Looking for a roarmantic read?

Or okay, in regular terms, a romantic read?

I suggest Beastly by Alex Flinn. It's a modernized retelling of Beauty and the Beast. In it, the popular, gorgeous, and pretty darn mean Kyle Kingsbury is transformed into a beast by a witch. Because of his one act of kindness, he is given a chance to escape the curse: he has two years to kiss someone and have it be true love. This is pretty difficult, seeing as he's monstrous looking and can't even leave the house. That is, until he discovers a way to have Lindy, a sweet, plain scholarship student Kyle once would've overlooked, stay with him...The book is cute and romantic. It was a touch predictable, but it had enough to make it unique. For example, I loved all the transfiguration chatroom stuff. This book even made me cry a little bit, though I don't guarantee you the same results; I can be pretty sappy. If you do decide to give Beastly a try, bear with Kyle in the beginning, since he's a major jerk. Trust me, though, he has a very rewarding transformation.

Other people must have seen what I saw in the book, since it's being turned into a movie, due out in 2010. I'm so excited about Neil Patrick Harris's involvement; he'll be playing Kyle's blind tutor Will. Knowing Neil Patrick Harris, he'll be perfect at the part. Playing Kyle is Alex Pettyfer. He was in the Alex Rider movie, if anyone's seen that. He's pretty gorgeous, so I see that working, though I'm not too sure about his acting ability yet. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. I am a bit worried, however, about the picture I've found of him in presumably his beast state, which I've included in the post. It doesn't strike me as quite beastly enough. The author describes him as having hair all over and looking less human. I pictured him looking a bit more werewolf like. Anyway, Mary Kate Olsen is also in the movie, playing the witch. The person that gives me most pause is Vanessa Hudgens as Lindy. I'm not a huge Vanessa fan, and I can't picture her as the character at all. In the book, Lindy is a plain and sweet rehead.

I guess I'll just have to wait and see, right? With most of these movie adaptions, you have to accept the movie as a seperate entity from the book, which reminds me, I'm off to see Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince for the second time today. WOOO!

Imagining Others

I just finished reading Paper Towns by John Green this evening, which I really enjoyed. It was thoughtful, funny, and at some points, quite heartbreaking. Plus, it's by John Green, who, if you've ever seen his videos on YouTube, is totally hilarious. NERDFIGHTERS! DFTBA!

Erm, anyway...the book talks a lot about imagining other people, and if we're able to ever really fully imagine other people, and when we can imagine them best, and how sometimes we're just in love with the idea of a person rather than a person itself. All of this I find rather fascinating, by the way. The fact that we're all in our own shells and we'll always only ever be us, but at the same time, we rely so much on our connections with other people--that these are what make our life full. In fact, wanting to get into someone else's head is one of my main motivators for writing.

One of the scenes I liked in the book was when the main character, Quentin, and his friends were on a road trip. They were playing a game they made up called That Guy is a Gigolo (which is a great name for a game, by the way) where you basically see random people and imagine who they are...what their story is. I can't help but do this sometimes, especially when I see people walking alongside a highway or doing something otherwise strange. Usually my ideas of their lives are somewhat romanticized or melodramatic, and that comes into play in the book too: sometimes what you imagine about others shows more about you than it does about them.

Anyone else like thinking about the possible lives of strangers?

Oh, and speaking of Paper Towns, which cover did you prefer? I read the sad one, but I didn't have much choice in the matter, since I just got the library system to send me a copy. I really can't wait to see what they do cover-wise with the paperback version!

Braless in Wonderland, fun but thoughtful!

I just finished reading Braless in Wonderland by Debbie Reed Fischer. If you're looking for a quick read that's cute and intelligent at the same time, and if you're an America's Next Top Model addict like me, you will enjoy this book.

It's about overachieving, feminist high school senior Allee Rosen, who, to her surprise, is offered representation from a top-notch model and talent agency, Finnesse. Allee, who never thought herself particularly beautiful, finds herself heading out to Miami, going on castings, and landing commercials, print ads, and even some high-fashion photoshoots. At first she's reluctant to join the modeling world--she only gives it a chance so she can pay for Yale--, but in no time, she finds it enthralling. It unlocks a different part of herself, teaches her some valubable lessons, and is just plain fun. Eventually Allee has to choose between this glamorous world and the world of academia which she had always planned on entering.

