April Wrap-Up/May Wrap-Up

April

Books I Read

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

5/5

Finally, the male protagonist I've been craving!! (Coincidentally, one of the best male protagonists I've read since another Simon, the one from Carry On.) He has hobbies, a personality, romantic interest in a person without it having to revolve around the possibility of sex, etc. He seemed like a real person I could run into at a Harry Potter release party. I loved that I was able to read through the whole book in a couple days and not get bored once. It was light, fluffy, made me giggle a few times, and just pure fun. It makes me super happy to see that LGBT+ books are stretching into different genres and styles of stories. I 100% recognize that the books about figuring out your identity and trying to fit in and that sort of thing are super important, but I think it's great that these kinds of LGBT+ beach reads exist, too.

Captain Marvel (Marvel NOW!) #1

3.5/5


This was a fun graphic novel! I'd never read any Captain Marvel stories before, but I really liked seeing her interact with the Guardians of the Galaxy. As far as her character and the actual story go, I do think I prefer Ms. Marvel.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

4/5

I'd read this book a long time ago, but didn't remember much, so it was like reading it for the first time all over again. Jo was my favorite character hands down, just because of how much I could relate to her. Really all of the characters were great in different ways, especially because they were so ahead of their time for when the story was written. The story was simple, but enjoyable. It didn't feel outdated like some books from that long ago did. I really like the Jo and Laurie friendship, Beth and Mr. Laurence's relationship, and all of the girls constantly trying to stay sane when dealing with their crotchety old Aunt March. The only thing that bugged me was how obvious some of the chapter endings were with the, "What was the moral of the story here, girls?" kind of attitude. I was fine with the overall message, but it could've been woven into the plot better.

A Totally Awkward Love Story by Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison

3/5

I'd love to be able to go into as much detail about this book as I have with other ARCs I've read, but it's one of those books where there's just not much to say about it. It's not a bad read or one I'm going to scream from the rooftops. The entire thing was pure fluff, the plot and most of the characters didn't have any real substance to them. But it was easy to get through and, true to its name, made me cringe at some parts. I finished it on vacation, as it was a good book to read a few pages of when you're waiting for your stop on the train. (And I'm giving it bonus points because a book being set in England can only help its case.)

Movies I Watched

"A League of Their Own"

3.5/5

Pretty much any movie that Tom Hanks is in is bound to be good. I'm not a huge sports person in general, but I really liked all of the quirky side characters, the humor, and the time period of the story.

"The Dark Knight Rises"

4/5

This one was probably my favorite of this particular Batman series. They crammed a ton into one movie, with plenty of nail-biting action, new characters, and plot twists I hadn't seen coming.

"Allegiant"

4/5

There had been a lot of complaints about this adaptation, so going into it I was a little skeptical. I actually liked it! Yeah, it strayed a lot from the book, but the Allegiant book was just okay and frankly really boring most of the time. The fact that the movie was able to spice it up a little, even if it meant changing plot points, is a good thing.

"Little Women" 

4/5

This was a great adaptation! All of the actors fit their characters perfectly (especially Christian Bale as Laurie) and it really stuck to the book.

Quotes I Wrote

Mr. Hudson burst into the flat moments later when he heard me yelling at the cat—it had decided walking all over my sketches was an acceptable pasttime—and pulled me into a hug that I was sure bruised my ribs. He then proceeded to babble about how impulsive I was and how he was worried sick and calling everyone he knew and would I like a cup of tea of course I would here sit down did I take anything did Natalie know I was all right Ms. Watson fetch the kettle please thank you oh my goodness I need to tell Marshall you’re home he was out looking you know.
-Ms. Holmes

Dawn wasted no time in demanding answers. I’d barely sat down in the carriage before she said, “So explain to me what exactly is going on.”
“Faye Moriarty is a pain in my arse is what’s going on,” I grumbled distractedly, watching buildings pass us by. Even if we were going as fast as we possibly could, we wouldn’t be going fast enough.
“That doesn’t clear up anything!”
-Ms. Holmes

“Let’s see if I’ve got this straight. We’re knowingly setting up a meeting with a serial killer, her girlfriend-slash-sniper-assassin, and whatever magic powers she seems to suddenly have gained? And we’re doing this all without any shred of a plan?”
“They’re not magic powers, Dawn, be sensible.”
Dawn let out a loud laugh, almost a bark from how strong and devoid of humor it was. “So now you’re the sensible one?”
-Ms. Holmes

There was something about Lila. There was something about the way she walked with her chin up, but you never felt looked down on. There was something about the way she showed all her teeth when she smiled. There was something about the single freckle on her nose that almost looked like she’d put it there deliberately. There was something about her artist’s hands and musician’s lips and poet’s words, but most of all, there was something about her. That impossible, unexplainable, kismet connection one can have with a person. Melody felt that with her.
-'Til the Last Star Dies

More than anything, Joel would’ve loved to leave it all behind: the diner, the town, the apartment he’d vacated, the watch he’d taken a hammer to after the Soulmate Watch announcement. But he couldn’t. Because no matter where he turned, he was plagued by tainted memories, a backwards Wizard of Oz kind of universe, color turned to gray. Dust settled back the way he came. No matter how hard he tried, it would never be the same again.
-Dust Settles

Obsessions I Acquired

Ambient-Mixer - This is great for when I'm doing math homework or reading or doing anything requires a little more concentration. Sometimes I want background noise, but music may not necessarily work because of the distraction. This website allows you to create your own mix of ambient noises, or use someone else's. So far my favorites are the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw common rooms, any of the "Supernatural" Impala mixes, and the inside of the TARDIS.

