Thursday, April 26, 2012

TGIF (13) and Follow Friday (12)

TGIF is hosted by Ginger at Greads! This week's discussion is about
Reading Blues
We all get them from time to time. What helps you overcome those reading slumps when nothing seems to grab your attention.

Two solutions for me:
1) Stop reading entirely. Just for a day or two (usually that's all I can handle before I want to read again!). It gives me a chance to breathe, to not feel so pressured to meet a pub date or get some sort of valuable content on the blog and remember that hey...I love reading, and it should never stress me out.

2) Re-read something I love. There are thankfully those books that you know will always make you feel better--even if they're sad books. Those well-worn, well-read stories that make your heart flutter. The Jessica Darling series. Anna and the French Kiss. The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight. The Sky is Everywhere. Maybe that super cheesy adult romance novel (Susan Elizabeth Phillips is my go-to author for that). Reading slumps happen to me when I've read a ton of books in a row that either don't do anything for me, are outside my usual genre (contemporary), or are too similar (I went through an alarming week where every book was about cancer and death). Reading something I know I love reminds me of how beautiful books are and rejuvenates my interest in discovering more.

How do you cure the reading blues?
Leave me your link and I'll come check it out!

Follow Friday is hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee's View, meant to spotlight two blogs and allows bloggers to link up and meet other fabulous bookish friends and share the Following love!

This week's spotlight blogs are: Little Read Riding Hood & Book That Thing

And the question of the week is:
Have you had a character that disappointed you? One that you fell in love with and then "broke up" with later on in either series or a stand-alone book? Tell us about him or her.

Fun question! Difficult, too, because I don't really remember the ones I don't like unless it's a character I have a strong, immediate aversion to.  I think Keith from 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson would have to be the answer...I really, really loved him during most of the book, but towards the end I just wasn't feeling him for some reason. And then when I read Last Little Blue Envelope...40 pages in and I was questioning what I ever saw in him (gosh it was like a real relationship...haha).  No spoilers if you haven't read Last Little Blue Envelope...but he fell flat and I definitely broke up with him.


Can I put an unpopular opinion out there? First and foremost, I love Harry Potter -- the books and the character. I adore him, always. But I have to say, in The Order of the Phoenix, it was definitely a rough patch in the relationship. I just wanted him to stop whining! Everything was about him and how he was being ignored and woe is he and he was being SUCH a baby.  Like I said, I love him, adore him for always...I just needed some time apart after that haha.

What character did you break up with?
Leave me your link and I'll hop by!
And of course I'd love to return a follow if you are kind enough to follow me :)

PS. Have you entered my giveaway to win a signed copy of In Honor by Jessi Kirby? US only, ends 5/1 since I hope to get the book to the winner before or on its official release!

25 comments:

  1. Ashna April 27, 2012 at 1:35 AM

    Whoa! Our methods to get over a reading slump match! :P I'll take a break as well, read something really light and short or entirely do something else! :)

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    1. Ashley @ Ashley Loves BooksApril 27, 2012 at 4:55 PM

      Yay! It's the best cure!

      Delete
  • PatriciaApril 27, 2012 at 1:43 AM

    Same here. I either don't read or I reread my favorites! :D

    Patricia // My Hop

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    1. Ashley @ Ashley Loves BooksApril 27, 2012 at 4:56 PM

      It's the perfect way to get out of a slump! Nothing like returning to favorites :)

      Delete
  • Rachel April 27, 2012 at 3:56 AM

    Happy Friday!
    I love contemporary books too!
    I also was dissapounted in Keith. I didn't like him at all during the last blue envolope because he was pretty mean.
    Great answers!
    Rachel

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    1. Ashley @ Ashley Loves BooksApril 27, 2012 at 4:56 PM

      He was SO mean! And he acted out all wrong, especially considering his...well, that he was hiding something from her in the beginning. Happy friday to you, too!

      Delete
  • Sarah (Escaping Through Books)April 27, 2012 at 4:12 AM

    I don't think I could stop reading completely, but I definitely do re-read books when I'm in a slump! You listed two books that are also on my "re-read" list--Anna and the French Kiss and The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. I think both of them are perfect, ideal books to re-read because they are such feel-good, happy stories. I'm not in a reading slump at the moment, but I'm thinking about re-reading them just for fun now...

