COMPLETED! MY 2013 Book Goal: 30 novels for the year

So excited that I was able to complete my goal of 30 novels for the year!

My 2013 books included:

A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire #1- George R.R. Martin (rated: 5 stars)

The Fault In Our Stars- John Green (rated: 5 stars)

The Perks of Being a Wallflower- Stephen Chbosky (rated: 5 stars)

Fifty Shades of Grey (book 1) - E.L. James (rated: 3 stars)

Fifty Shades Darker (book 2)- E.L. James (rated: 3 stars)

Fifty Shades Freed (book 3)- E.L. James (rated: 3 stars)

Paper Towns- John Green (rated: 5 stars)

The Picture of Dorian Gray- Oscar Wilde (rated: 5 stars)

Everything is Illuminated- Jonathan Safran Foer (rated: 4 stars)

The Great Gatsby- F. Scott Fitzgerald (rated: 5 stars)

Tender is the Night- F. Scott Fitzgerald (rated: 4 stars)

The Bell Jar- Sylvia Plath (rated: 5 stars)

Never Let Me Go- Kazuo Ishiguro (rated: 4 stars)

A Clockwork Orange- Anthony Burgess (rated: 4 stars)

The Night Gwen Stacy Died- Sarah Bruni (rated: 3 stars)

Of Mice and Men- John Steinbeck (rated: 5 stars)

Lolita- Vladimir Nabokov (rated: 5 stars)

Slaughterhouse-Five- Kurt Vonnegut (rated: 5 stars)

City of Bones (Mortal Instruments Book 1)- Cassandra Clare (rated: 3.5 stars)

Invisible Monsters- Chuck Palahniuk (rated: 5 stars)

The Book Thief- Markus Zusak (rated: 5 stars)

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland- Lewis Carroll (rated: 5 stars)

Through the Looking Glass- Lewis Carroll (rated: 5 stars)

Frankenstein- Mary Shelley (rated: 5 stars)

Ender's Game- Orson Scott Card (rated: 4 stars)

Divergent (Divergent series Book 1)- Veronica Roth (rated: 5 stars)

Insurgent (Divergent series Book 2)- Veronica Roth (rated: 5 stars)

Allegiant (Divergent series Book 3)- Veronica Roth (rated: 5 stars)

An Abundance of Katherines- John Green (rated: 4 stars)

The Catcher in the Rye- J.D. Salinger (rated: 4 stars)

The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel (book 1)- Michael Scott (rated: NA)

Hope you guys made your goal as well! I'll be deciding on my 2014 goal soon!

questions? comments? please feel free to leave a message below!

NEW CONTENT COMING SOON!

Hello friends :)

Sorry for the delay in content. But I'd love for you to know what is coming up!

Reviews on:

• The new Divergent, Insurgent and Allegiant series from Veronica Roth

• The works of Jane Austen

• Jack Kerouac 

• More novels from John Green

• Game of Thrones series and more!

Not to mention:

• More looks into comic books- Phoenix, Spiderman, Thor, and more!

And additionally:

• The effects of books on TV and Film! (What has happened and what is coming up in 2014!)

I hope you enjoy what you've seen so far and I can't wait to add more!

Stay tuned starting this weekend for more!

You can also follow me on Twitter! @RoxieReads

Leave comments about books you'd like to see reviews on, or some personal favorites you would recommend :)

Happy Holidays!

What happened to happy endings?

I read an article on the Guardian this past week and it really had me contemplating the subject:

Why does literary fiction hate happy endings?

It is something I noticed personally within the past year as one of my main goals was to read many of the classics I feel that I had been neglecting. And it seemed that every time I was explaining to those around me the great novel I was in the middle of reading or just read they always had been leading or actually ended rather depressingly. Was the novel great? Yes of course. But it did make me question why a serious work of fictional literature insists on having sad or depressing endings.

I think it is the very nature of a happy ending. It is quite difficult to write one and be taken seriously. Too often people want to dissect and over analyze their own happiness rather than merely being content and happy with how things are. It is this idea that we are constantly filling a void. It is the same reason we get into careers that we want to advance in, why we seek higher and higher payment for wages, why we are constantly working towards "improving" our lives.

Once upon a time we use to be happy with the bare essentials (or at least that is what we are lead to believe) but now it seems in our desire to aspire to better things we are constantly being disappointed.

Which brings me back to literary fiction.

Writers, most often, are the voice of their generation and therefore they attempt to reflect the tone and desires of their own and often the society in which they live.

But I do believe writers now have fallen into this trap that if they attempt to write something more upbeat it will not be taken seriously. But I think now it is important to note that we lack happy endings and are in dire need of them. Because a novel is uplifting and hopeful should not deem it unworthy as serious literature.

For the full article, click below:
Guardian article on literary fiction

What can I say? I'm a sucker for a happy ending :)

Questions? Comments? feel free to leave them below!

COMIC BOOK PROFILE: Black Widow "Homecoming"

So one thing i'm going to now introduce is another genre of literature: comic books.

As I posted previously there are arguments against comic books being deemed literature but I disagree. Comic books may be more visual and artistic but they do still carry within the drawings a story that is deep and complex as well as full of character development just like any novel i've ever read.

One of the female superheroes I previously mentioned in my video blog a few weeks ago (if you missed it, check it out now here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Chd42B_izo ) was Black Widow. Many of you readers know her from Iron Man or the Avengers film but I truly believe there should be a movie based solely on her and her backstory.