The music from "Hamilton" - You may have already seen me raving about this musical in previous posts and/or on social media, but just in case you haven't, let me introduce you to the wonder that is "Hamilton." Go find the music on YouTube or Spotify, watch the performance from the Grammys, read about Lin-Manuel Miranda, basically get your hands on EVERYTHING you can, because it's just that good. Once you listen to it you'll understand how awesome it is.

Picture of the Month

My "Supernatural" roleplay friends came out to visit for my birthday this year! It was so much fun. I don't think I've laughed as hard as I did that trip ever. I'm seeing some of them again later this year and I can't wait.

Playing "Curses," a game I highly recommend for big groups of people willing to laugh at themselves.

I had a steampunk-themed murder mystery party, so obviously we all had to dress up.

 

How was your April?

May

Books I Read

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

3/5

If it weren't for the fact that Richard lacked personality and parts of the book were way longer than they should've been, it had all the makings of a 4 or even 5-star read. I love urban fantasy, and the world Neil Gaiman created a great world that reminded me a lot of the one from the Gregor the Overlander series.


Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

4/5

Marissa Meyer, you've done it again! Anthologies are kind of tricky to rate because all of the stories vary, but overall I really enjoyed all of them. Only a few seemed kind of slow or unnecessary. (I'm not a huge fan of chapters being retold from another character's perspective, because most of the time we can already figure out how they saw the same scene being played out.) My favorites by far were Glitches, Carswell's Guide to Being Lucky, The Princess and the Guard, and Something Old, Something New. My only complaint: Scarlet/Wolf and Cress/Thorne didn't have stories JUST about them and their arorableness. (Also I may or may not have cried at the end because NOW THE SERIES IS REALLY OVER.)

The Dead Boy and the Paper Cut by Cait Drews

5/5

Okay, so this isn't a book I can link to on Goodreads, but you CAN find it on Wattpad! The author's name may sound familiar to you, and if it does it's because this fantabulous book was written by your future Supreme World Leader, none other than Cait from "Paper Fury." THIS BOOK IS PERFECTION. If it were a bound, physical copy that I could hug and use as a visual aid to get people to read it and love it as much as I do, I would gesture with it frantically in people's faces. It made me laugh and cry like a lunatic and I'm so sad it's over, but I absolutely adore the ambiguous ending. And the beautiful writing and imagery!! And fandom/literary/geek references!! And the name Moxie!! All the things!! Go read it immediately!!

So, Anyway... by John Cleese

3/5

I was a little disappointed by this one. It was funny sometimes, dragged out in others, and other parts I wished had more time spent on it. It felt disjointed. I liked a lot of the anecdotes, but by about 200 pages into it, I found myself skimming. It could've been organized a lot better. And there were about five pages total spent talking about Monty Python, which definitely didn't seem like enough for a book that had "the making of a Python" written on the back of it. Not bad overall, though.

Movies I Watched

"Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"

4/5

My favorite of the bunch! It had the perfect mix of humor and action, and the father-son dynamic made the movie shine. I really enjoyed it.

"A Beautiful Planet"

5/5

We saw this documentary in an IMAX theater, which was definitely the way to go. The images were gorgeous, and every bit of it was fascinating. I loved it. 

"Pretty in Pink"

3/5

A fun eighties movie with interesting characters, but I didn't care for Andie too much. She seemed like a copy of every other part Molly Ringwald had done. I did like Duckie a lot. The casting for his character was perfect.

"The Man with the Golden Gun"

3/5

This was especially fun to watch with "The Incredibles" in mind. You could really tell how old it was based on the fight scenes alone, though. It was almost comical. xD

"My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2" 

4/5

Great sequel! I enjoyed it just as much as the first one, especially since I could relate to some of it with my own extended Portuguese family. It got more than a few laughs when we watched it in the theater.

"Newsies"

3.5/5

This was a really fun musical. Right off the bat, it was full of upbeat songs and constant movement, just like New York is. Jack Kelly was played by Christian Bale, who is the perfect kind of actor for his role, a sort of wannabe cowboy/revolutionary. The overall feel and theme of the movie reminded me of a "Mary Poppins" meets "Les Misérables." Les, probably the youngest of all of them, was even like Gavroche. The music was great, too; catchy, but not in a borderline annoying way like songs from "Music Man" might get stuck in your head.

"Some Kind of Wonderful" 

4/5

I liked this one much better than "Pretty in Pink." The characters were more interesting, the plot was simple but still engaging, and the way it ended was perfect. It was also fun to see a love triangle with a boy caught between two girls. Most of the time it seems like it's the other way around.

