Reading habits

Hello everyone! This blogpost will contain 10 facts about my reading habits, weird tendencies while reading, favourite spots, times of day, etc. Well, let's begin!

1.

I find most inspiration to dive into a good book in the early morning hours or on the days where I have a tightly planned schedule that shouldn't allow me to spend lots of hours reading. Conversely, when I have the day off and I intend to pick up a book along with a nice cup of tea and just enjoy the long hours before me curled up under a blanket with a book, these are the days I read the least. Ironic, isn't it? (Of course it differs - sometimes, luckily, I find the inspiration and delve into stories for hours and hours).

2.

Unconsciously, I think that bigger books (+500 pages) tend to scare me off. This is not a deliberate choice, but when I cast a glance at my bookshelves, most of the unread books I have left standing (some of them for several years) are the longer ones. This year, I have made a goal to pick more of these up. It's quite weird that I choose around the bigger books, because I actually love when there are enough pages in a book to really get drawn into the universe. And often with short books, I'm left wanting more.

3.

My eyes get tired easily when I read (does anyone experience the same and maybe have a way to avoid this?), but even though this is the case, I often tend to lie down in my bed under my duvet when I want to read. Often, this is not a very good idea, as I get sleepy and a bit too relaxed, even though it might be morning or the book is amazing. To avoid this situation of having to put the book down (as I often end up getting too tired to actually 'understand' what I'm reading), I am now reading in the kitchen where there is plenty of light with a large cup of tea. This works better for me as I stay concentrated for a longer period of time, but still... I kind of long for making myself comfortable in my bed instead. 

4. 

Sometimes, I stop reading when the following chapter is a really, really long even though I am in no rush to put the book down. This might be a mental thing, as shorter chapters make you feel like you move forward quicker and I often end up reading "just one more" several times because "oh well, it's just a short one, so why not...". Actually, I probably end up reading the same amount of pages as one long...or maybe sometimes even more?

5.

Sometimes I have such a hard time choosing which book to read next that I end up postponing the choice for a few hours or sometimes even for days, instead of just picking one up. I have so many unread books on my shelf - all books that I want to read at some point - and it really shouldn't be that difficult, but somehow I end up overthinking it because it has to be just right for my mood, plans, etc.

6.

I spend so much time when I was younger rereading the same books all over again (Harry Potter series + the 4 x 4 books by Tamora Pierce) that I sometimes wonder just how many more books I would have read by now, if just sometimes I had picked up a new one. 

7.

I made a TBR-jar about half a year ago, and though I enjoyed making it, writing all of my unread books down, I haven't once picked up a note from the jar, added the new books on my shelf, or removed those that I actually read. But it seemed like such a good idea!

8. 

I almost always take a book with me when I leave my apartment, even though I know that I won't possibly get the time to pick it up. But it's nice to have the opportunity... right?

9.

For a long time, I was kind of bummed out because I felt like I did not read fast enough and did not read enough books compared to everyone I follow on Goodreads, on blogs, BookTube, etc. until one day I decided that this was simply stupid. I love the concept of the reading challenge on Goodreads, but at the same time it really annoyed me (and stressed me out!) when announcing that "You are one book behind schedule" or something similar. Now, I merely use it to keep score of what I read and to get inspired by what everyone else picks up, instead of letting it get to me - which I guess is the whole purpose of the thing.

10.

I am constantly annoyed by the fact that my bookshelves look messy and unstructured, and I keep not doing something about it. The amount of beautiful books that I own keep expanding and I hate that I cannot display them properly. One reason for this is of course lack of space. Another reason might simply be laziness because of the the lack of a better solution.  At the same time, I constantly browse on the "Storskrald" groups on facebook for larger bookshelves in the hope that the right one will just pop up somewhere close to where I live. 

I hope you enjoyed reading some facts about my reading habits. Do we have something in common when it comes to reading or do you have completely different ways of structuring your hours of reading?

A newfound love for graphic novels

I've never really read comic books or graphic novels beforehand, but after I began following several BookTubers on Youtube I was inspired to pick up a few and give it a go. I will later do a blogpost on my favourite Youtube channels by which I am greatly inspired to pick up new books, and in that way expand my literary horizon.

