Showing posts with label The Reader Diaries. Show all posts
The Reader Diaries #19: Where Have I Been + Struggling to Find Motivation
Monday, 30 April 2018
Hello, my lovely readers! It has been a month since I last wrote/posted anything on this blog. You may ask: What happened to me? Where have I been? Why am I not posting as much? Well, today I am here to answer your questions!
As you may know, I and currently in the second year of my university course in Languages, Literature and Culture, saying that things are getting harder is a gross understatement. My constant strive towards perfect grades and the level of work that I demand myself have been wearing me down. Sadly, I am not achieving my academic goals for the year and that makes me sad and unmotivated. In my search for motivation, I have found many tricks and support in the studyblr community. It is a great group of people that want to obtain success in their academic careers and help each other.
In the midst of my inner struggle, I was accepted to study a semester abroad! The whole process of applying and now, after acceptance, the paperwork and research necessary to actually go to my destination are wearing me out. I am supposed to spend the Autumn Semester of 2018/2019 at the University of Leeds, in the United Kingdom. I have always dreamed of studying in the UK hope to do my masters there so I am hoping that spending some time taking in their higher education system and the day-to-day living improves my chances of future success. To be honest I hope that I come out a more fulfilled person out of all of this.
Thanks to all my worries and lack of self-confidence my mental health has been really down. I have no energy and I have been neglecting my creative outlets: I haven't written, painted or drew in over a month. I have not been reading. I have been secluded in myself and in my pain. There are too many things happening in my life that are bringing me down and I have been letting them.
The past weeks I have been trying, even more, to come out of this well I put myself into and have been going to a psychologist to help me deal with my problems and get me back to a better place. I have been taking baby steps towards a better mental health and a better sense of myself. Spoiler alert: I has not been easy. The step I am taking this week is coming back to this blog, my baby and cutting (added) sugar from my diet for 6 days.
I am happy to inform you that I have started reading again and that I hope that soon I will have good content to post for you. In my point of view if I am not going to post good content then I should not post anything at all. I have also started posting some pictures on the blog's Instagram page, meddling with new ways to promote my "brain child" is always fun and relaxing.
I am very excited to be back and hope that you are excited to have me back. Thank you for supporting me!
Love, Ana
Here's the last thing I posted on the blog's Instagram (I hope you like it):
The Reader Diaries #18: Happy New Year + New Mindset
Friday, 12 January 2018
Happy new year guys! I am sorry that I've been away for awhile, university has been crazy and I have not had time to think and even less time to read books that aren't in my units reading list. I will admit that I have missed blogging terribly and that when my exams end I will dedicate a time to create more content for you.
With all of this, Christmas and the New Year have passed, I have spent some time with my family, ate more sugar than I should, catched a terrible cold and studied lots. We all know how stressful school can be and right now I am trying to apply to Erasmus+, and student exchange programme within the European Union, so please, I beg you, pray for my sanity.
I know this is going to be a great year, not only for me but also for everyone. This year I am going to try to be less lazy and to manage my time better. I also want to create quality content, even if o not post a lot, I rather post quality content than post a lot but post low quality content. I also want to commit to improve my italian, it is one of the hardest languages I have ever learned and to help that I want to read more books from Italian authors and in their original language.
Do not be discouraged, things will get better, the sun will shine another day and the bad times will give way to better ones. When you find yourself in the dark, try to find the littlest spot of light, it will shine more brightly than you think.
I hope to get back to you soon with a review and a Christmas book haul (even if it is late it is coming for you). Do not forget that I love you all!
The Reader Diaries #17: On Fearing the Classics and Learning to Love Them
Monday, 13 November 2017
This year in my university course I decided to enrol in a class that is called "Cultura Clássica", which roughly translates to "Classical Culture". In this class, we learn about the classical world (Minoans, Mycenaeans, Greeks, and others) and our main support for that study is the literature of that time. This means that for the first time in my life I had to start reading Homer, Aeschylus, Virgil and many other authours. I knew from the start that this was going to be a though journey what I did not expect was that my fear of the classical texts would become love.
The first book I picked up was The Iliad by Homer. I am not going to lie, this book contains a lot of violence and blood and things that might shock you but it was a great read. I took my time with it and actually needed a month to finish it but that made it so much more enjoyable. Better than the Iliad is The Odyssey, also by Homer, it has so many more fantastical elements and is so much less bloody. Both these reads will certainly draw you in.
