Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts

An Addiction

Have you ever had a moment when you realize you are totally addicted to something?
That's happened to me a few times:
Facebook
Wedding Blogs
Instagram
Harry Potter
Dr. Who
Monday email days


Recently, I realized my new addiction:
Here's the thing. I really like books (duh). I read them constantly and quite literally always have something with me to read (made easier with all the new books on my phone). So, it's really no surprise that Barnes & Noble is my favorite store in the entire world and that I would rather spend all my money there than at... let's say... JCrew (even though I really like JCrew). Here is why this addiction is a problem:
Money.

You see, B&N is a tricky little stinker.

I walk in for a journal- that's my only goal.
Out of the corner of my eye I spy the John Green table...
"Ohhhh... I should finish my collection of John Green!"
On my way to the journals I find the "New Summer Reads!"
I think: "I can snatch one of those!"
I pass the awesome stacks of anthologies....
Me:"Oh, look! I love Fitzgerald! His complete short stories for $7? Done! Oh! And American Short Stories? Done again!"
Proceed to pick out journal
Checkout man: "That's $50"
Me: "Dangit. Why did I do that? I only needed a journal! Oh well, I love books. I can keep books forever. My children will love me for my book collection... and so will my husband... "

The next week I walk in:
"Classics! Only $7 for a hardback! Oh, let's snatch up four of them!"
Checkout man:"That's $30."
To myself I think: "I will NOT do that again. Ok, well, not this month.. or week. at least...."

And again, the next week:
I walk in: "Ok. Just get the book for your brother and walk out."
30 minutes later and no phone call from my dad (who's picking me up)
"Well... they are buy 2 get the 3rd one free! How can I resist?"
Checkout man:
"That's $30".
To myself: "This is unhealthy for my wallet. I need to shop on Amazon more".

But I can't help it. I need a ban from that store.....

Or a really large gift card there.

Love always,
Ems

Book Review: Son

He is evil, and like all evil, he has enormous power. He tempts. He taunts. And he takes. 
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I can't remember when I first read Lois Lowry's The Giver, but I know that it has remained one of my favorite books throughout the years. I read all three books in the series (Gathering Blue, and The Messenger being the remaining two) and loved them all equally as much. So, when I found out that the final installment of the series was out, I had to get myself a copy. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint. 

I read Son in one sitting. I opened it up and couldn't put it down. It was enthralling and engaging and reminded me that Lois Lowry is such a talented author. Son follows the story of Claire, a girl born and raised in the same utopian community as Jonah, the main character of The Giver. I was immediately transported back to that strange world where life is lackluster and odd. It didn't take me long to remember small things about the previous novels even though I haven't read them in years because Lowry is so consistent in her world and incredibly descriptive. Claire is a birthmother but has what seems to be a c-section that leads her to find out who her son is and puts her on a journey to find, love, and be a part of her child's life even though he was taken from her without her so much as touching him. 

The story is divided into 3 parts: before, between, and beyond. I will admit that it was a bit of a struggle to get through the between section, but once I did, beyond did not disappoint. The wonderful thing about Son is that all four books finally collide and you have closure to all the other characters that you love so much from the rest of the series. The only reason that the middle section was a struggle was that I was so anxious to figure out the ending that I just wanted between to be over; that said, I did feel that between was a bit too long, but don't be discouraged by it.

My only complaint with the book is that I feel like the end did not fully conclude Claire's own story. The ending is satisfying for the series, but there are characters who are introduced and incredibly important in Claire's journey that once you are through the between section, you never hear of again. 

Overall, I really loved the book and felt that it was a good conclusion to the series that I will pass on to my own children. I felt that Lowry did an incredible job of showing the importance of love and emotion in life and portrayed pride, vanity, and foolish desire in an incredibly scary and awful light. Essentially, the books regurgitates the storyline of good conquering evil, but it also shows us that evil is not always just bad people, but perhaps the darkness inside of the human spirit. 

As a side note, I'm ridiculously excited that The Giver is being made into a movie. 

Love always,
Ems

Book Review: An Abundance of Katherines

"Nothing was happening, really, but the moment was thick with mattering."
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I must admit that An Abundance of Katherines was probably my favorite John Green book only second TFIOS. Probably because it wasn't nearly as heart-breaking as his others, and also because I'm a sucker for a real nerd, which Colin is. 

