Hard to Swallow

With the school year winding down, I decided to not read any more novels, and stick with shorter magazine articles.

Hard to Swallow by Barry Estabrook, on page 71 on the May edition of Reader's Digest.

The article starts off with a story about a man who suddenly dies after experiencing severe stomach pains and diarrhea. Towards the end of his life, his behavior grew erratic and he started behaving like a drunk. He no longer recognized his own son.

Scary, right? And what's even scarier is that his death was caused by...a piece of cantaloupe. The fruit was contaminated by Listeria monocytogenes, a deadly pathogen.

This is so creepy...

Foul conditions, poor regulations, and too few inspectors are threatening our safety. Food-born illnesses are increasing every day. The article addresses all of these issues without sugarcoating anything. 

 

It kind of made me want to never eat food again...HA! What am I talking about? I would never be able to do that. But the article did make me question the safety of my food supply. The real enemy is what is inside, not around your body.

Great! One stop shop for cigarettes, liquor, and celery!

So make sure your food is clean, your hands are sanitized, and your grocery store is not a sketchy looking cardboard stand!

Deadly (Pretty Little Liars # 14)

Right now, I kind of hate myself for reading this book. For any of you who have read the Pretty Little Liars series, you know what I mean. And for those of you who have never read the series, I suggest you stop reading this right now, because I am too lazy to explain the first 13 books. The plot goes in circles and the series NEVER ends...case in point, Deadly is already book # 14.

OK, I've done it. I just googled the question, "Who is A?".

IT'S NOT REVEALED in the book! Which, by the way, I am not finishing now. However, Helper A is revealed, so I guess that was a good thing.
                                                                         How can such nice looking girls be so stupid?

And look at them, holding hands and walking past a perfect little picket fence, while their lives are at risk- wavy tresses flowing, dresses artfully torn, makeup fixed to perfection. Even the top left cloud is kind of cute...

Sigh...I have very mixed feelings for this series. I always find myself reading the next book in line because I feel like I owe myself the answer to the never-ending mystery.

But now I finally realize: Why would I do that when I have Google by my side?

50 Secrets Pets Won't Tell You

I decided to try reading something different today, so I skimmed an article in Reader's Digest.

50 Secrets Pets Won't Tell You

The title of the article really catches your attention, and it definitely made me more curious! The only pets I ever had were a hamster and a turtle...both are dead.

OK, maybe I'm not the best pet owner. So you can see why I wanted to know how to understand an animal's deepest darkest secrets. However, I will never be one of those people who run up to dogs and start cooing at the "adorable shape of their noses".

The article gave me a lot of information- both highly useless and entertaining. For example, "You may think its cute when I rub my butt on the carpet, but it probably means that I'm itchy and would like to see a vet" (Crouch 135). Oh, by the way, the article is written from the point of view of the pet, NOT the owner. I really hope you realized that from the quote above :)

Something else I thought was funny: "Excuse me for putting my bottom in your face, but you should consider it an incredibly high compliment. It harks back to when I was a kitten and would do the same thing to Mom so she could clean my bottom. It means I perceive you as a maternal figure" (Crouch 138).

Great! So first you scratch your dirty butt against my carpet, then you want me to clean it with my tongue?

I will never understand hardcore pet owners.

But anyways, this article was a nice break from the novels I read all the time, and it definitely had strong voice in it. And the pictures were just too cute!

Thirteen Reasons Why- Done!

I finished Thirteen Reasons Why a few days ago, and I can't stop thinking about it. It's one of those books that forces you to think long and hard about life. And when you're done thinking, you realize how much life sucks.

But you'll also realize how many people you affect in your life on a daily basis. And you'll realize that you have the power to change, make, or break someone's day.

No one was there to help Hannah change her decision to take her own life. But you have the power to help anyone else who is stumbling through a tough part in their life. So use that power. And who knows? You might just save a life.

I thought about a story I once heard, about a woman who had had a bad morning, but still managed to smile at a passer-by. He stopped and started a conversation with her. They spoke for nearly an hour, until the man thanked her and walked off. Two days later, the same man sought her out and told her that he had been on his way to commit suicide when she smiled at him. Talking with her had made him change his mind, and gave him hope for life.

"A flood of emotion rushes into me. Pain and anger. Sadness and pity. But most surprising of all, hope." (Asher 335).

This quote from the book is exactly how I felt after I finished reading. It's heartbreaking and emotional, and it sends a powerful message. I don't say this very often, but this is one of those books you HAVE to read. Not just because it's popular right now or because all your friends are reading it. But because it's one of those books that you'll want to read again and again, even when you're much older.