Black Widow appears in a variety of different marvel comics including a few of her own solo series.

Black Widow: Homecoming (November 2004- April 2005)

In this 6 part series Natasha Romanov (aka Natalia, aka Black Widow) is a retired agent of S.H.I.E.L.D and living in the US after defecting from Russia. But her past quickly begins to catch up with her as a string of global murders of women which seems unconnected next leads to an assassination attempt on her life.

In the process of attempting to determine who these women were and why she is next on the hit list she begins to find out a great deal more than she ever expected: what really happened to her as a child.

Natasha was a spy but her training in Russia was far more advanced and psychologically traumatizing than she or any one of the readers could have believed. It sets her on a motion to discover not only who is trying to kill her, but who made her the weapon she became.

Reasons I love Natasha's story:

• There is so much intrigue! We know that whatever she was brainwashed into doing she has also somehow repressed a great deal of it. Meaning she is still trying to figure it all out on her own. When she defects to the US and becomes an agent she is trying her best to makeup for the wrongs she has committed by following blindly her regime in Russia. But is it truly her fault? If she was manipulated and fixed to believe certain truths and to harm those that were deemed dangerous should she feel so remorseful in her future?

I think that's why I love her character so much. This is what makes a true hero. Not allowing yourself to be the victim but rather a survivor and work to right the wrongs you have made. She is not an evil person and she could easily blame it on others. Instead she chooses to fight for what is right and no longer follow blindly but seek the answers for herself.

• Also, lets be honest, she is a really attractive red head. Being that I also share the hair color of course there was a good chance I would think she is awesome. 

Note: another reason I love comic books is the artists frequently love to use red heads. I actually read in an article before this was because in art red stands out so much more making the character more lively and thus more intriguing. I LOVE THAT.

• Another great reason to read this comic series: she is Russian. While that seems like a strange reason it is all about her attitude. Yes they stereotyped her and made her a bit hard on the exterior, but truly it fits her actions. She is a no-nonsense, punch first ask questions later kind of woman. She is not someone to mess with. Exactly what you need in a spy if she is going to get the job done.

In future weeks I will be talking more about superheroes and characters from various comic books as well as updating you on films, TV that have adapted them.

Enjoy!

Comments, questions? Please feel free to leave them below!

LIBRARY LOVE AFFAIR: The Los Angeles Central Library

So it only seems fitting that since I live near LA and spend most of my time in and around it, its time for some features on LA based libraries and bookstores as well.

This week's Library Love Affair: LA Central Library

Address: 630 W 5th Street.
               Los Angeles, CA 90071

What makes it amazing: As much as modern architecture is cool, unique and interesting, I love the feeling of going into a library that is as old as the classics it contains. It was established in 1872 and was rapidly expanded in the early 1900's. It's also one of the largest publicly funded libraries in the world.

As it sits in historic downtown LA, which is an area I love going to I can tell you its a library worth checking out!

How to make your own Christmas tree! (with books :D )

So I wanted to do something fun for the holiday and I love whenever I go to a bookstore or a library and they have a christmas tree made of books! I know some might think it is silly but I book lovers can understand how happy it makes me.

So this year I decided to make my own!

Below i'm going to give you step by step how you can make your own christmas tree out of your personal library.


STEP 1: Find some space!

You can make a huge tree or a smaller one just find the space that is wide enough for the base of the tree to be built upon. For mine, I used the bay window in my kitchen.

STEP 2: Collect all of yours books!


And I mean it. This took so many books to just make a small tree so like 20 or so is not going to cut it. Get as many as you can!

STEP 3: Orangize your books by size!

This isn't totally necessary but I'm telling you it made it a million times easier. I put all my hardback, heavy books together first and then organized my paperbacks by size. When i say size, I mean both there front cover size as well as thickness. Cover size is going to help you build up and the thickness is going to help give you even levels.

STEP 4: Find a base!

I tried at first building it with nothing in the middle and it seemed like it was ready to collapse. So instead I got 2 boxes. One being a larger tupperware container and the other a smaller but taller box that I use for a christmas decoration I just put out. I stacked them on top of each other.

STEP 5: Start stacking books!

I'd suggest starting with the larger hardcover books on the base (mine contain Harry Potter, Mortal Instruments, and Inkheart series) Stack them around the base but not flat against the square box in the middle. Make them connect in a circle with just a corner touching the base. I put the spine of the books on the outside so you can still see the titles.

Continue doing this over and over again. Just as the base in the middle gets smaller, go from larger books (use the size of the book cover) to smaller books on your way up! Mine started with 6 going around and then 5, then 4, then 3, then 2, then 1. Just like any pyramid. Try on each level to use books that are the same thickness so that the levels stay even.

STEP 6: DECORATE!

This is just a personal preference thing. I added some lights around it, A bow on top, and a few little snowflakes to give it a little extra decor. But it is not necessary.

And VOILA!

A christmas tree as unique as you :) (and your reading tastes)

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial!

Stay tuned for more obsessive reading tales from this obsessive reader!

~HAPPY CHRISTMAS HARRY!~

Entertainment Weekly names BEST YA Novel!!!!

As I posted last month during the 4th bracket, Entertainment Weekly was pursuing votes for the best YA novel of all time.