Colin Singleton has dated 19 Katherines, and after the 19th Kathreine dumps him, his best friend, Hassan, decides it's time to take an impromptu trip to get over the latest break-up. Colin, defeated by his break-up and his slow realization that he will never accomplish anything incredibly grand, has a hard time adjusting, until he realizes that there are greater things than becoming famous for something. When Colin and Hassan meet Lindsey Lee Wells in Gunshot, Tennessee, both of their lives become forever changed. 

An Abundance of Katherines is witty, intelligent, and entertaining. There are moments of sadness (but not heart break- thank you, John Green), utter happiness, anger, and confusion. Like all of John's books, I found myself gasping out loud, texting lines of the book to my friends, and laughing at the utter nonsense of Colin. I probably related to Colin so much because he seemed exactly like all of the boys I hung out with in high school- ridiculously smart, full of random knowledge, and a bit socially awkward (what's not to love?!). Lindsey, like any other girl in John Green's novels, is exciting, fun, and essentially the kind of person I want to be in life. She's spunky, but incredibly kind, witty, but totally sympathetic. Hassan adds another degree of lovability to the novel as the self-proclaimed "fat-kid" who doesn't do much more than watch Judge Judy. Together, the three of them make quite a team. 

Another excellent read from our favorite, John Green. 

Love always,
Ems

Book Review: Looking for Alaska

"We had to forgive to survive this labyrinth. There were so many of us who would have to live with things done and things undone that day.... but we can't know better until knowing better is useless."
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John Green, regardless of how many times he enjoys ripping out the hearts of his readers, leaving them totally immobile on the floor because of something his characters do in his novel, is by far one of my favorite modern authors. 1. I love that you can tell it's John Green the moment you start reading. 2. I love that he and his brother Hank make Vlog Brothers 3. I love that he loves to use lists in all of his stories and 4. I just want to be his friend. 

I went into Looking for Alaska not really knowing what to expect. I had read The Fault in our Stars (which if you haven't read that, stop reading this and go pick it up and start reading-seriously- go) and loved it. Well, my dad was sending me to Kingman for two days and he got me there by bribing me with books. So I finished off my John Green collection #bestideadever and thus, I began Looking for Alaska. I was about half-way done before I even left for Kingman and finished it on the first day there. Once again, John sucked me in on a whirl-wind adventure that I couldn't put the breaks on. 

John Green, as a male, somehow writes about girls amazingly well. Every heroine he creates, I want to be. They are fierce, clever, beautiful (always curvy), and your best friend. Alaska Young is no different. You instantly want to be her best friend and join in all her crazy plans. She is one reckless child, but who doesn't love a little bit of recklessness, right? The story follows as Pudge moves to a boarding school and becomes part of Alaska's group of friends- the misfits of the school. They enjoy epic pranks, smoking, and essentially, breaking any rules they can. They act like they're in college when they're only in high school, and it's great. In the end, tragedy strikes, and they must all reevaluate their lives and what they've learned together. This book, like all of John Green's novels, will make you laugh out loud, cringe, and bawl your eyes out before throwing the book across the room and cursing John Green for breaking your heart (not kidding). 

I will forewarn any of my more tender-hearted readers: cursing is abundant in this novel, as is sex, drug use, and drinking. Regardless, I loved it. Just letting you know. 

Love always,
Ems

Book Review: 32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny

“The main reason I became a teacher is that I like being the first one to introduce kids to words and music and people and numbers and concepts and idea that they have never heard about or thought about before. I like being the first one to tell them about Long John Silver and negative numbers and Beethoven and alliteration and "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning" and similes and right angles and Ebenezer Scrooge. . . Just think about what you know today. You read. You write. You work with numbers. You solve problems. We take all these things for granted. But of course you haven't always read. You haven't always known how to write. You weren't born knowing how to subtract 199 from 600. Someone showed you. There was a moment when you moved from not knowing to knowing, from not understanding to understanding. That's why I became a teacher.” 
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Jacob recommended this book to me who knows how long ago and when I started my summer reading list, I decided, well, why not. I've always had this small desire in me to teach and someday, I will probably (hope to, at least)  teach- middle school English would be my dream. That said, this book is not just for aspiring teachers. It is for everyone. Why? Because we have all been through elementary school and all people (unless you're heatless) appreciate the humor that is found abundantly in children.

