Merry Christmas

Hello everyone! I hope your Christmas and other holidays were filled with joy.

Why the Catching Fire Movie Wasn't Any Better the Second Time Around

Well it's official, I am one of those crazy people that didn't absolutely love the Catching Fire movie. Again, I like it, I just don't think it lived up to the hype. Usually when I see movies twice I like them better the second time. Iron Man 3, Jack and Jill, Thor: The Dark World (which was already good enough the first time), just to name a few off the top of my head. Unfortunately, I think seeing Catching Fire a second time hurt my opinion more.

I think what did it was knowing how the action was going to look the second time. My friend Sydney went to see it with me this time, it was also her second time seeing it (she's lame so she didn't read the books). She said that when the scene with the lightning tree was going on and Katniss shot the arrow she had looked over to her friend she saw it the first time with and said, "Oh my god, that was so bad ass." This time she felt like it was just "kinda cool". I think the movie had the same effect on me. Except when I read it I thought bad ass, when I saw it the first time I thought cool, and then the second time it was good enough.

And then I realized the suspense was the thing that was missing. During the first movie I was on the edge of my seat, despite knowing what was going to happen. With this movie I didn't feel that. So I think that's what it was missing.

But, like I said in the first review, it was still a totally awesome movie.

First Post In Weeks, #GothicThursday

Yeah. I haven't posted for a while. I'm not even going to make excuses. I'm just going to say sorry. So, I'm sorry I'm a bad blogger.

That said, it's Gothic Thursday. Sorry for using the # even though there was no reason to.

In my Gothic Fiction class we just finished Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I liked it. It wasn't something I would pick up again, but it was good enough. Next we're reading Dracula, so I'm pumped. Vampires are my shit. Not Twilight though. Sorry Not Sorry.

We took a test on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde today. I probably did okay. It's kind of a hard book to get. It doesn't even really have terrible old time language. It's just the way it was written. I gave it three stars on Goodreads.

Okay it's like 10:30 so I'm going to bed like a normal person. Tomorrow I will post my second review of the Catching Fire movie. Or, I'll try. I make no promises.

Truth Or Dare Gone Wrong

In case you've ever wanted to see your favorite blogger puke, then watch this video. If not, take a pass. My sisters are evil. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk24ObcdgRs

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. And good luck with your Black Friday shopping tonight.

Catching Fire

HELP ME

Where do I even begin. I have such mixed feelings about this movie. I might be the minority on this one, but, I don't think it was as good as everybody is saying it is. That being said, it was still a really good movie.

I'll answer the question you're all wondering. It was... close... to the book. Now I'm not one of those people who think that a movie based off the book has to be an exact replica. No. Those people be ratchet. I know that movies can't be exact and that things will need to be added and taken away. I get why they had to take out the part where Katniss hurt her ankle, and the part where she tries on the wedding dresses. Time. It's a two and a half hour movie and they still didn't get everything. I don't mind that. I understand. It's the little changes that bother me. It's the little things that add up to make Catching Fire the book we love. So I do miss those little things. But I still think the book was close enough. After all, all the parts that made you want to cry while you were reading were still in there.

I am definitely the minority on this, but, honestly, I miss the damn shaky cam. I liked the shaky cam. I really did. Without it I feel more like I'm observing Katniss rather than feeling like Katniss. That's all I'm going to say about that.

Jennifer Lawrence. Oh my god. She has to be my favorite actress of all time. Every actor in that movie made me feel like it was real, but Jennifer was, by far, the best. I think she's already given a lot of credit, because most people do realize she's a good actress. I still think she deserves more. There are just too many scenes to choice from to explain how well she did. Example: The scene where Cinna is getting beat up and Katniss is stuck in the tube. I could feel that emotion. It wasn't just in her voice, or her body movements, but in her face. She's such a good facial actor and I think that's one thing a lot of young actors lack. In every scene her face always gave away the emotion it was supposed to. I applaud her. I applaud the entire cast, honestly. They all deserve a pay raise.

The movie was good. It was just enough action. Just enough romance. Just enough Finnick. Just enough Gale. Actually all the characters that were in there got just enough of their fair share of screen time. In the end, it was just enough of everything. And yet I left the theater feeling like there was something missing.

So I'll be seeing the movie again, because I'm afraid my expectations may have been too high. I'll give you an update when I get around to the second showing in the next few weeks. For now, this blogger is full of mixed feelings.

I give this movie four stars

Marvel Movies

It's Fandom Friday. The day that I talk about a fandom I'm apart of. Today's fandom is the Marvel movie fandom.

Now, before we get started, I think I should explain. I read comics. I read a lot of comics. I am like your classic geek. But I don't consider myself a Marvel comics fan so much as I do Marvel movies. I'm not saying Marvel comics aren't good, because they are, in fact they are spectacular. I just don't think I've read enough or have enough comics to consider myself a true Marvel comics fan. So today, I'm just talking about the Marvel movie fandom, because I've see basically all of them like 8000 times each.

That being said, let's begin. I chose to do the Marvel movie fandom today because I just went to see Thor: The Dark World, for the second, and probably not the last, time. That's one of the reasons I love this fandom. To create a movie that somebody would spend thirty bucks on more than once, well, that's impressive. Very few movies can do that. Do you think I saw that horrible Beautiful Creatures movie more than once at the theater? No. How about the first Percy Jackson movie? Hell no. And I was in love with those books. Thor: The Dark World, Iron Man 3, both movies I went to see twice. Granted, I hated Iron Man 3 the first time, but then I came around and changed my mind.

I admire Marvel Studios for being able to pick amazing directors like Joss Whedon, John Favreau, and Alan Taylor. And I especially admire Marvel for having a plan. Those end of credit scenes (you know the ones that people leave the theater before and then you get to laugh at them) wouldn't work if Marvel hadn't had this all properly planned out before hand. I love Marvel movies because they take the time to do them right.

And I love the fans. This is one of the few fandoms that has fans that aren't crazy. Well, we're crazy, but for different reasons.

I love Marvel movies and I'll continue to see them until Marvel decides to stop making them.

