Humm so I really shouldn't write this. This blog is for me right? As much as I wish people would see this... but anyways.
I feel like writing, and sometimes I really don't, and that's when I write my shitty posts. But I should savor the mood while it's here right?
I've written little stories. Well, first chapters of big ones. I wish I was home now so I could add to one, but there you go, I'm here, so you're stuck with this odd post that doesn't belong and breaks my rules. You know, I can't storyboard. I like writing with purpose, but I can never stick to a story board, especially when I'm writing scripts for school projects (movies and such). I always get better ideas as I write, which is why it's so fun. It's a spontaneous thing. But I also can't write without a prompt. That's why I wanted to be a journalist. I could write about anything, I just love to write, and I love my "writing style" as my English teacher calls it. Well, to be honest, I don't really like my writing style, but I like writing in it. Reading it just sounds too immature. You know when you read a fiction book and it's just immature and dumbly written, and it just sounds wrong? Well, someone published it, which means someone finds it good. And it's not like how I write in my blog posts, this is a totally different word vomit style that sucks ass, but it just feels good to write.
So I also like editing people's papers, and changing them so they aren't immature (I'm not even sure if that's the write word) sounding. I like changing them INTO my writing style, which is wrong and ruins the "integrity" of their writing or whatever shit, but I enjoy it. That's why I wanted to be an editor, but I'd be the worst editor ever. I don't mind writing long paragraphs and defending the changes I make into the way I want it to be, but they aren't entirely comprehensible. It's just the way I want it in my own head, not the way anyone else might like it, so yeah.
This is the only form of creativity I really have, is changing things already started into my own. It's the only part of me that reassures me that I'm not just a robot, an terrible, automaton academic who has not a single original thought in her mind. That's why I love to write, why I'd want to make a career of it. But like all artists, my mood to create this comes and goes, and most often goes. And nothing good comes out if it's gone. I can edit most times, sure, I'm in that mood usually unless I'm exhausted, and even then sometimes, but I'm hardly ever in the mood to write my own writing instead of just changing something that isn't mine.
So yeah, that's why a career in an English related business wouldn't be good for me, why I've racked my brains again and again... I love this writing, it's the only passion I have, but it's not solid, and it's not legitimate. Which is why I turn to math and science, which seem to have dead ended for me. I find them kind of interesting I guess, but nothing passionate, and I'm nothing special in them, no matter what anyone thinks. My future. Can anyone find somewhere I can go with it? I can't fix myself, I want to be true to myself and my passion, but it's not productive, it's not legitimate.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Beautiful Creatures
So I saw the movie trailer for this and was like... this looks silly. Then they were like "based off the book" and I was like yay!! Because it was really awesome, exactly my type you know.
I pictured her like Emily the Strange, she was so... awesomesauce. Just by being her coolness. He was cool too! He was so sweet and loyal and loving and it was such a good story, because the characters were so awesome. And Macon and Amma were perfect caregiving characters too. I loved how it wasn't as weird as some stories with odd explanations. I don't like reading straight explanations, I like this type of explanation, where the story explains it, and you get to be the main character's eyes too.
It was literally the perfect book for me pretty much. Definitely recommended.
But also, I find it weird that these are really the first two books I've read about modern Confederate states (I mean, former Confederate) and the traces the Civil War left on them, and these books were right next to each other. The social dynamic (big words, don't know meanings, just context kinda sorta) between the gossiping women in the DAR and such is really interesting. And we were learning about Reconstruction in class, which is why that aspect of The Noah Confessions caught my eye.
So yup, coincidence, and awesome awesome book :D
I pictured her like Emily the Strange, she was so... awesomesauce. Just by being her coolness. He was cool too! He was so sweet and loyal and loving and it was such a good story, because the characters were so awesome. And Macon and Amma were perfect caregiving characters too. I loved how it wasn't as weird as some stories with odd explanations. I don't like reading straight explanations, I like this type of explanation, where the story explains it, and you get to be the main character's eyes too.
It was literally the perfect book for me pretty much. Definitely recommended.
But also, I find it weird that these are really the first two books I've read about modern Confederate states (I mean, former Confederate) and the traces the Civil War left on them, and these books were right next to each other. The social dynamic (big words, don't know meanings, just context kinda sorta) between the gossiping women in the DAR and such is really interesting. And we were learning about Reconstruction in class, which is why that aspect of The Noah Confessions caught my eye.
So yup, coincidence, and awesome awesome book :D
Sunday, December 23, 2012
The Noah Confessions
Not quite sure how I feel about this one. I only really liked her parent's stories, but this one also blurred the line between parent and kid, particularly because I could hardly keep either straight. Whose mother we were talking about and whose daughter and whose grandmother all kinda got confused to me, so um yeah. And there were a lot of them. But that's just cause I'm silly and scatterbrained and I try to think about too many books/life all at once! Which I can't do, I'm surprisingly un-womanlymultitasking about that kinda thing. So I digress. But I only really liked her parents' part because her writing style sounded really immature to me. I mean, I get that (I'mahypocrite) she was supposed to be immature in the beginning, but the whole time I felt like her parents just sounded much nicer and cool and likeable than her. And she kinda lorded over than them like she was "taking care" of her dad. So yeah anyway, it was good though :) Hard to put down (in the parental parts ;) )
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Jumping Off Swings
I almost forgot to post this one!!
So I read this about... a week ago exactly xD (Instead of doing homework you know). This is one of those books that confirms my (sometimes) belief that people just suck.
Here's my problem. Everyone in this book had a quality that made me utterly hate them. It wasn't trivial things like smoking and drinking. Ellie, I was going to like her but she ended up being like "I sleep around to find someone who cares about me." I started to love Corinne because she put up with that, but I couldn't see why she didn't get super angry. I mean, I loved her for not, but I sympathized with the part of her that was exasperated. I think part of my problem is a "I need to get laid" type of thing. I feel like you can't let someone do that to you after one night, or just a little while. I don't trust myself to let it happen... especially because I'm just a kid, and there are people like her who just get hurt. Even though it's hard for me to imagine preventing it if Chris asked. Okay, maybe I'm a huge hypocrite. But I felt like she totally just threw herself away and was leeching off Corrine.
So then Corrine. I started to like her, but she got so defensive of Ellie and kinda fucked Caleb over. Like she had trust in him at the beginning, but then she just let all that go because Ellie got upset over something small, and wouldn't believe him pretty much because he was a boy. That's also the reason I didn't like Liz, she also kinda fucked over Caleb, her own son, for these two girls. Like, they all hated him because he was a boy.
I kinda got that at the beginning, because Josh... Well, he's okay, but he never really let out his side of the story. He was sort of a happy ending waiting to happen that never happened. He could've jumped in at the hospital, or at the beginning and helped her out with the abortion. She needed to give him another chance, yes, but I still feel like he just never made it and really should've anyway. I liked him before that though.
So Caleb. At first I was kind of like meh about him, he had this amazing mom (who I kinda was against later) and didn't really appreciate it, plus he liked the wrong girl. But I feel like he cared for her like Corrine and no one acknowledged him for it. He didn't have any qualities that I could hate... And he was really sweet and supposedly really cute. Everyone just hated him though because they grouped him with all the assholes, because all the boys in the book were assholes. But it was the same thing with the girls, they were all gossiping bitches. Like, there were NO nice outsiders.
Maybe the point was that everyone has issues, but there are always reasons behind them. No one is thoroughly likeable, so you can't get too specific and only like the nice ones? Or the ones you think are nice? That people make mistakes and deserve second chances... but not to the point like Ellie.
The other thing I liked his how parents and kids were blurred. Like the story of all the parents was there. And then Ellie was kinda a parent. So it was kinda like... parents aren't perfect either.
Anyway, I could go on forever, and I gotta nap. Seeya.
So I read this about... a week ago exactly xD (Instead of doing homework you know). This is one of those books that confirms my (sometimes) belief that people just suck.
Here's my problem. Everyone in this book had a quality that made me utterly hate them. It wasn't trivial things like smoking and drinking. Ellie, I was going to like her but she ended up being like "I sleep around to find someone who cares about me." I started to love Corinne because she put up with that, but I couldn't see why she didn't get super angry. I mean, I loved her for not, but I sympathized with the part of her that was exasperated. I think part of my problem is a "I need to get laid" type of thing. I feel like you can't let someone do that to you after one night, or just a little while. I don't trust myself to let it happen... especially because I'm just a kid, and there are people like her who just get hurt. Even though it's hard for me to imagine preventing it if Chris asked. Okay, maybe I'm a huge hypocrite. But I felt like she totally just threw herself away and was leeching off Corrine.
So then Corrine. I started to like her, but she got so defensive of Ellie and kinda fucked Caleb over. Like she had trust in him at the beginning, but then she just let all that go because Ellie got upset over something small, and wouldn't believe him pretty much because he was a boy. That's also the reason I didn't like Liz, she also kinda fucked over Caleb, her own son, for these two girls. Like, they all hated him because he was a boy.
I kinda got that at the beginning, because Josh... Well, he's okay, but he never really let out his side of the story. He was sort of a happy ending waiting to happen that never happened. He could've jumped in at the hospital, or at the beginning and helped her out with the abortion. She needed to give him another chance, yes, but I still feel like he just never made it and really should've anyway. I liked him before that though.