This story is only the starting point of what I have to tell you, it is how I learned to love these specific books but there are so many more classics that people are afraid to read. Take Jane Austen as an example. My favourite book of hers is Northanger Abbey, it is a story that has been able to draw me in from a very young age and I really enjoy rereading it. When I tell people that I enjoy reading Jane Austen's books I get a lot of side glances and weird comments. That does not mean that I am not in the right to love them all the same. The same happens when I talk about enjoying The City and the Mountains by Eça de Queiroz, a Portuguese writer.
What I do when first picking up classics has a certain method to it. That method allows me to only pick the best reads, which means, the ones I might actually enjoy. I start by perusing my book recommendations, whether they come from a friend, a book or a professor, I keep a list and, when I want something new to read I sometimes go back to it. I choose the book that seems the most interesting, if it is a mandatory read I have no choice but to read what I have to read. After that, I start looking for the best edition possible. That are many factors included in this step: the publishing house, the editor, the type of edition... If the book you are picking up is a translation, whether it is from Latin, Greek or a more modern language, you have to be very picky about the translator you choose. You should search for reviews and such in order to better make an informed decision. The final step is to choose a buying platform (every store counts).
After you have the book in your hands I have three words for you: write on it. When you start reading it keep a pad of paper, a pen, a highlighter and a pencil by your side and annotate! You can highlight different things in different colours and write the meaning of things you did not know. Annotating will not ruin your book, it will make it more yours. Of course, I understand that you will not annotate your fancy hardback edition of any book, I also would not, so we are in the same boat.
Every time you pick up that classic you are trying to read make sure you are in a quiet environment, with snacks and beverages on hand, so you can completely immerse yourself in reading. Believe me, if you do are not in a quiet environment you will end up not understanding what you are reading and being confused, what will only discourage you.
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| Here is a picture of me chilling and reading the Iliad (I had cold tea right next to me) |
Do not be scared by the size or the fame of a book, just pick it up and slowly read it. In the start it may seem hard and scary but, with a little effort, you might even enjoy it! Also, remember that if you are reading a book about a time or a culture that you do not know well there may be mentions of things you do not know. If this happens to you, you should not be afraid to ask someone or search the internet, remember: context is important!
I hope this post motivated you a little to try to read more challenging books and that the classics aren't big scary masses of pages. They are simple, delicate beauties that need your love as much as any other book.
Love, Ana
The Reader Diaries #16: Summer is over
Wednesday, 27 September 2017
This is not news for anyone, we all now that the Autumn has officially begun and with that school has also opened its doors. In my case, this means I have to get out of little lovely (well, not that lovely) town and go back to university in Lisbon. Even if I am sad to have to leave home I am actually excited for this new year. I know that I will - well I actually have already started... - have interesting class subjects, even though they have a massive workload.
This semester I am enrolled in Classic Culture, English History and Culture (16th to 18th centuries), English Literature (16th and 17th centuries), English C1.2 and Italian B1. As you can see by their names, these subjects require a hefty amount of reading. The worst thing is not to have a lot of things to study and study - I really love that part - my problem is that every professor wants me to finish reading all of the books by November. I am going to let you know that I have around 17 books to read and analyse.
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| My copy of the Iliad by Homer and my note-taking notebook. |
This week I have started to make a dent on my copy of the Iliad and have developed a method to make my study more efficient: I read it a canto at a time and while I do that I take notes of the main things (and which lines they're at) in my pretty simple A5 lined notebook. I also write in my book, mainly my reactions and the meaning of the words I do not understand. I believe this will make my life a lot easier when it comes to revising. I already have one canto and a half down... there's only 23 and a half left... and 16 other books.
Even though I am starting uni with a lot of work I can rejoice while remembering my amazing vacation!
I camped, I slept under the stars, I walked amongst deserted paths, I read, I laughed, I lived and I learned! I met new people and got out of my comfort zone. I did so much but it still feels like I did so little.
This summer I had the opportunity to visit London and even visited the Bodleian Library in Oxford. I experienced new things in a country I had never been to and I made plans for the future, I dreamt of new goals to achieve and thought about the way I face day to day life.
Being lost in art and in new streets always inspires me so I took my little sketchbook and I drew what I saw and felt. I met wonderful people and daydreamed in Hyde Park. I ripped my pants in the middle of Oxford Street and I read a book on the Oxford Tube. I also brought a suitcase full of tea... Yes, I know I have an addiction.
Now is time to turn my game on and start building my future career with knowledge and good grades. It is time to bury my head in books and get lost in them. It is time to revel in learning and living. It is time to worry about my health and actually try to do sports and eat well.
This is the time for a new me. I wish you all a very happy start of classes and my heart is with you on this journey. I leave you with a very appetizing pile of brownies that I baked.
