Frenetic Reader

Happy Mother's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Khy) — Sun, 12 May 2013 15:42:00 +0000

To my mom (known as Khymom to everyone else in the internet world), who still tells me what books I got in the mail, what birds have flown onto the top of our house, and that she loves me every day, even though I'm in college three hours ahead and three thousand miles away.

College's been rough, and I'm excited to go back to California for a break. It's hard to love people in New York City but easy amidst sunshine you don't have to earn.

I love you, Mom, and can't wait to see you.

the aforementioned bird

Hi.

noreply@blogger.com (Khy) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:30:00 +0000

I felt the need the post today, because I miss my blog, you, and reading. The only things I've read recently are books for my Russian history class, but those have actually been awesome.

I've read:

Notes From the Underground by Fyoder Dostoyevsky

A classic, and understandably so. Awesome unreliable narrator. Angsty in all the best ways.

“I could not become anything; neither good nor bad; neither a scoundrel nor an honest man; neither a hero nor an insect. And now I am eking out my days in my corner, taunting myself with the bitter and entirely useless consolation that an intelligent man cannot seriously become anything, that only a fool can become something.”

We by Yevgeny Zamyatin

A clear inspiration for Orwell's 1984 and in many ways I liked it even more. (But maybe that's because I haven't read 1984 since my freshman year of high school, and I'm almost done with my freshman year of college now, and, whoa, coming full circle, existential crisis, etc.) Wonderfully developed society, with a really cool tension between emotion and a lack thereof because of the rather cold, calculated, scientific way the characters approach things despite all the feelings bursting out of them. Fantastic ending, too.

“A man is like a novel: until the very last page you don't know how it will end. Otherwise it wouldn't be worth reading.”

Heart of Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov

Absolutely strange and nonsensical, but that just makes it more interesting. I liked it more for the historical context rather than the story, though, especially the ending. Got to love those endings that aren't all prettily tied up.

“Kindness. The only possible method when dealing with a living creature. You'll get nowhere with an animal if you use terror, no matter what its level of development may be. That I have maintained, do maintain and always will maintain. People who think you can use terror are quite wrong. No, no, terror is useless, whatever its colour – white, red or even brown! Terror completely paralyses the nervous system.”

My Russian reading adventures have been good, but I'd like to return to some of my normal reading and blogging. Soon! Until then, enjoy my current favorite song.

Somewhere out there, four walls surround you.

Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

noreply@blogger.com (Khy) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:00:00 +0000

[description from goodreads]

In the remarkable, bizarre, and heart-wrenching summer before Cullen Witter’s senior year of high school, he is forced to examine everything he thinks he understands about his small and painfully dull Arkansas town. His cousin overdoses; his town becomes absurdly obsessed with the alleged reappearance of an extinct woodpecker; and most troubling of all, his sensitive, gifted fifteen-year-old brother, Gabriel, suddenly and inexplicably disappears.

Meanwhile, the crisis of faith spawned by a young missionary’s disillusion in Africa prompts a frantic search for meaning that has far-reaching consequences. As distant as the two stories initially seem, they are woven together through masterful plotting and merge in a surprising and harrowing climax.

This extraordinary tale from a rare literary voice finds wonder in the ordinary and illuminates the hope of second chances.

Review:

I generally make an effort to read Printz winners, but it took me an inordinately long time to get around to Where Things Come Back even though I've seen so many of my friends enjoy it. I think I waited a bit too long, because as time progressed, so did my expectations. While I did find plenty to like in it, there's enough I didn't that I was left feeling rather ambivalent.

Starting with the positives, though: this book comes together in a stunning, intelligent way. The two stories it follows are so different that for a while they seem completely unrelated, but they come together in the most natural way despite any extreme events either contain. I wish I could say more, but it's really best experienced as a surprise, especially the powerful ending. The stories come together well because of the events, but they also fit because the writing style remains similar despite the differing perspectives. There's a bit of a folktale vibe going on, and mixed with the country setting, religion, and importance of nature, the entire book has a very cool, atmospheric feel.

However, with all these positives come drawbacks. The atmospheric writing is just that, but I often felt that the writing was stylized in an attempt to make the subject matter more complex, which does not work well. Where Things Come Back really does try to tackle religion, family, home, and a multitude of other complex issues, but because there are so many that don't always overlap between the two stories, that they fall flat. Not even the most beautiful writing can make up for that. One big example of this is the issue of the woodpecker; it's a cool premise, one that could have led to much commentary about the town itself, but I actually kept forgetting it was a plot point because it was so far in the background. I do appreciate that Cullen, the narrator, has enough other things on his mind to move beyond the preoccupations of his town, but his home's so important to who he is that I thought the woodpecker would play a different role.

I'd have to call Where Things Come Back a valiant effort; I loved some of the things this book did, but everything else, despite all the attempts at something profound, fell flat for me.

Book details: Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Paperback/$8.99

Source: borrowed

This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

noreply@blogger.com (Khy) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 16:00:00 +0000

[description from goodreads]

If fate sent you an email, would you answer?

When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.

Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?

Review:

Jennifer E. Smith's The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight remains one of my go-to happy-making reads. It was a book I was surprised to love so much, and I've been subconsciously searching for something to make me as happy as that one ever since. I'm starting to think nothing ever could, but some things, like This Is What Happy Looks Like, come close.

What prevents Happy from being on Statistical level is that from the get-go, this book made me happy. The novel opens with Graham and Ellie's emails to each other, and after the first page I was already thinking "this is so cute stop it my heart cannot handle how adorable this is stooop." I don't remember that happening with Statistical; it was more of a gradual love, while Happy jumps right in to the characters' relationship. It's a nice change from novels that start so slowly, but my heart is not used to being captured so quickly by characters I hardly know. I'm not sure I would have preferred a little more delay in romance because I enjoyed seeing the relationship escalate after the initial email chain is over, but it would have been nice to get to know the character independent of one another first, I think, especially because of some of the aspects of their lives that cause problems later.

