FRIDAY READS: JUNE 30, 2017
I can't believe that it is already the end of June. How is the year already half-way done? Summer is going so fast. Next thing you know the school year will be starting again. I still can't get over the fact that I will be a junior this fall and next fall I'll be graduating college. Like, I'm only 19. I don't feel old enough to already be almost done with college and (hopefully) moving on to medical school.
Today and this weekend I plan on finishing "Stolen" by Lucy Christopher. This is a reread for me because "Stolen" is one of my favorite contemporaries from high school so I wanted to give it a go to see if I would love it as much as I did before, and I absolutely do. The storyline, the characters, everything still captures my attention just as much as before. The story really makes you think and gives you so many conflicting thoughts with how the situation is and really makes you rethink your morals. If you haven't read it, I would suggest giving it a chance.
Well I'm not going to keep you guys long. I'm sure if you're from the United States you plan on celebrating Independence Day this weekend, but for those of you who aren't going to be partying it up, what are you currently reading? Have you read "Stolen" before? If so, what are your thoughts? Tell me all down below in the comments.
TUESDAY TUNES: WONDER WOMAN SOUNDTRACK
Recently I announced that in addition to doing bookish stuff, I would be expanding the topics I discuss on my blog. In accordance with this, I have decided to start a new segment called "Tuesday Tunes" in which I talk about the music that I have been enjoying. This can be an entire album, multiple songs, a single song, etc. (Fair warning, this post is a little long.)
Quick intro as to why I chose to write about music: music has always been a huge part of my life. Ever since I was little, I can remember my parents always having music on in the house. The first thing I would hear when I woke up in the morning was my mom listening to music while she cooked in the kitchen and music coming from the bathroom while my dad took his morning shower. In third grade, I started playing the violin while my twin brother started playing the cello. We joined our school and local community orchestras and music became an even bigger part of our lives. Whenever I'm not actively listening to someone talk to me, I'm usually listening to music. Not having music on in quietness really weirds me out. I become really in tune with all the sounds around me and in my body from the littlest ring to the sound of my swallowing. This drives me beyond crazy, so when people see me, I usually have my headphones in and am listening to music. I love everything from classic music to pop to Broadway tunes. I like pretty much anything but country. (Sorry to all you country fans out there. I just can't hang with it.)
So this week, well actually more like the past two weeks, I have been obsessed with the "Wonder Woman" soundtrack from the new movie, which if you haven't seen it already, WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR LIFE??? GO WATCH IT!!! I've seen the movie like three times in theaters but have probably listened to the soundtrack on repeat like 10 times. I love movie soundtracks. Honestly they might be my favorite genre of music. I can listen to movie soundtracks when I'm doing anything, from homework to walking in the grocery store. There is such a variety of sounds in movie soundtracks, but the thing with them all is they all fill me up with such emotion. There is so much heart that is put into the sounds that are produced. The mixture of orchestra with modern music technology just really does something to me.
Anyway, specially on to the "Wonder Woman" soundtrack, the soundtrack gives me so many emotions from empowerment to sadness to hype. There are some songs that are so powerful that I can imagine the scenes in the movie that are occurring at that exact moment in the song and I love it. It's so interesting listening to this soundtrack because the composer who wrote this soundtrack was actually the same one who wrote "The Bee Movie" soundtrack as well as "Hacksaw Ridge" and "The Legend of Tarzan" (newest one). Crazy right? Composers are so versatile and I wish I had the music creativeness they do. Alas, my twin brother got the composing skills.
I love all of the songs on the soundtrack, but my favorites are definitely "Pain, Loss, and Love", "Wonder Woman's Wrath", "Hell Hath No Fury", "Lightning Strikes", and my top favorite song is "Trafalgar Celebration". If you've seen the movie and listen to "Trafalgar Celebration", you'll know why it's my favorite. This one just gives me so much emotion and it makes me think about everything leading up to that point in the movie and gahhh I just become a hot mess. ("Hell Hath No Fury" is a real close second though. Like it makes me want to cry too. Movie watchers, you know exactly why I want to cry).
If movie soundtracks are your thing, I would 100% recommend listening to the "Wonder Woman" soundtrack. If you have watched the movie, you should listen to the soundtrack too. And if you don't fall into either of those categories, you should still 100% listen to the soundtrack. I promise you it will fill you with an emotion you just can't get from listening to normal Top 40 pop music. Below I have the "Spotify" playlist, but if you don't have "Spotify", it's free on "Youtube".
Side note: for those of you who have seen "Wonder Woman", what did you think? Did you love it as much as I did? Tell me all your thoughts down in the comments! I'll be waiting...
