Harry Potter and the Life Lessons

Also known as "The Prisoner of Azkaban." Two months later, I finally finished this audio. Life seems to be getting in the way; but that's a good thing, right? Not having the time to read means I'm putting my reclusive self out there and participating in what life has to offer. Everything except books, apparently.

Of course after the first two novels, it took no time at all to get into this story. The action, though, gets packed into the final few chapters, and we learn the most valuable lesson: "The consequences of our actions are always so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the future is a very difficult business indeed."

Boom.
Light bulb.
"Bazinga!" said my life.

For how many years have I thought 'If only I hadn't done that' or 'In five years I'll be...?' Well, I can't change what I've done, as hard as I may try. And I haven't the slightest clue where I'll actually be in five years, or even tomorrow, really. I'm a planner; everything gets a day and a time to be accomplished, so "predicting the future" is something I thought I had down pretty well. I guess I can plan the future, not predict it. I can make decisions that will lead to happenings, and the consequences of those happenings, based on those decisions, will determine where I end up in the future.

Maybe I'll be in the ground next week. Maybe I'll be in Florida two months from now (cross your fingers, please!), or maybe I'll be sitting in my same, comfortable kitchen typing another blog post. Who knows? I certainly don't.

"Mischief managed."

The Chamber of Secrets

So the goal is to hear the whole Harry Potter series on audiobook. Two down, five to go. I'm about a week behind on books, but I'm working on number four. We play something called "Book Review Bingo" for National Library Week at work, using books off the ALA RUSA list and notable books. Rumor has it the list is coming this week, so I'm hoping to add a few of those to my list. The actual bingo event will be in April; more on that later.

Spoiler alert: you've been warned.

The Chamber of Secrets kept leading my mind to the movie version, especially the part when Harry's in the chamber with the basilisk. I kept envisioning the special effects and the layout of the set, which of course made me feel like a total failure for watching the movie long before reading the book...

The book, though, offered a few details that I don't remember ever watching, which was great, but otherwise I found the two quite similar. A book like this I feel is tough to review because anyone with half a childhood heart in the new millennium has read it. I guess it's one of those "I just better read it sometime" series. And really, wasn't the point of this project to slow down and make time for books? Not necessarily review them all...maybe...

I have a hard time slowing down with the audiobooks. I listen while I do other stuff--dishes, bake, clean. All must be done eventually, I suppose.

Anyway, book four is "Your Own, Sylvia" by Stephanie Hemphill. OK, OK, so we were shifting the Literature section at work and I came across the last name. Of course I'm going to read it now.

"When in doubt, go to the library." 

Finding Alaska?

Has anyone else ever felt lonely after finishing a book? Not just lonely in the sense that I'm sitting here by myself, away from other people, but lonely in the sense of the world. Like if I got up off the couch and went out with friends, I'd still feel this nagging 'It's just me' feeling. I don't mean me is the center of my world because I hope it isn't. I just mean the loneliness never goes away.

People sometimes live for selfish reasons and we don't always know what those reasons are. "Looking for Alaska" left me feeling lonely and unsure not only of the characters' selfish reasons but of my own as well. I hate when people point out my flaws (as if I don't already see them), but even more so I hate when books point them out. This author, this character that has no idea I'm reading him and who has never met me (and probably never will) is showing me how selfish I am and how I should learn to be more forgiving.

He's right, though. It's true, I am selfish. As much as I dislike having my nose rubbed in it, I believe that's one mark of a successful book. A great book can open your heart as widely or as narrowly as you choose to open its covers.

It's tough to write about this particular book without giving away the story. The damage happens fairly early on, and the repercussions make for quite a fallout. Yes, it's a typical story of love and teen angst, something I'd probably have cared to read more in the ninth grade, but still not bad.

“It always shocked me when I realized that I wasn't the only person in the world who thought and felt such strange and awful things.” 