Hannah Baker's Tapes: # 1

I found this video on YouTube, and I think that everyone should listen to it, regardless if they have read the book or not. Hannah's voice is freakishly similar to what I imagined...



The rest of the "tapes" are also on YouTube, if you enjoyed this one :)

Thirteen Reasons Why

       I was inspired to read Thirteen Reasons Why after reading someone's blog post on this book. I have only gotten to page 100 (1/3 of the way through), but I am really enjoying this book.

       Thirteen Reasons Why is different from any other book I have ever read. Why? Because the majority of the story is told by a girl who has already committed suicide.
       Huh? Yeah, by a dead girl. But don't worry, it's not her ghost.
       Hannah Baker had recorded several cassette tapes before she took her life. The tapes explained the 13 reasons why she committed suicide, along with instructions on what to do with the tapes if you had received them: listen to all of them, and send them to the next person/reason in Hannah's tapes.  There was one person for each reason, and the main character, Clay Jenson received these tapes. That meant that he was one of the reasons why Hannah killed herself.
       The story is told through Hannah's recorded tapes, and is occasionally interrupted by Clay's  thoughts while he is listening to her.
       So far, Clay has only listened to 4 of the tapes. I don't want to give too much away, but basically, the reasons involved mostly guys, rumors, betrayals, ruined friendships, and a peeping Tom (I know, eww ewww ewwwww GAG). 
       
       Needless to say, Hannah had terrible experiences with lots of males. But I can't help wondering- if the genders had been reverse, would people be as sympathetic or show as much understanding for why she took her life? I mean, let's think about how outrageous this would sound:

"Hi, my name is Hans Baker. I killed myself because 13 girls were being really mean to me and I felt helpless."

       Now, I'm not saying that girls can't bully guys, because I know they do. HOWEVER, in a story like this, a girl being mistreated by men makes a much more gut wrenching sob story. If "Hans" had been real, he would've sounded weak and unmanly, instead of scarred and depressed like Hannah. Hmm...I guess gender stereotypes are still rampant. 

       Another thought I had while reading this book: I don't think Clay is one of the reasons why Hannah killed herself. If the author had planned that, Clay would've come off as a lot more guilty than confused. 
        When Clay hears Hannah's first tapes, he thinks, "But we [Hannah and I] never had the chance to get closer. And not once did I take her for granted. Not once. These tapes shouldn't be here. Not with me. It has to be a mistake. Or a terrible joke," (Asher 10).
        I predict that Clay is right- the tapes were accidentally sent to him. So far, the worst thing he has done is steal a Walkman cassette player so that he could listen to the tapes while walking outside. He doesn't seem like someone who would hurt Hannah. And besides, he didn't know Hannah well enough to hurt her and push her to suicide. 
       And also, no one wants the main character of a book to be an indirect murderer. Let's be honest here. When has the main character of a book ever been an evil person? 

       That's all for now. I will be finishing this book next week, so stay tuned!

The Infernal Devices

For some reason, I just can't stop reading Cassandra Clare's writing...The Infernal Devices is basically the prequel to The Mortal Instruments, which was the topic of my previous blog. Again, I can't say much about what happened specifically in each book, but I can give you my overall feel:

I finished The Infernal Devices series last week, and I have to say: I didn't like this series as much as The Mortal Instruments- mainly because the setting is in the Victorian Era. I mean, corsets and servants are great and all, but they're not that relatable to most of us. Out of curiosity, I searched up the "proper etiquette for ladies during the Victorian Era". I had some good laughs...

 

"Anyone with bright red hair and a florid [flushed] complexion should marry someone with jet-black hair. The very corpulent [fat] should marry the thin and spare, and the body, wiry, cold-blooded should marry the round-featured, warmhearted, emotional type."

"When crossing the pavement, a lady should raise her dress with the right hand, a little about the ankle. To raise the dress with both hands is vulgar and can only be excused when mud is very deep."

"A single lady and a single gentleman should never be left alone in a room together. This could be embarrassing for them, and lead to speculation amongst others."

Obviously people don't think or act like that anymore- well actually, the last one could still lead to speculation nowadays :D

Something I did like better about The Infernal Devices were the characters. The characters were wonderfully crafted, and the love between them felt so much deeper and more genuine than the love in The Mortal Instruments. The main character, Tessa Gray, is torn by her love for 2 men who both love her back- Will Herondale and James Carstairs. I usually don't like love triangles, but in this case, I do. There's an interesting twist that comes from the fact that Will and James are parabatai (a pair of warriors who fight together as lifelong partners, bound together by oath; their bond is reflected in their closeness and willingness to lay down their lives for one another). SO...you can see how things get a little awkward. 