Thor: The Dark World

I approve this movie

AHHHHHHH!!!!! I'M SO EXCITED I MIGHT PUKE. I'M DYING. LOKI FEELS. Sorry. Now that it's out of my system let's try to do this right.

I've been looking forward to this movie for so long, but I tried not to think about it. I didn't want to put too much pressure on the movie to be great. I've found that when you expect the movie to be great it almost always suck. So I didn't read any reviews and I held off thinking about it until today, and I am so glad I did. Granted, even if I had any expectations this movie would have surpassed them. And yes, it was better than the first one. It may have even been better than the Avengers.

So I think I'm going to do you a service, and not really review the movie. I wont tell you anything about the plot, or what happened. I'm just going to tell you how I felt. I feel that if I give you a real review it might poison the movie. So I'm just going to tell you my experience.

I threw my popcorn. There was a part in the movie, and I think that if you've seen it you'll know which part I'm talking about, that made me feel so much that I had to throw something. I literally became the flip desk meme, but with popcorn. Yeah, I'm like five. The point is that the movie made me have that much feeling. Thor made me laugh, and throw popcorn (which is like my equivalent to crying). I went through every emotion that I could think of. I kind of wish I hadn't thrown my popcorn so soon though, because I needed it for the end.

That's all I'm going to say. I think you should see it. I think if you don't then you are missing out. I know Superhero movies aren't for everyone, but this is one you cant miss. Watch it. Watch it now.

I give this movie five stars

Update Thursday #4

It's Update Thursday once again. So here we go.

I am reading:

• Carrie by Stephen King. And by I am reading I mean I am about one chapter in. 
• The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly
• Gone by Michael Grant  

I think I might be putting reading on the back burner for a while. I'm writing a (terrible) book of my own, and I'm working a lot, and I'm still going to school. Even though I'd like to have more time for reading it's just not happening right now. Along with those books, I am also re-reading the entire Hunger Games trilogy because Catching Fire comes out in a few weeks.

Blog Updates: None

Polls:

• As a child did you like to read?
• Yes wins with 4 votes. 
• Still time to vote on the other open poll. 

Reviews This Week: 

• Dora the Explorer: So Many Butterflies by Lara Bergen

Me Updates: You're probably wondering why I'm not in school right now. Or maybe you aren't. Well I should be in school, but as I've stated the past few posts I haven't been feeling well. It's only gotten worse so here I am. Laying in bed and writing a blog post. I don't know if getting to stay home is a good thing or a bad thing, but here I am. So maybe I will get a little reading done today, maybe not. Hopefully I'll get to go to school tomorrow. Two days home is enough. 

Dora the Explorer: So Many Butterflies by Lara Bergen

Not for me, but maybe for your kids

So yesterday I went to my doctors because I've been sick for three weeks, So he came in and talked to me and blah blah doctor stuff. He had me do a mono test (negative, thank goodness because I can't be missing work) and on his way out the door he was like "If you'd like to catch up on some reading here's some Dora and tossed me the book." To which my reply was "Dora, my favorite." Then I actually read the book because it took the nurse a billion years (five minutes) to get in there.

So yeah. I haven't done a review in a while so I'm really going to review Dora for you today. I guess this review is for the parents looking for something for their kids to read and kids that shouldn't be on the internet looking for something to read.

Dora. Who didn't love Dora as a kid? I didn't. My sister did. Did I love this book? No. Will kids like my sister? Yes. It was a decent book, for Dora. It won't be winning any rewards, but it's Dora. The book follows Dora and Boots looking for butterflies, as the title so obviously suggests. Dora is a stupid slut and likes to point out the colors of the butterflies. Thanks Dora, I totally needed you to do that for me. That's basically the book, with a small plot twist of it starting to rain and them going in a cave and then a rainbow and all sorts of stupid Dora like stuff.

Is the book worth reading? Not for someone my age, unless you're at your pediatricians office because you're seventeen and don't have an adult doctor yet and you need something to read while you wait for your nurse to prick your finger for a mono test. But for someone under six or seven this book is probably fine. So parents, go ahead. Buy a Dora book for your child. They need something to read anyways.

I give this book three stars

Insanity

It's Quotation Sunday again. Today's quote is:

"I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity." - Edgar Allen Poe.

I think live is funner when you're crazy. I wish I was crazy. I mean, I am, but not as crazy as I'd like to be. Sanity is for the plain and the boring.

Poe is one of my favorite poets, I know, how common somewhat educated white girl of me. I really think Poe was insane. Which isn't a bad thing. I think the insane minds are the ones that come up with the best idea. I wish I could be half as crazy as Poe was. But that's just me.

I really don't know what I'm saying right now. I just needed to get a post in. Sorry guys. I've been sick for like three weeks and I thought I was starting to feel better, but not so much anymore. These illnesses are kicking my ass. I promise I'll make a better Sunday post next week.

Halloween Gothic Thursday

It's Gothic Thursday, on Halloween. Or, what's left of Halloween. I've been busy.

So this week in my Gothic Fiction class we finished Frankenstein, which was an average read. We also watched Edward Scissorhands this week. We're (the class) is supposed to see the parallels between Frankenstein monster and Edward Scissorhands. Or, at least that's what she (the teacher) said. I just think she wanted to watch the movie. Which was good (my first time seeing it, I know, I'm so deprived), but I wish more people had died. I kind of wanted Edward to go crazy and kill everyone in that disgustingly happy town. So that's what we did this week. Test tomorrow. Next week, I think, we're starting Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. That will be interesting.

I was going to tell you about the "parallels" I saw between the monster and Edward but I am just fifty shades of too tired. If you've read the book and seen the movie then I think you'll be able to see them for yourself. Or maybe not.

So I'm really going to start posting more again now. I was really sick the past few weeks and now I'm better (except now I have a stupid ear infection, so maybe I'm not better, but I feel better). So I'll be trying harder now.

Update Thursday #Whatever (3 I Think?)

I am reading:

• Carrie by, well, do I really have to tell you. And yes. I am mostly reading it because the movie just came out. I don't know why though. I can't even get in because I don't have my license and my stupid theater doesn't take permits. 

