Tea Party Talk: Stop Undervaluing Romance Books and Shaming Romance Readers

In the last few years, I've been making an effort to expand my reading interest! This was an exciting and fun change that has led to a bunch of awesome books. Through this, I have discovered a love of romance novels! I've always been drawn to books that have romantic subplots so I was thrilled when I picked up my first romance book and found that the focus was on two people finding love. I found so much comfort in these stories, especially when I was going through times that I found emotionally difficult. They've helped me through some dark parts in my life and hold a special place in my heart. But since becoming a romance reader, I've wrestled with some ridiculous (but harmful) reactions from others. 

It wasn't until I began really falling into the genre that I was confronted by some of the not-so-great consequences of reading it (i.e.: people thinking you're dumb/not a "real" reader because you enjoy a good romance). I was honestly shocked that people were so harsh on the romance genre and its readers. I would go into the romance aisles at bookstores and catch the judgemental stares of other people browsing throughout the store (but, of course, staying faaaar away from the romance aisle). I got the impression that people thought I was somehow a lesser reader or not as intelligent because I was holding books in my hands that focused on romance. 

I honestly started feeling self-conscious and embarrassed whenever I found myself standing in the romance aisles. My kindle began filling with these titles because I felt better about buying them online rather than in the store (no one to judge you when you buy online). I hated the way other people made me feel, like I had something to be ashamed of just because I enjoyed this genre. It was infuritating, if I'm being honest. I've read widely and voraciously for many years -- everything from classics, to Young Adult, to high fantasy and beyond. And I've read romance novels that were just as (if not more) well written than books in those genres. Romance novels that tackled tough and nuanced subjects, that had three dimensional and complex characters, that brought up interesting and engaging questions to me as a reader. 

I have never seen romance as a "lesser-than" genre and it pisses me off that some people think of it that way and for what reason? Because there's kissing? Because they often end in a happily ever after? What is wrong with that? Sometimes a happily ever after is necessary (especially with all of horrors and negativity in the world right now -- if I want to read a book that will leave me happy, I damn well will).   

I'm tired of people (both in and out of the industry) not taking the romance genre seriously and looking down their noses at the readers. I'm especially tired of letting them make me feel ashamed for reading these stories! So, no more of that nonsense. Here are some absolutely amazing romance stories that you should check out because they're incredible.

LGBTQ+ sports romance that is so awesome I'm still flailing about it weeks after finishing. The MCs are so amazing and Gavin Brawley is my favorite and he needs to be protected at all cost. Add it on Goodreads.

Unproblematic fav and another sports romance. I loved the progression of the relationship in this one and the lack of unnecessary drama and angst. Read if you want to smile a whole bunch. Add it on Goodreads.

A romance full of awesome representation and diversity. The heroine has Asperger's and the hero is Vietnamese and Swedish and they are literally so amazing together. This was one of my favorite books of the year so far and I think everyone should read it. Add it on Goodreads.

This is one that I can read over and over again and never get tired of. I related so much to the heroine when I read it and fell head of heels for the hero. Seriously, Crosbie is so amazing and sweet. Add it on Goodreads.

I can't not add this book to a list of awesome, must-read romance books. I've read it only about a million times and plan to read it more. If you're a fan of enemies-to-lovers romances, you should read this one. Add it on Goodreads. 

What are some of your favorite romance books? This only barely scratches the surface of my favorites but these are a good start! Have you ever experienced judgement from people who found out you read a certain genre? How did you deal with it? I'd love to hear from you!

Leave your comments in the comments below!

Tea Party Talk: 5 Books I Will *Eventually* Finish

***In case you didn't know, I currently am hosting a giveaway!  Enter here for your chance to win one of six amazing books!***

Over all these long years of blogging, there's been many books that I have started reading and ended up putting down.  Some, I just didn't like and decided I didn't want to force myself to continue reading something I just absolutely didn't enjoy, others, I just got too busy or distracted and ended up putting the book on hold.  Why didn't I just pick those books up again once I was less busy?  Who knows.  More likely than not, there was probably a brand new, shiny book I had got that was calling my name from the book shelf. 

So many books are sitting on my shelf, half read and sad.  Books that I was so excited to finally get my hands on and read!  Those are the books that I want to *eventually* get back to and finish.  And these are a few that I want to finish more than the others! 

1. Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake 

I stupidly started reading this one during midterms a couple quarters ago.  What I read, I liked, but I just got so swamped with work and essays and classes that I ended up putting it down for weeks.  By the time I was back to my regular, less busy schedule, I had forgotten most of what I read and just wanted to start another book.

2. The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

Oh my gosh, I loved the first book in this series, The Raven Boys.  It was so good, the characters were so amazing, and I was desperate to continue the series.  But when I finally got my hands on this one, I was (surprise, surprise) busy with school.  I ended up reading about halfway before I had to take a break to focus solely on homework and my studies.  When I had time to read it again, I couldn't recall some of the details and knew I would have to start all over.  I plan to finish reading this (and the rest of the series) this summer! 

3. Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller 

I just . . . wasn't feeling this one when I began reading it.  I found myself not really wanting to pick it up and being more excited to read other things.  But I think this is mostly because of the reading mood I was in.  I was more inclined at the time to read a light contemporary and this didn't really fit that.  So, I want to give it a fair chance and read it when I am more excited for it. 

4. The House of Hades by Rick Riordan 

I love this series so much and I love Rick Riordan and Percy but I kept losing interest in this one.  It was so long and the chapter that didn't have Percy in it just . . . didn't interest me enough.  I like the new characters introduced but I don't think anything will ever beat out Percy for me.  I want to eventually finish this book and the rest of the series, I just need to find the time and motivation to do it.  

5. The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski 

I have this whole series and the first book, while I had some problems with it, was ultimately one that I enjoyed.  The whole series is sitting on my shelf so I definitely plan on finishing it one of these days.  I started this one and just found myself uninterested with the characters at the time.  I plan on picking it up again soon (and hopefully feeling more motivated to read it then)!

What books or series have you started but never finished?  Are there any you plan on getting back to?  How do you feel about the books I've listed?  Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Tea Party Talk: Books & Series I Won't Be Finishing

Over all my years of blogging, there's been many books and series that I've started and have never finished.  Some, I'm still interested in and just need to find the time between school and personal life and other books to read them.  Others, I liked but just lost interest in.  And then there are a select few that I just absolutely did not life and will not finish.  

I'm generally pretty open-minded about what I read -- there's only a few things that I actively avoid in books.  But sometimes books just don't light the spark of interest in me.  Either way, there are some series and books I just don't think I'll ever get around to finishing.  

1. Daughter of Smoke & Bone Series by Laini Taylor 

 I read this book back when I was in high school.  I liked it but struggled with the heavy handed world building.  The writing was beautiful but it didn't really keep me actively engaged so I never picked up the next book and don't have any motivation to do so. 

2. The Diviners Series by Libba Bray

I had to drag myself through the first book in this novel.  I just couldn't stand the overly long descriptions and the main character, who just got on my nerves.  Because of this, I just never wanted to pick up the other books in the series. 

3. The Great Hunt Series by Wendy Higgins 

This one makes me sad because I normally love books written by Wendy Higgins.  But I found this one lacking.  I didn't feel the romance or chemistry between the two main characters and I found the female protagonist bland. It's only a duology but I can't find it in me to pick up the second book. 

4. Red Queen Series by Victoria Aveyard

I have some mixed feelings about this one.  I finished it in like, a day (largely due to the fact that I was stuck on a train with little else to do) and I liked it when I finished.  But the more I thought about it and the next books, the less excited I was about it.  I don't know, maybe I'll pick it up again someday but I don't currently have any plans to.  

5. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir 

I have this one sitting on my shelf and tried to get into it but for some reason, it just wasn't grabbing my interest like I wanted it to.  I ended up putting it down and never picking it back up. 

6. The Anatomical Shape of a Heart by Jenn Bennett

Yeah, this one just didn't interest me like I wanted it to.  I didn't like the love interest and or the main character, really.  And if I don't like the characters, chances are the rest of the story will fall flat for me.  

7. Heartless by Marissa Meyer

This one KILLED me.  I wanted to like it so bad.  I loved Marissa Meyer's other series and I obviously adore Alice in Wonderland.  But I just couldn't get into this one.  I found I didn't like the main character.  She got on my nerves too much.  Plus, the book was spoiled for me so my motivation to trudge through plummeted.  