It comes as no surprise to me considering its huge popularity over the last several years that the winner is:

HARRY POTTER (the series)

http://popwatch.ew.com/2013/11/25/best-ya-novel-winner-harry-potter/

This collection of 7 novels took the prize of several truly amazing novels such as To Kill a Mockingbird, Hunger Games, Enders Game, Princess Bride, The Outsiders, Perks of Being a Wallflower, Fault in Our Stars and the Book Thief.

For me, this was an impossible thing to vote for because I equally loved all of the top picks. Also it is important to note that some books many would believe should have been entered most likely were not considered a part of the Young Adult genre.

I totally support this choice though. One of the best series I have ever read and one that I will continue to re- read throughout my lifetime.

BOOK REVIEW: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

"So it goes."

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut is one of the best novels I have read, especially when compared to others that have been written based on the events of World War 2.

The narrator, Billy Pilgrim, tells his experience in a very unconventional way. The book is in no way linear and in fact is rather confusing when you first begin since you can't seem to tell at what point of his life you are joining. But as you continue to read you realize why that is. Not only is this a war novel but it also involves time travel and aliens. I'll admit that was the strangest element of it all, and yet also the most compelling.

By the introduction of time-travel the stories rapid jumping to and from time periods make perfect sense as well as making the novel even more entertaining.

"People aren't suppose to look back. I'm certainly not going to do it anymore."

Billy at first is attempting to write this novel that you are reading, and the story of the bombing of Dresden that was so often disregarded though it killed more people than the bombing on Hiroshima. As he begins, he is presented with hostility from someone who doesn't believe someone should write another novel about the glory of war and the brave, strong men that go into battle for the greater good of their country. Because the truth is, they were all just boys and there is no glory in war.

From then the novel jumps from time to time, before the war, after the war, during the war, and even taking place when Billy believes himself to have been kidnapped by aliens known as the Tralfamadorians.

The novel is in no way traditional as Billy Pilgrim is not the typical soldier you hear about, but entirely reluctant to fight, causing him more trouble as he causes problems and disgraces his fellow soldiers. His actions during the war will greatly effect his future, if he actually has a future since he seems to be unstuck from time.

Some say it is an anti-war novel, others argue that the novel is pro-war because it does not condemn the actions. The way I see it, it is neither. It actually seems to depict the inevitability of war. And while human beings often believe in the concept of "free will", if it truly did exist then war would be possible to stop. So it really calls into question whether free will is merely an ideal or if it in fact exists.

"It is just an illusion here on Earth, that one moment follows another one, like beads on a string, and that once one moment is gone, it is gone forever."

One of the most interesting concepts of the novel is an idea that time is not linear, but that everything exists simultaneously. That while I am sitting here writing this there is a future me doing something else, and there is a past me that is thinking about writing this post and so on. In this idea, people would never be nonexistent because there would always be a version of us that still exists somewhere else in time. So in this regard, we are always alive.

The novel, aside from being interesting, was thought-provoking and for me it was difficult to separate what it discussed about the way time works. I found myself constantly applying this logic to the world around me. It is truly a story that will affect someones philosophy and perspective of the world around them.

"There is no beginning, no middle, no end, no suspense, no moral, no causes, no effects. What we love in our books are the depths of many marvelous moments seen all at one time."

Comic books: Do they deserve literary merit?

Recently I did a video post on female superheroes from comic books and their lack of fame in the movie industry. And while I was doing some research on it I dove back into reading some of my favorite comic books.

In the midst of reading some of my favorite comic book trades a question came to mind: How many people out there give comic books literary merit?

Often when I have heard people refer to comic books they are not given literary merit. Comic books are often considered an art form because they are based primarily on the visual aspect of drawn photos to depict the action and ultimately tell the story. They are typically short reads, no longer than maybe 20 pages per story (though if you purchase trade books the way I do they are typically longer because they encompass an entire plot over the course of 6 or more short stories).

So here is my disagreement: Comic books are in fact BOOKS. They tell a story. They are complex story lines that are diverse and intriguing and make the reader feel invested. That is why they continue to build onto the story with future comic book story lines. In fact, because they have so much flexibility within the creative space, a story about one comic book superhero for instance can be used by many different authors and the story is able to branch into multiple stories all surrounding the original character.

I actually find comic books far more complex than a novel because of the fact that really they are able to keep a storyline alive forever. Even in one story where our hero may die, in another he/she may still be alive or have been resurrected in some amazing way.

Yes, they rely greatly on the visual aspect which does make comic books an art form. I agree with this. But that does not mean that the story itself is unimportant and take away from its literary merit.

So, for those of you who just can't find the time to invest in something like a novel (whether it be a classic or more contemporary work) I would highly recommend comic books as a great source for entertaining reading material.

COMING SOON: Some of my favorite characters and books from comics

Female Leads in Superhero movies (VIDEO)

(WK#6 Comm 435)

BOOK REVIEW: The Night Gwen Stacy Died

If you know the name Gwen Stacy then you are at least vaguely familiar with the Marvel comic superhero Spiderman.

In the comics Gwen was the first and true love of Peter Parker. Her death was one of the most heart-wrenching moments I have ever read in a comic book (issue #121-122 of The Amazing Spiderman). And the trade Spiderman Blue has been one of my favorite comic books ever.

So when I picked up this novel by Sarah Bruni I was thrilled and excited for a novel interpretation of this amazing comic story. However, The Night Gwen Stacy Died was not at all what I had expected. The novel itself is well written however I had a lot of issues with the storyline.

