Category: discussion

Aria @ Book Nook Bits is the new host for Let’s Talk Bookish! If you aren’t following her yet, good check out her blog and give her a follow!

August 18: Do you have a daily reading routine? (The Bageler @ It’s the Bageler)

Prompts: Do you have a daily reading routine? Do you read certain books at certain times, or just read whatever, whenever? Do you carve out time to read every day, or just read when you feel like it? Do you like reading in specific places, or do you just read wherever you can?

Welcome to another week of LTB here at DTRH, everyone! Today’s topic is about a daily reading routine, or routines in general. I’m curious whether y’all have a routine or whether it’s just a on-the-fly kind of deal. Definitely let me know in the comments below.

I personally do not have a daily reading routine. I will try and read every day if there’s a deadline coming, or if there’s a particular book that I am trying to get through during a busy time. But in general I don’t keep to a daily reading routine, or any routine really, when it comes to reading.

I only want to read when I want to read. Part of why reading is so fun and relaxing is because it is always on my own time, and something I willingly choose to do. For me, having a routine, or a “push” to do something can often lessen the intrinsic fun of the activity itself. That being said, sometimes it’s necessary to structure your life and schedule in order to make things happen during busy times!

I definitely like to read in specific places, though I’m not sure I can really point out where. I think in bed or anywhere comfy is always a great option. But I also really enjoy reading on long commutes or in waiting rooms where you can drown out your surroundings by reading in your head. Do any of you do that? I feel like sometimes it’s more effective than wearing earbuds with something playing.

What are all y’alls routines? In favour of routine or no routine? Let me know in the comments below!

Aria @ Book Nook Bits is the new host for Let’s Talk Bookish! If you aren’t following her yet, good check out her blog and give her a follow!

From July 14: Mid-Year Reading Check In

Prompts: We’re halfway through 2023! How are you feeling about your reading this year? What are the best books you’ve read so far in 2023? What are your least favorites? What are your goals for the rest of the year?

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Welcome to another week of LTB here at DTRH, everyone! I have been on quite the hiatus because it has been a whirlwind of a summer, to no one’s surprise. However, I saw that there was a mid-year check in (albeit two weeks ago on July 14), which I felt was an appropriate time to pop back in.

I believe I set a very low goal on my goodreads this year, after the fiasco I had last year not nearly reaching my goal (oops!). I set my goal to a veryyyyy pessimistic 30 books. I am happy to say that I am over that progress point, but I knew with my busy schedule I would not be able to really sustain much more than that. If only I could count school books and reading materials from work, I bet I would be in the hundreds…

Goals aside, I am pretty happy with my reading this year. No it’s not the most I have ever read in a year, but I am glad to have picked up most of the books I did. My favourite was definitely The Song of Achilles that I just posted this week, but I just read the latest Ruth Ware book, and I have to say that I really enjoyed it! Stay tuned for that review as well.

Some of my least favourites, which I honestly don’t even care to mention, are books through my bookclub. That being said, the bookclub is good for going through books I wouldn’t normally read, so I have no regrets on actually finishing those books, I think they served their purpose.

My goals this year is to continue reading at this pace, and try to fit in more books if I can. I have mostly been having periods where I can read like 3 books in 2 weeks, but then a month of barely reading 1. But such is life I think! And this year has been a particularly busy one (do we say that every year?) so honestly I am not at all surprised that my reading has been very up and down depending on the season. Overall I think I am doing well though, and can’t wait to read more books this year!

There are so many books to be excited for, but simply not enough time.

How are your goals all going? Has it been a busy non-reading year for you guys too? Or perhaps a busy reading year? Let me know in the comments below!

Aria @ Book Nook Bits is the new host for Let’s Talk Bookish! If you aren’t following her yet, good check out her blog and give her a follow!

June 23: Are bookish clichés inherently bad? (Aria)

Prompts: There are lots of clichés that can be found in books, from love triangles to the chosen one to the boy next door. What makes a cliché a cliché? Is a cliché inherently bad to have in a book? Or can an overused storyline or theme be done well? What are your least favorites? Are there any clichés you will tolerate, or even enjoy reading?

Welcome to another week of LTB here at DTRH, everyone! Today’s topic is about clichés and it’s certainly a world full of them. But are they really bad?

A cliché is usually something that is way overdone, or way overdramatized to the point where everyone can see it coming from ten thousand miles away and it’s not even good. I think what kind of makes it a cliché is when the thing is done or written in a certain way that is only for the sake of it following the cliché. Like when protagonists inevitably fall in love with their best friend, in a story where it had no business going there. Or adding a third person randomly out of nowhere just to make a love triangle for no reason.

I don’t think clichés are inherently bad to have in a book, but I definitely think judicious use of them is important. It is important not to just stick them in there just because, but rather to use them to play with expectations. Or at least that’s how I like it done. When I read mysteries and thrillers, it’s always about how the author can play with my expectations and tropes and clichés that tempt me to guess at what’s coming. It’s all about the use of the plot device for sure.

I actually think most people do enjoy a good cliché—when it’s done well. People love a slow burn, or a love triangle, or a boy next door, but not when it’s just jammed in there for the sake of it. I think people actually do like when authors play with these and make them more elaborate, or change up some key factors. That’s what keeps things fun and exciting and not cliché. But let me know if you don’t agree!

I honestly don’t mind any clichés or tropes for that matter. It’s more about how the author uses it to tell the story. If the story relies on something like a cliché to make it a good story…well chances are it’s not a great story. It really is just a tool and they can be good or bad depending on how the author chooses to use them.

How do you all feel about clichés? Yay or nay? Sometimes or never? Let me know in the comments below!