Book: Always and Forever, Lara Jean
Author: Jenny Han
My Rating: ★★★★
Synopsis: Lara Jean’s letter-writing days aren’t over in this surprise follow-up to the New York Times bestselling To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and P.S. I Still Love You.
Lara Jean is having the best senior year a girl could ever hope for. She is head over heels in love with her boyfriend, Peter; her dad’s finally getting remarried to their next door neighbor, Ms. Rothschild; and Margot’s coming home for the summer just in time for the wedding.
But change is looming on the horizon. And while Lara Jean is having fun and keeping busy helping plan her father’s wedding, she can’t ignore the big life decisions she has to make. Most pressingly, where she wants to go to college and what that means for her relationship with Peter. She watched her sister Margot go through these growing pains. Now Lara Jean’s the one who’ll be graduating high school and leaving for college and leaving her family—and possibly the boy she loves—behind.
When your heart and your head are saying two different things, which one should you listen to?
So I was initially not going to read this book because I was convinced I was not going to like it. I was not a fan of the second book of the trilogy (at the time it came out though it was a duology) so when I heard a third book was coming out, I was a bit weary of picking it up, and pushed it off to the side. I'm so glad I picked it up though because reading this book was exactly what I needed.
What to say without spoiling anything... This book is everything I wished the previous book was. The first half of this book was a bit iffy for me because it seemed like there was no plot and I was getting a bit annoyed with Lara Jean which was my big problem with the previous book, but things got real and I really started enjoying the book.
This book brought me back to my high school days and just filled me with feels. Even though overall I was not a fan of high school, I do miss somethings, and it was such a simpler time. I can remember graduating and me and my friends promising to stay friends forever. LOLOLOL now I legit only talk to one person I went to high school with and that's my best friend in the whole wide world. I mean, I don't even talk to my twin brother like I did before we graduated. High school was a less stressful time and I miss the way life was easier back then, though at the time I had no idea how easy it was. Basically, this book reminded me of all the feels of high school and the conflicted thoughts on graduation. Granted, I never had a boyfriend or a relationship of any sort like Lara Jean does, but still, the same overall feelings were there.
I really enjoyed reading about Lara Jean and Peter's relationship. It's such a cute dynamic but it also has it's ups and downs, and I loved how Jenny Han showed those trials because I can imagine that's what real couples go through in such big life events such as graduation. Once again, I know nothing of that sort because I'm #foreveralone
Writing-wise, the writing was eh, but I was expecting that based off the last book. Despite this, there were some really beautiful parts and times when the writing just got so real that I just had to stop and let myself deal with the emotions I was feeling and wrap my head around somethings.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book which was a pleasant surprise. I'm glad I put off reading this book because right now was the perfect time for this sort of contemporary read in my life. I'm doing research this summer and I'm all by myself with no friends around, so I've had a lot of me time, more me time than I'm used to. I've always enjoyed being alone, but I've really started learning the difference between being alone and being lonely. Reading this book filled me with happy, summer vibes that I needed and makes me want to start doing things on my own.
Everything aside, I truly believe this was the perfect ending for Lara's story. I am satisfied with how things ended and am really happy with how Jenny Han wrapped things up. This book did the story a justice that the previous book just couldn't do.
So, have you read this book? If so, what are your thoughts? If not, have you read the other books in the trilogy? If you haven't, I highly recommend giving this series a try if you are looking for a feel-good summer contemporary read.
FRIDAY READS: 6/23/2017
So I haven't been reading these past two weeks because I have been incredibly busy despite it being summer. My research is really picking up and the project is starting to get into full gear, so I have no time to read at work like I used to. What little time I do have at work I've been using to study for the MCAT. Even though I'm not taking it until January, it's better to start prepping sooner rather than later, especially since it is 7.5 HOURS LONG AND OVER LIKE 8 TOPICS!!! So by the time I get home from work, I am wrecked and just do not have the mental capacity or drive to read.
I've decided to give reading a go today. I'm picking up "Always and Forever, Laura Jean", the third book in the "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" trilogy (series? who knows at this point because it was only supposed to be a duology". I loved the first book when I initially read it, though if I were to read it at this stage in my life I probably would not like it nearly as much. I was not that much of a fan of the second book, which you can read my review here if you want to know my thoughts on it. Honestly, I don't think I will be much of a fan of this third book either, but I need some light contemporary to fill my summer days and lift my daunting future off my shoulders.
What are you guys reading this weekend? Have you read any of the "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" books, specically the third book? If so, what were your thoughts? Tell me down below in the comments!