Below, I will list 3 graphic novels that in my opinion is worth mentioning, both in terms of artwork and storyline.

Saga by Brian K. Vaughan (writer) and Fiona Staples (artist)

The first volume follows a couple from two different planets, and their struggle to be together. Their home planets, and thus their species, are at war. Their love is grand though forbidden, and they have one major issue: They have a child together. The story is told from the baby's point of view as a recount of the beginning of its life.

This series is beautifully drawn and I simply love the universe. It is totally weird and untraditional, even though the plot is kind of cliché. But it works in this context, and I couldn't help smiling throughout.

I have read the two first volumes, and the third lies in a pile of other graphic novels I am yet to read - and I almost cannot wait! I gave both volumes 5/5 stars, so I warmly recommend you to pick them up, if you like fantasy, easy-reads and beautiful drawings of alternate characters and universes.

Alex + Ada by Jonathan Luna (writer + illustrator) and Sarah Vaughn (writer)

This story is about a guy who lives in a version of the world as we know it, where robots are a big part of everyday life. Humans have a sort of mentally activated communication system with which they can contact others or research whatever they want. Science has developed in a peculiar direction where robots are evolved incredibly: They look, feel, and almost act as humans. But only almost. You can adjust and add to their personalities so that they please you in the best way possible, but they do not have an opinion of their own - they serve only to please you. The main character, Alex, receives a gift, namely one of these robots, but he does not care for it being merely mechanical; he wants it to feel and act on its own. Thus, the journey begins to make the female robot, Ada, a self-thinking being.

This story is charming, simple and beautifully made. I did not really have any expectations when I picked it up, but I absolutely loved it. I gave this volume 4/5 stars, and I look forward to read the next volume and see what becomes of Alex + Ada.

Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi

Amulet, Book One: The Stonekeeper

This story is absolutely adorable. I love the kind of childish artwork; really simply made but still so beautiful. The story in itself is also captivating and really sweet. It is about a family, who suffers from a car crash. After the accident, the family moves to a big house inherited from grandpa Silas, where the mother is taking captive, dragged into another world by a monstrous creature. In this house the girl, Emily, finds an amulet that helps her on her quest to rescue her mom and fight the struggles that she and her brother, Navin, encounters on the way.

The story contains fluffy, cute robot characters as well as humans and they balance it out quite well. 

I read this one immediately when I received it, and I was pleasantly surprised. I gave this one 4/5 stars on Goodreads, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how this story is going to take form.

I can really recommend picking up graphic novels as an easy-read, in between bigger books. It is easy, fun and most of the time stunningly performed. I am definitely going to research more titles and explore the world of graphic novels further.

Other graphic novels I read:

• Fables Vol. 1: Legends In Exile by Bill Willingham (writer), Lan Medina (penciller), Steve Leialoha (inker), and Craig Hamilton (inker) (3/5)
• Hansel and Gretel by Neil Gaiman (writer) and Lorenzo Mattotti (artist) (4/5)

"Graphic" novels I own but haven't read yet:

• Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba (writer) and Takeshi Obata (artist)
• The Wicked + The Divine: The Faust Act by Kieron Gillen (writer), Jamie McKelvie (artist), Matthew Wilson (colourist), and Clayton Cowles (letterer)
• Sin City 1: The Hard Goodbye by Frank Miller

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Have you read any of the graphic novels that I mention above? If that is the case, what is your experience? Do you like to read illustrated novels like this or do you prefer "normal" books?

If you have read any graphic novels that you can recommend then, please, let me know down below!

(Btw, I'm sorry for the quality of the pictures but the lighting is pretty bad at this time of day, and I only have the camera of my iPhone and the webcam of my iMac. Hopefully, I will get better equipment at some point).

The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson

The Hero of Ages

The Well of Ascension

The Final Empire

In Autumn 2014 I embarked on a journey through the incredible world created by Brandon Sanderson, namely the Mistborn Trilogy. Recently, I finished the third and last book, and this blogpost will work as a kind of review, but contains more of a description of my experience reading the books. There will be no spoilers in this post.