Love, Ana
The Reader Diaries #15: Book Slumps and Missing Posts
Monday, 21 August 2017
Lately I have benn finding it harder and harder to read. Do not get me wrong, I love reading, my problem starts with finding the time and the place to read. In the last month only I have camped for one wee straight (without a time or a place to read, or even a book) and I have been on vacation with my family out of my country.
I read a lot on the plane and read every morning on the subway but I am finding it increasingly harder to have the energy to read. Even when I have the "moment" I find myself awefully tired. Right now I have been discovering everything I can in London. I spend my days in galleries, museums and exploring the endless maze that these beautiful English streets comprise and I spend my nights sleeping soundly in order to regain my strenghts (so I can face the next day without face-planting on the floor).
When you are out travelling it is always hard to keep up with your usual routine and that is what's been having the most impact in my reading (and blogging). Still, I have been reading a book! I have been reading "The Book of Whispers" by Kimberley Starr.
At first glance I didn't like the book very much still I had commited myself to reading it so I went on. By the second chapter I had completely changed my mind! Since then I have been reading it every day on the subway!
I know this is not a very long (or fun) post but it is only to tell you that I am alive and well. I hope that by next week my posting will be regular again. I still remember you and have been thinking about new things for the blog.
When you are out travelling it is always hard to keep up with your usual routine and that is what's been having the most impact in my reading (and blogging). Still, I have been reading a book! I have been reading "The Book of Whispers" by Kimberley Starr.
At first glance I didn't like the book very much still I had commited myself to reading it so I went on. By the second chapter I had completely changed my mind! Since then I have been reading it every day on the subway!
I know this is not a very long (or fun) post but it is only to tell you that I am alive and well. I hope that by next week my posting will be regular again. I still remember you and have been thinking about new things for the blog.
Love, Ana
The Reader Diaries #14: Camping and Smiling
Saturday, 5 August 2017
Hi guys! It feels like I have not talked to you in a long long time. I like to write these little and personal posts about a bit of my life, struggles and successes. Maybe lately I am not writing as much of these posts as I should.
I hate to tell you this but this is a pre-written post - as I am writing this it is the 30th of June, in the early hours of the morning. Today I am going away for a week and I won't have access to internet, computers and hardly my phone. As you may know, if you have been following me for some time, I am a scout. This year is the year of the "23rd CNE’S NATIONAL SCOUT JAMBOREE" - CNE stands for "Corpo Nacional de Escutas" (roughly translates to "National Scouts Body") - and I am going. I am really happy to go and I know that the experiences I am going to live will be unique and amazing.
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| ACANAC is the Portuguese name for the event. |
This week has been a rollercoaster of getting things ready, buying supplies, loading trucks and packing bags. This is the kind of week when I am most thankful for audiobooks and positivity. Besides all of this craziness this week I have passed my theoric driving test and I have received my final grade on a subject that I took an exam on in order to raise my grade and I went from a 10 to a 16 (the span is from 0 to 20). So it has been kind of a happy week.
Right this minute I have finally put everything away and I am in my pyjamas in bed. I cannot sleep. I am anxious, excited, thrilled and scared at the same time. I already know that I will be spending three days on a walk only with my other three scouts friends that are going with me. I really miss being out, enjoying nature. What I do not miss is sweating and having muscle pains.
I am sneakily taking a book with me to read on the bus ride (I really should not since my bag is already filled to the brink and very very heavy). I am also hopeful that I'll be able to read when I have some down time (if I have some down time). Well, I have to think happy thoughts, this will be a very good week in terms of the path to achieve my fitness goals.
In other news, I have created an Instagram account for this blog. It doesn't have a lot of content but I believe that with time I'll get there. You can also get a glimpse of my life in the Stories! I'll leave you two photos I have taken below (I know they're not centered but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to do that).
Please follow and leave some feedback! For an added bonus here are some snippets of this week:
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| Translation: "My bed was invaded" This is my cat "Fofa" (which literally means "soft") she is very cute and fluffy. |
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| Here is the mess I made and my packed bags. |
Love, Ana☼
The Reader Diaries #13 : When Life Gets in the Way of Reading (and Blogging)
Wednesday, 28 June 2017
Hello my fellow book lovers! If you are a frequent reader of this blog then you must have noticed that lately, things have been a little hectic... One week I have the time to post lots of content and the next one I only post one thing (or even nothing at all). Today I am here to talk about why that keeps happening (even though I am supposed to be on vacation and have lots of time).