• Gone. Yes. Still. 

• The Lincoln Lawyer. At this rate I'll never finish. 

Blog Updates: None

Polls: The two from a couple weeks ago are still up. Only seven days left to vote on one. 

Finished books this week:

• Just finished Frankenstein. No review to come. It was what I expected from a book written in that time period. Now I have a three page paper to write about. So bye. 

Television

It's Whatever Wednesday again and I think I might be getting back to my old self so I'll be posting more again. Today's whatever: my favorite TV shows.

So I've been watching a lot of TV lately, like, more than normal. And I watched a lot before. But I've found that over the last several months especially have been filled with TV hours. I think most of my favorite TV shows (most,but not all) follow the pattern of 'something bad happened and now we need to figure out what it is/who did it and how we can stop him/her/it from doing it again'. That being said, my favorite shows are (in no particular order): The Following (anyone else is that excited for that to come back soon?), Supernatural, LOST, Grimm (TWO MORE DAYS!!!!!!!!), NCIS, Shameless, Face Off (Go Tate), Psych, The Mentalist, Sleepy Hollow, Alphas (stop being cancelled and come back damn it), Revolution, Monk, Agents Of SHIELD, How I Met Your Mother, Scrubs, and then like a million and half more shows.

I don't see anything wrong with watching TV. I just think when it's too much TV it's bad. I'll be the first person to admit that I watch way too much TV. After a long day of work I would much rather come home and watch some Psych than read a book or write or even do anything productive. I think I need to make time for more reading and less TV. But I don't think TV is bad. It's more of a time management thing than anything else. I think, like most things, it's a balancing act.

So tell me what you think. What are your favorite shows? And is your balancing act a little lop sided?

I'm Bad At Life

I hope it's Whatever Wednesday, because I worked my Wednesday hours today. It's just been one of those days where I've been doing everything wrong. It took me like an entire minute to open the door to get out of one of my classes. Then I spilled coffee on myself. Then other stuff. On top of it, I barley saw my senpai today.

But it's not just today. That's the kind of week I've been having. Yesterday my bus was an entire two hours late. Come on school bus. Get your act together. And my mother went to Colorado (grrr) so it wasn't like she could just drive me to school. So I'm sorry that I haven't been doing my days, but give me a break. I'm having a rough day. I'm having a rough week. Hell, it seems like I'm having a rough life at this point.

Give me some time to recover and the days will start back up soon. Sorry not sorry.

You Suck

#DecidedToNotDoMyHomework #NowIHaveTimeToDoStuff. #DontKnowWhyImUsingHashtags. Yeah so basically I decided to not do any of my work so there will be a Quotation Sunday tonight (but probably still no Discussion Monday tomorrow). Today's quote:

"Remember to always be yourself, unless you suck." - Joss Whedon.

If you don't love Joss Whedon then you are wrong. I like this quote because I don't think that anybody is really themselves, therefore, we all suck. What I mean by that is everyone is constantly being made into something they're not. When you're a child your parents (if they aren't terrible) teach you how to act around people and how to behave properly. And school tells you how to act. And work tells you how to act. So basically your entire life you're told how to act around people and what not to do. I think we are a very conditioned people. Which kind of sucks. I don't think anybody is who they're really supposed to be. Even if you're the biggest rebel possible you still suck because you're just rebeling against what they want you to be and if they weren't there you wouldn't be a rebel.

In conclusion, I suck, you suck, and so does everyone else. To be honest, I don't really mind sucking. I'm happy with my life the way it is.

Sorry Guys

Sorry guys. Clearly there was no Fandom Friday yesterday. There will not be a Ship It Saturday tonight. I will also not being doing Quotation Sunday or Discussion Monday this week. Sorry. I 'm just too busy for the next few days. Topics will start up again on Top Seven Tuesday (hopefully).

Update Thursday #2

I am reading:

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley for my English class. We're just about done with it at this point. 

Gone by Micheal Grant. Again, so far not so good. I might just put it down for a while. Every time I try to read it I just get angry. 

The Lincoln Lawyer by Micheal Connelly. I think I might restart it because I haven't had time for it and I keep forgetting whats happening. 

Blog Updates: None

Polls: Don't forget to vote! Two polls are up now. Did you like to read as a child, and which of my days is your favorite. 

Other: I am now taking review requests again. 

School and Class Rank

There are 152 kids in my senior class. Guess what number I am. I'll give you a second to stop and actually think about it. I asked my co-workers and one of them said, "One?" "Close," I told her. "151," I concluded. Yes folks, I am 151 out of 152. I did good. I have yet to find 152, but a good friend of mine is 150. Bottom three club. I don't really look at it as being the second worst, but the 151st best. I don't understand why people get so worked up about their class rank and GPA (mine is a 1.7). I don't think that actually really reflects my intelligence or work ethic or anything really. Clearly I'm not a stupid kid, I mean, I read (reading is not a sign of intelligence either, I'm just making points that I cant defend). I just don't like school. That doesn't make me a bad person or bad student, I mean all my teachers love me. Even the ones I sass.

Speaking of teachers I sass, my related teacher gets it (not really). So far this year I haven't turned in a single assignment to him. He like gave me a speech about how it was good that I was standing for something. Clearly he is over thinking this. I'm not standing for anything, I just don't feel like doing his work. I have A's and B's in the rest of my extremely easy classes. I love my related teacher, he's a great guy, but I'm not doing college level work if I'm not going to college.

I'm not going to college (you can stop emailing me now, stupid expensive private colleges I don't want to go to). I've never wanted to. I feel like most people go because their parents want them too, or they feel like they have to. I think that's societies fault. Kids are being taught at an early age that the goal is to get to college. Well, for some people that just isn't the case. I'm one of those people. I want to be a writer. I always have. I don't need college for that, I mean it would be helpful, but I don't need it. My mom was heartbroken when I told her I didn't want to go to college. When people ask me where I'm going next year I tell them "I'm not going anywhere," and my mom says, "she's going to be taking some writing classes." Are you paying for those, mom, because I'm not.

