"If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." ~Toni Morrison

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

What it's about:
"In Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl, Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath, being a fan is her life--and she's really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it's what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath's sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can't let go. She doesn't want to.
Now that they're going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn't want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She's got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can't stop worrying about her dad, who's loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?

Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?

And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?" -Amazon.com
What I thought:
OMG!! I just wanted to curl up inside this book and never leave.  So many feels.

I have never read or written fanfic (although I am kind of motivated to give it a try now).  I have never dressed up as a character from my favorite book.  I have never gone to a midnight release of anything.  But I still related to Cath and the other characters in this book so much.


I especially relate to Cath's struggle with the word "just" (“Cath wished she didn't use the word "just" so much. It was her passive-aggressive tell, like someone who twitched when they were lying.”).  My writing is splattered with the word.  When editing begins, my first plan of attack is always to strike out every occurrence of the word "just."

And Levi...I just have no words.  I am pretty sure that I love everything about this guy.  If it weren't for the receding hairline, he might be too perfect :)  Although I think I kind of love his receding hairline too.

Stars:  5/5  I couldn't put this book down.
Would I recommend it?:  Yes!  Absolutely!
Favorite Quote(s):
"If you come off all moody and melancholy in a text, it just sits there in your phone, reminding you of what a drag you are."

"This class is for writers," she said.  "For people who are willing to set aside their fears and move past distractions."


Have you read Fangirl?  What did you think?

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

2015 What I'm Reading #13

This year my goal is to read 30 books.  This summer I planned to only read books in Spanish or books related to work.  I started out well.  I read Brida by Paolo Coehlo in Spanish.  Next I read two books about using technology in the classroom, and then the whole plan fell apart.  Oh well, it was a good effort :)

Currently I am reading Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell.  Actually I just checked it out today and have not officially started yet.  I have heard good things about this book and I am very excited to read it.  Also I can be a little bit of a fangirl at times.

image source:  amazon.com

Here is the list so far:
Number of Books Read: 24
January
  1. The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
  2. Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
  3. The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz
  4. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Schaffer
  5. Blue Bloods: The Keys to the Repository by Melissa de la Cruz
  6. A Million Little Pieces by James Frey
February
  1. Misguided Angel by Melissa de la Cruz
  2. Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz
March
1. The Coroner’s Lunch by Colin Cotterill
April
  1. The Wonder Show by Hannah Barnaby
  2. Wicked by Gregory Maguire
  3. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
  4. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
May
  1. Forever Odd by Dean Koontz
  2. On Writing by Stephen King
  3. The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking) by Patrick Ness
June/July
  1. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
  2. The Alchemyst by Michael Scott
  3. Brida by Paolo Coehlo
  4. 50 Things you can do with Google Classroom
  5. Ditch That Textbook by Matt Miller
  6. Bird Box by Josh Malerman
  7. The Journal Junkies Workshop by Eric W. Scott and David R. Modler
August
1. Everville by Clive Barker

What are you reading this week?