The first reason that comes to mind is my driving licence... well, my future driving licence. I am currently studying in order to try and pass the theory test and I have roughly about one week to show my instructor that I am ready to take it (which I am not). I have to take it as soon as possible because at the end of the month I have a one week national camping week with my scouts group (and those of the rest of Portugal) followed by vacation with my parents.
I don not know the steps to acquire a driver's licence in the rest of the world but in Portugal you have to phases: the theory and the practical. You are obligated to pass the first in order to be able to even qualify for the second. The theory consists of a 30 questions test in which you are only allowed to fail 3, fail more and you are failed and have to pay in order to repeat it.
The second reason why I am not posting as much is that I am also studying to take an exam in order to try and raise a final evaluation in a subject at uni. I think you have already guessed that that subject is something I am not particularly good at. So I am studying a lot of hours a day and really not enjoying it.
With all of this, I am not reading as much as I would like to... I would really love to sit down and read through the night but I cannot. When it's night time my eyes are so tired that reading hurts. So I am making really slow progress on the three books I am currently reading. One of those books is particularly challenging because it is in Italian and I have some trouble reading it. I believe my efforts will pay off next semester in Italian class.
The other two are a book I received for review, Enchanters by K.F. Bradshaw and the second one is Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco. I really hope I am able to review both of these books with the next few weeks and move on to other new reads in order to post reviews and advice for you.
I believe you can assume that I am really really tired. Tiredness is something I hate but I've been having to sacrifice some of the things I want to do in order to rest. Resting is essential to keep your mind intact and your thoughts in order.
Please forgive me if I am not as consistent as I should be but I hope that by the end of the next month things will be better and I'll be able to deliver what you deserve.
With Love, Ana
The Reader Diaries #12 : Some Time For Myself
Wednesday, 14 June 2017
Uni is almost at the end and it seems that I finally have some time to myself! What did I do these last days I have been gone? Well, I went camping with my scouts group and received my new scarf, I also tried to spend some time with my family (while I don't have to go a re-take an exam) and waited anxiously for my grades to come out (spoiler alert: they did not). I also bought a great amount of book (I think that was expected).
I'm currently trying to think of new posts for you while also trying to improve my reading so I am able to review more books. Reviewing books is something that I love to do but I have to admit that sometimes it is quite tiring. I end up surrounded by various kinds of work and not much will to actually accomplish things.
In a short time, I hope to have at least 2 or 3 reviews and a Lisbon Book Fair Book Haul. I am also thinking of trying to expand to YouTube. It is something I am quite afraid to do. I promise that if I actually able to accomplish that goal, I won't leave this blog behind. Truthfully, this blog allows me to have a voice and speak my mind and for me, that is one of the most important things in the world.
Since it is the beginning of Summer I have to start thinking about how am I going to earn money. I need it so I can put it aside for future projects and to pay for my further education, as well as products in order to be able to create more content. Creating original content is very difficult sometimes but it is something that allows you to grow and "spread your wings".
Sometimes I need to remind myself that no one gets anywhere without effort and a little bit of a struggle. I want to be a self-made woman. I really do not want to be one of those people who live in their parents home for years and years. This is the struggle of my generation and I know that I am starting to ramble a bit but this is something that has to be brought to attention. There are less available jobs every day, the price per square meter while buying a home is also increasing and the number of jobless and penniless people has reached a peak. We cannot forget to support the ones that make an effort and attempt to build something of a career.
Well, I know that I rambled a lot... I hope to be back soon with some quality content that I'm working on (I promise).
Love, Ana
Previously on "The Reader Diaries":
- The Reader Diaries #11: Why I review books
- The Reader Diaries #10 : A Break for Easter and Trying to Read
- The Reader Diaries #9: Killing Me Softly With All These Words
- The Reader Diaries #8 : Exhausted University Student Syndrome
- The Reader Diaries #7 : The Book That Started It All
- The Bewitched Reader #6 : Can't Read But Wants To + University
- The Reader Diaries #5: A New Look + Books On My Wishlist
The Reader Diaries #11: Why I review books
Tuesday, 23 May 2017
Hi, guys! It has been a week since I last talked to you. I had a few bad mental health days so I took them for myself and tried to rest and sleep. Between having allergic reactions to mosquito bites and piercing headaches I finally seem to be getting better.
The first thing I have to tell you is that I received a book from an author last week! I only got to see it Saturday, since I'm away from home during the week!
The book is Enchanters (Enchanters #1) by K.F. Bradshaw and the lovely author sent it to me for review (an actual paperback copy).
