I believe in you.

I hope you know that you can do it. Whatever it is, you can do it.
I wish someone told me that earlier.

Please go for your dream

To those of you, those few, who actually read this blog get that its been going on for a few years
and now I am trying to figure out my future, which college and career to choose.
Well, let me tell you a little tale...
FIRST
 I wanted to be a doctor, because my mother is one and my family has always pushed me in that direction.
"Stern (the college) has a great program that allows women to go directly from college to medical school."
"That job is not realistic (i forget the other future in question), you need money to live, doctors make a lot of money."
SECOND
 I wanted to be a journalist, because I love to write and read.
I have an aunt of Asian descent who is a journalist, I kind of wanted to be like her, but I was actually told this: " There are too many blond, blue eyed reporters and journalists. Don't do that. You'll never make it."
THIRD
I wanted to be an archaeologist, because I love history, adventure, mystery, the outdoors, etc.
"That will never happen, if anything that a dying industry."
"Who cares about the past, you should get a career in math or science"
"That is impossible, you should do something with charity or math."
NOW
I decided I want to work as a clinical psychologist, to help people like me, with problems like mine.
I am not letting anyone tell me otherwise.
I am done living my life by other people's standards.
Please don't give up on your dream just because someone says you shouldn't.
It's your life, not theirs.
Please don't be sad that you can't be happy.

Practice makes Perfect, or just Progress.

For those of you who give up,
I wanted to as well and I dont care how cocky this sounds, but now I am far better than before.
Hell, the hands are completely backwards in the first one.
The first is from seventh grade, the second is from this year.
Im super proud of the second one.
(#Troyler)
Keep working.
Its freaking worth it.

SWEETEST DEDICATION IN AGATHA CHRISTIE BOOK

CONFESSION: I have never read Harry Potter

RADICAL NEW BOOKEND

COLORCODED MY BOOKS

This took two hours, I was very very bored on Saturday. Now all of the hundreds of books in my room are color coded. It starts off rainbow, going across laterally. Red, orange, yellow, green, teal, blue, then black. Then I went to my third bookshelf with black, grey, white, purple, gold, brown, pink.
I tried to do a color gradient. I like it.
Its a little harder to find a book now, but hey I have already read them and it's fun to think "what color was the book so and so".

Summer fun

A strange occurrence happened.
I noticed that even though I had plenty of free time in the summer, I never blogged. But now,
that school has started and my time is now limited, I seem to blog more.
Seems....illogical.

The ending to Narnia

Alright so for those of you who realized "Hey, I never read the Narnia series, I now must correct my mistake."
I'll save you the trouble, there is a whole series of books and I highly recommend the first two. But for your own sake end it right there, at The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Because boy, oh boy it is a long read, and not worth it.
I finished the series to...
SPOILER ALERT
only find out they are all dead. They thought they were in a train crash, but then they came to Narnia.
At the very end Aslan basically says "Hey it WAS a train crash, you and all your family is dead, so now you can stay in Narnia and party forever!"
WHAT? WHAT?
This happened in about two lines. Total plot twist in the last two lines of".he book. No, no nonono. That is not how you a series, you are supposed to tie it all up with a bow. Not "Congrats, your'e dead."
No. I will not accept that.
Sorry.
Try again, C.S. Lewis.

Its true.

I have never read Harry Potter.
Okay, I said it.
I am going to read it this summer.
But as of now, I have never read it.
I file this in my embarrassed-to-call-myself-a-bookworm account.
It goes along with me hating tea.

TIME TROUBLES

I just built a bookcase.
In an hour. It was easy, but it did take an hour.
How the heck did Phineas and Ferb build a rollercoaster in one afternoon?

Have a good weekend

Haven't really posted in a while, sorry.
Was busy reading.
:-)

The Book Thief -fantastic!

I haven't posted in a while due to summer business, but I do feel that this is very, very worthy of peoples attention.
I am currently reading The Book Thief, and it is utterly fantastic! After three pages, I literally said to myself, "Okay. I'm hooked."
Read it, it is amazing. NO SPOILERS, I HAVEN'T FINISHED IT YET!
Its about a young girl, Leisel, in the time of WWII and the Holocaust. Usually I don't read those type of books, but my friend kept pushing me, so I gave in. I love it. Liesel lives with her foster family in Germany, as she begins her career as the Book Thief. In this book -narrated by Death, naturally- you will be instantly absorbed into into a new perspective on that era.
Please, please, please please read it.
Oh wow. It is amazing.

