Paperback's Pondering's: My Struggle to Find a Reading/Blog- Life Balance

As I have mentioned in many posts before, I have struggled for some time to post regular blog posts, and even keep up with reading. It is common for people to have more time to read and blog in the summertime, as school is obviously out. However, I find it ten times harder to keep up with blogging when I'm not in school. I suddenly become bombarded with social activities, and of course, work. I find it a lot easier to set aside time during my study hours in school to write blog posts, then it is to sit down at home when I'm super busy during the summertime.

Then there's the reading issue. I am, for the first time in years, behind in my goodread's reading challenge. It's actually become somewhat of a joke now, because I just keep seeing the number of books I am behind by get higher and higher. If you didn't notice, I didn't even do a July month in review because I literally had nothing to talk about reading-wise.

I'm finding it very hard to keep a reading/blogging-life balance. I look at other bloggers who are able to post multiple times in a week, where I'm lucky if I crank out one post a week. I used to post regularly on Wednesday's and Monday's, but the thought of posting more than once a week seems like a distant memory now.

Some good news though: I have been able to post three consistent weeks in a row, by writing posts in the evening's after I come back from work. It is not my ideal time to write, but it has allowed me to not drop off the face of the earth. It does scare me to abandon my blog, because I love this community so much and I never want to quit. I'm just worried that I'll never find the time.

I'm writing this post because I wanted to elaborate on some of the things I have said recently, but I also want tips. How do you find time in the day to sit down and read, and write. I'm hoping that once school starts again I will once more have the time, but I don't want to feel like I'm abandoning my blog once summer comes around again. I also want so badly to get back into reading again! Got any tips?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Love From A to Z by: S.K Ali

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary
Published: April 30th, 2019 by: Salaam Reads
Pages: 384
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Zayneb is the only Muslim in her class, and this leaves her as the target for a number of snide remarks and racist teachings from her teacher. When she is suspended for finally confronting him, she decides to refuel in Doha, Qatar, with her eccentric aunt. Zayneb is determined to start off new in a place where nobody knows her. Then she meets Adam, a kind international student who is concealing his recent diagnosis of MS from his still grieving father. Zayneb and Adam meet under unlikely circumstances, but they soon form a bond, and help heal each other.

When I saw this book at the library, a mere one week after it was published, I was so excited! My library has a very small YA section, so this was a big deal to me. I thought this book was adorable, and I flew through it.

The characters were extremely lovable in this novel. Adam was my favourite. I found him to be so kind-hearted, and I really felt very bad for him at times. I thought his relationship with Zayneb was wholesome and cute, and I found them to have just the right amount of chemistry for still being teens. I didn't find them to speak a lot older than they were.

My only teensy issue I had this book is that *sometimes* Zayneb got on my nerves. Her character is meant to be a very fiery one, however I found that sometimes she flipped out on issues that could have been handled better. Flipping out on your racist teacher? That's totally fine with me. However there were times were I found she wasn't really fair to Adam because of how she treated him.

This book was a warm hug after Saints and Misfits by: Ali. I enjoyed that novel, but it has some harsher themes and got a little dark at times, whereas this book was light, fluffy, and a perfect summer read. Give it a go!

Have you read Love From A to Z? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Paperback's Pondering's: I'm Kinda Over Harry Potter

*Cue screams from HP fans.* When I was in elementary school, like most bookworms, I lived and breathed Harry Potter. I had t-shirts, watched the movies and re-read the books non-stop, and would attend any HP event I could find. Since I got older, I have tried to keep up with that obsession by re-reading the novels and still trying to attend HP themed events. I went to a midnight release for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and I always expected to go see the play if it ever came to Toronto. But, when the opportunity finally arose to go see it, I realized that I'm just not in to Harry Potter anymore.

I have come to terms with the fact that Harry Potter was always just a phase for me, and was not going to be permanent interest. I feel like I forced myself in my teens to re-read the series when it just didn't interest me anymore. I have watched the movies to the death that they just don't provide a level of comfort they once did. Now it's just like: "ugh, another Harry Potter movie?" I am not into the so-called eighth novel whatsoever and I don't have any desire to see the play.

I find it interesting how I seemed to force Harry Potter onto myself when I was so clearly not into it anymore. I just feel like it is the quintessential novel to like. I mean, EVERY bookworm loves Harry Potter, right? It wasn't until I saw a tweet from a bookworm who said she thought Harry Potter was overrated, that I realized: wait, these people do exist.

I feel like as bookworms we can sometimes put beloved series up on pedestal that are so worshipped that it seems INCONCEIVABLE that anyone would dislike it. Upon working with some Harry Potter obsessed girls last fall, and watching them re-read the series over and over again, I pretended so much to still be interested in the story, but in reality I have just moved on. If the movies are on tv for the millionth time, I'll be like: "cool, Harry Potter is on, I remember when I used to like that series." But then I'll probably change the channel. I do look back on my Harry Potter phase with fond memories, but now I am confident in saying that it is just not my thing anymore. This is my HP confessional.

Are there any beloved series that you have fallen out of interest from?

Emily @ Paperback Princess