What I learned through Readers Choice-Goodreads

In readers choice I learned how to find more books that I might like with the aid of Goodreads.com. The site allowed me to narrow the book options through genres I like. Then scroll through the pages off books and see what grabs my eye. Also, it was nice to be able to see reviews from the books seeing if it was something I would be interested in. I liked learning and using this website because it helped me figure out books to read during Readers Choice when I really did not know what read. It really helped me figure out an out of comfort zone because I don't usually focus on books to possibly read that are out of my comfort zone. I can also use good reads to write review on novels I have read that I can inform others on. I can use Good reads in the future to figure out what’s going to be next on my reading list, like during the summer and just because. There is an unlimited about of novels to choose from, and it is easier to learn a little more about them before you dive in.

Favorite Places to Read

One of my favorite places to read is outside during the summer. It is the perfect time of the year because the weather is comfortable and it is usually quiet outside and really get into a book. Also a good place to read is on the beach for the same reasons, it is relaxing and nice, and easy to zone out the sound of others with the sound of the waves. One of my favorite places to read when the weather isn’t so nice out is a quite area of my house. The key for me to reading is it to be quiet because then I can get really into the book and enjoy it more, plus understand what is going on without getting distracted.

Favorite Book Quotes.

I recently read The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, if I had to choose my favorite quote from the novel it would have to be this quote from Augustus Waters to Hazel: "I'm in love with you and I'm not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things. I'm in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we're all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we'll ever have, and I am in love with you." I love this quote because it is from his heart. It elicits emotion from the reader and really makes every girl want to have a guy do this to her. Also, I love this quote because he refuses to deny his love for Hazel, in any situation. And very romantic of him to say to her.

Another one of my favorite quotes would be from Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck: “Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place. . . . With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us. We don’t have to sit in no bar room blowin’in our jack jus’ because we got no place else to go. If them other guys gets in jail they can rot for all anybody gives a damn. But not us.” This is more of a friendship quote. It is George reassuring his best friend Lennie that they have a special bond. I like this because George really watches out for Lennie and never denies their friendship. And even though things get tough they have each other.

Lastly one of my favorite books is The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch: “The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough.” It is such a powerful quote from his novel. I like how he teachers lessons in almost every line of the novel. The reason why this one is my favorite is because it shows the reader who will do what they need to succeed and who won’t, and who wants it more. Also that just because it seems like it is the end of a struggle, you always have to push a little more.

Books of My Life

1) Favorite Childhood Book Hands down the Magic Tree House books were my favorite childhood books. I feel like I read them all as a kid. It did not matter where or what the main characters were doing, it was all exciting to me. I remember checking two or three out of the library at a time and reading them during reading time in class and finishing them at home with my parents. And when I finished all the ones in the school library, I would just read them over and over again. They never got old to me. The Magic Tree house novels was definitaly a staple in my elementary school reading. 2)Book that Inspired Me The Last Lecture has inspired me to live my life to the fullest and to not sweat the small stuff. The part that stuck with me the most was when Randy, the writer, just got a brand new car and he took his niece and nephew accidently spilled sticky soda on his seats. Instead of yelling at them like some close uncles would do he said it was okay, mistakes happen. Also the mark he made on his kids really got to me because they were to young to remember their father well before the cancer got to him. But he wrote this book, for them, so they have their father's lessons with them forever. The book not only touched me but probably all of America. 3)Favorite Book Read for School Probably the only school book I could love was The Outsiders. Even though only in seventh grade the story of every single character had a story. Though I was not in the same situation as them I could relate to them just because they were young, and how a friendship was a friendship no matter what. No one can forget the famous line of "Stay gold Ponyboy". Also it was not a gender based book boys and girls both liked it. So when working in a group project everyone knew what was happening, and really got to learn more of the lessons about it. Also, hands down, book was a billion times better than the movie. The more detail the better. 4)Favorite Book That Turned into a Tv Series Forget Pretty Little Liars novels, I loved The Lying Game! In three day I read three of the books just like a blink of an eye. Then after reading those of course I got excited to find out that it would become a Tv series on ABC family, then that pushed me to read even more of the book series, it was like a Lying Game epidemic. It had everything I wanted at the time a little love, a little crime, and a whole ton of crazy mystery. Once there were no more books to read it came in time for the show, and I was excited. I am not the person to watch Tv never the less get stuck on a Tv show, but I was for this book, because I knew what was coming. Each show was like a chapter to me. Though I loved the books more, the show was good enough for me. 5)Top Book on my Must Read List Since my Readers Choice class has been raving about Fault in Our Stars, I've been dying to read it. I'm not the kind of reader that loves romantic books but something about it makes me want to read it. It is totally out of my comfort zone. After not only hearing a class description but watching the movie trailer makes me want to read it even more. Maybe if I try reading the classic John Green novels I might be hooked. Can't knock it until I try it. 6)Favorite Book that went to the Screen I don't know what I have more love for The Great Gatsby or Leonardo DiCaprio. I loved the story of Gatsby struggle for love, and the lengths he would go for love. The imagery of the novel was amazing, I could picture it vividly from the characters to the grand parties. Since I loved the book and the movie came out with Leonardo DiCaprio made me more excited to visually see everything happening infront of me. Of course I liked the book a lot better, but now I think I have a better understanding of Gatsby as a character, and while re-reading it, it is not that bad to see Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby. 7)Book I Recommend to Friends I just recently read The Perks of Being a Wallflower and it was recommended to me by a friend. I liked the fact that it was more than just a quick read it had depth to it. I loved following what happened to Charlie, the main character, he had such a unique way of thinking and acting. I would recommend this book because I believe everyones got a little wallflower in them. Plus the novel teaches lessons that a teenager can clearly understand, it isn't hidden within the text, the reader just knows.

Reading is Brain Food

I enjoy reading at times, personally being forced to read a book for school makes me not to read it even more. I rather have a choice to what I read. When I choose to read on my own, for example the summer it is more fun. I enjoy to read in the summer because it will be only one book at a time and no school distractions getting in the way of me and the novel. I really do not dislike a specific genre of books, just has to have a good story line. But an exception is that if school books could be a genre I'd hate it. They are more educational than fun and never a little of both, also the time crunch always gets me, because I cannot focus on detail. I rather spend a whole two months on a book enjoying it and absorbing the detail than nothing. I really do like reading, that's why a class such as Readers Choice is good for me because at least I can have some say in a book, like if it was a class choice book, or a lot of say like in a personal choice book. I find myself reading more and better because it is a good excersise on the brain. One of my favorite books is "Of Mice and Men," and I am currently reading a "The Book Thief" and enjoying it very much. In the end I will always try to read a good book because it is as good food you as eating your fruits and veggies, you just have to do it.