Just an inspired notion I had about sexism

I would like to share an inspired idea I had. What if they removed all the sexism from the news. So instead of an article like "Amanda Seyfried wears pants that surely do not flatter her figure!", it would say "Accomplished actress wears pants." And who in their right mind would cate about an article like that. So they wouldn't print those types of articles, and would have to report on ACTUAL news. Thus abolishing printed sexism and further educating the world on important issues so they shall be better informed.
I mean really "Amanda Seyfried buys cheap shoes or whatever" is so pointless.
You guys are supposed to report on the NEWS.
Go do your job.

The raging insanity due to a Mr. Lemony Snicket

So I am currently obbsessed with uncovering the secrets and answer the questions of A Series of Unfortunate Events. I mena obsessed. I just got the Beatrice Letters and Lemony Snicket is driving me insane!!!!!!!!!!! I need answers. This is an insatiable curiosity. I read it last night and and I punched a pillow dor ten minutes, walked around and had some beef jerky at two in the morning to calm me down.
Read. The. Beatrice. Letters.
Go insane.
I highly recommend it.

Im torn

John Green, you are simultaneously an inspiration and a nightmare.
TFIOS

BOOKS ARE FABULOUS

BOOKSBOOKSBOOKSBOOKS
IM SO HAPPY

THE ULTIMATE CUREALL

Books are a cure for everything.
Need to relax: read a book.
Bored: read a book.
Want something to be excited about: read a book.
Want to even just get away from reality: read a book.

Magic, I
say.

Hazel Grace Lancaster

I drew Hazel! Augustus is described a a little bit vaguer, so I decided to only draw her. Anyway its only her in the end after all. Right?

...I'm so sorry.

The faction system

So about Divergent....
Frankly I liked it. Both movie and book. The first was good with an intersting dystopian setting in a dilapidated Chicago. They rely on a faction system, dividing people into categories by their strongeat personality type. My sister and I were discussing this, she thinks it marvelous. Even though that was what the entire book was dissmising. She says that a faction system would be a good type of government. No.
No.
No.
No.
This worries me. So much no.

My attempt at a book review

I was reading the Maze Runner and I would like to critique this series. The first book is engaging, the plot progresses at a steady rate and  makes the reader wonder enough about the questions posed, so they will get into the next book. But then there's the next book. A love triangle appears out of almost nowhere and everything gets complicated. More questions are posed and people constantly switch from good to bad. You don't know whats reliable and whats not. Everything gets confusing. Too confusing.
My analysis: Book 1- Intriguing
Other books- Confusing.

Fairy fossils

I hope you all have a happy April Fools day.
As a prank I put little glitter footseteps in my brothers room and made a fairy fossils as revenge to my brother who put salt in my ceral and milk!

Book marathon

Im reading Looking For Alaska. JOHN GREEN MARATHON. I feel so strange sometimes, some people run marathons, others watch marathons. I read marathons.

"Books. The best weapons in the world!"

If you want to escape reality, then read a book.
Books are the best cure for the impending reality.

The Fault in our Stars

My sister read the Fault in our Stars!
She hates reading. Thank you John Green for making her read!!!!! It is an amazing book. I have read it three times now and each time I marvel at the philosophical ideologies. Its all so deep. Yet it is deep in a form that is casual enough to engage the average reader. Bravo, you brilliant man you.

Also you are horrible John Green. How on Earth could you write this book willingly. You know what you did. Shame on you.

AND THE ENDING EVEN SOUNDED LIKE WEDDING VOWS. HOW IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT IS HOLY COULD YOU DO THAT!

IF YOU FEEL BAD PLEASE LET ME TELL YOU

I JUST WANT TO TELL EVERYONE THAT OUTER BEAUTY IS NOT IMPORTANT.
IF YOUR BRAIN IS BEAUTIFUL
AND YOUR HEART IS BEAUTIFUL
AND YOUR SOUL IS BEAUTIFUL

THEN YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.

Critique on The Snow Child

I finished reading The Snow Child (yes its based off the fairy tale). It was really good -I recommend it. 4 and a half stars. The only thing I thought kind of irksome was how that sweet little, feral girl turns into this (SPOILERS!) pregnant teenager. That's the way it is though, isn't it. We all are forced to grow up in the end. I also kind of wished that she really was (SPOILERS AGAIN!) a child formed from snow and wishes. But those are not legitimate complaints. Read this, its kind of fantastic and very magical.