We are introduced to a young girl-- Sheila Gower-- who is just about to graduate high school and is desperate to get far far away from her small hometown, specifically to Paris. She is a loner on purpose it would seem, and works at the local gas station. She becomes intrigued by a patron of the gas station whose ID states his name is Peter Parker.

The story continues as the two flee together after quickly staging a robbery and stay hidden within the city of Chicago under the false identities Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy. They cut themselves off from anyone they previously knew and fall into this alternate version of their own lives. But for those of us who know the story line... we know it is only a matter of time for these star-crossed lovers to fall apart.

Here is what i loved: I love that the story incorporated elements of a story from a comic book and applied it to real human beings (or at least they are real within the context of the story). The writing style made it a quick and easy read and the story itself wasn't significantly heavy, meaning that its not something that is long and drawn out and super complex.

HOWEVER, I wasn't a huge fan of the story line. Even being a crazy and impulsive 17 year old I wouldn't just stage a robbery and take off with some much older guy who I barely know and then so quickly dive into being in a "relationship" with him. In particular, she seems more desperate to dive into the role of Gwen Stacy and give up these other dreams she was so adamant about pursuing in the beginning of the novel. And I really had issues with some of the actions she took because it just didn't seem within character of a 17 year old girl.

I felt like there was a lot of obsession over the night Gwen Stacy died and it was getting repetitive.
There also seemed to be an idea of supernatural powers developing for the Peter Parker in the story (like he might have spider senses) and yet, it never amount to anything and seemed out of place overall.

I'm not saying it wasn't an enjoyable read, but sadly it will not be making my "favorite list".

VOTE!: Entertainment Weekly's Best YA novel of all time

It's a loaded question.

What is the best young adult novel of all time?

But I love attempts at trying to narrow down the answer because one... it gives me more novels to put on my list that I may have missed or haven't even heard of. And two... It gives me a chance to put my opinion in there as well.

So if you are a fan of the young adult genre (let me mention included in this would be The Hobbit, Harry Potter series, Hunger Games and many many more) then get in there and vote for the 4th bracket.

Voting ends Sunday November 17th 1pm Eastern Standard Time.

Entertainment Weekly's Best of All Time YA Novels

LIBRARY LOVE AFFAIR: Bookworm in Beijing, China

This weeks bookstore of choice: Bookworm

Where is it?: Beijing, China

Address: The Bookworm has 5 locations in 3 cities including Beijing, Suzhou, and Chengdu.
The address for this particular bookstore is

Building 4, Nan Sulitun Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing
100027, P.R. China


What makes it special?: I really included this because one... I love the name and the cute logo. Two... I love smaller bookstores that have a comfy reading area. Three... I totally admit i'm a sucker for unique attributes like its lighting for the evenings.

Enjoy!

New Films: Ender's Game and The Book Thief

For those who aren't aware, or don't find the time in their schedule to read, I would recommend the films that have been made from the novels. While a movie can never quite get the book right, I still believe the story and the message is greatly conveyed. :)

Ender's Game Trailer

The Book Thief Trailer

BOOK REVIEW: The Book Thief

"I am haunted by humans"

Sometimes you read a book that really sticks with you once you've finished it. I pretty often fall in love with novels which is the reason I started this blog in the first place. To expose those who are interested to some of my favorites that I have found in this literary awakening of mine.

The Book Thief has definitely found a place amongst my favorites.

This story follows the life of a young girl, Liesel, who is sent to live with a foster family, Hans and Rosa Hubermann, in a small town in Germany. The time: the years preceeding and during World War II.

At a young age, she has already began to see the greatest tragedies in life, including losing ones she loves.

She bonds with Hans, her foster father, who attempts to help her transition into this new life. They bond over a desire to learn to read and write and in the late midnight hours of night, work to help each other.
The family, who is poor, is doing everything necessary to ensure their survival as quality of life becomes harder and more difficult as the war continues.

"She was the book thief without the words. Trust me though the words were on the way, and when they arrived, Liesel would hold them in her hands like clouds, and she would ring them out like rain"

And then they come to the center of it all when they assist a young man named Max, a jew, a possible victim of Hitler and his Nazi party.

As I really believe that everyone should read this novel I refuse to give away anymore to the plot.

The most interesting attribute of this story is the narration. The story is narrated from the perspective of Death. I enjoyed that it was not only from a 3rd party perspective, but a 3rd party that is able to see all. During this time, death was constantly consuming the world, especially within Europe. It seemed appropriate that it would be death that would explain Liesel's story.

What I found most intriguing was that death was so interested in this one little girl. He follows her through all these years as she faced hardship after hardship, and was so fascinated by her actions.

Some may wonder about the title and it is exactly as it sounds. The little girl is the book thief. She began innocuously stealing a book that was laying in the snow on her voyage to her foster parents. And in her obsession to learn to read and write she begins stealing books that she finds at random. In her world of tragic circumstances it is the words that she is able to not only fall in love with, but also rely on. And in this it makes sense. When she steals books that are considered banned by the Nazi army and burned, she is stealing back her freedom to know all and not be forced into the Nazi party propaganda. It is the words that allow her to have her own voice, her own choice, and to make her own decisions. Stealing these books allow her control over a life where she has had no control. She has watched those she loved be tormented and punished for a multitude of different reasons. And now she has been given the power of words and will use it to the best of her ability. In the end, it is what saves her.

