Off Topic Sunday: Real Life Always Gets in the Way

Welcome to Off-Topic Sunday, a tag that I'm using to post whatever is floating in my head that I want to chat about. For the most part, they'll be book-related but you may occasionally see some non-book-related posts/rants as well.

Off Topic Sunday: My Recent Trip to Seoul

Sorry for the unannounced hiatus guys! Last week, I took a trip to Seoul, South Korea!!! It was mostly for work but I managed to go around and see a few amazing sites. I honestly thought I would have the time to post too but after just completing night shifts, flying for 12 hours (plus stressful layovers), and then sight-seeing plus conference, I was completely flat by the end of the night.

Seoul was simply amazing and super easy to navigate! I had booked my hotel near my conference place so that worst case scenario, I could walk to the conference every day. But from the moment the plane touched down, there were labels and signs everywhere telling you where to go. The city is very well equipped for tourists! The subway system is out of this world (for a Melbournian like myself)! Plus I never had to wait more than 5 minutes for trains. 

The city is an amazing complex blend of the new and the old. Nestled right in the heart of the city is Gyeongbokgung aka the Northern Palace, which is the largest palace in Seoul. It was absolutely stunning. And although I was technically two or so weeks too early, but there were some cherry blossoms blooming already and they were so pretty!

I could gush about my trip for hours but I really only posted to let you guys know that's where I've been hiding. Then work kind of took over. But I will definitely make an effort to get back into the blogging pattern. Especially since I have just read an amazing book that I could to share with you guys soon.

Until next time!

Off-Topic Sunday: Perils of Delayed Book Reviews

Welcome to Off-Topic Sunday, a tag that I'm using to post whatever is floating in my head that I want to chat about. For the most part, they'll be book-related but you may occasionally see some non-book-related posts/rants as well.

My Favourite Romance Novels - Valentine's Day Edition!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Whether you are single, in a committed relationship or married, I hope you have had a lovely day with your loved ones. :) In honour of today, I have decided to list some of my favourite romances for those who need something to get into the romantic mood!

Off-Topic Sunday: End of the Month Reflections

Welcome to Off-Topic Sunday, a tag that I'm using to post whatever is floating in my head that I want to chat about. For the most part, they'll be book-related but you may occasionally see some non-book-related posts/rants as well.

So at the beginning of my year, I listed my bookish resolutions, in which I reduced my Goodreads Reading Challenge because of a multitude of reasons. The two reasons in particular I listed was I wanted quality over quantity and I was to reread some of my favourite novels again. Last  year, I felt quite pressured and rushed by my GR goal of 150 books (which I did accomplish!), often picking shorter books or pushing through with books even though I knew quite early on I wasn't going to enjoy them. Plus, whenever I had a momentary fancy or urge to pick up an old favourite, I couldn't because I was always needing to push through and read new books.

It's been 31 days since the new year (I'm shocked at how quickly this year is running away from us), I can already say honestly that I am really enjoying my new reading style. Reading is about reading again. I have time to think about which book I am most excited about to read next. And instead of pushing ahead with the next book in a series even though I have forgotten what happened in the previous books, I get to reread the series from the beginning. I am right on track to my GR goal of 52 new books this year and yet I still had plenty of time between books to jot down some thoughts of the book I just read.

Obviously, I still haven't utilized the extra time to their full potential. Ideally, as this year progresses, I hope to use some of that extra time to be a bit more consistent with blog posts, comment more on fellow book blogs, amongst other things. 

What about you guys? How has the year started off for you so far?

Off Topic Sunday: Resisting Spoilers

Welcome to Off-Topic Sunday, a tag that I'm using to post whatever is floating in my head that I want to chat about. For the most part, they'll be book-related but you may occasionally see some non-book-related posts/rants as well.