Phillip Done crafts a wonderful telling of his experiences teaching third grade, and he does it with humor and enthusiasm that will have you turning pages endlessly. His stories are hilarious accounts of children telling the class less-than-favorable things about their parents, procedures for the "emergencies" that arise in a third grader's life, and a love that is palpable. Maybe I just have a habit of crying when it comes to sweet things that kids do, but I definitely teared up a few times throughout the book. Done reaches out to the innocence that you forgot was inside of you in third grade; his novel is very well and simply written written as well as an easy read. 

Love always,
Ems

Book Review: Wonder

"I think there should be a rule that everyone in the world should get a standing ovation at least once in their lives."
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The instant I finished this book, no, before I had even finished the book, I texted everyone I knew who had time for summer reading and told them they HAD to read this book. 
The second I closed it, I knew that this would be like The Fault in Our Stars-a book I would come back to over and over. 

Wonder tells the story of Auggie, a little boy with a face that is different than the normal fifth grader's. However, he's taking a big leap and attending public school this year. It turns out to be a difficult but rewarding year filled with new friends, bullies (aren't there always those bullies in life?), and lots of growing. The story is narrated through various perspective and it really adds to the way in which you connect to the story- it makes each character vulnerable and everyone equal. Even people you don't think you'll like, you end up loving and wanting to hug. 

R.J. Palacio has a gift for writing narration. I felt as though each of her characters were my friends, people I felt for, people I wanted to hug, people I wanted to stand next to, people I wanted to cheer for. Indeed, that's what I felt like the entire time, a cheerleader: "You can do it, Auggie!" "You're the kindest person alive, Summer!" "Don't give up, Via! We know you care about Auggie!!". I cheered, I laughed, I cried sobbed. I read as quickly as I read the 7th book of Harry Potter. I closed the book determined to love everyone a little bit more and be a little bit kinder to everyone I meet. Palacio definitely crafted a masterpiece of young adult literature that everyone needs to read. 

Add it to your summer reading NOW. I promise you will not regret it. 

Love always, 
Ems

Book Review: The Sky Beneath my Feet

Recently, I became a part of this fabulous group called booksneeze.com where bloggers get free books to review. Note, I am not being paid to write a good review for this book, I am just reviewing it unbiasedly for the group. Find out more here.
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"They're all here, the people I love and the people I want to love. There are no robes, no halos, not that the eye can see, but there are souls, plenty of those."


Summer reading is officially moving forward, and the first book of the summer for me was Lisa Samson's The Sky Beneath My Feet. I had no idea what I was getting into when I began the book- normally, I'm not one for Christian fiction, but I found myself rather intrigued by this novel. The narrator was fun, down-to-earth, relatable, and struggling through life like the rest of us; a relatable narrator alway gets me and drags me in, and Beth was no exception.

Beth's struggles include a preacher husband who's apparently going crazy (or so we all think), children she just doesn't seem to relate to, and beliefs she's trying to remember why she believes. I felt that her story was believable on every level- emotional, physical, and spiritual. We've all had days that seem like nothing more could go wrong, and that seems to be almost everyday for Beth. However, as the novel winds up, Beth, her husband, and children find peace and happiness in remembering the basics of christianity that their artist-neighbor Deedee teaches them- we are all souls and children of God who are struggling but working to be a little bit better.

Lisa Samson crafts a beautiful narrative that is a quick, enjoyable read. I felt that her characters were well rounded (Beth's husband is even so obnoxious at the beginning that I was sure I would never like him, but it turns out I liked him towards the end). Samson points to the simple story of  life that everyone can relate to and illuminates the ways in which we can all come closer to our families, our society, and our God.

If you're interested at all, I would definitely give this book a quick read.

Love always,
Ems

Why I love Books.

I remember when I first read Anne of Green Gables. I was enchanted to no end. I loved Anne. I wanted to be her so bad. I remember begging my mom to find the next couple of books in the series because Anne needed to be in my life. I remember going into my backyard and pretending that I was Anne walking across my invisible picket fence. I decided to refer to my best friends as my kindred spirits when I wrote in my journal. Anne was my hero, and I loved her as a dear friend- I still do.