"What If" (a rewatch)

5/5

This is by far one of my favorite Indie movies. It has a great soundtrack, characters who seem real, the perfect cast, and a simple plot line. Everything but the last five minutes is perfect, and I say that only because when they redid the movie to release in the US, they added a more Hollywood ending. My mom and I actually stopped at the point where it was originally supposed to end when rewatching it because it was perfect the way it was!

"Fiddler on the Roof"

3.5/5

This wasn't like any other musical I've seen before, but I really enjoyed it. If you took "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and turned it into a musical, it would strongly resemble "Fiddler on the Roof." I wasn't expecting it to be as funny as it was either, but Max and I laughed out loud several times when watching it. Yente was one of my favorite characters, as well as Motel and Perchik. I liked the first half a lot more than I did the second half, because I thought the first hour and a half or so was funnier and moved more quickly than the second did. After a while the story repeated itself and dragged out where it didn't need to. The ending wasn't what I expected either, but I won't say much on that in case you haven't seen it.

"Captain America: Civil War"

5/5

I. Loved. It. Even though it was a Captain America movie, it watched like "The Avengers" or "Age of Ultron" because of how many people they had in it. I'd been skeptical about how they seemed to be handling Black Widow's character based on the trailers, but after watching, they totally nailed it. The Spider-Man and Ant-Man cameos were unexpected, but actually fit well. And Black Panther is a great addition. I can't wait for the next movie.

Quotes I Wrote

“Ah, Astrid, there you are.” Natalie, still packing a pistol and holster, strode toward me. “I wasn’t sure how I’d find you, so I just followed the shouting.”
-Ms. Holmes

“How many places did you check before looking for me here [the hospital]?”
Natalie smirked. “You might be more closed off than our confidential files, but I still know you well enough to think to look here first. What happened?”
-Ms. Holmes

"For the record," she said to Lila now. "I did try to stop him when he told me before he had 'the perfect plan to end all plans.' Because he's had at least seven of those since I've known him, and they all go down like the Hindenburg."
"Hey," Jordan protested.
Lila ignored him. "Good, I feel better knowing he has someone to tell him when he's being an idiot when I'm not around."
"You mean always?" Julie said with a mischievous smile teasing her lips.
-'Til the Last Star Dies

Lila was utterly transfixed. Melody didn't have the sort of persona poets were usually associated with, but the imperfection of the poem was perfection itself. It was flawed and entrancing and completely her. It breathed as if it were life itself, and her voice as she became lost in the words lived up to her name.
-'Til the Last Star Dies

Picture of the Month

On the way back home from vacation, I was able to stop in at the coffee shop where Taylor from "Paper Daydreams" works to meet her!

Max and I couldn't resist. "Slowly and clearly aim your gun towards the sky!"

Max and I were recently part of a homeschool theater camp and we put on "Peter Pan." I was Bill Jukes, one of the pirates, and the makeup artist was amazing with the design.

All of the pirates together.

Max and I with Captain Hook, and a photobombing Smee.

 

How was your May?

The Spring Book Tag (or Kate is Super Behind on Her TBR)

*laughs forever because when am I not behind on my TBR?*

Anyways.

Engie from "Musings From Neville's Navel" tagged me for the Spring Book Tag! And what better time to do a book tag all about spring than when it doesn't really feel like spring because the weather in Pennsylvania is all over the place right now?

What’s your spring TBR?

*glances nervously toward bowing bookshelves* *continues manic laughter*

So many books . . . so many.

But seriously I'm not sure I have any specific spring TBR books. I'm in a lot of book clubs, so those usually end up taking precedence over everything else, but I'd love to finish reading Les Misérables before summer gets here.

If someone asked you for a spring release recommendation, what book would it be?

Generally I'm not great with remembering what books are coming out when exactly in the year, but Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum was a spring release, and it was fantastic. It was fun and fluffy, but also had a lot of depth to it. Addictive is probably the one word I'd use to describe it.

Which two books are you eagerly awaiting that release within the next two months?

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD BY FREAKING J.K. ROWLING.

Because with a July 31st release date, it's still technically coming out within the next two months. And OH MY GOD.

I can't think of any other books that are coming out in the next two months. Of course as soon as I hit publish, I'll probably come up with one, because brains are annoying like that.

Which character would make a great Easter Bunny?

Winter from Winter by Marissa Meyer because she would just get sooo into it. I can see her dressing up and painting eggs and everything.

What book makes you think of spring?

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. First of all, it has the word flower in it. Second of all, the cover is a bright freaking yellow. Third of all, I read it a couple of years ago in the car while driving to Washington D.C. to see the cherry blossoms in bloom. So yeah, lots of spring all around.

Name a cover with flowers on it.

Whatever my mixed feelings on this book are, that cover is gorgeous and absolutely whimsical. That's what initially caught my eye when I was digging through a box of ARCs. Well job, cover designers.

Which two characters would you want to go on an Easter egg hunt with?

Calvin and Hobbes! Who else to go on an Easter egg hunt with than two of the most playful, imaginative people in the fictional universe?