It is everything that she has faced that has given her the strength and courage to use these words she was taught through the most precious articles she owned: her books.

"I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope that I have made them right"

BOOK REVIEW: Ender's Game

My latest read was Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. I was referred to read it by a friend a few years ago and since it became an official film as of this past weekend it seemed about time to read it.

It is set in the future and follows the life of Ender Wiggin, a 6 year old boy who, it seems, has been predestined to be the world's savior. After prior attempts, the government in power during this time is convinced that Ender is the leader they have been looking for to help fight against an alien life form known as the buggers. Humans have joined together in their fight against these extra terrestrial invaders and now that they believe Ender is their answer, it is time to train him to be the best commander the world has ever seen.

"Ender Wiggin isn't a killer. He just wins-- thoroughly"

The entire novel is very militaristic. That is the entire point of the story. It is children who are sent to military school on a space vessel and are taught to fight and command an army. The best and brightest of these students end up leading their own armies and only the very best are likely to graduate and be sent to command school.

As it is already expected of Ender, he is pushed harder than any other student: emotionally, mentally, and physically.

This novel was definitely a page turner. It was exciting, thrilling, violent and captivating the entire time. And I love when you are unable to predict where the story will end up going. However, my issue with the story was who Ender became. He was seen as this world savior and put into the military school and then isolated from any kind of real or meaningful relationships. Even in the games that the students would play, he was only respected or beaten down but he never is able to develop a true friendship. Even when he refers to certain characters as them having a special kind of connection it still seems so artificial.

And I knew all of this was going to happen. In fact the novel makes it clear from the beginning that this is how he would end up; isolated from any deep and meaningful relationships. Yet it still bothered me so much. I just believe if you were molding someone to lead the world to peace by commanding an entire fleet of military personnel that there would be more than respect there to encourage trust between the commander and his men. I think there would need to be an emotional bond.

"Humans are free except when humanity needs them"

What broke my heart about the story entirely was that it seemed in order to save the world, Ender would be forced to strip all his humanity. It's as if he was the means to the end. If we want the world to survive as we know it, he must give up his life. (don't misinterpret my words as a spoiler because it's not what you think).

"I've lived too long with pain. I won't know who I am without it"

Perhaps it was the tragedy of it all that made the novel so enticing. Nevertheless, I'm excited to continue on to the next novels by Card. (Note to readers: This story goes off in different directions either following a character named Bean in Ender's Shadow, or follow Ender in Speaker For the Dead)

LIBRARY LOVE AFFAIR: Seattle Public Library

Library of the week: Seattle Central Library

Where can you find it: In downtown Seattle, Washington

Address please!: 1000 Fourth Avenue
                            Seattle, WA 98104

What makes it unique?  This uniquely built 11 story library was first opened in 2004. It has quickly become popular for its unique architecture structure that makes it more open and inviting rather than the stuffy and closed off feeling of most (although... I actually like the old historic buildings myself). One of its most unique attributes is its book spiral that shows all its fiction on a spiral that goes through 4 floors allowing those who are searching not to have to move to different levels of the building, rather the book will come to them.

Definitely a library worth visiting :)

What does reading fictional literature ACTUALLY do?

The question of the day: Why does literature need to be useful?

New Yorker- Should Literature Be Useful?

I read this really interesting article today on the New Yorker. In this article by Lee Siegel, he addresses two recent studies in which it was found that "reading serious literary fiction makes people more empathetic, and humanists everywhere are clinking glasses in celebration."

If you read the rest of the article, Siegel calls into question why these studies feel the need to prove that literary fiction has a purpose.

And I have to say I agree.

Why is it that we must have a purpose to everything we do? It seems like we are constantly feeling the need to justify everything we are doing by proving what the ends to our means are.

I've noticed that frequently the articles I read (yes more reading) in the news are constantly emphasizing the benefits of reading but they seem to concentrate on the fact that it increases your vocabulary, extends your critical thinking skills, and that it will help you go further in your career because it encourages active brain function and creativity.

But what we forget is that sometimes a book is just a book, and the best thing about it is just reading and escaping from our world for a bit. I don't feel the need to keep explaining that I love books because of all the benefits its going to give me and how its going to change and alter me personally. I just read because I want to. It doesn't need to serve a purpose. 

FAIRYTALES UNLOCKED: The Little Mermaid

One of the most interesting adaptations into film is The Little Mermaid (aka The Little Sea Lady) by Hans Christian Andersen.

The actual fairytale was first published in 1837 and while there are some similarities between it and the animated film later produced by Disney there are some key plot changes that alter the tone of the story entirely (and would definitely not work well as a kids animated movie).

In the original story, the daughters of the MerKing all swam to the surface when they were 15 and then when they were older spent a year living among humans. It was these tales that influenced the little mermaid and made her curious about humans and their lives.

Her grandmother explains to her about the different lifespans and while merpeople live much longer, once they past away they cease to exist. Unlike humans, according to her grandmother, who had a shorter life span but then when they passed their souls went to heaven and lived eternally.

When the little mermaid visits the surface she does in fact see a human who she falls in love with and rescues from a shipwreck, leaving him on the shore of a temple.