I don't think school is teaching kids right. We learn to remember for the test, and then we forget. So we never really learn. And I don't think college is for everyone. If you don't want to go, then don't go. I think it's time for a change in the American education system. And I think it may be time for a change of values. But hey, that's just me.

Top Seven Favorite Authors

It's Top Seven Tuesday again. The day I talk about my top seven of something. Today, my top seven favorite authors.

7) James Patterson. I think any author that can write that many books deserves some major props.

6) Rick Riordan. What can I say? While I can honestly say that I think Percy Jackson will be the only series of his that I'll love, it was still something. Percy Jackson is really the series that started my love of reading. I don't think there is anything better an author can do than give the gift of a great book to someone like me.

5) Malia Ann Haberman. Really nice woman. I've talked to her a few times and she's just so polite and perfect. I love her books so much. I wish I could have half of her writing talent.

4) Ally Condie. Matched trilogy author. Another series that I don't think I could have lived without. Fabulous books. The last one blew my mind. This girl has got a talent.

3) Scott Tracey. Keep writing books with good gay leads and I'll continue to read. Tracey's Witch Eyes books continue to play in my mind, even months after reading them.

2) Suzanne Collins. Oh Suzanne. Author of my all time favorite book series. One would think that with me being such a huge Hunger Games fan that she would be my number one, and she almost was. But if I could only read one book for the rest of my life, it would be hers. (Catching Fire, obviously.)

1) John Green. I don't even know how to explain it. I've only read one of his books, unless you count Zombicorns, then two. I think it's because of his videos. I think it's because when I watch his videos I find myself going "Yes John, I agree. You are right." I agree with him 99% of the time. And he's more than just an author to me. He does so many good things and he's just perfect. I wish I could marry him. Like I'm being dead serious. I love this man. Which is probably why he is my number one author.

White Horse by Alex Adams

I do not recommend this book

White Horse by Alex Adams, a book so bad I didn't even bother to really learn the main characters name. Even now as I write this I have to go back and look. That is how bad this book is. I don't even care about the characters. When a book fails to make you care about the characters  it fails as a book.

Zoe. Her name was Zoe. And Zoe was probably one of the most boring characters I have ever had the misfortune of reading about. Zoe is haunted by a nightmare about a jar, which she believed caused the end of the world. Bad plot right there. Skipping that, because at this point why even bother with something as stupid as that lack of a plot. Zoe is like all the other characters, bland. You couldn't pay me to read this book again.

And what about that terrible style it's written in? The author uses a style in which I found not only unneeded but somewhat confusing. Adams switches things a lot. By that I mean one second Zoe will be talking about what she's doing in the end of the world, then the next she will be talking about what she was doing before. I think this could have been done well if someone else had done it. Adams lacks something. The writing is often over fluffed and misguided.

I give this book one star

101 Ways to Find a Ghost by Melissa Martin Ellis

Mixed Feelings

101 Ways to Find a Ghost (and a ridiculously long subtitle). More like, 101 ways to look for ghosts. Two very different things. Instead of being a book about how to locate ghosts, like I believed it was going to be, it was more of a book about ways to conduct a paranormal investigation and how to form a team. While I really enjoyed some of the information this book had to offer I find myself feeling cheated. Interesting topic. Not a very interesting book.

It was a decent book and a decent read, especially with Halloween getting closer. I think if it wasn't for such misdirection the book would have been good. It wasn't so much of a story, just an instruction manual. So if you're interested in becoming a ghost hunter then this book may be for you (and no, that's not a stupid career choice). Just looking for something to read? Maybe you shouldn't pick this up.

I give this book three stars

Why Do We Ship

Well, it's too late to do a real Ship It Saturday (not really but I just worked 8 and half hours so I'm tired). So today I'm just going to talk about why I think people ship in one short paragraphs.

I ship because I have to. I don't know about other people but I feel the need to pair people (fictional characters) together. Example: I just started watching Sleepy Hollow (great show, must watch). Lets be honest, who else didn't instantly ship Abbie and Ichabod. It just happens. It's an involuntary action. I think everyone does it because they feel the need to.

That, and, it's a socially correct thing to do now, so why not.

The Hunger Games Fandom

Fandom Friday? Last week I told you I finally picked what I was going to do on Friday's. This is it. So every Friday I'm going to pick a Fandom that I'm in to talk about. I'm going to try to stick to book fandoms, but I might go into TV, movie, or band fandoms. This weeks fandom? Hunger Games.

I'm in the Hunger Games fandom for many reasons. One, because the books were amazing. Two, because the fans don't suck. I try to stay away from the fandoms where all the fans are crazy. I will not listen to One Direction because I do not want to be associated with their fans. I don't mind when I tell people I'm a Hunger Games fan.

At this point I think everybody who wanted to read The Hunger Games books has done so, or is in the process of doing so. I love these books. And I even really loved the movie. I cant wait for the Catching Fire movie. I love Jennifer Lawrence. I love all the actors. I love being apart of this fandom. Every day I go to work with the pin on my uniform. For me this is more than a fandom, it's a family.

Vampires

It's Gothic Thursday again. Today's topic: Vampires. So my Gothic Fiction teacher got an expert on vampires to come in yesterday and talk to her classes. This expert was Dr. Micheal Bell. I had read a couple of interviews he had done so I was really excited for his presentation.

I think everyone, thanks to twilight (yuck, not necessarily a bad story, just really terrible writing.) has some kind of image of vampires in there head. I'm not interested in those kinds of vampires. I want the blood thirsty ones. I want the ones like Dracula. Those were, unfortunately, not the kind of vampires Dr. Bell discussed with us. He was more interested in talking about the ones that could be proven false with scientific facts. Not really a surprise but many people who were thought to actually be vampires just had, wait for it, tuberculosis. Kind of lame. So I'm not really interested in those "vampires" either.

What I was interested in was how people thought they could get rid of vampires. In the true story of Mercy Brown, a girl with, you guessed it, tuberculosis, died. Other people in her town started getting tuberculosis, so clearly that meant vampires. So they dug up her grave and she wasn't decomposed so, you know, clearly she was a vampire. So they took her heart out and burned it and then fed the ashes to her brother who was suffering from, well, do I really need to say what? Not surprisingly, he died.