As I said earlier, this book is both cute and intelligent, and that's a big deal to me. While I like books that are fun and accessible, I don't want to read shallow, stupid fluff. Braless in Wonderland managed to pack in some serious content about labeling ourselves and others (I have a soft spot for any book that examines intellectual snobbery, because I am sometimes prone to it, even though it is so wrong...and besides, it's just fascinating.), beauty and intelligence and if they can coexist, making choices about the future, what degrading really is, what femimnism really is, etc. However, I didn't feel like I was reading a book that's sole purpose was to make me think. All of this deeper content was inside of a cute, little package of entertainment, and entertained I was. I liked the colorful world of fashion and modeling. I liked the relatable voice of the main character Allee. I liked the interesting personalities of the fellow models and the relationships they had with Allee.

Overall, I just liked this book, period!

Even if I did feel a little funny carrying around a book with Braless in the title, ha ha.

My poor, poor books...

I think I'm going to change Cover Love Tuesday to just Cover Love Weekly or something, because, um, I'm apparently very horrible at doing things regularly on regular days and the like. So instead of having this feature, I'm instead going to talk about book abuse and deal breakers.

Now, as a high school student, I like to carry whatever book I'm currently reading around with me; that way, when class gets boring, I can open up the book and get some reading done. This means my books get hauled class to class and from home to school and back in my backpack. And...well, I'm not a particularly careful person. I guess you could say I neglect my books more than I abuse them. It's not that I purposely get pencil marks on them or bend the edges and smudge the covers. It just happens. Anybody have the same problem?

As for deal breakers, I just finished reading a YA novel with some romance. I had a bit of trouble with the main character's romantic interest, however, because some of his immoral actions. There are some things, when reading romance, that are just deal breakers to me with guys. I may enjoy the book, but if a guy is stealing or something, I'm not going to want him with the girl. I'm trying to think of some more deal breakers....just, in general, I am not into the bad boy thing at all. What can I say? I like my nice guys. Deal breakers for others out there?

Cover Love Tuesday (1)

So I think I mentioned earlier that I wanted to start having some regular features. This is the first one. Obviously it's titled Cover Love Tuesday. Each Tuesday I'll pick 1, 2, or maybe even 3 books with awesome covers that I love! The books may be forthcoming, or they may have been out for a while. I may have read them or I may not have. I may have liked them or I may have hated them. Most of them will be YA, but I can't guarantee other books from other genres won't make the cut. The most important thing on Cover Love Tuesday is the covers, after all!

My first pick:
Why I Let My Hair Grow Out by Maryrose Wood, YA, published in 2007

To me, this cover is absolutely gorgeous...totally unique, with a fun, magical vibe that matches the book. I really like the flowers everywhere, and I love the girl's eye makeup. And of course, you've got to love the funky hair, those big lips, and that expression behind her eyes. Overall, this book cover is colorful and cute and an A plus in my book.

My second pick:
Silver Phoenix: Beyond the Kingdom of Xia by Cindy Pon, YA, to be published in summer 2009

I'm going to be honest. I was not in love with this cover at first sight. I liked it well enough, but I thought there was something odd about it that I couldn't just put my finger on. Soon enough I started to love this cover and realized that I was mistaking odd for different--good different. What I love about this cover is the richness and shine of the pink fabric the girl's wearing, and most of all, the color of that pink. Her pose and facial expression (the latter of which is decidedly unemotional, which makes me even more curious about this book) are also interesting...unconventional even. The dragons in the background are a great, detailed touch. This book will stand out on the shelves, and I, for one, plan on picking it off one!

Check out Maryrose Wood's site and Cindy Pon's to find out more about their books, and feel free to share your thoughts about these covers in the comments. Also, please check back for more regular features coming soon!

The Catcher in the Rye

I just finished reading it for the first time. It was so awesome. I feel like there was so much deep stuff in there, though, that I've barely skimmed the surface, that to fully appreciate everything I might have to reread it a couple of times...sort of how I felt after reading The Great Gatsby (which is also another really good book). I don't mean, however, that the book wasn't incredibly powerful the first time around, because it was. I'm tempted to share some of the moments particularly and more of my in-depth thoughts, but I'm not sure there would be any interest in that; plus, I don't want to spoil anything.

Instead I'll just say that I loved it and that I found Holden so easy to relate to and identify with, even if some people may not like him. I think that every teenager would at least recognize themselves in Holden once in the novel, if not more than that. Maybe that's one of the reasons the book feels like such a classic coming-of-age story to me and definitely a Young Adult novel,
even if that distinction was not necessarily around at the time.