From this, the little mermaid desires to be human, to have a soul, and to be with the prince that she fell in love with. She does go to a sea witch who gives her a potion to give her legs. However, the change will be excruciatingly painful (feeling like she has been cut in half with a sword and is constantly walking on glass) and she will only gain a soul if she can find true love's kiss. Through all of this, she will remain a mute.

Though the prince does become infatuated with her when he meets her as a human he marries the girl from the temple that he met after he was rescued, believing that she rescued him and that she is his true love. Once they marry, the little mermaids heart breaks and she knows she will die. She is given an opportunity to become a mermaid again if she kills the prince and allows his blood to drop on her legs, but she doesn't kill him because she still loves him.

She instead throws herself into the sea and instead of ceasing to exist like her grandmother explained, she becomes a spirit of the air and learns she will also be able to join the kingdom of God by doing good deeds.


This version is far less the happy ending you would expect from a Disney movie however the story does touch upon some important differentiation between infatuation and finding true love. It isn't enough for the little mermaid to be beautiful and a wonderful dancer, but the prince finds love with a woman he believes deeply cared for him (though it was actually the mermaid that saved him). It has a unique way of being optimistic without actually giving the story a fairytale ending. The mermaid may not get the prince, but she does find that she does in fact have a spirit that will last after death.

BOOKSTORE LOVE AFFAIR: Shakespeare and Company, Paris, France

Located near Notre Dame in central Paris is Shakespeare and Co. This adorable 2-part little bookshop has been around for over a century! It is cramped, crowded, yet I have never felt more comfortable and at home. Beware of busy days though! Some of these photos are my personal ones that I took when I was there Feb 2013

Address: 37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 Paris, France 

BOOK REVIEW: Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein"

A year ago I become really obsessed with reading more Gothic literature. One in particular I was determined to read was Frankenstein. I felt it was such an important staple in the genre as well as in cinema (it has been remade several times, and will again be remade for the film I, Frankenstein coming out in a few months)

So this month I decided to re-read it and remembered all over again how fantastic this novel is.

Most know the overall story. A doctor by the name of Victor Frankenstein seeks to create life. What many don't know from the films is that the creature (or monster as it is referred to) was suppose to be made from the most beautiful body parts.

Once it is brought to life the doctor immediately rejects it as he realizes that in its appearance alone it is not human. He then becomes terrified and flees from the monster. He is reunited years later when the monster begins to slowly torture his creator by destroying the people that he loves the most.

"Thus strangely are our souls constructed, and by slight ligaments are we bound to prosperity or ruin."

What I was never expecting from this story was my immense feeling of empathy I had for his creation. He is not this horrifying monster who only wishes to bring death and pain to all around him. He is actually created with good and love in him. It is only through the rejection and cruel treatment first at the hands of his creator and then from the human race that he begins to indulge in his feelings of hatred and resentment for the cruel acts done to him. He was immediately abandoned and even though he strove to become a civilized person, he understood that he would never be accepted. And the worst part of it all was that none of this was ever his choice.

And with this in mind I began to despise Frankenstein (he is the doctor, NOT the monster... just FYI). He, from his own pride and egotism, tried to play God and then when he succeeded he freaked out. He then spends the rest of the time rejecting his creation, even when his creation makes a perfectly reasonable argument that he was not innately bad but had come to make bad choices and judgements due to the actions of his own creator. He attempts to make himself the victim, as if this creature was torturing him for no reason.

It really brings up the question of how we as human beings would be if we were raised being entirely rejected by the closest species we could identify with.

"I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all mankind? You, my creator, would tear me to pieces and triumph; remember that, and tell me why I should pity man more than he pities me?"

The most compelling part of this story is that this creature never asked to be created. He didn't choose to be what he was. It was the doctor that made him and gave him life. And then to be treated as the abomination seems so undeserving. He deserved happiness by whatever means was available, which is what he explained and asked of the doctor. And still he rejects his creature and treats him as if his existence is his own fault, when truly, it is the doctors.

I found overall the story to be vastly more philosophical. It seems to question how things appear and how we react and if these merely stem from the fear of the unknown or whether our reactions are logical. The creature was frightening in appearance so he is rejected, though he is able to reason as a human being. He is the only one that embraces the unknown while the humans all choose to fear it and reject him instantly on no basis other than appearance.

I won't say that this treatment justified the creature for what he did. But it does stand to reason that he would not have made such horrible decisions if he was merely allowed to be accepted in some way, even if that meant he had someone of his own kind to share a life with.

"I do know that for the sympathy of one living being, I would make peace with all. I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy one, I will indulge the other."

LIBRARY LOVE AFFAIR: The Royal Portuguese Reading Room

So if you are a book addict like myself, you may also love the experience of visiting bookstores and libraries.

There are some truly BEAUTIFUL architecture masterpieces all over the world that act as libraries and bookstores. So I wanted to dedicate some time to discovering these gorgeous places. It is one of my personal goals to visit many of these buildings one day.

Some are old and historic, others are new and modern. But most importantly, they are all unique and there are sure to be some that would catch anyones interest.


This week's library/bookstore of choice is:

The Royal Portuguese Reading Room in Rio de Janiero, Brazil 

So for those who are planning on going to the next World Cup (2014), make a visit! :)

FAIRYTALES UNLOCKED: Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland and The Looking Glass

Alice in Wonderland. It is a tale we have all heard or definitely seen.