Update in your leaders life

People don't do things nowadays. We fall into routine and do nothing. I can do any thing. I can run a marathon. I can eat a whole cake. I can set my house ablaze. But I understand consequences so I don't. Well I felt like doing something today. Actually DOING  a thing. So I went and dyed my hair red!
Of course when I went to the place I brought along a book.
I took the snow child.
Im only half way through it, but its pretty good. Book of the week, book club!

To all my bookworms

Piece of advice:
Don't over read or you may be evident to hand cramps.
True story.

Reading struggles

I live in a constant battle between  rereading an old series I love or starting a new series.

THE NAMING SECRETS OF FROZEN

Okay so I went with my friend, Maia, to see Frozen yesterday.
I had already seen it but it was good so I went again.
So post movie we were discussing it and I brought up how it was nothing like the Hans Christian Anderson version.
At that moment she started flipping out, when I asked why, she told me.
Guys.
Hans Christian Anderson.
Hans.
Christian.
Anderson.
Hans and Christian.
Hans and Kristoff.
THEY WERE BOTH NAMED AFTER THE HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON. HOW COULD I NOT NOTICE THIS BEFORE. OMG.

Books are hardcore

So over the weekend I read so much that  my hand now has a cramp in it.
Due to reading.
And they said reading never hurt anyone.

The Horror

I've read that the Catholic radicals used to burn non religious books.
I still mourn for this.

Better words

There are so, so many words in the English language. Why on earth would you type the "word" "asdfghjkl" when literally an impossible amount will do. Such as "Unbelievable" "Holy Guacamole" or even "I cannot even begin to describe my emotions right now". Also, why YOLO? Why? Hakuna Matata are actual words in Swahili that mean what you are trying to say...but better.

Its true. Yes.

Why

I like books because books dont die.
People die.
Dont trust people because they just die without permission.
Books dont die.

Tell a story

I think the main reason I love books is that they tell a story.
Just bear with me for a a second.
Every book is like magic because for anew book you have no idea where the story will go or where it takes place.
Or if its a book you have read already then you KNOW what the story will be and you know it wont change and its so dependable.
They all have characters and plot and a whole new world.
They give you a story. They give you an escape, a new life to enjoy temporarily.


Whats horrible is when you finish a book. Then you have nothing to do with your life and all is bleak and empty.

My issues with the educational system

Okay so this has nothing to do with reading, but it has something to do with education.
I have so many issues with the educational system. Where do I even begin?
Okay, so I am a naturally curious person. Tell me your life story, stuff me with facts. I would love to hear it.
So when I actually want to know something because I am either curious or confused then DO NOT treat me like I am stupid and call my question stupid. I have way too many teachers do this to me.
Another thing, my school  has Judaic classes and every Friday as a treat, we have a discussion about anything at all instead of learning. Two issues with this. I am paying money to attend a school SPECIFICALLY for these extra classes. A discussion once in a while is fine. But having one always is a waste of my time. I am at school to learn, and by the time I get irritated that we are not learning you need to tone it down a notch.
Also at these discussions if we could actually talk about worthwhile issues that would be great. I asked my teacher about the Torahs stance on destiny and freewill. I was curious. So I asked about it. After two minutes of utter nonsense I was told I was WASTING CLASS TIME and that we should MOVE ON. Ten seconds later, the class has a THIRTY MINUTES CONVERSATION ON RESTAURANTS.
Restaurants.
I ASKED ABOUT DESTINY AND FREE WILL AND I WAS TOLD I WAS WASTING TIME.
THEN SOMEONE ASKS ABOUT A RESTAURANT AND THEY DISCUSS IT PASSIONATELY FOR THIRTY MINUTES.
This. This right here is why I have an issue with the education system.

I LOVE SHERLOCK HOLMES

Arthur Conan Doyle. Synonymous today with the greatest mystery detective ever known. Sherlock Holmes. And we cant forget his sidekick/blogger (Depending on the version you prefer). He is amazing and incredible. He can tell you if you are a boxer by looking at your nose. He can solve a crime without leaving his flat. He is positively incredible. If you do not have a massive love for Sherlock Holmes -or Benedict Cumberbatch- then you are lying to yourself.

"If you value your life or your reason, keep away from the moor" That ia my favorite Sherlock Holmes quotation.
The game is afoot. 

