Reading Goals - Expanding Genres

One of the goals that I set for myself this year was to read more... and while that is so very broad, I did break it down a bit more.

1. Read at least one book per month

2. Read things outside of my comfort zone

My comfort zone is generally classic historical fiction novels - think Charlotte and Emily Bronte, Jules Verne, Kate Chopin, Jane Austen... and also mystery novels from Mary Higgins Clark.

A little over a year ago, I had an Audible membership and decided to download A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Stephen Douglas. Narrated by Stephen Fry, whose enunciated witticisms grilled a sense of satiety in delivering Douglas' love of satire and irony, I couldn't have found a better listen on my long bus commutes home from work.

At the time, I wasn't really fond of reading science fiction book. It didn't really interest me, but I recall hearing a friend rave about Hitchiker, and thus, I decided it was time to jump on board that spaceship of alien reading and try it out. Audible was the perfect delivery of the story for me, particularly since my bus trips were never comfortable enough to have me carrying a bunch of cargo.

Fast forward to today, I stopped at Barnes & Noble to have a look around. Most bookstores fascinate me with the thousands of books with interesting covers and titles. I can easily get lost in a bookstore for hours if warranted. Wandering through their Classics collections, I happened to find H.G. Wells' collection book, which piqued my interest. I had seen bits of pieces of the Tom Cruise rendition of The War of the Worlds, which I thought to be an okay movie... I know better than to not know that the books are always better than the cinematic version.

Today, I bought it, for a whole big whopping $8 (plus tax).

What do you think? Have you read any of his works and how do you like him? I'm interested in knowing your opinions.

On a slightly different note, I will be posting a review of my January reads either in another post, or in a video, so stay tuned.

Happy reading,

Creating Pockets of Adventures

Blessed. This is the perfect word to describe my life. While not everything goes in the direction I hope, nor does it ever happen in the ways I plan, it's mine and I have joy. More often than not, I face obstacles and sometimes rather painful experiences that I find to be overwhelming at times. All the same, I conquer. I have faith in a few things: a higher power, that higher power within me, and in myself. Faith always carries me through and has brought me to where I am.
I think my life to be somewhat average in many ways. I am not poor, but I am not wealthy. I can usually obtain the things I want if I plan for them and budget in most instances. However, I wasn't always affluent enough to afford small luxuries, such as my beloved Starbucks habit or my car. These two things would have exceeded my budget by far if I were 23-years-old again.
Though, one thing that I am wealthy with is ambition. I've always been wealthy with ambition. If I want something, I find a way to m…

I Didn't Know What to Say

This world is full of both wonderful and heartbreaking circumstances that wear us down daily. As a nation, we are mourning another tragedy where violence has torn apart communities and families - and for what purpose? We just don't know.
I didn't write on this yesterday because I didn't know what to say. I've read that it's the deadliest mass shooting in American history. I don't know what's more sad to me: that this deplorable act is something that I feel numb towards given the increasing numbers of shootings and tragedies we are seeing nationally, or the act itself: where some random person unbeknownst to even his own family made a decision that forever altered the lives of millions of people.
The biggest encouragement and consolation I can try to provide is to continue to shine the light into the darkest corners of the world. Whether you emit joy and love, peace or kindness, these are a few ways to impact the world in a positive way that anybody can gi…

Compassion

Months ago, I filmed a video about compassion and empathy. When I downloaded it to my computer, I didn't have the time or the drive to edit and upload it... until today. I re-watched the full 11:37 video and realized that my message was very clear and that it applies just as much to today as it did when I originally filmed it in November.
Compassion. It's something that many people lack - not on purpose, but out of convenience. Out of carelessness. Without a thought. People aren't bad because of it, rather unaware and lacking mindfulness of who is around them and how they may be feeling.
I wanted to share this video as a reminder for people to view other people as humans - as people just like themselves. To have empathy and compassion because you just do not know what another person is going through.

Lovingly yours,
Em

Bellezza di Vita

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