8. Divergent Series by Veronica Roth

I read the first one, loved it.  Second one was okay.  Heard about the third one, someone spoiled the third one, and I had absolutely no motivation to read it.  Ugh.  So sad.  

Are any of these books or series ones you didn't finish?  Or ones that you really liked? I know a lot of the ones on my list are favorites for people but I just can't help how I feel about them.  Let me know your thoughts in the comments below and tell me which books and series you won't be finishing!

Tea Party Talk: When Your Favorite Genre Just Isn't Cutting It

If you've seen any of my "It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" posts the past couple of weeks, you'll know I've been struggling reading two fantasy books: Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo and Heartless by Marissa Meyers.  Now, let me tell you: I have been waiting for these books for ages - since I heard they were coming out.  Two amazing sounding books from two authors I absolutely adore.  Not to mention fantasy is my favorite genre, both to read and write.  

But for some reason . . . these books just aren't holding my interest right now.  

I honestly have no idea why I can't seem to get invested in the stories and the characters.  It's just like . . . I don't get excited to pick them up once I put them down.  And when I do pick them up, I find that I can't keep myself focused on what's happening.  

And I do not like that this is happening.  

It's not quite a reading slump, either, because I've found that I'm suddenly very interested in contemporary reads.  Seriously, I think I've read like five or six contemporary stories in a row and that almost never happens.  I generally tend to read more fantasy or dystopian with just a couple contemporaries thrown in occasionally.  

I mean, I'm really enjoying the contemporary novels I'm reading.  I just finished The Hating Game by Sally Thorne and that was amazing.  Seriously, easily one of the top five books I've read this year.  I just really wish I wanted to read more fantasy.  I mean, if for no other reason than to finally finish Crooked Kingdom and Heartless.  

So, I've decided to put down those books for a bit until I feel more excited about them.  I don't want to force myself to read them and end up feeling like it's a chore whenever I pick them up.  That would just ruin the experience of it.  

But, what I need help with it figuring out how to get myself excited for them.  Had anyone else ever dealt with something like this?  When books you'd normally be very excited about just aren't doing it for you?  In cases like this, how do you get through it?  I'd love to hear some of the suggestions you guys have for me and if I'm not the only one that deals with this kind of thing!

So, what do you guys do when books that you'd normally love aren't holding your interest?  How do you regain the excitement and passion you held for them before?  I'd love to hear any suggestions or experiences you guys have had with this!  Let me know in the comments below!

Tea Party Talk: Reading Choices and Analytic Reading

Since starting college, I've found my relationship with reading changing a lot.  Not only do I have less time to read what I want, but I also have been forced to expand what I read through the classes I've been taking.  I've read books I never would have even thought about reading before and I've enjoyed them.  These classes have also been changing the process of reading for me.  

Analysis has become a much bigger part of how I read.  For the longest time, I've associated analysis with a lack of enjoyment when reading.  I know, I know, an English major doesn't like analysis?!?  Strange, but true.  In high school, despite the fact that I was reading upwards of seven books a month for pure enjoyment, I tended to despise my English classes because of the heavy focus on analysis and the lack of choice I had in the reading material.  I always thought that it was a waste of time to spend hours upon hours picking apart a single sentence of paragraph to try to figure out what the author might have been implying.  

 Over the years, I've come to grudgingly respect analysis.  There's something incredibly satisfying about making connections in books and seeing the way what you're reading dances with the life you're living.  I've found this particularly interesting now that I've declared an English Creative Writing major and most of the classes are discussion based.    Being a writer has also majorly impacted the way I view analysis.  Before I started writing my own stories, I didn't realize how much went into every single word a writer puts down on the page and the significance behind each one.  

Recently, I've started taking an English class that focuses primarily on young adult lit.  We've read things like Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, and are even starting Boxers and Saints, graphic novels created by Gene Luen Yang.  All these books are ones that I would normally pick up because I want to or enjoy them.  I wouldn't pick them up with the intention of deeply analyzing the meaning and importance of the story.  But I have to do that for the class and I've actually found myself starting to enjoy it.  I like digging into these stories and actually discussing the significance with my peers.  