Advice from the author of Order of Odd-Fish

I recently read an absurdist book. It was weird, as expected. I was given it at this program I did called CTD at Northwestern. That stands for Center of Talent Development, where you are supposed to nurture a specific talent or interest. I was in creative writing. Don't get me wrong it was a terrific program....but all we did was write stories. I loved it.
Anyways back to the book. It's called the Order of Odd-Fish. Its  tale about a girl, Jo, who was found with a note that said she was dangerous. The story goes on to Jo and a talking cockroach , her aunt and a strange man go off to Odd-Fish where she hides a terrible secret. 

I actually met the author -he was a teacher at CTD. He gave us some advice and insight as to how he wrote the book that I figured I should share.

This can go into the advice part of this blog.

1) Don't mix work with pleasure

If you spend too much time learning the inner workings and pieces of literature, you will later become not interested in it and go into something else. If you focus too intently on a subject, you will eventually lose interest.

2)When deciding upon sidekick names try to stick to three letter ones.

Ex: Han (Star Wars), Ron (Harry Potter) etc.

3) When deciding upon a name for the protagonist, don't pick something that the readers will tire of.

For this particular book, Jo. (It is short)

4)When editing, try to shorten the book as much as possible. If something can be removed. Remove it.

That is all I currently remember.

Now don;t just sit there. Go write a book or something!

They are my friends

I call books my paper friends.

The Moonstone mystery

This week in the "Weekly Online Book Club of Doom" -I may need to change the name- is in the midst of The Moonstone. I am halfway through the book and something confuses me. A review on the back by T.S. Elliot says that is was the first detective novel ever. There is no publication date I can find. The book is obliviously new, I got it in Barnes and Noble for twenty bucks, no way it is a valuable relic. So is it just a reprinting of an old book or a new book made to seem like it was written in the 1800s. Does anyone know?

The weekly comics

I want to make a weekly comic about books or reading. I think I'll make it every Friday. So expect a comic weekly. Im so excited. I've really been wanting to do this. I hope everyone likes them.

This made my day.

So I bought this book, the Moonstone, which I have yet to read but when I opened it I noticed something. So the story is old. Not that the book is old, its quite new, but the story is from the time of Charles Dickens. The cover is made to look old and all but the pages..the pages are even better. They are spotted. Not like polka dots or anything. But they are made to look like they have water marks from years of use. I didn't even realize it until I looked closely. Its so neat.

IM IN BOSTON

So I am currently chilling (its a pun since it ia utterly freezing here) in Boston. I am here to college shop. For those of you  unaware, this means that I am looking and touring colleges. College is a tough subject. I have no idea as to what I want to do or major in. Poetry or nuclear physics. Philosophy or calculus. I have literally no clue. I wish I could major in books and just read for a living.

Truly tragic

I hate being bored and bookless.

Comprehension

You know, online reading is quite harder than regular reading. If I read something via the internet than I need to read it a few times to actually comprehend it. Not with a physical book, only an article or essay online. Interesting.

Reading requires focus, calm

Okay so I am a very hyperactive person always running, jumping, walking, flying. I can almost never hold still. I feel like I constantly need something  do. Sometimes  my boredom will lash out in peculiar things. For instance I organized all my Q tips out of boredom. I need to DO something, always. Everything makes me hyper. I am that person that freaks out when a TV show I like has a plot twist. Ill go jumping up and down. You can imagine me during every episode of Sherlock. But with books, books are truly amazing. I can not only hold still and utterly focused but I can become absorbed. Literally, reading is the only time I can be still. But when a book has a mad plot twist I will get up and freak out a little.

A specific need

You know what is hard, picking out what book to read. Finding one to match your mood. If I am in the mood to read Sherlock Holmes, I will. But if I am in the mood to read Nancy Drew, I can't read anything else. I NEED to read what I am in the mood for.

Delving into my hatred of the end of Divergent

I think I realized why before I was so upset at the ending of the Divergent books. So the whole time it was from Tris' perspective. The last book switched on and off form Tris to Tobias. But when Tris died, it wasn't even from Tobias's perspective, it was from what would have been Tris's perspective. That is not okay. That is cruel and it makes me uncomfortable. It....its not right. Its just not right.

The quirks of Maximum Ride

Can I just talk about the Maximum Ride series for a second, if no one else will.
I am just so confused by the books.

A lot of the information seems off, almost as if the author forgot he mentioned something previously or the physics go wrong for a moment.

For instance, I am absolutely positive that that the fact that Iggy can feel colors was mentioned in one of the first books, but I distinctly remember them all finding out in either the third or fourth book, when they are in the Arctic.

