— The Parchment Girl

I am addicted to books. Reading them, buying them, smelling them, organizing them on my shelves. As far as addictions go, this is probably the best kind to have since it can be channeled into something productive, like book blogging or accumulating trivial facts that might come in handy on a quiz show one day. On the other hand it can also lead to things like debt, anti-socialism, and a perpetual state of frustration because there is never enough time to read all the books on your TBR list.

For the book blogger, debt is less of a threat since publishers usually acknowledge your requests for new releases. Your family has probably made peace with the fact that “Wait, I’m almost done with this chapter” is the standard reply to every interruption, especially if you are one of those bloggers who are dedicated enough to work fifty hours a week on your blog and hold down a full-time job. But unless you are superhuman like Deborah, you cannot read 600+ books a year, which you would just about have to do if you want to keep that ever-growing TBR list under control.

That leaves readers of average speed like myself with a serious dilemma. I comb through the publisher catalogs, press releases, and blogger review networks every month and find at least a dozen books I just have to review. The books start pouring in along with a fair amount of remorse. Titles from the New York Times bestseller list I had been wanting to read pop up in my head. John Adams and War and Peace loom over me, unfinished or not-yet-begun projects. Pretty soon I think I hear the unread books on my shelf chanting “read me, read me” and I start to look a little bit like this . . .

By the end of the month, I’ve managed to plow through all my review books, but I’m left with the dissatisfying feeling that I’ve rushed, absorbed little, and missed out on the wisdom of books that have been tested by time. So I tell myself I’ll limit the number of review books I accept next month. I’ll make a list of the books I want to review and stick to it. But of course that never happens. I make a list of review books and inevitably another one comes along that I missed before and how can I turn down the opportunity to read it?

A few months ago, Amy talked about Reader’s Block, a condition where a normally avid reader finds herself loath to so much as pick up a book.

I concede that being a book blogger has ruined me as a reader. I no longer read for the sheer pleasure of it, I no longer read in a carefree way. There’s a weight to every choice, an awareness to my reading life. I am aware, for example, that I am suffering from reader’s block, when in the past I would not have even thought about it. Most of the time, I don’t regret this. I love the friends I’ve made, the vast knowledge I’ve gained. I love the worlds that have been opened up to me through the pages of books I would have never discovered apart from this blog.

But sometimes, like these past few weeks, I feel the sting of regret.

Between occasional bouts of reader’s block, I too feel regret. I won’t say that book blogging has ruined me as a reader. In many ways, I think it has enhanced my ability to understand and process what I read. But there are times when I remember sitting on a library windowsill as a child, lost in some adventure or mystery, completely oblivious to the idea of TBR lists or book reviews. That utter abandon to the power of story purely for the sake of story can never be fully regained. I will never be the same reader I was before I started book blogging, and that’s okay, but there are two things I have noticed in my reading life over the last few months that make me think I’m in a rut.

I am not reading as broadly as I once did, focusing mainly on memoirs, Christian fiction, Christian living, and the occasional bestseller.
I am not reading as deeply as I once did. By accepting too many review books I’m forcing myself to read quantity over quality.

No book blogger wants to restrain herself from reviewing every title that suits her fancy, but sometimes restraint in one area can lead to greater freedom in another and less regret later on. Which is why I’ve come up with a set of monthly reading goals that, if I can stick with them, will help me to get more out of my limited reading time. I hope they will encourage me to think more carefully about the books I want to spend my time on, give me the time to read more deliberately, and cause me to read in a wider variety of genres on a regular basis.

I usually have time to read 9-10 books a month, which pans out to about one book every three days. So for now, my monthly goal is to read

1 Health/Chronic Illness/Lyme Book
1 New York Times Bestselling Novel or Other Novel from TBR List
1 General Market Nonfiction, Bestseller or Otherwise
1 Classic
1 Christian Living Book
4-5 New Release Review Books

I already have a few books planned for August, like The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society for my fiction title and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver for my general market nonficion. I know those four review slots could easily fill up in a matter of seconds, so I’m trying to be much more selective about what I choose to review, and hope that I’ll be able to enjoy reading more fully with less pressure to review all the latest books.

If you are a book blogger, do you find it hard to read solely for pleasure? Do you have any reading regrets? Do you have a schedule or set of goals in place to help keep you from falling into a reading rut?

There has been a lot of buzz floating around the blogosphere concerning the casting of The Hunger Games, an upcoming 2012 movie based on the first novel in the bestselling trilogy by Suzanne Collins. As a fan of the first and second books (the finale fell flat for me), I have been following the casting news closely, but I didn’t want to comment until all the major roles had been filled. Now that they have, I’m throwing in my two cents.

