"I WANT TO BE AN INTELLECTUAL WHEN I GROW UP"

We had a discussion in BOOK CLUB the other day about how to rate the book we read. Do we rate it based on literary excellence or pure enjoyment?  I vote for pure enjoyment, based on the ratings used by GOODREADS.com, because you might REALLY enjoy a silly book or an emotional book or a trite book because it might be just the thing you need at the time. A book doesn't have to be WELL-WRITTEN for it to be a good/fun/captivating read. Although I must admit, the more I read, the more I want to be in love with the way the words are all put together on that page. THAT grabs me.

OK, let me stop here to give you the GOODREADS ratings in case you aren't familiar with them.  

• 5 - It was AMAZING
• 4 - REALLY liked it
• 3 - LIKED it
• 2 - It was OK
• 1 - Did NOT like it

Naturally, it's not always easy to rate the book so definitively, so we always seem to have a 3.5 or 3.75 in the group....... you know what I mean?

Anyway, back to "I WANT TO BE AN INTELLECTUAL WHEN  I GROW UP". I made this statement in that same BOOK CLUB meeting. I really do want to be an INTELLECTUAL.  In some ways I feel that I am moving toward it, but in other ways, I certainly fall short. For instance, on TV I love to watch SISTER WIVES, THE BACHELOR, THE LITTLE COUPLE, COUNTING ON etc. What's up with that?! People always shake their head when I admit this, but to me, it's a study in human nature. And it's relaxing and I smile and I laugh. And so does CLOVER!!! sometimes........ 

Side note - I DO NOT watch THE KARDASHIANS!! Heaven help me.

A DOCUMENTARY or a HISTORICAL SERIES such as POLDARK, OUTLANDER, DOWNTON ABBEY, and VICTORIA keeps me riveted to the TV. And how about shows with INTRIGUE such as 24, BILLIONS, and TRUE DETECTIVE?? LOVE THEM.

I digress..... but perhaps you can see how becoming an "INTELLECTUAL" is in my sights. I am truly attracted to shows and books and discussions that stretch the mind - thus one of the reasons I enjoy a good BOOK CLUB group.

Life is a work in progress and figuring out what it is that will help me to become my BEST SELF is such FUN and REWARDING and STIMULATING.

How about you? What would make YOU your BEST SELF? Have you figured that out already?

JOAN