First Chapter Reading Exercise

Hello. I hope you are doing well.

Today, I guess I’m doing something a little different.

So, this year I’m on a book-buying ban until I have read at least 20 from my own library. So far I have only read 6 out of that 20. But I’m sort of at an impasse because I don’t really like my shelves anymore.

I want new books. I want books I’m excited about. I want books that I read and loved to look out at me and make me smile. But I can’t get any of these books until I have read another 14.

So I want to try something I’ve seen Kate Cavanaugh do multiple times, I’m sure others have as well but she’s the one I’ve seen, and that is reading the first chapter of a book and seeing if I like it. If I do like it, I will either continue reading it, or I will put it in a pile for later. And if I don’t, it’s going into my sell pile.

I’m also wanting to do this because I’m actually pretty behind on my reading goal for the year. I’m sure I can still catch up, but I also want to shift my perspective on books and how much I should be reading.

So, I’m going to list all the books that I have selected for this. I only have 5 right now because that seemed to be a good number that was both a challenge and not too intimidating to me. All of these books have been on my shelf for quite some time. At least 2 years. Though I think one I only got last year. I still want to either get through these or decide I don’t want to read them anymore.

I’m not going to feel too bad about selling or getting rid of them at all. Books are meant to be experienced and enjoyed. And if they would bring someone else happiness, who am I to stop it?

Anyway, I think I’ve put enough prelude down. Let’s get into it.

The Darkest Minds By Alexandra Bracken
The idea of having powers thrust upon you at a very young age after an illness that killed many kids your own age and being imprisoned in a government camp? Hello, interesting premise and fighting against the system. Where have you been throughout my life? I do have high hopes for this one. And admittedly, I think the only reason why I haven’t read this one yet is because my library doesn’t have it in audiobook.

Again, But Better By Christine Riccio
I was originally drawn to this one because I felt like I could really relate to it. It’s supposed to be a story about a girl who’s never been in a relationship her entire teenage life, and so in her early twenties goes to school abroad and basically reinvents herself. I’m not sure how exactly I feel about it right now because I have come to terms with and gotten more comfortable with my realities. I still think I will enjoy it, but I’m still not sure where exactly I stand on the contemporary genre.

Red Queen By Victoria Aveyard
I think out of all of them I have the most mixed feelings about this one. I’m still not a big fan of romance, and I’m not sure how I feel about a forced lost princess angle. But I had very similar thoughts about Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen, and I really liked that book. Maybe I don’t know what I like just yet? Maybe that one was oddly well-written? Maybe I’m just in denial about my preferences? Who knows?

Heartless by Marissa Meyer
I have found that I really like Marissa Meyer’s writing. So I have probably the highest hopes for this one. It’s a retelling or reimagining of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. It has forbidden love and forced expectations and someone who just wants to be true to herself. What more can you ask for, really?

The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks
I am a sucker for a good apprentice story. Couple that with magic and assassins, I’m a happy camper. I think I haven’t picked this up sooner because I can be quite a mood reader, and I just haven’t been in the mood for it recently. I don’t think I’ve been in the mood for much recently. But I’m changing that today!

So there we have it. 5 books I would like to get through the first chapter of, at least, in the next couple of days. I don’t know how long it’s going to take me. I’m hoping I can stick to it because I’m posting it and that helps to make me follow through with things.

I guess that’s all I have at the moment. Please let me know if you’ve ever tried this and how it worked for you. I would love to know if you’d like to share.

I hope you are having a wonderful day. And if it’s not wonderful, I hope it gets better. Stay safe. And I will see you next time.

-T.R. Flynn.

Where do I see myself in 5 years?

Hello. I hope you had a wonderful New Year and that you are doing well.

I figured since we’re still so early on in the new year, and after the dumpster fire that was 2020, so much of us are hoping 2021 will be kind and able to be used as a rest and regrowth kind of year. As such I want to grow and try new things, but I also don’t want to lose sight of who I am and where I want to go with my life.

I’m usually the kind of person who’s all like, ‘just take it one day at a time. that’s all you need to do!’. And I certainly believe in that because it really does cut down on the anxiety of the future. But I also believe in striving for things.

So what am I striving for? What do I want to do with my life? Where do I see myself in 5 years?

As of today, January 2nd, 2021, I am 22 years old. I will be turning 23 in April. So, in 5 years’ time I will be 27-28 years old(that’s somehow unbelievable to me for some reason, even though I can do that kind of math). With my age being taken into consideration, I don’t believe that’s it’s too far off to say that I would like to be published. Preferably with 2 or more books under my belt at that time.

I want to get my driver’s licence and have a car of my own. I’m not sure if I want to go back to school. I did some post-secondary after I graduated high school, but it was for a career that had nothing to do with writing and I dropped out after the first semester. I’m kinda torn because you don’t necessarily need a proper education in the field to be an author, but there’s something about today’s society that makes me feel like I need a degree if I want to do anything professionally. Stupid, I’m sure.

I want to be able to support myself financially with my writing. I don’t really care too much about moving out into my own place. I love my parents and they’re very understanding about the situation of the world. It’s super difficult for anyone to afford anything living on their own even when working full time. So, they aren’t in a hurry to get rid of me.

I’m not super concerned about a romantic life. I do think it would be nice but most certainly not a priority to me.

Hopefully, by the time I’m 27-28, I’d have been able to travel a bit by myself, even if it’s just around Canada. ‘Just’ around Canada. One of the most beautiful countries in the world that’s full of some of the friendliest people. Domestic, I think is the word I’m trying to get to. Even if I don’t get to travel abroad at that time, I’d be okay with that. Travel has been something I’ve always wanted to do, but my family has always been really poor and that just hasn’t ever been something that we’ve been able to do.

I want to grow my book collection too. One day(many more years down the road), when I can get my own house, I want to have a library in it. So I want to accumulate more books. And not just books for the sake of books, but books that I want and that I love and that I want to have on my shelves and pass on to whatever children that I have.

5 years from now I would like to see myself published, hopefully, successful in that venture. Travelled, to some degree. More educated in my career, be that from formal education or just from my sitting here working, experimenting, and getting feedback on it all. Freer, because at present I have to rely on my parents to drive me everywhere. And all in all, just, happier. I’d like to say I’m pretty happy now, but, I want to be happier and not have any of the reservations that I do about myself and the work that I do right now.

Probably kinda clique, but it’s true. There are other things I’m sure, but these are the big ones that come to mind that have to do more with writing than anything.

Where do you see yourself in about 5 years? I’d love to know if you wouldn’t mind sharing.

I hope you are having a wonderful day. And if it’s not wonderful, I hope it gets better. Stay safe, and I will see you next time.

-T.R. Flynn.