The people of Damea are no strangers to magic. They have wielded it for years - woven it into their societies and everyday lives. It is a part of them, it breathes with them. But the magic is dying, and taking Damea with it. Andrea, an enchanter's apprentice, is determined to bring it back. It will take her as well as the help of a sceptical stranger from another world to find and restore the magic before the land suffocates.
I really love the cover and believe that it will be a good read. I was quite taken with the summary. With this book arriving at my home, I thought that I should tell you a little about the reason why I started to review books.
I was always a little bookworm, avid reader, super book fangirl, ..., whatever you want to call it. I was always drawn to books and reading as I was to eating cake and being on my balcony until the late hours of the night in order to stare at the moon (which is not as poetic as it may sound, it involves a lot of mosquito bites). Walking side by side my love of reading there was always my love of writing and my love of culture. I created my first blog when I was 13 or so and never stopped.
Being a teenage blogger changed my life... well, early teens because I am still 18 and learning a lot. I always blogged for the ability to connect with people that like the same things I do and that fangirl beside me and share my pain and exhaustion.
When the possibility of starting to write a blog about my reading experience and books came to my mind every single one of my friends called me crazy. Having this blog would mean that I had to cut on sleep and study in order to review a decent number of books a month.
I did it and never regretted doing so. I now am able to share and give visibility to a lot of undermined books and to share my opinions and people actually listen to me. I am part of a group of people whose love of books doesn't stop at the big classics and modern books. Trying to read books from everyone is hard but I am succeeding and I will be able to expand my readings even further.
I also review books because I am the kind of person who loves to see if a book is any good before I dive into it. Being able to tell people that there is this amazing book they should read makes me happy. Sometimes I have to give a negative review and it is hard but still, I keep going and my followers keep growing, which means that more people are listening to what I say. That makes me happy.
I believe that one thing you can take from this post is that blogging makes me happy and reviewing books also makes me happy. That is why I do it.
I leave you with a pretty photo I took on Easter Sunday in Tomar (Portugal). Have a nice day my loves!
Previously on "The Reader Diaries":
- The Reader Diaries #10 : A Break for Easter and Trying to Read
- The Reader Diaries #9: Killing Me Softly With All These Words
- The Reader Diaries #8 : Exhausted University Student Syndrome
- The Reader Diaries #7 : The Book That Started It All
- The Bewitched Reader #6 : Can't Read But Wants To + University
- The Reader Diaries #5: A New Look + Books On My Wishlist
The Reader Diaries #10 : A Break for Easter and Trying to Read
Friday, 14 April 2017
Hello, my lovely readers! Currently, I'm on a (very) small break from university in order to celebrate Easter this Sunday. Here in Portugal, where we have a strong Roman Catholic tradition, this is a very important celebration and because of that this Friday (14th of April) is a holiday and (obviously) Sunday is too.
Last week I finally received two of my three copies of The Norton Anthology of World Literature, which I plan to use as an aid to my literature classes. Honestly, I also think that if I want to be a serious "aspiring academic" in literature I have to do some extra reading in order to broaden my horizons. One of my lecturers told me this is one of the best anthologies that cover a wide span of literature and that it is perfect for some further reading as well as an aid for my class work (*caughs* essays * caughs again*). This is quite an investment since the books are really expensive but I hope that this will be a worthy one.
Pro tip for you: when you have to buy books for uni, go to Amazon and search the used section. In this section, you can find the book you want at a more reasonable price and in a readable (sometimes as new) condition.
Along with this, I have a lot of tests and assignments coming up! I find myself spending an increasing amount of time in the library studying. The other day I spent four and a half hours sitting down and revising Cultural Studies materials and was only reminded I had class by my Google Calendar.
Sometimes is very difficult to keep track of time! There is so much stuff to do that I get lost in my tasks and end up working like a robot. The library is also a good place to sit down and read books for reviews. This happens because I can actually sit down put my kindle/book on the table and take notes on what I cannot forget to mention on the review post.
When you are surrounded by a bunch of people that are being productive it is easier to be productive. At least that is what I believe in. When I'm in a library full of professionals (or serious students) working I find myself in kind of a competition on who's studying more (not that they're aware of that).
When I cannot find the time to got to the library I try to use all the dead time I have to read what I need/want to read. I read on the train, on the bus, between classes, while I'm eating, while I'm brushing my teeth, before I go to bed... No this is not an addiction!