Katniss Everdeen

The leading lady of this dystopian drama will be portrayed by Jennifer Lawrence, a twenty-year-old actress who is perhaps now best known for her role as Raven Darkholme in the latest X-Men flick. She earned her props as a serious actress in the dark indie film, Winter’s Bone (2010), and her career has taken off from there.

I was skeptical at first about whether or not she would be a good fit for this role, even though I couldn’t readily think of a better alternative. I’ve never seen any of her movies, but I just couldn’t picture her as Katniss. Her face seemed a little too round, her hair was blond (I didn’t have enough imagination to picture her as a brunette), and her physique didn’t scream “starving in District 12″ to me.

But, what can I say? As soon as I saw the first shots of her in full makeup and costume on the Entertainment Weekly website, I was sold. It’s amazing how a little makeup and hair coloring can transform an actor into someone completely different. Now that she looks like Katniss, I’m eager to see her in character on the big screen. I think this was a great casting call by Lions Gate.

Peeta Mellark

The Bread Boy of District 12 will be played by Josh Hutcherson, an eighteen-year-old kid from Kentucky who earned his fame in movies like Zathura (2005), Bridge to Terabithia (2007), and Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008). When the announcement for this casting decision first hit the web, I was pretty disappointed. I was one of the crowd that hoped Hunter Parrishwould land the role. He’s much closer (almost identical in fact) to the Peeta I saw in my mind’s eye while reading the book, and I thought he was a shoe-in for the part. Over time though, Hutcherson’s grown on me a and I’m actually starting to be able to see him as Peeta. Time will tell whether or not he’ll be able to capture the character well.

Gale Hawethorne

Katniss’s old friend and hunting companion will be portrayed by Liam Hemsworth, the twenty-one-year-old hunk of The Last Song fame. Hemsworth doesn’t have a whole lot of experience under his belt, so it’s hard to say how he’ll fit into this role.

I never really liked Gale that much when I read the books, so I’m a little more apathetic about who steps into his shoes for the film, but ultimately I think Hemsworth is a great choice. He fits the picture of Gale I had in my head and the character isn’t all that dynamic, so I think he should be able to pull it off just fine.

Primrose Everdeen

Moving on to Katniss’s immediate family, Prim will be played by Willow Shields, an eleven-year-old girl who has virtually no acting experience (but who will no doubt morph into a child star after this gig). Although she has very little part in the action of the first two books, I think she’s an important character because she is the reason Katniss enters the Games in the first place and she serves as a powerful motivator for our heroine to survive throughout the story. Based on the few photos I’ve seen of Shields, I’m unsure about this casting decision. With a little help from the makeup department, Shields will no doubt look the part, but I also think Ryan Simpkinswould have been a good fit as far as physical appearance goes. This is a case where I’m going to have to see the movie before deciding whether or not I think Shields is good for the role.

Mr. & Mrs. Everdeen

Katniss’s mother will be played by Paula Malcomson, the forty-year-old actress who has flitted from one supporting television role to another over the last two decades. Malcomson almost exactly matches the Mrs. Everdeen I pictured in my head, except for the fact that she’s a little older. I think she was a great pick.

Mr. Everdeen is another minor character that I think is very important because of his influence on Katniss. The show biz folks cast Philip Troy Linger, forty-seven, a small-time actor without an much of a resume.

When reading The Hunger Games, I pictured Katniss’s father as thin, gaunt, with sallow cheeks and a worn out smile (think Vladimír Javorsky, only with a longer face and not quite so hideous). Now that I’ve seen how the Lions Gate people pictured him though, I can see that this is a much better fit. After all, Philip Troy Linger looks a lot more like Jennifer Lawrence than my version of Mr. Everdeen. Linger is a great choice, but now that I’m on the same visual page as the movie makers, I think Gerard Butler could have been just as good, and his personality might have meshed more with that of Mr. Everdeen.

Haymitch Abernathy

Haymitch will be portrayed by Woody Harrelson, the forty-nine-year-old veteran actor who has appeared in everything from No Country for Old Men (2007) and Seven Pounds (2008) to Zombieland (2009) and 2012 (2009).

In the days leading up to this casting decision, I thought Brendan Gleeson would be the sure pick. He is exactly how I pictured Haymitch, and being the unimaginative person that I am, I couldn’t conceive of anyone else filling this role. A few other names were thrown out there for the part–Hugh Laurie, Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Bridges, Jack Black (seriously?!), etc. After thinking about it for a while, I could see Laurie or Downey as Haymitch, but Woody Harrelson was a complete surprise. He’s not a bad pick, but I sure wouldn’t have thought of him.