The first book I remember connecting to however, was Roll of Thunder Hear my Cry. I read it in fourth grade and it moved me. I cannot remember in what way it moved me, but I remember finishing it and feeling different. Last year, I bought it for my own collection just so I could own it. I haven't reread it since my initial read all those years ago but, just remembering the feeling I had in finishing it brings back chills as I remember falling in love with books. 

I love the power of books to create a world, pull you in, and block out all the noise of life- the pain, the sorrow, the craziness and the stress of normal life. Books have the ability to take that all away and a good book makes you stop and analyze your world through its lens to change your own world. I was talking to Garrett the other day and he asked me for my favorite Jane Austen book (aside from Pride & Prejudice because he's already read it). I told him Emma and he proceeded to tell me that he needed another book to read as he headed to Ohio for his Grandma's funeral. He needed an escape, and he was seeking it in a book. I immediately understood how he was feeling and what he was seeking. Only books can remove you from the world in such a way. That is their power and beauty. 

I love books because the teach. 
I love books because they move you. 
I love books because they inspire.
But most of all, 
I love books because they create an escape from reality. 

Love always, 
Ems


Hey.... Hey you!

Do you like my lame titles recently? Good. But guess what? I've found a new love. And it's fabulous. Let me show you a picture........



Um.... Hi, melt-my-heart-goodness-i-think-i-cried-100-times-movie: Masterpiece Theatre Wuthering Heights. It is beautiful and heart breaking and so well made. Alexandra and I had a movie night tonight while writing Thank You cards and we were stunned by this movie. The actors play their parts perfectly and did I mention I cried so many times? And yes, I have read the book but honestly, I need to reread it because I was so confused the first time around that I think I will very much love it this next time. But first I have to finish my other pile of summer reading- I love summer reading. On my list this summer is This Side of Paradise, The Count of Monte Cristo,  Water for Elephants, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, and either Persuasion or Mansfield Park- the two Jane Austens that I have not read. I also may be revisiting Pride and Prejudice- how could I not? Any other book recommendations?

Also, is it bad that I already bought the Wuthering Heights movie from Amazon? I couldn't resist. Now I just need to buy Masterpiece Theatre's Emma..... I love that movie.

Guess what else? My best friend comes home tomorrow!

Oh, happiness.

Love always,
Ems

I Couldn't Resist.


Reading Blogs this morning and came across this beautiful except. There is a long list of who it came from at the bottom but this is just pure poetry and I feel that it is so true.


Date a Girl Who Reads 

Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes. She has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve.

Find a girl who reads. You’ll know that she does because she will always have an unread book in her bag. She’s the one lovingly looking over the shelves in the bookstore, the one who quietly cries out when she finds the book she wants. You see the weird chick sniffing the pages of an old book in a second hand book shop? That’s the reader. They can never resist smelling the pages, especially when they are yellow.

She’s the girl reading while waiting in that coffee shop down the street. If you take a peek at her mug, the non-dairy creamer is floating on top because she’s kind of engrossed already. Lost in a world of the author’s making. Sit down. She might give you a glare, as most girls who read do not like to be interrupted. Ask her if she likes the book.

Buy her another cup of coffee.

Let her know what you really think of Murakami. See if she got through the first chapter of Fellowship. Understand that if she says she understood James Joyce’s Ulysses she’s just saying that to sound intelligent. Ask her if she loves Alice or she would like to be Alice.

It’s easy to date a girl who reads. Give her books for her birthday, for Christmas, and for anniversaries. Give her the gift of words, in poetry, in song. Give her Neruda, Pound, Sexton, Cummings. Let her know that you understand that words are love. Understand that she knows the difference between books and reality but by God, she’s going to try to make her life a little like her favorite book. It will never be your fault if she does.

She has to give it a shot somehow.

Lie to her. If she understands syntax, she will understand your need to lie. Behind words are other things: motivation, value, nuance, dialogue. It will not be the end of the world.

Fail her. Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who understand that all things will come to end. That you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero. That life is meant to have a villain or two.

Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilight series.

If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are.

You will propose on a hot air balloon. Or during a rock concert. Or very casually next time she’s sick. Over Skype.

