Yes, I missed last week. And all of this week. I’m horrible, I know.
But here’s a wrap-up for the past two weekends! A recent study documents a huge decline in reading time among US citizens (the average American spends only 7 minutes a day reading!), even though another study shows that reading for pleasure can cut stress levels by almost 70%. So be good to your friends/family and buy them books this year. Maybe you’ll look at the new graphic novel version of Fahrenheit 451, or at Justine Larbalestier’s Liar, recently revamped after controversy over the previous cover. Or maybe you’ll jump on the Dan Brown bandwagon and pick up The Secret this year, or even the “teen version”. Why teens can’t read the adult version, I’m not quite sure. All I know is that, when you’re done, you ought to reward yourself with a scoop of library-themed Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Too bad it doesn’t exist yet!
A couple other random reads: What’s really to blame for the quality/quantity of your writing (hint: it’s all inside of you!), and should authors be their own censorship committees?
Hope you enjoy the reads! Meanwhile, I’ll be packing like mad, saying goodbye to family/friends/dog and bidding a very fond farewell to the house that I grew up in. My parents and brother are moving to Thailand in October, so this Thursday will, in many ways, be my last night as a resident of Oklahoma. Bittersweet, bittersweet. I’ve probably written a million words under this roof, and I’ve read several million more. A whole childhood of school projects and sleep-overs and learning all the creaks and sighs of an 80-year-old-house can be found wrapped up within these walls, and I’ll never forget the rumblings of squirrels in the attic and the smell of wild mint in the back yard. C’est la vie, C’est la vie.
Sarah said,
August 17, 2009 at 12:49 am
Wait, your family is moving to Thailand for good?
Anna W. Waggener said,
August 17, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Yep!
Mariah said,
August 17, 2009 at 12:25 pm
I knew reading would pay off!
Enjoy your final nights at home!
Anna W. Waggener said,
August 17, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Thanks!
Haha it’s nice to just still back with my pro-reading pals and think that I’m way more relaxed than all those other people. And then school hits and I realize that college reading doesn’t count…
Hannah said,
August 18, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Will you be moving to Thailand too then?
Sarah said,
August 19, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Oh man! That is crazy! Is your brother out of high school yet?
Eliz said,
August 20, 2009 at 8:16 pm
Hi Anna, I have to admit you’re writing is pretty good. I mean I like your writing, even this blog and stream of consciousness and off the cuff dialogue you write. It holds my interest. I would buy it…so keep it up! My daughter had written a piece on a group of teens trying to make the national olympic team for the push/scholastic novel competition. I was disappointed she didn’t even get a nod of any sort (just no word,no honorable mention which means summarily dismissed) At any rate I feel she is totally vinidicated by the TV production of Make It or Break It which aired this summer. Her novel entry predated any of this, yet it is so similar to the hit drama. It tells me PUSH/Scholastic got it wrong. There is a great market out there for wannabe gymnasts and athletes of any kind seeking to capture the gold and the heartache, injuries and drama that goes with it. In any case I wondered whether winners past or present of the contest had any talent. Not that I count as anyone who knows anything except as a consumer–I think you do and I would buy any of your books!!!! You’ve got this consumer’s personal nod, that you have real writing ability. Hope this makes your day.