It's just interesting to me how much the definition of vampire has changed. From something that doesn't even rise from the grave, to Bram Stoker's Dracula, to Twilight. Literature has changed vampires. Maybe not for the best. I personally would like to start seeing more vampire books about vampires that kill. I'm sick of the romanticizing that the creature receives. Lets leave the horror in the stories.

The Ambrose Beacon by Alena Gouveia

I don't know how I feel

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

I think a lot of things were done right with this book, but still, a lot of things were done wrong. I don't know though. I seem to be the only one giving this book a somewhat negative review. I think this is one of those books that you're going to need to make up your own mind about. Don't just take my word for it. Read it yourself.

Let's start with the right. Gouveia manages to create a fairly interesting and original story. The plot was interesting. In general it was something that i was interested in and wanted to read. His writing is very good and easy enough to read. Gouveia was always clear in his narrative. There was never a part that made me go "huh?". There's a decent balance between detail and dialogue, which is something I find is hard to do so I admire this skill. Yet, I still find myself feeling distant from the book and the characters.

Maybe it's because it's in third person. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I just don't like books in third person. It's not that they're bad. It's just not how I like to read. Maybe it's because it had a prologue. Not a fan. Never have been. Never will be. It's just one of those things that I don't get. Maybe it was the characters. In the first chapter we're introduced to Jerry and Larry. This is probably what turned me off from the book, that and it taking place in Colorado (there's nothing wrong with Colorado. It's a lovely state. But I just have some demons there that I was trying to forget. Thinking about it makes me angry, and in turn, so did this book), but I won't even get into that here. The names were just so cheesy. I couldn't take it.  Maybe it was the slow beginning. It does pick up towards the end, but if the beginning is slow that sets a mood for the whole book.

Then again. Something keeps taking me back. I think I might have to reread this one. Maybe not right away, but soon. I have some super mixed feelings about this book. I think you should check it out. I'm interested in what everyone else is thinking. Maybe I'm just like broken or something. I'm totally rereading this sometime within the next few months. If my opinions change I'll let you know. For now, I'm stuck with mixed emotions.

I give this book two and half stars

Sorry, again...

I'm sorry. I've just been really busy this week. My bad. I'll start really posting again tomorrow. I promise. Now I have to do the rest of my math homework. So. Bye.

Sorry

Sorry guys, no Ship It Saturday tonight. I just got home and I'm going straight to bed. But good news, I finally figured out what I'm doing on Fridays. It's going to be a surprise though.

Update Thursday #1

Update Thursday? I've been looking for something to do on Non Gothic Thursday and every Friday. Friday still needs a theme. For Update Thursday I'm just going to update you on what I'm reading and give you some blog updates.

I am reading:

• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley for my English class
• The Ambrose Beacon by Alena Gouveia. He has asked me to read and review it.
• White Horse by Alex Adams. So far not so good. It's mostly a book I read while I'm on the bus or have three seconds to kill. 
• Gone by Micheal Grant. Again, so far not so good. 
• The Lincoln Lawyer by Micheal Connelly. It's really good so far and I wish I had more time for it. 

Blog Updates: None

Polls: Don't forget to vote on the new poll that's up. As a child did you like to read?

Other: I am not taking review requests at this time. For obvious reasons. 

Thanks for reading. I'm still taking suggestions on what to do for Fridays! 

Half Day

It's Whatever Wednesday again. I was really happy earlier because it was a half day of school  and I planned on getting a lot of reading and writing done. Neither of which actually happened. No. Instead I spent my day watching tattoo shows. Today was going to be my first day to actually get things done in almost a month. And I didn't get any of it done. None. Nothing.

I guess lately I've been feeling very lazy. I haven't read anything in almost three weeks, and I feel really bad about it. I mean I read for about thirty minutes today but it was pretty halfheartedly. I just really haven't felt like myself lately. I don't know why, but it's happening. This half day turned out to be a bummer and I didn't accomplish anything. It just made me really think about what I need to get done.

So starting Friday, because I'm working and schooling all day tomorrow, I am going to read more and get more done. Thanks for being cool with me not reviewing much lately. I'm hoping to change that really soon.

Top Seven Favorite Antagonists

It's Top Seven Tuesday again. Today I'm going to talk about my top seven favorite antagonists. I'm going to use antagonists from TV shows and books. I wouldn't normally do that, but my all time favorite antagonist was from a TV show and I don't feel like I could leave him out. Let's begin.

7) The Society. Sometimes the best antagonist is everyone. In the Matched trilogy Cassia fights against her society. I think it's brave. How do you fight against something that's everywhere? The Society was a good antagonist for that series, and it might not have worked in another book.

6) President Snow. We all know where this guy's from. I loved President Snow because he was easy to hate. He was somebody you could point to and say "that guy is an asshole" and you would just know you're right. Villains that are easy to hate make for an easy to love book. I wanted President Snow dead. So when bad things happened to Katniss I wanted her to keep going even though I hated her because I needed her to kill Snow. Which she didn't really do, but he still died so it still worked.

5) President Coin. Another character from The Hunger Games that's easy to hate. She's Snow, but worse. The level of deception that she uses is what makes her worse than Snow for me.

4) The Smoke Monster. AKA The Man in Black. *Spoilers ahead* Who's seen LOST? If you haven't then you really need to. Like really. The man in black is somebody I sympathized with. I mean. Come on. A crazy lady murdered him mother and stole him and wouldn't let him leave the island. Of course he's going to grow up evil. It really wasn't his fault. He's just misunderstood. And that's sometimes a good direction to take an antagonist in. Sometimes the villain needs to be likable. Sometimes you need to be able to see both sides.

3) Joe Carroll. Anybody see the Following? I did. And I loved it. Throughout the show I was rooting for Joe and his followers. I must be honest, I almost always root for the bad guys. But this time I was really really really rooting for the bad guys. I was sad when Joe or one of his followers got hurt. I not only want them to win, I need them too.