Today, I want to talk about a really bad habit of mine - reading spoilers for a book I'm currently reading just to see what is coming up ahead. It's one thing to get accidentally spoiled for a book that you are reading (or about to read) by (well)-meaning friends or the Internet - you know who is to blame there. However, to self-willingly go hunting for spoilers is another matter entirely. I'm not sure if anybody else have that problem but it certainly plays a big role in my reading experiences.

Off Topic Sunday: Christmas Gift Ideas for Book Lovers

Welcome to Off-Topic Sunday, a tag that I'm using to post whatever is floating in my head that I want to chat about. For the most part, they'll be book-related but you may occasionally see some non-book-related posts/rants as well.

We're finally in the holiday seasons! Where has 2015 gone? I'm not sure if it's a sign of aging but I definitely feel with each passing year, time is flowing by quicker and quicker. Anyhow, while one side of me is disappointed 2015 is almost over, another (big) part of me is really excited about Christmas and all the great food and company that accompanies it. So this week, I've decided to talk about gift ideas for the book lovers in your family.

Off-Topic Sunday: Top Five Books I Read in Winter

Welcome to Off-Topic Sunday, a tag that I'm using to post whatever is floating in my head that I want to chat about. For the most part, they'll be book-related but you may occasionally see some non-book-related posts/rants as well.

This is a relatively late post considering Australia is well on its way to getting warmed up and we're finally entering spring. However, I read so many books during winter after my June exams (as I was waaaay behind on my GoodReads reading challenge for the year) so I really did struggle with keeping this list to just five.

P.S. For my full review on each of the novels, please click on the title to get redirected.

Off-Topic Sunday: Trimming Down Your TBR List

Welcome to Off-Topic Sunday, a tag that I'm using to post whatever is floating in my head that I want to chat about. For the most part, they'll be book-related but you may occasionally see some non-book-related posts/rants as well.

Deleting Books From Your TBR List

Off-Topic Sunday: Audiobooks

Welcome to Off-Topic Sunday, a tag that I'm using to post whatever is floating in my head that I want to chat about. For the most part, they'll be book-related but you may occasionally see some non-book-related posts/rants as well.

The "reading" experience of audiobooks:

Up until this point of my reading journey, I haven't been a big fan of audiobooks. I've tried a couple - such as the Harry Potter series narrated by Stephen Fry - and although I have enjoyed them, I still preferred to read the books myself for a variety of reasons. For one, my contact with audiobooks is limited to those I can access in my local libraries. Secondly, I sometimes don't particularly agree with the narrator's enactment of a character's dialogue. I prefer to read books aloud in my own head and put my own voices to the characters.

So all in all, audiobooks is a reading medium that I have used the least.

Recently, due to a combination of time pressure, falling behind on my GR reading challenge and the fact my GR friends are all raving about this particular audiobooks, I decided to pick up Yes Please by Amy Poehler. I figured I could listen to a chapter or two on the train to and from work and would be done with the book under a week.

Best decision ever.

Off-Topic Sunday: Work-Study-Life Balance

Welcome to Off-Topic Sunday, a tag that I'm using to post whatever is floating in my head that I want to chat about. For the most part, they'll be book-related but you may occasionally see some non-book-related posts/rants as well.

Work-study-life balance, does it really exist?

It's been awhile since I last blogged - for a variety of reasons. First, my car broke down, so I had to spend ages getting a replacement car. Then my laptop broke all of a sudden without warning, so I had to rush to the store and buy a new laptop. Ugh, I'm feeling very broke at the moment. On top of that, I have grueling 14.5hr shifts at work for the next 7 days plus late night classes twice a week. Suffice to say in the work-study-life balance, work dominates (it's full-time after all), study closely follows and life is practically non-existent. And sleep? Who needs it really?

Hehe, I'm having a great self-pity party at the moment.

Off Topic Sunday: DNF

Welcome to Off-Topic Sunday, a tag that I'm using to post whatever is floating in my head that I want to chat about. For the most part, they'll be book-related but you may occasionally see some none book-related posts/rants as well.

When you can't put up with the pain any longer...

