my own life became difficult. It has given me access to knowledge but above all the love of reading has provided me with friends and community through book clubs. It is a skill that should be accessible to all and it is never too late to learn as shown by Ursula in this clip – warning: tissues needed.

 

 

Austerity has already caused libraries to close, job losses for dedicated and experienced library staff and hours to access the library service cut, the demise of Quick Reads would be a further blow to adult literacy. Now is the time to show your support by sharing and retweeting #SaveQuickReads to see if a new sponsor or several can be found.

If not, maybe it is time for the book community to come together and fund it ourselves. Imagine how much could be raised if instead of purchasing that 99p book for our ever growing TBR pile or a takeaway coffee,  book lovers everywhere donated it to a #SaveQuickReads fund. Miracles could happen if book lovers, fairies, worms and dragons and bloggers unite.

Let’s share the joy of reading!

Book dragon ready to fight for #SaveQuickReads

 

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All about Books, Writing journey

The love of picture books continues 

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The joy of picture books continues this week with the arrival of my niece and nephew. It has been a while since I had a toddler clamber on my knee for story time but it is one of life’s perfect moments. The excitement of meeting the characters, the flow of the words, colourful illustrations and even turning the page is contagious. Pure happiness radiates from the kids as they recite the words of old favourites or learn new ones. Picture books are magic portals into the world of reading and I don’t think they are appreciated by adults as much as they should.

Joy of picture books

They don’t need to be long Jasper’s Beanstalk with minimal words and simple plot captivated them as much as the longer more involved Bumblebear but the illustrations matter as does the rhythm. I have a lot to learn as I scribble ideas down and stories form in my mind. I wish I could draw the images I see beyond the stick person version because they do not do them justice.  These children’s stories are distracting me from my WIP. The more I try to focus on Amber the worse the words and the mental block is so I am procrastinating usefully by exploring the world of picture books and enjoying every moment.

Time to read We are going on a bear hunt again and again and again.

Do you have any favourite picture books I should read? Let me know your recommendations below.

 

Happy writing and reading!

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