So Caleb. At first I was kind of like meh about him, he had this amazing mom (who I kinda was against later) and didn't really appreciate it, plus he liked the wrong girl. But I feel like he cared for her like Corrine and no one acknowledged him for it. He didn't have any qualities that I could hate... And he was really sweet and supposedly really cute. Everyone just hated him though because they grouped him with all the assholes, because all the boys in the book were assholes. But it was the same thing with the girls, they were all gossiping bitches. Like, there were NO nice outsiders.
Maybe the point was that everyone has issues, but there are always reasons behind them. No one is thoroughly likeable, so you can't get too specific and only like the nice ones? Or the ones you think are nice? That people make mistakes and deserve second chances... but not to the point like Ellie.
The other thing I liked his how parents and kids were blurred. Like the story of all the parents was there. And then Ellie was kinda a parent. So it was kinda like... parents aren't perfect either.
Anyway, I could go on forever, and I gotta nap. Seeya.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Wintergirls and A Crack in the Line: Long Distance Memorability
Both good. Loved em. Longer post later. After the icky yucky holiday is gone.
Oh um okay it's been a while. Happy new year first of all.
So, I remember both of these quite well. A Crack in the Line was wonderful, and it felt like an idea I'd come up with before, so it kept bugging me that it wasn't exactly how I pictured the world. The ending was good, though I wish they'd had a better explanation for Aldous.
Wintergirls was intense. I read it little bit by little bit, and I didn't have trouble remembering it from time to time as I often do. And I always ended up feeling like her during trig instead of feeling like me. That's how much this book sucked me in, or how addicting it was, as I usually call it. I felt like I wished I was her sometimes, I envied her ability to become skinny and self deprecation and stuff, things I never have had the courage to do. I realize that I'm stupid for feeling bad about being unable to hurt myself, yet that's how it feels. Anyway, this blog isn't about me. Or maybe it is, but it's not a place to learn about me so straightforward.
The long period I've gone through without finishing this has made me realize how memorable these are. Normally, I can't even remember the main character's names after a month, as I think that's how long it's been. I think the place and pace that you read books at really determines their memorablity. Wintergirls for example, I can remember so many times that I felt like her after reading a section at lunch that I can hardly just forget that feeling. And I think it also influenced me to start knitting again (that bag I still haven't fixed, which led to Chris's Christmas scarf when my dad was out of town) and even eventually try to learn how to crochet. If I take the care to wait out a book, read it slowly, not even thoughtfully, I remember it better, unlike super addicting ones (which these were, but a different category) that I can read in a night even though they're 500 pages long *coughDivergentcough* (speaking of, I can't figure out what I did about Insurgent, I could have sworn I wrote a post about it, or I at least thought out one. My favorite character was the one who fell off the ladder because there wasn't ever a negative part about him, unlike the others). But they have to be really good and it has to be the right place for me to tolerate such things. I still haven't found another book I can really read in the library. Which is awful because I love sitting in the fiction section during lunch. It's quiet but not too quiet, comfortable, hide-out-private, sometimes you can over hear things... pretty perfect for reading. I really should work on befriending the librarian.
Anyway that's all. Happy New Year!
Oh um okay it's been a while. Happy new year first of all.
So, I remember both of these quite well. A Crack in the Line was wonderful, and it felt like an idea I'd come up with before, so it kept bugging me that it wasn't exactly how I pictured the world. The ending was good, though I wish they'd had a better explanation for Aldous.
Wintergirls was intense. I read it little bit by little bit, and I didn't have trouble remembering it from time to time as I often do. And I always ended up feeling like her during trig instead of feeling like me. That's how much this book sucked me in, or how addicting it was, as I usually call it. I felt like I wished I was her sometimes, I envied her ability to become skinny and self deprecation and stuff, things I never have had the courage to do. I realize that I'm stupid for feeling bad about being unable to hurt myself, yet that's how it feels. Anyway, this blog isn't about me. Or maybe it is, but it's not a place to learn about me so straightforward.
The long period I've gone through without finishing this has made me realize how memorable these are. Normally, I can't even remember the main character's names after a month, as I think that's how long it's been. I think the place and pace that you read books at really determines their memorablity. Wintergirls for example, I can remember so many times that I felt like her after reading a section at lunch that I can hardly just forget that feeling. And I think it also influenced me to start knitting again (that bag I still haven't fixed, which led to Chris's Christmas scarf when my dad was out of town) and even eventually try to learn how to crochet. If I take the care to wait out a book, read it slowly, not even thoughtfully, I remember it better, unlike super addicting ones (which these were, but a different category) that I can read in a night even though they're 500 pages long *coughDivergentcough* (speaking of, I can't figure out what I did about Insurgent, I could have sworn I wrote a post about it, or I at least thought out one. My favorite character was the one who fell off the ladder because there wasn't ever a negative part about him, unlike the others). But they have to be really good and it has to be the right place for me to tolerate such things. I still haven't found another book I can really read in the library. Which is awful because I love sitting in the fiction section during lunch. It's quiet but not too quiet, comfortable, hide-out-private, sometimes you can over hear things... pretty perfect for reading. I really should work on befriending the librarian.
Anyway that's all. Happy New Year!
Sunday, October 14, 2012
The Mark of Athena
So, this book was really good. The only part I disliked was the number of little encounters and battles because it's really hard to keep track, especially of their goals. All of the battles were important, yes, but there were just too many details. Of course, that might not be a bad thing... I'm just gonna have to reread the whole series for the next one... heh.
SPOILER
Lizard says the ending is really suspenseful, but I disagree. Usually suspenseful endings kind of cut the climax out of the book, but this one really didn't. I loved the end, and I'm excited for the next one (TARTARUS??? I still don't see how they could survive, unless they found someone down there that they know. But who would that be? Daeldus or whatever his name was from the Labrynth?) I love how after all these books, it returns to the first, and how he was so afraid of falling into Tartarus, and now he IS in Tartarus, and it's so cool.
END OF SPOILER
I think my favorite battle, or the most memorable at least, is where they give themselves up to the water spirits in the silo(? That's what I thought it was, but I'm really unsure). That was so awesome, and I really love Piper now.
KK Seeya
SPOILER
Lizard says the ending is really suspenseful, but I disagree. Usually suspenseful endings kind of cut the climax out of the book, but this one really didn't. I loved the end, and I'm excited for the next one (TARTARUS??? I still don't see how they could survive, unless they found someone down there that they know. But who would that be? Daeldus or whatever his name was from the Labrynth?) I love how after all these books, it returns to the first, and how he was so afraid of falling into Tartarus, and now he IS in Tartarus, and it's so cool.
END OF SPOILER
I think my favorite battle, or the most memorable at least, is where they give themselves up to the water spirits in the silo(? That's what I thought it was, but I'm really unsure). That was so awesome, and I really love Piper now.
KK Seeya
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
I Was a Teenage Fairy
Wow! This was really fast and addicting. I felt like I missed parts, like all addicting books lately (concentration issues....) The contrast between the first half and second half was INSANE. I had no clue that guy was molesting the kids until they came right out and said it. And I'm glad Griffin didn't kill himself. I thought she was better suited for him, I never really liked Todd once he was all 'I make girl's lives better, I heal them, so I should get as many as I can and love them all.' I didn't get why, if he believed that, he still felt bad about the tattoos? Like he said he regretted them? And the fuck was with Ashley? Anyway, very odd. Colorful.
I loved the symbolism for love and sex and youth but not youth in Mab. She was awesome. I want to be Mab...
That's all for now. Definitely a good short read. I hate how I feel like I'll forget these books, like it's not even worth reading them. But it is... right? I forget so fast...
I loved the symbolism for love and sex and youth but not youth in Mab. She was awesome. I want to be Mab...
That's all for now. Definitely a good short read. I hate how I feel like I'll forget these books, like it's not even worth reading them. But it is... right? I forget so fast...
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Notes from the Blender
This book was so sweet! I L-O-V-E-D Dec, and Neilly wasn't too bitchy (well, a little bit). Anyway, Dec's character was fun and sweet and edgy, and he really needed a girlfriend, and his sense of humor was so awesome, even thought I wasn't really a fan of the metal.
Their friendship is so sweet and even though I think she shoulda dated him... (Come on! He had like no romance.).
Okay, I just woke up, but if I think of anything else I'll let y'all know. ^.^ Great read! Fast too.
Their friendship is so sweet and even though I think she shoulda dated him... (Come on! He had like no romance.).
Okay, I just woke up, but if I think of anything else I'll let y'all know. ^.^ Great read! Fast too.
Monday, September 24, 2012
The Help
This book was really good! The beginning was a bit slow, but it was almost peaceful and relaxing in a way, which I normally HATE in books (my dad loves though. It was his reasoning behind liking the guy who wrote Of Mice and Men.), but it was also intriguing. Maybe I love lady gossip? Frightening thought.
Anyways! I loved the element of mystery in Minny's life with Celia (and the result!), and I want Skeeter's life. Even though it was sad. And Aibileen and Mae Mobley (MAY MOE!) were the most endearing ever. And Miss Hilly, and the way they talked, and I love these girls!
Anyway, can't wait to see the movie. I guess that's all I really wanted to say. Definitely recommended!!