Similarly, I think it would have been nice to get to know some of the minor characters better. Ellie's best friend Quinn, for example, is rather important to the story line, but for a while she is so out-of-the-loop that when she finally comes back in to the story some of her and Ellie's interactions did not make much sense because of how supposedly good their friendship was. I also wanted more from the minor characters because they help balance out the story. Although I loved seeing Ellie and Graham's relationship unfold because of how many genuine feelings they have for one another, it is always nice to get another story so that there was not an overwhelming amount of heartache caused by both Graham and Ellie's cuteness and their struggles.

There were many moments where I wanted more from the minor characters, but the main characters and their beautiful, emotional relationship make This Is What Happy Looks Like one happy-making read anyway.

Book details: Poppy/Hardcover/$17.99

Source: gift

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

noreply@blogger.com (Khy) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000

[description from B&N]

Bono met his wife in high school, Park says.
So did Jerry Lee Lewis, Eleanor answers.
I’m not kidding, he says.
You should be, she says, we’re 16.
What about Romeo and Juliet?
Shallow, confused, then dead.
I love you, Park says.
Wherefore art thou, Eleanor answers.
I’m not kidding, he says.
You should be.

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this is the story of two star-crossed misfits—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love—and just how hard it pulled you under.

Review:

Recently, I was browsing through the bookstore and picked up this book because it has cute cover and lyrical title before putting it back down again. A few days later John Green reviewed it in the New York Times, and when I went back to the bookstore they had sold out of all their copies. Suddenly everyone I know was reading it, so I jumped on the bandwagon sooner rather than later. And I'm glad I did, because, yes, this book really is that good.

Knowing that Eleanor and Park will eventually fall in love made this book better rather than having it act as a spoiler because it made me appreciate just how slowly and beautifully their relationship grows. For while, they're merely friends, and I love that. Of course, knowing what would happen in the end made all their intentions seem beyond friendship, but really, at first, there is just a special connection between the two rather than a stronger sense of attraction. It's a sweet thing to witness, especially as the book delves more into lives of Eleanor and Park beyond just their relation to each other. They both have their share of issues, whether with family or friends, some of which were not developed as fully as I would have liked, but still presented themselves strongly. I especially liked reading about Park's family, for his parents play a larger role than I've seen parents play in most books, and the sense of normalcy that comes from the presence contrasted with the angst they bring to him and Eleanor makes for an interesting dynamic.

Another beautiful thing about Eleanor & Park is the way it's written. It's third person, rotating between the two leads, but it never has the emotional barrier I sometimes feel with third person books. It follows the thoughts of the Eleanor and Park so closely that I always knew how they were feeling, and the quick changes between characters, rather than seeming choppy, enhanced the story by revealing just what each character thought of one another. And what really impresses me about the writing is that it so easily could have been twee, with it's simple sentences and often quirky metaphors, but it never felt that way because of the genuine emotion present throughout.

Certain parts of Eleanor & Park could have been better developed, and to be quite honest I'm also not the biggest fan of the ending, but the love between the two characters, and the characters themselves, are so genuine and emotional that I'm a big fan.

Book details: St. Martin's Griffin/Hardcover/$18.99

Source: bought

Classics: Les Misérables

noreply@blogger.com (Khy) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:23:00 +0000

Over winter break, when Les Mis madness was in full swing due to the movie adaptation, I finally decided to read the copy of the book that had been sitting in my room for years. It was a long endeavor since my copy clocked in at around 1,400 pages, but I did it! Eventually. Not that I read it slowly because it was a chore to get through-- though it sometimes was-- but just because it's so massive.

As far as musical theater and the most recent adaptation of the story go, I'm actually not a huge Les Mis fan. I'm going to have to say that the book is my favorite of any version of the tale by far, but whether that's because I found its differences from the musical very interesting or if it would have been as good on its own I cannot say. However, no matter, for I was endlessly fascinated by this much fuller tale.

I did not realize how different the book would be, but because the first 70 or so pages follow the Bishop (rather than Jean Valjean), I quickly gathered that this would be very different. Although the section on the Bishop (or the sections of French history or any of the many unnecessarily long and drawn out expositional portions) was often uninteresting, overall I was impressed with the amount of detail that the novel includes. There's so much more to be known about each of the characters, even simple things like the fact that Gavroche is a Thenardier, and I really appreciate the nuances the book conveys that the musical simply has no time to include. Some things, like Javert's fixation on Valjean, still never became clear to me, but other things, like Cosette's relationship with Marius made sense with context.

Plus, I was rather impressed with the writing. For a novel with a plot so integral to the work as a whole, scenes of action never become more important than such beautiful writing"

“You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving. The great acts of love are done by those who are habitually performing small acts of kindness. We pardon to the extent that we love. Love is knowing that even when you are alone, you will never be lonely again. & great happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved. Loved for ourselves. & even loved in spite of ourselves.”*

*The quote formatting is janky but that's what's on goodreads so I'm going to go with it.

34 Pieces of You by Carmen Rodrigues

noreply@blogger.com (Khy) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 17:00:00 +0000

[description from goodreads]

A dark and moving novel about the mystery surrounding a teenage girl’s fatal overdose.

There was something about Ellie... Something dangerous. Charismatic. Broken. Jake looked out for her. Sarah followed her lead. And Jess kept her distance, and kept watch.

Now Ellie’s dead, and Jake, Sarah, and Jess are left to pick up the pieces. All they have are 34 clues she left behind. 34 strips of paper hidden in a box beneath her bed. 34 secrets of a brief and painful life.

Jake, Sarah, and Jess all feel responsible for what happened to Ellie, and all three have secrets of their own. As they begin to confront the darkest truths about themselves, they will also find out what Ellie herself had been hiding all along....

Review:

If I had a nickel for every novel about death I've read, I wouldn't be rich, but I would have a lot of nickels. And 34 Pieces of You is kind of just another five cents to me-- it's not a bad read by any means, but I don't find it to be amazing either.