2) Tigerclaw. I love Tigerclaw *spoilers*, or Tigerstar, as those of you who have read up to the first four books would know. Which reminds me, I really need to find the fifth one. Tigerclaw is up on my list because he was somebody I hated from the beginning. He was somebody who I thought all of the characters would hate. But some of them didn't. A good antagonist is somebody who has friends. Somebody who still seems human (or cat) and not just monster.

1) Benjamin Linus. Now to my favorite antagonist of all time. Ben. I love Ben. Throughout the show (LOST) I struggled to decide if I liked Ben or not. Eventually, I decided that I did. One of the reasons it took me so long to decide though is because I couldn't figure him out. I didn't know who's side he was on. I still don't. But he got in the way and he hurt people, which is why I think most people consider him an antagonist. This is why I do. He's my favorite because he confuses me, and I still don't know who he is.

Love Triangles

*Spoilers ahead, sorry not sorry.*

Today I want to discuss Love Triangles. Love triangles have become a major cliche in literature. They probably wouldn't be so bad, if they weren't so predictable.

In almost every triangle there's a pretty girl, a best friend, and a mysterious bad boy. The pretty girl always has to choose one, even though clearly that's ridiculous because there are more guys on the planet than your best friend and the bad boy in like two of your classes. Not to mention, the girl is still in high school. Sorry. I'm in high school and I cant even choose my breakfast without a major malfunction, never mind my future husband. But whatever. The girl always picks the bad boy. It's never the friend. Never ever. Which sucks because sometimes I route for the friend and it's kind of depressing to know that he isn't going to get picked. In the Matched trilogy who does Cassia choose? *Spoiler* Ky. Not Xander, her best friend. Come on now, who didn't see that coming (don't know why I'm complaining, I ship Ky and Cassia). It's the same thing, but a different book.

Some love triangles aren't bad though. Katniss, Peeta, and Gale was a good triangle. When reading it was hard to figure out who Katniss was going to choose. The triangle was never really the main focus of the story either. It was refreshing. What about Witch Eyes. While I don't think we can really consider Braden, Trey, and Drew a love triangle because Drew and Braden are never going to happen, I will anyways. It's not the 'pretty girl meets mystery boy but best friend gets in the way' love triangle we are so used to seeing. We need more love triangles like that. We need books that aren't predictable.

I don't really think love triangles are bad. I think the predictability of them is. If authors would start writing better love triangles I don't think people would complain about them as much. So, what do you think?

Control Your Fate

It's Quotation Sunday again, even though it's like almost 10:30. Oops. Sorry. I work. And then I had to watch Now You See Me, great movie by the way. So lets get to the quote.

"The dice had already been tossed, the cards shuffled and drawn. He was what he was, whether he knew it yet or not." - Barry Lyga, I Hunt Killers, page 134.

In I Hunt Killers Jazz often has problems dealing with who he is and where he comes from. He questions everything about himself. I like this quote for a couple reasons. One, is because it implies that Jazz will be a killer like his dad (even though probably not). Two, it's basically saying we cant control our fate. Call me crazy, but I like that idea.

I like the idea of not being able to control our lives. If we screw them up, but we're already predestined to screw them up, then it's not our fault. I don't think people like the idea of  not being able to be in control of their fates because it makes them sad. I think some things are just meant to be though. I think if people stopped trying to control every single little details of their lives and other peoples lives they would be a lot happier. Stop stressing and just live the way you were meant to live. Have fun while you can.

Braden and Drew

It's Ship It Saturday again. Today's ship is Braden and Drew from the Witch Eyes series by Scott Tracey. I'll link to the the reviews just in case you didn't read the books or the reviews. Review of Demon Eyes (2nd book) Review of Witch Eyes (1st book). So go check those out if you haven't read the book so you know what I'm talking about.

While reading the first book I really shipped Braden and Trey. I was basically in love with them together. Then, during the second book, my perception changed. I hated Trey in the second book. The thought of them being together disgusted me. I don't want them together. Instead I moved to another character, Drew. Drew and Braden are probably never going to be together, but I'll learn to live with it.

Drew is a rude and sarcastic prick. Braden is also pretty much a prick. Trey is a prick. They're literally all pricks, but Drew is the worst. Maybe that's why I like him so much. Braden and Drew together would only end badly, but that's okay. They're both really strong personalities. There would be just too much sass going on in that relationship. Yet, I still find myself shipping them. It might just be one of those 'they're good as friends, but probably not relationship material' things. Maybe I ship them because I just really don't want Trey and Braden to be together. Maybe not.

I think I'm in the minority when it comes to this ship. Most people like Trey. I don't. I cant wait for the third book to come out in October. I need to know who he's going to be with. At the end of the last book it sounded like he was going with Trey though.

Frankenstein

It's Gothic Thursday, the day I talk about what I'm learning in my Gothic Fiction class. As a senior I got to choose what kind of English class I wanted. The options were Gothic Fiction, AP English, Film and Lit, Cowboys and Warriors, and Myths and Legends. Originally I had wanted Film and Lit but it took place during my math class, and the math I'm taking is only during that period. Gothic was my second choice, but I'm really happy with it. It's probably one of the only (Astronomy being the other) classes I truly look forward to in the day.

In my class we are currently reading Frankenstein (tell me if you want a review on it when I'm done. If not I wont do one because the book is kind of really old). I was really surprised to find out that most people don't know that Frankenstein is scientist and not the monster. The monster doesn't even have a name. I've known this since I was like ten, but I guess I was the only one because basically nobody else in my class knew. So, now you know, don't make the mistake again. Another thing that most people don't realize about the book? Yeah, the monster isn't green and he doesn't have a flat head. I'm not sure why that stuck but oh well. And Victor (Frankenstein) isn't a mad scientist, he just had too much determination.

Mary Shelley was really young when she wrote Frankenstein (like 19 or 20ish). Which is probably why the book is covered in grammatical errors that bother even me. I know my grammar isn't the best, but oh my god this book is so poorly written I don't know how it got to be so famous. I keep in mind that when Shelley was writing this books had only just started to become a thing so there really wasn't any rules yet. Still, I expected better. When Frankenstein's monster is created it basically gets two sentences to explain what's going on. That's it. Half a paragraph and the monster is alive.

