Guest Post: Don’t Know What to Read Next? Then Try The Book Lottery

Every time after you finished reading a book, you are plagued with a simple question. "What's next?"

It had only been a few seconds since you had clicked "mark as read" in Goodreads, and already the question is on your mind, and the world is watching while you make your choice. If only you knew what to read next ...

I know the feeling far too well. There are many books that I want to read, then there are a few that I have to read, and, of course, the magic ones that I would die if I don’t read them. In addition, my TBR pile looks at me from a hidden corner in the room - trying to guilt-trip me. The most forgotten books are ebooks that were cheap and … now the poor things are waiting on my eReader to be read. Just that I haven’t used the eReader since this millennium started and I can’t remember which books are on it.

However, there is one way out of this disaster that has always worked for me: The Book Lottery!

“What is a book lottery?” I hear you ask. The principle is rather simple - just like with a regular lottery nothing more than a stroke of luck decides the outcome. In that case it would be about money but in this case it’s about which book to read next.  

How is it going to work?

STEP 1: 

This might be the most difficult part. For the book lottery to work, you need to write down all the books that you would be able to read in this very moment. 

This includes - but is not limited to: books on your TBR, any books on your digital TBR, (A)RCs you were given without a deadline, books on your “want to read” that you can buy within a second and start reading, and books from your eLibrary that had always tickled your fancy and you could borrow in this very moment. In short, pretty much any book that you thought about reading and is available as of now.

Once you have your slips, we turn to step 2.

STEP 2: 

Find a pretty hat or jar. A cap is going to do as well. Then throw all those slips inside.

STEP 3: 

Mix and shake

STEP 4: 

Last but hardly least, comes the most important part: Now it is time to draw a "winner".  

Whatever title you pulled out of the magic hat/jar/cap is going to be your next read. This way you don’t have to decide yourself and hundreds of - hopefully - entertaining pages ahead of you

Happy reading!

Bio:

I am Susanne from https://www.floralcars.com/ – a rookie road tripper, blogger, and bookworm at heart. I regularly write about travel, lifestyle, and books. Naturally, I wouldn’t dare to leave the house without one in my bag.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/floralcars1

Instagram: https://instagram.com/floralcars

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floralcars/

Guest Post: The Thing About Social Media

Okay. We all know what social media is. We use it for school, for wasting time, and other nonsensical shenanigans, right? Today, I’m gonna be talking about my experiences with social media, as well as my advice regarding this broad topic.

Social Media enables everyone to connect with others through different networks with different platforms. Some makes use of only 140 characters to share stuff, others use pictures and text and friend requests. It’s hard to define Social Media as something constant—since it changes with every update, like, share, or reblog.

It’s pretty safe to say that Social Media is useful to us. We use it everyday! May it be for academic purposes, for research, or just for reminiscing past friends, Social Media offers a way to do all of those.  In fact, I myself have reconnected with my classmates since we were in Kindergarten. I’ve seen their change from the awkward, nose-picking children I knew, into the great people they are now. I’ve contacted my classmates from Grade 1, who were now staying in the United States.

Social Media can revive those past connections, and even establish new ones. Making new friends is now easy. Just click a button, and wait. Then you can start talking about your mutual interests, and that relationship soon blooms into an online friendship that will last for some time. Of course, that’s not always the case. Some people become “friends” on Facebook or anywhere else, without actually wanting to talk to each other even virtually.

The speed it takes for someone’s update to appear on your feed is astounding. That’s why it’s easy to spread news on Social Media. Many people with troubled cases involving missing friends/family, or persons requiring donations use this in order to inform the mass of what’s happening. And it works. Here in the Philippines, the authorities help those in need as fast as the post appears on their timeline.

Of course, the world we live in is a big two-sided blade. There may be limitless boundaries on the good things Social Media can do, but there are also numerous adversities that it can inflict to us.

Perhaps the greatest of these, for me, is privacy. Sometimes, Social Media can be a pain in the arse when it comes to your personal space. When you forget that your post wasn’t on “private”, or when you post something on the wrong site, the results might be disastrous to you. When you put it out there, it’s OUT there. It can be shared and reposted to other sites. It’s as if Social Media takes ownership of whatever you posted as its property, and you can never take it back.

I’ve experienced this, actually. Enter 7th Grader me, clueless of how to use Social Media. On the first year of highschool (7th Grade is considered first year), I really, really disliked the seniors. They were rash, naughty—generally not nice. So I did something careless. I logged on to Facebook, typed “The seniors are good-for-nothings”, and clicked post. That was the biggest mistake in my life, but I don’t regret it. I voiced out my opinion, and they reacted like children. They swarmed outside our classroom, and when I came out, they hugged me. I know, isn’t hugging a nice thing? In that instance, no. I felt every bit of humiliation they’d intended. Of course, we were counseled, and everything went back to normal, but I’ll never forget that glorious passive-protest that I’d done.

The only rational advice I can give to everyone out there is to be responsible. Think before you post. And I mean it. Think of how you phrase your words thrice. Choose your friends, your followers, et cetera. If you want to be undercover, use incognito. It won’t hurt. All there is to it so to be responsible of your actions, keeping in mind what would happen after you do what you wanted. That’s all.

Be good.