As happens with many books that feature more than one narrator, the multiple perspectives in 34 Pieces of You are both a strength and a weakness. The strength, of course, lies in the fact that the story really is enhanced by so many points of view. Because Jake, Sarah, and Jess all have such strong connections to Ellie, and to each other, that even in their most brief chapters they convey at least some of vast emotional trauma they have experienced in response to her death. I wish they overlapped a bit more, but I do like that all three characters are in such different places. Maybe that's because Jake goes to NYU so I feel a bond there, but I think the different settings allowed for more variation in exploring the consequences of Ellie's death; I am glad I didn't have to read about three angsty high schoolers dealing with the same thing in the same way. Still, a bit more overlap would have been nice, especially since some chapters deal with the past, and between that and the quick perspective changes, it was sometimes difficult to connect with whoever was speaking.

The thing that always strikes me most about novels involving dead people is the dead person in question; I vastly prefer them to be a character in his or her own right, and I felt like Ellie walks a fine line between overly exaggerated and realistic. Most of the flashbacks portray her in a rather negative light, and I do so love the unlikable characters but I could not always get behind the characters' decisions to stick with the girl. Still, between the flashbacks and the titular "34 pieces" included every few pages, I got a good sense of why the other characters were so affected by her death, even if I couldn't always see her actual appeal.

34 Pieces of You has some solid characters and emotional depth, but I couldn't always connect fully because of the rapid changes in perspective.

Book details: Simon Pulse/Hardcover/$16.99

Source: sent by publisher for review

Just One Day by Gayle Forman

noreply@blogger.com (Khy) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 19:07:00 +0000

[description from goodreads]

A breathtaking journey toward self-discovery and true love, from the author of If I Stay
When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.

Review:

Some of my favorite things in this world include books set in college and books that take place in unfamiliar countries. I also like Shakespeare and plays and books that take place over short amounts of time. And although Just One Day combines all of these things (and more!), I did not love it quite as much as I hoped.

I think what prevented me from loving this one completely was the speed that things happened and the actual timeline of the things that take place. I thought that most, if not all, of the book would be just the one day Allyson spends in Paris, but that’s really only the first part of the book. Which is fine and adventurous and still fits in so much excitement, because it's Paris, but I was not expecting such a small amount of time being spent there. I like the other sections, the ones that took place while Allyson was at college, but I think that some more time could have been spent in Europe, especially considering the speed with which Allyson's, or "Lulu's," relationship with Willem developed. I had some trouble believing that she would be so hung-up on the guy because there just wasn't enough time devoted to their connection for me.

Even with those qualms, though, Just One Day has many special aspects that captured my attention. The European settings are obviously enchanting, but just as interesting for me was Allyson's time at college. It's probably because I am in college, but I liked seeing Allyson deal with so many painful emotions while trying to balance everything else. It is not only easy to relate to her stress, but the inclusion of school on top of everything else made her feelings regarding Willem more believable because of the combination of it all. I also like that Allyson was kind of abrasive due to this, because cranky main characters might get annoying but I always like them best because they seem more realistic.

The various settings and emotional depth of Allyson make Just One Day enjoyable, but because I missed the connection with Willem, I am not as crazy about it as I otherwise could be.

Book details: Dutton/Hardcover/$17.99

Source: sent by publisher for review

Reminiscing on Plays: Arcadia and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

noreply@blogger.com (Khy) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 17:00:00 +0000

I learned very early that reading for fun during college is very difficult. That's why, if I get any done at all, it's usually at random intervals in which I could be doing something else but can make excuses not to because I'm waiting for my laundry to be done, it's the middle of the day, etc. etc. Such was the situation I found myself in recently, and I decided to pick up the copy of Tom Stoppard's Arcadia that was sitting amidst my dorm library's shelves because it was there, I was there, and it's rather short.

Arcadia takes place in both the early 1800s and modern times, at an English country home. The earlier period follows Thomasina and her tutor, Septimus Hodge, as they deal with not only the young girl's studies, but also the drama and affairs of the other residents (including Lord Byron, a guest at the home). The later period primarily follows Hannah and Bernard, a writer and an academic who are investigating the life of a hermit and the life of Lord Byron, respectively. Eventually the stories merge together.

I had no knowledge of Arcadia prior to reading it, but I quickly discovered it has many of my favorite things: family angst; affairs that shouldn't happen; deep discussions about life, philosophy, or whatever else you want to call it; a rather contained setting; and a wonderful dose of humor amidst all the drama.

It also has quite a few quotes that I love.

“It makes me so happy. To be at the beginning again, knowing almost nothing.... A door like this has cracked open five or six times since we got up on our hind legs. It's the best possible time of being alive, when almost everything you thought you knew is wrong.”

The thing about Arcadia, though, is I didn't love it because I couldn't see what was happening. I thought it was cool that the play takes place essentially around the same table, but I think it'd be cooler to see it in person-- especially near the end, when the characters from different time periods begin to overlap within the same scene rather than taking their actions in separate scenes. Reading the overlap was more confusing than anything, but I'm sure if I saw it on the stage I would be flailing in excitement.

My experience of not loving Arcadia as much as I think I would if I saw it performed reminds me of my experience with Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, a play about two couples and the explosive evening they spend together. I saw the movie a couple years ago and loved it (Elizabeth Taylor is my queen), and I saw the current Broadway production a few weeks ago. Both blew me away, mainly due to the absolutely perfect performances. But the performances are rooted in such a fantastic, explosive, twisted, yet funny script that, when my friend offered me a copy of the book to borrow, I read it happily. Reading it after seeing both the movie and play, though, is different because I already knew what to expect; instead of being impressed by the story, I spent more time thinking about how the stage directions were adapted in the versions I've seen. Which is interesting and exciting and makes me appreciate the play even more, but also just proves to me how different the stage is from the script.

Cinders & Sapphires by Leila Rasheed

noreply@blogger.com (Khy) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 22:24:00 +0000

[description from goodreads]

One house, two worlds...

Rose Cliffe has never met a young lady like her new mistress. Clever, rich, and beautiful, Ada Averley treats Rose as an equal. And Rose could use a friend. Especially now that she, at barely sixteen, has risen to the position of ladies’ maid. Rose knows she should be grateful to have a place at a house like Somerton. Still, she can’t help but wonder what her life might have been had she been born a lady, like Ada.