I think a large part of my enjoyment of analysis now is this young adult class I'm taking.  It's the first English class I've ever taken that actually gives me a choice in what I read.  Normally, I'm told that I have to read a certain book but this professor is so awesome and is actually giving us a little freedom.  Rather than give no options, she lays out four or five books that we can read for a section of the class and it's great!  That bit of freedom has done wonders for my enjoyment of the class and the reading material.  It makes me more motivated to actually do the reading and engage in the discussions that go on in class.  Because I chose a book I'm interested in.  

English classes have always been a significant part of my life.  They present a challenge that I enjoy.  But college has changed the way I feel about the analysis and enjoyment I get out of reading.  Especially my YA lit class.  I genuinely think that more teachers and professors should try to present their students with a choice in the reading material; it has made all the difference with my own learning and enjoyment.  

What do you guys think about analysis when reading?  Do you enjoy it?  What was your experience like taking English classes and how do you think that experience could be improved? Join the discussion down below!

Tea Party Talk: Writers in it for the Money?

So, this is a not so fun post to write, but I think it's a really important thing to discuss.  Over the past couple years but especially recently, I've been hearing a lot of controversy over certain books and authors and how the authors are "only in it for the money".  This claim makes me honestly so sad and also confused.  I've watched readers leave negative reviews on Goodreads on books that aren't even out yet just because they feel like the authors of said books are stretching a series or franchise just for the money.  Which, in my opinion, is completely ridiculous. 

Let us all just address something fairly important real quick.  While it's totally anyone's right to leave any sort of review of a product online, I think it's particularly bad taste to leave a negative review of said product without having used or experienced it.  With books, you can't give your honest opinion of it without having read it.  When a book isn't coming out for months and I already see multiple low star and negative rating reviews on Goodreads, I get so angry.  Why do people insist on leaving negative reviews of a book solely based on their assumptions or perceptions of the author?  Like, guys, we're not rating the author here, we're rating the book.  Basing your opinion on a book you haven't read on your perception of the author seems to me to be incredibly unfair and actually rather trolly.  Specifically saying you're rating a book badly without having read it, just because you don't think the author should continue the series, is just plain rude, in my opinion. 

  

Now, to get to the main part of our discussion: people looking down on authors because they believe the authors are only writing for the money.  This argument, I really just can't grasp.  Like . . . yeah, I'm sure many authors want to make money on their books.  A lot of them write full time and their books are their only source of income.  So, yeah, they're going to be concerned and thinking about making money while working on their books.  But that doesn't mean that their works are any less passionate or well written, right?  Someone can want to make money through writing and still be an incredibly talented writer with millions of fans.  There's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to make money with your work.  In that situation, everyone is happy: the writer is able to continue writing because they are making money through that profession to support themselves and the readers are given new content from authors they like and are excited about. 

If you're still not convinced and you totally believe that all the passion and greatness has been drained from an author's writing and they've been turning into a totally money hungry machine, then just stop.  Stop, take a step back, and just . . . ignore it.  Seriously.  Just ignore it.  There's really no reason to be spreading your biased and unproven negativity over a book you haven't read, just because of you perception of the author.  The only thing you'll accomplish by complaining about it is upsetting the readers who are excited about the new book, which is really no fun.  Why rain on someone's excitement when there's no need to?

Again, this is a really sad and weird post for me to write, mostly because I don't understand why it's bad for authors to want to make money off of their books.  When they make money on their books, they get to continue putting out more books, which makes me a happy little caterpillar.   And while I strongly believe in everyone's right to express their feelings and opinions about things, I also think it's unfair and not right to review and rate a book that you haven't read at least some of.  But hey, I'm just one person.  

What do you guys think?  Is it okay for readers to post reviews and ratings of books that they haven't experienced or read?  Is it a bad thing for authors to want to make money off of their books?  When does someone draw the line between writing purely to make money and writing for the sake of writing, with money as an after thought?  Is there a good or bad side of that?  Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Tea Party Talk: Losing Interest in a Book You Haven't Read

I'm sure it's no surprise to anyone reading this but, I'm a collector of books.  All types of books.  I'll buy five at the bookstore knowing that I have ten sitting on my bookshelf unread and begging to be picked up.  I've heard of many people people who do that same thing; hey, we can't help it!  Books are just so lovely and look so nice together on shelves or in a pile.  

But I've been running into a problem with that lately. 