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    1. Ashley @ Ashley Loves BooksApril 27, 2012 at 4:57 PM

      They really are so perfect...enough of an emotional ride to know how much books can make you feel, but not depressing to turn you away. Happy friday!

      Delete
  • Kimberly @ Midnight Book GirlApril 27, 2012 at 4:15 AM

    The Order of the Phoenix was one of my favorite HP's. It's been so long since I've read it that I don't remember the whinyness, but as Harry definitely had his whiny moments I don't doubt they were there!

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    1. Ashley @ Ashley Loves BooksApril 27, 2012 at 4:58 PM

      I loved everything else about Order, I thought it was such a neat thing to learn about and all the history we're finally given -- but yeah. I kinda wanted to reach through the pages and tell Harry to shut his trap haha.

      Delete
  • Amber (Books of Amber)April 27, 2012 at 6:04 AM

    When I'm in a slump I try to read something different. I haven't tried rereading a favourite, but lots of people have suggested it! Oh, and I agree. I definitely went through a rough patch with Harry in HP5! It's my least favourite book, although I still adore it, if that makes sense!

    Books of Amber

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    1. Ashley @ Ashley Loves BooksApril 27, 2012 at 5:02 PM

      I try to read something different, but depending on the type of slump sometimes it's just not sticking or I'm too "slumpy" (for lack of a better word haha) to really connect. And that totally makes sense about it being a least favourite but still love it! I feel like that about Catching Fire, it's my least favourite of the 3 but I still really love it.

      Delete
  • Abbey AnnApril 27, 2012 at 7:39 AM

    I completely agree with you about Keith. I was really disappointed with him. It's been a while since I read the fifth book, but I sort of remember Harry being a little annoying.

    New Follower!

    Abbey Ann
    http://abbeyannsbookland.blogspot.com/2012/04/feature-follow-friday-1.html

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    1. Ashley @ Ashley Loves BooksApril 27, 2012 at 5:03 PM

      I actually kinda felt like he'd betrayed me haha. I just loved him so much at the beginning (how could you not love a complex artist?), but then he was such a disappointments.

      Thank you for following!

      Delete
  • SidneApril 27, 2012 at 8:37 AM

    @TGIF - I must try that. Happy REading and Blessed Weekend
    http://sidnereading.blogspot.com

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    1. Ashley @ Ashley Loves BooksApril 27, 2012 at 5:03 PM

      It definitely helps me! Happy weekend to you :)

      Delete
  • Carrie at In the Hammock BlogApril 27, 2012 at 9:51 AM

    i've seen re reading a fave mentioned a lot. i might try it!


    I'm a new follower!
    In the Hammock Blog

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    1. Ashley @ Ashley Loves BooksApril 27, 2012 at 5:04 PM

      That's the one I usually try! It's hard to just stop reading (as I think we all know haha), so grabbing a favourite is the go-to cure. Thanks for following!

      Delete
  • DarleneApril 27, 2012 at 8:16 PM

    Re-reading an old favorite book seems to be a very popular tip for this question! I very much love revisiting an old book and I don’t get that time very often!

    Darlene @ Leather Bound and Lovely

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    1. Ashley @ Ashley Loves BooksApril 28, 2012 at 1:15 AM

      That's very true! There are so many I love and want to visit again, but it feels like there isn't enough time...at least slumps can be good for something!

      Delete
  • UnknownApril 28, 2012 at 9:28 PM

    I am thinking I am the only one that stops reading for a full week. I need to miss it! One day or two is caught up with work and sleep. :)LOL!

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  • J. B. KanttApril 29, 2012 at 12:30 AM

    Hey!
    Great answer to a fun question this week!
    And thanks for stopping by my blog! I'm an old follower! :D

    J.B. :)
    http://jbkantt.blogspot.com/

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    1. Ashley @ Ashley Loves BooksApril 30, 2012 at 10:15 PM

      Thanks, and thank YOU for commenting! :)

      Delete
  • Christy @ TheReaderBeeApril 30, 2012 at 8:26 AM

    Yes! I totally agree about Keith. :)

    Sorry for my late reply! Thank you for hopping by for FF!

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    1. Ashley @ Ashley Loves BooksApril 30, 2012 at 10:15 PM

      Thanks for commenting, and I'm glad to know I'm not the only one disappointed in Keith. Such a fall from cute Starbucks boy to annoyance haha.

      Delete

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