For the first time in a decade, the Averleys have returned to Somerton, their majestic ancestral estate. But terrible scandal has followed Ada’s beloved father all the way from India. Now Ada finds herself torn between her own happiness and her family’s honor. Only she has the power to restore the Averley name—but it would mean giving up her one true love . . . someone she could never persuade her father to accept.

Sumptuous and enticing, the first novel in the At Somerton series introduces two worlds, utterly different yet entangled, where ruthless ambition, forbidden attraction, and unspoken dreams are hidden behind dutiful smiles and glittering jewels. All those secrets are waiting . . . at Somerton.

Review:

And with this, can I officially say that the age of Downton Abbey inspired fiction has begun? Because this book's influences are evident from even the summary. However, the Downton Abbey inspiration isn't a bad thing. I'm a fan of the show, and because this book shares so many things in common with it, I quite like it as well.

Cinders & Sapphires has not only similar(ish) plot points to Downton, but also a similar feel-- and that is to say that it feels like a soap opera even in the most non-melodramatic portions. The wealthy characters or the servants alone would have made for a rather exciting read, but the combination of the two groups means that things go haywire nearly every chapter. This, of course, makes things a bit overwhelming; there are so many people with complicated relationships in this book that I sometimes gave up on keeping them all straight, preferring to focus solely on whatever issue was in whatever chapter I was reading. The worst would be when I'd finish a chapter and the issue would not be present again for a while, but at least this way I was kept interested.

I was also kept interested by the characters, luckily. The main antagonists, Ada's stepfamily, are annoyingly superficial, as are some other family members that do not appear all that often to begin with but who hold secrets important to the plot, but I do like most everyone else. Ada's desire to go to Oxford despite her peers' wishes and her upbringing in India makes her not only strong but interesting, especially when she interacts with Ravi, her love interest. I quite like the Indian background in various parts of the story, for it gave it a unique twist and I do so love the Indian love interests of historical fiction. I also quite like Ada's relationship with Rose, because Rose always remains as important as Ada despite her lower social status. There's an interesting dynamic between the girls, especially when it's compared to the poor way everyone else treats Rose.

There's so much going on that certain characters suffer for it, but Cinders & Sapphires is an undeniably fun, dramatic read.
Book details: Hyperion/Hardcover/$17.99

Source: sent by publisher for review

Cinders & Sapphires Blog Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Khy) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:51:00 +0000

Today, I am very pleased to be a part of the blog tour for Leila Rasheed's recently published Cinders & Sapphires. It's a really fun book, and if you have not yet heard, be sure to check out what it's about:

One house, two worlds...

Rose Cliffe has never met a young lady like her new mistress. Clever, rich, and beautiful, Ada Averley treats Rose as an equal. And Rose could use a friend. Especially now that she, at barely sixteen, has risen to the position of ladies’ maid. Rose knows she should be grateful to have a place at a house like Somerton. Still, she can’t help but wonder what her life might have been had she been born a lady, like Ada.

For the first time in a decade, the Averleys have returned to Somerton, their majestic ancestral estate. But terrible scandal has followed Ada’s beloved father all the way from India. Now Ada finds herself torn between her own happiness and her family’s honor. Only she has the power to restore the Averley name—but it would mean giving up her one true love . . . someone she could never persuade her father to accept.

Sumptuous and enticing, the first novel in the At Somerton series introduces two worlds, utterly different yet entangled, where ruthless ambition, forbidden attraction, and unspoken dreams are hidden behind dutiful smiles and glittering jewels. All those secrets are waiting . . . at Somerton.

As part of the blog tour, I have an interview with the series editor, Emily Meehan. Without further ado:

1) In general, what aspect of the books you acquire draw you in? What was it about Cinders and Sapphires that made you decide to take it on as an editing project?

Every book has a different story of how it lands on my list. In this case, the idea for the At Somerton series was conceived in house. I asked the question, "What if we did Downton Abbey for teens? What would that be?" Luckily I have some very smart colleagues who helped flesh out the idea. Almost simultaneously, agent Sarah Davies had tweeted: I'm looking for a Downton Abbey for teens. I emailed her right away and told her about my idea and asked if she knew anyone. She suggest Leila Rasheed. From the very beginning, Leila made this book her own and did such a beautiful job writing it. It is a much deeper and layered story now because of her.

2) With historical fiction like Cinders and Sapphires, does historical accuracy make you approach editing the book in a different way than you would any other piece of fiction?

We do have to be careful and Leila certainly did a lot of research. I think we would be at a bigger disadvantage if we were a bunch of Americans doing this, but both author and agent are British, so they aren't faking it.

The UK cover

3) When editing, do you try to focus more on giving feedback regarding character development or plot, or does that mostly just depend on the specific book in question?

It varies from book to book. In Cinders & Sapphires, there is a lot going on. Lots of characters and plot lines. We had to cut some characters and story lines we loved because there was just too much going on. I think the challenge was to dig deep into these characters' motivations and really be true to their motivations, especially given the time period.

4) How did the fact that Cinders & Sapphires is the first in a series make you approach editing it? Do you ask the author about what will happen in the following books and try to help set up future installments, or do you mainly focus on just the single book?

We have a general idea of where each book is going, but that evolves as Leila writes each book. Right now she is writing the second book, called Diamonds & Deceit. When Leila was outlining it, she asked whose story is this? It was a bit of a rhetorical question, since she's writing it, but I struggled with an answer myself. I love all of the characters that she's brought to life so vividly that it's hard to pick just a few to really focus on.

5) And, just for fun, what historical period would you most like to visit?

Well, something I've realized in all of my fascination with the British is that I'm hopelessly American. So I would probably pick around the same time period, maybe a bit earlier. Mark Twain is my man, so I'd probably want to visit him. And I'm fascinated by the time in American history in which he lived.

---

Thanks so much, Emily! It's always interesting to get a different perspective on the publication of a book.

Cinders & Sapphires is out now, so I more than encourage you to check it out. Or, if you still want to know a little more about the book, be sure to check out author Leila Rasheed on twitter or at her website.

