I’ve found a new favorite author . . .

John Green. He is hands-down amazing, and I am in love with his books. I know it’s been a while since my last book review, and I really do apologize, but I’ve been reading only crap for school that no one really wants to read a review about. Anyway, here’s my review of a John Green book.

Title: The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green

Summary: Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumors in her lungs... for now.
Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumors tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.
Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

Stars: 5

Rate: 9

Pros: This book is realistic, as in life happens, and it’s not a sugar-coated happy ending. The characters were three-dimensional and not perfect, which made them in a very hypocritical way, perfect. Green really made everything come together in this story in a way that made sense.

Cons: I cried. I bawled like a baby with tears streaming down my face. Legitimate cons? The relationship was a bit fast, but Green made that work all right, too.

Overall Recommendation: Read it. It is one of my top five favorite books that I have ever read. The characters, the story, the ending . . . it’s all perfect. I loved this book so much that I went and bragged about it to three different people right away. If you’re looking for a good book about growing up and young love, read it.

Don’t forget the tissues.

This ain’t a fairytale . . . .

Oh, Taylor Swift, how you sum up my life.

Recently, I started working on a new project of sorts with two other girls on inkpop. It’s a collaboration of letters, actually. They’re all from us to three different boys. I think it’s really unique just because we don’t know if there’s a happy ending in the future. We’re playing it day-by-day and writing these letters daily. If it sounds appealing to you, go here to read: http://www.inkpop.com/fiction/memoir/words-i-didnt-say 

I’ll love you forever!

All right, so my self-promoting is over. I figured I would update my blog in honor of this lovely holiday. Friday the 13th is one of my favorite days, honestly. I don’t really know why, but it’s pretty amazing to see of all of the superstitious hype, don’t you think?

So, a few updates . . .

In the music world: We the Kings is going on tour with Mayday Parade, which is so amazing. If you snag tickets, let me know. Who doesn’t want to bring their favorite blogger along?

In the movie world: In the distant future, I’m looking forward to seeing The Hunger Games even though I haven’t read the books. If you’re looking for something a bit closer, Beauty and the Beast is coming back to theaters. Make sure to check out The Vow, starring Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams in February!

In the book world: I’m reading a series by Donita K. Paul, which is really good. It’s a little religious, but not overbearingly so. If you’re looking for more general reading, I recommend preordering Lauren Oliver’s sequel to Delirium, Pandemonium. I know that is one book I can not wait for!

In my world: (You had to know it was coming) I’m finishing up my first semester of high school and enjoying it. Finals are sure to make me a bit more dreary in the upcoming weeks, so be warned for depressing posts about mindless teachers. I’ve heard a lot about high school sweethearts and taking every chance you get to fall in love, but I’m kind of losing hope. Seeing as the boy I like is one of those popular, gorgeous ones. As in, our relationship is basically:

(Me being the random citizen) Nah, I’m just kidding. We do talk, and he’s really sweet. I just don’t know if I should let myself really like him. He’s already got a line of followers. Eh. High school.

 

So, there are your updates for movies, music, and books. If you don’t care about my guy troubles, that’s all right. I know I’m nothing interesting, but hey, don’t hate.

New Music!!

So, I love He is We so much. They're original and different and so great. If you haven't heard of them yet, you just have to listen to one song, and I swear you'll be hooked. I love them! Here is one of their newer songs from their recently released EP album, Skip to the Good Part.
So, take a listen. Leave a comment, telling me what you think, or recommend a new artist for me to check out.

Holiday Cheer and a Happy New Year

I know it’s been a bit since my last post, and I greatly apologize. My English teacher swamped us with a Shakespeare project, and while I was desperately hoping for something like this:

I was left to fend for myself. I did manage to finish it and turn it in, though! I’m anxiously waiting for my grade, seeing as it decides whether or not I pass this quarter. In other good English news, I received an A on a vocab quiz today that I forgot to study for until this morning. (Don’t blame me; it’s the day before break!)

My post isn’t to ramble about my life as a freshman though. It’s actually to bring up a picture I found today on the fabulous site, weheartit.com. This picture really got me thinking, and I think it’s good to think. If you don’t, your brain might just shut off and stop working. All right, that’s unlikely, but you never know, right?