Thoughts on The Catcher in the Rye anyone? Any agreements that it has to be one of the ultimate YA novels, even if it technically isn't one? (Of course, I haven't read nearly enough books to be able to make this an educated claim, but whatever...) Does anyone else really love the title and how it came into play in the book?

And one last thing: I have to suggest checking out John Green's videos on The Catcher in the Rye. They really helped me get a better grasp on the book, and they were highly entertaining, because, uh, duh, it's John Green. Here's the intro, part one, and part two.

College Crazy

Lately I've been a bit college crazy. This means researching different colleges, thinking about visits, thinking about money, fantasizing about college, reading message boards about college, and generally freaking out about the massive decisions that seem to be looming closer and closer. It seems so weird that in 8 months, I'll be a senior, and a little after that, I'll be filling out college applications. I don't feel old enough for this. I feel fourteen at most...perhaps even twelve! Surely, my taste in TV and music skews younger than my actual age. (Erm...yes, I'm still an avid watcher of the Disney Channel.) Nonetheless, time keeps chugging along, and I will actually be in college in what will seem like no time at all.

Which college....that's really what I'm wondering about. I mean, I'm sure I'll be happy wherever I end up, but at the moment, I can't help but stress. What if there is some college out there that's perfect for me but I haven't come across it yet? Or what if the perfect college is too expensive? I guess I'll have to wait and see. Like I said, I have faith that things will work out in the end. Some people out there may think it's corny, but I really do think God has a plan for me and that things happen for a reason. Doesn't mean I'm any calmer, though.

Overall, despite any intimidation and fear I'm holding onto, I have to say I'm excited. I am so ready to be done with high school that I imagine waiting for college might just test my patience.

In other news, I'm reading Catcher in the Rye. My brother gave it to me for Christmas, I'm about halfway through it, and it's really good! I'm also reading Dante's Inferno for school, which doesn't inspire as much enthusiasm on my part...and which I should probably be reading right about now.

What are you guys reading, and any thoughts on this college craziness?

By the way, the dorm picture is from here...actually, it's a Harvard dorm room. I'm glad I'm not considering any of the Ivy League schools, because I'd be even more stressed than I am now.

"Books make great gifts because they never come in the wrong size."

Yesterday I went Christmas shopping. Seriously, malls during the holiday season are insane...and not at all like the surprisingly serene picture to the left.

Despite being a teenage girl, I am not a big fan of shopping. In fact, the only things I really like shopping for are books (because, duh, they're books!) and purses (cute, and really one size fits all). To me, the mall is no safe haven. It is a place that quickly grows boring unless I'm there with plenty of friends. Add to that large crowds and long lines and the pressure to find the perfect gift, and it's a recipe for a Megan Shopping Meltdown, which I have been known to have.

Speaking of shopping meltdowns, last night I watched Jingle All The Way with Arnold Schwarzenegger. If you haven't seen it, it's about a workaholic dad who forgets about buying his son a Turbo Man action figure until Christmas Eve. He's determined to find one to make up for missing his son's karate lesson. It's kind of a ridiculous movie (the ending involves lots of flying on a jet pack), but its scenes of Christmas Eve shopping madness rang true. I'm glad that I am only sixteen and am not a parent having to fight tooth and nail for the season's hottest toy.

Though, I guess it does say something about our society that parents feel it such a necessity to get their kids the hottest toy. Honestly, a lot of the big Christmas gifts I've gotten haven't worked out. I used them for a while, then I moved on. I got a guitar a couple years ago, and I still haven't learned how to play it I feel pretty bad about that one, actually. The point is, kids don't really need the hottest toy out there. There are things that are more important, like having nice family memories and spending time together, which actually is the message of Jingle All The Way.

Back to my own shopping...it went fairly well. Though it was too crowded for my taste, the mall wasn't overly chaotic. I got some cute little gifts to give to my friends, a DVD for my mom, and books for my aunt and brother. I have one more book to get today, and then I'll be done.

As most writers do, I love giving people books. Many of you have probably seen the youtube video about how books make great gifts. If not, check it out! I've got to say, I also hope I get some books too, or at least a gift card to my favorite bookstore. For once, I don't have a huge To Be Read pile, and I really want to go shopping for some books of my own.

How has everyone else been surviving the malls, and what books do you guys have on your wish lists? And, of course, thoughts on Jingle All The Way are welcomed!

Credit for the Christmas pic goes to Paul Keleher, and the image of Jingle All The Way came from Overstock.