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

noreply@blogger.com (Khy) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 17:00:00 +0000

[description from goodreads]

Leo Gursky taps his radiator each evening to let his upstairs neighbor know he’s still alive. But it wasn’t always like this: in the Polish village of his youth, he fell in love and wrote a book. . . . Sixty years later and half a world away, fourteen-year-old Alma, who was named after a character in that book, undertakes an adventure to find her namesake and save her family. With virtuosic skill and soaring imaginative power, Nicole Krauss gradually draws these stories together toward a climax of “extraordinary depth and beauty” (Newsday).

Review:

I've been trying to branch out with the books I read so I do not tire of young adult novels completely, and since I've heard so much acclaim for The History of Love I thought I'd start my "adult" book reading with it. I read it on my plane ride back to school, which turned out to be a perfect setting since it meant I had ample time to focus on just how wonderful it is.

It's difficult to discuss The History of Love because it is made beautiful by the writing just as much as it is by the various story lines, if not more so I think this book's most popular line truly sums up what makes this book so lovely:

“Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl, and her laughter was a question he wanted to spend his whole life answering.”

It's a succinct, lyrical line, and yet it manages to evoke such powerful imagery and emotion. Even the more lengthy passages perfectly encapsulate this book's focus on love using beautiful writing, though:

“Maybe the first time you saw her you were ten. She was standing in the sun scratching her legs. Or tracing letters in the dirt with a stick. Her hair was being pulled. Or she was pulling someone's hair. And a part of you was drawn to her, and a part of you resisted--wanting to ride off on your bicycle, kick a stone, remain uncomplicated. In the same breath you felt the strength of a man, and a self-pity that made you feel small and hurt. Part of you thought: Please don't look at me. If you don't, I can still turn away. And part of you thought: Look at me.”

It's hard to believe that the whole book is this magnificent, but it truly is. I was sitting on my plane wishing I had a highlighter handy so I could mark so many parts of what I was reading, because there are so many parts that capture the beauty and heartache of love.

It isn't just the writing, though. This book's structure and story lines are fantastic. There are multiple narrators, and for the longest time, Leo and Alma and the rest of the cast seem so far away from each other in lifestyle and in story, but as the book unfolds more and more parallels arise, establishing relationships that are both surprising and exciting. I wish I could say more, but the magic of this book is seeing how everything comes together in the end after such an emotional, beautiful journey there.

Book details: W.W. Norton and Company/Paperback/$14.95

Source: bought

Anticipated Reads of 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Khy) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 16:36:00 +0000

Because even though it's two weeks into the new year, it's never too late to record the things that I most want to read in 2013 so that I do not forget.

1. Invisibility by Andrea Cremer and David Levithan (May 7) - It may have an awful cover, but I'm sure the text is nothing short of wonderful. If there's anyone that could get me to read a paranormal book, it's David Levithan.

2. The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler (May 21) - Sarah Ockler is one of my favorite authors, and I'll happily read anything she writes, even though this one comes out right around my finals time.

3. Mind Games by Kiersten White (February 19) - Kiersten White's other novels always bring me joy, and since this one promises espionage, I think I'll like it even more than the rest.

4. 17 & Gone by Nova Ren Suma (March 21) - The theme of this list is "authors with previous books I love," and Nova Ren Suma fits perfectly into that. I'm also excited for this book because its title alone will force me to confront the fact that I am now (slightly) older than most YA heroes and heroines.

5. City of a Thousand Dolls by Miriam Forster (February 5) - It may just be the pretty cover that makes me remember this one so well, but ever since I first heard about this book months ago I've been excited to read it.

The Basic Eight by Daniel Handler

noreply@blogger.com (Khy) — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 17:00:00 +0000

[description from goodreads]

Flannery Culp wants you to know the whole story of her spectacularly awful senior year. Tyrants, perverts, tragic crushes, gossip, cruel jokes, and the hallucinatory effects of absinthe -- Flannery and the seven other friends in the Basic Eight have suffered through it all. But now, on tabloid television, they're calling Flannery a murderer, which is a total lie. It's true that high school can be so stressful sometimes. And it's true that sometimes a girl just has to kill someone. But Flannery wants you to know that she's not a murderer at all -- she's a murderess.

Review:

Due to my eternal adoration for A Series of Unfortunate Events, I've made it a mission to read more of Daniel Handler's work under his own name rather than just those books he wrote as Lemony Snicket. If the rest of his work is anything like The Basic Eight, I'm in for a good time.

I did not really know what I was getting myself into with this book, but from the introduction I knew it would be something offbeat despite the rather familiar "teenage hijinks" premise. In the intro, Flannery alludes to some of the more murderous things she's allegedly been up to, and she also admits that she's edited the journals that make up the rest of the novel. With an admission like that, I knew some weird things were about to go down, and they surely did. It took a while for the crazier stuff she originally alludes to to show up, and for them to make sense in the narrative since it often seemed like they just appeared out of nowhere (that may have just been me missing things, though, which is a common occurrence). However, there is plenty of entertainment in the meantime with all of The Basic Eight's shenanigans, especially when one considers that Flannery edited all her journals. I didn't even always remember this, but when I did it definitely made me question her story as a whole, which makes everything that happens a bit more sketchy and thus more entertaining.

Another thing that I love about this book, besides its ambiguous truth, is Flannery's voice. She often sounds much older than she actually is, but that's part of the charm. With her "older" voice comes a sense of pretension that can occasionally be ridiculous, but it does also sound intelligent, and it fits the absurd antics of her and her friends. Because, really, her friends are kind of comical. I think that was the point, that some of them seem dramatic to the point of deserving eye-rolls-- it fits into the spotlight The Basic Eight had thrust upon them. Although I wished some characters weren't so over-the-top, there are still many of them that aren't. I especially liked seeing their true friendship shine through amidst all the unnecessary heartache they put each other through; I often wished for more about the ultimate consequences of their actions, as it sounded like things really got haywire, but that couldn't really work with the books' structure. I did absolutely love the study questions that appear after every few journal entries, for they do provide insight into the consequences of their actions, as well as Flannery's thoughts, in a hilarious manner.

