We Have Always Lived in The Castle - by Shirley Jackson

I'm making an exception to my modern literature blog to write to you about We Have Always Lived in the Castle. I simply could not put this book down. Mary Katherine Blackwood, her sister Constance, and their Uncle Julian live together in the same home that six of their family members were poisoned and died in. Merricat lives by a structured routine with strange self-imposed rules, and loathes the village members, all of whom look upon her with fear. Constance stays at home always, made a recluse after being tried for her family's murders. Please click "read more" for the full review.

The Hunger Games - by Suzanne Collins

Ok, I'm going to do it. I'm finally going to write about The Hunger Games. I'm proud to say that I at least read the book before I knew there was going to be a movie. To be fair, I'm not really in the know cinema-wise. I watch my movies at a second run theater for $2.50 a ticket before five. (What is up!?) Anyway. Here's what I have to say about all this whole Hunger Game fascination. First, I resent the pandemonium that has been going on. I can't say this for certain, but I'm pretty sure the movie production went over-budget and the hype was produced to ensure a box office hit. (I'm a straight up conspiracy theorist right here. Dan Brown, are you listening?) Please click "read more" for the full review.

News

Hello, friends! I'm interrupting my stream of book posts to tell you some exciting news! (At least, I think it's exciting. But I once thought that the addition of fresh celery at my college's dining center was exciting. So, proceed with caution). Anyway, it looks like I'm going to be a writing tutor at UMD next year! In addition to that, I get to take a sweet writing workshop for an hour a week. I'm excited!

Looking For Alaska - by John Green

I am going on a ceaseless rampage through every library within driving distance (or in my case, busing distance) to find all of John Green's books and read them immediately. As an aspiring (and interning) editorial publisher, I tend to read things critically and have a lot of snobby remarks going through my head, all of which I promise to refrain from writing on this blog. The honest truth is, I love John Green's writing and can't think of a single negative thing to say about it. It's beautiful, honest and truthful, and refuses to withhold anything from you. Green's characters are so vibrantly real that they feel like your friends. Their lives and your life become intertwined in this shockingly unbreakable way, that I have never experienced before with any kind of novel. Please click "read more" for the full review.