What is your favorite bookish spring activity to do?

Is it cheating if I say read? Reading outside is pretty nice, too, because spring is (usually) great weather. Not too hot, not too cold, just a slight breeze, and enough shade to make the whole experience pleasant. Although I don't know what the heck is happening with spring this year. It went from being 70 degrees and sunny to cold and rainy and miserable in two days.

Which book did you enjoy that had a spring-ish cover?

This book was fantastic. All of the colors and simple design are spring-ish to me. This book is just spring-ish in general when you consider the protagonists' names are Violet and Finch.

Who is your favorite contemporary author?

Like Engie said, I'm not really sure how this relates to spring, but I do know that there's no competing with Rainbow Rowell. Although I guess a lot of her books aren't strictly contemporary since they're sometimes set in the 80s or 90s. So I'll also name Stephanie Morrill as a favorite.

Tag, you're it! Feel free to "steal" this tag for your blog or post your answers in the comments.

The Stages of Reading a Really Good Book

Or at least my stages of reading a really good book. Of course these won't apply to everyone, but all of us bookworms tend to have tons of things in common, including our reading habits. I'm sure many of you can relate to this.

Me with a new book . . . or an old one . . . or any of them, really.

Page 1: *reading somewhere normal, like in bed or on the couch* I can't wait to finally read this! I wonder if it's as good as everyone is saying. Recommendations from three different friends on Goodreads must mean it's great, right?

Page 10: All right, I'm starting to see what all the fuss was about. I'm hooked already. I'll finish the chapter, maybe read a couple more and then go to bed--ooh, a plot twist already?!

Page 50: *having already read past midnight* Holy cow, I can't take my eyes away! Is that the love interest? Okay, I should really go to bed soon though. I can always read tomorrow.

Page 100: An early morning while running on little sleep is nothing compared to what this character is going through. So what if I have to be up in six hours? I have to see what happens next.

Page 150: *has fallen asleep with her face in the book*

Page 200: *reading in the car while being driven to whatever event is happening that morning* No. Way. Oh my God, did anyone else see that? Am I the only one who sees how insane this is?

Page 250: *explains every last detail to little brother while walking the dog because she needs to talk to someone ASAP*

Page 300: Everything's going to be okay, no one's dying, the author wouldn't do that, writers aren't that mean, hahahahahaha . . . Yeah, I'm definitely going to cry by the end of this.

Page 350: *goes through an entire box of tissues from gross sobbing*

Last page: That. Was. AMAZING!!!

Acknowledgements: *frantically texts/tweets/instant messages every single bookish person she knows urging them to read the book*

Phew, even writing about the process has me on an emotional roller coaster all over again. What was the last book you read that you feeling like this?

"Look Around, Look Around at How Lucky We Are to Be Alive Right Now!"

I'm shamelessly stealing the "Hamilton book tag" from Emma at "Kittens on Bookshelves." Although I guess technically she said to consider myself tagged, so it doesn't count as stealing anymore. I DIGRESS.

I've been obsessed with the soundtrack for about a month now. It's all I've listened to for weeks. And it's fantastic. I may or may not have even had dreams about somehow miraculously winning tickets to see it on Broadway, even though it's sold out for months. If you haven't heard any of the music, DO SO NOW. It's all on YouTube and Spotify! I've never heard anything like it, but it's amazing. Lin-Manuel Miranda is a genius and has a serious fanbase behind him for this. I recently got my whole family into it, too, so now we'll randomly shout things like, "What time is it? SHOWTIIIIME." after walking into a room.

And now because of listening to the entire album approximately 90871284 times over, memorizing half of the songs, making plans to do a lip sync battle to "Farmer Refuted" with a friend at a talent show (she's the Samuel Seabury to my Alexander Hamilton), and scrolling through dozens of Tumblr posts of "Hamilton" fanart, I'm taking on the challenge of reading a 750 page biography all about Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow. Now I just need to get my hands on the Hamiltome . . .

Still not convinced? Watch this performance from the Grammys.

Me upon watching it for a second--*coughs*--seventeenth time.

So this is all a preamble (see what I did there?) to say of course I had to snatch up a "Hamilton" book tag as soon as I saw it, plus add a few more songs myself because I couldn't resist. Here we go!

(Note: Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson spoilers toward the middle of the post!)

"Alexander Hamilton" - A Character With a Rich and Complicated Backstory

There are so many characters I could go with here, but for this one I'll say Cinder from the Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer. It's hard to explain just how much crap she's gone through without giving anything away, so you'll have to read the series yourself to find out. Let's just say she's crazy awesome but also haunted by her painful past, just like the best characters are.

"Aaron Burr, Sir" - Two Characters Who Constantly Butt Heads 

Oh my gosh, totally Simon and Baz from Carry On by Rainbow Rowell. I've never seen two characters bicker more than they do, and yet it works. It kept me entertained the entire time, made me giggle, and didn't stop me from shipping them in the slightest.