Comical and dark in the best ways possible, despite a slow start and occasionally annoying characters, The Basic Eight is a fascinating, complex insight into the life of one wonderfully unreliable narrator.

Book details: Harper Perennial/Paperback/$13.99

Source: bought

If You Liked The Fault in Our Stars

noreply@blogger.com (Khy) — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 20:03:00 +0000

I like the internet as much as the next person. I like John Green's The Fault in Our Stars slightly less than the next person, since I was spoiled and therefore not quite as emotionally moved and blah blah blah it's ok because I still like it very much.

What I'm not so crazy about is the internet's overwhelming obsession with this book. I'm happy that the internet chose a great book to hold on to, and I'm happy that so many people found something with which they resonate, but if I have to see one more person on tumblr saying his/her thoughts are stars he/she cannot fathom into constellations, I may lose my mind. This may be because I am turning into a cranky old lady at the young age of 18, but still.

I'm not asking for the people of the internet to give up The Fault in Our Stars, but I'd be unbelievably happy if they read other amazing things and gave them some love too, for so many books deserve more attention. And I am here to give my own recommendations, categorized by things relevant to the experience of reading TFiOS, in case someone looking for something else to read happens upon this post.

Illness

Cancer plays a heavy role in The Fault in Our Stars, so perhaps you would like to read about other illnesses and their effects on people. One of my favorite reads of 2012 is Brian James' Life is But a Dream, which deals with schizophrenia in a very powerful, beautiful way. Another book I quite like is Wendelin Van Draanen's The Running Dream, about a runner who loses her leg. Not an illness, but it's a physical problem that totally sucks, so I can include it here.

Tears

Most everyone I've seen got at least a little teary-eyed by the end of The Fault in Our Stars, so it's only fitting that I tell you about some of the books that have made me cry. The one that immediately comes to mind is Sara Zarr's Sweethearts. I think TFiOS fans would especially enjoy this one because the relationship between the two main characters, Jenna and Cameron, is so beautiful and honest and full of emotions that by the end I am left a blubbering mess. Another book with a similarly fantastic relationship is Holly Goldberg Sloan's I'll Be There. Or, if you would prefer tears induced by pure sadness (and later beautiful relationships), you can't go wrong with is Gayle Forman's If I Stay and Where She Went, both of which are absolutely gutting in the best painful way (the latter is my favorite, but I love them both).

Quotes

If there is one thing the internet likes as much as The Fault in Our Stars, it's quoting The Fault in Our Stars. ("I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, then all at once," "That's the thing about pain...it demands to be felt," etc. etc.) If you would like to read things with lovely writing and fantastic quotes, you cannot go wrong with any book by David Levithan. And he has a book to fit your every need! For example, The Realm of Possibility is written in verse, Love is the Higher Law is traditional prose, and How They Met is a collection of short stories. You also cannot go wrong with the works of Beth Kephart. I quite like Small Damages, which makes me really want to go to Spain, and The Heart is Not a Size, which takes place in Mexico.

Happiness

Perhaps after the emotional experience of reading TFiOS, you just want to read something that will lift your spirits completely back up again. I am best at recommending for this category since I love these books the most. For example, I am in love with Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, which you should read no matter what because it makes me cry happy tears and want to travel all over Paris. Another fun book is Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, a scavenger hunt set in New York City at Christmas.

I could recommend many more books, but I think this is enough for now, so go forth and read.

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

noreply@blogger.com (Khy) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:00:00 +0000

[description from goodreads]

When Barry Fairbrother dies in his early forties, the town of Pagford is left in shock.

Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.

Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils ... Pagford is not what it first seems.

And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?

Review:

Like the rest of the world, I waited for J.K. Rowling's follow-up to the Harry Potter series with much anticipation but not too much hope that it would actually happen. But then it did! Seemingly out of nowhere. The only reason I remembered it came out is because I went to the signing for it* and I didn't even get a chance to read it until months later, on my plane ride home from college. It made for a good plane read because the book is long, at 503 pages, and my flight was even longer. Plus, it is a plain good read-- my like for it is definitely not up to my level of love for Harry Potter, but could anything, especially something by the same author, ever even hope to compare?

I really don't think The Casual Vacancy stood a chance. Comparisons to Harry Potter were inevitable and unavoidable, even though this book is entirely different. It's actually something that is rather up my alley. As much as I complain about books with no plot, or plots that begin slowly, at heart I really do prefer smaller stories about realistic, even commonplace, events. And that's exactly what this book is-- an examination of one small town after the death of one important man. It does take a while to get to the more interesting consequences of his death, just because there are so many people's perspectives to retrieve, but the fallout is fascinating. There's a gradual reveal of just how much power Barry wielded over certain people, and with the knowledge of his power comes similar revelations about the true nature of people's ambitions and feelings about one another. It's endlessly interesting to me to see how tense situations bring out the characters' best and worst sides.

However, with my love of smaller stories comes a preference for small casts, and that is surely not something The Casual Vacancy has. There's actually an overwhelming number of people in this book. Of course, with more characters comes the chance to explore a wider variety of social issues, but I could have done without a few of this book's characters. I couldn't even keep the fifteen or so main names straight, let alone their relationships with one another, which really prevented me from establishing any emotional connection with them. And with all the issues this book tries to tackle-- social class tension, politics, poverty, etc.-- I think I needed the emotional connection to make them as influential as they were intended to be.

It's often so ambitious it can't keep up with itself, but The Casual Vacancy is undoubtedly a fascinating exploration of small town and the secrets its inhabitants can't hope to keep from each other.

*Have I told you about the time I met J.K. Rowling and it was magical? Because it was.
**For example, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is one of my favorites.

Book details: Little, Brown/Hardcover/$35.00

Source: bought

Greetings, New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Khy) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 17:00:00 +0000

As with every new year, here's a post about my goals for the year and reflections upon the past one. This year's post is different, though, because in the last few months everything kind of went haywire.