Having a book blog is something I love and it fulfils me but I have to admit that it is also very time consuming (especially when you have many many books to read and analyse for university). I have to find the time to sit down and read critically, which is something I'm getting better at. I also have to find the time to sit down and write, plan and format blog posts and also reply to emails and work on the blog's social media platforms. Blogging is not only writing, you have to find source material, original ideas and also cannot forget to cross post!
Pro tip: Always keep a notebook with you! Ideas appear in the most inconvenient time possible and having a small notebook to write down your ideas is key. I keep one in my school bag and one on my nightstand. You can also use your notepad app on your phone, but it isn't as fun.
One of the things that I have noticed that changed a lot since high school is studying in school breaks. Before I never even thought of studying when I was on break but now I know that doing work in advance will save me a lot of pain during the rest of the semester!
Now that I'm home, I'm trying to read and schedule some posts for the blog while also doing some work in advance and studying for my exams. While doing all of this is essential it is also crucial to understand that you need to get out of the house, absorb a little of sun and hang out with some friends. A balance is always needed so please always try to achieve it (believe me, that's how you avoid burn out).
To end all the rambling mess this blog post is I have some very very cool news! I'm now a Book Depository Affiliate! This is my way of trying to get some funding to get better source materials and resources to make this blog the best it can possibly be!
From now on, all of the links to Book Depository within the blog will have the affiliate link and with that, I will win a small commission on your order. You do not pay more because of this.
I hope you liked this post!
Love, Ana
The Reader Diaries #9: Killing Me Softly With All These Words
Friday, 10 March 2017
Hello my lovely readers! As you may know, I am a university student at the University of Lisbon (check out my previous post "The Reader Diaries #8: Exhausted University Student Syndrome"). In my course, I have a few classes that require a hefty amount of reading and analysing materials.
Unfortunately, this does not leave me much time to read for fun and to review books for you (which I love to do). I am currently studying Shakespeare's Hamlet and will soon be starting Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. These are great books that I love, the only problem is that they are not the only books I have to read and deeply analyse.
I have a class that could which name could somehow be translated as An Introduction to Cultural Studies. Do not get me wrong, I love this class, it is actually really interesting. It talks about many worldly issues and has exposed me to pieces of history that I had never studied in such depth (coming from a scientific area in high school). My only problem is that it has a lot of materials to analyse and study. We have talked about Stuart Hall, Theodor Adorno, Max Horkheimer, Raymond Williams and others and we usually study two papers (with an average of 20 pages each) per week. That requires a lot of work at home.
At the same time that I do all of this I also have to learn Italian verbs, tenses and vocabulary and read other books for my other classes. This sounds very dreamy and I love reading but my time does not stretch and I often find myself lacking time to do things like going out or even (most days) sleeping. I believe I am becoming a kind of sleep deprived zombie. I also believe that this problem affects university students in general.
When things like this happen we have to be aware that there are people supporting us and we can't forget to take care of ourselves. Even if you feel stressed out and like everything is falling apart, you must not forget to sleep at least 8 hours a night, eat right and exercise. Believe me when I say that these things make a very big difference.
If you are like me and had to move in order to go to university you must not forget to enjoy your time with your family when you go home. Play with your pets, drink tea with your mum, go to church on Sunday morning... Do the little "homie" things that make you happy, because when you're happy you will be more focused and you will enjoy yourself much more.
I know this post turned out to be a little of university advice mixed with my life but I hope you still like it. We readers suffer a lot in times like these.
The Reader Diaries #8 : Exhausted University Student Syndrome
Monday, 12 December 2016
Hello, my beautiful readers!
Today I come to you while suffering from something that I have been noticing is a general condition of university students all around the world: exhaustion! The crazy amount of work and study that you're expected to do in such a short time is mostly unrealistic. Still, I find myself struggling to keep it together and going trough the rest of the semester.
Coming from a mostly scientific background in high school I never expected to have so much literature to study and review or to have 6 hours of classes without any time off. While it's not easy I'm starting to enjoy myself as I start to find my place in the world and make friends.
Coming to university was a big change for me, I started living alone (with three friends) in a different and new city (Lisbon). Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and as a result of that, it is a very big and metropolitan city, which I'm not used to, coming from a more rural background.
I'm happy that even if lately I don't have much time to read I still find some time to do it and I even found some time to go to the "Baixa" and see the Christmas lights which turned me into an 18-year-old complete child. This is the last week of school and I have and Italian test tomorrow, so I should be studying and not writing but I really don not like not being able to produce as much content for you as I used to.