"My Shot" - A Protagonist That Goes After What They Want and Doesn't Let Anything Stop Them

Alanna from the Song of the Lioness series by Tamora Pierce. Disguising yourself as a boy to train to become a knight in a medieval fantasy story is pretty dang gutsy. Obstacles are constantly hurled at her throughout the series, and yet she keeps fighting.

"The Story of Tonight" - Your Favorite Historical Fiction or Non-Fiction Book

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, as of recently. It's an excellent audiobook, too, probably the best one I've listened to since Harry Potter. If you decide to pick it up, I highly recommend going that route, at least for some of it. The whole story is so realistic, you have a hard time believing it didn't actually happen.

"The Schuyler Sisters" - An Underrated Female Character

Nimona from Nimona by Noelle Stevenson! And I say she's underrated only because hardly any of my other bookish friends have read the book (so fix that and find a copy!). She's an impulsive, hilarious, eager-to-please, "villainous," shapeshifter, and she's one of the best characters I've read in a long time. I love her.

"You'll Be Back" - The Sassiest Villain 

Sadly, I've read very few books with sassy villains in them, but I want to remedy this, so recommend all your favorites in the comments! But every character in the Order of the Stick Series by Rich Burlew is pretty sassy and/or sarcastic, so there's that. If you like playing Dungeons & Dragons, it's the book for you.

"Right Hand Man" - Favorite Bookish Friendship 

Blue and her raven boys from the Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater are pretty much the definition of #SquadGoals. But Clary and Simon from the Mortal Instruments and the Golden Trio from Harry Potter all deserve mentions, too. Oh, and the Marauders, also from Harry Potter! (Can you tell I'm a sucker for friendship stories?)

"Helpless" - A Relationship You Were Pulling For From the Very Start

How am I supposed to pick favorites with this one?!?! Gah. I guess instead of mention all bazillion of my ships, I'll go ahead and say Simon and Blue from Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli. Their mutual love and respect for Oreos, flirtatious e-mails, and general adorableness made for a happy, fluffy read that made my fangirl heart go "sqeeeeeee."

"Satisfied" - Favorite Book with Multiple POVs

I could pick a ton, because multiple POV books tend to be my favorites (they're usually the kind I write), but I'm trying to be diverse with my selections so I won't mention another certain Rainbow Rowell book that starts with Eleanor and ends with & Park. (And I do realize I just mentioned it even though I said I wouldn't, but shh, the devil's in the details.) I'm gonna go with These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner, because yes. That just about sums it up. 

"Wait For It" - A Book Worth Waiting For

CAN WE ALL SAY The Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling?!?! I know it's a script, but it's in book form, so it still counts!!! July 31st can't come fast enough. But like Aaron Burr, I'm willing to wait for it.

"Stay Alive" - A Character You Wish Were Still Alive

It's probably been like five years, but I still don't think I've recovered from the childhood trauma that was (highlight for Bridge to Terabithia spoilers!) Leslie's death. So did not see that coming.

"Ten Duel Commandments" - Favorite Fight Scene

It's hard for me to pick out a single fight scene, but any of the craziness that happens in Tamora Pierce's books and the Divergent series comes to mind as great action. Medieval fantasy and dystopian tend to bring that side of stories out.

"What Comes Next?" - A Series You Wish Had More Books

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill. I could've read so much more of that story had it existed. I'm a sucker for time travel. That book basically had me reading for three straight days, breaking only to eat and sleep (a little).

"Dear Theodosia" - A Book With Great Parent-Child Relationships

Three books come to mind immediately: August's parents with August and his sister in Wonder by R.J. Palacio, the Finch family in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and the March family in Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Two of these books came out a really long time ago, so clearly family dynamics is something I'm longing for in modern YA stories especially. Feel free to share your favorite family-centric books in the comments! I'm always looking for suggestions.

"Non-Stop" - A Series You Marathoned

The amount of sass in this coat flip is perfect.

The W.I.T.C.H. graphic novels by Parke Godwin were a favorite of mine when I was younger. Heck, they're still fantastic! I'm pretty sure I read all eight of them in a day or two and became obsessed enough to write terrible, terrible stories about characters similar to all five of the main girls. It was my sad attempt at fan-fiction. But hey, imitation is the highest form of flattery, right?

"What'd I Miss" - A Book or Series You Were Late to Reading

I'm dreadfully behind on the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas, which I embarrassingly only started a couple years ago. And also the Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater. I'm horrible, I know. But they're both amazing and I will finish them one day.

"Take a Break" - A Good Beach/Vacation Read

Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum! Much like Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, it's involves anonymous e-mails from someone at the same school. The whole time I was reading it I was trying to guess who it was while also thinking, "please don't be him, please don't be him, for the love of everything don't be him." It reads really fast and it's not one that involves a lot of brain power, perfect for lounging by the ocean.

"Say No To This" - A Guilty Pleasure Read

The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I know, I know, it's not the greatest writing in the world, but I absolutely adore the characters and the stories. I didn't think I'd be able to stomach it after not even getting past the first couple of chapters of Twilight, but I was pleasantly surprised.

"The Room Where It Happens" - A Book World In Which You Want to Live

Hogwarts, plain and simple. I've never met a single person who didn't want to go to Hogwarts. I don't even understand Harry and Ron when they're complaining about their homework. Um, you're LEARNING FREAKING MAGIC. Sign me up, please and thank you.

