I'm Not Lost!

I don't really know what's happened to me lately.  I maybe only read a chapter a week, and writing?  Yeah, that hasn't been happening either.  My life is filled with two jobs, congested lungs, piles of laundry, and VERY strange dreams. 

Don't get me wrong, life right now is rather wonderful.  The family and I have been getting along better than we have in a while, one of my jobs may take me somewhere in the professional world, people are loving and buying the jewelry I'm making, and I think I've got some pretty good story ideas cooped up in my head.

However, I really miss reading right now.  Every time I pick up a book it takes stamina to keep my eyes open.  And, it's a great book!  My brother asked me what's wrong last night because I've been reading the same book for about a month now.  Previously, my pace was about a book a week.  (Sometimes more.)  I have a book shelf that is piling up with the books I want to read and sooner or later I will get to them.  I hope it will be sooner.

I guess this post is really just to say that I haven't forgotten about blogging.  And it's also a declaration, that Mallary is going to finish reading her book!  And, she's going to write at least one sentence a day.  Most likely I will end up writing more than that per day, but if not that still one sentence more than I had before!

Have any of you read anything wonderful lately?

13 Reasons Why

Recent events have reminded me of this book.  I read it about three years ago and sometimes I still find myself thinking about it.  It's one that I would recommend for many to read.  There's some tough stuff in it, but so much value.  You never know how you are going to affect someone's life for better or for worse.  This book actually made me want to be better and do better.

Clay returns home from school one day to find a mysterious box filled with cassette tapes.  They're from Hannah, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.  As he begins to listen he learns that each side of the tapes is a reason she did it and he is one of them.  Thirteen in total.

There's suspense from the very beginning because Clay has no idea why he would be a reason why she died.  All he did was like her.  Because of the premise of the book, you can see how there would be tough stuff.  Yet, somehow, the book ends with so much hope.  Personally, I think it it absolutely necessary for young adult novels to read books that end with hope.  They don't have to be happy, just end with the hope of a bright tomorrow.  And this book does just that.

Perfect

A'ight, so I've been thinking lately about how many great guys aren't asking great girls out.  In decades past this didn't seem to be such an issue.  I hear the story over and over again from a lot of people.  Guys seem to be afraid of girls.  Why?  Girls seem to be exceptionally picky as well.  I'm not saying that us girls shouldn't be selective and make good choices when it comes to guys, but many good ones are being looked over.  Once again, I ask, why?  It seems as though one tiny flaw becomes a deal-breaker.  I too am guilty of this, but not to the extent of many other young ladies out there.

I've come to a conclusion.  It's not one of those grand, philosophical, answer-all, conclusions, but I think it actually explains a lot.  Look at the books we're reading.  Especially the young adult books.  (Yes, the ones I read and post about.)  How many of the young men in those books are considered "perfect"?  From a young age girls are taught that even though they are average the perfect guy will someday appear and want her undivided attention.  Yes, there are many of us who fantasize about this, but that's just what it is: a fantasy.  There is no such thing as a "perfect" guy.  I fear that some girls out there are looking for him, and they will not find him.  He doesn't exist. 

This is a lot for the guys of today to compete with.  They can't be that perfect guy and quit trying.  My friend Cami said once, "They're afraid to ask out the girls who are worth it."  It could be because if they do one thing wrong or show their flaws, then the girl who is looking for the perfect guy will let him go.

Girls, there are also guys out there that look perfect, say what we want to hear, and dazzle us.  Not all of them are worth it.  Open your eyes to who he really is.  (That goes for the ones you aren't attracted to right away also.)  Stay true to yourself.  I'm pretty sure none of you think of yourselves as perfect, why should you expect that from the man you love?  And guys, the same goes for you.  She's not perfect, and she's never going to be.

I'm not saying we should stop reading these books, because many of them are really wonderful books.  Many are, in fact, some of my favorites.  I think we just need to put them into perspective.  Remember they're fiction and we have our own life story to write.  Books are meant to be read for entertainment and enjoyment and to escape from reality sometimes.  People and characters are often interesting because of their flaws.