Effie Trinket

The effervescent Effie Trinket will be played by Elizabeth Banks, and I could not be more thrilled with this choice. She’s not exactly how I pictured Effie, but once I saw her, I knew she would be perfect for the role. Another actress who’s name was thrown out there was Kristen Chenoweth. She definitely looks the part, but I think Banks was the best choice. Elizabeth Banks has an impressive list of starring roles on her resume including parts in the Spider-Man franchise, Invincible (2006), Definitely, Maybe (2008), and W. (2008).

Cinna

Katniss’s soulful stylist will be played by Lenny Kravitz, forty-seven, a musician whose breakout role was in the hit movie Precious (2009).

I’m really happy that Kravitz landed this role. He is exactly how I pictured Cinna and I can’t imagine anyone better for the part. Other names that have been considered by fans are Christian Siriano, Hugh Dancy, and Adam Lambert, all of which are ridiculous choices in my opinion.

Portia & Octavia

The decaled duo that transform Katniss into The Girl on Fire under Cinna’s guidance will be played by Latarsha Rose and Brooke Bundy, respectively.

I love both these choices. Rose in particular is exactly how I pictured Portia and I think Bundy will be a perfect fit as well.

President Snow

Donald Sutherland, the legendary Canadian actor who has been active in film and television since 1962, will be playing the villainous President Snow. Some fans suggested either Jon Voight or Paul Bettany. I personally think Bettany is too young, and Voight is too grandfatherly for an evil tyrant. I pictured Snow as being uglier and kind of disgusting to look at, but with the help of a little makeup, I think Sutherland will be the perfect fit. He definitely looks creepy enough!

Thresh & Rue

Thresh, District 11′s massive killing machine, will be played by Dayo Orkeniyi, a Nigerian actor for whom this will be a huge breakout role. I pictured Thresh as being Asian, but after seeing Orkeniyi’s picture, I instantly warmed to the idea of him in this role. Some wanted either Robbie Jones or Michael B. Jordan to play Thresh, but I don’t think either of them have the right look. Orkeniyi really is a perfect fit.

Rue, one of my favorite characters in The Hunger Games, will be portrayed by Amandla Stenberg, one of the most adorable twelve-year-olds ever to be on screen. I pictured Rue very differently, but this is another case where once I saw Stenberg’s picture she instantly replaced the image I had of the character in my mind before. There were quite a few names thrown out there for this part, including Willow Smith, Madison Pettis, Jodelle Ferland, Ciara Bravo, and Ariel Winter. None of them hold a candle to Stenberg though, and I’m very excited to see her in this role.

Cato, Foxface, & Glimmer

Cato will be played by Alexander Ludwig, the nineteen-year-old actor who starred in The Seeker: The Dark is Rising (2007) and Race to Witch Mountain (2009). He closely resembles the Cato I pictured while reading the book, except for the fact that he’s skinny as a twig. He’ll have to bulk up quite a bit to fit the role in my opinion.

Foxface will be played by Jacqueline Emerson, who has virtually no acting experience to speak of. She is nothing like the Foxface I pictured, but I thinks she’ll be fine for the role.

Leven Rambin, twenty-one, will be portraying Glimmer. She looks the part perfectly, so I’m very happy about this casting decision.

Claudius Templesmith & Seneca Crane

The famed announcer of the Hunger Games will be played by Toby Jones. I never really had a picture in my head of what Templesmith looked like, but I think Jones is a great choice for the part. After all, in a movie filled with strange looking Capitol citizens and dystopian tyrants, it was kind of inevitable that Jones would get one part or another.

Seneca Crane, the Head Gamemaker who made the fatal mistake of letting Katniss and Peeta live during the 74th Hunger Games, will be portrayed by Wes Bentley, who has had supporting roles in a number of films over the last fifteen years. I pictured Crane as being quite old, so this choice came as a bit of a surprise to me, but I’m fine with it and I think Bentley will fit the part nicely.

Caesar Flickerman

The bubbly and almost-likable Hunger Games interviewer will be played by Stanley Tucci, who has appeared in movies like The Devil Wears Prada (2006), Julie & Julia (2009), and The Lovely Bones (2009). I know him best from his guest star role on Monk, where he played an actor who portrayed the great detective on a television show. I definitely pictured Flickerman differently–more square-jawed and with hair–but I think Tucci has the right personality for the role and he’ll do a great job.

Avox Girl

The avox girl who serves Katniss and Peeta in the Capitol will be portrayed by Amber Chaney. I pictured the Avox girl a little younger and with more delicate features. I think that Deborah Ann Woll would have been a great choice, but Chaney isn’t too bad.