Hey you guys. So I wanted to make a quick post explaining my absence and my future hiatus. Right now I am at a point in my life where I am deciding where to put my time and effort into things. The things I once loved I don't love as much anymore and things I didn't know I would love I now love. I'm also at a point in my schooling where I really have to put my energy into looking towards the future.
Now what does that have to do with this blog? I started off this blog as a purely book blog, a place where I could discuss my thoughts on books and bookish things because at the time I started this blog, books were almost all I had and encompassed a huge part of my life. I have now progressed through my life, and while I still love books, they are not as big as a love as they used to be. So, this summer I'm going to be rethinking this blog and what I want it to be. I will of course still talk about books because books are something that will never go away in my life, but I want to be able to discuss other things like movies, tv shows, pop culture, and general stuff going on in my life.
I want to thank everyone who has stuck with me so far. You are part of the reason why I haven't just fully given up on this blog. I hope that you will continue to stick with me as I discover my new niche on this blog. If you aren't here for that, that's completely okay. I thank you for your time and I wish you nothing but the best in your blogish endavours.
Hey you guys! So this post isn't within the normal stuff I usually post, but I just had to share this with you guys.
I was contacted by a representative from GlassesShop.com, an eyeglasses online shop about receiving and reviewing a free pair of eyeglasses. I was a little hesitant because a) I already have glasses, b) I'm not a fashion blog nor do I have a sense of style, and c) I didn't see the connection to my book blog. But then I realized, that most of you readers probably have prescription eyeglasses or use some sort of reading glasses. And even if you don't, you might be like me and want some sunglasses to read outside with during these nice summer months. So I asked them about sending me some prescription sunglasses and they sent them with no sweat! I just had to give them my prescription and pupillary distance. Above is a picture of me wearing the prescription sunglasses and below are some more pictures.
I love these sunglasses! You guys have no idea how long it has been since I have worn sunglasses since I have prescription eyeglasses that I usually wear. These aren't too dark and I love the style. I was a little hesitant getting these because I usually like thicker frames, but I'm really happy with these. The great thing about GlassesShop.com is that they have a ton of styles to choose from, multitudes of different lens types, a cool tool you can use to see how the glasses might look on you, and your glasses come with a free case and cleaning cloth!
As a gift to you guys, I have a code to share with you guys for you to get 50% off eyeglasses or sunglasses with free lens (sale frames excluded)! That code is GSHOT50. And even more exciting, is GlassesShop.com offers one free pair of glasses per customer and prescription for those getting their first pair with code FIRSTFREE!
So whether you are in need of some new prescription eyeglasses, want to give prescription sunglasses a try like me, need reading glasses because of all the summer reading you're about to do, or just want some nice looking glasses to look great in your bookstagram pictures, GlassesShop.com has options for you. Their options are cheap and perfect for introverts like us who don't like going physically shopping.
Disclaimer: I was not paid to make this post. I only received a free pair of prescription sunglasses in exchange for an honest review and promotion of their website.
FRIDAY READS: 6/2/2017
Looking back into my archives, the last time I did a Friday Reads was February 22nd or something like that. Am I surprised? No. Am I sorry? No. Good, now that we have that addressed, let's move on, shall we?
So with my summer research internship, I've had a surprising amount of time to do reading which will be evident when I put up my May Wrap Up. So much reading, that I have surprised my reading goald of 50 books! Granted, most of what I read were single graphic novel issues, but damnit those count!
This week (might have been the end of last week), I started "Into the Light" and it is quite the interesting read. For those of you who are unaware, my greatest bookish love before I was introducted to YA novels is mystery/thriller. I've been enjoying those since I was like eight.
"Into the Light" basically surrounds this cray cray religious cult set in Alaska with three POVs, one from a guy in the cult, another from a girl who has been abducted into the cult but has no memory so she doesn't know she is in the cult (also, did I mention the guy told her she is her husband and she just believed him with no further explanation or demand for photos??? Like, she's fucking this guy thinking he's her husband despite having no memories of him...), and finally our third POV is from a journal investigator in Detroit (which lol if the author thinks they are acurately portraying Detroit).
I'm quite enjoying this book. It is not without its faults, but it is so interesting. Like all I want to know is what is going to happen. Will Sara (the girl with no memories) gain her memories back and escape the cult? Why her? How is this cult functioning the way it is? I've got a lot of questions that need answers.
So what are you guys readin today or this weekend? Got any good recommendations? I've been so out of the bookish loop that I have no idea what's good that out or what the new releases are.
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