You will smile so hard you will wonder why your heart hasn’t burst and bled out all over your chest yet. You will write the story of your lives, have kids with strange names and even stranger tastes. She will introduce your children to the Cat in the Hat and Aslan, maybe in the same day. You will walk the winters of your old age together and she will recite Keats under her breath while you shake the snow off your boots.

Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you’re better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads.

Or better yet, date a girl who writes.


Written by Rosemary Urquico
Emphasis added by
Originally read via
Recommended by
Just posted by
And Found by me via
Picture

Love always,
Ems

Ten Things I Know You Don't Need {want?} to Know.

{yes, this I've posted this picture a thousand times but FB dislikes me and won't allow me to steal another one so... I'm stuck with this one. Plus, it's adorable.}

Here, learn ten things about me.... GO!

1. What did you do ten years ago?
I was definitely in Ms. Pesek's second grade class with that girl above, Morgan. We probably were busy with about eight million hours of dance as Jeanne's Power Force Dancers and our soccer team, the purple dolphins. Along with spending all the other hours of the day at the home of the third essential to our trio, Jessika Bodrero. And I may have been taking piano lessons from piano Paul... But that's a different story.

2. What were you doing one year ago?
Went back and read my journal... and a year ago, I had just broken up with Ryan. Don't know how to follow that one up so it'll stand as is. haha

3. Five snacks you love...
Chocolate Chip Cookies, Apples, M&Ms, Oh's, and...... Slushes. Yup.

4. Five Songs you know all the words to....
This is embarrassing. Belle (opening song to Beauty and the Beast), A Whole New World, Just Haven't Met You Yet (slash all MB songs...), When Will My Life Begin (from Tangled) and Can't Wait to See You Again (yes, by Miley Cyrus). Moving on....

5. Five Things you would do with a Million Bucks.
Open my bakery (em's) in Northern California. Travel across Europe with my best friend. Fly everyone to Scotland for my reception. Have a dream Kitchen. Hire people to clean my toilets and tubs and baseboards and fans for he rest of my life ( I was only going to say toilets and tubs but the list of chores I dislike kept growing...)

6. Five Bad Habits....
Blogging instead of Homework. Reading too much too late. Watching Starting movies at one a.m. Excessive hand movements while speaking. Being Ignorant of the ways of the world (aka talent show moments)

7. Five Things You Like to do...
Be a Beach Bum. Ride my Bike. Read. Write Poetry. Spend hours with my family and friends.

8. Five Things You Would Never Dress in or Buy...
Jeggings. Cow Print. Snake Pants. Heels higher than 3 inches. Wonder Woman Get-up.

9. Five Favorite Toys.
My books (Does that even count?). My laptop. My piano. My brother's mustang. Roxanne (my truck).

10. Five people you tag... No pressure.

Love always,
Ems

p.s no editing went into this so... sorry. 

Literature Lover.




I have always loved to read.

Take that back. In kindergarten, I was behind everyone in reading because I had a hard time with it. I remember going hom to my mom with those little "Jump Start!" reading books and crying because everyone else was five books ahead of me. Probably one of my most traumatic memories of kindergarten (and one of my only).

Once I got over the stumbling block of learning how to read, I encountered the problem of learning to stop reading.  In fact, I distinctly remember a family trip to Cape Cod where we were about to go out sailing. I, of course, had the newest Harry Potter book in my hands and was so happy to go out into the ocean and read all day. Heaven was in my grasp. My mom took one look at me, book in hand, and sent me back to the motorhome to put away my book because I had been reading all vacation and could not read while we were on the boat. I was grounded from reading. And no, that was not the only time this has happened to me.

But you see, books offer an escape that nothing else can. Movies don't allow you to fully emerse yourself in the sights, sounds, smells, names, dynamics, and emotions of the plot as a book does. A movie starts and says, "This is what is happening and what everything looks like and how everything in really pronounced and now you must abide by this law." Whereas a book says, "Here are words... go create."

And now, I find myself completely in love with all things books. Being in high school, I can never just find the time to sit and read like I used to and it's probably one of the things that I miss most about elementary school (and summer, but that's another story).

So now, at eight thirty p.m, I am going to go and emerse myself in Lord of the Flies first, so that I can finish it and not be stressed about it this weekend, and then I shall go where my heart really belongs: Jane Eyre.  I have an addiction to Victoria Era Literature, and I am ok with that.

Love Always,
Ems