I spent a few minutes utterly confused. Didnt they already know.

Also they kind of broke physics in one book.

 I distinctly remember Max taking that tracking chip out of her arm and losing all ability in that arm. But then she wakes up later to find no chip in her arm and regaining all ability in that arm. It is confusing all together, but I do belive that she actually did take the chip out of her arm. Leaving me to wonder, how? 

Thats not possible. Originally, it was unclear if that had all been a dream, but it was revealed that it wasnt. Shouldn't her arm still be unable to move. The scientific capability to restore her arm has only recently been progressing, even the scientists in the School wouldnt have been able to fix her arm.

The books are great but sometimes.I think the author forgot what happened and repeated it and became a little confused about certain things. 

Also the series ended on sevral odd notes. First the whole book basically yelling at you to save the earth and beware of pollution and global warming. Then there was the fact that the series ended by killing off all of the planet. Leaving only Max, Angel and Maxs two boyfriends to frolic as they please. I mean, that is no way to.end a book, shame on you.

Apologies

Sorry for the long hiatus. I had midterms. Ill try to post a lot from now on.
Sorry, I owe you all.

My sister looks exactly like Sabrina Grimm

It makes you feel...like anything is possible.

The best thing in the world is getting lost in a row of books upon hundreds of rows of books in a seemingly endless library.
Nothing is netter, do not bother arguing.

A rant on the treatment of mental illnesses

This has nothing to do with reading or books. Feel free to get angry at me since I strayed from my theme. In fact, I encourage it. Feelings are necessary to actually feel. If this is the one disappointment on a day of horror and  you just want to yell or cry or break something, then do it. Don't hold your feelings in, let it out, let it go. Express yourself. Anyways, as I was going to say... I want to say something.
I have a few mental issues, these issues get in my way sometimes but I try to overpower them and keep them in check. People get irritated by my issues sometimes, like if I have to stop everything and hold my head since it feels like it will explode, they will tell me to hurry along. Or if  my ADD kicks in and I don't hear a word someone says they will clearly get annoyed. Most people are only sensitive to issues in the mind if they are visible issues, like Tourettes syndrome. Otherwise people treat you like a child who just wants attention. My question is that how is it that the most important, valued and delicate part of our body (the brain) is valued so low when it comes to conditions. The brain is irreplaceable, that's why we try to nurture and protect it. So how come when there's an issue related to the brain, even a psychosomatic disorder, people treat it with such impatience, it seems to me that tany mental issue should be treated with more concern, not less.

So wonderful

Yay! Its around 50  degrees out. I live in Flordia so that's freezing around here. Perfect reading weather. Be cozy all!

In the Library !

I wish I could go around and fix every library in the world.
To add more books and nooks and crannys.
But I also yearn for the library of Alexandria so......I dont know how realistic my goals are.

The right feel to it

When I read I have to have the correct atmosphere. One light in a dark room (candle or not), hot chocolate, those snugly things. Does anyone else need this?

Perhaps not my best idea

I lent a friend The Fault in our Stars.
She didn't know it was a sad book.
I'm a monster.

Yipee

We have reached over 1,00 readers. Thank you for your love of reading.

The divergent series.

I just finished Allegiant, from the Divergent series and I need to vent.
SPOILER ALERT
The first book was really good, thes econd ended on a plot twist, but the third...the third.

Okay, now for those of you who do not care about or have read the book....
I can not believe the ending! They killed off Tris. You can't just kill off the main charterer.
That breaks the unspoken agreement between author and reader. Here is the agreement:
1) You explain all dilemmas and secrets in full unless there is another book, in which you must explain it there.
2) If I get connected to your charterer then I am entitled to a back-story of a sort.
3) You are not allowed to kill off the main charchter without a proper ending.
4) If the main charterer is killed off YOU DO NOT CONTINUE ON THE STORY FOR ANOTHER TWENTY PAGES. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
5) I am reading this book, you have to space out exciting events and notshovealltheplottwiststogtherlikeso.
6) I am entitled to an at least decent ending. Do not get lazy by the end. Do not.
Alligiant broke too many of these rules to be acceptable.
Not nice, Divergent series. Not nice.

I hope so

I HOPE ALK YOUR NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS INCLUDED "READ MORE"!!! :-)

This is for you my lovely readers!

Our modernday snow queen.Shoutout to Disney for bringing the children of today into the land of fairytales.