"The Reynolds Pamphlet" - A Plot Twist You Didn't See Coming

Why yes, yes that is King George throwing the Reynolds Pamphlet in Hamilton's face and then prancing away.

Look at all their faces!!

That, ladies and gentleman, is Thomas Jefferson making it rain while chanting a taunting, "Never gon' be president now."

(I had to include more than one gif because I couldn't decide between the three!)

How about everything that happens in Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn? Talk about insanity. That and We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. Oh, and Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas! Gah, so many "*GASP*" moments.

"Burn" - Most Tragic Ending to a Relationship

That moment when your ship goes down in flames.

Ugh, even people who haven't read The Fault In Our Stars by John Green knows it's tragic. During rereads I still sometimes trick myself into thinking it'll end differently, but it hasn't worked so far.

"Blow Us All Away" - A Character Who Changed the World

Katniss Everdeen! She's the original dystopian "face of the rebellion." The reluctant hero, inspiration to society, willing to stand up to tyrants, she's got it all. And half of it she wasn't even trying to do!

"It's Quiet Uptown" - A Book That Made You Cry Ugly Tears

There are about a dozen I could pull out for you right now, but basically any book with a dog on the cover is destined to be something that makes me cry into my pillow before bed. City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare had me bawling over Simon feels, too.

"The Election of 1800" - A Book or Series That Made the Fandoms Take Sides (i.e. Team Edward vs. Team Jacob)

I have to mention Hunger Games and Throne of Glass again. The Katniss-Peeta-Gale and Celaena-Chaol-Dorian love triangles make the fans go nuts. (*coughs* Not that I would ever get into shipping wars, nosiree, Bob . . .)

"Best of Wives and Best of Women" - A Favorite Heroine

The protagonists of the Lunar Chronicles are all just so amazing for different reasons, but they work well as a team, too! So many feels in that series, I tell you. So many.


"Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story" - A Book Series That Will Be Remembered Throughout History

Like Emma said in her tag, how can this go to anything but Harry Potter? A lot of stories can seem outdated, but I don't think that'll be the case here. It'll stand the test of time because it's so unique and complex and rich with emotion. The characters are all as complicated as the plot, but it's not at the expense of the story. I can't find a single negative thing to say about it.

Tag, you're it! What are some of your favorite "Hamilton" songs? Feel free to steal this for your blog or answer a few questions in the comments. Enjoy!

MA Trip

Last week my family went on vacation to Massachusetts to visit friends and relatives and see some things in Concord and Boston. We'd just finished reading Little Women together and learning about the transcendentalists, so it was perfect timing! Being homeschooled really helps us to go places off season when there aren't any school crowds, too. ;)

The drive was a good 7+ hours, but it mostly passed quickly for me thanks to a combination of listening to the "Hamilton" soundtrack over and over (and over and over and over . . .) again (you'll be getting a blog post about the music soon enough) and writing in my notebook.

We were greeted by my grandma and plenty of delicious Portuguese food. The next day we traveled all over Concord. We saw so many things: Orchard House (the old home of the Alcott family), the Old Manse (the home to many transcendentalists over the years), Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Walden Pond, Old North Bridge, and the Minute Man Statue.

Orchard House https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchard_House

Obviously it was all really cool to see just because of the history, but we also heard a lot of interesting stories. For example, Little Women is almost entirely autobiographical. Louisa patterned Jo after herself, and all of the other March women after her sisters. The oldest, Anna, was Meg; the youngest, May, was Amy (notice her name is just rearranged); and the second youngest, Elizabeth, was Beth. But there were a few key differences, including that Louisa's father never went to help in the war (but Louisa did as a nurse!), Louisa never married, and there was never one true Laurie in her life. Instead, she created Laurie using bits of different boys she was friends with when she was younger. (Spoilers for Little Women ahead!) Louisa never intended to have Jo married, but after the first part of Little Women was published, she got so many fans from letters begging to have her married (specifically to Laurie) that she decided to compromise. She would have Jo get married, just to somebody else, Bhaer.

Louisa's sister May was really an artist, just like Amy. As a kid she would draw all over the walls to practice her sketching since paper was expensive and usually Louisa or her father would get to it first. You can still see the drawings on the walls if you visit the house! And the Alcott parents were totally okay with her doing this. Another fun fact, May went on to be the first art teacher of a boy, Daniel Chester French. who later became a famous sculptor. He's the one who sculpted the Minute Man Statue and the Lincoln Memorial.

So yeah, Orchard House was a favorite as far as that day went.

The next day we went to Boston to see the Harvard campus, Harvard Bookstore (an indie bookstore!), Boston Commons, the public gardens (where we got to take a ride on the swan boats), and the Isabella Steward Gardner Art Museum. The museum was gigantic, with three different floors filled with sculptures and paintings and tapestries. The second floor was closed for renovations and restorations when we went, but they still had the most famous pieces out in another exhibit for everyone to see. In the nineties, a bunch of famous paintings were stolen from the museum and to this day are still lost, so they have some spots talking about that on empty spaces on the wall.