Anyways! I loved the element of mystery in Minny's life with Celia (and the result!), and I want Skeeter's life. Even though it was sad. And Aibileen and Mae Mobley (MAY MOE!) were the most endearing ever. And Miss Hilly, and the way they talked, and I love these girls!
Anyway, can't wait to see the movie. I guess that's all I really wanted to say. Definitely recommended!!
Saturday, September 22, 2012
My Reading List
No book here, just a list of books I have to keep straight.
UPDATED 11/25
The Help
Notes From the Blender (gotta go back to Niles by the 29)
Lost Hero (optional)
Son of Neptune (Mark of Athena comes out 10/2)
Divergent
Insurgent (on its way)
Wintergirls (next enriched by books, must be unfinished)
Inside Out (been out for a looong time)
City of Bones
Timeless (by December)
Beautiful Creatures
Yeah... I hope I can finish.
Oh and that Warm Bodies movie looks good... if really cheesy.... hehehe
I can't believe it's almost December!
Oh hell i haven't written about like any of these... Insurgent... I thought I did? Hmm... It's too hard to remember now really... Sorry, guys. It was really good though :) Kinda desperate for the third...
UPDATED 11/25
Inside Out (been out for a looong time)
City of Bones
Timeless (by December)
Beautiful Creatures
Yeah... I hope I can finish.
Oh and that Warm Bodies movie looks good... if really cheesy.... hehehe
I can't believe it's almost December!
Oh hell i haven't written about like any of these... Insurgent... I thought I did? Hmm... It's too hard to remember now really... Sorry, guys. It was really good though :) Kinda desperate for the third...
Friday, September 14, 2012
The Ask and The Answer
I'd better start writing quotes:
"The only crime, the only crime is to take a life. There is nothing else" (215)
"Yer the only friend I got, pigpiss. Ain't that the biggest tragedy you ever heard?" (364)
These are the ones that ring with me, even though I could have used ones more essential to the meaning of the story (the obvious "we are the choices we make. And have to make. We aren't anything else" (377) just doesn't sound as perfect to me.)
Okay, and the title itself. I literally thought that phrase like 5 times without THINKING of the title, then I'd turn the book to the cover and be like WHOA. I don't know why these things just click to me.
Anyway. I really like how it leaves romanticness to the last book, or even leaves it out entirely (not sure yet!). It's really sweet how innocent their love is. And I love love love how Todd just dies inside for parts of it. These books... they just click with me. Just all of it (except the endings). This ending was better, though I'm not entirely sure why he let out Mayor Prentiss. What was he going to do to stop the Spackle? I wish they'd turned out to be his friends. I guess this lends itself to the unexpected though...
I hate the manipulation, but I also kind of love how cleverly both leaders were corrupt in their own ways, yet they were so similar. I also love/hate how the two of them are all alone with no one else to really trust, except unhelpful people like Davy and Lee(? the boy who likes Viola).
OH! and did I mention I LOVED the Professor Layton, this town has a ghostly secret factor in the first book!!!
That's all I remember I think... I'm certain there's more I could say, but nothing I feel like writing now. Maybe later ;)
"The only crime, the only crime is to take a life. There is nothing else" (215)
"Yer the only friend I got, pigpiss. Ain't that the biggest tragedy you ever heard?" (364)
These are the ones that ring with me, even though I could have used ones more essential to the meaning of the story (the obvious "we are the choices we make. And have to make. We aren't anything else" (377) just doesn't sound as perfect to me.)
Okay, and the title itself. I literally thought that phrase like 5 times without THINKING of the title, then I'd turn the book to the cover and be like WHOA. I don't know why these things just click to me.
Anyway. I really like how it leaves romanticness to the last book, or even leaves it out entirely (not sure yet!). It's really sweet how innocent their love is. And I love love love how Todd just dies inside for parts of it. These books... they just click with me. Just all of it (except the endings). This ending was better, though I'm not entirely sure why he let out Mayor Prentiss. What was he going to do to stop the Spackle? I wish they'd turned out to be his friends. I guess this lends itself to the unexpected though...
I hate the manipulation, but I also kind of love how cleverly both leaders were corrupt in their own ways, yet they were so similar. I also love/hate how the two of them are all alone with no one else to really trust, except unhelpful people like Davy and Lee(? the boy who likes Viola).
OH! and did I mention I LOVED the Professor Layton, this town has a ghostly secret factor in the first book!!!
That's all I remember I think... I'm certain there's more I could say, but nothing I feel like writing now. Maybe later ;)
Friday, September 7, 2012
The Knife of Never Letting Go
Ok, not sure where to start (as usual), so I guess I'll just section it off.
1: The Ending Need I say SPOILER?
So, I've noticed I've been getting less and less happy with endings? See, when I read a book, I've expected there to be a happy ending. Instead of asking myself, will the ending be happy? I ask, how will they complete this mission or live with themselves not completing it. I think authors have found the same problem, so they've been ending them unhappily, which really leaves them incomplete. It's basically a selling point for the sequel. This one, is just like that. I mean, they leave it so you don't even know whether she DIES or not or what New Haven IS. How could you ever read this by itself and be like, ok, I can live with this ending. Some endings end unsatisfactorily and it's good, I understand, you can't answer everything. But this book basically leaves nothing answered except the secret of Prentisstown. I would have been able to live with it if they had ended it after they killed Aaron. Alright, maybe they reach the town, maybe they don't but mission accomplished. But he completely SELLS OUT when he just is like, oh she gets shot, surprise, I'm not telling if she lives. Like what the hell? The best way to tell if a book will end this way is if there's a big "END OF BOOK ONE" or "CONTINUES IN BOOK TWO: THE BLABLA OF BLABLA". Honestly. Finish a book. End it. THEN write another. Don't start the second book at the end of the first. It would have been genius if that was the first chapter of the second book, even if he had put it in the first as a preview, but it just doesn't fit in this book.
2: Epic Quotes
Alright, that's all I really didn't like about this book (besides the spelling, but that was a minor peeve, and we'll get to it later. Er, I'll get to it later. Unless someone reads this. (Think I should show it to Chris? I think not.) So, epic quotes. This book was full of the most emotional life lessons that made sense and made my life feel all.... It made me want to go post it all on Facebook (which I should have, because even now, I know I've forgotten some). I guess the most memorable one is where Ben leaves and he's screaming about how life isn't worth it. It isn't. That's the only conclusion I can really come to. You live because you find it fun, and when that ends.... why not die? (Heads up for Wintergirls. I will add to this point.) But in his case, I liked it. It was very Harry Potter ish because he had to live because of a sacrifice some loving family member made (Yes, I know Ben isn't his kin. Shut up, he was more than close enough.), which I really kind of admire and like. It's a good reason to live. The other one I remember (Notice how these are near the end? I have an awful memory.) is where they're sitting on the cliff, looking out, and they're knowing each other (or something of the sort). That was beautifully done, I loved the innocent lack of sexual romance (kissing, folks, I mean kissing) because it drove the beauty in innocence/naiveté point home. I really wish that could happen to me. So, I'm REALLY impressed with his epicness factor, especially since he was writing with simple spelling and such, which I think would be really hindering in epicness.
3: Screaminess
AAITE!!!!! Here we go!!! This book was so ACTION PACKED and GRUESOME and WOW... I would literally have been screaming if I was allowed. As it happened, my mouth was wide and I was silently "screaming" into my hand during these gruesome, sad, actionful... JUST ALL OF THE WOW PARTS!!!! This was a great great heart stopping thriller, and it was so cool OMFG.
That's all I guess. Maybe I'll add more about spelling but the "Screaminess" section really set my heart beating too fast :D Wow. Definitely worth the read folks. It made cheap into epic and meaningful.
1: The Ending Need I say SPOILER?
So, I've noticed I've been getting less and less happy with endings? See, when I read a book, I've expected there to be a happy ending. Instead of asking myself, will the ending be happy? I ask, how will they complete this mission or live with themselves not completing it. I think authors have found the same problem, so they've been ending them unhappily, which really leaves them incomplete. It's basically a selling point for the sequel. This one, is just like that. I mean, they leave it so you don't even know whether she DIES or not or what New Haven IS. How could you ever read this by itself and be like, ok, I can live with this ending. Some endings end unsatisfactorily and it's good, I understand, you can't answer everything. But this book basically leaves nothing answered except the secret of Prentisstown. I would have been able to live with it if they had ended it after they killed Aaron. Alright, maybe they reach the town, maybe they don't but mission accomplished. But he completely SELLS OUT when he just is like, oh she gets shot, surprise, I'm not telling if she lives. Like what the hell? The best way to tell if a book will end this way is if there's a big "END OF BOOK ONE" or "CONTINUES IN BOOK TWO: THE BLABLA OF BLABLA". Honestly. Finish a book. End it. THEN write another. Don't start the second book at the end of the first. It would have been genius if that was the first chapter of the second book, even if he had put it in the first as a preview, but it just doesn't fit in this book.