The books I've been collecting, the poor ones that have sat on my shelf for far too long...well, I've begun to lose interest in them.  And it's so sad because each one, I remember picking up and getting so excited to have them.  Promising I would read them the second I had the chance but...it just hasn't happened yet.  And now the spark and the excitement I had had about them before it starting to fizzle.  Rather than having excitement about the prospect of reading them, I'm beginning to feel more like they're things that are hanging over my head, weighing me down.  Which is completely ridiculous.  I'm not obligated to read them if I don't want to, they aren't chores to be done.  I really want to want to read them.  I just don't anymore. 

It feels unfair to feel this way about them since they're books that have so patiently waited their turns to be picked up and read but I can't help it and I don't know why its happened.  The new books I get just seem so much more exciting than the ones I've had for a while.  I know I'll have to get to them at some point, at least try to start them.  I only hope that once I do that, the spark that was there for them before will reignite!  

Has anyone else ever dealt with this sort of thing before?  Tips to help get over it?  What is a sure-fire book that will help get rid of this less-than-excited funk?  Let me know in the comments below!

Tea Party Talk: Rereading and How it Sometimes Changes Everything

As I'm sure you all have gathered, I am a super fan of reading.  What you may not have gathered is, I am an even bigger super fan of rereading!  I know, I know, you're all probably sitting there, staring at your computer screens thinking "Wha?  How does anyone have the time to even consider rereading when there's so many other fantastic new books out?!"  I'll admit, its hard, especially as a blog runner who wants to be able to put out up-to-date reviews weekly for my really cool and totally spectacular readers.  But when I do get a chance to pick up a book that I've already read, I find that a lot has changed since the time.

While obviously I'm reading the same story as before, I find that it feels and seems to have turned into a stranger to me.  This is especially true when it has been years since I've had the chance to read it.  It's not that the story or the characters or the writing style has changed at all but more that I've changed a whole bunch.  My reading experience has expanded in that time and I've been introduced to many other stories that have made an impact on who I am and how I think.  That's because every single book I pick up and decide to read changes me, whether in a big or small way.  It opens my eyes to things I wouldn't have seen myself and allows me to connect with hundreds - if not thousands - of people just through reading the same words.  

Sometimes, rereading a book doesn't change my opinion of it but instead makes me more aware of the little details sprinkled throughout that I didn't notice before because I was too wrapped up in the actual story. This is true for all of the Harry Potter books.  I will forever and always adore this series. Almost nothing can change my opinion of it and rereading it only brings me enjoyment and a sense of nostalgia.  

However, there are other books like Graceling by Kristin Cashore that make all my feelings for them change.  When I first read that book, I didn't really like it.  I was likely a bit too young to have been reading it and I wasn't understanding everything that was happening.  When I picked it up about a year ago to reread it though, I found myself completely wrapped up and in love with the plot, the premise, and the characters.  In fact, I went out and bought the other two books in the series immediately after finishing it.  It times like that when rereading becomes something magical, maybe even more magical than just reading, because it shows you just how much you've grown.  

So, how often do you reread?  What is your favorite story to reread?  Do you find that rereading often changes your opinions of those books?  

Tea Party Talk: Authors Off the Grid

I've been in the habit for a while of following and interacting with some of my favorite authors, especially once I in my opinion stepped up from being a baby blogger and really found a nice, comfortable place in this community with lovely people to talk to and copious amount of fangirling to do.  Now, basically anytime I finish a book that had me making heart-eyes at it throughout, I spend a good amount of time after trying to find any and all information I can on what else the author has written, if and when a second book is coming out, and if I really really REALLY like a book if there's anyway to contact the author to possibly work with them by hosting author interviews, giveaways, or book spotlights on my blog.  It's an exciting thing to be able to talk with these super cool people who have given you the chance to read their awesome story and fall in love with their characters; even if the extent of the interaction is telling them how much I liked their book over Twitter.  

However, all of this is basically put on hold if there's no way to get in contact with the author or find out about possible upcoming releases.  It's unusual nowadays to find an author that doesn't at least have a Facebook page, so when I recently stumbled upon an author that I couldn't find even a trace of in social media, I was more than a little surprised and disappointed.  