I've been updating the blog and I'm planning a new set of posts ( that I should be starting to post next week) such as a University Book Haul and a Christmas Book Haul. In my plans, there is also a readathon that should be called "Ana Reads a Thousand Books So She's Able to Post Good Things on Her Blog (a.k.a. Baby)" since I have at least 30 books destined to be reviewed on this blog. This way I must be able to post more regularly during exam time (January and June) and the rest of the semester. At least I hope so.
After this lengthy post, I'm going to study Italian irregular verbs and leave you with some photos I took when I went for a walk in Lisbon last week (during the holiday).
Love, Ana
Previously on "The Reader Diaries":
- The Reader Diaries #7 : The Book That Started It All
- The Bewitched Reader #6 : Can't Read But Wants To + University
- The Reader Diaries #5: A New Look + Books On My Wishlist
The Reader Diaries #7 : The Book That Started It All
Tuesday, 4 October 2016
One thing on which all readers might agree is that we have that book/s that started our "compulsive reading disorder" as I sometimes refer to the fact that reading has become a major part of my life and that I can't stay longer than two days away from my beloved books. Not that reading a lot is a disorder, I think that it's something that is quite essential for any human being, it helps us to be more knowledgeable and cultured in various subjects, I only like to joke around the fact that I read crazy amounts of books. I read so much that some of my friends think I'm actually an alien.
When I was little, like in second grade, I loathed reading and everything that had anything to do with it. Usually, when someone asked me to read something I screamed and shouted and cried until they let me go and made someone else do it.
But one magnificent day my aunt put in her head that she had to buy me a book and make me read it and so she picked me up and took me to a Bertrand (a Portuguese bookstore chain) and after trying to advise me some books and, seeing that it wasn't worth it, she just picked up this special pink book and put it in my hands (while I made disgusted faces).
And that book was:
Joined together in an extraordinarily close relationship, Walt Disney World and Orlando, Florida, have become the world's most popular tourist destination. This title traces the history of the ups and downs of this marriage and tells the inside story of Disney's use and abuse of unparalleled governmental powers. The tale raises important questions about cities and the economic development choices they confront.
The different thing about this book was that it actually had age appropriate content (as in it was interesting for my age at the time, not something about bumblebees, that got old really fast for me) and it had some pictures, like old book kind of pictures but they were still pretty and still made the book seem less stuffy and heavy.
From there I started picking up book after book until I got to what I read today. I really think this is an amazing book for all those little girls who are just starting to read.
Love, Ana
Previously on "The Reader Diaries":
The Bewitched Reader #6 : Can't Read But Wants To + University
Saturday, 10 September 2016
There are times when you're just so busy and without energy that when you finally get to "reading time" you just fall a sleep with a book on top of you face ( don't laugh, I'm sure it happens to many people ). It's really frustrating and I don't like the sensation of not being able to read as much as I like to and want to but actually waiting for my university collocation, searching for low rent apartments and being a nervous wreck takes all of my time and energy. And, even though I find myself extremely productive in times of great stress I've been down on that awesome part of me.
Surprisingly there are some good news! I got in the course I wanted on my first choice and I'm overjoyed to be working with languages and literature, I still have to undertake an English language test on Monday so I can sign myself in. Even though this will take a lot of me I'm ready to face it with open arms, it isn't something I always knew I wanted to do but it's something I'm happy to do now and in the future wherever it takes me. When you love something don't be afraid to chase it!
Love, Ana
Previously on "The Reader Diaries":
The Reader Diaries #5: A New Look + Books On My Wishlist
Wednesday, 3 August 2016
Hey guys and happy August! I think you might have noticed that the blog is a little different than before and that's because I thought it was time for a change and I really think it's a little more appealing and dynamic this way. Sometimes change can be a great thing! During this month there may be some more changes made but for now I think this is it.
I have noticed that during the last few months I have added a big amount of books to my wishlists and I thought that it would be fun to share them with you, maybe we have the same tastes and want the same books and we can cry together about our lack of funds to acquire them.So here goes the list:
It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.
While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.
No one expects a princess to be brutal. And Lada Dragwlya likes it that way. Ever since she and her gentle younger brother, Radu, were wrenched from their homeland of Wallachia and abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman courts, Lada has known that being ruthless is the key to survival. She and Radu are doomed to act as pawns in a vicious game, an unseen sword hovering over their every move. For the lineage that makes them special also makes them targets.
Lada despises the Ottomans and bides her time, planning her vengeance for the day when she can return to Wallachia and claim her birthright. Radu longs only for a place where he feels safe. And when they meet Mehmed, the defiant and lonely son of the sultan, Radu feels that he’s made a true friend—and Lada wonders if she’s finally found someone worthy of her passion.