I like how Cassandra Clare developed Tessa's personality throughout the series. She is definitely a round, dynamic character. She's stubborn, intelligent, and selfless- basically, she's the perfect heroine without being too perfect. And she's also completely unaware of how pretty she is:

Tessa Gray

That's something that annoys me (just a little). When characters pretend to be completely oblivious of their beauty, like, "Oh my lord! I never noticed how long and silky my wavy hair is. Oh, and my eyes! The greenish blue color is rather stunning!"

OK, she never said that, but that's the feeling I got.

Overall, this series was great! There's something for everyone to enjoy! Romance, action, fantasy. Actually, now that I think about it, I think girls would enjoy this book more than guys...

ANYWAYS, thanks for reading my blog!

The Mortal Instruments

       As you guys know, there was no blogging required over spring break, so I had 2 weeks to read... I don't know if I should be proud or ashamed that I finished the entire Mortal Instruments series. Well, the first 5 books, that is. The 6th and final book comes out on May 27th, and I feel like I am stabbing my eyes out with a chopstick from the agonizing suspense (not that I would know what that feels like, but that picture gives me an idea -->).

       Whenever I read a book series in a short period of time, the events from book to book just start running together, so I can't give you guys a good summary of each individual book. I can, however give you my overall feel for the series and some insight on the characters:

       Basically, the books are a young adult urban fantasy series that follows a girl named Clary Fray. One night, she goes to a club (Gasp! I know, scandalous) with Simon, her geeky best friend. She discovers that she has the ability to see Shadowhunters, who are usually invisible to mundanes (mundanes are just ordinary people, like muggles from Harry Potter). Then she gets the biggest shock of her life- she learns that she is actually a Shadowhunter, just like her mother and father. Her mother had managed to keep her away from the dangerous world and fighting going on by erasing some of her memories. As for her father, let's just say that he's a pretty powerful, evil dude.
       I don't want to give too much away, but if you like fantasy novels, I would definitely go for it! There is so much suspense, multiple plot twists, and some romance. Actually, quite a lot of romance. You know, if you like love triangles and that kind of stuff...
   
      Now let's spend a while admiring the plot. This series is definitely one that has a complex, unexpected plot. A plot that has you scratching your head and thinking about everything that happened, and when you can't remember, you wonder how the author got so many ideas into his or her head. This is part of the reason why all the books blur together for me. The author, Cassandra Clare must have planned this entire series out before she started writing anything, because the way things fall into place is incredible...quite profound, if I'm being truthful. Definitely, undoubtedly, way above my poor little "mundane" head. Some people might find it too confusing to follow, but for me, it made the book more interesting.

      I find it necessary to point out the fantastic cover art:
 
        Beautiful, eh? I like the repetition of the word "City" in the titles, too.

        As for the characters, most of them were very well developed, with distinct personalities (unlike in some books, where all the characters seem to sound the same). I liked Clary well enough, but she got too stubborn to the point of idiotic. She was also kind of annoying sometimes- like "Oh my goodness! I have 2 beautiful people in love with me and I can't choose who to love back! WHY IS MY LIFE SO HARD?".
       Just kidding, the love triangle was not that bad, but it still reminded me of Twilight... *shudder*.
      
       The only character I really did not like was Clary's mother. She comes off as an irresponsible, selfish, emotionally unstable person. I think the author was going for the "bad-past, but-trying-to-save-daughter" angle, but it did not work. I even liked the villains better than her- at least they were brought into the book to be cruel on purpose. 

       Overall, The Mortal Instruments is an addicting series with great characters, a great plot, and great covers. I highly recommend it!

      I just realized how obnoxiously long this post is getting, so thank you for everyone who actually read this far :). I'll end it now- see you next week!

The Carrie "Die-aries"

 

I finished The Carrie Diaries a few days ago, and all I can say is that I am extremely disappointed. I have never wanted to shred, destroy, or burn (whoops, sorry Ray Bradbury!) a book more than this one. Hence the name, "The Carrie Die-aries". I know, I know- lame twist on words...