2: Epic Quotes
Alright, that's all I really didn't like about this book (besides the spelling, but that was a minor peeve, and we'll get to it later. Er, I'll get to it later. Unless someone reads this. (Think I should show it to Chris? I think not.) So, epic quotes. This book was full of the most emotional life lessons that made sense and made my life feel all.... It made me want to go post it all on Facebook (which I should have, because even now, I know I've forgotten some). I guess the most memorable one is where Ben leaves and he's screaming about how life isn't worth it. It isn't. That's the only conclusion I can really come to. You live because you find it fun, and when that ends.... why not die? (Heads up for Wintergirls. I will add to this point.) But in his case, I liked it. It was very Harry Potter ish because he had to live because of a sacrifice some loving family member made (Yes, I know Ben isn't his kin. Shut up, he was more than close enough.), which I really kind of admire and like. It's a good reason to live. The other one I remember (Notice how these are near the end? I have an awful memory.) is where they're sitting on the cliff, looking out, and they're knowing each other (or something of the sort). That was beautifully done, I loved the innocent lack of sexual romance (kissing, folks, I mean kissing) because it drove the beauty in innocence/naiveté point home. I really wish that could happen to me. So, I'm REALLY impressed with his epicness factor, especially since he was writing with simple spelling and such, which I think would be really hindering in epicness.
3: Screaminess
AAITE!!!!! Here we go!!! This book was so ACTION PACKED and GRUESOME and WOW... I would literally have been screaming if I was allowed. As it happened, my mouth was wide and I was silently "screaming" into my hand during these gruesome, sad, actionful... JUST ALL OF THE WOW PARTS!!!! This was a great great heart stopping thriller, and it was so cool OMFG.
That's all I guess. Maybe I'll add more about spelling but the "Screaminess" section really set my heart beating too fast :D Wow. Definitely worth the read folks. It made cheap into epic and meaningful.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Nevermore
It's better to die for what's right, than live because you can.
That's what I think the moral of Nevermore was. Well all of Max Ride. The ending was heart-stoppingly epic, but I hate how he cheated it by writing an ending where she died, that was epic and I could live with (not amazing, just epic and a decent ending), then fucking writing ANOTHER ending in which they all live and are somehow alright? I mean come on, that's doing something epic, but in a way that anyone can do it. It's just... arrggggg noooo. And it was pointless that they lived too because come on, if they had gone to the tunnels, the outcome would have been the same. They would have LIVED just because they were SPECIAL. The point was even if you're special, it's not right to use that when no one else can. "I'm not going to apologize for surviving." I'm not sure I even understand what that message really means, but it seems so contradicting.
And what about that stupid virus? How did that fit in to the big bomb? Like what the hell? Ok, the virus wasn't stupid, the virus was genius because it was a horrible way for the human race to go extinct out of suicide that made her choice legitimate. And fine, add the bomb too, that made it more dramatic. But at least write some EXPLANATION as to why the BOMB was used and not the VIRUS the ENTIRE BOOK WAS ABOUT.
Did I miss something completely? I'm left thinking I have.
The part I absolutely loved was the twisted love story with Fang and Dylan and how Dylan went crazy and I was nearly crying because of it and o.m.g. That was the masochistic love story I crave. Ok, there's something wrong with me... I don't think I could ever show anyone this blog now xD.
I guess that's a wrap. Sucky ending, good love story, epic message that the second ending ruined. If you're going to let her live, at least explain what happened to the virus part. Sheesh.
-Stella*
PS oh and did I mention SO addicting? Like every other Max Ride story <3
That's what I think the moral of Nevermore was. Well all of Max Ride. The ending was heart-stoppingly epic, but I hate how he cheated it by writing an ending where she died, that was epic and I could live with (not amazing, just epic and a decent ending), then fucking writing ANOTHER ending in which they all live and are somehow alright? I mean come on, that's doing something epic, but in a way that anyone can do it. It's just... arrggggg noooo. And it was pointless that they lived too because come on, if they had gone to the tunnels, the outcome would have been the same. They would have LIVED just because they were SPECIAL. The point was even if you're special, it's not right to use that when no one else can. "I'm not going to apologize for surviving." I'm not sure I even understand what that message really means, but it seems so contradicting.
And what about that stupid virus? How did that fit in to the big bomb? Like what the hell? Ok, the virus wasn't stupid, the virus was genius because it was a horrible way for the human race to go extinct out of suicide that made her choice legitimate. And fine, add the bomb too, that made it more dramatic. But at least write some EXPLANATION as to why the BOMB was used and not the VIRUS the ENTIRE BOOK WAS ABOUT.
Did I miss something completely? I'm left thinking I have.
The part I absolutely loved was the twisted love story with Fang and Dylan and how Dylan went crazy and I was nearly crying because of it and o.m.g. That was the masochistic love story I crave. Ok, there's something wrong with me... I don't think I could ever show anyone this blog now xD.
I guess that's a wrap. Sucky ending, good love story, epic message that the second ending ruined. If you're going to let her live, at least explain what happened to the virus part. Sheesh.
-Stella*
PS oh and did I mention SO addicting? Like every other Max Ride story <3
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Tithe
Hi! Spent a night reading Tithe while in Texas (favorite thing to doooo). It was really good! Kinda too much straight explanation going on, but really good. It was kinda like a faerie version of Twilight. I don't typically like faerie books, they're kinda woodsy and just not my type, but it had the better parts of Twilight in it, so I enjoyed it. I loved Roiben (masochistic love stories... they turn me on... mwahaha), and Corny was kinda like a gay Jacob (aka Jacob minus Edward conflict). It had a good solid, logical ending. Yup, don't feel like saying much more. Maybe later (you know I never do).
PS Oh! And Kaye's a total badass, love her too.
PS Oh! And Kaye's a total badass, love her too.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Founding Brothers
Yup, my APUSH book (AP US History... for whoever reads...). I finished it and the writing thing (still gotta edit edit edit, to be honest, I can't tell if it even makes sense anymore I've reread it so much). So the book. It was pretty interesting, I liked the story and the flow of things, I think it was part of his point that it flowed too. First non fiction book I really haven't minded. During the end I was only thinking of how happy I was to be done. Very skimmy ;)
Friday, August 10, 2012
Looking for Alaska
I read Looking For Alaska today, which was something I'd been meaning to do for a while. It's pretty good I think, I'm not sure if John Green knew from experience or what, but it was really enlightening about smoking and drinking and how people get started in it and how they feel about it. Like, he starts smoking for "no good reason", just to fit in maybe, I don't know. And drinking the same way, just to have fun with his friends and celebrate their prank victory. I liked the personalities of him and the Colonel and Takumi and Alaska and Lara. I wish Alaska would have had more description, because she's a lot like Bella in a sense- he never really describes her. All we know is that she's petite, extremely "hot", and has green eyes. Talk about objectifying women. Ironic. I wonder if that was intentional. Or maybe I ignored the description. Hehe. I tend to do that and make up my own, so I guess it's hypocritical. But everyones always like ohh Bella sucks as a character because she's never really described. I disagree? She mentions her chocolate brown eyes, heart shaped face, brown hair, ivory skin, and I'm pretty sure she's like 5 1' or something... ALL THE TIME... like what the hell? Not such a valid argument.... But yeah. I feel like he did have that purpose in mind though, because otherwise he'd be criticized... a lot... of course I would too for standing up for Twilight. But I digress. Someday I'll write about my take on Twilight if I havent already.
Anyways, I had made it my goal to stay off the internet until I finished this book, which was actually at least like 5 hours of reading... I thought I read like 100 pages in an hour? The words weren't that small.... I must have slowed down goddamn it. I wish I had kept up my reading habit :( Probably ended when my parents went skating unaccompanied by yours truly. But yeah um and boyfriend was upset over sad cancer related things and a tonna youtube videos came up... I feel guilty but proud of myself. I wish I could blame him for not allowing me to internet less because it feels good when I do... but I actually do want to see him. Sigh. And then Scotty and the games. Oh well. I need to figure this out because it really doesn't feel good to be so dependent on the internet or anything else. Being dependent on books is oddly much more liberating... and yet again I digress.
SPOILERS
I had brought up how long it took because after what I thought was the climax, Alaska's death, it got slowwww because they just expressed their depression in SO many ways. I liked the long lengths of time he cut out between "chapters" though because it really kept the book moving. I wish he skipped some of the mourning though, it seemed to go on and on before they started finding stuff out about how she died. I think the real climax is when they "give up" on her and find all there is to be found. She needed to be let go of (sorry, preposition).
END OF SPOILERS
Anyway byeee, I hope I read another book for my own sake? Lack of internet's sake? I HATE the fucking internet :( It helps me so much and yet it feels so awful and wrong. But what can I do? boyfriend.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven
So I guess I just did my summer reading. Of course, I need to read it again and actually take in all the information. I feel like I skimmed it, but one thing about me: I can't skim. Either I get the whole thing or no. So I guess no. I feel like there was some deep meaning I didn't get, because it all seemed like a lot of the same. Either some fall out love story or an Indian getting in trouble with the cops or some childhood thing. Anyways. So yeah, I'm gonna reread that. The way I think I'll do it is read the questions at the end and then try to find a separate, new meaning in each story. I hope it works. I'm kinda scared. But after I read something for fun. I miss my fun books. Maybe Caroline's challenge was more fullfilling than I realized.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Passion: This Is All: The Red Pillow Box
I love Caroline. I really do. And I miss her. But Payton (and I realize I really do need to stop blaming my new school for everything) and the kids there totally changed how I feel about Latin. It's not even that this is what Payton kids think. But to me there seem to be two groups of people at Latin: people who are fake. They fake everything. All emotion, all passion, it's all fake. It makes me think of lawyers or... well adults. They realize there will no doubt in their lives about who they are, no real sadness and harshness and misery, and they are.... content? Yet something about them... I hate it. The other group is shallow. These girls feel... but don't know what it is to feel. It's like Miss America- they want world peace, and cry about the death of loved ones, but it's not... I don't know. I can't even figure out why it's wrong. But it just doesn't feel right when I'm around them. It's the environment at Latin, maybe even the teachers have been desensitized, that I've grown to loathe.
