Random Discussion: Auto-Approve Authors

So I just randomly took a poll on the tweets and asked everyone:

Twitter, name one author you will read ANYTHING by. Don't even have to know what the book is about.. it's just a given.

Holy wow at the response! I was worried I may break the tweets. But.... I didn't. We can all breath again.
So what's the consensus you ask? Well here are the authors that were mentioned:

• John Green
• Sarah Dessen
• Richelle Mead
• Jennifer Echols
• Stephanie Perkins
• Melina Marchetta
• Jennifer L. Armentrout
• Jeri Smith-Ready
• J.K. Rowling
• David Levithan
• Courtney Summers
• Simone Elkeles
• Patrick Ness
• Suzanne Young
• Trish Doller
• Veronica Rossi
• Melissa Marr
• Gayle Forman
• Rachel Vincent
• Kelley Armstrong
• Kristin Cashore
• John Corey Whaley
• Jenny Han
• Myra McEntire
• Kody Keplinger

Do you agree? Disagree? Is there someone NOT on this list that is an instant read for you?
I found it interesting there are a few authors listed that only have one published work out right now - wow! what a true testament to their awesomeness (the ones listed that I've read, I completely agree with btw!)

Also, in case you were wondering, I have TOO MANY instant read authors.. but if I had to choose one it would be Jennifer Echols.  I love that woman's storytelling so hard.

Discussion: Why do you read?

This question gets asked all the time.  Everywhere I look from twitter, to other blogs, & just recently at a book event I attended.  Everyone has different reasons for why they read.  Some use it as an escape, while others just find pure enjoyment from the pages.  I didn't realize until recently how much reading has impacted my life.  Books have been the catalyst in my life to make some pretty major changes.  Reading has opened up doors that I never knew existed.  Doors that I didn't quite know I wanted to walk through, until now.

As most of you know (and maybe some don't) I am currently going back to school to become a teacher.  But not just any teacher... I want to teach middle school Reading/Language Arts :-)  Oh yes!  I want to talk books all day long with pre-teens! haha  Before you start asking, are you smoking crack?? No, I am not.  I seriously want to do this.  Will it be a challenge?  Oh heck yes.  I expect it to challenge me in more ways than one.  But I like challenges.  I accept them.  My life would be boring without them.  If I can challenge just one kid, only one, to pick up a book & get something from it -- then I've met my goal!  Reading is such a huge outlet, one that I wish I would have found a lot sooner in life.  But for whatever reason I am finding it now & turning it around to use as something positive in my life.

I've been told my passion for reading & books is pretty infectious!  I hope it rubs off on my students one day. So the reason I read is not a simple answer.  It's something that hits pretty close to home & extends to what I want to do with the rest of my life.  That's pretty big huh?  Books are an amazing gift.  I'm hoping to gift many young minds with the ability to think, explore, & imagine life beyond just their front door. 

So I ask you, my followers: Why do you read?

Discussion: When Do You Stop Reading?

Hey GReads Followers: At what point do you lose interest in a book & put it down before the story ends? Or do you even do that??

So this question has been plaguing me for some time.  Do I keep reading a book even though I've lost interest in it?  Or do I do myself a favor & just end it there.. & move on to that massive pile of books so patiently waiting to be read?  I hate giving up in the middle of a story, but if I'm not feeling it.. then I'm just not feeling it!  Sometimes it could be due to whatever mood I'm in.  I tell myself I'll come back to it at a later date. 

For example, this happened to me with Beautiful Creatures.  I had a very busy month last November & unfortunately my reading time got put on the back burner.  When I did have time to read, my mind was just not focused on the book & I lost interest... fast!  I really, really tried to keep up with Beautiful Creatures because I had heard such awesome things about it.  But unfortunately, I closed it.. about 300 & something pages in.  Yes, I went that far & gave up!  But I told myself I'd go back to it, when the timing was right.

As much as I love Young Adult lit, there are some books that are just too young for my taste.  It's hard to connect with the characters & I find myself getting annoyed, rather than be entertained.  This happened to me while reading Twenty Boy Summer.  I picked up this book after the whole book-ban fiasco & wanted to see what all the hoopla was about.  Unfortunately, I did not make it past 5 chapters.  I gave up because the main character annoyed me.  Yes, she was a teenager & rightfully acting as one.  But I just couldn't connect with her.  Thus, making it difficult for me to keep reading.

Then there are the ever so cheesy books that yes, I sometimes devour & love every sweet taste... but then there are the ones which leave me rolling my eyes & I have to shut the book.  I recently did this with Rhymes with Cupid.  I thought this book would be a cute, valentines-y book to read for the season, but after I had already guessed the plot, predicted the characters next move, & lost interest in it all together; I told myself it was time to put it down.  And that's OK.  Some books are just not my cup of tea.

What book may work for one person, may not work for the next.  I have accepted that.  I know I won't love every book I pick up.  Some I just have to realize they won't be finished & move on to the next.  It sounds like a bad break-up, huh?  I'd like to think my book break-ups are mature though! hehe  So tell me.. when do you stop reading a book?  Please share which stories just didn't do it for you & why.  I'm curious to know!

Discussion: Recipe for Hotness!

After a very comical discussion with my good friend Anna from Anna Reads, I started thinking - what makes a male character in YA books so incredibly swoon worthy?!  A part of me feels silly for even thinking about these boys on these terms, because lets not forget.. we're WOMEN having inappropriate thoughts about BOYS.  But this is literature, and anything & everything goes - right?! So there's no need to feel guilty; it's not like I'm seeking out these boys at the local high school!  It's just my inner-teenage girl swooning & possibly drooling ;-)

1 part chiseled abs 

(preferably the "I didn't try for these" look)

1 part bad-boy with a reputation

1 part damaged & needs some TLC

1 part hero, always there to save the day

1 part sarcastic with a dry sense of humor 

1 part irresistible eyes & finger tangling hair

2 parts sensitive to others needs

Extra ingredients:

bakes cupcakes!

So tell me: What are the ingredients for YOUR 

recipe of hotness when it comes to male YA characters?