I moved to New York and tried getting used to the city, but there are still a few times I've gotten lost just a few blocks from my dorm. I was enrolled in classes I didn't really like, and it wasn't until the very end of the semester (when it was too late to do any better in them) that I got over that, put myself into them fully, and started enjoying them even though they were hard. I joined one club and started writing poems, but I still haven't finished any. I made new friends, but things back home wouldn't let me enjoy them (or my classes, frankly) completely and in the way I wanted to.

I kind of just ran out of time. For anything.

Reading and blogging so much for so many years really burnt me out on both. In retrospect, it was for the best that I was forced to give up on all of this. It was a break I needed, because for the first time in a long time I actually want to start reading and writing again, in a different way than I'm used to.

I left my review pile behind when I went to school, and coming back home to it just made me realize I don't want it anymore. Nor do I have to keep it. I want to start reading things I want to, whether they're YA or not, and I want to write about them as I see fit.

For a long time my blog became something for other people. I'm ready for it to be for me again, because if I don't like doing it, there's really no point.

And that's all I want for 2013-- to make this blog, and everything else in my life, something I enjoy. If people want to come along for the ride, that's cool. If not, that's cool too. Either way, I'm excited for what's to come, and I'm determined to make things this upcoming semester so much better than the last.

Favorites of 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Khy) — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Remember that time I said I was going to try to come back to blogging without remembering that I had these crazy things called finals coming up?

Yeah.

But! I am on break now, so I have actually been reading. It's been nice. And, although I have not even come close to catching up on all the books I want to read, I'm still going to list my favorite things I read this year, because I can.

In no particular order:

1. Every Day by David Levithan - It wouldn't be a favorites post without David Levithan somewhere.

2. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie - Classics totally count for this list, and this is by far the best one I read this year. I fell so in love with its magic and I'm pretty sure I would be content reading this book and all the work it has inspired forever.

3. For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund - I am generally really bad at remembering books I read a while ago, but this book remains vivid in my head, as does my love for it.

4. The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken - I've yet to review this one (working on it) but it rocks. Cool setting, awesome adventure. Give me book two, please.

5. Graceling and Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore - Cheating by including both of these in one spot, but they're in a series, so it works. These lived up to every expectation and I only wish I read them sooner.

6. This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers - It also wouldn't be a favorites post without some Courtney. Her first foray into some supernatural couldn't have been any better.

7. Something Like Normal by Trish Doller - #TeamTravis always.

8. Life is But a Dream by Brian James - A rather emotional, under-appreciated read, in my opinion.

9. Leverage by Joshua C. Cohen - Twelve months later and thinking of this book still makes me want to vomit. (In a good way.)

10. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - One of the only books I've read for school (AP Lit wassup) that I actually really love.

Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo

noreply@blogger.com (Khy) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:00:00 +0000

[description from goodreads]

Love is awkward, Amelia should know.

From the moment she sets eyes on Chris, she is a goner. Lost. Sunk. Head over heels infatuated with him. It's problematic, since Chris, 21, is a sophisticated university student, while Amelia, is 15.

Amelia isn't stupid. She knows it's not gonna happen. So she plays it cool around Chris—at least, as cool as she can. Working checkout together at the local supermarket, they strike up a friendship: swapping life stories, bantering about everything from classic books to B movies, and cataloging the many injustices of growing up. As time goes on, Amelia's crush doesn't seem so one-sided anymore. But if Chris likes her back, what then? Can two people in such different places in life really be together?

Through a year of befuddling firsts—first love, first job, first party, and first hangover—debut author Laura Buzo shows how the things that break your heart can still crack you up.

Review:

Love and Other Perishable Items is another one of those books that was originally published in Australia before getting a makeover and being published here in the States. Other books like that include Pink and A Little Wanting Song, both of which are excellent. While I don't like Love and Other Perishable Items quite as much as I like those two reads, it's a sweet, funny book.

Reading the description of this book, it's rather to easy to guess how things will turn out in the end. Or, rather, fear for how things will turn out in the end because even just the friendship between the awkward Amelia and enthusiastic Chris cannot end perfectly. However, I'd hate to tell you how it turns out, because I actually really like the ending. Isn't the journey supposed to be more important than the destination or whatever anyway? Let's talk about that instead. As much as it can be discussed, because, well, not a lot happens in this book. I think that may be its biggest fault, at least for me: there's just not a lot of excitement. More than any other book I've read in recent memory, Love and Other Perishable Items is simply and purely about day-to-day life. It's realistic in that Amelia and Chris must each deal with family, friend, work, and romance issues, but a super exciting read it does not make. There are definitely moments more intense and dramatic than others, but there's also a lot of dialogue and inner monologue holding it down.

"Holding it down" probably isn't the best phrase for that, though, since I like both Amelia and Chris's narration. I don't really like how their switches in narration are structured, with Amelia chronicling a few months before Chris chronicles those same months over again, because it got repetitive, but as far as the characterization goes, I really like them both. Amelia can be both a little alarming and creepy in her love for Chris, but she's also very smart and sweet until she needs to be vicious. I'm very glad for the inclusion of Chris's point-of-view, because it's mainly through his journals that the boy moves beyond Amelia's idolization of him. Despite his confidence, he also reveals plenty of insecurities that make him more human and thus far more appealing than Amelia manages to portray in her own words.

Love and Other Perishable Items features some lovely characters and humorous moments, but it's often too unexciting for me to love it completely.

Book details: Knopf/Hardcover/$17.99

Source: ALA '12

My First Order of Business

noreply@blogger.com (Khy) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:00:00 +0000

In my attempt to return to blogging as much as I am able, my first order of business is to ask: what has happened in my absence?

Because, for example, I wandered into the teen section of a Barnes and Noble the other day and was struck by many confusing things.

Why does it look like this? I do not understand. What was wrong with the original?

Look at how classy that is! Well, at least classier than the redo, which appears to be an attempt to turn this series into something about, like, a haunted house.

Or is a clear attempt to make this series about a haunted house or a ghost or something equally unexciting in comparison to what the books are actually about. "Leave the lights on"? Really? How does that even begin to capture the friendship and magic and Kartik present in this book?