But Caroline. I don't know if she's always been this way, or if I never noticed because I was (and maybe still am) Latin. She's the one I wish I could relate to the most. But she's cool now. And not like cool as in full of herself, but cool as in frigid. Like smooth, cool metal- no blemishes, lots of beauty, but unfeeling. Empty and devoid of warmth. I wish I could see the good in her. She's bright, sweet, funny, but I feel that there's no real inside. Nothing that could really care for me anymore. And sure she'll act like she does, but I can tell. She's hardly better than those boys at Starbucks that ignore me. O I wish I had a friend as close as I thought we were. As I wish we were.
Which brings us to the last thing we could bond over- reading. She proves that reading fast is a blessing, because she reads thoroughly as well. She reads the way people yearn to read- thoroughly, not skipping or tripping over bits of text, yet at a pace that can keep up with the suspense. Unfrustrating. If theres one thing I envy about who she was born to be, minus the gifts her parents could tack on, it's this talent.
I bring all this up because I just got a book. And I was afraid. Afraid it would be a book to me as Eragon was, or any other story I detested because of Caroline's fake love for. I can recognize that now. This obsession that lacks passion- 这让我 revolted. And when I was little, this is what we all envied and strived for. Obsession. We believed it was passion, but in truth it was cold. There was no beauty here. And Latin doesn't condition us away from such things, not infantile- infantality is something all people must go through and it's to be treasured, but imitation pleasure from obsession. There's a distinction between learning and true passion for what you are being educated. We were taught to love educating, learning and all, but we were never taught to truly be passionate about such things. And the "smart" children- they are told they are the best. And this is the closest to feeling Latin kids can get.
Sorry to get off topic, this really irks me and I simply must write it down before I forget. This understanding... or what I believe to be. But anyway, this book was long. Long books were a sure sign of obsession- we wanted to read the longest, most "advanced" books we could lay a hand on, no telling how much they sucked (like ttyl or maybe even the Series of Unfortunate Events, but I do believe I enjoyed that for real). This book looked like it. I'm sure such books can be enjoyable, but even thinking of them for their length is an area I stray far from- and to rid temptation I really haven't read long books in a while. But I tried this one- hesitantly. It surprised me. It's more like four short books, and I've only read the first one. It's purposed (not a word) to be read slowly I think, and to be enjoyed. I identify so much with this girl. Not for her personality, but her life. Her need for awareness and understanding of herself is something I've spent long times searching for in my life (teenagers). But I feel more passionate about this than others do, at least I think so.
And her boyfriend.... can I help but compare Chris to him? Chris, who told me he was mine last night. The way she describes her love in the beginning... I only hope it can go halfway as far with us. The way she felt though, about Shakespeare and cheesiness that no longer seemed disgusting felt good. I can identify with these things, and I feel like more lengthy reading of the story ahead will give me insight of my own life, as much as it scares me. So I will read it slow, one story at a time, unrushed by Caroline's summer reading challenge, in hope it will give me the understanding and consciousness that we both so yearn for. I felt like I would feel regret without Caroline- my best friend for all intents and purposes for 10 youthful, happy years (for I must admit, I knew no better but to I enjoy my youth, because I lacked the reason to detest it, though something underlying might have been present). This letting go of her though.... I feel relief. I'm sorry for ever holding you back, dearest Caroline. I wish you only the best- for what is best for you, I realize, is 100% different for what I need in my life. You find all you need of passion in obsession, and I'm sorry it can't fulfill me anymore, so much I can't even stand it. But I've always loved you.
But Caroline. I don't know if she's always been this way, or if I never noticed because I was (and maybe still am) Latin. She's the one I wish I could relate to the most. But she's cool now. And not like cool as in full of herself, but cool as in frigid. Like smooth, cool metal- no blemishes, lots of beauty, but unfeeling. Empty and devoid of warmth. I wish I could see the good in her. She's bright, sweet, funny, but I feel that there's no real inside. Nothing that could really care for me anymore. And sure she'll act like she does, but I can tell. She's hardly better than those boys at Starbucks that ignore me. O I wish I had a friend as close as I thought we were. As I wish we were.
Which brings us to the last thing we could bond over- reading. She proves that reading fast is a blessing, because she reads thoroughly as well. She reads the way people yearn to read- thoroughly, not skipping or tripping over bits of text, yet at a pace that can keep up with the suspense. Unfrustrating. If theres one thing I envy about who she was born to be, minus the gifts her parents could tack on, it's this talent.
I bring all this up because I just got a book. And I was afraid. Afraid it would be a book to me as Eragon was, or any other story I detested because of Caroline's fake love for. I can recognize that now. This obsession that lacks passion- 这让我 revolted. And when I was little, this is what we all envied and strived for. Obsession. We believed it was passion, but in truth it was cold. There was no beauty here. And Latin doesn't condition us away from such things, not infantile- infantality is something all people must go through and it's to be treasured, but imitation pleasure from obsession. There's a distinction between learning and true passion for what you are being educated. We were taught to love educating, learning and all, but we were never taught to truly be passionate about such things. And the "smart" children- they are told they are the best. And this is the closest to feeling Latin kids can get.
Sorry to get off topic, this really irks me and I simply must write it down before I forget. This understanding... or what I believe to be. But anyway, this book was long. Long books were a sure sign of obsession- we wanted to read the longest, most "advanced" books we could lay a hand on, no telling how much they sucked (like ttyl or maybe even the Series of Unfortunate Events, but I do believe I enjoyed that for real). This book looked like it. I'm sure such books can be enjoyable, but even thinking of them for their length is an area I stray far from- and to rid temptation I really haven't read long books in a while. But I tried this one- hesitantly. It surprised me. It's more like four short books, and I've only read the first one. It's purposed (not a word) to be read slowly I think, and to be enjoyed. I identify so much with this girl. Not for her personality, but her life. Her need for awareness and understanding of herself is something I've spent long times searching for in my life (teenagers). But I feel more passionate about this than others do, at least I think so.
And her boyfriend.... can I help but compare Chris to him? Chris, who told me he was mine last night. The way she describes her love in the beginning... I only hope it can go halfway as far with us. The way she felt though, about Shakespeare and cheesiness that no longer seemed disgusting felt good. I can identify with these things, and I feel like more lengthy reading of the story ahead will give me insight of my own life, as much as it scares me. So I will read it slow, one story at a time, unrushed by Caroline's summer reading challenge, in hope it will give me the understanding and consciousness that we both so yearn for. I felt like I would feel regret without Caroline- my best friend for all intents and purposes for 10 youthful, happy years (for I must admit, I knew no better but to I enjoy my youth, because I lacked the reason to detest it, though something underlying might have been present). This letting go of her though.... I feel relief. I'm sorry for ever holding you back, dearest Caroline. I wish you only the best- for what is best for you, I realize, is 100% different for what I need in my life. You find all you need of passion in obsession, and I'm sorry it can't fulfill me anymore, so much I can't even stand it. But I've always loved you.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Virals 2: Seizure
So I read Seizure and yup, it was really good. I loved how halfway through you thought it was the end, but then it just kept going. It's one of those books you never want to end, and you keep getting so happily surprised that it's NOT the end. I don't think the next one will be so good, the ending doesn't really lend itself to a triquel (I think that makes it a good ending- better than so many others. It ends and you aren't left asking for more of the same series, just wanting more amazingness from the author).
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Virals
So um yeah! I read Virals which was recommended to me by Greta and it was pretty much exactly what I expected. Awesome book, cool characters, fun plot twists and WHY AREN'T THERE MORE BOOKS EXACTLY LIKE THIS??
It's really fun and cool, highly unrealistic because there are a LOT of lucky breaks, and the whole flare thing just doesn't make much sense AT ALL and is very contradictory, but its a really good idea, and it's addicting, and I pretty much loved it and want to read the next one NOW because I read the preview and was like CANZ I READ NOW PLZ. But no because libraries are stupid and take forever because the IDIOT MAYOR CUT THEIR FUNDING GAHHH
So I was looking at the Facebook page for Virals and found the question: What character do you like best? I just had no idea. The obvious answer is Cooper because he's awesome, but Tory is SUCH a great main character and thinks just the way I wanted her to think and there's no WHY ARE YOU SO STUPID? moments. And then Hi is hilarious so I have to love him. Ben is eh, I sense a romance between him and Tory (He was the most common favorite, Tory was a close second... probably because he's the one everyone wants to date *MAJOR eyeroll). He's strong and silent- not my type. Then Sheldon is a problem. I don't want to say he's not my favorite which automatically makes him last basically, but I'm kind of forced to because he has no major roll and like there's not much of him. NEED MORE SHELDON TO JUDGE. So that hurt when I was like I can't decide Hi, Tory, Cooper... wait... Sheldon is the only one left (besides Ben, but eh moot point). ADD MORE SHELDON MS AUTHOR LADY (no idea what her name is... she wrote Bones... I read the bio for once).