It has been recreated over and over again in many different film adaptations, TV adaptations, even comic books. In fact it has been recreated over 40 times in these different forms. The most famous adaptation and most highly prolific is the original animation of Disney's Alice in Wonderland in 1951.

All these adaptations are derived from the stories of Lewis Carroll. The different adaptations have been created from his short stories: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There.

But none of these can encompass the true insanity and creativity of these stories.

"In another moment down went Alice after it, never once considering how in the world she was to get out again."

It begins with the young child Alice, who expresses that she sees no point in reading a book without any pictures. She becomes intrigued at the appearance of a rabbit in a waistcoat with a pocketwatch. The fact that the rabbit can speak as well doesn't even seem to phase her and as she follows him and shows no reluctance into falling down the rabbit hole to discover where he is going.

From there she is introduced to a strange and chaotic world where logic is futile and nonsense prevails. In fact this world called Wonderland seems to thrive off these manic characters who often treat Alice rudely because she attempts to find logic in what is happening around her. Nothing and no one has a purpose but rather they spend their time doing ridiculous things such as running around in circles or having a tea party that will never end, a cheshire cat who talks in riddles, or being a hot tempered queen who decides every second to cut off someone's head.

"But I don't want to go among mad people" Alice remarked.

"Oh you can't help that" said the cat "we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad"

"How do you know i'm mad?" said Alice.

"You must be" said the cat "or you wouldn't have come here"

In The Looking Glass, Alice, years later, considers what it would be like if she were to live on the other side of a mirrors reflection. She is transported to the other side and realizes quite quickly that the whole world is set up like a chess board. She again is lost in the insanity of the world with white vs red and she becomes a pawn in the game. As she moves across the board with the desire to herself become queen she comes across a multitude of characters including the queens and kings of each side, the fat twins Tweedle dee and Tweedle dum, the lion and the unicorn, and many other that tell her stories of their history or long poems for explanations for why they continue to live nonsensically. After she reaches her destination she becomes a queen but is offended by the days events of nonsense that she blames on the red queens advice to her in the beginning of the story. She then awakes and realizes she had been asleep the entire time.

It is not just the characters and their actions that are creatively full of nonsense, but the world of Wonderland itself. With food and drinks that alter the body (she becomes crazy large when eating something or sometimes ridiculously small from drinking a potion, often unable to sustain her original size). Yet what I always find so amusing is how rude and condescending many of the characters are. They often are explaining to Alice how she is ridiculous or funny looking, because to them she is the outsider, and are often treating her like she is the illogical one. And Alice herself only seems to ever notice that their actions are odd, not that many of them are animals or flowers and are talking to her.

"You use to be much more "muchier". You've lost your muchness."

This is really what makes it such a great story. Only someone open to creativity can really appreciate a world like this so openly and without question. And we would actually be dying to go their ourselves. It is merely a fantasy but Carroll's imagination paints a very vivid, enticing and excitingly chaotic place for us to travel to.

Alice herself is inquisitive, curious and courageous. She dives right into the world without a second guess as to the consequences. She approaches this strange place with no fear and embraces it for what it is: a mad world that she would have to be mad to dream up. And lets face it, we could all use a little madness in our lives.

STAY TUNED FOR: Beauty and The Beast

FAIRYTALES UNLOCKED

For most, the first stories we ever heard were at bedtime being told or read fairytales from our parents. These were our first introduction into the world of literature. I think so many people don't consider these stories works of literature but in fact they are.

Now of course we often hear different versions of the stories than their original form. This is especially true when it comes to stories that were originally found in the Grimm's fairy tales and quite often, Disney. 

Though fairytales might have been altered in order not to give us nightmares, their actual works of literature are really intriguing and fun to discover and hear. And sorry to say, they usually don't end Happily Ever After...

I will be dedicating some posts directly to unraveling the true stories behind many of these fairytales in 

FAIRYTALES UNLOCKED. 

I will also, where I can, show how they have influenced art, film, etc

I hope you enjoy :)

BOOK REVIEW: "The Picture of Dorian Gray"- by the amazing Oscar Wilde

The Picture of Dorian Gray is a fantastic and incredible novel written by a truly incredible writer, Oscar Wilde. After reading this, it became my favorite work of his. 

"Some things are more precious because they don't last long".

The novel focuses on the life of young Dorian Gray. A famous artist named Basil Hallward, meets and becomes obsessed with Dorian because he is impossibly beautiful. Dorian becomes his muse and is soon introduced to Basil's friend Lord Henry Wotton. 

Lord Henry's approach to life, which is primarily hedonistic, is appealing to Dorian. He explains to Dorian that the only thing important in life is beauty. And while Dorian is beautiful now and obsessed about by the painter, his beauty will fade.

Dorian becomes consumed by this thought and vows that he would sell his soul if he could stay beautiful and young forever, and the painting done of him by Basil becomes old instead.

Be careful what you wish for...

"There is only one thing worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about"

As Dorian continues to age, his outer beauty stays in tact, which is noticed by all. But what goes unnoticed since it is Dorian who owns the portrait of himself, as he continues to pursue a life filled with moral depravity, uncaring for others, even committing crimes against others, his soul becomes dark, disfigured, and ugly. The portrait becomes a window to seeing into his soul, and each sin has destroyed any beauty that might have once been there.