I guess I'm kind of a sucker for happy endings, and this book did not have one. Well, at least the kind of happy ending I was looking for. SPOILER ALERT- Carrie's idiotic ex-boyfriend Sebastian is caught kissing Carrie's best friend, Lali, which ruins their friendship. If that's not bad enough, then he decides to go off and kiss Lali's younger sister, which ends up just as bad as it is disgusting. So, out of curiosity, I searched the book up on Wikipedia, and this is literally the definition of Sebastian Kydd: "Carrie's extremely pretty on-off boyfriend." Even the exceptionally verbose Wikipedia couldn't come up with something to say.

Another reason for my disgust is the fact that the actress for Carrie in the The Carrie Diaries TV series looks nothing like I had imagined. As I was reading the books, this was the Carrie I saw in my mind:

Carrie described herself as a 12 year old and stated, "I was twelve and starting to go through an awkward stage. I had skinny legs and no chest, two pimples, and frizzy hair. I was also wearing cat's eye glasses and carrying a dog-eared copy of What About Me? by Mary Gordan Howard." (Bushnell 53).

Sure, people can change, but keep in mind Carrie is still only 17.


Guess what the real Carrie looks like?


And the worst part is, she was accepted to Brown and a prestigious writing camp! I really try not to judge a book by its cover, but seriously? Ugh...Carrie and her perfect blonde curls and perfect outfits and perfect writing skills can go die in a hole. OK, so maybe I'm a little (just a little) jealous. But she looks so...perfect. I guess what happened with Sebastian could balance things out.

Overall, this book wasn't too terribly dreadful. Actually, the drama and fights and breakups and makeups were all pretty intriguing to me. It was like I was watching a science experiment unfold before my eyes, where the frantic specimens interacted with one another, occasionally producing foul language and tears. It was a guilty pleasure, but I won't indulge myself in the second book in this series, even though the first one ends on a huge cliff-hanger. I don't regret reading the book, but too much of this "stuff" and my brain will be fried.

So yes, I was disappointed and frustrated with this book, but I also enjoyed it very much. If that didn't make any sense just ignore me.

So what do you guys think: Is The Carrie Diaries a book you would check out (even if it's just out of curiosity) or something you would never look at in a million years?

The Carrie Diaries

So recently, I started reading the first book in The Carrie Diaries series. Unfortunately, since I live under a rock, I had no idea that this series is a television show and the prequel to $@# and the City (I hope you know what the random symbols stand for...I couldn't include that in my school blog).

Anyways, this story follows the life of a 17 year old girl named Carrie Bradshaw, who is growing up in the suburbs of Connecticut. She's just your average highschool girl- inseparable from her best friends, boy crazy, and trying to stay afloat among the sea of jocks and "popular" girls at school. She has big dreams of becoming a writer, and this book follows her path to success. Along the way, she meets a guy named Sebastian. You know, since there is ALWAYS a guy involved in chick lit. Let's just say that he makes her life a whole lot more complicated...

And with juicy secrets, betrayals from so called "best friends", and highschool coming to an end, Carrie is realizing that it's finally time to go after everything she ever wanted.

So now that I'm done with that long, boring summary, we can get onto the important stuff- like what Sebastian looks like (Just kidding, but in case you were actually curious, I'll get a picture just for you).


Sebastian Kydd

Carrie seems like an interesting person to me. I don't think I'd want to be her friend, but she would be a great source of entertainment. She is emotional, courageous, and fun...everything I'm not, I guess.

I will be finishing this book soon, so stay in touch!








Favorite Book Last Trimester

My favorite book last trimester was Divergent. I loved this book, mainly because of the interesting setting and the plot. The setting is a dystopian Chicago world, where everyone in society is divided into 5 different factions. I had never seen anything like this before, so that really made the book stand out to me. The plot of the book is also fantastic. There are many twists and unexpected events, so the book stays fresh and unpredictable. I think Veronica Roth did a great job in carefully crafting a suspenseful and intricate story.

I do think that some of the characters lacked...personality. Tris seemed robotic to me in the beginning, but as the story went on, her personality developed into something deeper and more sophisticated. I liked how that happened, because it really emphasized how her actions shaped her into a unique person. Also, I think that the book lacks enough background information. How the factions came to be was an unresolved issue for me. Overall, Divergent was an exciting book with romance, suspense, and lots of action. It was the best book I read last trimester.

Why I Chose The Fault in Our Stars

I started reading The Fault in Our Stars recently, and I am about one- fifth of the way through.

I have heard a lot about this book from friends, so I decided to find a summary and get a preview. The book is about a 16 year old girl named Hazel Grace Lancaster who was diagnosed with cancer. She attends a support group, where she meets a boy name Augustus Waters. That's about as far as I have gotten, but I will definitely be finishing this book.