I do really like my Gothic Fiction class so far, and I cant wait to read more of the novel. I'll see you next Gothic Thursday for some Frankenstein updates.

 *Remember, I go to a tech school so I only have academic classes every other week. I'll be in shop so the next week so the next Gothic Thursday will be in two weeks. If you have any suggestions for the off Thursday leave it in the comments.*

Green Hair

It's Whatever Wednesday, the day I talk about whatever is on my mind, and it cant be book related. I don't want to talk about Syria or some other shit in the news, because it's just going to piss me off. So instead I'm going to talk a little bit about my green hair.

It's mostly older people who come in and shop at my work, so I was a little worried that if I dyed my hair green it would frighten some of them. *For those of you who don't see my twitter it isn't all green, just a few parts. I'll post a pic at the bottomish of the page.* I'm kind of shocked at how much some of the older people like it, or at least maybe pretend to like it. In the month since I've had it dyed I've only really gotten three negative comments. But I've also gotten at least fifty positive ones. It was really surprising to me.

It always makes me laugh a little to myself when an elderly doesn't understand how I got it green. One was just like "Is it food coloring?" The most asked question I get is "Is It permanent?" That's when I proceed to tell them the horror story of my sisters blue hair. My sister dyed the underneath of her hair blue probably just a little more than a year ago. About six months later she wanted purple instead. No big deal. Just a color change. Amy's blue hadn't really faded much at this point, but whatever, that just meant it was a good product. So Lexie (out cousin/hairdresser) put the bleach on the blue so she could dye it purple. She let it sit for about thirty or more minutes. It didn't even touch the blue at all. This wasn't some stupid cheap bleach either. It was like top of the line. So they tried again and put it on longer. That didn't take it out. So they just put the purple over the blue. You could still see the blue. I have the same product in my hair, except it's green. Lets hope it lasts as long.

I like my green hair. I don't care if nobody else does. I makes me happy, and I'm keeping it for a long time. Maybe next time I'll put even more in.

Top Seven Hunger Games Moments

It's Top Seven Tuesday. Today I'm going to talk about my top seven Hunger Games moments, because you know I'm still on a Hunger Games kick. Just be thankful my Discussion Monday wasn't Hunger Games related. So I'm going to do this by going in descending order, ending with my favorite Hunger Games moment. Lets get started.

*Warning, entire post may contain spoilers for all three books, read on at your own risk.*

7) When Katniss volunteers for Prim at the reaping. This is, clearly, one of the most important parts in the book. It isn't my favorite, but it is certainly a very emotional part of the book. It shows how much Katniss cares for Prim right away. When I read the books I think about what I would have done if Amys name was called. I'd probably volunteer too, and thinking about it sort of brings up emotions. That's why this moment makes it into my top seven.

6) Finnick "kissing" Peeta. Come on, you know you were freaking out when this happened too. It wasn't just the mouth to mouth Finnick was giving Peeta, it was the idea of Peeta dying. It was unthinkable. No. No. No. The moment made me happy and scared at the same time.

5) Rues death. This one is obvious. Rue reminds Katniss of Prim, and Prim reminds me of Amy. It was one of those "I feel you" moments.

4) "Katniss, there is no District 12."  Feels. Feels. Feels. Feels. After I read the line I ran to my room and started Mockingjay right away. It was the perfect ending for a perfect book. I cant even begin to explain how I felt. It was just an overwhelming feeling of multiple emotions at once. That ending made it so I didn't want to read Mockingjay, I had to read Mockingjay.

3) Peeta trying to strangle Katniss. I was in the middle of my history class when I read this. The teacher was bad at his job and never noticed me reading in the back of his class (I know, I'm so cool). So when I read this I couldn't really release my emotions. When I did get into the hall I was basically having a mental breakdown. I had to stop reading the book for a few hours just to process what was happening.

2) Katniss realizing she is going back into the arena. It was another one of those heart stopping moments that Suzanne Collins is so good at creating. I wanted to cry, and I almost did, but I'm really not that type of person so I didn't. But it was emotional. All of these moments were emotional.

1) "If it weren't for the baby." I screamed and threw the book across my bedroom. I couldn't even handle it. My mom came running into my room because I screamed so loud she thought I was being murdered or something. I have never before had so much emotion towards a book that I threw it across the room. This is why this moment is my favorite. This is why it's number one. No moment made me feel as emotional as that one. Even now when I reread the series it stops me for a moment, even though I know it's coming.

I think Collins should be praised for being able to create so many jaw dropping moments. There were so many more I could have put in. So these are my top seven Hunger Games moments. Did I miss your favorite? Share in the comments.

Popular Books

It's time for Discussion Monday again, and today's topic is about popular books.

Some books deserve the popularity they get, and some don't. Nothing drives me crazier than when people say they hate or love a book just because it's popular. I think I've said it before, but I don't usually read books that get really popular because they usually don't deserve it, but I'm not going to say I hate a book just because it's popular.

Take the mortal instruments or immortal instruments, or whatever (i never know what the title is because I don't care about it). It's a pretty popular book, it's also, in my opinion, a terrible book. But I can have my opinion because I gave the book a try. Nothing makes me madder than when someone says they hate a book and then when asked they admit they've never read it. Like. Gurl. Step back.

It also makes me mad when a book does become popular and then people who read it and didn't like it say they love it just to fit in. Like. It's a book. You don't have to pretend to be a super fan. For example, I didn't read Harry Potter (I know, you can slap me in the face now), but I saw all the movies. I'm not going to pretend to be a fan of the books just because I liked the movies. That's just stupid. If you don't like something, or didn't read something, don't pretend to be a fan.

I think people really need to calm down and just read what they want to read. You don't have to go around pretending to like or dislike something. Just be yourself. Form your own educated opinions.

Facing Your Fears

Hey guys. It's the first Quotation Sunday ever. As I write this I'm still trying to decide what quote to use. I know I want something Hunger Games related, because, as I explained yesterday, I am in a Hunger Games mood. I'll probably have to reread the books for the millionth time soon. And so now, after two hours (more like twenty minutes) of flipping through Catching Fire, I have picked the quote I would like to discuss with you today.