That's the Virals story, I really liked it. Highly recommended!!
It's really fun and cool, highly unrealistic because there are a LOT of lucky breaks, and the whole flare thing just doesn't make much sense AT ALL and is very contradictory, but its a really good idea, and it's addicting, and I pretty much loved it and want to read the next one NOW because I read the preview and was like CANZ I READ NOW PLZ. But no because libraries are stupid and take forever because the IDIOT MAYOR CUT THEIR FUNDING GAHHH
So I was looking at the Facebook page for Virals and found the question: What character do you like best? I just had no idea. The obvious answer is Cooper because he's awesome, but Tory is SUCH a great main character and thinks just the way I wanted her to think and there's no WHY ARE YOU SO STUPID? moments. And then Hi is hilarious so I have to love him. Ben is eh, I sense a romance between him and Tory (He was the most common favorite, Tory was a close second... probably because he's the one everyone wants to date *MAJOR eyeroll). He's strong and silent- not my type. Then Sheldon is a problem. I don't want to say he's not my favorite which automatically makes him last basically, but I'm kind of forced to because he has no major roll and like there's not much of him. NEED MORE SHELDON TO JUDGE. So that hurt when I was like I can't decide Hi, Tory, Cooper... wait... Sheldon is the only one left (besides Ben, but eh moot point). ADD MORE SHELDON MS AUTHOR LADY (no idea what her name is... she wrote Bones... I read the bio for once).
That's the Virals story, I really liked it. Highly recommended!!
Friday, May 4, 2012
The Name of The Star (with added tidbits for Mostly Good Girls)
So basically I was watching one of John Greens videos from a while ago, and he mentioned Maureen Johnson had written another book.
LITTLE INTRO: Two summers ago (before I knew about the Green brothers), I was obsessed with Miss Maureen Johnson, and I pretty much read ALL of her books, so I had kinda forgotten to look for new ones by her. It's actually funny because this summer at the Newberry Book fair (I live right across the street), I got Girl at Sea cause I remembered it and was like I want to read this again :D:D:D (plus it was only like two bucks). And I read it over spring break late at night in the tub (cause that's how I roll). It's still my favorite book of hers <3. So the ressurection of my love for Maureen Johnson begins! (Well it's not really a resurrection since it never died, more like a very well timed unburying.)
BUT this book was pretty good. It's about this girl who learns she can see ghosts (yes, you have to know this before you read it because the first 100 pages go nowhere and you're like... where the fuck is she going with this? All that's happening is the Ripper stuff which is great and all, but she's not involved as much as she needs to be for me to stay not bored (and it gets like super obvious where she's going with it after like 150 pages if you read the back cover and see that there are GOING to be ghosts because she keeps like exaggerating the strangeness of some things)). So yeah, eventually, she learns how to find ghosts yada yada, buncha awesome conflicts and mind games n shit, and it's cool and fun and original. The only thing is, this is Maureen Johnson's first time writing like, fiction that's super fictitious in a supernatural way (that I remember, maybe Devilish was too) and that's kind of obvious. Some of the introduction to ghost passages you read make you like, yeah, this just sounds... not right? And it's really common in like people who don't really know how to write in the amazing way that you stay hooked and not brought back to real life until it's over. So yeah, you can tell in certain spots that she's not totally situated in this sort of writing, but it's AOK because she's an amazing writer in so many other ways. She just sticks to the realm of possible fiction (as I'm going to call it to clear up confusion) for a reason.
ANYWAY, she probably felt like her readers would get bored of another exotic adventure or some other possible fiction type thing and wanted to try something new, and there's nothing wrong with that cause I liked it, and I spent all night reading (and got sick the next day because of it... and got my friend sick... so she had to go allll the way back to Midway to get home and in bed :'( Sorry, Kat!). It's got some mild horror (because it's Jack the Ripper themed obviously), which is REALLY nicely done because it's not so scary that you're like AHH WHAT THE HELL, it's like a slow, uneasy feeling that she tries to sooth a bit but doesn't really feel right (this is the second half of the book though, the first half is cute and funniness that's very extremely enjoyable), and it's another way to keep you hooked. So it's a good starter to horror books.
LIL SIDE NOTE: One interesting thing is that there's never a real description of the main character, which I really REALLY like because I get to imagine. It was only because I was paying attention that I know she has dark frizzy hair that she wants to look black. I can't even remember her name... yeah no it's not coming to me. (The main character in Mostly Good Girls name is Violet, and it was only because I was paying really close attention that I found her last name which was written ONCE only I believe. See if you can find it... if anyone reads this post then reads the books...)
All in all, it was a great book, I was addicted. At the end I wasn't like, whoa this is the best book I ever read mind blown away, as I am with some books (like many from Maureen Johnson and Mostly Good Girls, but I was stressed and upset and tired when I wrote that post so it didn't seem like it), but it was worth my time and was great. The ending is so so cause you expect more blood n guts... but it's okay... And yeah I see a possible sequel. The beginning middle and most of the end were really really good, and I definitely recommend this book!
LITTLE INTRO: Two summers ago (before I knew about the Green brothers), I was obsessed with Miss Maureen Johnson, and I pretty much read ALL of her books, so I had kinda forgotten to look for new ones by her. It's actually funny because this summer at the Newberry Book fair (I live right across the street), I got Girl at Sea cause I remembered it and was like I want to read this again :D:D:D (plus it was only like two bucks). And I read it over spring break late at night in the tub (cause that's how I roll). It's still my favorite book of hers <3. So the ressurection of my love for Maureen Johnson begins! (Well it's not really a resurrection since it never died, more like a very well timed unburying.)
BUT this book was pretty good. It's about this girl who learns she can see ghosts (yes, you have to know this before you read it because the first 100 pages go nowhere and you're like... where the fuck is she going with this? All that's happening is the Ripper stuff which is great and all, but she's not involved as much as she needs to be for me to stay not bored (and it gets like super obvious where she's going with it after like 150 pages if you read the back cover and see that there are GOING to be ghosts because she keeps like exaggerating the strangeness of some things)). So yeah, eventually, she learns how to find ghosts yada yada, buncha awesome conflicts and mind games n shit, and it's cool and fun and original. The only thing is, this is Maureen Johnson's first time writing like, fiction that's super fictitious in a supernatural way (that I remember, maybe Devilish was too) and that's kind of obvious. Some of the introduction to ghost passages you read make you like, yeah, this just sounds... not right? And it's really common in like people who don't really know how to write in the amazing way that you stay hooked and not brought back to real life until it's over. So yeah, you can tell in certain spots that she's not totally situated in this sort of writing, but it's AOK because she's an amazing writer in so many other ways. She just sticks to the realm of possible fiction (as I'm going to call it to clear up confusion) for a reason.
ANYWAY, she probably felt like her readers would get bored of another exotic adventure or some other possible fiction type thing and wanted to try something new, and there's nothing wrong with that cause I liked it, and I spent all night reading (and got sick the next day because of it... and got my friend sick... so she had to go allll the way back to Midway to get home and in bed :'( Sorry, Kat!). It's got some mild horror (because it's Jack the Ripper themed obviously), which is REALLY nicely done because it's not so scary that you're like AHH WHAT THE HELL, it's like a slow, uneasy feeling that she tries to sooth a bit but doesn't really feel right (this is the second half of the book though, the first half is cute and funniness that's very extremely enjoyable), and it's another way to keep you hooked. So it's a good starter to horror books.
LIL SIDE NOTE: One interesting thing is that there's never a real description of the main character, which I really REALLY like because I get to imagine. It was only because I was paying attention that I know she has dark frizzy hair that she wants to look black. I can't even remember her name... yeah no it's not coming to me. (The main character in Mostly Good Girls name is Violet, and it was only because I was paying really close attention that I found her last name which was written ONCE only I believe. See if you can find it... if anyone reads this post then reads the books...)
All in all, it was a great book, I was addicted. At the end I wasn't like, whoa this is the best book I ever read mind blown away, as I am with some books (like many from Maureen Johnson and Mostly Good Girls, but I was stressed and upset and tired when I wrote that post so it didn't seem like it), but it was worth my time and was great. The ending is so so cause you expect more blood n guts... but it's okay... And yeah I see a possible sequel. The beginning middle and most of the end were really really good, and I definitely recommend this book!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Dash and Lily!!!
Since my last few posts have been depressing and awful, I've decided to write a good one!
So I read Dash and Lily's Book of Dares and it's cute, funny, deep, and all the good stuff. Both characters are great, funny, different and they come together and it's awesome, and there are lil unrealistic fluff bits that make it just really great. It's a little bit of everything. Very like John Green (especially when getting into Dash's deep thoughts).
One problem I had is that it's one of those books that's back and forth between two characters- which is fine, but once the book gets longer than a certain point, you (I, at least) start getting confused, I can't figure out what's going on anymore or whose voice it is, particularly if it's brother and sister (Kane twins- lookin' at you). I feel like those kind of stories A) have to be really simple, as in the characters are totally contrasting and it's just impossible to get them confused (this never happens) OR B) It's short enough that you don't have time to GET confused. As long as you keep it to... 200 pages? I'll be fine. Typically though, I don't like reading books that short because if it's a good book, I want MORE of it.