From the point of view of a reader, I was really saddened to see that there was really no way for me to tell this author how much their work had moved me and how much I enjoyed their book.  With such a heavy emphasis on social media now, I wasn't used to not being able to learn about whether they had been working on a sequel or if there was any possibility of even working with them to promote and spread the word about this book that I loved.  It felt almost like they didn't have these social media account accessible because they didn't particularly want to interact or get to know their readers, which I realize is most likely not true and pretty unfair to the author.  

On the other hand, as someone who is looking to become an author herself and is also searchable on google because of this blog, I understand where this author may be coming from: privacy.  With this surge in internet use, it's become very easy to learn about people without them realizing it and that can be a scary reality that a lot of people don't want to mess with.  This, I totally understand and respect.  I know I was concerned with this when I first start my blog and made a twitter.  With author's who definitely are in the public's eye at times, I can imagine that having as much privacy as you can is a much needed relief.  

So, while it's a little saddening to not be able to contact some authors, I completely understand and respect their thinking on this issue.  However, I still wish their was a way for them to spread news about their upcoming works so readers like myself aren't left wondering when or even if there will be more of the story to look forward to.  

What are your thoughts on this issue?  Have you ever encountered a book whose author was impossible to get into contact with?  Is there a way for authors to interact with their readers while still maintaining their privacy?  Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

Tea Party Talk: Parents in YA

Whether absent, normal, or slightly crazy, parents have a huge impact on our main characters, particularly in young adult books.  The actions and opinions of these parents create a lasting impression on our characters and help shape who they are and what decisions they make in the books we read.  If they're absent or dead, it gives our MC more emotional depth and the freedom to adventure and explore.  If they're normal, it creates some obstacles for the MC to get around when going through the story and it also gives them a support system for if things go wrong.  Slightly crazy shapes the MC and may give them a bit of eccentricity to go along with all of the adventures they'll likely be taking.     

Absent or Dead

The first people that come to mind when I think about absent or dead parents are James and Lily Potter.  Their death played a crucial role throughout the Harry Potter series, often guiding Harry in the decisions he made.  The entire series wouldn't have even happened without their death.  It shaped Harry and made him who he was in the story.  

Normal

Normal parents can be seen as both a good and a bad thing.  They can offer support and a safe environment for the MC but they canals create obstacles for the MC to get around in their story.  My favorite pair of normal parents are Mr. and Mrs. Dyer from The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer.  They are both of these things to Mara and it is just done so well.  You can help but love them, even when they were keeping Mara from doing some of the things she needed to do.  They were doing the things they did to keep Mara safe and protected.  They had her best interest at heart.  

Crazy

Crazy parents always make things interesting.  Often times, they don't play a huge role in the novel except for shaping the MC to be who they are while we're reading.  However, there are times in which the crazy parents play a huge role in the actual story being told.  My favorite crazy parent is Penryn's mom from Angelfall.  This lady is absolutely, 100% mad but her madness is used as a tool to guide the story and protect Penryn and her little sister.  It's wonderfully done!

Each of these parent archetypes have different pros and cons.  If done right, they all can be good for the MC and the plot.  My favorite out of them all is probably the crazy type, just because of how interesting they can make a story!

What do you think about parents in YA?  What is your favorite "type"?

Tea Party Talk: No Time For Reading

Recenly I've been having a hard time finding time.  Time to read, that is. 

I'm sure this is a problem many of you have had to deal with before.  And if so, you know my pain.  Normally, I'm able to go through books like that *insert snap*.  Seriously, I can read a 350+ page book in a day if I have the time.  But since entering college, I've found it hard to read even five pages a day.  With all my homework and social stuff, I just can't read like I normally would.

With all this non-existent extra time on my hands, I've been having to make my weekends reading and blogging days.  While they aren't in any terms slow or lazy days, it's easiest to find time on Saturdays and Sundays to read for a couple hours and crank out that week's blog posts.  But still, even  with that schedule, I've been having trouble keeping up consistently postings and everything.

So....

I figure you guys would be able to help me!  Seeing as you all read, you're my best bet!  What sort of tips do you have to find more time to read and blog?  What do you do you to get through a book and write a post when you're super busy?  Do you make a schedule?  Use a Time Turner?  Just never sleep...ever?

Please, tell me how you find the time to read and blog!  I need all the help I can get :)