Nerdy book humor

"Birds Are Terrible Mailmen" 

Harry Potter meets Game of Thrones. So good. Especially because with all the ravens flying around in Game of Thrones I kept thinking of the owls in Harry Potter. Glad I wasn't the only one. Thanks to the hysterical and very talented Caldwell Tanner  for this little gem and to my brother for sharing it with me here .

 I especially appreciated this because I literally just re-read Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone this evening at a cute little cafe in Hong Kong. I meant to just read a chapter or two for inspiration for my own work-in-progress and a few hours later I had finished the whole thing! It had been a while since I read the first one and I forgot how funny it was and what a fast read. The way the characters and the books grow throughout the series is truly amazing. One of the many reasons why Harry Potter featured in my tower of books. 

Nerdy book humor - one of my favorite daily good things. 

Reading in the Sea

I am all for ebooks and epublishing and kindles and ipads. As great as those are though they can't compete with your favorite bedraggled paperback that has been everywhere with you and you can read anywhere. At the beach. In the tub. You can toss it in your pack when you are going hiking and not worried about the battery life or getting it scratched. One of my favorite places to read is in the ocean. I still have some paperbacks from my childhood that faintly smell like the ocean. Don't worry about getting the pages a little damp- they'll dry. Trust me- it is totally worth it. 


Where are some of your favorite places to read?

Utter Bliss- Tai Long Wan, Sai Kung

Bargain Bookstores

Find a bargain bookstore! Not only are the books usually less expensive at secondhand bookstores, they usually have a lot more character than chains. That isn't to say you can't find a great bargain at big bookstores (Books A Million for example has excellent deals on its website, sometimes up to 80% off) but you can't beat a small bookshop for charm. I personally love secondhand bookstores because I feel a connection to whoever bought the book before me...I especially love when a person has written in the margins, it almost feels like peeking in their diary. As an avid reader and book lover I will get books anywhere I can find them, but secondhand bookstores are my personal favorite. I do occasionally splurge on a new book. This usually happens if I have been waiting for a book to be released and just can't wait for it to get to a secondhand store, or if I just want to smell that new book smell. Whether it is online, at a second hand bookstore, or in a street market, good bargains on books are to be found all around you, if you just know where to look.

A charming little bookshop in Hawaii. Who wouldn't want to spend a few hours here?

Best Places for Bargain Books-
Online...if you must. It just doesn't compare to browsing around in a bookshop.
- BooksAMillion Bargains
-Amazing Amazon Deals
-Border Bargains

Worth Going To...
-Half Price Books. While they have a wonderful website, I highly reccomend going to the store itself. Mostly because they are constantly getting new (secondhand) books so you might find a great book on the shelf that won't be listed online. My favorite branch is in Berkeley on Shattuck Ave.
-The Strand Bookstore in New York City. The tag line says it all "Home of 18 Miles of New, Used, Rare, and Out of Print Books" (pictured right is my much loved STRAND book bag).
-The bookstall in Covent Garden, London. I don't know what the name of it is but there is a bookstall in Covent Garden that has a pretty good collection of books and quite a few first editions.
-Whale of A Tale Children's Bookstore. A charming children's bookstore that is fun for all ages.
-Any bookshop that looks interesting. It probably is.

And that's your daily good thing!

Believe in (or just read) Fairy Tales

Revisit childhood by reading a beloved fairy tale. Or even better, try reading the original version of a classic fairy tale. Most are definitely not for kids. My university even offered a course on fairy tales. These stories have been around for a long time, and with good reason. A good fairy tale is captivating, filled with danger, beauty, and adventure. Everyone knows the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen, who are wonderful story tellers, but don't forget lesser known but equally talented Charles Perrault, who gave us gems such as Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Puss in Boots.

Reading fairy tales will spark your imagination, perhaps even inspire creativity, and of course entertain you. And they don't take too long to read, which is a bonus in the fast paced world we live in today.

Here are a few of my favorites. Some are household names thanks to Disney, and others are a little more obscure. All are told with vivid detail and are fantastically transportive. For brevity's sake I am sticking to Western fairy tales, I'll save some of my favorite Chinese and African fairy tales for another post.Take an afternoon and fall into a fairy tale.
The Little Mermaid- Hans Christian Anderson
Wild Swans- Hans Christian Anderson
Cinderella-Charles Perrault
The Frog Prince- The Brothers Grimm (I am really excited for the Disney version of this!)
The Twelve Dancing Princesses- The Brothers Grimm
The Steadfast Tin Soldier- Hans Christian Anderson
The Selfish Giant- Oscar Wilde
Beauty and the Beast- Jeanne- Marie Leprince de Beaumont

And that's your daily good thing!

Lost in a Grimm Brothers Fairy Tale

(also known as the Appalachian Trail)

Once upon a time...
(Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany)

Indulge in a Guilty Pleasure- Fluff Books

I personally believe that almost any book is a "good book" however some are definitely more worthy than others. That being said, I love to read what I call "fluff" books. Books that haven't won any prizes, most likely won't be taught in school, and are read just for the sheer pleasure of reading a fun book. Books that you don't have to struggle through to read, and that take as much effort as watching a sitcom or drama on TV. These kind of books are great for vacations, the beach, while you are sick, taking your mind off of things, etc. Even if it is "fluff" I like to think that any kind of reading is good for you, and all books have some merit. Here are a few of my favorite "fluff books".

The Sweet Valley High Series. These books are frothy and fun. I loved them in high school and I still like them now. Diablo Cody is even going to make a movie out of them, so they might be making a comeback soon.

The Harry Potter Books. So much fun.

The Twilight Saga. Critics say what you will, but these are fast paced and filled with drama and romance.

Romance Novels by Julie Garwood or Nora Roberts. There is a reason both of these ladies are always on the best seller lists.

I could go on and on...but I think I'll save a few of my other favorite genres and authors for another post. But for now, indulge in a guilty pleasure, pick up a romance novel or cheesy series, and enjoy the fluff!

And that's your daily good thing!