Author - Raffy Perez

Guest Review: For The Love of Ash by Taylor Lavati

 

Title: For The Love of Ash

Author: Taylor Lavati

Published: March 9, 2015

ARC provided by author in exchange for honest review.

Synopsis:

Maggie Larken is a reformed party girl. After her parent’s death, she’s left to raise Asher, her nine-year-old brother.

Luke Wilson has done everything his parents have ever asked of him. A new teacher, Luke constantly questions where his life is headed.

When Luke and Maggie meet, neither is in the market for a relationship. But sometimes life has other plans. Both navigate new waters as they try to decide where their priorities should lie, while also seizing what they want.

In this heartbreakingly real tale of love, Maggie and Luke discover what being a family truly means.


What I Thought:

For The Love of Ash was an amazing read, from the characters to the real life plot twists. There was a lot to follow, but it was easy to follow. The scenes in the book were described so well that I thought I was there experiencing what was happening with the characters.

Maggie amazes me. She gives up her life to take care of her brother after their parents died. She not only is his sister, but becomes a mother to her brother. She takes care of him and puts his needs before her own. She doubts her parenting abilities but shows she can handle everything life throws at her.

Luke cares for his siblings when he returns home from college to protect his younger siblings from their abusive father. There is some child abuse, but we don't see it happening, we see the child after the fact.

Luke and Maggie are much alike in more ways than one. They are both caring for their younger siblings and being a parental figure in their lives.

For the Love of Ash is a book I highly recommend. It's a page turner and an easy read. It's a single book so you can jump right in and enjoy it. I enjoyed the entire book and wished it didn't have to end. Everything was so real and interesting. I couldn't put the book down and I doubt you will be able to as well.

Review by Katlynn from Kat's Reading Corner

Guest Post: The Good and the Bad of Book-to-Movie Adaptations

 

 

Hi, I'm Skye Clover from A Geek with Books. I've been noticing recently that there are a lot of pros and cons that go with making books into movies, so I thought I would share the ones I came up with!

Pros:

1. It gets people into reading.

A lot of people like to read a book BEFORE they see a movie (I am one of those people, except I must), so more people begin to have a love of books. Which is awesome (because books)!!

2. You get to fangirl/boy out.

You can show your love for a certain book or series that would look weird if people didn't know what it was (i.e. dressing up like Tris before the movie came out).

3. The book comes to life on screen.

Seeing a book on a screen could help you notice what you've never noticed before, and really just bring your favorite book to life, and who doesn't love their favorite actors playing their favorite characters?

4. Watching your friends or family find out what happens when you already know.

THIS IS SO MUCH FUN. I know what's coming up next, and they don't. Then, I can watch their oh so hilarious reactions!

Cons:

1. The movie (usually) isn't as good as the book (to most people).

Book lovers always complain that the book was better (though, in my opinion, the Catching Fire was WAY better), yet they see them all

anyway?

2. When actors don't look like the characters.

This happens SOOOO often. We get all on the actor for being brunette instead of blonde, and can't seem to pay attention to anything else! Even though, in reality, it's most likely not all that important.

3. The genre is EVERYWHERE if the movie does well.

Twilight, Twilight, and Twilight. There were SO MANY VAMPIRES. It was like authors forgot other genres existed! Same thing with dystopia, it's dying down now, but for awhile, it was everything in bookstores.

4. They change things......

This might just be the worst one. Now everyone know the story! Yay! Except....it isn't the book. At all. I wish they could have just made Percy Jackson 12....!!! Or at least have the same plot as the book......

What's your opinion? Should books be made into movies? Any of pros you find bad, or cons you find good? Tell me in the comments!

Guest Post: When People 'Love' the Film but Haven't Read the Book

First of all, hi! I’m Rose from Lovely Paranormal, and I’m doing a guest post on my personal biggest pet peeve as a blogger and reader. Enjoy!

Reader: “Do you like the hunger games?”

Non-reader (who has watched the movies): “Yeah, they’re so cool. (Goes on about everything in the movies, not relating to the book at all)”

I really hate this type of situation. People who have never bothered to read the book, yet watch the movie and think they can say they “love” the movie, but not the book.

In my eyes, readers are much more respective and they have more bad opinions about book adaptation movies, but the movie watchers don’t have anything to relate to, so they just go on about how everything is “perfect”. A great example is Percy Jackson.

Yes, anyone who has read the books knows the movies aren’t that good at all. In fact, they’re completely different from the books. Yet, anyone who has just watched the movies can say that the movies are great, just because they look good. Not because the storyline followed the book.

In real life, I come across this situation too many times, and it really frustrates me. In fact, sometimes it ruins my day. I believe the cinemas should only admit people to go see book adaptation movies if they can pass a quiz about the book.

So, that’s just me. Thanks!

Giveaway: Cover Reveal (+Guest Post for Winner)

I'm Booked! is giving away a cover reveal for 3 lucky YA authors. For one week only over we will be giving authors the opportunity to win a cover reveal with I'm Booked! Tours. The winner of this giveaway will not only win a cover reveal but they will also get to guest post on I'm Booked! We will also be picking two runners up to also take part in their own cover reveal. As long as your book fits into our criteria i.e: YA we'll run a cover reveal for you.

(Note: Our cover reveals have no set number of participants.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!