Bibliophile .

||Day Sixty-Eight||

I can't stop reading.

It has become something I look forward to every day.

And every book I start I immediately want to finish so that I can start the next book, yet when I do finish it then I get sad because it's over. 

Today I finished two books that I had been reading, which was quite an accomplishment for me because usually I shudder at the idea of reading two books at once. However, this was fairly easy since one book was more of a biography and the other was a novel.

The first book I finished was "Wesley the Owl" by Stacey O'Brien. I first saw this book at the Louisville Zoo gift shop, of all places. This, and another animal book that I plan on reading, just somehow caught my eye. Then, being the Goodreads fanatic that I am, I was looking up these books, adding them to my "to-read" list when I saw suggestions for other books that were similar; thus started a whole new genre of books for me to devour: wildlife nonfiction. Since I figured this, along with three other animal books I had found, would not likely be found in my library, I decided to order it online. I ended up finding 5 books (the 4 animal ones and another book) for only about $5. I was on cloud nine. The catch, however, was that the shipping was $20. But after rationalizing that 5 books for $25, or $5 per book, was still a way better deal than I could find anywhere else, I decided to just order them and be done. Then for the next week or so I waited anxiously as they were all delivered in the mail. The books were all used, which was fine by me, but I had ordered the majority of them in "Like New/Good" condition. This was the first book that came in the mail, and while it was not the first book I wanted to read, I was just way to impatient to wait for them to all be delivered. 

I started reading this book on the way to my cousins wedding just last week.

And for a while I was skeptical of it catching my attention. I didn't want it to seem too much like a school assignment. But on the contrary, I loved this book. It could be a little tedious at times, usually on the longer chapters which just usually falter me in any kind of book. But as I neared the end I was more and more drawn to finishing it. Obviously this is not a book that everyone would enjoy, so I won't go into a lot of detail, but it spoke to my animal-loving science-oriented heart. And by the end of the book I was literally in tears. O'Brien writes with such passion and eloquence that made me not only feel connected to her, but also made me want to hug and appreciate my own pets more.

I would give this book an 8/10, but would likely only recommend it to fellow animal science/zoology/conservationists. It takes a certain kind of mindset to fully enjoy it.

The second book that I dove into whole-heartedly was a classic: "The Giver" by Lois Lowry. 

I read this book in the 7th grade, but didn't remember almost anything about it. I have a real issue with being forced to read things. I think I just like to read at my own pace and enjoy the book, so being told to "read chapters 1-5 for Tuesday" makes me feel pressured. So maybe I did legitimately read it, but because I was rushed to just follow the assignment I didn't actually retain it.  

What propelled me to re-read it in the first place, however, was seeing the trailer for the movie. Then, of course, I was on a Target run and looking at the books when I saw this on the shelf. It was the last copy and it was only $7 so I thought "why not". I read it in three days. I couldn't put it down. I'm such a sucker for dystopia/new world novels though. And reading it I almost wondered to myself why we had to even read it in 7th grade. It just seemed, to me, that I would have probably appreciated it more in freshman or sophomore year in high school. But I'm not an English teacher. The point is that this book is fantastic, the chapters seemed to go very quickly, and it's just such an interesting story.
I will say, however, that after watching the trailer, reading the book, then re-watching the trailer, that the movie does not follow the book. So, just go into the movie knowing that it is a tweaked story line and you're golden. I think the movie looks good though, so this girl will definitely be seeing it.
(If you haven't seen the trailer...)

Overall I would give this book a 9/10. I would definitely read it again, and will probably keep this guy for a while instead of re-selling it.

Though it was a rather uneventful day, I feel fairly accomplished and am proud of all the reading I've been doing this summer. I would like to continue reading into the school year, but it's likely that I won't since I will have time consuming classes and be working again (but, as of today, I learned that I am starting a new position once I head back to school. I am over the moon -- better hours and better pay will make for a much much happier Kate). But you never know, maybe I will just have to make time for reading.

 ♥K