How To Get Over Reading Slumps

Hey guys! I hope you're having a lovely weekend. In this week's blog I'm going to be talking about reading slumps and how I deal with them, as well as how others overcome it.

Reading slumps can make you feel sad, depressed and even lonely. But the important thing to remember is that you shouldn't feel guilty about not reaching your reading goal this month. Take your time, breathe and come back to it when you can.

We know that most people, including me, are sometimes too busy to read because of working or studying full time. It must be especially hard to read when studying full time as you're already diving into textbooks all day! Although reading is important to me, I am guilty of just streaming Netflix because I'm so tired from work.

One way I try to combat reader's block is simply by not reading! I figure, that when my brain is ready to come back to Earth and read, it will. I need to give myself time to think and while reading, I can't concentrate on my problems; this can be a blessing to help me forget my surroundings or it can be a burden as I sometimes read the same paragraph over again and again.

Another way I try to overcome reader's block is by picking up a short story; recently I was reading Turtles All the Way Down by John Green and because it's such a heavy subject and it takes me a while to take in his stories, I decided to pick up Because You Love to Hate Me which is compiled of 13 short stories. I have been slowly making my way through these stories while taking a break from Turtles All the Way Down.

I asked members of The Fiction Cafe - Book Club to give examples of how they overcome reader slumps.

Krista said she "Will turn to YA fiction. Something that's an easy read." Sometimes changing genre really does help a reader slump!

Ulrike said his way of overcoming slumps is to "Watch a lot of Netflix/Amazon Prime/iPlayer until my brain starts craving books again. It allows me to catch up with all the TV I like so I embrace the odd reader's block." I also do this and enjoy watching all the shows I'm binge watching.

Brenda said: "I usually change genres or read graphic novels and manga books to get over my reading slump."

Lynda said: "It always helps me to re-read a favourite book." I think we all have a go-to book that we love and it can help to re-read it every now and then!

Megan said that "Sometimes I re-read something I really loved to return the spark. Even something I liked from my childhood can bring back a bit of magic. I do occasionally have a read through a few very dog-eared Enid Blyton novels!" My childhood favourites were Jacqueline Wilson books and are the only ones that I have re-read!

What are some of your ways of coping with reader slumps? I'd love to know so comment down below! Until next time, love Vee x

Books: Childhood Favourites

Hey guys, Vee here. I hope your week hasn't been too bad and I hope you have a fabulous weekend. In this week's blog I'm going to be talking about my childhood favourite books that got me into reading.

A Series Of Unfortunate Events

This series was a godsend when I was younger. I thought the world was just one bad thing after another and even though the books are quite morbid, they were also a comfort to me. My mum started reading them to me from an early age, maybe 7? And we carried on from there. After a while mum bought me the audio tapes and we'd listen to them together until I fell asleep. To this day I still listen to them and I think they're suitable for anyone at any age. I will certainly be reading them to my children.

Those are my most vivid memories from that age - curling up with the Baudelair's and mum to listen to the adventures they were having. I recommend them to any mums wanting to read to their young children or even if you are a teen wanting to start the series.

I didn't start reading until I was about 9 because I didn't go to school and was reluctant to read. Once I picked up a book, that was it, I had found my escape.

(I apologise for images; I borrowed these from the library so don't have mine own.)

Warrior Cats

I started reading Warrior Cats when I was about 9 and absolutely loved that cats could talk with each other and have never ending adventures. They really helped me learn to read and I think I went through all 6 books really quickly. I started the new series but gave up because it felt repetitive.

I definitely recommend Warrior Cats to young children starting to read longer books. I still remember sitting down and being transfixed by this story.

Jacqueline Wilson

Of course I grew up in the time of Tracy Beaker and Jacqueline Wilson, who didn't? I remember reading loads of her books when I was little - I had them handed down or bought for me by my aunt. Lola Rose is one that I've read multiple times; I think because I related to it so much and I loved the fact that Lola had escaped and given herself a new identity. Her books are an obvious must read for any young person and even teens.

I hope you guys enjoyed this. Let me know in the comments what your childhood favourites were. Love, Vee x

Bookish Memes

Hey guys! Here's some bookworm memes to brighten up your day. I hope you find them as amusing as I did!