BUT here's another, more PROBLEMATIC problem. I start liking one character better. This was particularly bad when I was reading Fablehaven. I just started being like UGH I don't care about this character, give me back the other one. (Of course, Fablehaven was a million times worse cause they couldn't figure out when to stop transitioning it to different characters. YOU NEED TO KEEP IT BETWEEN TWO (MAYBE 3) CHARACTERS!!!! I DON'T NEED THE PERSPECTIVE OF EVERY CHARACTER IN THE WHOLE DAMN SERIES!!!!!!! ) Alright back to Dash and Lily. So they're both GREAT at the beginning, both of them are likeable people, very awesome, very quirky. Eventually, though, I started liking Dash better, and I'm not sure if everyone thinks this or what, but my personality type just fit better with Dash. Lily was a bit... whiny? (Shrilly?) Like, she was cute and all, but I was like... eh. She has faults. Dash had faults too, but I felt like all of them were justified or defended, while hers were just left out there for you to NOT like. Like how she couldn't keep her mouth SHUT, and she screamed so much I could see why she had like no friends. Before like half way through I loved loved loved her though, and the whole drunken thing was fine, just I couldn't get past Shrilly. I would murder her if she was real, and she did that all the time. Dash I couldn't really relate to as well, but I really loved his character. The whole bookish nerd thing, and his personality was just dreamy. He was pretty amazing as was his friends. So yeah, I started being like BRING THE STORY BACK TO DASH!!! and it just ruins the experience when that happens (Ugh that Sadie in the Kane Chronicles... UGHHHH).
So to recap: only short stories can transition back so much, and it really should be between only two (or three) MAIN characters. I don't need the perspective of the villan unless it's all in third person.
All in all, I totally recommend it. Totally worth my time, addictingness level through the roof and yeah :D . Made me think.
So I read Dash and Lily's Book of Dares and it's cute, funny, deep, and all the good stuff. Both characters are great, funny, different and they come together and it's awesome, and there are lil unrealistic fluff bits that make it just really great. It's a little bit of everything. Very like John Green (especially when getting into Dash's deep thoughts).
One problem I had is that it's one of those books that's back and forth between two characters- which is fine, but once the book gets longer than a certain point, you (I, at least) start getting confused, I can't figure out what's going on anymore or whose voice it is, particularly if it's brother and sister (Kane twins- lookin' at you). I feel like those kind of stories A) have to be really simple, as in the characters are totally contrasting and it's just impossible to get them confused (this never happens) OR B) It's short enough that you don't have time to GET confused. As long as you keep it to... 200 pages? I'll be fine. Typically though, I don't like reading books that short because if it's a good book, I want MORE of it.
BUT here's another, more PROBLEMATIC problem. I start liking one character better. This was particularly bad when I was reading Fablehaven. I just started being like UGH I don't care about this character, give me back the other one. (Of course, Fablehaven was a million times worse cause they couldn't figure out when to stop transitioning it to different characters. YOU NEED TO KEEP IT BETWEEN TWO (MAYBE 3) CHARACTERS!!!! I DON'T NEED THE PERSPECTIVE OF EVERY CHARACTER IN THE WHOLE DAMN SERIES!!!!!!! ) Alright back to Dash and Lily. So they're both GREAT at the beginning, both of them are likeable people, very awesome, very quirky. Eventually, though, I started liking Dash better, and I'm not sure if everyone thinks this or what, but my personality type just fit better with Dash. Lily was a bit... whiny? (Shrilly?) Like, she was cute and all, but I was like... eh. She has faults. Dash had faults too, but I felt like all of them were justified or defended, while hers were just left out there for you to NOT like. Like how she couldn't keep her mouth SHUT, and she screamed so much I could see why she had like no friends. Before like half way through I loved loved loved her though, and the whole drunken thing was fine, just I couldn't get past Shrilly. I would murder her if she was real, and she did that all the time. Dash I couldn't really relate to as well, but I really loved his character. The whole bookish nerd thing, and his personality was just dreamy. He was pretty amazing as was his friends. So yeah, I started being like BRING THE STORY BACK TO DASH!!! and it just ruins the experience when that happens (Ugh that Sadie in the Kane Chronicles... UGHHHH).
So to recap: only short stories can transition back so much, and it really should be between only two (or three) MAIN characters. I don't need the perspective of the villan unless it's all in third person.
All in all, I totally recommend it. Totally worth my time, addictingness level through the roof and yeah :D . Made me think.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Tainted
Anyway, I just read Mostly Good Girls. It's a good story, I didn't love the main character, but I loved her voice. I felt like I could really relate to both of the girls, how Katie couldn't live her life waiting for the day she wasn't lucky and her defiance, and how Violet had issues with getting a life (and boyfriend) to the point where she thought there was something wrong with her (ok, that's just me). And I couldn't believe how jealous I was of their friendship. I wish I had one like that. Who are my friends now? I haven't given anyone this blog, I'm fucking up every friendship I have or ever had. What do I do? Well anyway, the ending was adorable. Sorry this wasn't an in depth analysis. Maybe later. Who'm I fucking kidding? I don't even have anyone to share this with.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Timeless and Flip
So I've been lazy recently, but I did read Timeless and Flip. Timeless was pretty amazing (of course, it's going to be a series which I MUST read cause the cliffhanger ending was so good. You know how I feel about reading series though.) Flip started out so so, got really addicting, then was kinda depressing and meh but still addicting. So pretty good? I liked the ending a lot... it's hard to get through the book without knowing that he does switch back at the end. So, I don't feel guilty mentioning that spoiler :)
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Author Visit: Alex Kotlowitz
So Alex Kotlowitz came to our school to talk about "The Interrupters" and There Are No Children Here both of which I almost fell asleep reading/watching. So I wasn't expecting much.
Turns out: His talk was (in one word that I'd pick in less than LESS THAN a heartbeat) inspiring. It really was. He was someone much like ME, MYSELF, and I.
He's this dude who went straight out of high school to college to be a biologist. He was a "science guy" and had no plans to change that (Sound familiar?). Well, he decided it wasn't, in fact, his thing, after taking organic chemistry, and he dropped out for a year. AND GUESS WHAT??? He decided books were something he couldn't live without!! (Sounding familiar yet?) So he decided to be an author and ended up in the projects of Chicago- somewhere he never thought he'd be. (SOUNDING FAMILIAR??). And judging by his appearance, he ain't doin' half bad!
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS TO ME?? I've been so afraid, I'm a science person, yes, but I... I... LOVE READING!! And I'm so afraid I'm not smart enough to be sciencey, and I could wait until after college to decide what I'm really going to do! This guy could be me! And I really wanted to write him, email him, I mean. Is that a good idea? I feel so silly, but this means just so much to me that I could turn out as a somebody, without realizing it even after college!!
Alex Kotlowitz is going on my list of people to read this. Mr. Kotlowitz- I'm sorry if I spelled your name wrong, people butcher mine all the time, I sympathize- you have inspired me and made me feel so much better about my life. Thank you.
Turns out: His talk was (in one word that I'd pick in less than LESS THAN a heartbeat) inspiring. It really was. He was someone much like ME, MYSELF, and I.
He's this dude who went straight out of high school to college to be a biologist. He was a "science guy" and had no plans to change that (Sound familiar?). Well, he decided it wasn't, in fact, his thing, after taking organic chemistry, and he dropped out for a year. AND GUESS WHAT??? He decided books were something he couldn't live without!! (Sounding familiar yet?) So he decided to be an author and ended up in the projects of Chicago- somewhere he never thought he'd be. (SOUNDING FAMILIAR??). And judging by his appearance, he ain't doin' half bad!
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS TO ME?? I've been so afraid, I'm a science person, yes, but I... I... LOVE READING!! And I'm so afraid I'm not smart enough to be sciencey, and I could wait until after college to decide what I'm really going to do! This guy could be me! And I really wanted to write him, email him, I mean. Is that a good idea? I feel so silly, but this means just so much to me that I could turn out as a somebody, without realizing it even after college!!
Alex Kotlowitz is going on my list of people to read this. Mr. Kotlowitz- I'm sorry if I spelled your name wrong, people butcher mine all the time, I sympathize- you have inspired me and made me feel so much better about my life. Thank you.
Let It Snow
My friend, DD, was where I found this one. She was reading it at lunch, looking so much like younger version of myself, so I of course HAD to ask the question Caroline is VERY familiar with "What book?" She wasn't very eager to tell me, but I saw it was by Lauren Myracle, John Green, and Maureen Johnson- three of my absolute favorite authors, so I had to read it.
This story is great, it really is. The individual stories are fabulous in their shortness, lack of drama (or maybe lots of drama squeezed into a small space is the appeal), and utter romantic-ness (I'm a teenage girl- I LOVE romance ^-^). Well, it's about time someone wrote the perfect romance!! I'm not surprised it took three amazing authors to do it.
The problem with Twilight, Marked, and all the non-vampire romances I'm forgetting, is the amount of drama that's needed to complete a novel. I just don't want to cope with it all. THIS story, however, took place in the same night, from three different romances that tied together sparingly, but made the epiphany ending QUITE enjoyable.
Because each story was >100 pages, the drama needed to complete the story was TOTALLY PERFECT. All each author needed was one problem: one cheating situation OR one breakup OR one case of jealousy to write a whole lovely, adorable story. When you put three of these perfections together, then TWINE them together... it's just utter perfection!!! A utopic romance! (see how I made something up there? This book deserved something to be made up for it.)
