Books and blog anxiety

First off, I am having blog anxiety. Ridiculous, I know. My blog is for ME. It really truly is, or at least I'm trying to make it be. I'm not even sure what I mean by that, but I know that my blog should not be an added stress or a new way for me to feel bad about myself. And yet I always seem to find ways.

This week my sister had this on her blog: "Other blogs I read are so interesting. Like Melanie's, they are always so funny and she always has such cute pictures, or Stephanie's where she truly is a story teller. Or Sharla's where she has tons of cool giveaways and ideas or Becky's where you always leave the blog feeling uplifted."

Most normal people would read that and think, well, I don't know. Whatever normal people think. And yet I read that and think...okay, so I am not funny, don't have cute pictures, am not a story teller and do not leave you feeling uplifted. I just have cool giveaways which my sister has never entered (I don't even think she reads this blog.) Okay, I know that's not what she said. But I honestly don't think I have any family members who read this blog, and only very few that read my private family blog. I'm not trying to pout or be a brat, I'm just saying that I know I am silly for letting things bug me (imagined or not). I have met some amazing people through blogging, and just think, if I had never started a blog I would never have met them. Too sad for words.

So, I am glad I blog. But I need to learn to be okay if people don't read it, or don't like what I write, or think it's boring, or think it's all over the place, or think the colors are yucky. I'm going to suck it up and take it like a Momma. Tomorrow. (really I will, seriously, I promise)

Okay, on to the book business at hand for those who are interested in that. Only three books this week.

The Terminal Man by Michael Crichton
I have always liked Crichton. Sometimes he gets too technical which is not a bad thing, I like to be educated, but reading for me is an escape so I usually pick books that let me relax, not that leave me leafing through a dictionary. Anyway, this one was just fine in that area. It is very definitely dated. One of those books that is science fiction but a lot of the fiction is now fact kind of thing. The copyright is 1972 so a few years before I was even born. It is about a man who has a device of sorts implanted in his brain to help him with his seizures, which are really just bouts of violence after which he wakes up and has no recollection. Things definitely go wrong. It was interesting, I enjoyed it. What I liked, which Crichton has in all of his books, is the underlying message or even warning I would say about where we're headed as a society. His books are often out there, but there's always a message there that applies to all of us.

Yearbook by Allyson Braithwaite Condie
This book follows a group of students, teachers, and even the principal through a year of high school. Considering that this was Condie's first book I was very impressed. It was on a slightly more juvenile level than what I usually choose but I enjoyed it. Simple, sweet, touching, and worth reading.

Hazardous Duty by Betsy Brannon Green
Here was one of those books that you turn after the last page and can't believe it's over. And then I looked at the binding and saw the #1. So, it was the first in a series of three books that I am really excited to finish. This book had it all in what I like to read. Kidnapping, mystery, romance, and all of it well written in a book that is enjoyable to read (and clean). I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it wasn't one that really made me think or cry but it was a great escape from life and the kind of book I usually go looking for. I see the second book is out already so I better go find it.