1. And then you have to wait ages for a sequel! 😠

2. Sometimes, I just really need some along time to cry after a good book... or a sad one.

3. This one is so me! I always feel like people are judging what I'm reading.

4. I will hunt you down and make you rewrite this book.

5. The smell of fresh pages... Or musty old ones... ahh

6. This is me! This is why I'm such a slow reader and everyone reads like 3 books a day.

7. Authors are angels and devils all at once.

8. There's not enough time or money in the world, guys. It makes me very sad.

Feel free to post some bookish memes in the comments! I hope you enjoyed this post and I'll see you next week. Lots of love, Vee x

Movie Review: Love, Simon

Hey guys! So I went to go see Love, Simon last Friday with Oli as it's just been released in the UK. I haven't read the book yet but I wanted to blindly go and see the movie regardless - any LGBT related film means I'm definitely going to see it.

I didn't really know what to expect from the movie and since I haven't read the book I had no idea what it was supposed to be like.

Love, Simon is about a normal boy growing up in a normal school (relatively normal minus the weird principal) with normal friends he loves. He has a loving family but has a secret. Simon is gay and hasn't told anyone, not even his best friend Leah. However, when Simon hears that there's someone else called Blue at the school who is gay but has kept it a secret, he instantly messages him and goes by the name of Jacques. Blue and Simon talk via email for weeks and Simon is determined to find out Blue's identity as he's starting to fall in love with him.

They both encourage each other and inspire one another to tell their family and friends that they are gay but Blue is still kept a secret. That is, until Martin threatens to out him and Simon unless he sets Martin up with his friend Abby on a date.

When Martin's date proposal goes terribly wrong, he angrily outs Simon anonymously and things start going wrong. Blue refuses to speak to him and Simon's friends are angry he lied to them.

But as you can imagine, they soon forgive him - even Leah who was secretly in love with him. Simon is still trying to identify who Blue is and asks him to meet Simon at the Ferris wheel.

Overall, I really enjoyed the plot of the film and how even though he didn't meet Blue, he still loved him for his personality. Isn't that what everyone wants to be loved for?! This and the fact that Simon brings up the whole "Coming Out" issue is great. He thinks straight people shouldn't have to be the default sexual orientation. Why don't we all come out? We do any of us have to come out?

The only thing that was disappointing was the fact they made Leah fall for Simon when they would be better off just friends. I also found it rather strange how she suddenly forgives him for everything and she doesn't have feelings for him anymore. It seemed unrealistic.

If you haven't already, go see the film, have a laugh and maybe even a cry. It's a beautiful love story about acceptance and falling for someone's personality instead of their looks.

Please let me know in the comments what you thought about the film and if the book is any different to the film - I'm really interested to find out!

Until next time, love Vee x

Book OTPs

Hey guys! In this week's blog I want to talk about my book OTPs (One True Pairings) and I'd love to hear yours too. Mine may be a bit unusual so I apologize if you don't know what book I'm talking about!

Simon and Baz (Snowbaz)

Simon and Baz are from Rainbow Rowell's book "Carry On" and I absolutely love Snowbaz! They are adorable. Simon hasn't figured out he's gay yet and Baz is Simon's nemesis. It's very much a love/hate relationship. Very unconventional but I ship it so much. If you enjoy fantasy, LGBT books and lovable bad boys, then this is the book you've been waiting for. But I definitely recommend reading Fangirl first as it might not make as much sense.

Sam and Grace 

Sam and Grace are from Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver trilogy and it's honestly the best series I've ever read (I know, I mention this a lot). Sam is a wolf and Grace is a human who is very confused by life and she doesn't know what she wants to do; but what she does know is that she's always been drawn to the wolves in her back garden. And that's when Sam becomes human and the most whirlwind romance begins.
You can read my review of the Shiver trilogy here.

Isabel and Cole St Clair

Isabel and Cole are also from the Shiver trilogy and even have their own spin off called Sinner. Much like Snowbaz, Isabel and Cole's relationship is built on hate, envy and jealousy. Isabel's brother has died and she's looking for comfort away from her family and Cole moves to LA to be near her. From there, their relationship unravels and as it does, so does their feelings...
You can read my review on Sinner here.

Lucy and Gabe

Lucy and Gabe are from Jill Santopolo's book "The Light We Lost." This is one of the first adult books I've read since I always read YA and I can tell you there's no better book to start with than this beauty. It was heartwarming and heartbreaking all at once. The story follows the ups and downs of relationships, break ups and getting back together. Their story might not be a happy one, but it's theirs and that's what makes it beautiful.
You can read my review of The Light We Lost here.

I hope you enjoyed this week's blog and I'll see you next time. Love, Vee x