"At some point, you have to stop running and turn around and face whoever wants you dead." - Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, page 118.

I picked this quote today because I remember it being one that caught my attention the first time I read the series, and it continues to catch my attention with every reread. I think it can mean more than what it's suppose to mean when you really look at it. It's not just about facing whoever wants you dead. It's about facing something you don't want to. In life we all have to do things that scare us. If we don't at least attempt them then what does that say about us? Sometimes you can't just sit and wait.

I hope next time you're in a rough spot you remember the quote and face your fears. We can't hide from them forever.

Katniss and Peeta

It's Ship It Saturday, the first of my new thingys. Yeah, thingy is totally a word. Today's ship: Katniss and Peeta (and no, I'm not going to call them peeniss). I've been in a hunger games mood lately, so sorry not sorry if my next few of these things are about it.

When I first met Gale I immediately knew he was going to be a love interest for Katniss. I liked Gale at first, and I really wanted him and Katniss to be together. I told myself that I wasn't going to fall for the second love interest, who was going to be Peeta, but I didn't know that while I was first reading. But then when Peeta's name got called at the reaping (um spoilers, but seriously if you don't know by now then you must be living under a rock) I changed my mind. I knew I was going to end up loving Peeta. As the book progressed I loved Peeta more and more and more, and I liked Gale less and less.

I don't like Katniss. She rubs me the wrong way. So does Gale. I think realistically she should have been with Gale, or maybe nobody at all. But she ended up with Peeta and that's what I wanted the entire time I read the book. Peeta was one of the few mainish characters in the book that I didn't hate, really it was just him and Haymitch that I liked.  Katniss and Peeta shouldn't have worked, but they did, and most people wanted them to work. Peeta was too good for Katniss, you can yell at me all you want but it's my opinion and I think it's the right one.

So I hate Katniss and Peeta together, but I still ship them? Why? I think people ship Katniss and Peeta because they just like Peeta. We don't look at the fact that Katniss is undeserving. We look at how much Peeta loves Katniss. We want Peeta to be happy, and, in the end, he is. I don't think people ship Katniss and Peeta. I think they ship Peeta and happiness. I'm not in love with the pairing, I'm in love with Peeta. When he's happy the fandom is happy.

But Peeta and Katniss aren't all bad together. They have some real moments. They have some kind of connection. If they didn't we wouldn't want them together. I think one of the other reasons I allow myself to ship them is because Katniss is able to care about Peeta, and she really doesn't do that with many other people. She cares in a sense about others, but not as much as she cares when something bad happens to Peeta.

Katniss and Peeta may not be a perfect ship, but somehow they still work. Somehow we still want them together. And that's okay. The best relationships aren't perfect, they're flawed.

Insidious Chapter 2

I recommend this movie

Never go to a movie on opening night. For me, going to see Insidious 2 was a complete last minute decision, and I kind of wish I had waited until next weekend to go. The previews kept being like "coming out Friday the 13th" and I must be stupid or something because I was under the impression that the next Friday the 13th was in October, but no, it's today. I knew I wanted to see it, but I wasn't expecting to go today.

Despite everyone in the theater being obnoxiously loud and rude I really enjoyed this movie. It's plagued with horror movie cliches, but lets be honest, when we see a horror movie isn't that what we're looking for? I know it's what I want to see. Even though it followed a basic horror movie plot line it was still original enough that I wasn't bored. It's something I feel like I could watch again.

Was it scary though? Kind of. It was scary enough that as I write this I'm watching Ice Age to ease my frights. Come on, you know you've done it too. But it wasn't something that is going to stick with me for weeks. I'm not going to need to sleep with the lights on or anything like that (at least I don't think I will). But there was still some parts that I found myself jumping at, or really wanting to scream. It was scary enough. I think it might have been, maybe not scarier, but more intense than the first one.

The director, James Wan, manages to create a sequel that at least lives up to the first one. He did a good job of connecting the two movies. I really enjoyed that this one started almost exactly where the last one went off. And he did a good job setting up for a third (but lets hope this series isn't overdone like those awful paranormal activity movies. I mean two and three were good, but four what are you even doing?).

Overall I'm happy with the movie. But if you're going to see it and you don't want to listen to other people screaming or talking then I suggest you wait one or two more weeks. It's the only thing about the experience I would change.

I give this movie four and half stars

Hello Again

On Saturday I talked about coming up with a few more things like Discussion Monday so I wanted to update you on what I'm thinking so far. Honestly I'm tired and didn't want to post tonight, but I promised so here we go:

Monday - Discussion Monday - I will talk about a book related topic and you can post your opinions in the comments.

Tuesday - Top 7 Tuesday - A list day where I talk about my top 7 of something. For example one day I might talk about my top seven favorite villains or my top seven favorite ships. I'll explain why it's my favorite and stuff like that.

Wednesday - Whatever Wednesday - Wednesday will be the only non-book related day. I might talk about something that's going on in the news or maybe just something in my life that's bothering me. So it will be a pretty boring day.

Thursday - Gothic Thursday - This one will be every other Thursday. I'm taking a Gothic Fiction class so every other Thursday I'll just go over what I learned that week. So far the class seems fun. We'll see how this one works. I'm still working on one for the opposite week. Suggestions are welcome. 

Friday - Friday does not have one yet. Still taking suggestions. Friday will not be a book review day. Instead I will book review whenever I finish a book. Instead of having that weekdays post there will be a review post. I'm hoping to post everyday now.

Saturday - Ship It Saturday - A day where I talk about my ships. For example I ship Peeta and Katniss from The Hunger Games. So I might talk about why I ship them together and things like that.  

Sunday - Quotation Sunday - A day where I will talk about a quote and what it means to me. 

So that's it. That's what I have. If you have any suggestions for what to do on Friday and the second Thursday then please feel free to tell me about them in the comments. Again, on days where I review I will not do one of these things, instead there will be a review. So tell me what you think. Hopefully this will get me posting more. Tomorrow is the off Thursday and Friday doesn't have one yet, so we'll start with Ship It Saturday.

Thanks for reading.