Xepherus Reads

  Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,        At times I am tempted to not finish a book but I want to give the author another chance. In the past I have not finished books, only to pick them up again. Here are a few reasons I will DNF a book: The book takes a long time to get going  (When a book takes more than sixty pages to catch my interest, there is an issue finishing the story.) The book starts off great, but drags mid-way  (I have read books that have moved at a very fast pace. Then they start to slow to a point that removes you from the narrative. This is most commonly found in young adult reads, especially if a love story is introduced.) The book features a protagonist that I do not like  (This happened before, especially when the story is written from the perspectives of two different characters. If I do not like one of the main characters, then this can ruin the story for me. For example, an overly whiny character that is constant...

  Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,     I have been known to own hardcover, digital, audio, and softcover at the same time. This was what happened with Lost Stars by Claudia Gray. I did not want to carry the book, so I bought the audio. Then I realized that I should have a physical copy, as well. I bought the digital. Then a friend of mine had it in her bookstore, and I bought the hardcover. I managed to read Lost Stars using three different forms of this novel.    Other times I like to look for rare or foreign editions of books. Even though my Lucky Santangelo books by Jackie Collins are mainly hardcover, I could not resist a UK edition in softcover. I found it at a book fair. I loved the way it was presented with its red cover and flared logo. This also sometimes happens with re-released editions of books. The publisher will often change the covers of the book to fit in modern times. I remember this as a teenager reading Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys. I m...

  Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,      DNF or Did Not Finish. What would you do if a book is not engaging, stop reading? If so what are your reasons? Here are mine: Romance - I can take this in small doses. But when a love story interrupts the main narrative, it can be distracting.  The Main Protagonist Changing - I have seen this happen many times. The author feels they wish to take their characters and put them in new situations. But the issue with this is that the character may act completely out of character. That makes me feel that the previous books I have read were for nothing. A Sequel That is Worse Than the Original - When I get excited for the next book in a series, I expect it to be better than its predecessor. I have read sequel books in a series that have been horrible. I feel as if someone else wrote it, or the author was really going through some tough times in their personal life.         As you ...

  Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,    What am I thinking when I am not reading?   If books were allowed scents to signify contents, what would your favorite authors' books smell like?         Hmmmmm..... Beezus and R amona by  Beverly Cleary-  Bubble gum and Crayola crayons Chances by Jackie Collins-  Musk, cinnamon, and brandy Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl-  Chocolate, peppermint, and caramel Flowers in t he Attic by  VC Andrews-  Construction paper, musty clothing, and doughnut Gone  with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell-  Gunpowder, fresh-cut grass, and burning embers   Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone-  Nag Champa and old books Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid-  Cigarettes, perfume, and regret Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne-  Dirt, sulfur, and old...

  Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,     In this series, what would you do? I will be asking questions in regard to your reading habits. First up: buying versions of books.  Quite often it's hard to choose between softcover, hardcover, digital, or audio. But other times, some do not choose, they buy them all.   I like to look for rare or foreign editions of books. Even though my Lucky Santagelo books by Jackie Collins are mainly hardcover, I could not resist a UK edition in softcover. I found it at a book fair last year. I loved the way it was presented with its red cover and flared logo. This also sometimes happens with re-released editions of books. The publisher will often change the covers of the book to fit in modern times. I remember this as a teenager reading Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys. I must have had two editions of all the books at one point because of their covers.   It can be fun to have multiple copies of a book. Some new editions e...