"Isabella Stewart Gardner" by John Singer Sargent https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_Stewart_Gardner

Isabella also had a lot of John Singer Sargent pieces, which made my mom spin a whole tale where she wondered if Isabella had a thing for John, especially after we realized she posed for one of his portraits. For a large portion of their friendship (or was it just?), Isabella was married. My mom kept saying it'd make a great historical romance, but we didn't know that there was actually a lot of gossip about the two of them back when they were alive! Apparently after Isabella received the portrait John painted of her, she loved it, but her husband did not . . . hmm . . .

http://www.mos.org/planetarium/laser-michael-jackson

We went to the Boston Museum of Science on our last day there. We spent the whole afternoon there exploring it and we didn't even see it all! It's that huge. My favorite parts were easily the optical illusions gallery and the Hall of Human Life. There were a lot of social science surveys and interactive stations you could use, which were fun. After we were done there, we went to the planetarium attached to it to see a Michael Jackson laser show. It was kinda cheesy, but still cool to have done. The more abstract patterns were really awesome, but there were a few songs were they displayed these terrible laser cartoons that told the story along with the music that had both my brother Max and me giggling in our seats. At one point after the first of the songs in this style ("ABC"), Max was laughing and said loud enough for everyone to hear, "What the heck are we watching?" I'm pretty sure our parents lost it.

So after walking close to fifteen miles in three days, eating tons of seafood, riding the T all over, and seeing as much as we possibly could during our stay, we got to come home and get our little dog back. Scout was very happy to see us after being apart for so long, and vice versa.

Have you ever been to Boston or Concord? What was your favorite thing you saw? Leave a comment!

Two Poems

So I'm taking this fantastic online poetry course from the University of Iowa called #Flashwrite. I'm two weeks in and already seeing a big difference, which is exciting because poetry has always felt like my weak point. But I'm having tons of fun with it. :) I thought I'd share the poems I've been working on since taking the course and ask if you have any advice for me, too. The first is from the week on imagery and the second is from the figurative language lessons.

Worn Tires on a Lonely Highway

Classic rock crackles through a bad connection,

Poor enough to annoy but just good enough not to turn off.

He's been driving for hours,

And the deep purple bags under once bright green eyes tell you

He's exhausted.

But the road is long and endless,

Pavement smooth and grey,

Double yellow lines faded to a ghost of a guideline.

It'd be so easy to veer off to the other side,

But he keeps on driving.

The rumble of the engine became your lullaby,

The smell of cheap gas station coffee and

Greasy bacon cheeseburgers from the sketchy diner with broken AC

Your fragrance of choice.

Motel carpets that used to be green are now brown,

So you don't take your shoes off even when you crawl between wrinkled sheets,

But the sound of his snoring still sings you to sleep.

Morning comes early,

And it's back on that lonely highway,

Just the two of you up front and an empty backseat.

Two brothers,

One car,

All the days to keep on fighting.


Lila

She is an angel of the underworld,

Too good for dark but

Too dark for good.

She is lost,

Like a cat that roams the neighborhood streets,

Perching only for a night on wicker porch furniture,

Never staying in one place long enough to watch the sun set and then

Rise on a new day.

She is thirsty,

Parched lips and dry tongue yearning

For the wetness and satisfaction of feeling

Her skin brush that of another

Who knows what it's like to be cold

Even in the thick oppression of August's rays.

She is broken,

Made up of shattered shards of mistakes she

Glued back together but in the wrong places with "what if"s and

"Could have been"s and the

Glittering promise of redemption she chased for years,

Like a mirage on the desert horizon.

Instead of water she found dust

And rust

And lust for a pinch to pull her from this nightmare she mistakenly called

Hope.

She is the hitchhiker on the side of a highway.

She is rain on campfires.

She is the back corner of a garage where you store your

Forgotten notebooks and bicycles with flat tires.

She is a moonless night,

She is melting wax,

She is shame

And blame

And self-inflicted pain,

But most of all,

She is.

What did you think? Is there anything I can do to improve either one of them? If you'd like, you can share some of your poetry in the comments. I'd love to read it!

March Wrap-Up

Books I Read

Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

4/5

I really, really enjoyed this one. I'd read a lot of action-packed stories recently, so a little bit of "fluff" was welcome. It was a fun high school story, but it didn't feel like it lacked any substance. The main character, Jessie, has lost her mother and now has to move across the country with her new step-family. That alone could make for a really heavy book, but the author weaves it in so it just adds layers rather than dwelling on the grief. Something else that sets it apart from other high school stories was the mystery of the anonymous e-mail sender. Mixing that in with the rest of the drama was a nice touch. Everything that happened was a realistic portrayal, I thought. And the frequent texts and e-mails made for a lot of white space that was fun to read. It was the perfect book for me while I was stuck on the couch with a fever.