Especially when the series is in the paranormal romance section? COME ON, BARNES AND NOBLE.

Speaking of weird B&N sections, why is it "Best Intro to Science Fiction" and not, say, "Best Science Fiction"? Because I'd definitely say Ender's Game is pretty sci-fi.

Lastly, how many more Pretty Little Liars books before the series finally dies? I never read past book 8 but 8 was more than enough.

Please catch me up on any other grievances or excitement present in the last few months so I can finally react properly.

Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (Khy) — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 02:37:00 +0000

Today I'm thankful for:

1. Songs I post every year

2. Books and parades and the combination of the two

3. New York City

4. And a desire to come back. Trying my hardest to be around again very, very soon. Until then-- thanks for sticking around.

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

noreply@blogger.com (Khy) — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 19:00:00 +0000

All children, except one, grow up.

Over the summer I had this grand idea that I would actually read some of the classics that had been sitting on my various shelves. This plan did not go over so well since Gone With the Wind is big enough to kill and thus I spent weeks (happily) trudging through it. Its large size made me want to read something much smaller afterward, so the copy of Peter Pan lying around seemed the most logical choice. And, man, forget old people classics because even though I like Gone With the Wind I hardcore love Peter Pan.

Maybe my love for the novel stems from my already established love of the story-- I've seen and adored plenty of adaptations of the tale, so I was biased going in to the actual book. However, even without my established love I think I would adore this book anyway.

The novel has a certain magic that none of adaptations to because of the subtle way that magic is tied in to each aspect of the story. Not only the setting or the characters, but the writing as a whole:

Stars are beautiful, but they may not take an active part in anything, they must just look on for ever. It is a punishment put on them for something they did so long ago that no star now knows what it was. So the older ones have become glassy-eyed and seldom speak (winking is the star language), but the little ones still wonder.

I love how naturally everything is described; even objects without life have personality, and the narrator treats them as people instead of the objects they are. All of the descriptions make for such a charming, sweet read, one that has all of the childhood magic and imagination that Peter Pan represents.

Really, everything in the novel is a more intense version of everything the adaptations have. Even the character of Peter Pan is more annoying-- he'd be such a jerk to take on an adventure because of how cranky he gets, but the fact that he can go on so many with such success makes him such an entertaining character. I loved even his annoying moments because people would often call him out on his behavior, which makes everything that more amusing.

I don't think it's really possible to discuss my love for this book without pulling out a million quotes to just how magical it is and how childlike and giddy it makes me feel, so I'll just leave you with one of my favorites:

“Off we skip like the most heartless things in the world, which is what children are, but so attractive; and we have an entirely selfish time, and then when we have need of special attention we nobly return for it, confident that we shall be rewarded instead of smacked.”

(The sassy narrator makes my life.)

check it

noreply@blogger.com (Khy) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 12:36:00 +0000

Part of my "job" as a blogger is to tell you about cool things. Because of college I have been slacking on telling you about cool things. I am trying to get better so my first cool thing is an awesome new campaign publisher Penguin Teen is doing for the final book in the Matched series, Reached. You'll be hearing a lot about it, both here and most likely on other blogs and twitter accounts you frequent, but today I thought I'd just tell you about that, I hope you're doing well, I miss you all, and remind you of this:

Reached Countdowngreat free widgetsWidgetboxMore info

Butter by Erin Jade Lange

noreply@blogger.com (Khy) — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 18:30:00 +0000

[description from goodreads]

A lonely obese boy everyone calls "Butter" is about to make history. He is going to eat himself to death-live on the Internet-and everyone is invited to watch. When he first makes the announcement online to his classmates, Butter expects pity, insults, and possibly sheer indifference. What he gets are morbid cheerleaders rallying around his deadly plan. Yet as their dark encouragement grows, it begins to feel a lot like popularity. And that feels good. But what happens when Butter reaches his suicide deadline? Can he live with the fallout if he doesn't go through with his plans? With a deft hand, E.J. Lange allows readers to identify with both the bullies and the bullied in this all-consuming look at one teen's battle with himself.

Review:

I will openly admit that the more twisted a book sounds, the more likely I am to read it. Thus, I was rather intrigued by Butter-- it sounded absolutely horrifying, but in the best way possible. There were a few moments of unbelievability, but for the most part, Butter was just what I expected.

My favorite part of the novel is by far the premise, though I was occasionally disappointed with the execution. For example, it was difficult for me to always believe that Butter actually wanted to kill himself. He clearly leads a life fraught with hardship, but often his narration and feelings didn't seem to match up. It was even difficult for me to always see why the popularity he gained would make him want to carry through with the plan, because there were so many negatives associated with the newfound fame. However, outside the more unbelievable aspects, I really like what the premise allowed. It's downright fascinating to see how people react, because even though most people want to see Butter kill himself, there are plenty of moments where people show their compassion or a belief different from the herd. The combination of cruelty and compassion make it a consistently exciting, as well as emotional, read.

Another thing that makes Butter so enjoyable is the title character. Butter's honesty and lifestyle choices will be too much for some people, I'm sure, but I enjoy how abrasive he gets because I like reading about cranky people. I also like that even though everyone else thinks of him just as "the fat kid," he never made me think of him that way. By reading about his saxophone playing, his relationship problems, his loved ones and their desire to help him, I got a true sense of what a genuine and passionate person Butter is. Combined with the similarly great characterization of his peers, even the bully ones, it's a rather emotional and intense read.

Some parts didn't seem plausible, but the emotion and great development of both the character and novel make Butter a great read.

Hey, Khy, how's college?

noreply@blogger.com (Khy) — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 13:48:00 +0000

Pretty awesome, thanks for asking.

I've been rather busy, as evidenced by my lack of posts, looking at art:

Going to concerts:

Imagine Dragons

Going to book signings:

David Levithan

And doing homework, but I don't have a fun picture for that, because, well, it's homework.

I haven't got to read at all for fun, which is really lame. It's nice to finally step away from blogging but I wish I could come back. Hopefully I'll find some time to read and post soon, but until then, I'll be off doing artsy things.

See you around.