Saturday, January 24, 2009

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.

12 comments:

  1. Been there, done that on the bloggy stress. It sucks - but it also sucks us right back in again. Because you can't *not* do it once you're used to having it as a method of connecting and getting your thoughts OUT. :-)

    The Crichton book sounds interesting! I was just thinking of Rising Sun and a couple of his other older things the other day. I'll have to see if our library has this one too.

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  2. That is just silly, I wasn't saying that yours didn't have all those things, I was pointing out one of my favorite things about your blogs. And as for the giveaways, I don't think I want free onesies :) and the 50 dollar one I would have done, but I have no idea what Twitter is. Remember I am pretty new to blogging. I read both your blogs and I love them both, I don't know how much mom reads them but I know she does. I don't think she understands quite how they work to comment.

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  3. Hey, I always enjoy your blog, even if I rarely comment. I don't comment often on ANY blogs, but I read several. Keep up the good work.

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  4. Here are some books I've just read that I think are worth reading (I love YA [Young Adult] books because I can whiz through them, they're clean, and they usually have a good moral to the story):

    Every Soul a Star
    Autumn...Does Things Different (I forget her full name, like Autumn Winnefred Oliver or something)
    Tennyson (The heroine is a young gal, named Tennyson after the famous poet)
    A Thousand Never Evers.

    And an ABSOLUTE favorite is Princess Academy

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  5. Your bloggy stress is the reason I'm really wavering over whether or not to start a blog. I would have totally read your sister's comment the same way, so I guess we have pretty similar personalities. Maybe my difference is that ten years from now I would still be wondering what was meant by that comment LOL.
    Keep it coming, I'm still reading! BTW, you're helping me get closer to actually starting a blog, because I do need someplace to put my nonsensical mumblings. Hey, that's a good name for it too. ;)

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  6. I love your blogs! But since I changed my background I can't seem to get Blogger to accept your private blog. It keeps saying feed burner or something like that.

    Oh, by the way, my sister and I set up a blog for Cliss (though she doesn't know how to do it and would rather be knitting). So if you want to invite her to your private blog send her an e-mail (not that she really checks that either). We're trying to modernize her, whether she likes it or not. And Cammie's got a blog but her fan died and she hasn't been able to blog. Nevertheless, here are their e-mails: clissneal at msn dot com & myyellowcastle at yahoo dot com

    I've actually given my sister advice that I've gleened from your blog. She's trying to get a business up and running and advertising and giveaways are great ways to do it. Everyone wins. You should feel proud! At least, I'm very impressed!

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  7. You have been crazy busy here in blogville lately! Love the gray background--Not that it matters what I think, it's your blog! :) And I read Jane's post dedicated to you--nice to know we're not the only ones with houses like that! Hee hee. Deep down I knew it was more common than I thought it was. Did that make any sense? Anyway, just wanted to let you know that you are fabulous! See you in a couple of hours!

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  8. I know how you feel. I try and not let those things get to me, but it is nice to feel like people appreciate the things you are doing.

    I don't think I've heard of Yearbook but it sounds great!!!

    -Lauren

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  9. Hazardous Duty sounds pretty good. I may have to check into it.
    As far as the bloggy anxiety, I think we all feel that way at some point or another. Its all a part of that being accepted thing. I came from the Bloggy Giveaways...I'll book mark ya.

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  10. I love reading your blog posts. I don't leave comments but I do enjoy reading them. I have learned a lot of new things. I would never have the courage to start my own and just truly admire those that do.

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  11. I'll have to go find that third book at the library and give it a try. If it makes you feel less anxious I'll bookmark you and come back every once in a while. lol ... and let you know what I think of the book.

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  12. I love your blog. Thank you for your book reviews. I still have a few unread books on my table but now I know which books to choose in the library.
    Do you like chocolate easter eggs? I'll post you some;-)
    Hugs, Barbra

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