This story is great, it really is. The individual stories are fabulous in their shortness, lack of drama (or maybe lots of drama squeezed into a small space is the appeal), and utter romantic-ness (I'm a teenage girl- I LOVE romance ^-^). Well, it's about time someone wrote the perfect romance!! I'm not surprised it took three amazing authors to do it.
The problem with Twilight, Marked, and all the non-vampire romances I'm forgetting, is the amount of drama that's needed to complete a novel. I just don't want to cope with it all. THIS story, however, took place in the same night, from three different romances that tied together sparingly, but made the epiphany ending QUITE enjoyable.
Because each story was >100 pages, the drama needed to complete the story was TOTALLY PERFECT. All each author needed was one problem: one cheating situation OR one breakup OR one case of jealousy to write a whole lovely, adorable story. When you put three of these perfections together, then TWINE them together... it's just utter perfection!!! A utopic romance! (see how I made something up there? This book deserved something to be made up for it.)
Monday, March 5, 2012
Boys and Endings: Paper Covers Rock
(Spoilers).
So Mrs. E gave me this book (via my mom) called Paper Covers Rock. I don't even know if Mrs. E will read this... but just in case someone who is mean and a stalker reads this I made her name secret. Even though I'm the only one reading this blog. Anyway.
I read it. I was like... wow this is just like the Dead Poets Society. I think that's just because it's a boys' boarding school though.
When I was in the middle I just couldn't stop thinking to myself.. well boys just SUCK. But I feel like that's not true. So all i could think was boys suck shit. These kids are just horrible. They need to go die or something cause I don't want to share a world with them lol.
Then I realized how bad that sounded and how it sounds like any down to earth person when they state the way someone is. And I'm not that person. I won't generalize these boys, or say they need to die, or claim I know something about them and why they do what they do. But! I will say that I dislike the way they treat each other, and that whole boarding school scene. But sometimes, I think you have to read books you dislike. So you can get a feel for the world. People live in such extremes...
WAY IN ADVANCE SPOILER ALERT.
So anyway, in the midst of all these sucky boys, there's the narrator, who doesn't suck too horribly. (lol if my mom reads this... she'll get all up in my case for saying "sucks" so much xD). So you think he's fine. Way too much peer pressure and he can't stand it, but he'll over come it in the end right?
WELL WRONG. He gets the teacher FIRED. And I'm like the HELL??? So yeah, that's pretty much why my initial conclusion was that boys suck.
Spolier over... but I've kinda ruined the ending here anyway
But I'm always saying I don't want a happy ending right? I want a realistic one yeah? Well I guess I did get a normal ending, the end that, if I were in the story, would have happened. Because I'm not as magical as that. No one is. There's me generalizing again.
So I guess it was the right ending, the author's choices were the right ones... but I don't feel satisfied. Like it wasn't a complete book without the special ending. Maybe books have the unrealistic endings they do because that's why the book was written. Like the unlikely stories are the ones people bother to write about about because they are unlikely? That's the conclusion I've come to anyway. If anyone reads this... what do you think? Hah, no one's gonna read it anyway. But still. I think I'm right. (I'm always right though ;D ).
So Mrs. E gave me this book (via my mom) called Paper Covers Rock. I don't even know if Mrs. E will read this... but just in case someone who is mean and a stalker reads this I made her name secret. Even though I'm the only one reading this blog. Anyway.
I read it. I was like... wow this is just like the Dead Poets Society. I think that's just because it's a boys' boarding school though.
When I was in the middle I just couldn't stop thinking to myself.. well boys just SUCK. But I feel like that's not true. So all i could think was boys suck shit. These kids are just horrible. They need to go die or something cause I don't want to share a world with them lol.
Then I realized how bad that sounded and how it sounds like any down to earth person when they state the way someone is. And I'm not that person. I won't generalize these boys, or say they need to die, or claim I know something about them and why they do what they do. But! I will say that I dislike the way they treat each other, and that whole boarding school scene. But sometimes, I think you have to read books you dislike. So you can get a feel for the world. People live in such extremes...
WAY IN ADVANCE SPOILER ALERT.
So anyway, in the midst of all these sucky boys, there's the narrator, who doesn't suck too horribly. (lol if my mom reads this... she'll get all up in my case for saying "sucks" so much xD). So you think he's fine. Way too much peer pressure and he can't stand it, but he'll over come it in the end right?
WELL WRONG. He gets the teacher FIRED. And I'm like the HELL??? So yeah, that's pretty much why my initial conclusion was that boys suck.
Spolier over... but I've kinda ruined the ending here anyway
But I'm always saying I don't want a happy ending right? I want a realistic one yeah? Well I guess I did get a normal ending, the end that, if I were in the story, would have happened. Because I'm not as magical as that. No one is. There's me generalizing again.
So I guess it was the right ending, the author's choices were the right ones... but I don't feel satisfied. Like it wasn't a complete book without the special ending. Maybe books have the unrealistic endings they do because that's why the book was written. Like the unlikely stories are the ones people bother to write about about because they are unlikely? That's the conclusion I've come to anyway. If anyone reads this... what do you think? Hah, no one's gonna read it anyway. But still. I think I'm right. (I'm always right though ;D ).
Dystopias
So I guess I'll start with dystopias (Sp? Google says it's right. Or whatever is sponsoring this automatic spellcheck I see before me that says "Sp" is spelled wrong. Ironic, no?). Dystopias are the best, most fun waste-of-time books out there. Hell, they ARE the most fun books out there. Last night I polished off the last half of... see, I can't even remember what it was called. Okay, it's Legend by Marie Lu. Why the hell its called Legend, I don't know.
Alright, I've downed a coffee so things might get hyper from here on out.
But anyway. So yeah, it's one of the many dystopia books that I LOVE reading, but waste my time so much because I can hardly remember them even a few weeks afterward. This is why I can never read their sequels. The library hold list is long enough to forget half the plot and characters.
I'll give you some more dystopia books. CAUTION: ONLY read these in the case that the entire series is out, and you are holding them all in your lap RIGHT NOW.
Divergent. This is an AMAZING one that is blissfully long so you can have hours and hours of delightful way-past-my-bedtime reading. I don't think it's a series. Edit: it's a trilogy. Beware lol, the next book comes out May 1. Look out for Insurgent! I'll probably read it... such a bad idea >.< WHY, Veronica Roth? WHY?
The Hunger Games. If you read this, you MUST read the Gregor the Overlander series. They are ten times better. But anyway, the whole Hunger Games series is out. Get them all at once and spend max one weekend reading them, otherwise you will be endlessly confused.
Matched. I have no freaking clue if the whole series is out. I personally haven't read past the first one. This is a depressing case where I've read the first one and remember exactly enough of the plot that I don't want to re-read it, but I won't remember enough of it to get started on the sequel. So only read this if the entire series is out. Warning, Matched is the most anti climatic (is that even the right word? I'm too hyped up to know.) story you will ever read. The whole thing is just a build up for the sequel.
And finally Legend. This is beautiful. Haha, kidding. But it's a great, amazing (shorter) dystopia. It's basically the most unoriginal one yet, but I do love it. It's the only one where the boy is the main character. At least, I liked him best.
All of these contain romance, action (Matched needed hella more action for the huge build up it created), and wonderful addictingness.
Alright, I've downed a coffee so things might get hyper from here on out.
But anyway. So yeah, it's one of the many dystopia books that I LOVE reading, but waste my time so much because I can hardly remember them even a few weeks afterward. This is why I can never read their sequels. The library hold list is long enough to forget half the plot and characters.
I'll give you some more dystopia books. CAUTION: ONLY read these in the case that the entire series is out, and you are holding them all in your lap RIGHT NOW.
Divergent. This is an AMAZING one that is blissfully long so you can have hours and hours of delightful way-past-my-bedtime reading. I don't think it's a series. Edit: it's a trilogy. Beware lol, the next book comes out May 1. Look out for Insurgent! I'll probably read it... such a bad idea >.< WHY, Veronica Roth? WHY?
The Hunger Games. If you read this, you MUST read the Gregor the Overlander series. They are ten times better. But anyway, the whole Hunger Games series is out. Get them all at once and spend max one weekend reading them, otherwise you will be endlessly confused.
Matched. I have no freaking clue if the whole series is out. I personally haven't read past the first one. This is a depressing case where I've read the first one and remember exactly enough of the plot that I don't want to re-read it, but I won't remember enough of it to get started on the sequel. So only read this if the entire series is out. Warning, Matched is the most anti climatic (is that even the right word? I'm too hyped up to know.) story you will ever read. The whole thing is just a build up for the sequel.
And finally Legend. This is beautiful. Haha, kidding. But it's a great, amazing (shorter) dystopia. It's basically the most unoriginal one yet, but I do love it. It's the only one where the boy is the main character. At least, I liked him best.
All of these contain romance, action (Matched needed hella more action for the huge build up it created), and wonderful addictingness.
THE BEGINNING
I started this blog for myself- to keep track of the books I read. As the name has already told you. I'm probably the only one who will read this. And I'll probably write life stuff here too. In sentences that start with conjunctions. And prepositions lol. I don't see why I shouldn't.
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