The Haters by Jesse Andrews

DNF


Gah, I was so hoping I'd like this book better, because I usually love stories focused around music! I just couldn't get past the narrator, Wes. He and his friend Corey annoyed and confused me. Most of their dialogue/narration sounded like they'd taken a big ball of stupid and tried to make it sound like something resembling smart. They failed. I was only able to get about fifty pages in before I gave up. I'm mostly disappointed because I was excited to read what looked like a good YA novel with a male protagonist! A lot of them just end up being mediocre for me because they all sound the same. Where are my quirky or geeky or bookish boys???

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

4/5

This book had all the makings of a five-star read if it had just been formatted a little differently. I loved Julie. I loved her sarcastic narrating style and her friendship with Maddie and how brave she was throughout captivity. But the way she told Maddie's story confused me, especially when she referred to herself in the third person. And Maddie's part was very easy to read, but didn't have as much excitement as Julie's when she talked about what her life was like after being captured. But I absolutely loved their relationship, as well as the ending of the book. There were tears.

Movies I Watched

"Phantom of the Opera"

3.5/5

Great music and production! I had a little less sympathy for the phantom than a lot of people do, but the overall story was interesting. The costumes were amazing, too. After a while a lot of the music sounded the same to me, but I did like it.

"The Bourne Supremacy"

4/5

This one is probably my favorite of the three, but it ended way too fast! The whole trilogy was great and highly recommended.

"Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"

4/5

I really enjoyed both versions of this story for different reasons. I watched the older version ("Willy Wonka") first. And for a movie made in 1971, it did a pretty good job of holding up to modern standards. The special effects, the acting, even the music was all great considering. My favorite part about this movie in particular was Willy Wonka himself. He was sarcastic and didn't take any of the other four kids' brattiness, but he was also quirky and funny. He reminded me a little bit of any of the Doctors from "Doctor Who," down to the unique outfit and fast talking and magical world that seems bigger on the inside. This movie did have somewhat of an abrupt ending to it, though. Not unsatisfying, but quick. I liked the music in this one much better, too.

"Spectre"

4/5

Not my favorite I've seen so far, but I definitely liked it. It kept me interested, had a great cast (three cheers for Andrew Scott!!), and had me on the edge of my seat more than once, as all James Bond movies should.

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"

3.5/5

This was very Tim Burton. It wasn't creepy, necessarily, but definitely a lot darker. Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka was more odd than delightfully quirky. With Gene Wilder, it didn't seem awkward at all when he gave Charlie a great big hug. Johnny Depp always gave off a "don't touch me" vibe. There was something more off and almost cold about him. It wasn't a bad different, I just preferred the other Willy Wonka better. However, this movie had a lot more backstory to it. You get to find out more about Charlie's family (he has a dad in this version, which he didn't in the other), the chocolate factory before it closed down and reopened, where the Oompa Loompas came from and how they came to work for Willy Wonka, and a whole flashback sequences about Willy Wonka's childhood. I liked that aspect a lot. It added more layers to the story. The ending was more complete, too.

"Batman Begins" 

4/5

Even though I'm a Marvel girl through and through, the Batman series is one I can get behind. I couldn't do too many of these darker movies in a row, but I really liked the cast and the story. And everyone needs an Alfred in their lives.

"Little Miss Sunshine"

4/5

Oh my gosh, this movie was great. It's an offbeat Indie film with a totally dysfunctional family. It makes you tear up a little at some parts, but also laugh hysterically at others. Olive is adorable, but every character adds to the fun.

"The Dark Knight" 

4/5

Holy crap, I'd heard about how psycho the Joker is, but seeing him in action is a whole other thing. He definitely stole the show, and the entire movie is a roller coaster of events. I can't wait for the next one.

Quotes I Wrote

Time is fragile. Time is complicated. The past can be changed, yes, but the past is what makes our future. We are who we are because of our battle scars.
-Ms. Holmes

Having a time machine did not make me some sort of ruler over it. I couldn't always manipulate it in the ways I wanted. I wasn't a god. I would never be able to change Mia's fate, but I could change this. I could hold her hand.
-Ms. Holmes

"All right, what happened?" Dawn said. Her arms were crossed over her chest defiantly.
I took a sip of tea to avoid the question. I grimaced. It was pomegranate. I'd never liked fruity teas. "What do you mean?"
"You haven't called Sir Mittens one name in Polish or Portuguese. Something must be wrong."
"Nothing's wrong."
"You filthy liar. Do you think I'm a complete duffer? You may like to think you're some sort of emotionless shell, but I see right through you, Astrid Holmes."
-Ms. Holmes

Obsessions I Acquired

"Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" - Talk about a quirky show! It has all the best parts of "Galavant" mixed with "Jane the Virgin" and "New Girl." The plot is simple, the characters that you can't help but love (or love to hate) make every episode interesting, and it makes you laugh every other minute. I'm so glad it got renewed.

"Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." - Despite being only two episodes in, I'm hooked. Talk about a fantastic pilot! I already had high expectations just because it's Marvel and Marvel is great, but it surpassed even that. Coulson is the absolute best, and I can already tell some of my favorite characters are going to be Fitz and Simmons.

Picture of the Month

My dad took my brother and me to see the Blue Man Group. It was such a fun show!

 

How was your March?