reading

An Open Book

/ CAstfalk / 8 Comments

An Open BookWelcome to the inaugural An Open Book Link-Up! Let’s get started.

Aftermath Chuck WendigMy husband is reading a couple of Star Wars books: Aftermath by Chuck Wendig and The Art of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  Of the former, he says it’s taken him way too long to read because “he can’t stand it.” I’ve never heard him complain about writing  before, but apparently the author’s style does not agree with him. At all. I think it has something to do with a multitude of sentence fragments. He’s not alone. With more than 2,000 Amazon reviews, it’s rating is 2.6 of 5 stars. More than a third of the reviews are 1 star.

I imagine writing for a rabid fan base like that of the Star Wars franchise would be a challenge for most anyone. I’ve not glanced at Aftermath (which takes place between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens), but I’ve read some of Chuck Wendig’s often-salty writing posts.  Perhaps he’s an acquired taste. Continue reading →

Reading Link-Up: An Open Book

/ CAstfalk / 24 Comments

An Open Book CatholicMomOn Wednesday, March 2, I’ll be reviving a reading linkup, and I’d love for you to join me!

#OpenBook will be a monthly link-up each first Wednesday of the month.

  • My post for linking will go up at 5:30 a.m. and remain open until midnight the following Tuesday. So, say life happens and your kids get sick, crunch time hits at work, or a deadline prevents you from finishing your post until Friday – no problem. Link when you can.
  • Post every month, every other month, or whenever you feel like. No commitment or regularity is required, although I’d love it if you’d join us each month.
  • The dates for the remainder of 2016 are: March 2, April 6, May 4, June 1, July 6, August 3, September 7, October 5, November 2, and December 7.
  • Content is flexible. Simply write about what you’re reading. You can make it personal or, as I plan to do, extend it to the whole family. Your post can be as simple as a few lines about the book or as in-depth as a 700-word review. That’s entirely up to you. You can even forego writing all together and record a video or simply post cover photos. Here’s what my first post (under another title) looked like.
  • You are welcome and encouraged to copy and use the custom graphic above, but it’s not mandatory.
  • Don’t have a blog? Share what you’re reading in the comments.
  • Invite your friends and fellow bloggers.

Continue reading →

Top 10 Tuesday: 10 Reasons I Love My Kindle

/ CAstfalk / 2 Comments

When my husband surprised me with a Kindle for Christmas four years ago, I wasn’t sure that I’d like it. I enjoy holding a book in my hands, examining the color cover, and feeling the pages glide between my fingers. But, grateful for his thoughtful gift, I tested it out. And I became hooked. Here’s what I love about my Kindle.

  1. The dictionary feature. I love the ability to look up a word with a single tap. I don’t need to set my book down and go for the dictionary–either in hardcover or online. It’s  undoubtedly helped expand my vocabulary and enabled me to grasp the precise meaning of words.
  2. The ability to prop it on a window sill. I carefully prop my Kindle on the window sill above the kitchen sink, which allows me to read while washing dishes. With six people, no automatic dishwasher, and  meals cooked from scratch, I often have a double sink filled with dishes. Reading makes the task more pleasant.reader with bookends

    3. Continue reading →