So, yes, I know it’s technically not a picture. It’s more of a quote, but still. If you had the chance to redo this year, would you? Honestly, I don’t know my answer. I think it depends on the decisions we made this year, and how we feel about them. If I had been given the chance to redo 2010, I probably would have taken it in a heartbeat. Not to really redo everything, but just to see it  from a new perspective and see where everything changed.

I can’t say much on the quote, though, because it’s honestly just something to get you thinking. Though, I do want to wish you all a happy new year, whether the clock ticks over to 2012, 2011, or 2056. We can all hope for a better year, can’t we? Even if your year was great, the world could use a little bit of hope in general.

On New Year’s Eve this year, go out and have fun. Live up the last few hours of your 2011 so that when 2012 does roll around, you’re ready. Accept this year for all that’s it been and whatever it lacked, and just let it go. Holding onto the past only keeps us from embracing the future.

Here’s to hope, happiness and a delicious Christmas! Happy Holidays, everyone!

Christmas is in the air!

Christmas is twelve days away, everyone, and I for one can not wait! Christmas is such a great time with all of the pretty lights and tall trees in the windows of all of the houses. If I weren’t battling a sore throat and a serious case of the sniffles, I’d love it all even more.

For those of you who don’t celebrate Christmas, I understand where you’re coming from, but you can’t tell me that all of the decorations aren’t at least a little bit pretty. Holiday cheer is practically inescapable during this time of year. What are your views on it? Do you like all of the festive blow-ups and Christmas trees dancing alongside those blasted sugar plums?

In other unrelated-to-the-holidays, today is the lovely Taylor Swift’s twenty-second birthday. She has told press that she is working on a new album already, and I am super-excited. She’s shooting for 2012 to be a big year, so I’m hoping the album will be coming out in mid 2012 and not in a year! There’s enough to keep me held over, though. Between Rascal Flatt’s tour with Hunter Hayes and He is We going on tour again, my music life is pretty much rocking right now. Make sure to check out tour schedules for the following bands/artists if you’re interested in them, because I know they’re on tour now and in the upcoming months.

Rascal Flatts/Hunter Hayes/Sara Evans

He is We/The Cab/Days Difference/Paradise Fears/The Summer Set

Also, if you’re a fan of He is We (if not, please go check them out! They deserve so much more recognition than they get now.) they have a new EP coming out on the twentieth of this month. One more week! So exciting, isn’t it?

Well, that’s all for now. Go check out those bands, tours, and have a great week! I can’t wait to see what all of those artists have coming up!

After the WriMo

Today is December second, and I’m sure most of you are just now emerging back into the human world. You’re rubbing your eyes and searching for that hamster you had at the start of November. Like you all, I have spent two days recuperating and working furiously (all right, not so furiously) on a project for English. Or, unlike most of you, I guess. You’re probably too lucky to have such a horrendous report and project due for the same class.

Anyway, NaNoWriMo is over, and I’ve come out a bit wiser, a bit of an insomniac and . . . a girl who won that indefinable prize of happiness. On November 29th, I typed out the last few words of my twenty-fifth chapter and watched the word count box go up to 49,999 and then 50,000. My novel’s nowhere near done, in all honesty. I’ve still got another 40,000 words at least! I’m taking my time though. Breaks and patience are good when you can have them.

How many of you were successful this year? Was this your first NaNo? (It was my second) Make sure to check out the new things coming up on the nanowrimo.org site in the next few days if you did (or even if you didn’t) get to 50,000 words. There will be stuff to help you figure out where you go next.

By the way, if you haven’t already, go check out the NaNo toons! They’re on the NaNoWriMo site under the tab, Fun Stuff. I love these little comics, because I can actually relate! It’s a good laugh when you’re ready to claw out your eyes with the tip of your pen.

Congrats to everyone who won, an I hope to see you all back again next year. I’ll probably post some info about my NaNo novel, if you’re interested. Just check my blog when you get a chance. It’ll be up soon.