Cancer is a very... touchy topic for many people- including myself. Last year, someone I knew passed away from cancer. Although I was not particularly close with her, I had been with her many times. And looking back on it now, one of my biggest regrets is not getting to know her, or her family better. I saw her a week or two before she was diagnosed, and I never saw her again.

I guess part of me wanted to read this book because I believed there would be a happy ending where everyone survives and celebrates (I mean, it's a book. Lots of happy endings in those, right?). A happy ending to make up for the sad ending in my story, and the sad ending that too many people in the world have gone through already. Unfortunately, the summary I read had some spoilers. Some MAJOR spoilers...

But anyways, this book is fantastic. It offers a heartfelt, realistic viewpoint from a girl who has dealt with more than any teenage girl should have to face. And the more I read, the more addicting it gets. Most of the characters are just a heartbeat away from death at any given time, yet they still manage to have humor, curiosity, and love.

I realize now, after going through my thoughts and typing this post, that I don't care whether or not the ending is happy or sad. I realize that the beginning and the middle are just as important as the ending, because the ending is really only a small part in the journey of life. And what makes the story genuinely happy, is what happens during that journey.

What have I learned? New ideas, concepts, or facts I gained

I decided to take a break form the Divergent series and read a current event news article. That was one of my goals (reading more nonfiction) that I really needed to work on. I found an article on CNN titled "CVS stores to stop selling tobacco".

By October 1st this year, all CVS stores will stop selling tobacco products, including cigarettes. The CEO and president of CVS stated that,"Put simply, the sale of tobacco products is inconsistent with our purpose."(Landau). The company agreed that the health of their customers came before making money off tobacco products (CVS will lose $2 billion per year from this). The US department of Health and Human Services and the American Medical Association applaud CVS for its effort to create a tobacco free generation, and hope others will follow their lead.

 The article was very insightful, and I learned a lot about the character of the president of CVS as well as the harmful effects of tobacco products. Personally, I think CVS made a great decision. As one of the largest pharmacies in America, CVS sets an example for other stores. By making the decision to ditch tobacco products, they are influencing the lives of not just people in our generation, but also people in the generations to come. This was a big step in the right direction, and I hope other stores do the same.

For the full article: 
http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/05/health/cvs-cigarettes/index.html?hpt=us_c2

Divergent- Started and Finished

I have heard so much about this series from friends recently that I decided to read it myself. And...umm... I finished it in 3 hours on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Needless to say, I had a lot of time on Monday.


I loved this book! The setting is in a dystopian world, where almost everyone is divided into 5 different factions, each dedicated to a particular trait: Abnegation (selflessness), Candor (honesty), Dauntless (bravery), Erudite (intelligence), and Amity (peacefulness). I thought the setting was very creative and unique, and it really contributed to the story. The main character, Beatrice Prior, is faced with a difficult decision- staying with her family in Abnegation, or being who she really is and leaving the faction. Throughout the book, she faces many physical and mental challenges, some with devastating consequences.

I don't want to give things away, so I'm going to stop talking about the plot now.

If you are reading my post, you should definitely check this book out! I just started Insurgent, which is the next book in the series.

Finished!

I finally finished Seriously... I'm Kidding!

Like I said before, this book was an unusual choice for me, but I am glad I spent the time reading it. Some of Ellen's best qualities are that she is funny, honest, and encouraging. Her book will put you in a good mood, and it is very relaxed. An example of this : "I love having women like Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton on my show. I also love having regular, everyday women on my show with inspiring stories about their personal journeys. And one time, I had a woman who could bend over backwards and put a hat on her head using only her feet. I that's not inspiring, I don't know what is," (DeGeneres). 

However, sometimes her book feels almost too casual, like she was literally writing down anything that came into her head. An example of this: "For those of you who are reading this the old-fashioned way and can't hear me, I've printed the noises below and I encourage you to use your imagination to think of what they might sound like coming out of my mouth.

meeeeee
faaaaa
cooooooooo
goooooood morning
bowwwwww
babowwww 
yellowwww
pah-pah-pah-pah-pah-pah-pah-pah-pah
pew pew pew pew pew pew..." (DeGeneres).
  
Seriously... I'm not kidding. I usually find Ellen hilarious, but this was a little too much even for me. 

Overall, Seriously... I'm Kidding is a unique, sometimes immature book for anyone who doesn't mind a little humor in their lives. I think it will appeal to people from teenagers to middle aged folk, especially females. I'll give it 3 and a half out of 5 stars.