There is obviously a great deal more to the story but I hate to give everything away. I had been a big fan of Oscar Wilde previously but took awhile until I finally read this novel. It is so sad to watch as Dorian falls into this lifestyle because I can't help but want to blame Lord Henry for corrupting him first. But the truth is it is difficult to tell if this was to be his path all along. 

"You will always be fond of me. I represent to you all the sins you never had the courage to commit"

Dorian only worries about himself and what he wants. His selfishness knows no bounds as he even hurts those around him with little regard. He keeps the painting in hiding so that people will not see the reflection of his soul but he knows what it truly looks like. When he finally does seem to feel some remorse he attempts to be good. But even then it is to preserve his portrait in hopes it will change back. It is still vanity that drives him, thus making the painting worse and worse. 

The reason I loved this story so much was first that it was such a unique look at how we view others. It is not true that all beautiful people are beautiful on the inside and all ugly people are ugly on the inside. It comes down to character and our souls. In this novel, we are actually able to see the portrait of the soul. It was his decisions and the way he lived his life that determined the portraits fate. He became hung up on the wrong kind of beauty. 

Second, the ending was incredible. I feel like I should have seen it coming but I was so deeply immersed in the story I didn't. It was such a creative end to a creative story that it was shocking and unbelievable and fantastic. That I simply can't give away and I hope everyone reads it because it is definitely a gothic novel that everyone can enjoy.

Today it seems everyone is attached to some form of social media. In fact this blog is just another example. But the internet has provided a mass networking tool to allow people from all over the world to talk to each other, see what is going on in their lives, photos, etc.

Goodreads is a unique form of social media.

This site was created for people like me and you (hopefully if you are following along). It is made for book lovers. And for someone like myself it has some special tools that I love.

1. It lets the user make their own "book list". For me this is incredibly helpful because I constantly have gotten caught up in a conversation over a novel, or been browsing a bookstore and don't have the money at the time, etc. This way I can just add this book i'm interested in to my list and later on I'll see it and it will remind me.
2. It allows the user to keep a record of what they have read. It also allows you to track your progress through a novel and share it either on the site itself or on other platforms such as Facebook. While this isn't a necessary tool I enjoy this aspect. I like seeing what my friends are reading and where they are in a novel and if they are enjoying it or not.
3. It allows you to network with other book lovers. This is by far my favorite feature. It works exactly like a social network but stays on one topic: books. I like checking out my friends reviews or even other user reviews as well as what they have read in the past and see if it is something I would be interested in.
4. You become a "critic". This is exactly what I have been trying to create with this blog. I like to talk books with people on my level. I don't need to always hear about the complexity of the writing because of the time it was written and the style, blah blah blah. Sometimes I just want to hear someones genuine opinion. What they liked and why. That is what I attempt to do in this blog. And I like that Goodreads allows me to share my opinion with others.
5. It refers books to you based on your library. That is right. The site pays attention to what you are reading and then based off your reading list will make suggestions. For someone who is indecisive about what to read this is a blessing.

Since I joined the site (my friend recommended it to me) I have been a big advocate for other people to join. It is basically like having a great big book club where everyone is reading something different and you can pick and choose what you want to read/ not read and you may even be surprised and intrigued by referrals you wouldn't have found on your own.

If you want to see my booklist feel free :)

Nicole's Goodreads

BOOK REVIEW: "The Fault In Our Stars"- Another novel that will be made into a movie!

"As he read I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly and then all at once"

Yesterday it was announced that John Green's YA novel (that stands for Young Adult FYI) The Fault In Our Stars will be released as a film on June 6, 2014. This film has already been in the works starring Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort and Willem Dafoe.

Entertainment Weekly announces new film release date

I could not be more excited for this novel to become a film. Just like the quote, I fell in love with this book instantly, reading it within one day.

"Sometimes you read a book and it fills you this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read this book."

Take a girl and a boy, both young, both diagnosed with different terminal cancers. One is barely holding on and one is in recession. Hazel has accepted her fate. Augustus has fought and won.

Now give them a reason to want to survive. Let them fall in love.

Hazel is resistant. She knows her fate and doesn't see the point. She is obsessed with a book about someone in her exact position. But the end of the novel leaves her feeling uncertain and she has spent years seeking out the writer to write a sequel or to at least tell her the ending.

Augustus falls for Hazel instantly and wants to give her everything. He wants to give her the stars and make all her dreams come true.

and then the conflict.

"What a slut time is. She screws everybody".

I don't want to give too much away about this because I truly advocate for everyone to read this story. It is an emotional roller coaster and a love story that demands to be heard. It is optimistic yet painful all at the same time.

'"That's the thing about pain" Augustus said, and then glanced back at me. "It demands to be felt"'

It is truly such a beautiful story and one of the reasons I fell in love with John Green's work. I have 2 other novels by him since this (Looking For Alaska, Paper Towns) and it is his writing style that I like. It is so true and deliberate. While it has its poetic moments, for the most part it stays true to the voice of each character. And there is always something so intriguing about the lead characters. Something admirable. Hazel's love for this novel. Augustus's everlasting optimism. They are qualities to admire in individuals. Both of these individuals are facing death directly in the face and still find something to be strong for.

"Some infinities are bigger than other infinities. A writer we use to like taught us that. There are days, many of them, when I resent the size of my unbounded set. I want more numbers than I'm likely to get, and God, I want more numbers for Augustus Waters than he has. But Gus, my love, I cannot tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity. You gave me forever within a numbered days"