But Mehmed is heir to the very empire that Lada has sworn to fight against—and that Radu now considers home. Together, Lada, Radu, and Mehmed form a toxic triangle that strains the bonds of love and loyalty to the breaking point.
The comical, fantastical, romantical, (not) entirely true story of Lady Jane Grey. In My Lady Jane, coauthors Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows have created a one-of-a-kind fantasy in the tradition of The Princess Bride, featuring a reluctant king, an even more reluctant queen, a noble steed, and only a passing resemblance to actual history—because sometimes history needs a little help.
At sixteen, Lady Jane Grey is about to be married off to a stranger and caught up in a conspiracy to rob her cousin, King Edward, of his throne. But those trifling problems aren’t for Jane to worry about. Jane gets to be Queen of England.
Simon Lewis has been a human and a vampire, and now he is becoming a Shadowhunter. The events of City of Heavenly Fire left him stripped of his memories, and Simon isn’t sure who he is anymore. So when the Shadowhunter Academy reopens, Simon throws himself into this new world of demon-hunting, determined to find himself again. Whomever this new Simon might be.
But the Academy is a Shadowhunter institution, which means it has some problems. Like the fact that non-Shadowhunter students have to live in the basement. At least Simon’s trained in weaponry—even if it’s only from hours of playing D&D.
Join Simon on his journey to become a Shadowhunter, and learn about the Academy’s illustrious history along the way, through guest lecturers such as Jace Herondale, Tessa Gray, and Magnus Bane. Written by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, and Robin Wasserman, these moving and hilarious short stories are perfect for the fan who just can’t get enough of the Shadowhunters.
You can take the boy out of the darkness.
But you can’t take the darkness out of the boy.
All Susannah Simon wants is to make a good impression at her first job since graduating from college (and since becoming engaged to Dr. Jesse de Silva). But when she’s hired as a guidance counselor at her alma mater, she stumbles across a decade-old murder, and soon ancient history isn’t all that’s coming back to haunt her. Old ghosts as well as new ones are coming out of the woodwork, some to test her, some to vex her, and it isn’t only because she’s a mediator, gifted with second sight.
What happens when old ghosts come back to haunt you?
If you’re a mediator, you might have to kick a little ass.
From a sophomore haunted by the murderous specter of a child to ghosts of a very different kind—including Paul Slater, Suze’s ex, who shows up to make a bargain Suze is certain must have come from the Devil himself—Suze isn’t sure she’ll make it through the semester, let alone to her wedding night. Suze is used to striking first and asking questions later. But what happens when ghosts from her past—including one she found nearly impossible to resist—strike first?
There is darkness sweeping across the stars.
Most know Androma Racella as the Bloody Baroness: a powerful mercenary whose reign of terror stretches across the Mirabel Galaxy. To those aboard her fearsome glass starship the Maurader, she’s just Andi, their captain and protector.
When a routine mission goes awry, the all-girl crew’s resilience is tested as they find themselves in a most unfamiliar place: at the mercy of a sadistic bounty hunter connected to Andi’s past and a harrowing betrayal.
Meanwhile, on the far side of the galaxy, a ruthless ruler waits in the shadows of the planet Xen Ptera, biding her time to exact revenge for the destruction of her people. The final pieces of her deadly plan are about to fall into place, unleashing a plot that will tear Mirabel in two.
Andi and her crew embark on a dangerous, soul-testing journey that could restore order to their ship—or just as easily start a war that will devour worlds. As the Marauder hurtles towards the unknown, and Mirabel hangs in the balance, the only thing certain is that in a galaxy run on lies and illusion, no one can be trusted.
From internet sensation Sasha Alsberg and author Lindsay Cummings comes a new serialized space opera, full of action, fantastical intrigue, and steamy star-crossed romance.
The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those don't.
As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.
Aelin's journey from assassin to queen has entranced millions across the globe, and this fifth installment will leave fans breathless. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down?
William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616) is the most influential writer in English history. Shakespeare has been called The Barb of Avon and England's national poet. There are 2 narrative poems, 154 sonnets and 38 plays in his collected works. He began work as an actor and writer in London first writing comedies and historic plays. He later wrote tragedies. Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth and Othello are some of his more famous plays. Venus and Adonis was written in 1593. In 1593 a plague closed all the playhouses in London which gave Shakespeare the time to write this poem based on a story from mythology. Venus is in love with Adonis but nothing she does interests him. Adonis says he will go boar hunting. Venus finds Adonis fatally gored by a boar and at that point puts a curse on love.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
This is it! If you want you can check out my wishlists bellow for more books:
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