I have always loved fantasy universes. I love the mystical, the magnificent, the magical. All of this is found in this trilogy. The first time I heard of the books I knew instantly that I had to get my hands on them. First of all, they look absolutely beautiful and the storyline seemed captivating. And by the first line of the book, I was drawn in. 

"Ash fell from the sky" (Book One, pp. 1)

Already at this point, my mind was set in motion and I began to wonder. Ash falling from the sky? How is this possible? I needed to know more right away. Throughout the whole series I had this feeling of not only wanting to know more but needing it. I got to love the characters and the world and I desperately needed to know just how everything was connected. Sanderson writes stunningly; his language is easy-to-read but still fantastical. He draws you into the world that he creates whilst doing an incredibly job at character building. 

Look at these beauties with the matching blue colours
 and lovely drawings. Absolutely stunning!

He creates a whole new world where the sun is a burning red, ash is falling from the sky and mist is present throughout everyday, day and night. Some noblemen have special abilities, Mistborns; by burning metals they can enhance sight, hearing, Push and Pull via coins, and control your mood to a certain degree. And then there is the skaa, a slave like people. Our main character, Vin, has grown up with as skaa, but suddenly she finds that she has enormous powers - she is a Mistborn. Through her narrative we experience the development, the struggles and the great experience of suddenly becoming a Mistborn. Vin and her crew sets out to try and save the world, and this by overcoming the Lord Ruler, who has reigned for more than a thousand years; a tyran, or maybe even a god? No one knows. They embark on this journey, trick, and fight and learns, slowly but surely, of the state of the earth as they know it and the history behind.

Creatures of great power and powerful forces are introduced throughout the storyline and raises even more questions. Only in the third book do we get answers to all of the many questions. Speculations have been offered on the way but we learn the truth only as the characters themselves stumble across the answers.

"Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I'd remained there, in that lazy village of my birth. I'd have become a smith, like my father. Perhaps I'd have a family, sons of my own. Perhaps someone else would have come to carry this terrible burden. Someone who could bear it far better than I. Someone who deserved to be a hero." (Book One, pp. 276).

The narrative is structured in an unusual way that allows the reader to explore and relate to even more characters. Every chapter, and sub-chapters, are written in the point of view of different character. Additionally, every chapter includes a small paragraph by an unknown voice that are each connected throughout the books. These paragraphs gives us answers to things we do not yet know the questions to, and in the beginning it seems a bit confusing as it does not seem to fit the main storyline. But all of a sudden, it all makes sense and it enlightens and explain things in a clever way; instead of incorporating it as a piece of actual storyline, hints are dropped all the way through towards the ending, where everything suddenly makes sense. In this way, Sanderson expands the horizon of the book and the reader is in no way limited to only one point of view. 

"The mist spirit watched her, as always. It was too distant to see, but she could feel it. And, even stronger than the mist spirit, she could feel something else. That powerful thumping, growing louder and louder. It had once seemed distant, but no longer." (Book Two, pp. 580)

Time after time whilst reading these books I was left completely stunned, the storyline taking a turn I simply did not see coming. And time and time again I was amazed by the world creation, and especially when you learn the causes and effects in the third book it all makes sense and makes you go "wow".

It was an easy read, captivating and brilliant. I have nothing negative to say about these books. They contain just the right amount of love story, fights, religion, history and politics. If you like the fantasy genre, these books are definitely a must read. I gave them all 5 stars on Goodreads. You can find my account here.





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So, hello out there! As you can see, I'm back, and this time I plan to stay for a good while longer. I will try to manage to upload a blogpost once a week (probably sunday or monday, as I am mostly off on these days), and they will contain different subject matters, a few of which will be: About my studies, my BA project, evolutionary theory, books, music and music cultural studies, events, etc. If you have any suggestions to subject matters that you would like to see my opinion on, you are very welcome to write a comment down below. I have decided to write the blogposts in English from now on, as I am no longer studying at the English department at Aarhus University, and I want to maintain my language skills, and hopefully improve on this matter as well. Also I have chosen to change the name of my blog to Words & Music.
Thanks a lot for reading.