As book lovers, we've all had those moments. We pick up a book, thinking it will be a great read, and then twenty, thirty, a hundred or more pages into the book, the process of getting through each paragraph is akin to nails down a blackboard.

Off-Topic Sunday: End of My Internship

Welcome to Off-Topic Sunday, a tag that I'm using to post whatever is floating in my head that I want to chat about. For the most part, they'll be book-related but you may occasionally see some none book-related posts/rants as well.

Off-Topic Sunday: Reading Multiple Books At Once

Welcome to Off-Topic Sunday, a tag that I'm using to post whatever is floating in my head that I want to chat about. For the most part, they'll be book-related but you may occasionally see some none book-related posts/rants as well. 

Reading Multiple Books at Once

This never used to be a problem. For the majority of my life, I have always been a "one book at a time" kind of reader. But for some reason, this year, I have had to resort to reading multiple books at once. Initially, I was only juggling two books - a physical book that I keep by my bedside and one that I'm reading on my iPad whilst I'm commuting. This was completely manageable.

But then things got worse.

Off-Topic Sunday: Work and Being Sick

Source: Unplash

Welcome to Off-Topic Sunday, a tag that I'm going to be using from now on to post whatever is floating in my head that I want to chat about. For the most part, I think they'll still be mostly book-related but you may occasionally see some none book-related posts/rants as well.

Today is one of those days.

I logged on today and realized I have been absent from this blog for almost a month. A few things immediately come to mind. A) Time flies! B) Work has been crazy. And C) I've been sick for the last fortnight or so and I'm still on the mend.

Work-wise, I'm onto a new rotation - my final rotation for the year - general medicine. Definitely a steep learning curve with plenty of challenges! To say I've initially struggled to cope would probably be the understatement of the month. Plenty of early mornings and staying behind after work to get everything done. I think I'm getting better but still, it's a lot of work. I've often come home exhausted, straight to bed, only to get up the next morning to do it all again. So yes, blogging has definitely fallen to the way-side. But I'm hoping now that I'm sort of getting the hang of work, that this will be less of an issue.

Expect to see a bit more of me from now on! 

Off-Topic Sunday: What constitutes a spoiler?

Source: Unplash

Welcome to Off-Topic Sunday, a tag that I'm going to be using from now on to post whatever is floating in my head that I want to chat about. For the most part, I think they'll still be mostly book-related but you may occasionally see some none book-related posts/rants as well.

What constitutes a spoiler?

This week's post is going to be on the issue of spoilers and the etiquette in the book community regarding them. 

I think it's safe to say most people hate spoilers. When you are deeply engrossed in the middle of a book, the last thing you want is for someone to pop down next to you, peek over your shoulder and reveal the plot twist. I think most of us have had those unfortunate moments. The most memorable one of mine would be back in high school. My friends and I were chatting about Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and as we were chatting about not spoiling anything for each other, one thoughtful friend of mine blurted out the ending. 

Thanks. Thanks a lot.

Our connection to the online world is growing. With information so readily at hand, it is so easy for us to spoil ourselves. Excited about an upcoming release? There is always someone online who will have blurted out the ending. Want to check if a book would be a good mystery read? A commenter may have let slip the identity of the villain. Nowadays, almost everyone will either advertise their content is "spoiler-free" or spray-paint over their entire content with "warning: spoilers!!!".

And this is what gets to me. In my (and those of many others) effort to keep their reviews spoiler free, I started to wonder: what exactly constitutes a spoiler? Are the book summary on the back cover enough to be classified as a spoiler? In a romance novel, it tells you who the female protagonist is going to end up with. In a crime novel, it tells you how the detective will find the first couple of victims. In a fantasy novel, it tells you the triggering point that will unsettle the balance of things and initiate the cascade of events. 

So does that mean, unless you go into a book completely blind, you have in fact spoiled yourself?

I'm not sure I have a definitive answer for this question. What are your thoughts?