Book 2: Looking for Alaska

I was loving this book. I had my doubts; it's a stereotypical young adult novel about a group of friends who get into trouble and have to find a way out. Once I got past the first 50 pages or so, it started to draw me in. I was letting myself slip way into the book--stay up until 3 a.m. into the book. But then...

It took a turn. A heart-wrenching, unexpected turn that left me so angry I stopped reading. That was four days ago, and I still can't pick it up again. I think that's the mark of a good novel, though, to have that effect on a reader. I'd suggest the first half of the book to anyone looking for an easy, fast-paced read. It's one of those plots where every detail advances the action just a little bit more, you know, the good kind.

Book 1: The Sorcerer's Stone

I know, I know. Choosing Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone as the first book on my list is the epitome of cliche, but it was sitting there on the shelf all gawking at me and it was bound to happen sometime, so why not get it over with up front?

I must say I was pleasantly surprised. I've read the first three books in the series before, when they first came out, but I just didn't love them enough to keep throwing myself into the misadventures of the wizarding world. I must say, though, that I appreciated Rowling's writing much more as an adult than I did several years back. The book made sense, though it was completely made up. I found myself questioning the characters' motives, the plausibility of the whole story, how the author could live in another dimension and never once mention a person or celebrity or famous happening from the muggle world.

And there's absolutely something to be said about audiobooks. Brilliant! Sure, there are some pretty terrible ones out there, but when you pick the right one with the right narrator and the right British accent, it makes all the difference in the world. Plus, you can listen to them while doing all sorts of other stuff: driving (but stay focused on the road!), dishes, cleaning the bathroom, folding laundry, crocheting, walking, falling asleep. I got through The Sorcerer's Stone in about eight hours of audio when it would normally take me more than a month to get through a single novel. I'm terrible about making time to read, hence the challenge.

I'm happy to report I'm a good seven chapters into The Chamber of Secrets and that I'm almost done with a John Green novel. I've always been bad about overlapping books. One to listen to, one to read. Perhaps it's not the best habit. All this time off school is making it easy to get through the first books ahead of schedule. I'm curious what kind of turn this will take come the start of next semester. 

"Never tickle a sleeping dragon."

52 books in 52 weeks

About a week ago, I traversed the town interviewing strangers about their New Year's resolutions. The sixth person I spoke with told me his goal was to read more. He said he wasn't sure how to keep track of his progress, but thought one book a week would be a good place to start. Of course I had the "OMG that's a lot of books!" reaction.

Later that night as I sifted through the interviews and compiled them into a newspaper feature, this particular interview stood out the most. It wasn't the "lose more weight," the "finish school" or the "find a man" resolutions that stuck (like I could find a man, anyway). I thought, "If he can do it, I can do it. I work at a library for goodness sake. I should read more anyway." Then the question became which books to read. So, I looked at the list of bookmarks on my library account, the Word documents on my computer, the Post-its all over my desk. I scanned the shelves in the Fiction section, looked through my own little (BIG) library and jotted down some biography titles. It's a lot of pressure, choosing books. But the list is written (with a few blank spots for the books I'll come across in the next few months and absolutely HAVE to add).

Then I thought: "Whoo! I have this list of books. Go me! Who cares? How am I going to hold myself accountable for reading a book every week?"

Enter: blog. An English professor of mine was once challenged to blog for an entire year. Not only did she blog, she wrote for herself and for her readers. She knew we were paying attention. She knew we cared what she had to say. So, maybe you will care what I have to say about books (and even if you don't, I'm going to pretend you do).

I'm also going to use the 52 challenge to hold myself accountable for other areas of life that could use some work. Like taking a break from work. Like honing a skill I've always loved and will use the rest of my life. Like learning to listen better (audiobooks, folks!). Like letting myself splurge on a really big bottle of bubble bath and wine for some heavy bathtub reading.

Feel free to follow along! Take the books as recommendations, form your own reading list, leave comments. I'm still looking for suggestions to fill some spots on the list! Bring it on, 2014.