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.

The Lost Symbol - by Dan Brown

Stop! I know what you are thinking! Either A) Not another fracking Robert Langdon book; why won't Dan Brown give the whole sadistic conspiracy theory shenanigans a rest, or B) Woohoo! My favorite character isn't dead and is featured in another book even though evil nay-sayers call it shenanigans and wished Dan Brown would give it a rest! Am I right? You probably didn't say shenanigans, though. That was probably just me. Please click "read more" for the full review.

Before I Go to Sleep - by SJ Watson

Here's the thing: the first half of the book is so ridiculously like Fifty First Dates, that I could not for the life of me get Adam Sandler's face out of my head. And you can guess how traumatic that would be; I don't need to explain it. Actually, I had Jimmy Fallon's impression of Adam Sandler in my head. Even weirder. 
 Please click "read more" for the full review and brief synopsis.

The Time Traveler's Wife - by Audrey Niffenegger

And I thought my love life was complicated. Meet Henry DeTamble. He is not your average Romeo. In fact, as far as relationships go, one with him would be the most complicated you could fathom. Picture long distance, but sporadic. Henry has the fictional disorder of "chrono-impairment". He randomly and uncontrollably time travels, often to different events in his own life. He re-experiences his mother's car crash over and over, and often disrupts his own future with unexpected appearances. But amidst a horrifyingly complex life, he manages to pull off one of the greatest, truest love stories I've read in awhile. (To be fair, I don't really read romance novels. Not even the not-dirty kind). Please click "read more" for the full review.

Ms. Peregrin's Home for Peculiar Children - by Ransom Riggs

If you were like me, and initially raised an eyebrow or two at the first chapter of this book, don't give up! Yes, the first few pages almost advertise themselves like a children's book. In fact, the feat of describing a world of levitating girls, invisible boys, and basically a troupe that is more akin to the X-Men than anything else and having it not be a children's book is quite applaudable. At first look at the cover, I thought it was going to be creepy and occult. After reading the first few chapters, I thought it was going to be about super power kids like from Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters... (sound familiar?). But actually, it turned out to be a fast paced adventure through a time portal. Which, by the way, Riggs did an excellent job of explaining, so it didn't feel like you were watching Terminator again. Anyway, I read this book in one day. I started it at around 4pm on Friday and finished around 10pm. (I am clearly awesome at Friday nights). Please click "read more" for the full review.

The Fault in Our Stars - by John Green

Let me start this off by saying: if you are reading something, anything, right now, it should not be this post; it should be The Fault in Our Stars. Too often is the modern bookworm insulted by cliché stories (I mean, how many times does Juliet need to fall in love with Romeo before we get the picture?). I am delighted to tell you that I have found the remedy. The Fault in Our Stars is like breathing fresh air after sitting in a stuffy movie theater in which you watched yet another poorly made chick flick where the nerdy girl takes off her glasses and is suddenly hot. (I mean, seriously?) Anyway, in thirty years, this book will be a classic. I'm willing to bet money. Real American dollars, people. Any takers? Please click "read more" for the full review.